What is the meaning of Numbers 15:31? He shall certainly be cut off When the Lord says, “He shall certainly be cut off,” He is announcing the severest covenant penalty. • This is not a mere slap on the wrist; it means removal from the covenant community—either by death (as in Genesis 9:11) or by exile (as in Leviticus 20:6). • God had already warned Israel in Exodus 31:14 that willful Sabbath violation would bring the same fate. • The phrase underscores that the penalty is certain, not negotiable. Willful rebellion always meets divine justice (Hebrews 10:26-27). because he has despised the word of the LORD Despising the word is more than neglect; it is a deliberate, contemptuous rejection. • Psalm 107:11 describes people who “rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.” • Isaiah 5:24 links scorning God’s word with sure judgment. • By treating God’s revelation as optional, the offender sets himself against the very God who spoke creation into existence (Genesis 1; John 1:1-3). • The lesson: God’s word is not merely advice; it is life and authority (Deuteronomy 32:47). and broken His commandment The rebellion is specific, not abstract. • Numbers 15:30-31 makes it clear that the sin in view is “defiant,” committed “with a high hand.” • James 2:10 reminds us that breaking one commandment makes us accountable for all, because every command flows from the same holy Lawgiver. • The gathered sticks episode just before this decree (Numbers 15:32-36) illustrates willful violation and the required punishment. • Obedience is covenant faithfulness; disobedience fractures fellowship with God (John 14:15). his guilt remains on him Without atonement, guilt is a permanent weight. • Leviticus 17:11 teaches that atonement requires blood; without it, sin stands. • Psalm 32:3-4 shows how unconfessed sin drains life. • In contrast, 1 John 1:7 promises cleansing when the sinner turns to the blood of Christ—but there is no such promise to the unrepentant (John 3:36). • The offender in Numbers 15 chooses to carry his own guilt, rejecting God’s provision. The result is irreversible judgment. summary Numbers 15:31 reveals the seriousness of deliberate, defiant sin. God’s word is absolute; to despise it and knowingly break His command invites certain separation from His covenant blessings. The guilt of such rebellion remains until atonement is sought on God’s terms. For Israel that meant sacrificial blood; for us, it is the finished work of Christ. Persistent defiance leaves a person cut off, but humble repentance brings cleansing and restored fellowship. |
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