Then the elders of the city nearest the victim shall take a heifer that has never been yoked or used for work, Sermons
I. AN UNDISCOVERED MURDER IS PROPERLY IMPUTED TO THE DISTRICT WHERE THE VICTIM HAS BEEN FOUND. In a well-ordered society life should be safe. When it is proved unsafe, society cannot plead "Not guilty." Locally, it must be allocated, and so the city nearest the victim has the crime imputed to it. The sense of guilt is distributed territorially, and the elders, or representatives of the people, are required to clear themselves by the special rite here described. Sin has thus wider relations than to the individual who has committed it. It may lie at the door of a city, or of a neighborhood, and in their collective capacity they may be required to deal with it. II. THE DISTRICT THUS GUILTY THROUGH IMPUTATION IS MOST PROPERLY SUMMONED TO A RELIGIOUS SERVICE. It is surely a matter for general humiliation that such a crime could be secretly committed, and the murderer escape. It should lead to special religious exercises. It would be a very seemly thing if neighborhoods where great crimes have gone undiscovered were to unite in supplicating God's mercy, in view of the guilt thus contracted. III. A WAY OF DELIVERANCE FROM THE IMPUTED GUILT IS GRACIOUSLY PROVIDED. It consisted of the following elements. 1. The violent death of an innocent and full-blooded animal. The cruel killing of the heifer was a repetition of the tragedy, and was well fitted to bring its guilt before them. Thus was a sense of sin deepened. 2. Its shed blood was carried away on the surface of the never-failing stream. In this beautiful, poetic way, the providential removal of innocent blood, did God convey the idea of removing the guilt from the district concerned. 3. Over the heifer so slain the elders were to wash their hands and protest their innocency. In this way the most solemn sanctions were associated with their plea of "Not guilty." 4. And they were further to intercede for the removal of the imputation against Israel. Only after this minute ritual had been gone through was the assurance of forgiveness pronounced by the priest. IV. IN THIS WAY WE DISCOVER A TYPIFICATION OF THE PARDON PROVIDED BY CHRIST. And here we do well to notice, as facts incapable of dispute - 1. That people who are innocent have often to incur imputation along with the guilty. The children of evil-doers incur an evil repute, although they may be perfectly innocent. It is a law of society as at present constituted - the innocent are grouped with the guilty. 2. Jesus Christ is One who has voluntarily accepted of the imputation of sin, though innocent, and suffered in consequence. Just as the innocent heifer was paraded with the guilty district, and alone suffered because of the committed and undiscovered sin, so Jesus takes up his position in the sad procession, and is the selected, yet voluntary, Victim. 3. The Holy Spirit, as a perennial stream, carries the sense and sight of blood-guiltiness away. For, without the Spirit's help, the shed blood of Jesus might only increase human guilt; with his help it takes all the guilt away. 4. Those who wish pardon must not be too proud to ask for it. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So have we the gospel vividly presented to us. - R.M.E.
He that is hanged is accursed of God. I. HANGING A DISGRACEFUL PUNISHMENT. The body was exposed to insult and assault. Shameful deeds were kept in public memory, and the dead was a spectacle to the world. It was only inflicted on most infamous offenders. Cicero calls it a nameless wickedness. Its pain and disgrace were extreme.II. HANGING A DEFILEMENT OF THE LAND That thy land be not defiled. The vices of the living and the bodies of the dead defiled the land (Numbers 35:34). 1. Physically it would be defiled. In the hot climate its decomposition would injure the health and peril the life of others. 2. Morally, as the land of Jehovah, it would be polluted. Remembrance of crime would harden the heart and breed familiarity. III. HANGING A WARNING TO OTHERS. The punishment was designed to deter others. They saw the terrible consequences of guilt. Alas! "hanging is no warning," and men leave the very gibbet or the gallows to commit their crimes. IV. HANGING A TYPE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST (Acts 5:35; Galatians 3:13). 1. He became our substitute. 2. He was buried in the evening (John 19:31). 3. As the land was cleansed by removal of curse, so the conscience and the Church purified by Christ. (J. Wolfendale.) II. PUBLIC IGNOMINY EXPRESSED IN THIS SHAMEFUL DEATH. Penalty for crime, detestation of the perpetrator, and the curse of God. III. THE DESIRABILITY OF TAKING AWAY THE MEMORY OF THIS SHAME. "He shall not remain all night," take him down from the tree and bury him; blot out his name and remove the curse. IV. CHRIST ALONE REMOVES THE CURSE. The best of men treated as one of the vilest, died the just for the unjust, "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." (J. Wolfendale.). People Levi, MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peorTopics Body, Cow, Drawn, Elders, Hasn't, Heifer, Herd, Nearest, Pulled, Responsible, Slain, Town, Whichever, Worked, Worn, Wrought, YokeOutline 1. The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder10. The usage of a captive taken to wife 15. The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection 18. A rebellious son is to be stoned to death 22. The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree Dictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 21:3 4290 valleys Library The Dead ChristIt was not usual to remove bodies from the cross immediately after their death. They were allowed to hang, exposed to the weather, till they rotted and fell to pieces; or they might be torn by birds or beasts; and at last a fire was perhaps kindled beneath the cross to rid the place of the remains. Such was the Roman custom; but among the Jews there was more scrupulosity. In their law there stood this provision: "If a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang … James Stalker—The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ A Condensed Guide for Life Second Great Group of Parables. Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Messiah Suffering and Wounded for Us Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel Third Stage of the Roman Trial. Pilate Reluctantly Sentences Him to Crucifixion. The Morning of Good Friday. The Crucifixion. Deuteronomy Links Deuteronomy 21:3 NIVDeuteronomy 21:3 NLT Deuteronomy 21:3 ESV Deuteronomy 21:3 NASB Deuteronomy 21:3 KJV Deuteronomy 21:3 Bible Apps Deuteronomy 21:3 Parallel Deuteronomy 21:3 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 21:3 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 21:3 French Bible Deuteronomy 21:3 German Bible Deuteronomy 21:3 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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