What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 21:20? say to the elders Deuteronomy 21:20 begins, “And say to the elders of his city…”. • Israel’s legal process centered on the city gate where elders served as judges (Deuteronomy 19:12; Ruth 4:1-2). • Parents were not free to act as vigilantes; they had to submit their complaint to community authority, underscoring due process and communal accountability (Deuteronomy 17:8-9). • The presence of witnesses before elders emphasized truthfulness and prevented rash or abusive discipline (Deuteronomy 19:15). • By involving the elders, God affirmed family authority while also safeguarding it within the covenant community (Matthew 18:15-17 reflects the same layered approach in church discipline). This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious The charge continues: “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious…”. • “Stubborn and rebellious” describe persistent, deliberate resistance, not a single outburst (Deuteronomy 9:7; 1 Samuel 15:23). • Such rebellion against parents mirrored rebellion against God, since honoring father and mother is the Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12). • Old Testament law treats rebellion as covenant treason (Numbers 15:30-31). • The pattern of rebellion is contrasted with the obedience of the true Son, Jesus, who “learned obedience” and fulfilled the law perfectly (Hebrews 5:8). he does not obey us The parents add, “He does not obey us”. • Refusal to heed correction shows contempt for parental authority (Proverbs 15:5; 30:17). • Disobedience breaks the familial structure God designed to transmit faith and wisdom (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). • In both Testaments, obedience to parents is foundational for a stable, thriving society (Ephesians 6:1-3). • Persistent disobedience thus threatened the moral fabric of Israel, warranting decisive action. He is a glutton and a drunkard Finally, the parents specify, “He is a glutton and a drunkard”. • Gluttony and drunkenness display uncontrolled appetites (Proverbs 23:20-21) and signal deeper spiritual disorder. • These sins waste resources and shame the family, like the prodigal who “squandered his wealth in wild living” (Luke 15:13). • Drunkards and the habitually immoral are said to “not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10), underscoring the eternal stakes. • The law demanded early intervention so the evil would be “purged from Israel” (Deuteronomy 21:21), protecting the community and deterring others. summary Deuteronomy 21:20 describes parents formally charging a persistently rebellious, disobedient, and self-indulgent son before the city elders. God’s law upholds parental authority, insists on due process, and treats chronic rebellion as a grave covenant violation. The passage teaches the seriousness of defying God-ordained authority, the importance of community accountability, and the need to curb sin before it infects the broader society. |
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