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This small group Deuteronomy 18 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 18 Bible Study And Questions – Serving God, Avoiding Cultural Sins, and a Prophet Like Moses
Outline
I. Provision for the Levites (1-8)
II. Be blameless before the Lord (9-14)
III. A prophet like Moses (15-22)
I. Provision for the Levites (1-8)
Discussion Questions
• What does it mean that the Levitical priests were to have no portion or inheritance?
• Where would they live?
• How would they eat?
• What does it mean that the “Lord is their inheritance?”
• Would it be enough for you if the Lord is your inheritance?
• How would you act differently if the Lord was your inheritance?
• What were the people to do to provide for the Levites?
• Was this “fair” or not? Why?
• Is there any New Testament parallel to this concept?
• What are the pros and cons of a pastor or minister being supported by his congregation?
• How would a traveling Levite minister be supported?
• Consider your tithe and offering. Are you happy to give it or reluctant? Does your offering plan need to be adjusted or updated?
Cross-References
Numbers 35:1-8 – The Levites are given cities scattered throughout the land to live in.
Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
1 John 3:17 – But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. The Levites shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel –
The Levites were a special tribe. They were to minister to the Lord. At the Golden Calf incident, Moses asked the tribes of Israel which tribe would stand with him for the Lord. The Levites alone responded to the call (Exodus 32). From that time forward, the Levites had a unique role in Israel. Their member served at the Tabernacle and later the temple. Some of them were priests. Others assisted the priests by taking care of the facilities and grounds. Only they were allowed to set up, take down, and transport the tabernacle. There were craftsmen building things needed, gatekeepers, guardians, musicians, singers, judges, teachers, and scribes.
Simply put, they served as the spiritual leaders and servants of Israel at large. Not all of them would have lived at the Tabernacle. Cities were apportioned to them to live in throughout the twelve tribes. However, they were not given whole swaths of tribal lands like the other tribes. A few of the Levitical cities were designated as cities of refuge where manslayers could seek protection (Joshua 20:7-8).
2. The LORD is their inheritance –
They were to work for and invest in God’s kingdom instead of their own. While they would not have the same opportunities for wealth as others, their spiritual riches were more than enough.
Mark 8:36 – For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
True blessing comes from God, not money. An outsider might look at them and think their lot in life wasn’t fair since they didn’t have the same material opportunities as others. However, they were not to look at things this way. Instead, they should consider it a unique privilege and blessing to be able to serve.
Reflect – Would you have preferred to be a Levite serving God or a member of one of the other tribes?
Certainly, every person could serve God. That was not exclusive to the Levites. Every believer has received a spiritual gift and unique abilities which are to be used for building God’s kingdom. There are many people, roles, and gifts, but one common purpose. We are to seek to fulfill the Great Commission by sharing the gospel with the lost and discipling other believers to do the same, all while humbly giving God the glory.
Reflect – Is the Lord your inheritance? What would that look like if you viewed Him in that way?
Look at the inheritance we have!
1 Peter 1:4 – An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
Application – We can be about the business of building our own kingdom or God’s. We can build up treasure on earth or in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Let us not be like the rich fool who proudly accumulated so many things on this earth, but died without God and could take none of it with him (Luke 12:13-21).
What are a few specific ways you can invest in God’s kingdom now?
3. And this shall be the priests’ due from the people –
Some of the Levites would have jobs to provide for themselves and their families. But not the priests. The priests would rely on the support and offerings of the other tribes. When a person brought a sacrifice, the priest was allowed to eat certain portions of it. That included both animal sacrifices and grain offerings.
The tithes brought in would help sustain the priests so that their time was free to serve the people spiritually.
The system is similar to modern-day taxation. Taxes pay the wages of government workers who are supposed to serve the people. That includes soldiers who fight to protect us or construction workers building infrastructure for our use.
In the New Testament, churches function in like manner. Offerings pay the wages of some church leaders. That is fair and right. It allows these people to focus their time on serving the flock and doing things such as hospital visits, teaching, preaching, counseling, discipling, etc. While this is fair and right, it is also important that every believer is to serve. We should never think, “I am paying the pastor to do the work so that I don’t have to.”
1 Timothy 5:17-18 – Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
The worker is worthy of his wages. We should happily contribute to Christian workers who are invested in building God’s kingdom. At the same time, they take this as a sacred charge and work. It would be wrong for an employee to take wages and then not perform the thing he is paid to do. In a similar manner, it is wrong for an elder, pastor, or missionary to receive wages and then live a life of indulgence.
Application – Are you contributing financially to the Lord’s work? Do you do this grudgingly or happily (2 Corinthians 9:7)? Evaluate your giving and prayerfully consider whether any adjustments should be made.
4. Traveling Levites should be treated with hospitality –
We see this in verses 6-8. From time to time, Levites were called to travel and minister to the Lord. That service was similar to the itinerant preacher who travels around to various congregations to share the Word. There were many rural communities that could be blessed by the Levites bringing the Word. They had access to the Scriptures, which would have been kept in the tabernacle. In addition, the Levites would have been better educated so that they could read and teach the Scriptures.
When they did travel around, the local people were to welcome them and share their meals. Basically, they were to host them and make them welcome. Verse eight mentions that food was to be shared equally with them. In other words, they were not to be given scraps or leftovers. Whatever the people had, should be shared generously with these traveling Levites.
It was a culture of hospitality. This same culture can be seen in Luke 10 where Jesus commands the disciples to stay and eat with those who hosted them on their mission trips. In turn, the disciples were to politely eat what they were offered (Luke 10).
II. Be blameless before the Lord (9-14)
Discussion Questions
• What were some of the abominable practices of the residents of the land they were to avoid?
• What were the dangers of these practices?
• What was to be done to an Israelite who did these things? Why?
• Why was God judging the people of the land?
• What are some of the abominable practices of the society you live in?
• Why do many people simply follow the crowd?
• Should Christians “go with the flow?” Why or why not?
• How can you stand up to and even go in a different direction than the cultural forces around you?
Cross-References
2 Corinthians 7:1 – Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
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 marvel