Teaching Deuteronomy

Making sense of the Law
Do you struggle with the Old Testament? In particular what do you make of the Old Testament laws? What about “make tassels on the four corners of your cloak”? (Deuteronomy 22:12). Or the instruction to stone a rebellious son? (Deuteronomy 21:21) Should we just pass over these passages, and be a little embarrassed that they exist in our Bibles?

Paul Barker – minister, author and teacher - has written a new book Teaching Deuteronomy designed to help pastors and bible teachers in the developing world to faithfully explain and apply these difficult scriptures. It is part is part of the Good Book Company’s Pray, Prepare, Preach series.

In it, Paul provides a useful checklist when looking at Old Testament laws and how to work out their application in today’s world:

What is the reason for each law? Try to think, “What is the reason for the law?” Some laws may have the reason to love your neighbour. Some are about worshipping only God. Some are because the people of Israel must be different from other nations. Some laws are about safety. Some are about fair justice. Some protect the poor.

It is not always easy to find the reason for a law. What is the reason for the law that you shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk? It is hard for us to know. But probably the reason is to stop the people of Israel following the behaviour of people of other religions.

Most reasons still apply today Most of the reasons for the laws still apply. The New Testament does not change many reasons for the laws. Christians should love their neighbour, worship only God, have safe places, be fair and just, and be different from unbelievers. Many laws still apply for Christians. God’s standards of love and holiness have not changed.

Some reasons apply but our culture is different Many of us live in different cultures from ancient Israel. One example is houses. In Old Testament times, people had flat roofs on their houses. For safety, they must make a parapet or fence on the roof. Many cultures do not have flat roofs. But the reason of safety still applies. There are other ways we must make our house safe. For example, to make the electric wires safe or make the cooking place safe for children.

Some reasons change because Jesus fulfils laws Jesus fulfils the sacrifices of the Old Testament. Christians must not offer animal sacrifices. Christians are right with God only because they trust in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sin. Also, Jesus is the living temple (John 2:21). Christians do not go to a tabernacle or temple or Jerusalem to worship God. Christians go to Jesus to worship God. There is no special place for worship any more. Christians apply the Old Testament laws about sacrifice and temple through Jesus.

Some reasons change because God’s people now are not one nation God’s people are now a church in every nation. The worldwide church is the fulfilment of the nation of ancient Israel. Some reasons for the Old Testament laws are based on God’s people as a nation. So the reason for the Old Testament laws about the nation changed. One example: in Deuteronomy, an Israelite who has wrong sexual relations is put to death. Now, a Christian who has wrong sexual relations may be sent out of the church (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).

Some reasons change because the kingdom of heaven replaces earthly promised land Christians do not have to live in the earthly promised land like ancient Israel. The land that is important is the heavenly land. So the law about conquering the land does not apply to Christians. Christians fight a spiritual battle. Jesus has defeated our main enemy, Satan, on the cross.

Some reasons change because God’s people now are Jews and Gentiles In the Old Testament, foreigners are treated as different from the people of God. The Israelites must behave differently from foreigners. When Jesus came, the good news of sins forgiven is for Gentiles and Jews.

Why we obey God We must remember the reason why we obey God’s laws. The people of Israel were to fear and obey God because he rescued them from Egypt. Christians are to trust and obey God because he rescues us on the cross. Only in Jesus are we saved. God wants faith seen in obedience from his people in the Old and New Testaments. Believers are not saved by keeping the law. Believers are saved by Christ alone through faith. That faith is seen in obedience. We must live a life worthy of Jesus (Ephesians 4:1).

So, the next time you come across an Old Testament law that seems out of kilter with our modern age, don’t just quickly read on. Wrestle with it, applying these guidelines – and find new ways to demonstrate our obedience to Jesus.