May the mumbling commence!
Show no pity? That’s what Deuteronomy chapter 19 tells us. Show no pity to the one who has maliciously spilled innocent blood. If such a murderer flees to one of the Cities of Refuge, then the elders of the city must send him back to his hometown, where the avenger of blood will execute him. Show no pity to a malicious witness. Give the witness the punishment that was intended for the accused. (That’s why someone cannot be convicted on the testimony of only one witness; there needs to be at least two or three witnesses.)
Show no pity? Jesus spoke a greater Word. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You have heard it said ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell to you, ‘Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:38-39)’” Jesus was quoting from the last verse of Deuteronomy 19.
Jesus knew these laws were to put a limitation on human revenge. They were to prevent whole families or cities from suffering for the sin of one person – like the people of Shechem for the sins of the man named Shechem in Genesis (chapter 34). Such vengeance takes the name of the Lord in vain; because, as children of God, we represent the Lord to all those around us. Jesus calls us to a greater restraint – to show the compassion, mercy and grace of the Lord.
In Deuteronomy chapter 20, there are valid exemptions for men of Israel not to go to war. They are recorded in verses 5-8:
The officers shall say to the army: "Has anyone built a new house and not dedicated it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may dedicate it. Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it. Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her." Then the officers shall add, "Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too."
These excuses are some of the same excuses that the people gave in Jesus’ parable of the Great banquet – reasons they could not come to the feast. “I bought a field or five yoke of oxen. I just was married.” There were other things to do that crowded out the will of God in peoples’ lives. Do I find excuses not to strive for the Spirit of the Laws that Jesus taught? May I not be faint of heart to do the Lord’s will in my life!
In Deuteronomy chapter 21, we find the reason why the Apostle Paul (in 1 Corinthians 1:22-23) calls the cross of Jesus a stumbling block, literally a scandal, for the Jews. In verse 23b, we read, “Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” How could the Lord’s Messiah not only die for a capital offense but also die hanging from a tree? That would mean that the Messiah fell under the Lord’s curse. Yes, Jesus fell under the Lord’s curse for you and for me.
I find it interesting that the Law reiterated in Deuteronomy for Israel as they were on the threshold of the Promised Land for the second time does not include anything about homosexuality. I wonder why that issue was ignored. If that Law was so important, why wasn’t it reiterated? However, Deuteronomy does speak about sexual relationships between men and women. It is obvious to me that women were in a vulnerable position, so they are often given protection – like if a woman was raped in the country, where no one could hear her scream (22:25-27).
But if a woman willingly sleeps with a man other than her husband both the man and woman must die (22:22). This verse calls to mind the episode in John (8:1-11) where the woman is caught in adultery. Why was the man not brought before Jesus as well? Was he among those who wanted to see her stoned, perhaps to cover over his own sin? What part did the community have in providing an environment that allowed this adultery to happen?
Before we seek to condemn others, let’s examine ourselves and the complicity we may have in the sin. Why do we look the other way when adultery occurs now? Why do we focus on the sin of sexual orientation? Jesus’ words “Go and sin no more,” were meant, I believe, not only for the woman and the complicit man but also for the community ready to stone them.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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