December 16, 2014
Deuteronomy 25-Part 2
Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Deut. 25:3)
LET IT GLOW
Liberty Bible Commentary explains the first four verses in this chapter:
Moses recognizes the authority of corporal punishment. The judges of the different towns could pronounce a man "guilty" (Ex. 22:8). For those not counted worthy of death, the punishment was beating. The phrase wicked man be worthy means "son of stripes" and identifies a man liable to be punished. He was to be beaten forty times with the whip; the number forty symbolizing judgment. However, the Law indicated that the guilty could not receive more than forty stripes; so the Jews gave a man forty lashes less one. Paul was beaten by the Jews five times after this manner (2 Cor.11:24).
They accused Jesus of being blasphemous when He said that He was the Son of God. He was whipped with 39 lashes, since it was a crime not punishable by death. Then at His trial, the crowd freed the criminal Barabbas, sending Jesus to the cross in his place.
Luke 22:63-64 tells us they smote Jesus (means strike) and struck Him on the face.
And I get upset whenever someone lashes me with their tongue, only a few times. That is no comparison with what Jesus went through.
LET IT GROW
What does it take to cause us to turn from following
Paul went through so much as he took a stand for being a follower of Jesus Christ. Yet he fought the good fight and kept the faith to the end-his death. There was laid up for him treasures in heaven.
And so it is with us, dear one. Keep the faith. Stand strong on God's Word. Trust in Him, not our own understanding, acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)
LET IT GO
Turn the other cheek.
Suffer for Jesus by well doing.
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