This small group Deuteronomy 24 Bible study guide contains commentary, discussion questions, cross-references, and application to encourage life change. The Old Testament is still relevant today if we pay attention! 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 24 Bible Study And Questions – Marriage, Divorce, The Poor, and Loans
Outline
I. Laws about divorce (1-4)
II. Miscellaneous laws (5-22)
I. Laws about divorce (1-4)
Discussion Questions
• Was Moses promoting divorce?
• What prohibition was put on divorce in this passage?
• How would this discourage divorce?
• What is God’s view of marriage and divorce?
• Why was divorce sometimes tolerated in the Old Testament?
• What is your goal for your marriage?
• What are some practical ways you can build a stronger marriage where divorce is not even considered?
Cross-References
Matthew 5:32 – But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 – To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
Malachi 2:16 – “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
NASB for Malachi 2:16 is, “For I hate divorce, ‘says the Lord.’”
Romans 7:2 – For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Moses limits an existing practice –
Here is a paraphrase of the law in the first four verses.
• If a man divorces his wife and
• If the lady gets married again and
• If she gets divorced again
• Then she cannot go back to her first husband
Moses was describing an existing practice of divorce rather than prescribing divorce. Moses then limits this practice by declaring that a spouse who twice divorced could not go back to their first spouse. Closing this loophole would make divorce a lot less attractive for people who thought they could always go back to their first spouse later on with no problem. He is restricting divorce, not endorsing it.
Without this restriction a person might get a divorce and get married again to “have a try,” all the while keeping in the back of their mind the possibility of going back to their first spouse. That could result in casual divorces without seriously thinking through the consequences. Keep in mind that women at that time in history would find it very difficult to provide for themselves. Therefore, it was unlikely they would get divorced unless they had another man lined up and waiting.
In Matthew 19, Jesus said it was only because of their hardness of heart that Moses did not go even further to restrict divorce. One man with one woman, marriage for life, is God’s natural design.
2. God hates divorce –
For a more complete look at divorce, we can examine several other Scriptures.
Matthew 19:4-9 – He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
Jesus’ conclusion is that “what therefore God has joined together let no man separate.” Jesus’ position is clear. From the beginning, divorce has been against God’s plan for marriage. It was never in His design. That means that divorce is a result of sin and the fallen world we live in.
Read Malachi 2:16 “For I hate divorce, says the Lord.”
Romans 7:2-3, “For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.”
Are there exceptions?
Only one possible exception is mentioned, sexual immorality. That exception is listed in Matthew 19:9, “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”
There are different opinions on exactly what this is referring to. One view is that this situation is referring to the Jewish custom of betrothal and not marriage. If during the betrothal period, one side discovers the other has been unfaithful then he or she is allowed to divorce and get married to someone else.
Remember Joseph’s reaction when he found out that Mary was pregnant? He decided to divorce her. And the text says that he was a “just” man to make this decision. This may be the type of situation which is referred to here. One reason this interpretation is possible is that the general Greek word for sexual immorality is used, not the specific word for adultery. Matthew uses both in his gospel so it seems that adultery of a married spouse may not be what Jesus refers to here.
Another view is that this means what it plainly states in English, that one exception to the “do not divorce” command is if one’s spouse commits adultery. Paul also teaches in 1 Corinthians 7:15 that if the unbelieving spouse insists on leaving, let them leave.
Whichever view is taken, it is helpful to consider other principles found in Scripture. We are commanded to forgive. Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven times. We are commanded to love.
We are to overcome evil with good.
Is it biblical for a wife whose husband has been unfaithful (or vice-versa) to cast them out and immediately seek a divorce?
Of course not.
The biblical response is to forgive and welcome the offending party back. Seek reconciliation, not divorce.
Some may ask, “What happens if one side is doing it over and over again?” Go ahead and ask… I am glad you asked! What did God do when people sin over and over again? He forgives. So should you.
We cannot control what others do, but only what we do.
And in Romans 12:18, we are commanded, “As far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” I want to exhort you today. If your marriage is in trouble, don’t give up! God does not give up on us and you should not give up on your spouse. There is still hope. Do everything in your power to reconcile and pray for God to do a miracle.
Jesus goes even further in Matthew 19 to forbid divorce and remarriage. In these verses, Jesus makes it clear that the one who divorces and remarries is committing adultery.
The world takes divorce and remarriage very casually. God is not casual about this. Brothers and sisters, we must not allow the world’s low standards to creep into God’s church and our families. We must be vigilant to defend the truth and defend the sanctity of marriage.
Application – If you are married you should make the commitment that you will never consider divorce as a plan B. You made a vow. Now keep it! If you are single, you should have the conviction before you ever get married that it is a lifetime commitment.
Practical ways to build up your marriage –
As believers, we need to aim much higher than just “not getting a divorce.” Is “not getting a divorce” an acceptable goal? Is that all we want out of our marriages?
Many couples share the same roof but are distant emotionally, spiritually, and physically. This is not God’s desire for marriage. Is your marriage the best that it can be?
Here is a list of some practical ideas for husbands to strengthen your marriage.
• Spend time together in the word and prayer.
• Find time while you are out to call or text your wife. Ask her how she is doing.
• Be romantic. Surprise her with gifts or love notes.
• Kiss her at any time and “kiss her like you mean it.”
• Go out of your way to say kind words. Don’t be critical.
• Dates.
• Serve her. Give her some time to rest. Offer to cook and watch the kids while she does something she enjoys.
• Turn off the electronics and talk with your wife. Do not just talk or grunt, “eh” while looking at your phone or computer.
• Develop mutual hobbies.
• Plan a getaway with your wife not from your wife.
• Learn your wife. What is your wife’s dream vacation? What is your wife’s favorite food? What is your wife’s love language? What is your wife’s favorite hobby? What is your wife’s favorite book? Understand her. (1 Peter 3:7)
• Be a gentleman. Carry the heavy items. Open the door for your wife. Pull out the chair for your wife. Give your wife a seat on the subway/bus. Go out of your way to show you care every single day.
• Pick up after yourself. Don’t leave your clothes and shoes and dishes everywhere.
• Play with your children. This one will indirectly help your marriage. Don’t push all of the “watching kid duty” to your wife. Just as being a good husband is an important aspect of being a good father, being a good father is an important aspect of being a good husband. Don’t just give your kids an iPad. Play with them. Play freeze tag. Play hide and go seek. Play imagination games like keeping house or army, etc. Play sports with them. Teach them life skills like how to ride a bike and how to swim. Tell them stories. Your wife will love you if you do these things and so will your kids.
Wives, did you like the above list? Well, you are not off the hook either. Here are a few practical things you can do to strengthen your marriage.
• Food. Guys love it. Someone very wise once said the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
• Build up your husband. Be supportive of his work, career, and ministry. Say positive things about him both in public and in private.
• Do not nag. Don’t try to correct every small flaw you see in him. You don’t need to remind him every time to put away his shoes, to not eat in bed, or to stop eating unhealthy food. You are not his mother. And he is a man, not a child (even though he may act like one sometimes). Find the right time to discuss issues rather than every time one by one.
• Be content. A man may feel self-worth in correlation to how well he takes care of his family. Do not complain about your house or living conditions. Instead, be verbally appreciative and supportive.
• Be sensitive. If he is just back from a long day at work it may not be the right time to share all of your day’s difficulties with him.
• Be romantic. Surprise your husband. Use your creativity and imagination.
• Do not make big decisions or spend lots of money without talking to your husband first (husbands should also talk to wives first before doing this). The Bible says for wives to respect their husbands. God knows that husbands want to feel respected so do so by consulting them instead of acting on your own.
• Offer to watch the children while he goes out to play a sport. Even better, offer to go with him to watch him play. Even best, offer to go out and play with him.
• Be a good mother. Make time to spend with them doing fun things. Be creative. Do art or music or cooking with your kids. Your husband will love you and respect you more as he sees and appreciates how you treat the children. At the same time, do not ignore your husband in favor of the new baby or young children.
• There are just a few ideas, But you know your own spouse. Don’t be satisfied with a marriage that scores a 5 out of 10 or an 8 out of 10. Make it better. The marriage relationship is work. A good relationship doesn’t come naturally or easily. Choose several of the ideas on the list and start doing them regularly. If you do, you will find that your marriage will be much more rewarding than before.
What about singles? For singles, here are some things you can do to prepare for a strong marriage.
• Focus on glorifying God now as a single. Instead of setting your mind on marriage. Set your mind on the things above.
• Be equally yoked. Marry a believer so that you can have a marriage that honors God.
• Discuss important issues together and find agreement BEFORE marriage.
• Observe your potential spouse in real-life situations to get to know them as well as possible. Some people say, “he changed after we got married!” He probably didn’t. You just didn’t know him well.
• Study the Word and Christian books to learn as much as possible about having a strong marriage before getting married.
• Set clear guidelines for any relationship in order to both limit temptation and set a wise, course.
• Get Christian counsel and accountability partners.
• Do not say “I do” unless you are sure. No matter how much you want to get married. One thing that is definitely worse than being single is being married to the wrong person.
II. Miscellaneous laws (5-22)
Discussion Questions
• Why were newlywed men not required to go to war? What does this law show us about God’s character?
• What does verse 7 tell us about God’s view of slavery and human trafficking?
• What punishment was to be given to human traffickers?
• Why was the lender not allowed to go into the house to collect a loan?
• What does it mean to not sleep on the pledge of a poor person?
• How were the Israelites to treat their employees?
• What are some practical ways Christians should be good bosses?
• What do we learn about justice in verses 16-18?
• Why is justice so important to God and to His people?
• What were the rules about harvesting and gleaning (19-22)?
• How did this system protect the poor of the land?
• How is this similar to modern welfare systems? How is it different?
• What does this system tell us about the heart of God?
• How can you show care for poor people today?
Cross-References
Psalms 37:21 – The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives.
Romans 13:8 – Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Proverbs 22:26-27 – Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
Deuteronomy 23:19 – You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest.
Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
Proverbs 22:9 – Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Recently married men were not required to go to war – Men were to be given one year off of active military service after they got married. Neither were they to be given any other public duty. These exceptions embodied compassion and heart for both the man and the woman. How hard would it be for the husband to leave his new bride at home and go off to war, knowing he might not ever see her again? How hard would it be for the wife to get married and then have her husband die in battle before ever enjoying the marriage?
The people first policy was also connected to another, which gave engaged men the opportunity to return and get married.
Deuteronomy 20:7 – And is there any man who has betrothed a wife and has not taken her? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her.
The first year of marriage is very important for the establishment of a strong home. The new couple was encouraged to weave their new lives together. By spending more time together, they would learn to love and care for each other. At the same time, it increased the chances they would have descendants. That made it less likely the husband would be killed in battle without children.
Application – It is important for newlywed couples to spend as much time together as possible. This helps them build a strong foundation that will last. Except in rare and extreme cases, it would be unwise for the couple to live apart. It is a time to develop mutual support and cooperation, not independence.
Churches should also be careful about heaping too much responsibility on a recently married man or woman. In short, marriage is the priority over work and even public ministry. Strengthening the marriage can help the couple prepare for a long life of service to God together.
2. No one shall take a mill or upper millstone in pledge – People depended on these for their daily lives. If a lender took it, he would be taking the means by which the borrower could live and also the means by which the borrower could pay him back. Taking these would be akin to enslaving the borrower. Lenders were not to exploit those they lent to by trying to keep those people perpetually in their debt.
3. Human traffickers were to be executed – A person caught stealing, enslaving, or selling another Israelite was to be executed. The same instruction is seen in Exodus.
Exodus 21:16 – Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
The verse in Exodus applies to stealing any person, not just an Israelite. If this verse was followed, the slave trade of the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries would not have existed. Slave traders were not only not executed, but they were paid handsomely.
Sadly, there are more slaves today than at any point in history. There are currently around twenty-seven million slaves. That is about one in every two hundred people worldwide. Some forms of modern slavery include forced prostitution, child slavery, serfdom, bonded labor or debt bondage, and migrant slavery. For example, in Cambodia, they have massive scamming centers. These places lure Chinese workers over and then confiscate their passports. They are forced to run scams and kept in captivity. Just in the United States, around twenty to thirty thousand children are forced into sex trafficking per year. One in four modern-day slaves is a child.
Application – Believers should first be aware of the situation. Slavery is not a thing of the past. Believers should fight against it through prayer, activism, financial support, and more. Consuming pornographic content helps sustain this evil industry. Therefore that is one more solid reason believers should refuse to watch pornography. If you need another motivation, remind yourself that consuming that content supports human trafficking and exploitation.
Matthew 18:6 – But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
4. Collecting loan repayments – It was forbidden to go into someone else’s house to collect a loan repayment. The lender was required to stand outside and wait and the loan would be brought out to him.
Reflect – Why was this law made?
This rule helped to prevent conflicts. You can imagine how many fights and arguments would break out if a person just waltzed into his neighbor’s house and took back the thing he lent. The intent was for each side to maintain a cool head and conduct business in a calm and orderly way.
Application – Do not let money or a loan ruin a relationship. Has money ever come between you and a friend or family member? How can this be avoided in the future? It is sad when money or the love of it divides.
Another rule was that the lender should not keep a poor person’s pledge overnight. Those who were richer and in a position to loan were not to exploit the poor. They were not to keep their means of livelihood. Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that God has a heart for the poor. We should as well.
5. Do not oppress a hired worker –
God calls His people to be good bosses. All employees were to be treated well. Their salary was to be paid in a timely manner and not withheld.
Proverbs 14:31 – Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
Jesus called leaders to be servants. Christian bosses are to be fair and generous, while always remembering that they, in turn, have a Master in heaven they are accountable to (Ephesians 6:9).
Sadly, I have heard several cases of a professed Christian mistreating his employees. Earned salary was unjustly withheld. It was a poor testimony. This should not be! Christian employers are to consider the bottom line first. But that bottom line is not money! It is pleasing God.
Reflect – This question is for employers. Do you treat your employees in such a way that others would want to work for you? If not, it is time to change. Set a positive example in society and be a good testimony through how you treat your employees.
6. Fathers should not be put to death for their children’s sins and vice-versa –
Each one should be put to death for his own sin. This just law reminds us that each person has personal accountability. We are accountable for the choices that we make. A teen who steals at a store doesn’t get off the hook just because his father is a poor example.
Recently, charges were filed against two US parents, the Crumbleys, whose child committed a school shooting. It was the first case of its kind in US history. While they certainly failed their son in many respects, this is a slippery slope.
Application – While most of us will never be in a position to enforce this Old Testament law, we can consider the principle behind it. The universal principle is that every person has personal responsibility. Each of us is accountable for our actions. Here are some possible applications.
• Do not treat harshly a child whose parent commits a crime. Instead, show compassion.
• Do not automatically judge and blame a parent whose child goes astray. It may be that the parent did everything he could do. We cannot always blame parents for prodigals.
• We should not excuse our own sins or bad choices by blaming our upbringing. Even if your dad beat you, abused you, drank, abandoned his family, or divorced it does not give you the excuse to do the same.
7. Gleaning –
God established a certain kind of welfare system for Israel. He commanded that landowners leave a small part of the crops, vineyards, and orchards unharvested so that the poor people of the land could go and glean. The system provided food so that no one would die of starvation.
This was not a way to become rich. But it was a way to have food to eat. The system that God set up has one key advantage over many welfare systems in the world today. And that is that those who needed had to work to feed themselves. It would ensure that only hardworking and industrious people who needed help could get it.
It was available and easy, but not too easy. Meanwhile, it did not put an undue burden on landowners. For them, the system was easy to implement. All they had to do was leave a few crops in the field unharvested. God commanded them to show concern for their fellow man, especially the weak and the poor. It was an easy way to share what God had provided for them. Their own national memory of being slaves in Egypt was to motivate them to treat others better than they had been treated.
Even so, some landowners would not want to share what they grew and would attempt to do the very least they were required to do by law. Others would not even do the minimum required by the law. In areas such as this people’s selfish nature will often fight against God’s mandate toward generosity.
Application – The Lord wants us to treat others better than we have been treated. God wants us to be generous with what we have. Throughout the Bible, we see that He cares for the poor and He wants us to as well. Many times we are not required to. Nobody is forcing us to share or be generous. It is a choice. We have a choice to use what God has given us to bless others or to hoard for our own desires. What will you choose?
Deuteronomy E-book study: If this is helpful, you can download our full Deuteronomy study in PDF or other formats.
Paperback Book: You can also order a paperback version of the complete Study and Obey Deuteronomy study from Amazon.
Leave a Comment: We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment on this Bible study below to share your thoughts.
Leave A Comment