Deu 17:18-20 | TNotes | STEP | 17:18 This body of instruction (literally this torah ) refers to the book of Deuteronomy or perhaps only to this passage concerning the Israelite monarchy. For torah, see study note on 4:44. Thematic note: Purge the Evil Sin is so abhorrent to God that it cannot coexist with him. The same should be true for his people. God is holy, and he expects his people to reflect his holiness (Lev 11:45 ; 19:2 ). God required severe measures to remove sin from the covenant community. God offered forgiveness, but only for the truly repentant; those who hardened their hearts could expect God’s judgment—a purging process that devours sinners and their sins and leaves nothing behind (see Deut 9:3 ; 13:5 ; Isa 33:14 ; Heb 12:28-29 ). Such cleansing is meant to heal the community of believers and deter others from rebelling against the Lord (Deut 17:13 ). In the Old Testament, God’s judgment among his people was often immediate (see, e.g., Num 11:1-3 ; 16:1-50 ; Josh 7 ). God thus made his people keenly aware of his demand for obedience and of the penalty for those who did not comply. God’s retribution is now reserved for the future day of judgment, when the sins of the unrighteous will be exposed and judged (Rom 14:10 ; 2 Cor 5:10 ; Heb 9:27 ; 1 Pet 4:5 ). However, some instances of calamity can be understood as God’s judgment on his disobedient children (e.g., Acts 5:1-11 ; see 1 Cor 11:27-30 ). It is still a “terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31 ). Passages for Further Study Lev 19:1-2 ; Deut 9:3-6 ; 13:5 ; 17:2-13 ; Josh 7:1-26 ; 2 Chr 34:3-8 ; Isa 1:24-26 ; 4:2-6 ; 33:14 ; Ezek 20:32-38 ; Matt 18:8-9 ; Acts 5:1-11 ; Rom 14:10 ; 1 Cor 11:27-30 ; 2 Cor 5:10 ; Heb 9:27-28 ; 10:31 ; 12:28-29 ; Jas 5:19-20 ; 1 Pet 4:5

17:18 ^a This body of instruction (literally this torah) refers to the book of Deuteronomy or perhaps only to this passage concerning the Israelite monarchy. For torah, see study note on 4:44.

Thematic note: Purge the Evil
Sin is so abhorrent to God that it cannot coexist with him. The same should be true for his people. God is holy, and he expects his people to reflect his holiness (Lev 11:45 ^b; 19:2 ^c).
God required severe measures to remove sin from the covenant community. God offered forgiveness, but only for the truly repentant; those who hardened their hearts could expect God’s judgment—a purging process that devours sinners and their sins and leaves nothing behind (see Deut 9:3 ^d; 13:5 ^e; Isa 33:14 ^f; Heb 12:28-29 ^g). Such cleansing is meant to heal the community of believers and deter others from rebelling against the Lord (Deut 17:13 ^h).
In the Old Testament, God’s judgment among his people was often immediate (see, e.g., Num 11:1-3 ⁱ; 16:1-50 ^j; Josh 7 ^k). God thus made his people keenly aware of his demand for obedience and of the penalty for those who did not comply.
God’s retribution is now reserved for the future day of judgment, when the sins of the unrighteous will be exposed and judged (Rom 14:10 ^l; 2 Cor 5:10 ^m; Heb 9:27 ⁿ; 1 Pet 4:5 ^o). However, some instances of calamity can be understood as God’s judgment on his disobedient children (e.g., Acts 5:1-11 ^p; see 1 Cor 11:27-30 ^q). It is still a “terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31 ^r).

Passages for Further Study
Lev 19:1-2 ^s; Deut 9:3-6 ^t; 13:5 ^u; 17:2-13 ^v; Josh 7:1-26 ^w; 2 Chr 34:3-8 ^x; Isa 1:24-26 ^y; 4:2-6 ^z; 33:14 ^aa; Ezek 20:32-38 ^ab; Matt 18:8-9 ^ac; Acts 5:1-11 ^ad; Rom 14:10 ^ae; 1 Cor 11:27-30 ^af; 2 Cor 5:10 ^ag; Heb 9:27-28 ^ah; 10:31 ^ai; 12:28-29 ^aj; Jas 5:19-20 ^ak; 1 Pet 4:5 ^al