The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 368

Vere. 1-8.-The excluded from the congregation. Certain principles underlie these exclusions which H is worth our while to note. It will be seen that, thouc,h bar3 of this kind are done away in Christ, there was a fitness, under the theocra~y, in the exclusion of the classes specified from full participation in covenant privilege, such exclusion being in harmony with the idea of "a holy nation "-type in earthly mould of the ideal kingdom of God. I. THE EXCLUSION OF THE MUTILATED. (Ver. 1.) The idea here is that the preserva- tion of the body in its vigour, and in the entirety of its functions, is a duty which we owe to God; that mutilation of it or dishonour done to it is dishonour done to him- 11 species of profanity. Those in whom this work of dishonour had been wrought, un- fitting them for the discharge of the distinctive functions of their manhood were barred from entrance to the congregation. The ban is removed under the gospel (Isa. lvi. 3-5). 'II. THE EXCLUSION OF THE C.IQLDREN OF INCEST. (Vers. 2, 3.) "To the tenth generation" seems to be II periphrasis for" for ever" (Neh. xiii. 1). The rabbins take the term" bastard" to refer to children born of incest or adultery. These were to be excluded through all their generations. This principle, irrespective of the ground stated in ver. 4, would have sufficed to exclude Moab and Ammon. The truth conveyed is that the impure are unalterably deba1Ted from membership in God's kingdom. God's kingdom is a kingdom of purity, In its final form nothing of an impure nature will be found in it. Impurity of heart and life exclude from inward membership in it now, and will do so for ever. Known impurity should exclude from Church fellowship on earth (1 Cor. v. 1, 2). The outwar<l bar no longer exists, and the offspring of impure connection, if children of faith, are welcomed to the spiritual fold. But the tendency of sins of parents still is, as of old, to exclude children Irom the fellowship of believers. The unchurched little ones grow up outside the pale of ordinances, and tend, in course of generations, to become increasingly estranged from the means of grace. Parents who sin themselves out of Church fellowship thus do their children, as well as their own souls, an irreparable injury. III. THE EXCLUSION OF THE UNMERCIFUL AND OF THOSE WHO SHOWED HATRED TO Goo's PEOPLE. (Vers. 4--6.) The principle here is obvious. Christ expressly excludes the unmerciful from all participation in his kingdom (Matt. xxv. 41-46). And there can be no "peace" and no "prosperity" to those who are actuated by hostility to God's kingdom. So long as they retain this character, we cannot wish it for them. Hostility to Christ's people is hos':i.lity to Christ himself (Acts ix. 4, 5), and reacts fataIJy on the soul (Matt. xxi. 44). It draws upon it God's indignation, and ends in final exclusion from heaven. IV. THE A!>MISSION OF THOSE WHO SHOW KINDNESS TO Goo's PEOPLE. (Vers. 7, 8.) The Edomite and the Egyptian were not to be abhorred; their children might be admitted in the third generation. The Edomites had not been as frien<lly as they might have been, but they had at least furnisbf.d the Israelites with victuals in their march, while the Egyptians had for a long time shown them kinduess and hospitality. For these things they "had their reward." Acis of kindness to God's people do not entitle to admission into God's kingdom, but they ,\how a "nighness" of spirit to it, and a.re remembered in God's dealings with the doers of them, and may issue in their final salvation (Matt. x. 42). Note: Past kindnes~es are not to be forgotten because of a late chauge of disposition. The Egyptians were kindly remembered, though their treatment of the Israelites bad latterly been very cruel. It is to be remarked also that the tone in which Edom is uniformly referred to in this book does not in the least harmonize with the l11te date assigned to it by ma1,y critics. Edom, in the time of the prophets, had become Israel's implacable foe.-J. O. Ver. 6.-The curse turned into a blessing. No ex:chantment, no curse of evil men, can prev11il against the people of God. Contrariwise, God will turn the curse into a. blessing. Iu Malachi, on the other hand, he threatens oo "curse the blessings" of the 372 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [oB, llilI, 1-26,