Deuteronômio 22
J. Vernon McGee · Citado em PreceptAustin
Deuteronômio 22
Vernon McGee - Miscellaneous laws concerning brother relationships, mixtures, and marriage. This chapter brings us to another division of the Book of Deuteronomy. We have seen the repetition and interpretation of the Ten Commandments in chapters 5 -- 7. Then there are the religious and national regulations in chapters 8 -- 21. Now we come to regulations for domestic and personal relations in chapters 22 -- 26. God directed many of these laws to the nation; now He gets right down to the nitty-gritty where the people live with laws relative to their domestic and their personal relations. (Deuteronomy 22) Keil entitles this chapter "The Duty to Love One's Neighbour; and Warning Against a Violation of the Natural Order of Things. Instructions to Sanctify the Marriage State."....The different relations brought under consideration are selected rather by way of examples, and therefore follow one another without any link of connection, for the purpose of exhibiting the truth in certain concrete cases, and showing how the covenant people were to hold all the arrangement of God sacred, whether in nature or in social life. (Deuteronomy 22) In summary, this chapter and the next 4 chapters through Dt 25, deal with instructions regarding day to day contract in the covenant community. Coates - This section of the book brings out principles which are very important in relation to the "labour of love" which is to go on in the land. The first feature of it is care that our brother shall not lose anything that belongs to him. It is very noticeable throughout this book how often the thought of caring for the good of others is brought in. How often we find a large circle of beneficiaries brought in to share the good of the land -- the Levite, the poor, the stranger, the widow and the fatherless. Spiritual blessings are to be enjoyed in such a way that others get the benefit of them. If I am thinking of myself, I am not serving in love. It was very sad when Paul had to say, "All seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ". As Grant points out "The underlying theme is that every individual in Israel should have a care for the wellbeing of others. Consequently, nothing would be done to harm them and everything would be done that would protect their interests. In this way society would be ordered in a harmonious manner which would allow all to enjoy the bounty of their inheritance and the presence of the God who had redeemed them from the bondage in Egypt. The nation of Israel would be governed in a way that was far removed from that which they had known during the years in Egypt, and from that which was practised by all others nations. Adhering to the teaching of these chapters would make Israel unique. (What the Bible teaches – Leviticus and Deuteronomy) Brown - Although the topics are diverse, the unifying theme is clear—the covenant community must consist of good neighbours. God is generous and loving; nobody who believes in him is allowed to live selfishly and carelessly within society. Every believer has a responsibility towards his neighbour. (Bible Speaks Today – The Message of Deuteronomy) This is a repeat of the law given to the first generation "If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him." (Ex 23:4) You shall not see your countryman's ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them (Heb “hide yourself" = don't live as if you had blinders on to troubles of others!) - NET = "When you see your neighbor's ox or sheep going astray, do not ignore it." The point is to not ignore the lost animal, but secure it and corral it. Don't act as if it is no business of yours and say "I don't want to get involved." In essence this is fulfilling the moral commandment in Lev 19:18+ - "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD." This also fulfills Jesus' command "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Mt. 7:12+)
Deuteronômio 22
Vernon McGee - In my day we have heard a great deal about a good neighbor policy, and we see that God had a good neighbor policy for His people in that day. I remember during Franklin Roosevelt's administration when he came out with the "good neighbor policy," all the pundits and reporters acclaimed it as something brand new. They hailed Roosevelt as a sort of messiah and thought he had come up with something wonderful. May I say to you that the good neighbor policy is as old as Moses -- actually much older than Moses. It goes back to the very throne of God in eternity. He is the One who says we are to adopt a good neighbor policy, and it is to be demonstrated in our everyday life. (Deuteronomy 22) Deuteronomy 22:4 "You shall not see your countryman's donkey or his ox fallen down on the way, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly help him to raise them up. thou shalt surely: Ex 23:4,5 Mt 5:44 Lu 10:29-37 Ro 15:1 2Co 12:15 Ga 6:1,2 1Th 5:14 Heb 12:12,13 Deuteronomy 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ASSIST A NEIGHBOR IN A CRISIS You shall not see your countryman's donkey or his ox fallen down on the way, and pay no attention to them - NET = "When you see your neighbor's donkey or ox fallen along the road, do not ignore it." Don't pretend you do not see your neighbor's problem! Don't do what seems to be a more common practice in self-centered societies and "look the other way" choosing on purpose to pay no attention to their crisis. Deere - Today this law would apply in any circumstance where a believer is tempted "not to get involved" with someone else's needs (ED: NOTE NOT THEIR "BUSINESS" BUT THEIR "NEEDS") (cf., e.g., James 2:15-16+; 1 John 3:17+). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) J Vernon McGee - They were not to assume a nonchalant attitude toward the neighbor, nor were they to pass by as if the neighbor's problem were none of their business. They were to extend their help to the neighbor. (Deuteronomy 22) Brown makes a very good point regarding practical application -- There is a serious danger in the contemporary world that Christians ‘withhold help’ by an apathetic attitude to the moral and social evils of our time. Believers must not be indifferent to the grave problems which confront us in modern society—alcoholism, drug abuse, abortion, homelessness, pornography, sexual deviance, child abuse, and so on. It will be tragic if believers ‘hide themselves’ rather than become informed, pray for improved legislation, lobby appropriate authorities, write well-argued letters, and take appropriate steps to bring about change. Alert Christians are urgently needed in the contemporary world as ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in a social environment which needs action as well as intercession and example (See Mt 5:13-16+). The saying attributed to Edmund Burke is highly relevant in late twentieth-century society: ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’....It will be tragic if, aware of God’s concern, Christians ‘hide themselves’ from responsibility in the face of these evils, or (to borrow imagery from Christ’s teaching) ‘pass by on the other side’ (Lk 10:31-32+) when others are in grave need. (Bible Speaks Today – The Message of Deuteronomy) You shall certainly help him to raise them up - The principle is simple - you see your neighbor needs help, so you help them. Give help in the hour of need. Give assistance and supply what help you are able. We do it because we are followers of a God Who does it all the time to us and others, for God cares and comes to our aid countless times in our life! THOUGHT - One is reminded of Hebrews 2:18+ - "For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid (to come on hearing our cry for help) of those who are (being) tempted." Jesus comes running when we are suffering or being tempted for He hears our cry for help. As His followers, believers are to do likewise for those in need, even when they are not actively crying out for help. If we see their need, we should at least seek to provide help. Such an attitude is in effect the practice of the second great commandment "The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these (Mk 12:30-31).” (Mk 12:31+). Se see a similar principle in Ro 13:10, Ro 15:1-2, Gal 5:14, James 2:8. Deuteronomy 22:5 "A woman shall not wear man's clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman's clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God. woman: 1Co 11:4-15 abomination: De 18:12 Deuteronomy 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries "DIVINE DRESS CODE" NO CROSS-DRESSING This is the only record of this instruction in the Pentateuch. Grant gives us a good background discussion on this verse - This difference (BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE) is seen in many ways. It has been argued in recent times that the only difference between male and female is physical, that is, they have bodies that differ one from the other. The female body was designed to bear children, but that is not the only difference between male and female. This difference in the means of bringing children into the world does not cease at birth. The woman can feed the baby and has the motherly instincts so necessary for bringing up children. The male was created to be the head and thus to lead (Gen 2:15). The female was created to be "an help" suitable for the man (Gen 2:18). This difference continues in the teaching of the New Testament (1 Cor 11:7-8; Eph 5:22-26). There is no sense of superiority or inferiority in this, but there is a difference in roles. The woman is the glory of the man, that is, she should display in her character and demeanour all that is commendable in man; love, compassion, gentleness etc. These are just some of the ways in which male and female differ. From the beginning it has been the purpose of the Adversary to destroy the male/female relationship as created by God. It should not be overlooked that, in coming into the world, the Lord Jesus Christ was born of a woman. Apart from that, attempting to change this divinely instituted order disrupts society, causes suffering and disease, and is a sign of open rebellion against the design of the Creator.(What the Bible teaches – Leviticus and Deuteronomy) A woman shall not wear man's clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman's clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination (lit = "a detestable thing") to the LORD your God - Don't obscure the distinction of the sexes and in effect "disturb" the created order of life! (Ge 1:27) It does not specify types of clothing but just that the clothing should be recognizably different. This prohibition is clear and needs no explanation. Note that the passage does not say the practice per se is an abomination but the person himself is an abomination to the Most High God! In other words the person himself (or perhaps better his lifestyle) is unholy, loathsome and abhorrent to a Holy God. It is a direct assault of and in a sense a refutation of His good creation order of male and female -- "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Ge 1:27) "Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." (Ge 2:18) This practice is in the same category as the multiple occult practices described in Dt 18:9-11 and regarding which Moses declared "For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you." (Deuteronomy 18:12+) Idols are also in this category (Dt 7:25-26+). For more discussion of the topic of transvestism see Hoffner's Article in the Tyndale Bulletin (go to page 48 in the article). In a very real sense the breaking of this instruction reflects the basic rebellion against God's creation order, which is in fact given to us not because He is a cosmic ogre but because He desires that we experience order in our individual lives, our families and our societies. Now ponder the antonyms of order in the context of our culture! (I am writing in 2021) - confusion, disorder, disorganization, disruption, upset, disconnection, disjointedness, pandemonium, shambles. WOE! We (America, any country) rebel against God's good order at our peril!
Deuteronômio 22
Vernon McGee - Someone will say this does not apply to us today because we are not under the Law. That is true. However, all these laws which we are studying do lay down certain principles which we do well to notice. I may be out of step with the times, but I believe it is still true today that a woman looks better dressed as a woman, and a man looks better dressed as a man. As my wife and I were driving in San Francisco, we were behind a little Volkswagen. I remarked that the wife was driving and the man was sitting next to her, and she was driving pretty fast. When they were going up a hill, they couldn't maintain their speed, so I passed them. Do you know that I was wrong? The man was driving and the woman was sitting beside him. That man looked a woman, and the woman looked like a man. Frankly, I don't see the benefit of that. God created us male and female. God is saying here that a man ought to look like a man, and a woman ought to look like a woman. We are having a great deal of trouble today because the sexes are trying to look alike and are trying to act alike. I personally feel that womanhood is paying an awful price for demanding equal rights. Men would like to treat women as women, and that means men would like to elevate them, and give them more than equal rights. (Deuteronomy 22) Related Resources: What does the Bible say about cross-dressing / transvestism? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about transsexualism / transgenderism? Is gender identity disorder / gender dysphoria the result of sin? | GotQuestions.org Deuteronomy 22:6 "If you happen to come upon a bird's nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; young ones: Lu 12:6 you shall not take the mother with the young: Ge 8:17 32:11 Lev 22:28 Pr 12:10 Ho 10:14 Deuteronomy 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CONSERVATION OF ANIMAL LIFE If you happen to come upon a bird's nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young - This law is found only here in the Pentateuch .When Israel crossed the Jordan and war ensued, animals would suffer. Here God instructs Israel to be careful to conserve the animals, out of compassion for the animals, but also the preservation of the supply of food for Israel (from birth of more animals). We are to be good stewards of all the good gifts that God gives us. As an aside we must remember that God cares for the birds (and other animals) Jesus declaring “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (Mt 6:26+) And again Jesus asked "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father." (Mt 10:29) Matthew Poole “Partly for the bird’s sake, which suffered enough by the loss of its young; for God would not have cruelty exercised towards the brute creatures; and partly for men’s sake, to restrain their greediness and covetousness, that they should not monopolize all to themselves, but might leave the hopes of a future seed for others.” ESVSB - Like the treatment of trees in Dt 20:19–20, this law preserves the means of life and seeks to prevent shortsightedness, requiring wise and respectful use of the creation. HCSB has an interesting thought- The principle here seems to be that of not mixing life with death. Thus, a mother bird, the source of life, must not be taken along with her chicks and eggs because she would no longer be able to generate new life. Deuteronomy 22:7 you shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days. may: Pr 22:4 Deuteronomy 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries KINDNESS TO ANIMALS: LET THE MOTHER GO You shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days - This law is found only here in the Pentateuch. This principle preserves the food chain, the future supply of food from the birth of offspring from those animals that were allowed to survive. Notice the phrase prolong your days, indicating the practical nature of obedience to this rule, for to disobey would lead to loss of a critically important source of protein which would in turn lead to malnutrition and potentially evey starvation. This phrase is repeated in the command to keep his commandments - “So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.” (De 4:40+, cf same desirable goal in Dt 5:16; Dt 6:3, 18; Dt 12:25, 28; Dt 19:13). POSB - Conservation of animal life and of the earth (air, water, trees, nature) will make things go better—far, far better—and give us a richer and longer life upon earth. This is the promise of God. (Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Deuteronomy)
Deuteronômio 22
Vernon McGee - Do you know that it is only in recent years that our nation has had building codes to protect people? God is not behind the times as a great many people seem to think He is. God has a concern about the way people build their homes. He is interested in that.He wants your home to be dedicated to Him, and He wants that home to be a safe place. Do you have a railing around your home? Do you protect your children from the things of this world? Many parents let their children move from the home and do not even know where the children are. Many children have gone out to live on the street or in communes. The railing, the protection, is not there as it should be in the modern home. (Deuteronomy 22) Bloodguilt (Heb. dām, dāmîm “blood”).is the condition of being culpable for bloodshed, guilt incurred through an unnecessary shedding of blood (Deut. 19:10). Bloodguilt in NASB - Exod. 22:2; Exod. 22:3; Lev. 17:4; Lev. 20:9; Lev. 20:11; Lev. 20:12; Lev. 20:13; Lev. 20:16; Lev. 20:27; Deut. 19:10; Deut. 21:8; Deut. 22:8; Ps. 51:14; Hos. 12:14 Philip Logan - Bloodguilt made a person ritually unclean (Num. 35:33–34) and was incurred by killing a person who did not deserve to die (Deut. 19:10; Jer. 26:15; Jon. 1:14). Killing in self-defense and execution of criminals are exempted from bloodguilt (Exod. 22:2; Lev. 20:9). Bloodguilt was incurred (1) by intentional killing (Jdg. 9:24; 1 Sam. 25:26, 33; 2 Kings 9:26; Jer. 26:15); (2) by unintentional killing (See Num. 35:22–28 where one who accidentally kills another may be killed by the avenger of blood implying that the accidental murderer had bloodguilt. See Avenger.); (3) by being an indirect cause of death (Gen. 42:22; Deut. 19:10b; 22:8; Josh. 2:19); (4) a person was under bloodguilt if those for whom he was responsible committed murder (1 Kings 2:5, 31–33); and (5) the killing of a sacrifice at an unauthorized altar imputed bloodguilt (Lev. 17:4). The avenger of blood could take action in the first two instances but not in the latter three. When the murderer was known in instance (1) above, the community shared the guilt of the murderer until the guilty party had paid the penalty of death. No other penalty or sacrifice could substitute for the death of the guilty party, nor was there any need for sacrifice once the murderer had been killed (Num. 35:33; Deut. 21:8–9). The one who unintentionally killed another [(2) above] might flee to a city of refuge and be safe. If, however, the accidental killer left the boundaries of the city of refuge, the avenger of blood could kill in revenge without incurring bloodguilt (Num. 35:31–32; Deut. 19:13). The community was held to be bloodguilty if it failed to provide asylum for the accidental killer (Deut. 19:10). In cases where the blood of an innocent victim was not avenged, the blood of the innocent cried out to God (Gen. 4:10; Isa. 26:21; Ezek. 24:7–9; cp. Job 16:18), and God became the avenger for that person (Gen. 9:5; 2 Sam. 4:11; 2 Kings 9:7; Ps. 9:12; Hos. 1:4). Even the descendants of the bloodguilty person might suffer the consequences of God’s judgment (2 Sam. 3:28–29; 21:1; 1 Kings 21:29). Manasseh’s bloodguilt and Judah’s failure to do anything about it was the cause of Judah’s downfall over 50 years after Manasseh’s reign (2 Kings 24:4). Judas incurred bloodguilt by betraying Jesus (“innocent blood,” Matt. 27:4). Those who called for the crucifixion accepted the burden of bloodguilt for themselves and their children (Matt. 27:25). Pilate accepted no responsibility for the shedding of innocent blood (Matt. 27:24). (Holman Bible Dictionary) HCSB - Innocent blood defiled the land so that the land figuratively became hostile toward the guilty person and resisted his attempts to make use of it. When Cain killed Abel, Abel's blood cried out to the Lord from the ground. It would thereafter withhold its yield from Cain (Gen 4:10-12). The soil of Israel would likewise become polluted by the blood of innocent victims (Num 35:33-34; Dt 19:13). Deuteronomy 22:9 "You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, or all the produce of the seed which you have sown and the increase of the vineyard will become defiled. shall not sow: Lev 19:19 Mt 6:24 9:16 Ro 11:6 2Co 1:12 11:3 Jas 1:6-8 3:10 Deuteronomy 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries UNACCEPTABLE MIXTURES: DIFFERENT SEEDS You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, or all the produce of the seed which you have sown and the increase of the vineyard will become defiled - Logically two kinds of seed would not necessarily grow well together and maybe even not grow at all. This seems to be a reflection that God created His cosmos with a certain order and in order to receive the maximum benefit of the Creator's creation we do well to follow the Creator's commandments. Ultimately, this prohibition for mixing things is like a divine "word picture" to emphasize the fact that Israel should remain distinct from the pagan nations. Or to say it another way, Israel's seed should not be planted with the pagan's seed. NET NOTE on become defiled - Heb “set apart.” The verb קָדַשׁ (qadash) in the Qal verbal stem (as here) has the idea of being holy or being treated with special care. Some take the meaning as “be off-limits, forfeited,” i.e., the total produce of the vineyard, both crops and grapes, have to be forfeited to the sanctuary (cf. Ex 29:37; 30:29; Lev 6:18, 27; Num 16:37–38; Hag 2:12). (Deuteronomy 22) Prohibitions against mixture based on Lev 19:19 and Deut 22:9-11 are given in detail in the First Order of Mishnah, Tractate 4, Kilaim. HCSB makes an interesting point - To plant a vineyard with two types of seed makes the point even more clearly that the mixture of unlike things is harmful. Similarly, Israel would be defiled if she mingled with the pagan nations (Dt 7:3-4). ESVSB agrees noting that "These laws (Dt 22:9-11) prohibit mixing various items, reflecting God’s ordering of creation “according to its kind” (e.g., Gen. 1:25). They also reminded Israelites that God had separated them from other peoples to be distinct and holy (Deut. 14:2)." Kline - The Lord created the various "kinds" in the vegetable and animal kingdom (Gen 1:11 ff.). Israel was so to treat these "kinds" that they would be preserved in their distinctive natures (Deut 22:6, 7, 9-11; cf. Lev 19:19). (Wycliffe Bible Commentary on Deuteronomy) Brown - The Egyptians mixed vegetables and grapes in their vineyards. Perhaps in these practical and visible ways, God was urging Israel to be different from her pagan neighbours. (Bible Speaks Today – The Message of Deuteronomy) Grant - The general principle, in the first three (MIXTURES), is that there are fundamental differences, not only in living creatures, but also in the inanimate creation. There was purpose in everything that was created. Nothing was brought into being to satisfy the whims of a distant creator. Creation is best enjoyed when this God-given harmony is acknowledged. The first matter, that of sowing different kinds of seeds in the vineyard, is unique amongst the four in that there is a reason given for this prohibition. By so doing the vineyard would be "defiled", that is, its fruitfulness would be impaired. It may be that, in addition to the practical issues involved, there was another lesson to be learned. Israel is likened to a vineyard which had been carefully prepared to ensure that it would produce a harvest of grapes that were sweet (Isa 5:1-7). The owner of the vineyard would be reminded of this each time he was in his vineyard. There must never be anything or anyone brought into Israel that would affect its fruitfulness. (What the Bible teaches – Leviticus and Deuteronomy) POSB - This is a symbol of spiritual separation, of the believer living a pure, distinctive life from the immoral and lawless behavior of the world. The Israelites were to live lives that were distinct, totally separated to God. This law drove the truth of spiritual separation into their minds and hearts through everything they did. God wanted His people separated, set apart to Him, not to the world and its sinful ways. This law was to give a daily reminder to God's people, a reminder that they were to live a life of spiritual separation. Everything was to maintain its difference and distinctiveness. There was to be no mixture of truth and error, no mixture of morality and immorality, no mixture of obedience and disobedience. God's people were to live lives that were distinctively different from that of their immoral and lawless neighbors. They were not to have any mixed behavior, not adopt any of the sinful and evil practices of their wicked neighbors. They were to live lives of spiritual separation, lives that were distinctively different from the rest of the world. (Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Deuteronomy) QUESTION - Deuteronomy 22:9–11 What was the significance of the commands against mixing different things in Deuteronomy 22:9–11? ANSWER - Deuteronomy 22:9–11 reads, “Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled. Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.” These commands sound strange to us and cause many people to wonder why God would issue these kinds of laws. These commands are found in the larger context of Deuteronomy 22:9—23:18 that includes many commands related to the seventh commandment of not committing adultery. The broader concept is one of not mixing together what was to stay separated. The underlying emphasis of these specific commands is spiritual. Each of the three commands is about two different kinds: 1) two kinds of seed, 2) two kinds of animal, and 3) two kinds of yarn. The different seeds were not to be planted together; the different animals were not to plow together; and the different yarns were not to be interwoven. There may be some practical reasons for the commands to keep these things separate. First, the command against mixing two kinds of seed sounds very familiar to Jesus’ parable regarding the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24–30). In the parable, an enemy plants the weeds (likely darnel, a wheat-like weed) in order to ruin the crop. The only way to spare the wheat was to wait until the harvest and separate the wheat from the weeds. A farmer would not intentionally mix these two types of seed. Barring the yoking of an ox and donkey is more difficult to understand. Some interpreters understand the idea of “yoking” as a reference to crossbreeding the two animals (this is the emphasis in Leviticus 19:19). The command could also have been a means of preventing animal cruelty: an ox is much stronger than a donkey, and yoking the two together will quickly deplete a donkey’s strength. It is also important to note that the ox is a clean animal, while the donkey is unclean. The prohibition against wearing clothing mixed of wool and linen is also difficult to understand. Some suggest that the focus is on dressing in clothing distinct from the pagan cultures that surrounded the Israelites. Both spiritual and practical considerations were involved in these commands, as is often the case in the Mosaic Law. Even when the practical reasons are not fully clear, it is possible to find a spiritual purpose. God desires purity in His people, and there is to be no “mixture” between good and evil. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14–15). - GOTQUESTIONS.ORG Deuteronomy 22:10 "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. Deuteronomy 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Do not be bound together (present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. J Vernon McGee - God warns against mixtures. The child of God cannot mix with the world. I hear Christians say that they go the way of the world in order to reach the people of the world. I have news for you. That is not the way to reach them. If you ever hear of anybody being reached because a Christian went the way of the world, let me know. The seeds were not to be mixed. The ox and the ass were not to try to work together. The wool and the linen were not to be mixed. The Christian is not to mix with the world, my friend. Passages that allude to mixing with the world - (Luke 21:34, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Ti 2:4, Eph 5:11, 2 Thes. 3:6, 1 John 2:15-17, Psalm 119:115). UNACCEPTABLE MIXTURES: DIFFERENT WORK ANIMALS You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together - These two work animals do not work well together and in fact it would bring suffering to the animals. Two different species cannot associate comfortably together, nor pull pleasantly either in cart or plough; and the donkey being lower than the ox, when yoked, he must bear the principal part of the weight. Grant - Two lessons are to be learned. First, the owners of the animals are charged with the responsibility of caring for them. They have come from the hand of God and He cares for them. Second, no matter what enterprise one is engaged in, there must be care taken in choosing those with whom one would be "yoked together". Those who come to the Lord Jesus do so to take His yoke upon them (Mt 11:29). They are yoked to Him and His teaching but find that this is not burdensome. Yoking together is practised because the two animals would achieve much more than they would accomplish if working alone. This is true of Christian service. Paul would doubtless have this verse before his mind when he warned the believer of the danger of being "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Cor 6:14) for such a yoke would rob the believer of freedom to follow the Lord in life and service. (What the Bible teaches – Leviticus and Deuteronomy) J Vernon McGee - This sounds to me like a humorous thing which the Lord is saying here. Actually I saw this done over in Israel. In fact, I have a slide that I took showing an Arab plowing with an ox and an ass yoked together. So they do this over there even today. God says that Israel should not plow that way. Someone may ask, "What is wrong with that?" Well, an ox is an ox and an ass is an ass, and they do not go together. They don't walk together -- their gait is different, and they do not pull together. Have you noticed that the Lord does not like mixtures? The same thing is true in marriage. God does not want a mixture of the saved and the unsaved. Unfortunately, I have seen quite a few marriages that reminded me of an ox and an ass yoked together -- a Christian girl marries an unsaved fellow, or vice versa. (Deuteronomy 22) Jamieson-Fausset-Brown “Besides, the donkey, from feeding on coarse and poisonous weed, has a fetid breath, which its yoke-fellow seeks to avoid, not only as poisonous and offensive, but producing leanness, or, if long continued, death.” This text regarding yokes recalls Jesus great invitation... Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30+). Deuteronomy 22:11 "You shall not wear a material mixed of wool and linen together. Deuteronomy 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Leviticus 19:19+ ‘(Lev 19:18 ends with "I am the LORD") You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together. UNACCEPTABLE MIXTURES: DIFFERENT MATERIALS You shall not wear a material mixed of wool and linen together - Mixed speaks of unity, oneness. Wool and linen are like oil and water - they do not mix. The parallel prohibition in Lev 19:19 is given in a chapter that deals with holiness of the people (cf Lev 19:1). NET NOTE - The Hebrew term שַׁעַטְנֵז (sha’atnez) occurs only here and in Lev 19:19. HALOT 1610–11 s.v. takes it to be a contraction of words (שַׁשׁ [shash, “headdress”] + עַטְנַז [’atnaz, “strong”]). BDB 1043 s.v. שַׁעַטְנֵז offers the translation “mixed stuff” (cf. NEB “woven with two kinds of yarn”; NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “woven together”). The general meaning is clear even if the etymology is not. (Deuteronomy 22) J Vernon McGee -Do you know what happens with a mixture like that? When you wash it, the wool will shrink but the linen will not. Then you have a real problem. (Deuteronomy 22) While most of the time when the Lord makes commands, the reasons are fairly obvious, but the present instructions are not completely clear. Nevertheless Brown makes the excellent point that "These unusual covenant obligations also remind them that they must be obedient. They might not always understand why they are asked not to do certain things, but they must trust the God who made the rules. The Lord would certainly not have forbidden his people to do anything unless the thing was positively harmful to them. ‘No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.’ If the Lord had forbidden certain customs and practices, they cannot possibly have been ‘good’ for them. They were not to quibble and argue as to why such things were denied them; they were to do exactly what the Lord required and be content in their obedience. (Bible Speaks Today – The Message of Deuteronomy)