CHAPTER 19:
There are a couple of scenes from my childhood that I can remember clearly. Most of them are when I did something really wrong. The lawnmower was one of them. I don’t know why my daddy thought it would be a great idea to give me a riding lawn mower, but he did. It was old and he fixed it up, painted it bright colors, and put me on it telling me to drive. I did . . . right over all the monkey grass that edged our walkway. I didn’t mean to chop up all the monkey grass; that’s just where the mower went. I remember how sad it looked: cut to the quick, white, no green to be seen. I felt so bad. I may have even cried. I knew I was doomed to be punished. My daddy didn’t scold me though. Maybe he realized it hadn’t been a good idea. I got to keep my lawn mower. He just took the blade off. Sometimes it isn’t our intention to mess something up. My daddy knew this, and God knows this too. He even made provisions for it in Deuteronomy 19.
Read Deuteronomy 19:1-3.
How many cities were they to set aside?
What was the purpose of these cities?
Read Deuteronomy 19:4-7.
Who is allowed to flee to one of these cities?
Why is he allowed to go there?
Why do you think God would establish a city of safety for this person away from the “avenger of blood?”
Read Deuteronomy 19:8-13.
What was to happen if a man guilty of murder flees to one of these cities?
What is the difference between this man and the man that is allowed to stay there?
Verse 13 gives the benefit of following these commands. What is that benefit?
Why would this be a benefit?
Read Deuteronomy 19:14.
Why does God not allow them to move the boundary marks of their property?
Read the rest of chapter 19.
Why does God require more than one witness, do you think?
What happens to a false witness?
How does the chapter end?
God took measures to protect the innocent, and we see this throughout the chapter. He provided a place for the person who unintentionally kills someone. He requires two or more witnesses to ensure that folks with a personal vendetta weren’t allowed too much power. He makes sure false witnesses are punished appropriately thus dissuading people from lying against one another.
This last statement, “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,” was unheard of in ancient laws. Today we might think the “eye for an eye” rule is a bit harsh, but it was meant to be an equalizer. Those in power, those with wealth, would not receive less punishment if guilty or be allowed to demand more punishment if wronged. Most ancient laws, even Hammurabi’s Code, gave more rights to the rich and powerful, leaving the poorer people at a disadvantage. This statement was a great equalizer, showing God’s view that all men are important and equal in His eyes. God protected those who were not able to protect themselves.
People are people though. Obviously, some Israelites went hard core with this concept using it for retaliation. Jesus confronted the Jews for using this “eye for an eye” concept as a reason for personal vengeance. In Matthew, Jesus explains that he has not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.
Read Matthew 5:17-18.
In regards to the Law, what has Jesus come to do?
How much of the Law will be abolished before everything is accomplished?
Christ is the fulfillment of the Law. Let’s think about that for a minute. It is actually a huge concept when you consider all the things the Israelites did to make sure the Law was followed. Let’s look at the basic Law that was given, the 10 Commandments.
Read Exodus 20: 1-17.
Number these commandments. The first one is completed for you.
_____ Do not lie.
__1___ God is #1.
_____ Do not commit adultery.
_____ Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
_____ Do not use the LORD’s name in a disrespectful way.
_____ Do not steal.
_____ Do not covet or be jealous of your neighbor’s things.
_____ Do not worship other gods.
_____ Honor your mother and father.
_____ Do not commit murder.
Jesus fulfilled all of these Laws. He kept the Law perfectly in both his actions and his heart. In fact, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained to the Jewish people that these Laws were not just actions to be completed, they were attitudes of the heart. To lust after a person that is not your husband or wife is adultery, even if you never act on that feeling. (Matthew 5:27-28) Jesus was sinless.
Jesus also fulfilled the ceremonial law by being the embodiment of the symbols. For example, he is the Passover lamb who died for us so that we would be spared from second death. I have to pause here. Do you get this? Our just God demands payment for broken laws, but He wants you there with Him. So He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty that would be demanded of you. (Romans 6:23) The cross is a perfect picture of God’s justice wrapped up in His love. He is just. He has provided a payment for your sins, but He will not force it on you. You must decide to take it. Not only is Jesus the Passover lamb, but He is the Word of God, the bread of life, the cup of redemption, and much more. As Christians we are not obligated to carry out the sacrifices commanded in the Old Testament because Christ has already accomplished their end: forgiveness of our sins.
Not only is Christ the moral and ceremonial fulfillment of the Law, he is also the fulfillment of the judicial law come to personify God’s perfect justice. Let’s look at this a little closer.
Read Matthew 12:18-21.
Who is the servant in these verses?
Who chose the servant?
What will he lead to victory?
To whom will this give hope?
These verses show Jesus coming in gentleness to restore what seems useless – the battered reed and smoldering wick. He proclaims justice to the Gentiles, and leads justice in victory. God makes clear in these verses that Christ is His chosen servant and holds His spirit. It is important to note here that our God is just. He punishes the wicked and protects the innocent. That is not always an image we want to consider nowadays. We want the loving God who saves everyone no matter how awful you are, but God never paints that image for us in scripture. He offers forgiveness, but He is just.
Does Jesus refute this law that comes from Deuteronomy 19?
What does he say to do instead?
The law given in Deuteronomy 19 was meant to limit punishment so that the punishment fit the crime. No one could extol more or less from you than was right and just. Jesus was calling people to surrender to the Law, just as he would surrender to God’s Law on the cross for us.
I’m concerned today that our world has a warped sense of justice. In a place where it is legal to kill an innocent unborn child, but a person receives jail time for abusing a dog, something must be wrong. Don’t get me wrong. I love my dogs and wouldn’t want anyone to hurt them, but murder of the defenseless and innocent should never be a “choice.” If God demands protection of the innocent and is a just God, I can only imagine what He will do with these things and the people who are allowing and supporting them. Will it be a life for a life when they stand before Him?
Sometimes, when I stop to think about these things, I am overwhelmed. Some of the things that happen in this world are monstrous. I feel like the useless battered reed and smoldering wick in Matthew 12. My realm of influence is small. I cannot stop the evils of the world. But I know the One who can . . . who will.
Read Revelation 19:11-16.
Is this a picture of forgiveness? Why or why not?
If this is a picture of justice, then what does this say about Christ?
What is His weapon?
If His weapon is His Word, wouldn’t it be important to know the Word before it is used to judge you?
Read Revelation 21:1-8.
Who will make things new?
What two adjectives describe His words?
In His justice, our Lord will right the wrongs. He will make all things new. The one who thirsts, the one who overcomes, he is the one who believes in Jesus Christ.
What will this person inherit? (Look back in verses 1-4.)
Who will not inherit these things?
What will they receive instead?
Friend, do you thirst for Christ? Are you counted among His overcomers? If so, you will be counted among those who dwell in the New Jerusalem. The LORD’S justice will prevail. Crying and pain and death and mourning will be gone forever. And you will get to hear Him say from His throne, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them . . .”
If this is not you, it is not too late. It is as simple as recognizing that you are a sinner who needs a savior. Then, place your faith in Jesus and His work on the cross, repent from your sins, and choose to follow Christ. He is faithful and true. He will do it. Come, Lord Jesus! Let it be!
Lesson to Remember: God is a just God who protects the innocent.
A Way to Walk: Be thankful that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Law and work to honor Him, for He has accomplished what you could not, and He offers you the freedom and peace his forgiveness guarantees.
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