The Law of Death
Leviticus 24:10-23
And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel…


Blasphemy, murder, willful injury, whether by Israelite or stranger, judged and punished on the principle of compensation without mercy (cf. Isaiah 12; Romans 11).

I. Here is the evil of a fallen nature and an apostate people set forth (see Romans 1, 2). "All have sinned." Israel itself is defiled.

II. The contrast suggested between the law of death and the law of life (cf. Sermon on the Mount and Romans 7, 8). The true glory to the Name of Jehovah is not the death of the blasphemer, but the life of God's people. What the Law could not do, i.e., restore the injured, heal the wound, give back the life, is done by the grace of the gospel.

III. Historical illustrations of the insufficiency of the Law in the hands of a fallen race. Jesus accused of blasphemy. Stephen stoned. Paul treated as violator of the Law. Through the Jews and their defection the Name of Jehovah blasphemed in the world. The lex talionis no real protection either of the individual or society. - R.



Parallel Verses
KJV: And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp;

WEB: The son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp.




The Crime of Blasphemy
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