Now the Lord turns to the concept of Capital Punishment in Israel. One reason that Capital Punishment, the taking of a murderer's life, was so effective among God's people was that the sentence was carried out PUBLICLY. In Deuteronomy 21:21 we saw this same principle applied toward the "rebellious son". Again, though there was no record that any parent every brought their child forward for repeatedly breaking the Fifth Commandment (honor of father and mother), God did say that IF this was done then the rebellious son was to be executed PUBLICLY,

SUPPORTING ~ Deuteronomy 21:21  "And ALL THE MEN OF HIS CITY shall stone him with stones, that he die: so SHALT THOU PUT EVIL AWAY from among you; and ALL ISRAEL SHALL HEAR, AND FEAR.

Capital punishment was never hidden behind closed doors in God's Kingdom, but was always committed PUBLICLY. Why? So that "ALL ISRAEL SHALL HEAR, AND FEAR", i.e., so that the public will see that Law Enforcement in Israel CAN and DOES execute those guilty of Capital Offense. It is no deterrent to just "hear" about someone losing their life .... but the punishment for Capital Crime becomes a stark reality in a man's life when he actually has to HELP EXECUTE the guilty. Now the thing you heard about, the penalty for murder, kidnapping, or abuse of your parents ... now that thing has become a reality. And, once you helped participate in the event, this helps drive home the point - Don't do the crime unless you want to suffer the consequences.

Verse 22 takes God's stance on Capital Punishment one step further. In ancient Israel hanging was NOT a method of execution. The Israelites exercised Capital Punishment against a guilty party by stoning, or casting stones at the person until he was beaten to death. The phrase "stone him with stones", denoting this method of execution, is mentioned 29 times in the Law by the Lord. The stoning was the method used. But AFTER the criminal was stoned, that person's body was sometimes HUNG UP on a tree as a PUBLIC DISPLAY to all Israel. This corpse became, in effect, a SIGN to the Children of Israel of what would happen to them if they committed the same crime ... and because of this had a deterrent effect on crime. What was hung on the tree was the body, devoid of life. A good example of this can be found in:

SUPPORTING ~ Joshua 10:1-5 "Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;  [2]  That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. [3]  Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, [4]  Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. [5]  Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it."

The children of Israel had entered the Promised Land and, as they went through the Land guided by God, they cast out the Canaanites as the Lord had decreed (among those nations were the Amorites), and conquered but made peace treaties with all who were not of Canaan. One of the cities that made peace with Israel was Gibeon. Though Gibeon was a city occupied by the Hivites, descendents of Canaan, these people repented of their evil and were willing to provide wood for the building of the Temple of God. When the five kings of the cities around Gibeon heard of this treaty, they decided to attack Gibeon - which was a serious mistake. The Lord led Joshua to lead His Army against these five kings who dared shun a treaty endorsed by the Creator. The text tells us:

SUPPORTING ~ Joshua 10:8-14 "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. [9]  Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. [10]  And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. [11]  And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. [12]  Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. [13]  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. [14]  And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel."

Only a fool attacks the friend of God, and these five kings were fools. The kings ran and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah, but Joshua discovered their location and had them trapped in the cave. When Israel returned from battle, Joshua called all of the men of Israel out to witness these five kings, idolaters all, in their degradation. Once all of Israel saw these defeated rulers, the Bible tells us that Joshua:

SUPPORTING ~ Joshua 10:25-27 "And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. [26]  And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. [27]  And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day."

Just as our text in Deuteronomy teaches, Joshua executed these men and, after their execution, they were hung on five trees. They were left on the trees as a public SIGN TO ALL as to what would happen to those who rejected the Creator's Rule and Word. At the going down of the sun the bodies of these criminals were removed from the trees, and cast back into the cave - their hiding place became the final resting place of their bodies. 

FOCAL ~ Deuteronomy 21:23 "..  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) .."

Joshua took their bodies down in accordance with the Law of the Lord in Deuteronomy. The bodies were removed because, "he that is hanged is accursed of God" . The word "accursed", the Hebrew {qlalah  [kel-aw-law']}, meaning "to be under God's curse". The individual who was hung was guilty of breaking God's Law, God's Word, God's Covenant - and by hanging him in plain view, all who saw him recognized that he had died the death of the polluted, the unclean. As soon as the public saw the effect of sin upon this person's life the corpse was buried, lest it decay and fall to the ground - further polluting God's land. The criminal was guilty, and his guilt was  demonstrated to all.

The Apostle Paul, under the leading of God's Holy Spirit, wrote these words:

SUPPORTING ~  Galatians 3:11-13  "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. [12]  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. [13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree"

In the days of ancient Israel the criminal, once convicted, was executed by stoning and hung on a tree as a sign to all that he was cursed. He deserved this punishment. The Law Enforcement Officials of the city, the elders and judges, they had examined the man and found him guilty. Two or more witnesses had come forward with clear testimonies supporting the guilt of the criminal. He deserved the death he got, under God's pure Law, he deserved it.

But One came forward out of the hundreds, perhaps thousands that deserved deaths as criminals, and this One had no guilt in Him. No two witnesses could come forward and truthfully declare He had committed an act worthy of death. The elders and the judges of the city rigged the courtroom, and purposely lied and hired liars to bring this One to death. This One, Jesus Christ, was judged guilty though He was innocent, then He hung on the tree in shame so that my guilt could be erased, atoned, forgiven. The One who hung on that Cross followed the Law perfectly in His lifetime. Never a sin stained His soul. Yet He died to remove the stains of sin from my soul. To free us from the curse of the Law, Jesus had to become cursed Himself - and bear the same shame that every executed criminal bore. For us!

Matthew Henry "Though deliverance is not to be expected from the law, there is a way open to escape the curse, and regain the favor of God, namely, through faith in Christ. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law; being made sin, or a sin offering, for us, he was made a curse for us; not separated from God, but laid for a time under the Divine punishment. The heavy sufferings of the Son of God, more loudly warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come, than all the curses of the law; for how can God spare any man who remains under sin, seeing that he spared not his own Son, when our sins were charged upon him? Yet at the same time, Christ, as from the cross, freely invites sinners to take refuge in him. "

Though the Ten Commandments were the start or initiation of the Mosaic Law, the DRIVING FORCE behind the Law was love.  As we have studied before, the Law focused on love both Godward and man-ward. The command, "Love the Lord thy God" is found nine times in the Book of Deuteronomy. In fact, our Lord Jesus, when asked what  the basis of the Law was, responded: 

SUPPORTING ~ Matthew 22:37-40  "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.   [38]  This is the first and great commandment.   [39]  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.   [40]  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

These passages in Deuteronomy redirect the Israelite back to this Law of Love. In an agricultural society like Israel, animals like oxen or sheep represented wealth. The farmer used the oxen to plow his fields, and the sheep for both food and clothing. The jackass was used for transportation, or as a beast of burden. The Lord wanted each of His children to remember that the wealth they possessed was given to each person by His Grace. If a person lost their oxen, sheep, or jackass - or any beast of burden, for that matter - then it was up to each Israelite to recapture the animal and return it to its owner. A wandering beast of burden could not be kept by the finder - there was no "finders keepers, losers weepers".  If God did not specifically give the item to you, be it gold, gems, land, or animals, then you had NO right to keep it.

SUPPORTING ~ Exodus 23:4-5  "If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.  [5]  If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him."

The law of returning what doesn't belong to you to its rightful owner applied, not just to the fellow Israelite, not just to your friends, but ALSO to your ENEMIES. You could certainly keep something taken from your enemy in battle IF the Lord gave it to you.  The Israelites entered the Promised Land and were to cast out all of the children of Canaan while taking their land. However, if your enemy's beasts of burden just wandered off, then you were under Divine obligation to return these animals back to their rightful owner. God alone has the right to give us wealth ... we must never TAKE wealth from someone else or harm another without the express direction of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us another way:

SUPPORTING ~ Luke 10:25 "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?  [26] He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?  [27] And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.  [28] And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.  [29] But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?  [30] And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead.  [31] And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  [32] And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked [on him], and passed by on the other side.  [33] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him],  [34] And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  [35] And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.  [36] Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?  [37] And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

Our way, as believers, is the way of Christ, the way of Peace. John R. W. Stott said, "Jesus Christ is a peacemaker.  So, if we want to be God's children and Christ's disciples, we must be peacemakers too."  God's people are called to rely on God for their wealth - not chance - and to be peacemakers and stewards of the Gospel message.

This verse has been over amplified and misapplied by Christians throughout the years. Some religious groups go so far as to forbid women from wearing slacks, shirts, or pocket watches because men also wear the same thing. Does the verse demand such restrictions? Matthew Henry states:

"If we would prove ourselves to be God's people, we must have respect to his will and to his glory, and not to the vain fashions of the world. Even in putting on our garments, as in eating or in drinking, all must be done with a serious regard to preserve our own and others' purity in heart and actions. Our eye should be single, our heart simple, and our behavior all of a piece."

In other words, our dress should be such that it honors God, and not the conventions of this world. I have seen "Paris Fashion Shows" parade up and down the walkway in alleged women's clothing that I wouldn't put on a monkey, much less a woman. Ugly designs that serve no purpose but to blur the distinctions between the sexes, outrageously promoted as the "in thing". As Paul would have said, "God forbid!". We who are believers should dress in such a way as to honor our Creator, who established a natural order of life in the Garden of Eden:

SUPPORTING ~ Genesis 1:27  "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

SUPPORTING ~ Genesis 5:1-2 "This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; [2]  Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created."

God made Adam in two complementary parts: Adam, the first, the Federal Head of creation, and from out of Adam's rib Eve, his helper, his completion, his wife. This is the Lord's natural order in creation, man and wife working together in covenant with God. Since God established this order, God wants His followers to maintain that order in both BEHAVIOR as well as DRESS. Look at our text:

FOCAL ~ Deuteronomy 22:5a "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man ..."

The word "pertaineth" is the Hebrew {kliy  [kel-ee']}, which means "something prepared for" or "specifically designed for". This word emphasizes that the woman should not purposely cross-dress and wear clothing SPECIFICALLY designed for men. This could be suits, armor, instruments, etc. Though the specific item is not addressed, the sense of the verse is that the woman's intent is to DRESS SO AS TO BLUR the distinctions between the sexes. To do so would introduce confusion into the Divine Design, and would therefore be sinful. The text further states:

FOCAL ~ Deuteronomy 22:5b "... neither shall a man put on a woman's garment .."

The man, likewise, was to refuse to cross-dress in clothes specifically designed for women. To do so would, again, blur the Divinely Designed distinctions between the sexes, and would therefore be sinful. Some in our present age have pointed to Galatians 3:28, which says:

SUPPORTING ~ Galatians 3:28  "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

And have used this passage to justify cross dressing. They say, "The Cross removed all distinctions between the sexes, thus we are free to dress as we want to dress". Yet this verse does NOT refer to dress, but to STATUS before your Creator: we are ALL equally saved because of the Cross of Christ. But though we have equal status, Divine Design is NOT removed by the New Birth. The Jew, prior to salvation, is still of the same physical design after salvation. The male and female of our species still sport the same equipment, and still are to follow God's Design in our social activities one with another.

Why should the believer avoid cross-dressing, that is, avoid dressing like a member of the opposite sex? In one of the most difficult passages in Scripture, 1 Corinthians 11:5-16, the Apostle Paul addresses the Corinthians on their apparent failure to maintain God's Design in dress. Though I will NOT discuss this text from the viewpoint of "long hair verses short hair", I would like to look at these four verses:

SUPPORTING ~ 1 Corinthians 11:13-16 "Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?  [14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  [15]  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.  [16]  But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

Now I know that "long" and "short" are relative terms for hair, based on the society you live in. I am a retired military non-commissioned officer, and I wear my hair short. I know others, though, who wear their hair even closer cut, and would consider my hair "long". As Paul said, "if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God". Let's not let this degrade into an argument on hair length, which defeats our lesson. Rather, focus on the CONDITION of the Corinthian Church. The Corinthians, who should have been spiritual, were CARNAL BABES in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1). They scorned the great Apostle Paul, while following around after Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:6). They tolerated incest within the Church Body (1 Corinthians 5:1-5), and sued one another in court, holding Christ's Church up to open ridicule (1 Corinthians 6:1). They used the Temple Prostitutes of Corinth (1 Corinthians 6:18) to the dishonor of their own bodies, and cared little for the weaker members of the flock, adopting a "help yourself" philosophy (1 Corinthians 8). The Corinthian Church was, Scripturally, one of the saddest bunch of believers mentioned in the Bible. They wandered away from God's established order in both righteousness AND IN NATURE. After Paul admonished the Corinthians for cross-dressing (at least, insofar as the normal hairstyles of their society was concerned), he immediately rebuked the Corinthians for drunken and disorderly conduct at the Lord's Table (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

You see, if a person wanders away from the natural order of dress (and each of you knows in your heart what is acceptable and unacceptable dress for the man and woman), then it's just a small step from there to wander away from established order in Christ's Church OR Yeshua's Israel. Again, I do not want this section of Scripture to disintegrate into a discussion without end as to "what the proper length of a person's hair should be". If you are saved, the Spirit of God WILL guide you in such decisions. Yet the Deuteronomy text, along with the other passages we have studied, does recognize that our Lord Jesus created mankind with a certain Divinely established order - and we are to recognize that order and honor HIM in the way we dress and act. When we forget this truth we introduce abominable behavior into our society, and by our actions step on a slippery slope that could drag us down as far as the Corinthians went. 

The Lord now turns from the natural order among humankind and now examines the natural order in Creation. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Biblically (and this is what I accept as true), the chicken came first, for God created them "male and female created He them". God made each part of His Creation capable of reproduction, and gave animals to man to be OUR FOOD in the Noahic Covenant:

SUPPORTING ~ Genesis 9:1-3 "And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.  [2]  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. [3] Every MOVING THING THAT LIVETH SHALL BE MEAT for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."

Animal life, which is NOT made in God's image and does NOT have a human soul, was given to us for our use as food and clothing. Though PETA and the other animal rights groups would like to crush this truth, it is validated over and over again in the Scripture. Yet, even though animals are given to be our food, the Israelite was warned against GREED in the taking of this food. There MUST be management in taking wildlife. If the Israelite were to take both the eggs as well as the mother hen for food, then that hen would be unable to produce future young for Israel's nourishment. If this happened enough times, the species along with the food source would be eradicated - and Israel would suffer.

The Christian, just like the Israelite, needs to maintain a  balanced view of the Creation around us. We must learn to work WITHIN that Creation that Jesus made for us, not to allow GREED to lead to the extinction of a species. Our Lord has graciously provided us with all that we need to sustain life:

SUPPORTING ~ Acts 14:17  "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."

But we are called to be WISE STEWARDS with what He has provided. In America, the buffalo herds - once miles in diameter - were nearly extinguished by the greed of man. Meat was left rotting on the plains while the butchers tore the flesh from their carcasses for filthy lucre's sake. Whole tribes of American Native Indians starved while the white man slaughtered their source of food for money. God told His nation Israel, avoid such excesses. The Lord has provided plenty of food for us all, as long as we do not allow our greed to kill the goose that lays the golden egg; as long as we do not rape the land till it erodes into uselessness.

Just as God regulated the taking of animal life for sustenance, He also regulated the building codes in Israel. Why? Because in all instances, Yeshua loved and continues to love His people, be they of Israel or of the Church. In fact, He so loved the WORLD that:

SUPPORTING ~ 2 Peter 3:9  "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

SUPPORTING ~ Mark 8:35  "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."

This great love of God, this great love for human life, is reflected in the fact that He wanted His people to make safe structures in which to live. The Israelite often used the roof of their houses as gardens, and often used these gardens to sleep in during the summer time or entertain guests. Because of this the Lord wanted a {ma`aqeh  [mah-ak-eh']}, a parapet or railing placed around the edge of the roof. Jamieson-Faucett-Brown states:

"The tops of houses in ancient Judea, as in the East still, were flat, being composed of branches or twigs laid across large beams, and covered with a cement of clay or strong plaster. They were surrounded by a parapet breast high. In summer the roof is a favorite resort for coolness, and accidents would frequently happen from persons incautiously approaching the edge and falling into the street or court; hence it was a wise and prudent precaution in the Jewish legislator to provide that a stone balustrade or timber railing round the roof should form an essential part of every new house."

Contrary to what many believe and Cain the murderer proposed, we ARE our brother's keeper. Within the nation laws are established NOT to restrict our freedom, but to enhance our safety and increase our life span. Though I know many Christians who rebel against the seat belt laws and refuse to buckle up, these laws are just as valid as the "railing around the roof" law in Israel. When people are hurt in any society because of laziness, irresponsibility, or recklessness, the entire nation bears the burden. GOD VALUES human life, and expects us to do the same. The behavior of each person has a cumulative effect that impacts our society, impacts our community, and disturbs the order of the nation.

Our Lord recognized the right of the nation to order the affairs of its citizens when He said:

SUPPORTING ~ Matthew 22:17-21 "Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?  [18]  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?  [19]  Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.  [20]  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  [21]  They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, reiterated this truth when he said:

SUPPORTING ~ Romans 13:3-7  "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  [4]  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  [5]  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  [6]  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.  [7] Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor."

The national entity has the RIGHT to legislate and establish laws for the protection of its citizenry. Just as God established building codes for the safety of the Israelite, He does the same thing today for humanity through the national government. We are to therefore obey these Laws, even if they seem petty, for OUR OWN GOOD.

As we look at these verses we are immediately troubled, but as we delve deeper we find a greater truth that comforts us. Here is the troubling part: WHY did God specify such restrictions? Is there a logical reason for such injunctions? Perhaps. Perhaps the Lord told the Israelites to not sow different types of seed in a garden plot to teach them that there is a natural order in creation. Perhaps the reason that the ox and the jackass were not to be used to plow the same garden was to prevent cross contamination between the animals, the soil, and the crop. Perhaps a blend of wool and linen would not last as long as a purely wool or purely linen article of clothing. Perhaps that's the reason.

Or perhaps, and this is my belief, the Lord just wanted His children to hear what He said and DO IT because HE said it.

Over the past twenty-five years I have encountered truths in Scripture that I could not explain with my rational mind. Whole societies of Christians have grown up around Theological debates without end and without purpose - while the world desperately needs to hear the simple Gospel of Christ.  On June 20-24 of 2001, a ABC NEWS/ Belief net poll was conducted by telephone among a random national sample of 1,022 adults. The poll asked, "What, if anything, is your religion?". Of those asked, eighty-three percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. Most of the rest, 13 percent, have no religion. That leaves just 4 percent as adherents of all non-Christian religions combined - Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and a smattering of individual mentions. Strange, isn't it, that a nation allegedly composed of 85% of Christians could have the highest murder rate, highest crime rate, and highest decadence of any nation in the world.

What this proves is that many have taken the name "Christian", but are not. They have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They do not know God the Father, nor are they indwelt with God the Holy Spirit. If we are Christians, then we are FOLLOWERS of Jesus Christ. We do as He says, whether we understand it or not. The Israelite may not have understood why God wanted them to avoid mixing seed, plowing with mixed animals, or wearing mixed or composite clothing - but the Lord wanted them to do it whether they understood it or not.

Though I am not under the Law of Moses, I am under the Law of the Spirit. Like a child at the dinner table, I do not know all things. I may not know how this food was provided, or understand why it was provided - but as He leads me, I must follow. Understanding will come later. Now, right now, Jesus demands obedience.

God considered monogamy to be His Divine standard in marriage, and if a person, man or woman, stepped outside of this standard to commit adultery, then they were put to death. This was NOT a one sided verdict, for BOTH parties to the adultery were executed. If a woman was caught in the act of adultery she could not claim "it was rape" and thus escape sentence, for if she was raped she should have cried out. If she was raped, and cried out, she was set free - she had done no evil.

SUPPORTING ~ John 8:5-11 "Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  [6] This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  [7]  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  [8]  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  [9]  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  [10]When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  [11]  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

When Jesus allowed the woman taken in adultery to go free, He was not condoning her act of sin but was following His Law to the letter. If the woman had been "caught in the act" of adultery, then by the Law both the woman AS WELL AS her companion were to be executed. Though Jesus never said it specifically, He knew that the woman's companion was not there - and that the charge leveled against her was therefore unjust. He then quietly wrote in the dust and waited for their consciences to remind them of the intent of the Law, which was that ALL the guilty parties had to be punished. Once the accusers went away, there were no witnesses present to condemn the woman as required by the Law. Thus Jesus told the woman, "Go and sin no more".

In our society we have winked at sexual sin for so long that it no longer seems to be a big deal to us. We all need to be reminded, it IS a big deal to God. Jesus did not make light of the adulteresses activities, but on the same hand was not going to allow His Law to be used frivolously. Sexual impropriety is just as destructive to the person, to the family, and to the nation as it has always been. Once we become accustomed to one shocking sexual revelation, we then start looking for something even greater to titillate us. It is a fact that sexual abuses and excesses lead to ever greater sexual abuses and excesses. The father of the Canaanites (Genesis 9:23-24) started out by watching his father sleeping naked, and this seed eventual became seven nations that were so horrible that God wanted them destroyed from the land. The starting point: simple titillation. The ending point: child sacrifice, orgies, murder.

The "congregation of the Lord" {qahal [kaw-hawl'], assembly} was convened by the elders of the tribe to commit various sacred rites or acts of worship before God, as well as to discuss and prepare for war. In this section several categories of people are excluded from the Assembly:

1. Men whose reproductive organs were wounded or damaged. In ancient pagan religions the reproductive organs were pierced or mutilated in order to satisfy a false god. Most scholars do not feel that the restriction against "He that is wounded in the stones" refers to men who were damaged accidentally or in battle, but the injunction was against those who had a background in pagan worship. God despises idolatry, and considers those who follow after its practice to be abominable. Idolatry cost Israel the Promised Land time and time again:

SUPPORTING ~ Ezekiel 33:24-29 "Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance. [25]  Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?  [26]  Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?  [27]  Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.  [28]  For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.  [29]  Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed."

Idolatry scars the soul, destroys life, causes the believer to forfeit his God given blessings. The second injunction against,

2. Illegitimate children are also a result of idolatry. {mamzer [mam-zare']}, meaning "a child born out of wedlock, or born from incest", could also refer to children who were the offspring of pagan temple prostitutes. When a man or a woman considers their pleasure and self gratification to be greater than God's command for our lives, then our own bodies become somewhat of an idol. Many people have the idea that "it's my body, and I'm not hurting anyone when I'm promiscuous". This is not true. Our actions always have consequences, and those consequences may hurt the innocent around us. Though the illegitimate child did nothing to deserve it, and though the fault was his promiscuous parents, he was barred from being in the congregation of the Lord, along with the nine generations that followed him. This was very sad, but the Lord wanted to teach Israel that NOTHING we do is done in a vacuum. When we deliberately sin against God, there are consequences for that sin - and the innocent often suffer along with the guilty because of our hard heartedness. David's sin of adultery killed the innocent and righteous Uriah, Cain killed his brother Abel and broke his mother's heart twice, Abraham pretended Sarah was his sister, and nearly caused her dishonor, Daniel went into captivity with his nation, though he had done no evil. 

Under the Law God refused to allow those who were "blemished" by sin (either because of their own doing, or because of someone else's action) to enter into the Congregation of the Lord. Worship and participation in the Theocracy of Israel was a PRIVILEGE not to be taken for granted. As members of the Body of Christ under the New Covenant, we should be thankful that physical blemishes or past indiscretions do not bar us from salvation by faith in Christ. One of my favorite passages of Scripture is in:

SUPPORTING ~ Acts 8. 26-39  "And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.  [27] And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,  [28] Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.  [29] Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.  [30] And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  [31] And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.  [32] The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  [33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.  [34] And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?  [35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  [36] And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?  [37] And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  [38] And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  [39] And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."

3. Finally, The Ammonites and Moabites were not allowed in the Congregation of the Lord because of their evil toward God's people. The Ammonites were inhospitable, and attacked Israel as she fled Egypt - and thus were barred, and the Moabites were responsible for trying to get Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24). Further, both Ammonites and Moabites were descendents of the incestuous union of Lot and his daughters (Genesis 19.30-38). Clarke's Commentary states:

"These nations were subjected for their impiety and wickedness, (see #De 23:4, 5|,) to peculiar disgrace, and on this account were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites.  But this did not disqualify them from being proselytes: Ruth, who was a Moabitess, was married to Boaz, and she became one of the progenitors of our Lord."

The Israelite was forbidden to charge "usury" neshek  {neh'-shek}, or interest, to his fellow Israelite. This rule extended to all things: money, food, anything... if it was loaned to a "brother", it was to be loaned interest free. There were several reasons for this. First, God has always taught that what was important to Him is the relationships that we have with Him, and with our fellow believers. It seems like so few people understand this today, but our Lord Jesus repeatedly taught RELATIONSHIP over RELIGION. We were to:

SUPPORTING ~ Mark 12:30-31  "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  [31]  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Love Godward, and love manward. If you love Godward then you will DO HIS WILL, for love toward God entail obedience. If you love manward, then the relationship you have within the Family of God will be more important than the relationship that you have with, well, with money! The Israelite should have certainly understood this principle. They came from a background of slavery and poverty, and they were brothers and sisters together in the same lousy brick making duty that all Egyptian slaves were obligated to do. Just as the African American today has his roots in the injustice of slavery, the Jew, too, was enslaved, impoverished, debased. Thus God called all of these, His children freed, to remember that they were once in a destitute state - and in remembering to refuse to stoop to being the taskmaster.

The second reason that the Father forbade the Israelite to charge interest to one another was because, just as it is with us, what they had, they had by the Grace of God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ thought very little of money. As a matter of fact, I find it interesting that, of all the disciples, the "Treasurer" of that little poor band of believers was Judas, the betrayer of Christ. When anyone begins to consider money or possessions to be greater than the relationship we have Godward / manward, then that individual is walking on a slippery slope.  Jesus said of the wealthy young man who followed after Him:

SUPPORTING ~ Matthew 19:21-24  "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  [22]  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  [23]  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  [24]  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

The person who is well off, comfortable, often forgets that the riches he is so fond of are but fleeting things.  We have all seen rich and wealthy people, beautiful people, powerful and wealthy people quickly dismiss Jesus in favor of comfort or satisfaction. It is a fact that those who are the wealthiest people in America, those who are in the television and movie production, these people are most prone to dismiss our Lord as just a "great teacher", a fine human, much as Mohammed was.  The rich man always thinks that he has until tomorrow to think about God, if at all. God calls such a person a "fool":

SUPPORTING ~ Luke 12:16-21  "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  [17]  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  [18]  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  [19]  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  [20]  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  [21]  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

for our lives are but fleeting, whereas an eternity in Hell ... now, that's a thought that I don't even want to dwell on! Riches lead the unbeliever far away from the arms of God, while making him insensitive to the needs of the poor around him. Consider the rich man and Lazarus. Some say this was a fable, a parable, but I don't think so - because things like this happen on a regular basis among the rich. The poor are objects, things to be used or ignored, just as Lazarus was ignored and used.

The third reason God forbade the Israelite to charge interest to his brother was because we who are believers are ALWAYS given money so we can bless others with it. Paul told the Church at Corinth:

SUPPORTING ~ 1 Corinthians 16:1-3  "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.   [2]  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.   [3]  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem."

"Liberal" is a good word in the Bible when it refers to a person's desire to give to those in need.  Contrary to popular belief in Christian circles, the believer is not under the standard of the Law for giving.  We are not "required" to give a tithe, or ten percent, of our income to God's Work. You will never see the Apostles refer to a tithe as a standard of giving, and our Lord Jesus referred to the tithe in His teaching to the Orthodox Jews, the Pharisees. What are we, as Church Age believers to give? MUCH MORE, my friend, much more than a measly tithe. We are to give "as God hath prospered him". You see, God gives to the believer so the believer can turn around and give of that bounty to others in need. This giving is not limited to a percentage, but is as God lays on your heart:

SUPPORTING ~ 2 Corinthians 9:5-12   "Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.  [6] But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  [7]  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  [8]  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: [9]  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.  [10]  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)  [11]  Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.  [12]  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God"

God gives to the believer, and as He gives to us, so should we give to others. Not grudgingly, thinking it is our money, because its not. The money, though we may labor for it, comes because of His Grace, without which we would be jobless and destitute ourselves. We do not give grudgingly, NOR OF NECESSITY. It is not a Law with us, not a Law written in stone, that we give a certain amount to our Lord's work. We give as the Spirit of God leads us, and give as the Lord has prospered us. When we give as He has given, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you". As we give of His bounty, the Lord provides more bounty so that we can further give. This is the believer's way of life. Not clutching money so hard the green runs out of it, but allowing God's standard of Grace to be reflected in everything we do ... because we love both Godward and manward. The Israelite as well as the Christian must learn that (1 John 2:17)  "... the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

FOCAL ~ Deuteronomy 23:20a   "Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury" ... 

The Israelite WAS allowed to loan money at interest to the "foreigner" {nokriy  [nok-ree']}, the "outlander" or person not resident in Israel. This arrangement was NOT meant to be exploitive, though. The Israelite was not allowed to charge an unjust interest rate (such as the Credit Card companies do today), but only a fair rate for money lent. Further, the Israelite was NOT allowed to :

SUPPORTING ~ Leviticus 19:33-37  "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.  [34]  But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.  [35]  Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in mete yard, in weight, or in measure.  [36]  Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.  [37] Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD."

charge interest to the RESIDENT FOREIGNER in Israel. The Bible says that "the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself". Those who were traveling through Israel could be charged interest on money lent, but those who were resident, or living among the Israelites, were to be treated EXACTLY like they were Israelites. They were not to be charged interest, but loved "as thyself". Why? Because the Lord blessed Israel, though she was a stranger in bondage to Egypt, and just as HE GAVE TO ISRAEL He wanted Israel to give to the stranger living in her midst. There's that principle again: as God has given you, so shall you give. Our Lord and His ways do not change. We change, but not what He considers righteous. We make too much of money, and too little of those who were created in the image of God. We make entirely too much of our Church buildings, our pews, our great facilities, and too little of the people IN that building who are truly the Church of Christ.  What's more important to God? This ...

SUPPORTING ~ Exodus 22:25-27   "If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.  [26]  If thou at all take thy neighbor's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:  [27]  For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious."

And as God is gracious, so are we who believe in Him should be. God is watching. Jesus sees us!

"Vows" or promises made to the Lord God were common among the Israelites. The Israelite could make a vow to give the Lord something, or do something for Him in return for a special blessing, or to abstain from doing something in order to please the Lord. Vows were always voluntary, as our text states "if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee". However, once you make a vow to God, He does consider it an act of sin if you back out of your promise. Once you say it before Him, consider it a contract - and realize that He may yet "require it of thee" if you back away from the promise you made. C.H. Spurgeon stated:

"do not suffer all the lavish treasure of grace to be wasted upon you. Follow after holiness; it is the Christian's crown and glory. An unholy church! it is useless to the world, and of no esteem among men. It is an abomination, hell's laughter, heaven's abhorrence. The worst evils which have ever come upon the world have been brought upon her by an unholy church. O Christian, the vows of God are upon you. You are God's priest: act as such. You are God's king: reign over your lusts. You are God's chosen: do not associate with Belial. Heaven is your portion: live like a heavenly spirit, so shall you prove that you have true faith in Jesus, for there cannot be faith in the heart unless there be holiness in the life.

Nothing is more shameful to God than the believer who vows a vow before the Throne, then reneges on that vow.  When we accepted Christ as Savior we vowed a vow before Him to follow that Savior as closely as He would empower us to do.  Some in the Church have forgotten the first freewill vow, the promise made to the great High Priest Jesus. When we forget that first vow, that first promise, we are backslidden. 

When we make other vows to our Creator,  we are to be very careful not to make light promises to our Maker. We are in relationship with Him, and He demands that we keep the promises we make. If we do not keep those promises, and being human we often don't, then we come under Father's hand of judgment. Our Lord Jesus Christ warned us:

SUPPORTING ~ Matthew 5:33-37 "Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:  [34]  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:  [35]  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.  [36]  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.  [37]  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

It is better to consider your words carefully before vowing a vow before God, for "for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil". Or, as James said, 

SUPPORTING ~ James 5:12, "Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned."

The Israelite was allowed to eat the food of his neighbor's field for SUSTENANCE, but not for profit. Again, we see that the character of God emphasizes relationship over rights. Though it might be my field, though they might be my grapes or my corn, I owned these things because God allowed me to have them. And the word "mine" does not come into the equation when the my neighbor is hungry. James used the brother or sister in a destitute state to prove a point:

SUPPORTING ~ James 2:15-17  "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  [16]  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  [17]  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

I can be the "big man" in the Church, the Pastor or the Chairman of the Deacons. I can be an outward "pillar of the community". But if I can look at my brother or sister and ignore their need, if I can look at those for whom Christ died and have no compassion in my heart, then my faith is but an ALLEGED thing.  If you are saved, then you are a NEW CREATURE, a child of the Spirit of God, a child by the Blood of Christ. You are bought, but not just bought, you are BORN AGAIN. How can the born again of God turn their back on those suffering in our midst? How can the born again of Christ reject those of other skin tones, of other stations in life, of other race, and not feel the Spirit grieving inside? Your works do not save you, but if you are saved you will have the heart of Christ toward the poor and hungry. The disciples bade our Lord, "Leave, let them get their own meals", while Jesus said, "No, gather the few fish and bread, and Father will provide". Wesley stated:

"What will such a charity as this, that consists in bare words, avail  either you or the poor? Will you come before God with such empty shows  of charity as these? You might as well pretend that your love and  charity will stand the test without acts of mercy as think that a  profession of faith will bear you out before God without works of piety  and obedience. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being  along,"  We are too apt to rest in a bare profession of faith, and to think that  this will save us; it is a cheap and easy religion to say, "We believe  the articles of the Christian faith;" but it is a great delusion to  imagine that this is enough to bring us to heaven. Those who argue thus  wrong God, and put a cheat upon their own souls; a mock-faith is as  hateful as mock-charity, and both show a heart dead to all real  godliness. You may as soon take pleasure in a dead body, void of soul,  or sense, or action, as God take pleasure in a dead faith, where there  are no works."