Tag: Deuteronomy 21-23

True Holiness

Deuteronomy 21-23

When reading chapters such as the ones we read today, I find it’s sometimes easy to just glide through these laws that initially seem irrelevant to us today. Within these ancient statutes, however, two timeless themes particularly stood out to me: God’s call for His people to be set apart in holiness, and His heart for the most vulnerable in society.

1. A Call to Holiness

As we’ve read previously, God set Israel apart from the surrounding nations to be a people that reflected His righteousness. These laws we observed today emphasize moral purity, integrity, and responsibility within the community. For example, laws regarding sexual immorality (Deut. 22:13-30) were meant to protect family structures and promote faithfulness. 

While we no longer live under these specific laws, the principle of holiness remains. Something beautiful happens in the New Testament—though it caused an outrage at the time. Jesus shifted the focus from outward regulations to inward transformation. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. – Matthew 5:8

Holiness today, while still requiring abiding by a list of rules (the handy little updated one provided by Jesus), is ultimately about living in a way that honors God, demonstrating His love and goodness in our daily actions. Even though we don’t face the consequence of being stoned to death if we fall into temptation, these passages point out just how important it is in the eyes of God that we choose to walk in His light. 

2. Justice and Care for the Vulnerable

These chapters also reveal our Father’s deep concern for justice and protection of the weak; many of the laws were designed to guard against exploitation:

  • Captive women were given dignity and rights, rather than being killed or treated as property, as they would if their home had been conquered by other nations at the time (Deut. 21:10-14).
  • Neighbors were expected to care for one another—returning lost property and offering help when needed (Deut. 22:1-4).
  • Fair treatment of runaway slaves—they were not to return an escaped slave to their master but to let them settle freely in their land. (Deuteronomy 23:15-16)

We see Jesus continue this mission throughout his ministry on earth, declaring, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18-19). He demonstrated through both his life and death that true holiness heeds more than personal purity, but also constantly considers how best we can treat those around us, especially those in need.  

-Isabella Osborn

Reflection Questions:

  • How do we maintain spiritual purity in a world full of distractions? What are some ways you can guard your heart, mind, and actions?
  • Even though we are no longer called to live according to the Old Law, we still are called to holiness in the New Testament. What are some of Jesus’ commandments that you find it difficult to abide by?
  • What are some practical ways we can reflect God’s heart for the weak and vulnerable in our modern world?
SGL.2025.MarchFullPageDownload
SGL.2025.CalendarBookletDownload

If you’re not a sinner, you can skip this

Deuteronomy 21-23

Deut 22 21 b NIV 

What we’re pulling out of this text today and applying to our lives today may at first seem contradictory, but I don’t believe that it is.

Throughout these chapters, we see the phrase, “purge the evil from among you.”  In fact, many of the instructions God gave to the Israelites were for this very purpose.

Purging implies a complete eradication.  If my kids had lice, my goal would be a complete purge.  Mostly gone wouldn’t cut it.  That’s how God sees sin.

Purge sin completely

Paul gives a great analogy in 1 Corinthians 5, comparing sin among the body of Christ (the church) to yeast,

“Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?”

And in Ephesians 5 he uses that analogy again, and gives even more instruction on choosing God’s best (living by the Spirit) instead of choosing what comes naturally (the sinful nature).

Let’s come back to that thought after we look at our next principle.  Exclusion.

Come to the Table

In Deuteronomy chapter 23, we’re shown a list of those who are to be excluded from entering the assembly of the LORD.  Those of certain ancestry, illegitimate birth, or certain physical deformities were forbidden.

Instead of applying this principle directly to believers today, what strikes me is my gratefulness that Jesus changed all of this for us.

In Matthew 22 he tells a story of a banquet that the invited guests have declined to attend.  The host decides to invite everyone, even the ‘undesirables’.

“So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.”

Paul addresses this as well in 1 Corinthians 6 when, after listing all of those who will not be a part of God’s kingdom….the sexually immoral, idolators, thieves, the greedy, the drunkards and more… he says to the church,

“And that is what some of you were.”

You might be thinking that these two principles give counter instructions.  After all, how can we “purge the evil from among us” if we are not excluding the wicked and sinful people?

Simply put, we are the sinful people.  God invites us to the table despite our wickedness, despite our illegitimacy. Once invited, the banquet changes us. As we indulge in the presence of God’s pure holiness, we are called to purge sin from our life and from our church body.  But let us never forget, like Paul writes in 1 Timothy, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXXxLwxfo0U

 

Susan Landry

 

Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+21-23&version=NIV

Tomorrow’s reading will be Deuteronomy 24-27 as we continue the 2020 Chronological Bible Reading Plan