Deuteronomy Chapter 17
Why Dispensations ?
1. Innocence. 2. Conscience.
3. Human govt. 4. Promise.
5. Law 6. Grace 7. Divine Govt
“…all these things we will do…” Ex. 24.
Exodus 24:3
Why a “Second Law” ?
new Generation
new Possession
new Lifestyle
new Love
Let us therefore renew the Covenant (of the Law) !
● means “second law”; e.g. the Ten Commandments again (Deuteronomy 6).
● Deuteronomy 17 has some parallelism with 10 commandments; love and
worship God in a pure manner, then behave in a righteous manner toward
immediate others, then the godliness of your society, then its testimony.
● chapters 30-33 have Moses' parting words (which have broad application).
● contains key passages used in morning & evening Jewish worship services:
a ‘statement of faith’: Deut 6:4-, Deut 11:13-, Numbers 15:37- (The Shema).
● quoted by Jesus multiple times (incl. three times during His temptation);
about 56 citations or clear allusions to verses in Deuteronomy are in the NT.
Chapter 17 is within the Civil Law section of Deuteronomy.
Some verses in DEUTERONOMY 17 :4-20 used in the SHEMA
KINDS OF MEN and KEY WORDS
Abominable Men (summary stoning, no gates) – Abominable !
Expunged Men (specific actions & gates of judgment) – Purge !!
Presumptuous Men (re-actions & gates of judgment) ) – Presumptuous ?
Royal Men (entire reigns assessed by God) – Regal (or carnal) ??
Moral examination and condemnation are everywhere in our society, and most of it based on emptying of the truth, upending of the truth, lies, counterfeits, and darkened thinking.
Do we have: (i) perfect moral clarity, and
(ii) the moral fortitude to act on the basis of what we see?
Worship tops the list, it comes before ‘looking around’.
Examinations
0th – Individual examines his holy offering, based
on understanding, speaks of purity of redemption
(viz. The Redeemer).
1st – Witnesses examines the sinning ‘neighbour’.
2nd – Priests examine the witnesses.
3rd – The contentious challenge the priests.
4th – The Word examines the king.
0th - Individual examines his own offering
1You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep which has a blemish or any defect (bad thing), for that is a detestable thing to the Lord your God.
1Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God.
1st - Witnesses examine the sinning neighbour.
DEUTERONOMY 17:2-7
1st - Witnesses ‘examine’ the sinning neighbour. 2nd - The priests examine the witnesses.
DEUTERONOMY 17:8-11
3rd - The contentious challenge the priests.
DEUTERONOMY 17:12-13
4th - The Word examines the king.
DEUTERONOMY 17:14-20
