“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us — for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE” — in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3:10–14 NASB
““But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.””
Matthew 11:16–19 NASB
Were Yokhanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) and Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) taking Israel towards folly or fulfillment? They were in a generation of “gluttons” and “drunkards” who, in an ironic form of projection, accused the Forefunner (Yokhanan) and the Messiah of being demon possessed or of being a glutton and a drunkard, falsely accusing and condemning them for the very sins they were committing.
We are called to be loyal to HaShem1Hebrew for “The Name,” it’s a circumlocution for the four-Hebrew-letter name of God. and others, not to be adulterous and treacherous to anyone. That’s the message of the Torah passage כי תצא Ki Tetze (“when you go forth,” Deut. 21:10-25:19).
There are people and things that belong together and those that don’t. That is where we see the verses about what types of materials we make our clothes, of what kinds of animals can work together, etc.
We are also to stay clear of those things that are not helpful. The Apostle Paul made the point “everything is lawful but not everything is profitable.”
Even the simple instruction that women should not wear men’s garments has been turned upside-down. For example, there has been an explosion of gender dysphoria, particularly among girls. Rather than allowing puberty to sort it out after puberty, as it does for 70%–90% of those who experience gender dysphoria, our society is pushing children who experience gender confusion into taking powerful hormone and even surgical interventions to make their physical appearance conform to the opposite gender.
Marriage to a captive woman (Deut. 21:10–14)
Big ideas of this passage:
- The life of the war widow/orphan is in your hand.
- How do we treat those who have come under our “realm”?
Loving the “wife of your youth” is not only a literal command but also a spiritual one.
We need to keep in mind that when we are “fighting for the Lord” that we are to remember that He is fighting along side us.
The rules regarding taking care of one’s latrine seems to be arcane but as we have seen in the news lately, that our large cities that are struggling with a lack of hygiene in their streets have also become consumed by chaos in other areas.
Animal welfare is also an important theme int his reading. We are supposed to make sure animals are treated with kindness. We are not to hide our eyes when we see an animal in distress. If we have an argument with someone, we don’t take out any of our anger or frustration with our neighbor on their innocent animal.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9 NASB
How do we deal with persecution? How do we respond with a mob demands that we raise our fist or whatever in support of an unrighteous cause? The key is to know what you are going to do before you go into a situation, otherwise you will do something unwise or you will just go with the flow.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:14–21 NASB
As we see in the world today, when those who support evil are trying to force others to following in lock step with their destructive views.
There is a way to answer, and a way not to answer. It takes cunning and wisdom to help guide people from their folly to the path of wisdom.
Are there three different laws on marriage?
“Deuteronomy 21:10–14 is the first of three codes on marriage in Deuteronomy 12–26. These other codes are 22:13–30 and 24:1–4. The fact that three codes governing marriage appear at different places in the Deuteronomic code supports claims that Deuteronomy 12–26 is a collection of legislations that come from different periods and sociopolitical conditions in the history of Israel.”
Fortress Commentary, paragraph 2688
- Law 1: Wife from war (Deut. 21:10–14)
- Acculturation rather than infatuation is your mission.
- Law 2: Piggish husband, womanizer and rapist (Deut. 22:13–20)
- Your lust can kill you.
- Law 3: Remarriage after divorce (Deut. 24:1–4)
- Remember that you may not know what you had until it’s gone.
Yeshua on marriage
“‘It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’ [Deut. 24:1–4]; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.’”
Matthew 5:31–32 NASB
Yeshua taught several times that divorce is only permissible in cases of adultery. But even that was permitted only because of the hardness of people’s hearts, as Moses said in Deut. 24:1-4.
The first Matthew passages part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) is one of the passage’s so-called “six antitheses” — “you’ve heard it said … but I tell you” — where Yeshua supposedly was rescinding Torah commands.
Consider Yeshua’s instructions in Matthew 19:3–12 about not making vows or oaths. It’s not an abrogation of the commandment but a stern warning to think two or three times than rethinking it before going forward.
Summary: Tammy