Jehovah's Witnesses: Since you supposedly follow the bible to the letter...?

Question

Why do you not do as you are told in these scriptures?

"If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them; ... And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear." (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

"And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:17)

"For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he that cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him." (Leviticus 20:9)

And don't try to tell me that none of you have rebellious sons, I know a few that have left the religion (which I think would constitute rebellious) and they have not been stoned.
Or is it that you ignore them for legal reasons?

Mr. Diamond, I haven't either, but I have met many that claim too.

Moises, I am not doubting your knowledge of the bible (I am fairly knowledgable on it too), I am asking this because I was just told by a J.W. that JW's "follow the bible to the letter and do as it says to do." I am curious as to how JW's interperet these passages and others like them.

Answer 1

Is "THIS" LIKE one of Those INFLAMMATORY Questions ? ? ?

Answer 2

According to the Bible we are no longer under the Mosaic Law, it ended with Christs death. So, to put someone to death for cursing their parents would not be following the Bible to the letter.

This does not mean that the Old Testament is of no use to Christians since we can still learn a great deal from how Jehovah dealt with the nation of Israel.

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses care deeply for the welfare of their children.

Christians are no longer under the Law given to Israel.

However, the inspired Christian writings state that “Christ is the end of the Law” (Romans 10:4), which results in Christians’ being “discharged from the Law.” (Romans 7:6.)

The Scriptures plainly state that Christ’s sacrifice “abolished . . . the Law of commandments consisting in decrees” and that God “blotted out the handwritten document against us, which consisted of decrees . . . and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake.” It was the complete Mosaic Law that was “abolished,” “blotted out,” taken “out of the way.” (Eph. 2:13-15 - Col. 2:13, 14)

3 The Law was not given to all humankind. Jehovah made a covenant, or an agreement, with the descendants of Jacob, who became the nation of Israel. Jehovah gave his laws to this nation only. The Bible makes this clear at Deuteronomy 5:1-3 and Psalm 147:19, 20.

The apostle Paul asked the question: “Why, then, the Law?” Yes, for what purpose did Jehovah give his law to Israel? Paul answered: “To make transgressions manifest, until the seed should arrive to whom the promise had been made . . . Consequently the Law has become our tutor (or, teacher)leading to Christ.” (Galatians 3:19-24) The special purpose of the Law was to protect and guide the nation of Israel so that they might be ready to accept Christ when he arrived. The many sacrifices required by the Law reminded the Israelites that they were sinners who needed a Savior.—Hebrews 10:1-4.

“CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW.”

It was removed. “We are no longer under a tutor,” Paul explained. (Galatians 3:25 -

If you would like further information & learn more - please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit

Answer 4

True Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) understand that the requirements unique to the Jewish Mosaic Law ended with Christ's impalement.

Perhaps a better question might ask what purpose was served by the Jewish Mosaic Law. The apostle Paul addressed this question.

(Galatians 3:19-25) Why, then, the ["Old Testament"] Law? It was added to make transgressions manifest, until the seed [Jesus] should arrive to whom the promise had been made... 21 Is the Law, therefore, against the promises of God? May that never happen! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, righteousness would actually have been by means of law. 22 But the Scripture delivered up all things together to the custody of sin, that the promise resulting from faith toward Jesus Christ might be given to those exercising faith. 23 However, before the faith arrived, we were being guarded under law, being delivered up together into custody, looking to the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith. 25 But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor.

Thus, the Mosaic Law served several purposes:
1. Demonstrated that humans are imperfect, and humans need redemption (mankind needs more than just a list of do's and don'ts)
2. Protected god's people and true worship; many Jewish "laws" were beneficial godly "principles" (sanitation, etc)
3. Provided a prophetic framework whereby the Messiah would be recognized
4. Built faith in God; taught about God's love, justice, wisdom, and power
5. Was "a tutor leading to Christ"; early Christian congregation was overwhelmingly Hebrew

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20020215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20020915/

Answer 5

Assuming that this is a sincere question (and i'm going to pretend i did not read "unsilenced lamb's" reply)--- we strive to live by Bible standards.

These law you are referring in the books of Deuteronomy, Exodus, and Leviticus were part of the law of covenant given to God's chosen nation---the Israelites. (ISRAEL). JEHOVAH gave the nation of Israel the Law, with its many features. Regarding them, the apostle Paul wrote: “They were legal requirements pertaining to the flesh and were imposed until the appointed time to set things straight.” (Hebrews 9:10) When the Law led a remnant of Israelites to accept Jesus as the Messiah, or Christ, it had fulfilled its purpose. Thus, Paul declared: “Christ is the end of the Law.”

Like what it was already mentioned by my fellow Christian, these laws did not pertain to any other nations therefore, when Jehovah established the new covenant on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, even the nation of Israel was no longer under obligation to obey the Law. With Christ, a new law was given that up to this day, we all shall live by and follow...

These are:

“You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind” and, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”—Matthew 22:37-39.

Answer 6

The 3 books u quoted are from the Hebrew Scriptures.
The old Law, that died when Jesus did.
Or in other words, we live by the law of the land;
which would not require that a person be stoned to death.

Although, when a person turns away from the truth,
they are shunned, avoided, disfellowshiped,
(what-have-you) it depends on the circumstances;
this may be considered death.
To one person,
he may consider his child (adult child) dead to him.
Close enough?

Answer 7

Often times people think they are trying to stump us, or trip us up, and are not seriously looking for answers. However, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt! And try to keep it brief...

First off you must understand that the Law (10 commandments plus the other some 600 laws, including what quoted) were not meant to continue for ever, as Jeremiah pointed out:

Jeremiah 31:31 "Look! There are days coming,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; 32 not one like the covenant that I concluded with their forefathers in the day of my taking hold of their hand to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, ‘which covenant of mine they themselves broke, although I myself had husbandly ownership of them,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.”

33 “For this is the covenant that I shall conclude with the house of Israel after those days,” is the utterance of Jehovah. “I will put my law within them, and in their heart I shall write it. And I will become their God, and they themselves will become my people.”

So, the law was to be done away with eventually. We believe that happened when Christ came and died for mankind - as Achtung... suggested above.

Thus we are no longer under the law... (and obviously we are not a nation in the actual sense like the nation of Israel was. Who used those laws like we do the legal code in our own countries)

And just to emphasis this point, as above from Galations 3:24-25 "Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith. 25 But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor."

The law was a tutor leading us to Christ, but once Christ arrived we are no longer under the tutor, but under the teacher directly.

Answer 8

Well -I'm not a JW - but I know that the Bible does say that you must "live by the law of the land." So - I'd guess that is the reason.

Answer 9

You are taunting.You are not asking a legitimate nor intelligent question.You are singling out JWs why? Their beliefs run quite parallel to the other "Christian"sects,so what's your beef with JWs?
It appears by your question that you would like to see such brutal practices today.OH!! Wait! You can observe the manic muslims! And we can all see how that discipline routine turns them out.Yahoo!

Answer 10

It is obvious with the first answer that we know what the bible says and maybe in Chess or in computer you can beat us but not about the bible.

also Adam´s rib give you a good answer.

I know my one is a little bit sarcastic but I am not perfect and sometimes I get angry.

Answer 11

(I have yet to meet anyone who has the ability to follow the bible to the letter..)