“THE MAN WHO LAY WITH HER SHALL DIE!”

Deuteronomy 22:25-27                                         (ESV)

“25 "But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only “THE MAN WHO LAY WITH HER SHALL DIE”.

26 But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no offense punishable by death. For this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor,

27 because he met her in the open country, and though the betrothed young woman cried for help there was no one to rescue her.”

There are those who say that the Old Testament was done away with when JESUS entered the scene.  But JESUS HIMSELF says in Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them BUT TO FULFILL THEM!”  

The love I have for my grandchildren is indescribable!  Imagining someone kidnapping and abusing them brings shame for me.  I am NOT GOD, but the imagined recompense for hurting those who GOD Created takes me to a place that I prefer not to visit!  Scripture relates that “the man seizes her and lies with her, then only “THE MAN WHO LAY WITH HER SHALL DIE”!  

Deuteronomy is part of that Law that JESUS WILL FULFILL!  The ONE WHO spoke these worlds into existence WILL one day judge every work that mankind has performed!  The Judgment for sin is DEATH, and this DEATH that is spoken about isn’t a great final happening, but an ETERNAL separation from GOD!  

GOD is a merciful GOD, but HIS chief attribute is HOLINESS!  One definition of Holiness is “The state or character of being holy or sinless; purity of moral character; perfect freedom from all evil; sanctity.”  GOD has it in HIS AUTHORITY to FORGIVE upon a REPENTANCE of sin, not just an apology!  But abusing children, NO MATTER the platform, calls for “THE MAN WHO LAY WITH HER SHALL DIE”!  

Make no mistake, GOD ALMIGHTY has the final say, and when HE says “DEPART FROM ME, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:40), forgiveness will then be TOO LATE!  When Scripture states “THE MAN WHO LAY WITH HER SHALL DIE” might experience “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels”, unless they REPENT!!!