Today’s Bible Reading: DEUTERONOMY 21:10-25:19
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
"And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"
All humanity is cursed. We are cursed from birth. We are cursed by God. It is evidenced by our actions. And unless the curse is removed, we will remain under this curse into eternity.
The curse is manifest by our sin. God’s law is the criteria by which all men are to respond to Him. Men are evaluated by their adherence to this standard. Failure to obey His law brings a curse. The Bible states: . . . “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." (Gal 3:10, Deut 27:26). The curse is based upon observance and obedience to the whole law. Only those who abide by “all things written” will be excluded from this curse. To fail in one part is to fail at all. The Bible says, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10). There is no leeway given. There is no accommodation afforded. The smallest slip brings severe consequences. Trying doesn’t cut it. Living better doesn’t change the effect. The curse remains. The condemnation sticks.
We have all sinned (Rom 3:23). We have violated God’s law. We have all “committed a crime punishable by death” (Rom 6:23). We are the ones that need to be “hung” on the tree. We can’t evade it. We can’t escape it. We can’t do anything to change it. Death is inescapable. Death is inevitable. We are doomed by our depravity.
If left in this condition we fallow in despair. We are saddened by our situation. We lose hope and heart. We languish in our lost condition. We long for help. We look for deliverance.
There is hope. Help from one who is not under the curse. There is a Redeemer who can release us. His adherence to God’s law provides acquittal for our disobedience to the law. His faithfulness frees us. Jesus became cursed to free us from our curse. He died in our place. He took our curse upon Himself. He “hung” on the “tree” so we don’t have to. Our curse was His cross. He was cursed for us.
In the Old Testament the verdict is given. In the New Testament the victory is gained. In Christ the judgment is administered. Jesus redeemed us form the curse brought upon us by the law that we could not fulfill. He did this by fulfilling the law on our behalf and becoming the curse for us. Through Christ our justification is applied. His death delivered us. His pain brought our pardon.
Today rejoice that in Christ the curse is removed. Praise Jesus that He became the curse for all who will turn to and trust Him to remove their curse. Ask the Lord to help you continually live by the grace that was given by Christ our curse bearer. Rejoice that Christ redeemed you from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for you.
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