Deuteronomy 23:15-25 - Laws of Grace and Holiness

Deuteronomy 23:15-25

Miscellaneous Laws

15 “You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him.

17 “There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel. 18 You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the LORD your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.

19 “You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest. 20 To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the LORD your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.

21 “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. 22 But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. 23 That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth.

24 “When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container. 25 When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

These miscellaneous laws cover escaped servants, male or female ritual temple prostitutes and their earnings, charging interest on loans, making promises (vows) to God, and gleaning leftover grapes and grain in another’s field.  The LORD wanted nothing left to chance or deliberation for the right things for His people to do.  The first one for escaped slaves or servants brings Philemon to mind in the New Testament times; that escaped servant (Philemon 1:10) Onesimus came to be among God’s people through the gospel and his master Philemon was encouraged to return though this old law said that he could remain free and not face mistreatment for escaping.  The second law made it clear that prostitution of either men or women was anathema and any money they made from their abominable behavior could never be accepted as an offering to support the Lord’s work and for the temple as equated with ‘the price of a dog (dog also referred to a male prostitute).’  Clearly this ritualized prostitution was just as abominable as regular prostitution in God’s eyes, but the point made here is that the cults of the land around God’s people had influenced some to bring temple prostitution as in modern Hindu practices into the congregation and worship of God’s people.  It was to be shunned in no uncertain terms.  As to the third law on charging inter on loans, it was not to be done for fellow people of the LORD, only to be taken from outside the congregation of Israel.  By lending without expectation of a return, this action reflected God’s grace on them as He provided them at no cost in return, just as we ought to do (Luke 6:34, 35) now in willingly sharing (Hebrews 13:16) the grace of God with others, not for reward but to show care and love as the Lord does to us.  The fourth law concerning making vows or solemn promises to God makes it clear that it is better never to make such a promise (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, Matthew 5:33-34, 37) if you are not committed to and certain you will be able to fulfill that commitment you make to Him.  Any such promise must be followed through to completion or not made at all to impress others or even for your own spiritual standing.  We should simply say yes or no to commitments and not make brash promises.  The fifth law here covered gleaning grapes of grain to satisfy hunger in times of need without fear of being accused of theft, as long as it was eaten there and not harvested to be taken away in some container to eat later and avoid paying for the food.  All these laws demanded grace from the people as God gives us grace and holiness in life and worship because He is holy (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:15) and expects we who have been designed and created in His image to do likewise.  These then are laws of grace and holiness for all God’s called and chosen people. .