Ep. 56. Deuteronomy 27-28 | Blessings and Curses

EPISODE 56

BLESSINGS AND CURSES: DEUTERONOMY 27-28

These two chapters should do more to bolster our joy in the gospel than probably any other text aside from the whole of Leviticus. The blessings and curses were to be pronounced by the people upon entering the Promised Land and were based entirely on performance. If we want to adopt the blessings as belonging to us in the 21st century, then we have to adopt the curses as belonging to us as well. The mistake we make is thinking we can do a decent enough job of the works of the Law to somehow merit God's grace and favor. However, the Scripture is clear that for any righteousness to be assigned to the individual under the Law of Moses, that individual must "Keep the whole commandment." Righteousness under the Law of Moses is only attainable: "If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do ALL his commandments." It's dumfounding to me that some believe they can somehow accomplish the Law perfectly.

We can't.

No one is righteous; there is no one who is good; there is no one who seeks after God, not even one.

Still, we tend to look at chapter 28 and apply the blessings to ourselves, even though we fall short of the "all" that is required. "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law." "No one is justified by works of the Law." If we break any part of the Law, we break all of it. If we want to uphold any part of the Law, we must uphold the entire thing.

So we take a step back and rejoice that we have been set free from the curse of the Law by the cross of Jesus Christ and received every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. The curse has been overthrown, and the blessing has been poured out. Christ has caused us to be born again to a living hope, and our righteousness is now established in him.

ADDITIONAL READING: James 2:10; Galatians 5:3; Ezekiel 18: 4-9; Galatians 3:10-14; Romans 8:1-4: Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 53:1-3; Romans 3