Exodus 22
Verses 1- 15 have to do with making restitution for harm done to another... everything from stealing an ox to borrowing something that gets lost or broken.  The situations vary, but in every case the person harmed is repaid for what he loses plus more.  For example, the one who steals an ox and slaughters it is required to repay 5 oxen.   If it is stolen and found alive, the repayment is double.
How would that look in today's world?  Some guy steals his neighbor's car and wrecks it... then has to make restitution by buying him 5 cars!  Or the equivalent of 5 cars.  Sounds fair to me!  Bet there would be a lot less carjackings...

Verses16-31 have to do with a variety of situations.  The main emphasis is relationships.  God desires us to treat each other with kindness and love.  If we cause affliction to others and they cry out to Him, He will repay.  In particular He mentions widows and orphans, strangers,  and the poor.  Over and over in Scripture we find this emphasis.
Deuteronomy 24:17 states it this way, " You shall not pervert the justice due an alien or an orphan, nor take a widow's garment in pledge. But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and that the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am  commanding you to do this thing."

Proverbs 23:10b-11 " ..or go into the fields of the fatherless; For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you."

Jeremiah 5:28-29 " They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; and they do not defend the rights of the poor. Shall I not punish these people? declares the Lord, On a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself?"
So not only do we sin if we afflict the widow, orphan, alien, or poor... but if we fail to intervene on their behalf.. we are sinning.   Jeremiah went on to proclaim this, " Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.  Do not trust in deceptive words saying, 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.' For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, then I will dwell in this place, ...." 

The Lord sees... He goes on to tell them through Jeremiah... He sees and He is going to cast them out of Jerusalem and destroy their temple, because they were doing wicked things and then coming to the temple and declaring themselves "delivered".    This was also the message that James wrote, " If any one thinks himself to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.  This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world."  ( James 1:26-27)  
In other words, true faith and discipleship in Jesus Christ leads to actions that are in keeping with God's Word... doing what pleases Him, and how we treat those in need, especially the widow and orphan will reveal whether or not our faith is real - whether we have "pure and undefiled religion".
If we just come to church and pretend to be religious.. declaring ourselves righteous, but can't even control our own tongues...  let alone treat others in accordance with His Word... we are deceived.
" Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail." ( Jeremiah 7:8)

Father in Heaven, You are gracious.  You hear the cries of those who are afflicted and oppressed.  Those who have no hope but You.  Thank You for Your Word that reveals to us Your Heart of compassion and grace of those in need.  Father, forgive us for ignoring or failing to help those in need. Open our eyes and our hearts to reach out to others.. to the widow, the orphan, to the poor.  To defend them and to help them as You direct us to do.  May the religion we practice be pure and undefiled.. in Your sight.  We don't want to listen to the deceptive words of this world.  We don't want to lie to our ourselves. We don't want to have a worthless religion.   We want to trust and obey You with all of our hearts.  For the sake of Your Holy Name and the glory and honor of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  In His Name we pray.  Amen.