February 25, 2025
The Law & the Family
Deuteronomy 24-25
Shane Rasch
Big Book Idea
There are three sermons from Moses, but the greater Moses is still to come.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 24:19
"When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."
Deuteronomy 24-25
Chapter 24
Laws Concerning Divorce
1 When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, 2 and if she goes and becomes another man's wife, 3 and the latter man hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter man dies, who took her to be his wife, 4 then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled, for that is an abomination before the LORD. And you shall not bring sin upon the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Miscellaneous Laws
5 When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife 1 24:5 Or to make happy his wife whom he has taken.
6 No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.
7 If a man is found stealing one of his brothers of the people of Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
8 Take care, in a case of leprous 2 24:8 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 disease, to be very careful to do according to all that the Levitical priests shall direct you. As I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do. 9 Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt.
10 When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. 11 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. 12 And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge. 13 You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun sets, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you. And it shall be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.
14 You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. 15 You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the LORD, and you be guilty of sin.
16 Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.
17 You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow's garment in pledge, 18 but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.
19 When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 22 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.
Chapter 25
1 If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty, 2 then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense. 3 Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight.
4 You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.
Laws Concerning Levirate Marriage
5 If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. 6 And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. 7 And if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, ‘My husband's brother refuses to perpetuate his brother's name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.’ 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him, and if he persists, saying, ‘I do not wish to take her,’ 9 then his brother's wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.’ 10 And the name of his house 3 25:10 Hebrew its name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal pulled off.’
Miscellaneous Laws
11 When men fight with one another and the wife of the one draws near to rescue her husband from the hand of him who is beating him and puts out her hand and seizes him by the private parts, 12 then you shall cut off her hand. Your eye shall have no pity.
13 You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. 14 You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. 15 A full and fair 4 25:15 Or just, or righteous; twice in this verse weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 16 For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God.
17 Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, 18 how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Deuteronomy
Timeline
Theme
Deuteronomy, the final book in the Pentateuch, contains Moses’ last three sermons and two prophetic poems about Israel’s future. Reflecting on the nation’s past mistakes, Moses urges the people not to repeat those errors when they enter the Promised Land. Possessing Canaan will fulfill the promises made to the patriarchs, but if the people fall into idolatry or fail to keep the law, they will be exiled.
Purpose and Background
Deuteronomy is largely a sermon, or set of sermons, preached by Moses to all of Israel shortly before his death. It is a motivational sermon, urging Israel’s faithful obedience to the covenant laws given 40 years previously at Sinai (Exodus 19–40).
The sermon is especially important because of Israel’s earlier failure to conquer the land (see Deut. 1:19–46). Now that they are back at the eastern border of the Promised Land, Moses wants to ensure that the people will be obedient this time. The sermon encourages obedience by constantly reassuring them of God’s faithfulness and his power to keep his promises. God is still faithful, despite Israel’s persistent sin (e.g., 1:19–46; 9:1–29). He is merciful to his sinful people, for the sake of his promises to Abraham.
In Deuteronomy, Moses urges Israel to trust and obey, and to conquer the land. He highlights God’s uniqueness (e.g., ch. 4), his power over other nations and armies (e.g., 2:1–23), and his grace and faithfulness. He reminds the people that God promised the land, that God’s gift of the land is undeserved (9:4–6), and that the land is full of good things (e.g., 6:10–12).
Moses emphasizes the importance of God’s law, given at Sinai (e.g., see 5:1–3). The large central section of Deuteronomy (12:1–26:19) recites the law and urges Israel to keep it. The law is wide-ranging, incorporating all areas of life (economics, family and sexual relationships, religious observance, leadership, justice, guidance, food, property, and warfare). The details of the laws expand upon the great command of 6:5, that Israel is to love the Lord with all its heart, soul, and strength. Chapters 12–16 show what such total love of God will look like and provide examples of what the Ten Commandments (ch. 5) mean in practice.
Key Themes
- God’s uniqueness (4:1–40).
- Israel’s election (4:37–38; 7:6–8; 10:14–15; 14:2).
- The land’s goodness (1:25; 6:10–11; 8:7–13; 11:8–15).
- God’s faithful promise-keeping (1:8, 19–46; 7:1–26; 8:1–20; 9:1–10:11).
- God’s power to defeat the enemies in the land (2:1–3:11; 4:1–40; 7:1–26).
- Exhortations to Israel to love, serve, fear, and obey God (6:5; 10:12–13; 13:4).
- Warnings against idolatry and instruction for proper worship of God (4:9–31; 5:6–10; 7:1–5; 8:19–20; 12:1–32; 13:1–18).
- The impact of God’s laws (12:1–27:26).
- Moses’ imminent death (1:37; 3:26; 4:21; 32:51; 34:1–12).
Outline
- Prologue (1:1–5)
- Moses’ First Speech: Historical Prologue (1:6–4:43)
- Moses’ Second Speech: General Covenant Stipulations (4:44–11:32)
- Moses’ Second Speech: Specific Covenant Stipulations (12:1–26:19)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Blessings and Curses (27:1–28:68)
- Moses’ Third Speech: Final Exhortation (29:1–30:20)
- Succession of Leadership (31:1–34:12)
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Fact: Genesis through Deuteronomy
Genesis through Deuteronomy are the foundation of the Bible. They introduce the key promises that show God’s purposes in history and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Fact: The Sadducees
The Sadducees were a small but powerful group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in the resurrection (12:18). This may have been because of their emphasis on the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy), which does not seem to explicitly mention the resurrection. But Jesus showed them that the idea of resurrection can, in fact, be found in the Pentateuch (Mark 12:26–27).
Fact: Was Deuteronomy a treaty?
Was Deuteronomy a treaty? There are many similarities between the book of Deuteronomy and various ancient Near Eastern treaties that date from the time of Moses. When a nation made a treaty with a less powerful nation, the document began with the past relationship between the countries. Next, the treaty stated the laws that would govern the relationship from that point on. Finally, the treaty concluded with a list of blessings and punishments for obedience or disobedience.
Fact: A book of sermons?
A book of sermons? Deuteronomy consists of at least three addresses or sermons from Moses to Israel. Moses encourages Israel to obey all the commandments of God.
Fact: Jesus quoted from
Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy more than any other OT book. He quoted 8:3 when tempted by Satan (Matt. 4:4).
Fact: The Book of the Law of the Lord
The Book of the Law of the Lord. The high priest discovered this forgotten book while the temple was being repaired (34:14). After reading the Law, King Josiah called the nation to further measures of repentance and reform. The book may have included part or all of Deuteronomy.
Fact: What was an upper millstone?
What was an upper millstone? Israelite women ground their grain in mills made of two circular stones. The grain was placed on the flat lower stone and then crushed as the upper millstone rolled over it. To deprive the miller of either stone would make her work impossible (24:6).
Fact: Pledge
A pledge (22:6) was an object of worth given as a down payment on a debt. Israelites were not to take in pledge essential items such as clothing (Ex. 22:26) or tools a person needed for their work (Deut. 24:6).
Fact: Shoes and sandals
Shoes and sandals were considered the most humble articles of clothing. They were removed at the doorway before entering a home. People also removed their shoes during periods of mourning. Going barefoot was a sign of poverty and shame (25:9–10).
The Setting of Deuteronomy
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Deuteronomy records Moses’ words to the Israelites as they waited on the plains of Moab to enter Canaan. Moses begins by reviewing the events of Israel’s journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Ancient Treaty Structures and Deuteronomy
| Ancient Treaty Structure | Deuteronomy |
|---|---|
| Preamble | 1:1–5 |
| Historical Prologue | 1:6–4:49 |
| General Stipulations | 5:1–11:32 |
| Specific Stipulations | 12:1–26:19 |
| Blessings and Curses | 27:1–28:68 |
| Document Clause | 31:9–29 |
| Witnesses | 32:1–47 |
Deut. 24:1–4 By charging his wife with some indecency, the first husband acquired her dowry—her father’s marriage present to her—when he divorced her. If she then remarried, she would have received a second dowry. If her second marriage ended, through either death or divorce, she would have been able to keep her second dowry. The first husband is forbidden to exploit her by remarrying her in order to acquire her second dowry. This is the only OT law about divorce. Elsewhere it is assumed that divorce will sometimes occur (e.g., Lev. 21:7, 14; Num. 30:9). See Jesus’ comments on Deut. 24:1–4 in Matt. 5:31–32. In Matt. 19:7, Pharisees use this law to defend their position on divorce. Jesus, however, refers all the way back to creation (Gen. 1:27; 2:24) to show God’s ideal plan for marriage. Deuteronomy 24:1–4 recognizes that people have hard hearts and will sometimes fall short of God’s ideal. It preserves a minimum level of civility in cases of divorce.
Deut. 24:5 The military exemption of one year gives the couple time to have at least one child and develop their relationship. Compare note on 20:5–7.
Deut. 24:6 mill or an upper millstone. If these items were taken as security for a loan, it could deprive a poor person of the ability to earn a living.
Fact: What was an upper millstone?
What was an upper millstone? Israelite women ground their grain in mills made of two circular stones. The grain was placed on the flat lower stone and then crushed as the upper millstone rolled over it. To deprive the miller of either stone would make her work impossible (24:6).
Fact: Pledge
A pledge (22:6) was an object of worth given as a down payment on a debt. Israelites were not to take in pledge essential items such as clothing (Ex. 22:26) or tools a person needed for their work (Deut. 24:6).
Deut. 24:7 that thief shall die. Kidnapping is regarded as theft. It is the only kind of theft that is punishable by death. purge the evil. See 13:5.
Deut. 24:8–9 Since a leprous disease makes a person unclean, a priest must make the official diagnosis. See Leviticus 13 and note on Lev. 13:1–59.
Deut. 24:10 not go into his house to collect his pledge. This law protects the dignity of the poor person who is forced into asking for a loan.
Deut. 24:12 not sleep in his pledge. A person’s cloak could not be taken as security for a loan because it probably also served as the person’s blanket (see v. 13; Amos 2:8).
Deut. 23:15–24:22 These laws address property offenses related to the eighth commandment: “You shall not steal” (5:19).
Deut. 24:19–22 The blessings of the land are for the people as a whole to share. Compare 23:24–25, and see Lev. 19:9–10. See also this law in practice in Ruth 2.
Deut. 25:3 The limit of forty stripes was to prevent the guilty person from being degraded or permanently harmed. For fear of miscounting and going beyond 40, later Jews limited flogging to 39, as in the case of Paul (2 Cor. 11:24).
Deut. 25:4 Paul applied this law to the work of Christian leaders: If even an ox deserves to be fed, how much more do gospel workers deserve support (1 Cor. 9:9; 1 Tim. 5:18).
Deut. 25:5 Her husband’s brother shall . . . take her as his wife. This was called “levirate marriage” (from the Latin word levir, meaning “brother-in-law”). It was to protect the widow and provide descendants for the deceased man. It was a case where polygamy was allowed (the brother-in-law may already be married). See also Gen. 38:8–10; Ruth 4:1–12.
Deut. 25:7 gate. See 22:15 and note on 22:14–15.
Deut. 25:9 pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. This public event shames the brother-in-law (Num. 12:14). He is not, however, forced into marrying the widow. This protects her from being mistreated by a reluctant husband.
Fact: Shoes and sandals
Shoes and sandals were considered the most humble articles of clothing. They were removed at the doorway before entering a home. People also removed their shoes during periods of mourning. Going barefoot was a sign of poverty and shame (25:9–10).
Deut. 25:1–16 The laws in this section relate to things like administering justice, providing for widows, and being honest in business. They relate to the ninth commandment: “You shall not bear false witness” (5:20; compare 25:1, 13–15).
Deut. 25:13–16 two kinds of weights . . . two kinds of measures. A dishonest person might use one set of weights or measures for selling and another for buying. See Lev. 19:35–36. See also Prov. 11:1. days may be long. See Deut. 5:16 and note.
Deut. 25:17–19 See Ex. 17:8–16 for the account of the Amalekites’ opposition to Israel.
What does it mean for the people to blot out the memory of Amalek but not forget?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Deuteronomy 24-25
It can be difficult to know how to respond to a passage like this. As we approach the end of God's laws for Israel, we are reminded of some general principles that should govern God's people.
Marital Laws
God places a high value on marriage (Deuteronomy 24:1-5). Marriage and divorce matter to God and are not merely up to culture or our own opinion in determining which is right and wrong. (See Matthew 19:6-10 for a MUCH better commentary than I could give)!
Also, notice His requirement that a husband spend his first year of marriage "free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken." Imagine if employers gave a full year of PTO for marriage! For all my married friends, this is a good (and convicting) reminder to prioritize our marriage.
Relational/Social Laws
Next, God cares about our relationships. Even if we don't manage crops or trade with scales, it's clear to see God's desire for His people to live in light of His character:
- He is Lord, so we should trust and obey.
- He is holy, so we should repent from sin and seek righteousness.
- He is just, so we should promote fairness in society.
- He is generous, so we should care for the marginalized.
- He is glorious, so we should strive to live honorably.
Judgment
Lastly, Deuteronomy 25:1-3 reminds us of the injustice that Jesus experienced on our behalf. God's law demanded that a judge decide between men in court, with the guilty being punished by up to 40 stripes. At the time of Jesus' flogging, it was Jewish practice to give 39 lashes in case there was a miscount.
Jesus, the innocent One and the righteous Judge, stood condemned by the guilty to receive what they, and we, deserve. "[W]ith his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
We cannot look at the Law without remembering that Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17). Praise God that Christ has done what we could never do, perfectly keeping the Law! Praise God, we are under grace and no longer the Law!
This month's memory verse
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."
– Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Discussion Questions
1. Begin by praising God for setting you free from the Law, knowing that you are now free to walk according to the Spirit!
2. That said, God has freed us to walk in "the new way of the Spirit" (Romans 7:6). Evaluate yourself in light of God's character: In what way(s) might you be out of step with the Spirit?
3. We have the privilege of loving others by pursuing justice and charity. When considering your interactions with family, friends, co-workers, the homeless, etc., do justice and charity accurately describe you? Why or why not?
4. We also have the privilege of loving God by living holy, obedient, and honorable lives. Which of the Christian virtues do you find lacking in your life currently? (Humility, love, patience, self-control, gentleness, joy, etc.). Ask the Spirit to produce this fruit in you, for His glory and your good.