Hope For the Rebellious

Deuteronomy 21:18–23: Hope For the Rebellious

18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 Then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear. 22 “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.”

The Challenge of God’s Law

If anyone who reads or hears this is like me, you may find it arduous to work through the Old Testament at times. Particularly, Old Testament law often gives me grief. I will confess at this point that many of my attempts to read the Bible straight through have been thwarted by Leviticus in particular.

Even in more entertaining books like Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, the tabernacle instructions, genealogies, and endless lists of laws melt together in my mind like a confusing and archaic sea. What can be gained by knowing who begat whom? Or what color a priest’s turban was supposed to be? Why on Earth should I care about the laws that God gave to a people I do not belong to, that have no claim on me?

While this attitude is more common than most of us would care to admit, it sort of exposes a hole in our walk with God. Consider Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:16, that indeed, all scripture is “breathed out by God” and that it is distinctly useful for teaching and training in godliness.

If rather obscure texts like these are part of our Bibles, and indeed they are, it is sinfully neglectful of us to ignore them. Furthermore, far from simply pointing to a moral standard, the risen Christ proclaimed on the road to Emmaus that all of the Old Testament points to Him and proclaims His glory.

Even in the most seemingly mundane texts, awaits the glory and grace of our savior. It is for that reason that we explore this passage today in Deuteronomy 21.

The Severity of Our Sin

What we really ought to address first is the severity of our own sin and rebellion. I am not yet a parent, but regardless, I would assume that most of us, including myself, would consider this punishment a little severe at first glance. What kind of parent would allow their children to be stoned? What kind of God who claims to be loving would command such a thing upon His people, a people He has promised to preserve and love?

It is a difficult truth, but one we must come to terms with, that each and every one of us deserves prosecution and execution. We worship a holy and perfect God. He, in His wisdom and goodness, has declared a holy law.

Often, when we consider God’s requirements for our lives, we drastically underestimate our sin. There are countless examples of this throughout scripture. An especially helpful reference is Isaiah 6. Isaiah, a prophet of God, beholds the Lord on His throne. Angels around him cover their faces and feet and declare God’s holiness in worship.

At the very sight of God’s glory, Isaiah declares woe upon himself. Most translations quote him as saying, “I am lost,” but a more appropriate translation is “I am undone.” The holiest man in Israel, in one glance, came apart at the seams and unraveled in the face of God’s awesome holiness.

Friends, we may hide our iniquity from others, we may even hide it from ourselves, but The Lord our God considers our hearts. He sees us as we truly are, wretched and filthy. Isaiah even says that our attempts at keeping the law are like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). Our situation without Christ is honestly hopeless.

We stand rightfully convicted of treason against the Most High God. Even for us believers, our best efforts are stained by sin and death. How often do we fail the requirements for righteousness, not only in the evil we commit, but in the goodness that we leave undone? How often do we treat others with contempt, neglect opportunities to glorify God, and love those in need?

We withhold our tongues from slander, but withhold them also from encouragement, worship, and kindness. Our hearts are minefields of wickedness. Even when we do good, our intentions are not to glorify God, but to glorify ourselves.

As I sit and write this, my mind is not fully on God, but on the opinions of those who may read or hear it. How often do we spoil good deeds with concern for the thoughts of men or our own image? We are like whitewashed sepulchers, scrubbing our outer deeds and rotting away inside.

The Rebellious Son and Our Reflection

Regarding the rebellious son more specifically, consider the fact that we were meant to be in close familial fellowship with God. Ever since the Garden of Eden, humanity’s purpose has been to glorify God and possess an intimate relationship with Him.

In violating God’s law, we shattered that bond, we separated ourselves from Him, and immediately chose death. Think of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, crafting an idol as God gave Moses the law, essentially committing adultery on their wedding night to Him.

We delight in evil and run from Him. We disobey our heavenly Father continually, and we deserve the punishment we ought to receive, just like the rebellious sons in Israel’s day. Just like him, we are “stubborn and rebellious,” we do not listen to the voice of God, our creator.

We may be gluttons or drunkards, or commit ourselves to any number of vices instead of finding our joy and rest in the grace of God. Whether we rely on money, sex, power, and status, we whore after these devices and leave our Father heartbroken at our unfaithfulness.

God draws emphasis on this by including it in what we know as the Ten Commandments. We are told to honor our fathers and mothers. At the very heart of God’s desires for our lives is a loving and respectful relationship with our parents. That we would in some way model the mutual love found in the Trinity between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What a broken image of that we have created. In rebelling against our parents and against God, we have shattered the blessings He had in store for us. So no, I don’t think the punishment was at all overboard. While it may strike us as severe, it is simply the appropriate sentence that our sin deserves.

As we are, we fully deserve to be crushed by the wrath of God. What kind of God would require this? One that is more holy than we could ever know, whom we fail every day.

Punishment on the Righteous / Salvation for the Sinful

So, at this point, it is appropriate to ask, “Is there hope for rebellious, broken mess-ups like us?” And friends, I can tell you with certainty, yes, there is.

For, unbeknownst to Moses at the time he was writing this, there would one day be a Son who was not rebellious, but perfect in every way. God the Son would one day take on flesh and be born as an infant.

I want to think of Christ now. Though we refused to listen to God and rebelled against Him, it was Christ who loved the Father perfectly and served Him in ways we could never imagine.

Jesus Christ, whom Roman soldiers took hold of, was brought outside of Jerusalem, His home. Jesus, who was falsely accused of rebellion and blasphemy. Jesus, who was accused of detracting from the glory of God and disobeying Him.

He who was never stubborn or rebellious, but instead faced death in submission and said, “Thy will be done.” Jesus, who took joy in obeying the Father, never needed to be disciplined. Jesus, who set aside His power and was led outside the city to be judged and die at Golgotha.

Jesus, who stood before Pontius Pilate and was found guiltless, was condemned by a crowd of elders and fellows. Why? For you. Because of our rebellion and our shame, Christ condescended and bore it upon Himself. In His perfect love of God the Father, He credited us with His own righteousness.

In Hebrews 13:11-12 we learn something indispensable: 

“11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.”

Jesus, our risen Lord and savior, offered Himself up as a sacrifice for our sake, in order to wash us clean by His death.

He bore our rebellion and suffered our judgment, all so that the wrath of God could be forever satisfied. The perfect, blameless Son of God died so that we would never have to.

The Curse Became Our Peace

Notice the end of this passage, that all of Israel would hear and fear. Anyone who has siblings can probably understand this. When one of my siblings was disciplined, I typically laid low afterwards. Their punishment encouraged me not to break the rules. I witnessed it and it filled me with fear.

But this all changes with Christ. Far from filling us with fear, the punishment Christ endured is an invitation to come, to be clothed in His righteousness. To be forgiven of our debts and trespasses. To no longer be a rebel against God, but a beloved son or daughter.

As we look upon the cross, far from being filled with fear, we are invited to draw near, to taste the goodness of God’s love for us, and enjoy fellowship with Him again.

Did it stand out to any of you that immediately following this text was the warning of God’s curse to those who are hanged on a tree? Jesus, who was blameless, was covered with our sin and evil and hung on a tree to die.

Remember Paul’s words in Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” Jesus bore the full wrath of God, even being crushed by it like a flood of stones upon His head.

But something interesting is at play here. This righteous Son, who died in the place of rebellious siblings, rose again from the dead. Now, instead of fear, hope spreads throughout the nation.

Rather than looking upon God’s wrath with terror, we ought to be moved by the love and forgiveness that springs from it. What the Old Testament bore as a warning and an omen to the wicked, Christ reveals as the source of ultimate hope and joy.

The wrath of God has become a sign of peace and grace, satisfied by the death of a perfect Son who took the place of rebellious sinners.

Earlier, I asked a question: What kind of parent would allow this to happen to their child? And the answer is that God is this kind of parent, and He did. God allowed His perfect Son to be pierced for our transgressions, so that we might call Him Father. Oftentimes, when we think of the crucifixion, our praise is confined to Christ alone. Not to detract from the glory of Christ, but remember for a moment that in pouring out His holy judgement on the Son of Man, God the Father gave up what was most dear to Him for our humble sake. 

It’s also worth reflecting on the Holy Spirit, who strengthened Christ throughout His earthly ministry, and was there encouraging Him in the garden. The same Spirit has applied the work of Christ to us, and resides within us, giving us strength to glorify God.

What at first glance might have seemed like exceedingly poor parenting, we soon learn is a coordinated and loving effort to save the souls of God’s redeemed.

Application

Before we come to a close, there are a few applications to keep in mind.

To those of you who belong to Him and still struggle with your rebellion, remember that because of Christ, your sin and imperfections could never separate you from His love. His resurrection means that you are a new creation, death has no claim over you, you belong body and soul to God on high.

Remember to rest in Him, to pray for strength and grace to endure temptation. Have faith in His promises, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.

There is peace in surrender when we acknowledge our utter need and helplessness. Keep in mind these words in Hebrews 4,

 “Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Heed this invitation to draw near in your sin, you have been made new.

To those of you who have not yet drawn near, do not hesitate. There is still cause for fear for those outside of Christ. Only through Him may your sins be forgiven. If you feel a desire to call God your Father, to be forgiven and loved more than you can imagine, look upon the work of Christ and draw near!

Finally, to those who would look down upon those trapped in their rebellion, be fearful as well. Jesus Himself gave multiple warnings to those who would seek fellowship in self-justification.

Remember the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. While the tax collector stood far off in repentance, the Pharisee judged him and considered himself worthy of salvation as he was. He left the temple unjustified.

Consider also the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. The young rebellious brother returns from his sin and is brought into the feast. It is the older brother, who served the father and yet was far off from his heart, who sat outside the celebration.

Do not let your pride and reliance deceive you; do not let it prevent you from attending God’s eternal feast. Humble yourself today and draw near.

Closing Prayer

May God, who makes the rebellious into beloved sons, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, equip us with the grace to live according to the calling placed on our lives. To look upon God’s judgement and rejoice in the grace we have been given. To love our Father always, and to run to Him when we all too often rebel against Him. Amen.