Strange and disturbing laws of the Old Testament.

[Brenlae]

I'm curious, why are there many laws in Deuteronomy and the such where it states such literal things as "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (to keep it short).

Why do they even bother to print the Old Testament anymore. Someone could take these laws / rules to heart and really harm someone or themselves.

Sure, it says "Thou shalt not kill", but I"m not really talking of the ten commandments.

Please help, I'm a bit disturbed of what I'm reading.

Is it just "the way things used to be", or what?

EDIT - I shouldn't say "why is the Old Testament even printed anymore", but you can see what I'm saying, I hope.

PS - I'm not angry, I'm just curious.

 

[Svt4Him]

It's hard to understand the grace of God without understanding the consequence to sin. God is the same, sin is just as bad, so what God judged in the OT to be bad is still bad. Then to see what Jesus set us free from makes the NT good news.

 

[mont974x4]

Think of the "eye for an eye" as a limit. Meaning, if someone takes someone elses eye, they should not be held for more than that. Justice being the punishment fits the crime....not an act of vengeance.

Many people do have hard time with the OT, but it is well worth reading and understanding.

 

[Brenlae]

Thanks for the replies, everybody. Keep 'em comin'!

Oh, I just finished 2 Samuel - moving onto Kings.

 

[kellyc]

i think in our time, it's shocking to see that kind of justice meted out. everyone now is much more concerned with not hurting the criminal's feelings, or figuring out how a psychopath got that way, etc. what struck me about the ot the first time i studied it was how it all pointed straight to Jesus, and if you understand the ot you will find so much more depth of meaning when you study the new testament.

 

[Mrs Butterworth]

What struck me most about the old testament is how bloody, violent, and primitive people were. It seems they are always fighting, chopping people up, and running them through with swords. Despite the gore (which at times seems more appropriate for Halloween) it is important to study the old testament. I could elaborate about this but it would take too long.

 

[Bro.T]

I'm curious, why are there many laws in Deuteronomy and the such where it states such literal things as "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (to keep it short).

Why do they even bother to print the Old Testament anymore. Someone could take these laws / rules to heart and really harm someone or themselves.

Sure, it says "Thou shalt not kill", but I"m not really talking of the ten commandments.

Please help, I'm a bit disturbed of what I'm reading.

Is it just "the way things used to be", or what?

EDIT - I shouldn't say "why is the Old Testament even printed anymore", but you can see what I'm saying, I hope.

PS - I'm not angry, I'm just curious.

Hey Brenlae,

When you look at the big picture it all comes down to money and
some pastor know more then they teach. Lets take a look at one
of the prophets.

Isaiah 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

30:11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

30:12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

30:13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant

Its about the Royal Law, even though you're not really talking about the ten commandments, its about the ten commandments. Lets reason together, think about this, if a person buy a Bible and it only have the new testament, how can the Bible prove that the sabbath day is on the seventh day of the week (saturday) and not the first day of the week
(sunday). I can go in leviticus the 23 chapter and prove that the Lord's sabbath day is the seventh day and the lord said have an Holy Convocation, its in the Law. People are worshiping a false God (sunday), plain and simple.

Look at what peter said.....

2Peter 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

See, what I'm saying, remember Jesus read from the old testament, the only thing change is the animal sacrifical law and the Lord gave us a free gift (grace) thats it , everything else is the same. How many
pastor you no refer to Jesus as the Holy one of Israel?

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever

 

[Brenlae]

Thanks for the replies. I was wondering why the sabbath day is on Saturday.

If it is on Saturday, then why do most Christian's have church services on Sunday?

Anyway, thanks.

 

[Radagast]

The day of worship was changed to Sunday because Jesus rose on a Sunday (see Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, as well as early Christian writers like Justin Martyr).

 

[Brenlae]

Ah, thank you. I haven't gotten far into the NT yet, still reading the OT as you may have assumed.

 

[James 1:27]

The Old Testament is evidence of God's love for his people and his desire to be with them. A holy God cannot be around sin, it is a characteristic of God. But God shows his people what to do in order to be in relationship with him. Time after time they fail him and turn to other gods, but when they repent, God offers them forgiveness every time.

Try to understand that every law that God set up was good for the Children of Israel, even if it doesn't seem that way through our 21 century lens. God is good, he can be no other way. I pray God will give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation as you are studying his word.

Blessings to you!!!

 

[Bro.T]

Thanks for the replies. I was wondering why the sabbath day is on Saturday.

If it is on Saturday, then why do most Christian's have church services on Sunday?

Anyway, thanks.

People refuse to read their bibles for themselves, instead they rely solely on their preacher. And that’s sad because most preachers don’t do in-depth studying of the bibles themselves instead they rely on prewritten sermons some of which can be found at the neighborhood bible bookstore. There are only a few preachers that actually teach the true uncut word of God. And when the average preacher does go into the bible most only want to read the writings of Paul. And they don’t even read all of Paul’s writing.

They’ll read a verse or two here and there and try and build a doctrine on it. These are what we call selective readers, reading only what they think will support their false teachings. You can read to them straight scriptures out of the bible and straight statements that Jesus himself made, and they will look you in the eye and say, but Paul said! I got news for people; there is nowhere in the bible where Paul contradicts the word of God. And if a person think there is, then they need to do a more in-depth study of the scriptures.

There is no biblical support for the changing of God’s holy sabbath from the seventh day (Saturday) to the first day (Sunday).

The keeping of Sunday as the Christian sabbath is not of God but of Man. If you are a follower of Christ or to be Christ like; then people should not following a day set up by man? So why are people going to church on the first day of the week? Well if you don’t know history will tell you why.

ORIGIN OF SUNDAY WORSHIP​

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman][FONT=Times New Roman,Times New Roman]
Ample evidence from history shows that the celebration of Sunday originated from pagan practices of SUN WORSHIP. In March of 321 A.D., the Roman Emperor Constantine, who was at first a sun-worshiper and later a Christian convert, issued the first decree declaring Sunday to be a legal day of rest. In 336 A.D., the Roman Catholic Church officially changed the observance of Sabbath to Sunday for political and economic expediency. Since then, the original Sabbath gradually gave way to Sunday observance and the practice remains to this day.
[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[Brenlae]

Thank you all for the replies. You have helped me greatly.

 

[StevenL]

Most christians go to church on SunDay because that's when it's open for business and nothing more. The churches keep SunDay because most assume that Yeshua rose from the dead on SunDay. Doesn't really matter. The sabbath was not for "going to church" anyway. It was for resting.

 

[Cabal]

Sorry for the bumping, this looked like an interesting thread.

It's worth remembering that the Israelites interacted with God under the old covenant, which did promise God's protection and provenance when the laws were adhered to. Also, Jesus stated that one...(I'm hesitating on using the word "law" here, because I'm honestly not sure if it was)...instruction, let's say, was instituted because of the hard-heartedness of the Israelites:

Matthew 19:7-8

"7They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?

8He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so."

The "ideal" in this case, was much stricter than in previous cases, a sentiment Jesus echoed:

Matthew 5:17-19

17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 

[Wade Smith]

The Old Testament is the very foundation of the New, and in fact, without the Old, the New means nothing whatsoever anyway.

Most of the teachings in the New Testament either directly or indirectly quote the Old Testament as a reference, and one could even classify entire chapters of both Romans and Hebrews as commentary on the Old Testament.

The God and laws of the Old Testament are exactly the same as the New. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and for ever." and "I am the Lord, I change not..."


In the Old Testament, we clearly see the "letter" of God's standard of righteousness,a nd we see that man cannot live up to it, and moreover, we see the penalty of failure, which is death.

In the New Testament, we see salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh. However, we do not throw away the law (Rom. 3: 31, Rom. 6:1). In fact, we are held even MORE accountable because of the fact we know more! "To whom much has been given much is required..."(Luke 12:48).

 

[SoundCard]

The Old Testament is the very foundation of the New, and in fact, without the Old, the New means nothing whatsoever anyway.

Most of the teachings in the New Testament either directly or indirectly quote the Old Testament as a reference, and one could even classify entire chapters of both Romans and Hebrews as commentary on the Old Testament.

The God and laws of the Old Testament are exactly the same as the New. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and for ever." and "I am the Lord, I change not..."


In the Old Testament, we clearly see the "letter" of God's standard of righteousness,a nd we see that man cannot live up to it, and moreover, we see the penalty of failure, which is death.

In the New Testament, we see salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh. However, we do not throw away the law (Rom. 3: 31, Rom. 6:1). In fact, we are held even MORE accountable because of the fact we know more! "To whom much has been given much is required..."(Luke 12:48).

Make no mistake though, when those who are in Christ fall short, they will not be condemned even if they fail to live to God's standards, because our righteousness is Christ.

Romans 8:1-3 NIV

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in sinful man,[d] 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

 

[Brenlae]

Why is it that there are some laws in the first few books on the OT that say a rapist should have a safe haven to hide in after the crime?

Now, I can't remember where I read this but, if anybody could shead some light on this for me, I would greatly appreciate it - whether I misinterprited it or whether it's even there to begin with.

Thanks.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Personally I love the OT, find it fascinating and although it is violent and bloody, I really can feel the extreme love God feels for his people through it. A lot of it was told to give us examples; God kept giving people chances and they were fine for awhile but inevitably would always return to sin. He would dish out hefty punishments but people always returned to their nature. Makes me appreciate Christ all the more, and perhaps others as well.

 

[Brenlae]

Personally I love the OT, find it fascinating and although it is violent and bloody, I really can feel the extreme love God feels for his people through it. A lot of it was told to give us examples; God kept giving people chances and they were fine for awhile but inevitably would always return to sin. He would dish out hefty punishments but people always returned to their nature. Makes me appreciate Christ all the more, and perhaps others as well.

Thank you! That has helped me greatly.