Applying the Old Testament to ourselves

All of the Bible is relevant to us. All of it was meant to to teach us something. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

But not everything in the Bible is equally applicable.

We see that in this passage. We see how the Israelite courts were supposed to work.

But we are not in Israel. And things that were crimes in Israel are not crimes in Japan, America, or most other countries.

Nor do we have the power to execute justice when God’s law is broken.

Even the apostles faced that reality. And yet in this passage, we see three principles that the apostles did apply to the church.

One is the need for two or more witnesses when accusing someone. Paul told Timothy,

Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:19)

Those words come directly from Deuteronomy 17, verse 6.

In Deuteronomy 17:12, when people were arrogant in their sin, they were to be executed publicly. Why? So that others would hear about it and be afraid, and no longer act arrogantly. (13)

In Paul’s day, it was not in their power to execute people, but Paul did take that principle from God’s law, saying,

Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid. (1 Timothy 5:20)

We also see Paul’s use of these words,

You must purge the evil from you. (Deuteronomy 17:7, 12)

He uses it of a man who was sleeping with his father’s wife.

The Corinthian church, however, refused to do anything about him.

So quoting this passage from Deuteronomy, Paul told them, “If anyone claims to be a Christian, and yet unrepentantly sins, remove that evil person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

Paul did not mean to kill the man. Paul meant to kick the man out of the church until he repented.

So again, when it comes to the Old Testament law and how it applies to us, not all of it applies to us equally.

Nevertheless, there are principles that we get from those laws, and the best way to see what they are is to study what Jesus and the apostles have said about the law, and how they applied it.

Remember: all that Jesus and the apostles taught didn’t come out of thin air.

Rather, it all came from the Old Testament.

That’s why it’s important for us to read even passages like this one.