Question Card Session 9/14/25
Notes
Transcript
Turn to Deuteronomy 24:16.
This evening we are going to consider another question card that I received:
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Question: How does Deuteronomy 24:16 compare with Jesus’ death on the cross?
Jesus’ death on the cross took on the sins of the world, but each person should be put to death for their own sin. How do you reconcile this apparent contradiction?
Read Deuteronomy 24:16
You’ll notice that this verse clearly states, “every many shall be put to death for his own sin.”
This statement seems to be in contradiction with the clear teaching of the New Testament that Jesus Christ died a substitionary death for the sins of the world.
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For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
So Deuteronomy 24:16 indicates that every man is responsible for his own sins and for the consequences that follow. Whereas 1 Peter 3:18 indicates that Jesus, the Just One, died for us in our place - we who are the unjust.
Here’s some more verses that backup this New Testament teaching.
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Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
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For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
How do you reconcile Deuteronomy 24:16 with these New Testament verses?
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Question: How does Deuteronomy 24:16 compare with Jesus’ death on the cross?
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Really, the underlying question is this: how do you properly interpret these Scriptures when it seems that they contradict?
You need to consider the passage in its context.
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Context: The overview of the passage. It includes the historical, cultural, and literary background of the passage.
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Context of Deuteronomy 24:16
I am going to ask you a series of questions using our six friends that I’ve introduced to you before: who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Who
Who is the writer/speaker? Moses
Who are the readers/hearers? The Jewish people
Where?
Where does the passage take place? See Deuteronomy 1:1
When?
Does the historical setting affect its interpretation and application for today? In other words, should we consider the fact that Deuteronomy 24:16 is in the Old Testament and is part of the Jewish law? Yes.
Why? While there was a specific application for the Jewish people, that specific application does not apply to us. We don’t live in the Promised Land, nor do we live under the law. See Galatians 5:1.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
We must identify the broader principle underlying the specific application.
When did the passage take place? Just before crossing the Jordan - Deuteronomy 1:1, Joshua 1:1-2
What?
In your own words, what does it say? Every person is responsible for their own sins and for the consequences that follow
What is this chapter and, more broadly, this book all about? It is historical narrative? Is it a section of poetry? Is it preaching and prophecy? Or is it the law? It is the re-giving or retelling of the Law.
What is the cultural meaning? (That is, what did it mean to those receiving the message?) When they entered the Promised Land, every person would be responsible for their own behavior and sin.
Why?
How?
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Summary: Deuteronomy 24:16 is part of the re-telling of the Mosaic Law before Moses died and Israel crossed the Jordan. As part of the Law, it applied specifically to the Jews as God’s covenant people. To us who are no longer under the law, it teaches personal responsibility for sin.
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Context of Christ’s death on the cross
Christ lived the law perfectly.
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Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Christ fulfilled the law and because He was perfectly righteous, He was the one person who could be a sacrifice to appease God’s wrath for our sins. When the time of His crucifixion was close, Jesus established a new covenant.
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For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Jesus was saying, “I am establishing a New Covenant that will do away with the Old Covenant - the Mosaic Law. I will ratify this New Covenant by the shedding of my blood. No longer are you bound to the Law; you are bound to me.”
In fulfillment of prophecy, Christ lived the law so we wouldn’t have to vainly try any more. He bore our sins and released us from the law.
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He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities.
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For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
This was not in contradiction to Deuteronomy 24:16; this was in fulfillment of His Father’s plan for the redemption of mankind. Sinful man could not redeem itself. We needed a Redeemer and His name is Jesus!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 24:16 gave a specific ordinance of the Mosaic Law. In their day, it declared that every man would pay the penalty for his own sin under the law. We are not under the law, so the law does not apply to us specifically today as it did to the Jews. However, we can still learn Bible principles from it as we can from all of the Old Testament.
This is the same natural interpretation method that I have used in preaching through Nehemiah.
Deuteronomy 24:16 teaches that we are personally responsible for our actions and the sins that we commit against a holy God. It does not stand in contradiction to Christ’s death on the Cross because Christ fulfilled the law. He superseded it, established a new covenant to take its place, and died a substitionary death to reconcile us back to God. This was in perfect fulfillment of the Father’s plan of redemption.
