Christians: Interpret these passages?

Question

Deuteronomy 23

23:1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

After all, can you really help it if your genitals have been damaged or you were born out of wedlock? It seems mighty intolerant....

Some interesting answers, but if the New Testament trumps the Old, that would imply that God changed his mind (as he apparently does many times throughout the Bible.) If God is perfect and all powerful, why did he change his mind? Why not get it right the first time?

Answer 1

first one means the one who gets hit in the balls, or has his dick cut off, can't be christian

if you don't know your daddy, you are going to hell.

**** you and all that "this is mighty intolerant ****" its true is what it is and your going to hell just for saying that.

Answer 2

Interpretation:

Under Levitical Law as practiced among Jewish exiles in Babylon, castration victims and illigetimate children were excluded from the Temple (but not the synagogue). The concept makes sense within the context of the Temple ritual devised during the Babylonian exile (when Deuteronomy was edited into its present form). Synagogues were the equivalent of modern "Churches." The Temple, on the other hand, was the religious equivalent of a modern Thanksgiving parade, where specific representatives of the population made an obligatory appearance before God on the high holidays.

It sounds intollerant because people assume that Deuteronomy was written by Moses back in the 14th century BC, before the 'modern' synagogue. Keep in mind that all of the laws described in the Penteteuch were composed long after the time that they were supposedly applied.

Answer 3

Sir, you misinterpret the scriptures. These verses are laws concerning the Old Covenant Aaronic priesthood (Judaism). The New Covenant is clearly laid out in the book of Hebrews. Let us not forget that under the new covenant (Christianity), all believers are considered priests.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

I see that once again you err, not knowing the scriptures. The New did not trump the Old, rather, it fulfilled what the Old pointed to. God never changed His mind about this. When you read the Old, then see how it is fulfilled in the New, it makes one marvel at the power and wisdom of God. Christ, who came to fulfill the law (Luke 24:44), arrived at the time appointed by God:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
God is God, and He does not have to consult with you or me or anyone else to determine how, when, where or why He chooses to do what He does or has done. Time would not allow me to elaborate more, but this I'll say, if you really want to know God, search the scriptures with all of your heart. God in all His perfection is not hiding from anyone; look closely and you will see.

Answer 4

The Law is intolerant of failures and imperfections. That's true. That's why an act that is trivial to some of us as taking a fruit could land Adam straight to hell.

And that's why Jesus had to come.

NOBODY, I repeat no human can ever be perfect. The standards are too high. There's no way an imperfect being, either physical or spiritual can enter into the congregation of the Lord. Thats' why Jesus is the one who is the high priest and enters on our behalf.

WE are enjoined to Him through His grace.

Answer 5

Well, Deuteronomy is part of the Old Testament, but it's a good one nonetheless.

Deuteronomy 21:10-13

When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives, if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife.

Answer 6

Considering these are from the Jewish laws and do not apply to Gentiles like you and me and every other Christian out there....

I would just ignore it.

But if you want an interpretation, then yea it’s pretty self explanatory. And I would agree intolerant. When Jesus died for us he brought us new law. Treat people around you as you wish to be treated, and Love unconditionally.

When we compare the teaching of the Jewish law in the Old Testament with the philosophies of Jesus we see almost immediately how opposite they are. That is why you can buy bibles with no Old Testament. I don’t know why The Nicene council ever voted to add them to the Bible in the first place. Historical record maybe? A record of how Jesus was the messiah?

Who knows, but parts of the Old Testament even though contained in the Christian cannon does not apply to Christians…

Kind of Confusing and silly eh?

Answer 7

Those were special rules while the people were under the curse of the law. They were outward signs symbolic of the inward perfection and purity that God desires of all his children. The first verse represents the inability of a man to impart life (spiritual) and the second one is a picture of a child of spiritual adultery - worshipping other gods. The prophet Isaiah writes about the time after Jesus woud come when these outward symbols would be superceded by the inward purity and devotion that God was really looking for.

Isaiah 56:1 Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." 3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." 4 For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 5 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. 6 "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant-- 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

Answer 8

According to the MacArthur study Bible, which is a GREAT resource for such troubling questions the explanation of these passages is as follows:

Deuteronomy 23:1-2

"Eunuchs, illegitimate children, and people from Ammon and Moab [because of their vicious hostility toward God and His people Israel] were excluded [from worshiping the Lord]. Enuchs were forbidden because such willful mutilation (lit. in Hebrew, by crushing, which was the way such an act was generally performed) violated God's creation of man, was associated with idolatrous practices and was done by pagan parents to their children so that they might serve as eunuchs in the homes of the great. The illegitimate were excluded so as to place an indelible stigma as a discouragement to shameful sexual misconduct."

I am sure that wasn't the cozy answer you wanted, but God was making a point of how much he hated sin.

Answer 9

It means exactly what it says. Remember though it is part of the old convent. God is holy, and you must be holy to be in His congregation. We are not holy, but now, thanks to the new convent, we can enter into the presence of God through His free grace offered in His Son, Jesus Christ. God bless.

Answer 10

Well, I don't know about the house of the lord, but any man with his genitals damaged won't be entering me, lol.

Answer 11

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Keep reading. You'll figure it all out. Like an ever expanding

fractal,


Truth will reveal it's to you

I'm beginning to think the different between believers and non-believers is non-believers hate on themselves so much they ask themselves the silliest questions to trip themselves up.
thinking it will trip up others.

But Christ is still going to meet you half way so,

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