Deuteronomy 19:11-21 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 19:11-21. Let’s go!
Deuteronomy 19:11-21 (NIV)
11 But if a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him, assaults and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities,
12 the elders of his town shall send for him, bring him back from the city, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die.
13 Show him no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.
14 Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime,
17 the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.
18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother,
19 then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you.
20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you.
21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
On verses 11-21: Deuteronomy 19:11-13 says that if a person has stood trial and been convicted of murder, that person cannot continue to hide in the city of refuge. Rather, the convicted murderer must be handed over to the avenger of blood to die (v12).
So, for a person who truly did commit murder, the city of refuge was only a temporary sanctuary until he or she stood trial (see Numbers 35:12). If the person stood trial and on the basis of two or three reliable witnesses (v15) was convicted of murder, he would need to be taken out of the city of refuge and be executed (v12).
Similarly, if a person was found to have been a lying and malicious witness, falsely accusing another of murder, then that false witness would be punished like a murderer (v16-21).
All this talk about murder reminds me of what Jesus says in Matthew 5:21-22:
Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV)
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
What is Jesus saying? At the very least we can see that God’s standards are much higher than ours. God’s judgment is not only for those who actually commit the act of murder. God’s judgment applies to those of us who never actually intentionally kill a person but who harbour hatred or wrathful judgment against that person. In other words, we’re all in need of God’s mercy.
The good news of the Gospel is that though all of us deserved to be punished for our sin, God allowed His own Son Jesus take on our punishment. He was killed in our place. That’s the love of God. So that our sins wouldn’t separate us from Him, Jesus died for us.
Also, what is verse 14 talking about with Moses telling the Israelites not to move their neighbour’s boundary stone? Back in Moses’ day, there was no government office where you could register or confirm where your property ended and where your neighbour’s property began. Instead, physical boundary stones were used to confirm property lines. In case an Israelite was tempted to act dishonestly and move their neighbour’s boundary stone to make their own land bigger, Moses is saying: respect your neighbour’s boundaries.
Likewise, we need to respect the boundaries of those around us. When you don’t respect your neighbour’s boundaries, it’s like stealing from them; you’re taking away what God has given to them. This is right in line with what Moses says elsewhere in this passage about being a truthful witness (v15) and the command not to murder, that is, not to steal away other people’s lives.
How well do you respect other people’s boundaries? That includes their property, their time, their bodies, their feelings. For example, I fail to respect others’ boundaries when I show up late to an appointment or end a meeting way over time.
Do you know that God respects your boundaries? The Holy Spirit would love to take over all the space in your life. He could easily force Himself upon you if He wanted to. But instead He waits for us to open the door (Rev 3:20). He will not cross a boundary that we have set.
It goes to show that part of loving others and having healthy relationships is learning to respect other people’s boundaries.
Thank You Father that when I deserved death for my sins, Your Son Jesus came and died in my place. Every day I am constantly in need of Your mercy. Help me, Holy Spirit, to respect other people’s boundaries. Thank You for respecting mine. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
