AM Bible Study Group; December 14, 2011
Deuteronomy 25:1-19
Theme: The miscellaneous laws in this section call God’s people to be sure that justice is practiced in even the remarkable experiences of life.
This section of Deuteronomy deals, it seems, with rather unusual situations—what we might call ‘life’s fringes’. But even in the fringe areas of life, we must make sure that we honor God’s law and seek justice and mercy in our relationships with one another. These commandments almost provide an argument ‘from the lessor to the greater’; in that if we are called upon to apply God’s law to even such obscure areas of life as these, then we most certainly must apply them to all others.
I. DON’T HUMILIATE A CRIMINAL (v. 1-3).
The determination is made, in a dispute, that someone truly is guilty. The guilty party may not be punished randomly; but it must be done in a judicious way—with a fair determination of the case. Punishment must be administered in the sight of the judge; and it must be equitable to the crime. And even then, the punishment must be limited. In the most extreme cases, no more than forty blows were to be administered. This is so that the fellow Jew would not be humiliated beyond what is proper. Note that this was interpreted so carefully in Paul’s day that he was administered thirty-nine lashes—so as not to inadvertently exceed the number forty (see 2 Corinthians 11:24).
II. LET THE TREADING OX EAT (v. 4).
Dr. Thompson writes, “In the agricultural society of the ancient Near East, the grain was released from its stalk by drawing a threshing-sledge, to which sharp stones were attached, round and round over the grain stalks. The threshed material was then thrown up on broad flat forks into the air so that the wind might carry away the chaff and leave the grain” (J.A. Thompson, Deuteronomy, TOTC [Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1978], p. 250). Since God’s law commanded that mercy be shown even to animals (Deuteronomy 22:6-7), and since “A righteous man regards the life of his animals” (Proverbs 12:10), God commanded that the ox that threshes the grain be allowed to eat it as it threshes. A farmer must not be so greedy for profits that he is unmerciful to his beasts. This is used as an argument from the lessor to the greater in Matthew 10:9-11; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9:9-10; 1 Timothy 5:17-18. It teaches us that those who labor have the right to enjoy something of the benefits of their work.
III. PROTECT THE INHERITANCE OF A BROTHER (vv. 5-10).
The purpose of this command was to prevent family lines within Israel from becoming extinct, and property from passing on to strangers. In Matthew 22:23-33, the Sadducees tried to use this law to trap Jesus by making the resurrection sound absurd; but He responded that “in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven” (v. 30). This law plays a large part in the story of Ruth (see Ruth 3:9-18). There was a provision for a man to be excused from this law (see Ruth 4:1-13); but the moral seriousness of this command before God is shown from the story of Onan in Genesis 38:8-10. The removal of the sandal may have been a symbolic statement of an injustice done to the land of his brother.
IV. DON’T RESORT TO UNSEEMLINESS (vv. 11-12).
The punishment being described here is severe; but it is only here mentioned in God’s law, while it is a very frequent punishment in the law codes of the surrounding nations. The reason that this particular punishment is mentioned in this particular case may be intended to show that—even in the most extreme of situations—such a thing should never be done. The ends do not justify the means.
V. HAVE INTEGRITY IN BUSINESS DEALINGS (vv. 13-16).
Justice and honesty in the use of measurements and scales was explicitly commanded elsewhere in God’s law (see Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:35-36). This is because “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight” (Proverbs 11:1). God Himself is honest and true; and so He expects the same from His people. He notices when others are oppressed by such dishonest means (see Amos 8:4-6); and He promises to punish it severely (Micah 6:9-14).
IV. DEAL FAITHFULLY WITH THE UNJUST (vv. 17-19).
The roots of this command are found in Exodus 17:8-16 and in Amalek’s refusal to show mercy to the weak. The failure to do as God said is found in 1 Samuel 15:2-9; which left the Amalekites as a constant problem to the people of Israel (1 Samuel 27:8-9; 28:16-19; 30:1-19; 1 Chronicles 4:43)—and in a way that almost lead to their complete destruction (see Esther 3:1-15).