Today we begin Deuteronomy Chapter 28.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click here.
For the King James version, click here.
We’ve now arrived at the mid-point of the special 4-chapter section that stretches from Deuteronomy chapters 26 to 30.
You should know out of all the Torah, these chapters are the most revered and studied by both Rabbis and Hebrew scholars alike.
Why?
Because as mentioned before, the meaning of these passages are simultaneously both straightforward and easy to understand AND very deep and mystical.
This chapter also contains serious threats the Lord directed towards Israel should they disobey His Covenant.
We normally label these serious threats as “curses”.
According to the Lord’s justice system, there is a balancing scale of…
…curses for disobeying God and turning away from him…
…and blessings for trusting and obeying God.
Since this whole subject of “curses” is so grossly misunderstood, what I think I’m going to do from today is start a little study on this topic that will continue on for the next couple of days.
First off, why is this whole topic of curses so misunderstood?
The answer to that question can be summarized in one word: Paul (or Rabbi Shaul).
The Apostle Paul’s writings especially in the Book of Galatians have caused so much confusion that there are many believers out there who are ignorantly living life under the assumption that their relationship with the Lord is one-sided and that all they can ever expect from God is His love, mercy and prosperity.
In other words, because of a gross misinterpretation of the teachings of Paul, a lot of folks get the idea that they will no longer be subject to any discipline from the Lord when they sin.
My response to that assumption: Helllllllllllllllllll no.
Alrighty, let’s jump right into this by tackling the question of what Paul REALLY MEANT when he used the phrase “the curse of the law” and then…
…went on to say that because Messiah has become “a curse for us”, we are no longer under the law.
Here’s Paul’s statement from the Book of Galatians that has caused more confusion in the minds of men than all of the abstract treatises on philosophy penned by men over the centuries combined.
For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.“-Galatians 3:10-13
Okay, so the first point you need to drill into your head is to…
…NOT confuse the list of “curses” with the phrase “the curse of the law”.
The list of curses is simply the list of prescribed punishments one will suffer for any one of the various acts of rebellion against the Lord.
Let me reiterate that point again.
It’s important to make a distinction between the plural “curses” versus the singular “the curse”.
Got it?
The failure to make this very distinction has been the reason why so many believers walk around in a state of ignorant bliss and harbor the following two mistaken assumptions.
MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION #1:
It is not necessary to fear God anymore because Messiah has rescued us from the “Curse of the Law”.
MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION #2:
There is nothing we can do that will cause the Lord to discipline or punish us.
We’ll continue with this discussion the next time we meet.
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