What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 27:25? Cursed Is He Deuteronomy 27:25 opens, “Cursed is he… ”. God doesn’t say “he will feel bad” or “he might suffer”; He pronounces a covenant curse—a divine sentence of judgment. Under the Sinai covenant, blessing or curse rested on obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1–2, 15). To stand under a curse is to be cut off from God’s favor (Jeremiah 17:5), the opposite of the blessing promised to those who walk in His ways (Genesis 12:3). Galatians 3:10 reminds us that “all who rely on works of the law are under a curse,” underscoring humanity’s need for Christ to redeem us from the law’s penalty. Who Accepts a Bribe God targets the heart issue: taking money or favors to pervert justice. Scripture consistently condemns bribery: • “You shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted” (Exodus 23:8). • “The wicked accept a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice” (Proverbs 17:23). • Isaiah 1:23 and 1 Samuel 8:3 expose leaders whose greed led Israel astray. Bribery reveals covetousness (1 Timothy 6:10) and shows contempt for God’s impartial justice (Acts 10:34). When money outweighs righteousness, society’s foundations crack. To Kill an Innocent Person The bribe’s purpose is murder—“to kill an innocent person.” God defends life from Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.” The sixth commandment echoes, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Shedding innocent blood is one of the seven abominations to the Lord (Proverbs 6:16-17); it polluted the land (Psalm 106:38) and demanded divine retribution. Pilate’s hand-washing (Matthew 27:24) illustrates the horror of executing the guiltless, yet Christ voluntarily bore that wrong so the guilty might be forgiven (Romans 5:8). And Let All the People Say, ‘Amen!’ The congregation’s “Amen” (so be it) makes the curse a communal covenant vow. Everyone affirms God’s standard and pledges mutual accountability. Nehemiah 8:6 shows Israel answering “Amen, Amen” to God’s Word; 1 Corinthians 14:16 pictures the church echoing “Amen” in worship; 2 Corinthians 1:20 centers every “Amen” in Christ. Our agreement with God’s judgments is not passive—Revelation 22:20 closes Scripture with the cry, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Agreeing with God means actively upholding justice and protecting life together. summary Deuteronomy 27:25 exposes three intertwined sins—greed, corruption, and violence—and places a divine curse on anyone who profits from innocent blood. God’s people must stand against bribery, defend the defenseless, and publicly affirm God’s righteous standards. In Christ, the curse is broken, yet the call remains: live as a community that values integrity, protects life, and says a heartfelt “Amen” to God’s unchanging truth. |
    |