What New Testament teachings align with Exodus 22:18's stance on sorcery? Understanding Exodus 22:18 - “You must not allow a sorceress to live.” (Exodus 22:18) - The command reveals God’s unchanging hatred of occult practice. - Though the civil penalty applied to ancient Israel, the moral principle—sorcery is detestable—remains binding. Continuity of the Moral Principle - Jesus: “Until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot… will disappear from the Law.” (Matthew 5:18) - The apostles uphold the same standard, treating sorcery as rebellion against God. Direct New Testament Condemnations - Galatians 5:19-21 – “Idolatry and sorcery… those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Revelation 21:8 – “Sorcerers… will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.” - Revelation 22:15 – “Outside are the sorcerers…” - 1 Corinthians 10:20 – Pagan rituals are “offered to demons, not to God.” Apostolic Confrontations - Acts 8:9-24 – Simon the sorcerer is told, “Repent of this wickedness.” - Acts 13:6-12 – Paul calls Elymas “son of the devil” and strikes him blind. - Acts 19:18-19 – New believers burn occult scrolls worth “fifty thousand drachmas.” Sorcery as a Work of the Flesh - “Pharmakeia” covers spells, enchantments, drug-induced magic. - Listed alongside gross immorality—proof it is objectively sinful (Galatians 5:19-21). Eternal Verdict in Revelation - Unrepentant sorcerers are barred from the holy city and face the second death (Revelation 21:8; 22:15). - The final judgment echoes Exodus 22:18’s severe warning. Grace and the Call to Repent - Capital punishment in Israel prefigured ultimate divine judgment; the gospel now offers mercy: • Acts 3:19 – “Repent… that your sins may be wiped away.” • 1 John 1:7 – “The blood of Jesus… cleanses us from all sin.” - Ephesians 5:11 – “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Key Takeaways - Old and New Testaments unite in declaring sorcery an abomination. - The New Testament upholds Exodus 22:18’s moral stance, warns of eternal punishment, and offers forgiveness through Christ. - Faithful believers reject every occult practice and cling to the true power of the risen Lord. |
    |