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Deuteronomy 21 (ESV)
A Rebellious Son
18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
REFLECTION:
- The case in the text establishes several important legal principles.
- First, this case underlines the importance of a stable family, for the family was the basic religious and economic unit in Israel. Other laws also stress the importance of honoring parents, as did Jesus. Second, parents did not have absolute rights over their children. Only the judges of the community, who were charged with determining a son’s guilt or innocence, could order execution. Third, both father and mother must agree to bringing charges against a son. The rights of the wife and mother, ignored in many other ancient law codes, were affirmed in Israel.
- Family is basic to us too. While nothing we parents can do will guarantee that our children will make godly choices, moms and dads share responsibility for giving boys and girls discipline and guidance.
PRAYER:
Father in heaven, thank You for teaching me through today’s scripture how to fulfill my Christian duty to both the generation before me and the generation after me in my family. Father, I will not forget the toil of my parents in raising me, and I am grateful for their nurturing love. I am committed to following Your commandments and being a faithful and loving child to my parents, even though I recognize their flaws and mistakes, which have sometimes caused me difficulty and pain. I will accept them with a heart of gratitude, trusting that everything is from Your good will. Father, I also realize the weight of responsibility I bear for my own children. They are the precious gifts that You have entrusted to me, and their lives belong to You. I will do my utmost to raise them with love and care, instilling discipline with gentleness, and incorporating mercy with justice. I will not harshly punish or spoil them. I understand that the best way to honor You in my family is to live out Your life in me. May my life be a witness to both my parents and my children, leading them to You. Father, please give me the strength and wisdom to live this way. Amen.
HYMN:
Lead Me Lord – youtu.be/P04DSy7zy90
