God’s Purposes in Crime & Punishment

• Review:

  • What was the one day that a human was permitted behind the curtain into the Holy of Holies?

  • What was Azazel?

  • Leviticus 19 is about loving my neighbor. What does loving my neighbor have to do with mixed fibers in my shirt? (Leviticus 19:18-19 / Romans 13:8-10)
  • In Israel, under God, both have to do with holiness.
  • God’s people were instructed to be divided from nations around them – in every way; activities and appearance.
  • The Hebrews (along with us) are meant to be separate from those around us in how we treat our neighbors. This is why it is the 2nd Greatest Commandment!

  • Since God said that garments should be single fiber in Leviticus 19 and that seems out-of-order and not applicable now days, then every commandment in the Bible that goes against culture is not necessary applicable now days. T/F?

  • Why does God get to make the rules that we are expected to follow – especially considering some are so difficult to follow?

2Grave Crimes

• The punishment phase is entered into in Leviticus 20…and the penalty is typically . Leviticus 20:9
  • Sins against religion deserved death by stoning. (Ex.21:28; Lev.20:27; 24:16; Num.15:35-36; Deut.13:11; 17:5; 21:21; 22:21,24)
  • The penalty was carried out by the people of the village – ordinary citizens.
  • Sins cover the gravest of offenses against life, religion, and the family.

  • What does it say about God when He holds those responsible who know something is going on and yet “close their eyes” to it? (Leviticus 20:4)

• Loyalty to God overrides every other relationship. Luke 14:26
  • Our relationship to God guides every other relationship in our lives.
  • Israel is reminded of her uniqueness – she is given this land through divine promise.
• Their behavior in the land must be separate from those before her. Leviticus 20:22-26
  • They must be “separate.” Everything around them reminded them of this truth.

3God’s Purpose for Punishment

• Typically, surrounding nations had laws that penalized more for loss than for offenses against another or against God.
• Hebrews had more sever punishment for offending the holiness of life or the holiness of God than for material offences.
• In Hebrew law, the penalty should “fit” the crime (equal compensation). Deuteronomy 19:19-21
  • Punishment is meant to “ the evil from the midst of you.”
• The “evil” cannot be undone. Therefore, this must refer to the “guilt” of the offence. Genesis 4:10-11
• Sometimes, God prescribes a rite to atone for an unknown murderer that has stained the ground. Deuteronomy 21:1-9
• Punishment should others from committing the same crime. Deuteronomy 19:19-20
  • Punishment allows the offender to make atonement and be to society.
  • After payment, the offender suffers no loss of his civil rights.
  • Forgiveness is essential for society to continue. (Which of us has never sinned?)
  • This is why Jewish law restricted lashes to no more than 40.
  • A contrast is made with other cultures where punishment was extremely cruel to “make a point.”
  • Punishment allows the offender to the injured party.
  • Hebrew law had no system of fines. Instead, it imposed damages likened to what was stolen.
  • The offended party received recompense – not the State.
  • Punishment was meant to restore to the people and to the land.
  • Punishment was never intended to make someone rich.
  • Punishment was never intended to be a vehicle for vengeance.
  • Punishment was a means for civil law to be maintained by incorporating criminal law.
  • “God gave His law to restrain sin, not to reform sinners…”
  • “The penalties He imposed were for the purpose of upholding His law,
  • Not improving the offenders.”
  • -W. Wiersbe

4New Testament Overlaps

• The New Testament endorses the moral principles enshrined in Leviticus 20.
• In the Old Covenant, these things deserved death as the penalty.

• In the New Covenant, does the offence of the sin change? Why / Why not?

• Jesus seemed to preach a message that upheld the penalty for breaking these laws. Mark 7:9-10
• BUT…Jesus ate with sinners! He seemed to have relationships with them! He didn’t demand their deaths! Luke 15:1-2
• Jesus was a “friend” to sinners – it was evident to all. Sinners knew He welcomed them and they flocked to Him. Mat.9:10-13
  • Culture may change in how it carries out and develops laws. This doesn’t mean that God has changes His mind.
  • The laws of the government may not permit a Christian culture to emerge.
  • Christians must realize that they live in cultures that are governed largely now days by non-biblical worldview.
  • Overall, no matter how lightly government takes these laws of God, as Believers, they are our guiding light.
  • Application
  • With increased population comes increased complexity in law.
  • Israel lived in close communities.
  • Elders of the people were intimate in carrying out the law.
  • Any offence would have been public knowledge. (Today, criminals can remain undetected)
  • Those who carried out the law were intimate in the situation.
  • Parents of consistently dishonoring children brought them before the Elders for public punishment.
  • The one who threw the first stone in a stoning was the one who had laid the accusation against the offender.
  • Authority is necessary in civilization. Without authority to enforce laws, even godly laws, corruption runs amuck. (Judges 17:6; 19:1)
  • God gave laws even to His holy people. Without law, a sin-filled world would degrade to final collapse.
• The follower of God is expected to be a follower of the laws of the land. Romans 13:1-2
• There is NO account for disrespect of the authority of the land. Romans 13:5
  • Rulers of the land created by God and over those who bear God’s image will be held to account for how they rule.
  • “Indeed, I tremble for my country
  • When I reflect that God is just.”

5-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia

6NEXT WEEK: Religion Rules the Day (Leviticus 21-24)