And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. (Leviticus 19:1-2)
After giving all the instructions about holiness, cleanness and the seven festivals, a situation arose that caused the children of Israel to experience firsthand exactly what the Lord God meant regarding, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) "And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:12)
Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought each other in the camp. And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them. (Leviticus 24:10-12)
It's very important that we understand that it is not a problem to marry someone of another race or culture. Remember, But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian;... Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. ... Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. (Exodus 2:15-16, 21) The problem is marrying someone who doesn't believe in the same God; And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (Mark 3:25; Luke 11:17; Matthew 12:25) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (II Corinthians 6:14-15)
After giving all the instructions about holiness, cleanness and the seven festivals, a situation arose that caused the children of Israel to experience firsthand exactly what the Lord God meant regarding, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) "And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:12)
Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought each other in the camp. And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them. (Leviticus 24:10-12)
It's very important that we understand that it is not a problem to marry someone of another race or culture. Remember, But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian;... Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. ... Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. (Exodus 2:15-16, 21) The problem is marrying someone who doesn't believe in the same God; And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. (Mark 3:25; Luke 11:17; Matthew 12:25) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (II Corinthians 6:14-15)
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. (Leviticus 24:13-16)
The Lord God took a great deal of time explaining the penalty for break His laws. (Leviticus 20) Now, if ‘For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.' (Leviticus 20:9; Exodus 21:17) Then, how much more is someone who blasphemed and cursed the name of the Lord deserving of the penalty of death. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men." (Matthew 12:31) “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven." (Luke 12:10)
The Lord God also took this opportunity to instruct the children of Israel that this was not a license to kill anyone. ‘Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 24:17) The sixth commandment is very clear, "Thou shalt not kill." (Exodus 20:13 KJV) or translated,“You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13) The law dictated the penalty for the crime, but the judge, Moses was to instruct on administering the punishment. Moses sat to judge the people;... (Exodus 18:13) That's why it's clearly stated, Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them. And the Lord spoke to Moses,...
The people were not to go off on their own killing people for any reason, and feeling justified because that's what the law commanded to be done. Nor were they to kill animals for any reason, other than for food; nor were they to attack another person and harm them, other than for self protection. "Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him— fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.’” (Leviticus 24:18-22)
We must pay attention to the fact that the penalty for killing an animal is not comparable to the penalty for killing a person. God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:27-28)
A human beings life is of more value to God than an animal. We are to take care of the animals and kill them only for the purpose of using them for food and clothing, but we are not to kill each other. Just as the Lord God said to Cain, "The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground." (Genesis 4:10) Everyone who is killed blood cries out to God; When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. (Pslam 9:12) For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ... It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.(Hebrews 10:30-31)
The Lord God took a great deal of time explaining the penalty for break His laws. (Leviticus 20) Now, if ‘For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.' (Leviticus 20:9; Exodus 21:17) Then, how much more is someone who blasphemed and cursed the name of the Lord deserving of the penalty of death. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men." (Matthew 12:31) “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven." (Luke 12:10)
The Lord God also took this opportunity to instruct the children of Israel that this was not a license to kill anyone. ‘Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 24:17) The sixth commandment is very clear, "Thou shalt not kill." (Exodus 20:13 KJV) or translated,“You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13) The law dictated the penalty for the crime, but the judge, Moses was to instruct on administering the punishment. Moses sat to judge the people;... (Exodus 18:13) That's why it's clearly stated, Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them. And the Lord spoke to Moses,...
The people were not to go off on their own killing people for any reason, and feeling justified because that's what the law commanded to be done. Nor were they to kill animals for any reason, other than for food; nor were they to attack another person and harm them, other than for self protection. "Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him— fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.’” (Leviticus 24:18-22)
We must pay attention to the fact that the penalty for killing an animal is not comparable to the penalty for killing a person. God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:27-28)
A human beings life is of more value to God than an animal. We are to take care of the animals and kill them only for the purpose of using them for food and clothing, but we are not to kill each other. Just as the Lord God said to Cain, "The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground." (Genesis 4:10) Everyone who is killed blood cries out to God; When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. (Pslam 9:12) For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ... It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.(Hebrews 10:30-31)
Then Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they took outside the camp him who had cursed, and stoned him with stones. So the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. (Leviticus 24:23) Thanks be to God that we aren't stoned for blaspheming and cursing the name of the Lord God today, but the penalty for denying the One True Living God is still the same. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:26-29)
“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— (Mark 3:28-29) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:35-39) AMEN!
“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— (Mark 3:28-29) Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:35-39) AMEN!
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