"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. " ----- Deuteronomy 23:2-3:
If this still is valid, then if any of 4046 (2^11-2) people in the last 300 years which you are descended from were born out of wedlock, then God doesn't want you...
The rate of childbirth out of wedlock in the US is currently 36%, but let's assume that over the last 300 years people were much more moral, and the average is more like 0.1% (This is a ridiculously generous number, especially considering the average has to factor in the current number). Even assuming this 0.01%, this means that there is still a 98.25% chance you qualify and God wouldn't want you in his church...
If this has changed, why did God say this to begin with?
2007-09-26 14:57:03 · 17 answers · asked by yelxeH 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are lots of laws in the OT that have been fulfilled by the Blood of Jesus Christ...God wants everyone...young and old, male and female, Greek and Jew, children of married parents and children of unmarried parents. See Galatians 3:28.
Also God is setting forth a morality of the importance of marriage, of the family, and of the mother and father in the raising of the child. I don't view it as insignificant as some might...I think it is a moral imperative that marriage and the family are important.
Also in relation to things being overcome in Jesus as being baloney... I suggest that you take a look at Acts 15... The First Jerusalem Council...there the church is debating the necessity of Gentiles...i.e. all non Jews...keeping Jewish dietary regulations and circumcision...and the overwhelming decision is that because they are not Jews they are Christians that this is not necessary.
2007-09-26 15:07:11 · answer #1 · answered by joe 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
What ALL previous answers are overlooking is the context of the passage in question. This did not forbid a person of questionable lineage from being an Israelite, it merely forbid him from sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple was a very special case that does not exist today. Much of the Torah relates to the importance of keeping the Worship at the temple spotless. For instance, anyone of any parentage could not go to the temple if they were unclean due to any number of things ranging from contact with a dead body, to a woman on her period. This was to make a point that the Temple was special and should be treated as such.
Now today this does not apply. This is not because (as others have suggested) Jesus did away with the law. This is Because there simple is no Temple standing today. There are no holy things to be defiled. A local church is not The Temple, and so attendance there is not forbidden to a bastard (or a eunuch, or a prostitute, or a leper, etc...) Just as in those days such people could go to a synagogue, just not the Temple.
Some parts of the Law no longer apply simply because the circumstances surrounding them do not exist anymore. NOT because "Jesus did away with all that"
2007-09-26 22:22:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is not translated properly. It actually says
2"No one whose testes are crushed or whose member is cut off shall be admitted into the congregation of the lord."
3"No one misbegotten shall be admitted into the congregation of the Lord; none of his descendants, even in the tenth generation, shall be admitted into the congregation of the Lord"
The misbegotten are the Mamzers, which are Jews who were born from incest or who was born from a married woman who got pregnant by a man who is not her husband.
Mamzers can only marry other mamzers, they can study Judaism but they can never be Rabbi's or scholars. Also only a Jew can be a mamzer, so lets say a non Jew who was born from incest or an adulterous mother wants to convert to Judaism, he will not be considered a mamzer since he or she was not born to a Jewish mother.
In Judaism there is no concept of being a bastard, this is a Christian and Muslim concept. So if a Jewish woman got pregnant before married, the child will not be considered a bastard.
None Jews are only required to follow the 7 laws G-d gave to Noah.
2007-09-26 22:20:06 · answer #3 · answered by ST 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely! This still applies.
It applies because it is not talking about physical bastards but spiritual bastards. All those who are not children of the Father will never enter into the congregation of the Lord.
Only those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and become a child of God will enter into the congregation as adopted sons of the Father. If you are not a son of the Father you are a son of the bastard, satan. If you are a son of the bastard, you are a bastard.
Unless you are among the Sons of the Father you are out!
Interested in becoming a son of the Father, an adopted brother/sister of Christ?
MollyTS1954@yahoo.com
2007-09-26 22:12:15 · answer #4 · answered by Molly 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Good news now there is Jesus.
Jeremiah 31:29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. 30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. 31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
2007-09-26 22:05:29 · answer #5 · answered by just a man 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Um, Haysus changed everything!
(But, it does kinda contradict the verse that says a person doesn't pay for the sins of the parent....)
2007-09-26 22:04:44 · answer #6 · answered by strpenta 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was more applicable to the people of that time, but now we can ask to be forgiven. At that time, even 200 years ago, it was frowned upon, before Jesus was born, Joseph thought he'd divorce Mary and he believed she was unfaithful.
2007-09-26 22:17:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Old Testament applies only to those of the Jewish faith. They live under the Law still to this day but if you are not Jewish then you do not live under the Law and you are under the grace of Jesus. You are still to obey the Commandments,(which include do not commit adultery) but each person is responsible for his or her own sin you do not pass your sins on to your children.
2007-09-26 22:11:14 · answer #8 · answered by Angela E 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They're just going to give the same standard canned answer, blah, blah Jesus changed everything, blah, blah.
Funny how they pick and chose the parts of the Old Testament they want to believe in.
And if you want to get technical, shouldn't that quote apply to Jesus, since after all, his parents (Mary and Yahweh) weren't married?
2007-09-26 22:04:34 · answer #9 · answered by Reverend Ludd A.A.A.A.A.A. 2 · 3⤊ 3⤋
God does not encouraged pre marital and extra marital affairs.
Israel was given the Law before entering the promised land. God is very strict with His own people.
Today we, under grace have new relationship.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
2007-09-26 22:00:08 · answer #10 · answered by Mikey 3 · 1⤊ 6⤋