Kill A Rebellious Son?

Posted by chuck maxwell on November 18th, 2008 filed in Chuck's blog

This past Sunday, Walt W. brought a message about our relationship with our kids. In describing the importance of a child’s obedience and honor to their parents, he referred to an Old Testament law in Deuteronomy 21:18-21. If a son’s rebellion brings so much dishonor to his parents, and he will not listen or heed their discipline, for the good of those parents and the community, that son must be taken to the elders outside the city gate to be stoned to death. I am not sure we have a record of this ever having been done in the Bible. But as Walt said, it certainly does raise the value of the 5th commandment.

But it occurred to me during Walt’s message, and as I have reflected on that passage, that in a sense, this is just what our divine Father had to do for the sake of His good name, and for the good of His community. His only Son was taken outside the city gate and killed. Sin and rebellion had to be dealt with. The difference is, of course, Jesus was sacrificed because of my sin He willingly bore. His death was for my rebellion, not His. His life was not taken, He gave it for me, and all those who would be saved. Hallelujah!