session 3.2 life’s big questions week 3 session 2
TRANSCRIPT
Session 3.2
Life’s BIG Questions
Week 3
Session 2
Session 3.2
Is the Bible a message from a God I can’t see?
Law ahead of its time Part 2
Session 3.2
The Law
• Law of Moses = First 5 books of Bible– Genesis
– Exodus
– Leviticus
– Numbers
– Deuteronomy
• Known also as “The Law”
Session 3.2
Law Ahead of Its Time
• Recommendations– Fruit and vegetables not restricted– Restrictions on fat, unsafe meat and
seafood
• Safe water supply
• Safe disposal of sewage
• Washing to avoid cross infection
• Isolation of infectious diseases
Bible was ahead of its time in community health
Rest of the world took 3,500 years to catch up Rest of the world took 3,500 years to catch up with the community health regulationswith the community health regulations
Session 3.2
Introduction
Who first spoke these words:
• “love your neighbour as yourself”?
• It wasn’t Jesus!
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself
Leviticus 19:18
First spoken by Moses more than 1400 First spoken by Moses more than 1400 years before Jesusyears before Jesus
Session 3.2
Introduction
• Jesus regarded as advanced moral teacher
• Reminding about words in law of Moses
• Shows how advanced Law was
World would be much better place if this was followedWorld would be much better place if this was followed
Session 3.2
Civil law ahead of its time
• Would reduce many modern problems
• Law of love– Tender, merciful laws
• Considering the age when they were writtenConsidering the age when they were written
• Nothing short of a miracle!Nothing short of a miracle!
Session 3.2
Land and Wealth
a) Equal division of wealth
• Land was wealth
• Fair distribution of land
And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance.
Numbers 33 v 54
Session 3.2
Land and Wealth
a) Equal division of wealth
• Families still became poor
• Borrow money or sell part of land
• In a poverty trap
Session 3.2
Land and Wealth
a) Equal division of wealth
• Escape from poverty trap
• Jubilee every 50 years
• Prevented permanent loss of land
Large estates not allowed
In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession.
Leviticus 25 v 13
Session 3.2
Land and Wealth
a) Equal division of wealth
• Money borrowing controlledAccording to the multitude of years you shall increase its price, and according to the fewer number of years you shall diminish its price; for he sells to you according to the number of the years of the crops.
Leviticus 25 v 16Large estates not allowed
Session 3.2
Rest
b) A day of rest Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
Exodus 20 v 9 and 10
Session 3.2
Rest
b) A day of rest• Regular day of rest
beneficial• Helps people work
efficiently
Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
Exodus 20 v 9 and 10
Session 3.2
Crime & Punishment
c) Treatment of criminals
• Law unusual: – No prisons
– Criminals responsible for their actions
If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep
Exodus 22 v 1
Session 3.2
Crime & Punishment
c) Treatment of criminals
• Thief to recompense victim …if he has nothing, then
he shall be sold for his theft
Exodus 22 v 3
Thief to work as a servant to Thief to work as a servant to pay backpay backWiser than locking him up!Wiser than locking him up!
Session 3.2
Considerationd) Consideration for others
…you shall love your neighbour as yourself
Leviticus 19 v 18
Other systems of law Other systems of law stop people harming stop people harming each othereach other
Session 3.2
Consideration
d) Consideration for others
• Exodus 23 v 1 to 9
Session 3.2
Consideration
d) Consideration for others Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness
Exodus 23 v 1
Slander and perjury Slander and perjury forbiddenforbidden
Session 3.2
Consideration
d) Consideration for others Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong
Exodus 23 v 2
Trouble often occurs Trouble often occurs when people gather in when people gather in gangsgangs
Mob violence would be Mob violence would be preventedprevented
Session 3.2
Consideration
d) Consideration for others Do not show favouritism to a poor man in his lawsuit… Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits
Exodus 23 v 3 and 6
Everyone treated equallyEveryone treated equally
Modern laws often favour the rich who can Modern laws often favour the rich who can afford expensive “legal action”afford expensive “legal action”
Session 3.2
Consideration
d) Consideration for others
If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it
Exodus 23 v 4 and 5 People must help those People must help those they dislikedthey disliked
Session 3.2
Consideration
d) Consideration for others Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous
Exodus 23 v 8
Bribery encourages Bribery encourages corruption - so forbiddencorruption - so forbidden
Session 3.2
Consideration
d) Consideration for others Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exodus 23 v 9
Much trouble as a result of racial hatred Much trouble as a result of racial hatred
Hatred of people of other nations to stopHatred of people of other nations to stop
Session 3.2
Common Objection
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, life for life”
• Wasn’t the Law of Moses brutal?
• Answer:– Think of the age when they lived– Punishment was limited - so far and no further– e.g. You couldn’t kill someone for blinding his
neighbour
Session 3.2
Common Objection
Show no pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Deuteronomy 19:21
Look at the context
• Only example where pity was not to be shown
• To prevent false witnesses bringing evil against innocents
• In other circumstances mercy could be applied – if the injured wished it
Law kind & just compared to laws of Law kind & just compared to laws of neighboursneighbours
Session 3.2
SummaryBible was ahead of its time in civil law
• Equal division of wealth• Extremes of poverty and wealth
prevented• Work restricted to 6 days a week• Criminals responsible for their deeds• Consideration to be shown for others• Deceit and lying forbidden• Mob violence prohibited• Equal justice for poor and rich• Bribery not permitted• Racial hatred not allowed
Session 3.2
The Challenge• How did the Bible
writers produce such a remarkable civil law?
• Civil law was 1000s of years ahead of its time
• Where else can you find similar evidence of a power greater and wiser than us?
You can trust the Bible when it gives advice You can trust the Bible when it gives advice about your lifeabout your life
Session 3.2
Conclusion
• Thank you for being here this week
• Review the notes from this session
• We look forward to your company
next week - God willing