Deuteronomy 22

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Moral Guidelines and Marriage Guidelines

BACKGROUND NOTES


DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The moral guidelines contained in the Law are valid today.

  2. The marriage guidelines contained in the Law are valid today.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Tie a string around your finger.

QUESTIONS

  1. How can the Mosaic Law be subdivided? Which category of the Law still applies today?

  2. What moral principle could be drawn from verses 1-3?

  3. What moral principle could be drawn from verse 4?

  4. What would be the moral guideline in the laws about not mixing different seeds or different fabrics or different animals for plowing (verses 9-11)?

  5. What moral guideline do we see repeated in verses 22-24?

ANSWERS

  1. The Mosaic Law can be divided into civil, ceremonial, and moral regulations. While the civil and ceremonial regulations of the Mosaic Law no longer apply, the moral directives certainly apply today.

  2. “Finders are not keepers.” Just as the Children of Israel were responsible to return any lost item that they found to its owner, so we are responsible to do our best to return any lost item that we find – including lost money.

  3. “Don’t pretend ignorance.” It’s so easy to play ignorant and pass by someone who needs our help.

  4. One would be “Keep separate from pagan practices.” The foreign nations surrounding Israel were involved in at least some of these mixtures as part of their religious rites and practices.

  5. Both the man and woman involved in adultery or consenting fornication were to be punished. There was no double standard with God, which is certainly a moral guideline for today.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Although there are many civil and ceremonial laws from the Mosaic Law that are not in effect for believers today, they may contain moral principles that are good for us. Discuss some of the moral principles from the nonmoral laws mentioned in this Talk, and others backed up by Scripture.

  2. Have you ever tied a string around your finger or used another method to help you remember something? That is the essence of the law to tie tassels on the edges of garments (verse 37-40) – to constantly remind the Children of Israel of the commandments of the Lord. How could you apply this principle in your life?

CHALLENGE

  1. Imagine for a moment, what our society would look like if it followed the moral guidelines on marriage outlined in Deuteronomy 22. How would your family look different?

KEY VERSES

  • “You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again.” Deuteronomy 22:4

  • “You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourself.” Deuteronomy 22:12

Deuteronomy, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidDEUTERONOMY 22