Leviticus Chapter 24 Taking the Lord's name in vain
The section recalls the event where two men got in a fight within the camp and one of the men blasphemed the name of YHWH.
It mentions that he was half Israeli and half Egyptian, so not a full-fledged Israelite. The punishment that God directed the people carry out was stoning to death. This event let them know that God expected them to administer the penalties for sins His way without exception, regardless if one is full Israeli or half or not at all as long as the person was living among the people. This man may not have been devoted to Israel's God and took His name lightly as if it was not special and holy. Good for anyone to remember that God expects us to revere Him and His name always. We are to make a practice of speaking rightly of Him, not lightly.
The remainder of the chapter deals with various offenses and the penalty to be administered for each. Here we have mention the "eye for an eye" regulation. This regulation is not so much that it is compulsory for one to repay in kind, but to be sure that excessive penalties are not given arbitrarily. The penalty must be fitting for the offense. That is the impetus for this regulation.
Certainly, there was room for forgiveness to be given instead of a penalty. But it was lawful for a person to deliver the penalty to the one who offended. These regulations kept punishment for crimes within humane limits. Murder brought the death penalty, but other offenses did not. These regulations teach respect for the bodily integrity of others and for their property to be valued.
With the Israelites being responsible for meting out the penalties, all of the congregation experienced both receiving and giving out penalties for offenses. So, they knew first-hand the cost of such offenses. In our society today we leave the penalties up to law enforcement agencies. We get to keep "clean hands" in a way that the Israelites did not have.
The first section are instructions to the priests concerning keeping the lampstand lit continually in the Holy Place and always having showbread on the table in the Holy Place which is changed out each Sabbath.
The second section is the account of a person in the camp blaspheming the name of the LORD and his punishment as instituted by God.
The third sections contain instructions on the penalties for certain offenses against persons and property.
The Lampstand was to be supplied oil from the Israelites. They were responsible to press (and beat) the olives to extract oil that was pure for burning in the lampstand. It was the responsibility of the priests to keep the fire burning the oil in the lamps on this stand perpetually without it going out. The lampstand was the only light to illuminate this part of the tent of meeting. The heavy drapes would block out any sunlight. The light of the lampstand enabled the priests to complete their service to the Lord in the Holy Place without fault. Jesus is our light. He enables us to serve the Lord from the heart in ways that honor and please Him. He continually enlightens us to know God's will for us and fuels us to obey.
The showbread was placed on the golden table. There were twelve large loaves (6 lbs. of fine flour for each) placed in a specified arrangement (rows) Frankincense was placed on each loaf. Israelites from each tribe were to supply the flour for these loaves. The priest would bake them and place them on the table each Sabbath. The ones taken off the table (week old) were to be used as food for the priests. Jesus is the bread of life. He is our spiritual sustenance. We partake of Him by continually having His word in our hearts, upon our lips, and before our eyes. The Father delights to look upon Jesus continually.
These rituals that the priests were responsible for remind us of the importance of practicing godly habits.
Here in the USA our founding documents Declaration of Independence actually states We The People, to be that Governing 'authority' "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, & institute a new Government, laying it's foundations on such principals''._. To effect Safety & happiness "
"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, "
..."the Laws of Nature & Nature's GOD entitled them"._._.a "Duty" to stand & abolish a tyrannical governing body after a "long train of abuses & usurpations, " "duty to throw off such government"
Government / Governors in biblical example would rightfully punish evildoers & protect. 1Peter 2:13-25, 2Peter 2:14,
Leviticus chapter 24 seems to have a narrative in the first 9 verses on the perpetuity of the fire of God with a sudden interruption based on the Israelite woman's son and his blasphemy toward God. Whether there was an intended break in the scroll; or not this is how it appears in KJV.
One could say that the eternal consequences for the law; in regard to the "unforgiveable sin" which is tied in with blasphemy in the N.T. of the Holy Spirit is the opposite of the perpetual light of God's people; bringing the lost to eternal punishment. There are a few other reminders here of "an eye for an eye; tooth for tooth" in verse 20; etc. God has laws of a death penalty which don't have to be looked at as mutually exclusive to Grace. It is unlikely from the event that this man asked for the God of Israel to forgive his sins with his soul about to head to eternity; although technically it is only the reaction to the Holy Spirit; not toward God or Christ that is unforgiveable again, according to Christ. We have to consider a nation or society under the governing powers that the Lord has asked us to be submissive to; whenever a choice doesn't have to be made to disobey God in order to be obedient to those in authority. When we look to the value of a human life; and the importance of a person's property or possessions a full restitution still holds as I see it. Those who stole; for instance are said to need to be providers; as the N.T. states.
It should be noted that blasphemy was to include both the native born (as in this case) AND the stranger as to the punishment of death. (v. 16). As far as being put outside the camp; that is where Christ became a curse for us. We realize that we have all in a sense cursed God and been enemies of God before salvation.
Eric, I'm not aware of which discussion thread you're referring to: "stoning to death is just a spiritual death", so can't comment specifically on what was written there. But if that conversation was in respect of, for example, Stephen's stoning ( Acts 7:58), then it's clearly a physical stoning as all the verses depicting that event clearly show. Maybe, some people can't bear the thought of a person being stoned, as was done in those days & sometimes happens now under Islamic law in rural areas, & so they form their interpretation based on their feelings rather than fact. So please remember, those that offer their opinions, whether correctly based on Scripture or not, are doing just that (an opinion) & it's up to the reader to consider those comments & make their assessment - maybe even offer yours so that a good discussion can happen. God bless you in your journey.
Why are you guys saying stoning to death is just a spiritual death? Wouldn't the Bible say that and not left for us to interpret a different meaning? Maybe it's time I don't read the discussions anymore. We people make something more out of nothing.
You can't spiritually kill anyone; because we are born spiritually dead. Only Adam and Eve where created spiritually alive. But the day they ate of the tree they both spiritually died. And since then everyone born on earth are born spiritually dead. We can only be made spiritually alive again through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
yara; The Commandment is, Thou shalt not commit murder: the punishment for crimes that demand the death penalty is not murder. Putting to death a person who commits murder is not murder; but righteous judgment. It is written in the Law of the Lord, that when someone raises a false witness against an innocent man to do him evil that the thing he thought to do shall be done to himself, without pity.
To Geri on v. 16 - if stoning to death was only 'spiritual', I'd really like to know how they 'spiritually killed someone? God's word gives PLAIN instructions on EVERY action taken and performed in HIS name - so where are the instructions for the spiritual stoning?
Remember the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. Seek our Father and through His Son continually so your oil will be plentiful and your lamp will burn bright.
Put to death and stoning is in the spiritual sense confirmed by the very next verse when the Father warns that those that kill any man will also be put to death: 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
This is a picture, in type of the nation of Israel itself represented by the son of the Israelitish woman Who would seek to kill the true man of Israel the Lord Jesus Christ.
In answer to James ' question "bible verses Leviticus 19 and 24 encourages eye for an eye why would God who is all loving and just be advocating this ". It is to show that evil sin must be punished and that no one is exempt from paying for their sin. Although through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour that we are not bound to the Old Testament punishment and that by asking for Christ 's forgiveness of our sin we are absolved of them.
boy! there is never an excuse to curse the LORD, anyone that curse the LORD have to really be crazy,that is a scary thing to do ,it tells me that a person that does such a thing does not know HIM. some times when I pray I will pray LORD keep my mind.because YOU promise that if I keep my mind stayed on YOU ,YOU will keep my mind in perfect peace.
The section recalls the event where two men got in a fight within the camp and one of the men blasphemed the name of YHWH.
It mentions that he was half Israeli and half Egyptian, so not a full-fledged Israelite. The punishment that God directed the people carry out was stoning to death. This event let them know that God expected them to administer the penalties for sins His way without exception, regardless if one is full Israeli or half or not at all as long as the person was living among the people. This man may not have been devoted to Israel's God and took His name lightly as if it was not special and holy. Good for anyone to remember that God expects us to revere Him and His name always. We are to make a practice of speaking rightly of Him, not lightly.
The remainder of the chapter deals with various offenses and the penalty to be administered for each. Here we have mention the "eye for an eye" regulation. This regulation is not so much that it is compulsory for one to repay in kind, but to be sure that excessive penalties are not given arbitrarily. The penalty must be fitting for the offense. That is the impetus for this regulation.
Certainly, there was room for forgiveness to be given instead of a penalty. But it was lawful for a person to deliver the penalty to the one who offended. These regulations kept punishment for crimes within humane limits. Murder brought the death penalty, but other offenses did not. These regulations teach respect for the bodily integrity of others and for their property to be valued.
With the Israelites being responsible for meting out the penalties, all of the congregation experienced both receiving and giving out penalties for offenses. So, they knew first-hand the cost of such offenses. In our society today we leave the penalties up to law enforcement agencies. We get to keep "clean hands" in a way that the Israelites did not have.
This chapter has several sections.
The first section are instructions to the priests concerning keeping the lampstand lit continually in the Holy Place and always having showbread on the table in the Holy Place which is changed out each Sabbath.
The second section is the account of a person in the camp blaspheming the name of the LORD and his punishment as instituted by God.
The third sections contain instructions on the penalties for certain offenses against persons and property.
The Lampstand was to be supplied oil from the Israelites. They were responsible to press (and beat) the olives to extract oil that was pure for burning in the lampstand. It was the responsibility of the priests to keep the fire burning the oil in the lamps on this stand perpetually without it going out. The lampstand was the only light to illuminate this part of the tent of meeting. The heavy drapes would block out any sunlight. The light of the lampstand enabled the priests to complete their service to the Lord in the Holy Place without fault. Jesus is our light. He enables us to serve the Lord from the heart in ways that honor and please Him. He continually enlightens us to know God's will for us and fuels us to obey.
The showbread was placed on the golden table. There were twelve large loaves (6 lbs. of fine flour for each) placed in a specified arrangement (rows) Frankincense was placed on each loaf. Israelites from each tribe were to supply the flour for these loaves. The priest would bake them and place them on the table each Sabbath. The ones taken off the table (week old) were to be used as food for the priests. Jesus is the bread of life. He is our spiritual sustenance. We partake of Him by continually having His word in our hearts, upon our lips, and before our eyes. The Father delights to look upon Jesus continually.
These rituals that the priests were responsible for remind us of the importance of practicing godly habits.
"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, "
..."the Laws of Nature & Nature's GOD entitled them"._._.a "Duty" to stand & abolish a tyrannical governing body after a "long train of abuses & usurpations, " "duty to throw off such government"
Government / Governors in biblical example would rightfully punish evildoers & protect. 1Peter 2:13-25, 2Peter 2:14,
One could say that the eternal consequences for the law; in regard to the "unforgiveable sin" which is tied in with blasphemy in the N.T. of the Holy Spirit is the opposite of the perpetual light of God's people; bringing the lost to eternal punishment. There are a few other reminders here of "an eye for an eye; tooth for tooth" in verse 20; etc. God has laws of a death penalty which don't have to be looked at as mutually exclusive to Grace. It is unlikely from the event that this man asked for the God of Israel to forgive his sins with his soul about to head to eternity; although technically it is only the reaction to the Holy Spirit; not toward God or Christ that is unforgiveable again, according to Christ. We have to consider a nation or society under the governing powers that the Lord has asked us to be submissive to; whenever a choice doesn't have to be made to disobey God in order to be obedient to those in authority. When we look to the value of a human life; and the importance of a person's property or possessions a full restitution still holds as I see it. Those who stole; for instance are said to need to be providers; as the N.T. states.
It should be noted that blasphemy was to include both the native born (as in this case) AND the stranger as to the punishment of death. (v. 16). As far as being put outside the camp; that is where Christ became a curse for us. We realize that we have all in a sense cursed God and been enemies of God before salvation.
Just don't sin and you will not have to do this.
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