THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

SEPTEMBER 12^TH, 2004

DEUTERONOMY 25

PUNISHMENT THAT FITS THE CRIME

I. The most common form of punishment under the Law is scourging. (1-3)

A. The goal of the Law is to justify the righteous and condemn the wicked. (1)

- see Proverbs 17:15

B. The punishment must fit the crime. (3)

1. The criminal was to be beaten “according to his fault.”

2. The beating was not to exceed 40 stripes for the worst crime.

- see II Corinthians 11:24

3. While the criminal is beaten, the Chief Justice of the court read aloud Deuteronomy 28:58-59.

- the whip had three lashes. Each stroke was considered three strikes, so that 13 strikes equaled 39 lashes.

II. The Law demanded that workers be treated well. (4)

A. The ox is not to be forbidden to eat while working.

B. This verse is used in the New Testament to show the duty that God’s people have towards ministers of the Word.

- see I Corinthians 9:9-10 and I Timothy 5:17-18

III. The duty of a family extended beyond death. (5-10)

A. A family that lives together is described in verse 5.

1. A married man has brothers who are unmarried.

2. The married brother dies and has no children.

3. The single brother is to marry his deceased brother’s wife.

4. The first-born is to be named for the deceased brother. (6)

B. What if the brother does not want to marry his sister-in-law?

1. He may refuse to marry her, but not without penalty. (7)

2. The wife may protest to the authorities

3. The elders are to try and persuade him. (8)

4. If he is determined not to marry her, she is to loose his shoe, and spit in his face. (9)

- he has shown a lack of devotion to his brother’s name.

5. The brother is to be known in all of Israel as a man who did not take care of his brother’s name or spouse. (10)

IV. An extreme illustration concerning modesty under the Law. (11-12)

A. Even in the defense of her husband, a woman could not do anything immodest.

- see Matthew 18:8-9

B. Matthew Henry said: “Modesty is the hedge of chastity.”

V. Cheating, and false scales, are prohibited in public and at home. (13-19)

A. Cheating is not to be tolerated at any time. (13-14)

1. There are not be MANY standards. (14)

2. There is to be ONE standard, and it is to be “perfect and just.”

3. Cheating is unrighteousness, and an abomination. (16)

B. God will bless honest. (15)

C. A reference is made to Amalek in Exodus 17.

D. The just God of the Bible demands that His people be just in their dealings.

Conclusion – Please read Deuteronomy 26 for next Sunday.