This small group Deuteronomy 17 Bible study guide contains commentary, discussion questions, cross-references, and application to encourage life change. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Deuteronomy 17 Bible Study Commentary And Questions – Purge Evil From Your Midst
Outline
I. Purging evil (1-7)
II. Legal decisions by judges and priests (8-13)
III. Laws for kings (14-20)
I. Purging evil (1-7)
Discussion Questions
• What would motivate a person to offer a defective animal as a sacrifice to God?
• What does this verse show us about how God views the importance of our motivations?
• How does this principle relate to how we should give to God and others today?
• What is an idol?
• What was the penalty for worshiping false gods?
• What are the reasons God set such a strict punishment?
• What safeguards were in place to protect the innocent from being punished?
• What would be the results for the nation if this law was followed?
• Though we are not under this law now, how can we follow the principle in verse 7 to “purge the evil from your midst?”
• How does this apply to the church and church discipline?
Cross-References
Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Deuteronomy 30:17-18 – But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.
Matthew 16:26 – For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. You shall not offer a sheep or ox with a defect – It would be tempting for people to offer the worthless animals from their flocks as sacrifices. By doing so, they could follow the “rule” that God required, but it would not cost them anything.
We sometimes do the same thing today. It is likely that you have received these types of “gifts” from someone. Gifts are expected at some events. Some people find some item from their home that perhaps they were gifted or that they don’t want anymore and wrap it up to give to the next person.
I have seen people giving out “special gifts,” which were, in reality, extraneous items that they had no use for and were getting rid of. Those types of gifts do not show consideration, honor, or love.
Malachi rebuked the people for such an attitude.
Malachi 1:8-9 – When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.
You would not give hand-me-downs to a governor. But people did this in their sacrifices to God. God wants us to honor Him. When people demand honor, they are stealing credit from God, who deserves it. When God demands honor, He is only asking for what is rightfully His. If you write and sell a book, it is fair that you receive credit for that book. God is the creator. He designed us. We belong to Him. Sacrifices were a way to show honor for God. They were to choose the best of what they had, not the worst.
A sacrifice should cost the giver something. That is why it is called a sacrifice. David said that he would not give a sacrifice that cost him nothing.
1 Chronicles 21:24 – But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
Application – We should give of our best to God. However, we don’t see God so how can we do this? Jesus said that when we show kindness to the poor, we are showing kindness to Him.
Matthew 25:40 – And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
We should give of our best to others. Instead of giving our leftovers, we can put thought, time, and energy into our gift-giving.
Reflect – When there is a clothing drive, should we pick out the clothes we don’t wear anymore and donate them?
2. Due process – Verses 2-7 cover the due process that should be given to accused idol worshippers. These safeguards were there to make sure that no innocent person would ever be railroaded. This was like our Sixth Amendment, which gi rigveshts to criminal defendants.
Three protections were granted to the accused.
A. A diligent inquiry – Punishment should not be hurriedly or rashly carried out. A thorough investigation would help uncover any facts that could shed more light on the case and perhaps exonerate a wrongly accused individual.
Of note, Jezebel railroaded Naboth in order to steal his vineyard for her husband, Abal. All of the safeguards in this chapter were ignored (1 Kings 21).
B. Two or three witnesses – No one should ever be punished on the basis of one witness. A single witness might have a personal vendetta. Though it is not impossible, it is far less likely to get two or three people to scheme successfully to pervert justice. One person could also more easily make a mistake, perhaps mishearing, than two or three.
The religious leaders who wanted to execute Jesus found it very difficult to get two or three witnesses to agree to any false charge.
Presumably, the judge hearing the case should separate the witnesses and question them individually so that they could not be unduly influenced by the others.
A similar principle is seen in the New Testament, where two to three witnesses are necessary before a charge is heard against a church elder (1 Timothy 5:19).
Application – Such a policy is also useful in everyday life. For example, perhaps a student slanders another. Do not blindly accept that word as fact. Gather more evidence from other witnesses.
C. The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him – This rule would have served as a strong deterrent against false accusations. Some people would be very willing to make false accusations against others and rely on a third party to execute punishment. Man’s God-given conscience would be working overdrive against a person who had to cast the stone himself. It is somehow easier to lie when the liar does not need to face any personal cost for it.
3. Death penalty for idol worship – There was a very strong punishment for idol worshippers. They were to be executed by stoning. God is just and the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
While this law was just, it was not only given because of God’s justice. The primary reason for this law was God’s mercy and compassion. His discipline comes with the goal of restoring the sinner, purifying His people, and warning against sin so that others do not take it lightly.
Having a strong law like this on the books served as a deterrent to sin. Going to check out an idol’s temple would be seen in an entirely different light if the potential cost for doing so was to be stoned. Strict laws with strict penalties deter people from breaking them.
Worshiping idols resulted in personal, family, and national destruction. The law against it protected people from that destruction.
The soul is more valuable than the body. The Lord was zealous to guard the souls of His people. If idol worship was allowed or only slapped on the wrist, many more would be tempted to go down that road. Enforcing the law and stoning someone would also serve as a stark warning to others to stay away from idols.
We should note that this law was for Israel. As God’s chosen people, He held them to a high standard. This law was not for Gentiles and it is not to be enforced today since the church is not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14).
4. Purge the evil from your midst – While we are not under this law today, there is still an important principle here that we can apply in the church and our homes today.
That principle is to “purge the evil from your midst.” God gave this law to Israel to keep them pure as the recipients of His covenant. As they were a chosen people and a holy nation, so we are to be today.
1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Believers should be alert to any evil which can influence us from within. One application is that we should keep the church pure.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 – Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Allowing unchecked sin in the church creates an environment where sin is encouraged. For example, if church-going couples live together before marriage and church leadership is silent, others will take that as tacit approval or acceptance and potentially do the same. The same is true for any sin.
Church discipline needs to be enforced upon blatant and willful public sin in order to both restore the sinner and warn others about the consequences of sin.
Application – One practical application is to find and commit yourself to a church where Biblical church discipline is practiced. This helps ensure a purer congregation.
Another area to purge evil is the home.
Reflect – What evil influences are there in your own home that you need to deal with?
The most important place to start purging evil is from within ourselves. It is always easier to point the finger at others. The battle starts in our own minds. We should not be complacent or lax toward our own sin.
This prayer of David is a very good example for us to follow.
Psalms 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Let us regularly pray this prayer and confess and deal with whatever the Holy Spirit brings to mind.
II. Legal decisions by judges and priests (8-13)
Discussion Questions
• What observations do you have about the justice system that was set up?
• Why was it important to have a central authority for receiving appeals?
• What character quality of God’s do these verses highlight?
• What were the people obligated to do in response to the judge’s decision?
• Why are authority structures in societies so important?
• What will happen to a society without clear authority structures?
Cross-References
Romans 13:1 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Hebrews 13:17 – Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
1 Peter 2:13-14 – Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Justice system – Difficult cases were to be brought to a specially appointed judge and the priests. As third parties, these would be able to give a fair and objective ruling.
2. God established authority structure for our good – In every area of society, God has established authority structures. He is a God of order.
1 Corinthians 14:33 – For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
Governments are the authority in nations (Romans 13:1) and keep order in society. Churches have elders as authorities. Children have parents. God designed marriage with the husband as the head. In ancient Israel, judges, priests, and eventually kings ruled. God is the ultimate head.
Rebellion against authority was the first sin, as Lucifer revolted against God. It was also mankind’s first sin when people rebelled against the Lord. It is now deep within our sinful nature to rebel against authority.
One of the first words that most children learn is “no.” Just by telling a child not to touch something, such as an electric socket, their interest is piqued.
Without the rule of law to guide people, societies will descend into chaos. That happened throughout the book of the Judges when people did “what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 22:21).
The judicial system in Deuteronomy is to bring the case before an unbiased party. Submitting to a higher authority would be beneficial for all.
3. Submitting was required – The Lord required everyone to submit themselves to the verdict of the judge and priests. A judicial system where people do not listen to the court or abide by its decisions is toothless. Anyone who refused to abide by the verdict would be executed. If disobedience to this “high court” was tolerated, the system would collapse and lawlessness would ensue.
Application – Reflect on your view toward authority. Is it easy to submit? Are you currently at odds with any authority in your life? If so, what do you need to do to bring yourself in line with God’s will for you?
III. Laws for kings (14-20)
Discussion Questions
• What rules were given for future kings?
• Why should the kings not acquire horses? Wives? Gold and silver?
• How are these principles different from worldly values?
• What eventually motivated Israel to ask for a king?
• What were the pros and cons of having a king?
• What practical method is given for kings to help keep them on track in their relationship with God?
• What can we learn from these verses about the importance of daily devotions?
• How can daily devotions help you in your walk with the Lord?
• What verbs describe the king’s responsibility toward God’s Word?
• What would be the results for the king if he obeyed these instructions?
• How can you improve your quiet time with the Lord?
• How important is keeping the Word to you compared with knowing the Word?
Cross-References
1 Samuel 8:5-7 – Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – In these verses, Samuel warns the people about the dangers of having a king.
Psalms 1:2-3 – But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Setting a king – God knew that the day would come when Israel would want a king. In fact, He even gave the same reason that they eventually gave for asking for one.
Deuteronomy 17:14 – When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me.
1 Samuel 8:5 – Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.
Their reason for asking for a king was not good. They were going to ask for a king because “everyone else is doing it.” That is not a strong reason. Many times, the crowd is going the wrong way.
Exodus 23:2 – You shall not fall in with the many to do evil.
There certainly are some advantages when the king is good. Though they didn’t have very many of them, some of the righteous kings they did have influenced the nation very positively.
Reflect – What are some advantages of having a good king?
God was merciful and gracious. He would allow them to have a king. Sometimes God decides just to give people what they ask for even if it not necessarily their best option. They can then learn from their decisions through the process of reaping what they sow.
They were not to select a foreign king but had to choose from one of their own.
2. Restrictions on the king – Four restrictions were placed on the king.
• Restriction against acquiring many horses – Horses were a symbol of status and wealth. Armies accumulated horses for their chariots. However, this would lead to Israel’s leaders trusting in their armies and weapons instead of in God. Psalm 20:7 seems to have been written with this law in mind. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
• Restriction against returning to Egypt – God did not want them to ever go back there, even for the purpose of increasing their army.
• Restriction against acquiring many wives – This was a common cultural practice in that region of the world. Large harems were power symbols. Kings often took many wives to solidify diplomatic relationships with other countries. Like acquiring horses, this would lead to the kings trusting in their own political devices instead of in God. Even worse, God told them that this practice would turn the heart of the king away from God. God’s prophecy was sadly fulfilled in the life of Solomon when his initial zeal for the Lord was quenched because of his disobedience by marrying many foreign women (1 Kings 11:1-13).
• Restriction against acquiring great wealth – Kings were supposed to be servants of the people. The first king, Saul, initially served in this way. As king, he still worked in his fields (1 Samuel 11:5-7) and was there when he received a call for help. He then left his fields and called people to his side to fight. Soon, kings started using their position to enrich themselves at the expense of the people they were supposed to serve. Ahab is a classic example. He was discontent with what he had and so had Naboth killed and stole his vineyard. Leaders were supposed to use their position to help the people, but most ended up using it selfishly for their own gain.
These were the negative things that kings were not allowed to do. God also gave them one positive thing which they were required to do.
3. Daily devotions –
Deuteronomy 17:18-19 – And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them.
Every king was to have a copy of the Scriptures with him and read it “all the days of his life.” This is one of the clearest verses in Scripture that mentions daily intake of God’s Word as being extremely important. The common people would not be able to do this at this point in history as copying the Scriptures was very time-consuming and many people would not be able to read. But the king was to have access to it. He was to use this knowledge to guide his own life and the people he was serving.
Not all kings had that. 2 Kings 22:8-22 describes a situation where a copy of the law is found and presented to King Josiah, who did not have one prior to that. It made a tremendous difference in his reign as he immediately enacted a number of positive spiritual reforms. These brought about a great revival in the land. God’s Word truly changed lives and transformed every aspect of their culture and practice from the highest king to the lowest peasant.
Application – We are amazingly privileged in that we can have our own copy of the Scriptures like a king of old. While they only had the Torah, and later a bit more, we have the entire completed Bible. This is a treasure trove. As the king could not lead the people without guidance from His Word, so we cannot live a successful life or guide our families without it. Are you reading God’s Word daily? If not, how can you start? If yes, how can you improve the depth and quality of your daily devotions?
He wasn’t only to read this daily, but he was also supposed to keep it. He was commanded to “keep” it, “do” it, and not “turn aside” from the commandments. Obedience was stressed. The king was not above the law. He was to submit himself to God’s commandments like every other person. When a person is not willing to submit himself to God’s law, the result will be destructive for himself and for those who rely on him.
One king, in particular, stands out as one who disobeyed this instruction. King Jehoiakim burnt the scroll of Scripture he received.
Jeremiah 36:23 – As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot.
He would not submit himself to God. The result was the total defeat of the nation at the hands of Babylon. The historian Josephus records that Jehoiakim was killed by the Babylonians and his body thrown over the city wall.
Application – One application is to begin making applications! When you listen to sermons, join Bible studies, or have devotions, try to make one application each time. Develop the habit of writing down something you plan to do based on what you learn. As you foster an attitude and desire to obey the Word, your perspective toward Scripture will change. And as you obey it, so will your life.
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