There's a set of stupid questions, being circulated around the internet, that mocks the Jews and Christians. Most Christians simply identifies it as that and don't bother to give an answer (apologia) to them. However, I'e always thought that to no give an answer is a greater mockery of God's words. Tonight, I finally found time to answer those questions.
First, the questions:
- When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev.1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
- I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
- I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
- Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
- I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
- A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
- Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
- Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
- I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
- My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble
of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev.24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Here are my answers.
- When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev.1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
No, if you do God would smite you for not loving your neighbor. Loving God and your neighbor is far more important than sacrifices.
Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. - I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
The Hebrew word in Exodus 21:7 that was translated to slave is "amah"; in KJV it is translated to maidservant.
To take Exodus 21:7 by itself it take it out of context. The entire text composed of 21:7-11
7 "If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.
8 If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her.
9 If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter.
10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.
11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.
As you can see from those verses, the term amah was being referred to someone who is being given in marriage.
The terms ebed (bondman/servant) and amah (bondwoman/servant) refers to people who serves but are to be treated as a member of the family (see the laws referring to the treatment of servants). In fact, both servant and master must agree to the arrangement. Usually, the former agrees because that party or his/her parents needed the money to pay a debt. However, on the Jubilee year, all debts are forgiven and servants are to be freed. i.e., Nobody should have to be a bondservant for more than six years. (The Jubilee year is the seventh year.)
This relationship is an illustration of how we sinners are a slave to sin but are redeemed and freed by the Lord when the time comes.
The time, of course, came when Jesus died on the cross to redeem us. From this point forward, there is no long the need to illustrate this point. - I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
The only woman, with whom you may have sexual relationship, is your wife and you will certainly know if the woman to whom you are married is going through her menstrual period; most certainly you can ask her without her taking offense - Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
The term slave in Hebrew can also be translate to servant.
See answer to question 2. - I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
No
Matthew 12:1-7
1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them
2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
3 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated breadwhich was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.
5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?
6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.
7 If you had known what these words mean, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. - A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
See answer to question 9. - Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
The verses in Lev 21 are qualifications to be the priest who offer sacrifice. These qualifications include more than eye sight; any defect including skin blemishes would disqualify the person.
This illustrates the principle that any sin (translated from hamartano, the Greek word for missing the mark) disqualifies one from approaching God. However, in Jesus and through faith in Him we may approach God.
Ephesians 3:7-12
7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. - Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
Only if practicing divination or witchcraft and only by God's hand.
The verses in that section of scripture refer to practices of divination and witchcraft at that time: the way the hair is cut, the way the beard is trimmed, the gashing of flesh for the dead, and tattoos.
Lev.19:26-28
26 You shall not eat anything with its blood. You shall not practice augury or witchcraft. 27 You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. 28 You shall not make any gashes in your flesh for the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD. - I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
God revealed to Peter that He had made the unclean food clean.
Acts 10:9-15
9 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11 He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners.
12 In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air.
13 Then he heard a voice saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean."
15 The voice said to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." - My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble
of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev.24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
It is only necessary if you can find someone who is without sin to cast the first stone.
John 8:7
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.
And if you think you can find someone who is without sin, don't bother.
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
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