Through The Bible
Session #7
January 9, 2002
Name derives from the Greek – ‘deuteros’ meaning ‘second.’ This is the 2nd giving of the Law (TTB, p. 25).
So what goes on in Deuteronomy?
It’s a giving in detail of the law to the new generation of Israel who had wandered in the wilderness and now is getting ready to enter the Promised Land (TTB, p. 25). Many of the law codes given in Deuteronomy are duplications from Exodus and Leviticus.
Why does it have to be given again?
Remember that the generation who left Egypt was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because of their rebellion and disobedience. The first generation that left Egypt has now died out. In Deuteronomy, the legal traditions in Exodus are reinterpreted in contemporary terms for 2nd generation Israel. The material in Deuteronomy is given at a great religious ceremony before the change of leadership from Moses to Joshua. Along with a change in leadership the people are getting ready to move into a new land, and exchange a nomadic kind of life for a settled life.
Where does this 2nd giving of the Law take place?
Geographically, the people are on the plains of Moab east of the Dead Sea and they are ready to attack Canaan from the east.
When does this happen?
Best guess for dating of Deuteronomy is middle of 13th century B.C.
The Outline of the book: Deuteronomy is made up of three addresses delivered by Moses before he dies:
1. The wilderness years: chapters 1-2.
2. Defeat of Sihon and Og.
1. Recounting the Ten Commandments (5.1-21).
2. The Shema (Hebrew word for ‘hear’ and 1st word of command in Deut. 6.4-5).
- The ‘heart’ denotes the mind or the will of a person.
- The ‘soul’ is the self or a person’s vital being.
- The ‘might’ means all a person’s ability or power.
3. Components of the Law and how worship is to be carried out.
1. The renewing of the Covenant at Moab (29.1-29).
2. God’s fidelity to Israel is restated (chapter 30).
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Old Testament Law and the Christian Faith[1]
How do these laws or legal formulas apply to us?
Are we as Christians expected to keep the specifics of the Old Testament Law?
If we are expected to keep the Law, how can we possibly do so since there’s no longer a central temple for our faith?
What about animal sacrifice?
If we’re not bound to keep the Law anymore, what about Matthew 5:18?
· The Old Testament Law was given to Israel by God. It was binding for that relationship.
· While the principles of the law (obedience, faith, fidelity to God, etc.) are relevant for our lives, many specifics of the Law are not (animal sacrifice, ritualistic Temple worship, etc.).
· Example: You tell your child to be home at 7:30pm and if they’re not home by then, they’ll be grounded. They arrive home at 7:45pm. Are you most interested in the time they arrive home or their attention to the principle of obedience?
· A majority of the Law can be grouped into two categories: (a) Israelite civil laws; (b) Israelite ritual laws.
· Civil laws – these are laws that applied to citizens of ancient Israel. No one today is a citizen of ancient Israel so it’s tough to apply the specifics of these laws.
· Ritual laws – tell people how to worship God (what kind of animals to sacrifice and how, etc.). Sacrifice was central to the Old Testament way of worshipping God. With Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the sacrificial system immediately outdated.
· Modern analogy: Consider a new labor contract. It may specify changes in working conditions, different staff structures, and different pay scales. But it may also retain features of old contracts – i.e., seniority, work breaks, protections against arbitrary firings, etc.
· See Luke 16:16-17. What about these verses? What was Jesus saying?
a. We are still under the law and not even the least stroke of the pen will ever drop out of the law.
b. The law cannot be changed. It’s impossible to keep in its entirety and so I’ve brought a new way, justification by faith.
· Some aspects of Old Testament ethical law are restated in the New Testament. Key concept: If it’s repeated in the New Testament, it probably still applies to us.
· Examples:
Matthew 22:34-40 uses Deut. 6.5 and Lev. 19.18. Note the principle involved here: Loving God with all that we are, loving others.
Matthew 5.21-37 repeats in various ways the Ten Commandments.
· Many commands God wants us to know about even though they don’t specifically apply to us.
· Again, we’re looking for the principle behind the law not always the specifics.
So what for Christians is the primary benefit of knowing ‘about’ the Law?
Do see the Old Testament law as God’s fully inspired word for you.
Don’t see the Old Testament law as God’s direct command to you.
Do see the Old Testament law as the basis for the Old Covenant, and therefore Israel’s history.
Don’t see the Old Testament law as binding on Christians in the New Testament except where specifically renewed.
Do see God’s justice, love, and high standards revealed in the Old Testament law.
Don’t forget to see that God’s mercy is made equal to the severity of the standards.
Don’t see the Old Testament law as complete. It’s not technically comprehensive.
Do see the Old Testament law as a paradigm, a model which provides examples for the full range of expected behavior.
Don’t expect the Old Testament law to be cited frequently by the prophets or the New Testament.
Do remember that the essence of the Law (Ten Commandments and two chief laws) is repeated in the prophets and renewed in the New Testament.
Do see the Old Testament law as a generous gift to Israel, bringing much blessing when obeyed.
Don’t see the Old Testament law as a grouping of arbitrary, annoying regulations limiting people’s freedom.
[1] Some of this information comes from Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart’s book, How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1982), pp. 135-148). This is an excellent resource for anyone wanting another tool for interpreting the Bible.