Compare Deuteronomy 23:15 with Leviticus 19:34 on treating foreigners. What similarities exist? Key Texts “Do not return a slave to his master if he has taken refuge with you.” “The foreigner who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Shared Heart of God’s Instruction • Protection of the vulnerable – Deuteronomy 23:15 shields the runaway slave from forced return. – Leviticus 19:34 shields the sojourner from discrimination. • Welcoming posture – Deuteronomy 23:15 (expanded in v. 16) permits the refugee to “live among you wherever he chooses… do not oppress him.” – Leviticus 19:34 commands Israel to treat the foreigner “as the citizen among you.” • Love rooted in Israel’s own story – Deuteronomy 23 and Leviticus 19 both echo Exodus 22:21; 23:9—Israel’s memory of slavery fuels compassion. – The call is not mere tolerance but active love: “love him as yourself.” • Equality before covenant law – Deuteronomy 23:15 assumes legal protection applies to the outsider who seeks refuge. – Leviticus 19:34 explicitly places the foreigner under the same communal privileges and responsibilities (cf. Numbers 15:15-16). • Affirmation of God’s character – Both passages flow from the LORD’s righteousness and mercy (see Deuteronomy 10:18-19). – Obedience displays God’s holiness to the nations (Leviticus 19:2). Practical Takeaways for Today • Show tangible refuge to those fleeing oppression. • Extend the same dignity and justice you expect for yourself. • Let personal history—especially deliverance Christ has given—fuel empathy (Ephesians 2:12-19). • Remember that honoring God’s Word includes honoring the people He brings across our path. |
    |