THE BLESSINGS AND CURSES OF THE COVENANT

Texts: Deuteronomy 27:11-28:14; Galatians 3:5-14

CHRIST REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW BY BECOMING A CURSE FOR US (Galatians 3:13; cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21)

A. Unbiblical ideas of curses:

1. “Curse of the Bambino”

2. The “Madden Curse”

3. “Unlucky” Rabbits (Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit)

B. In the Bible, to be accursed is to be under the wrath of God. It is to be damned by God Who is Judge.

C. The crucifixion of Jesus is historical proof that God Judges sin.

D. Were it not God’s Word, it would seem blasphemous to suggest that Jesus became a curse (Galatians 3:13 with Deuteronomy 21:23; cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)

E. Some Jews had a superstitious view of using “God” and “curse” in the same sentence.

1. “You cursed/blessed God and the king” (1 Kings 21:10,13).

a. The Hebrew of 1 Kings 21:10,13 literally reads “cursed God.”

b. Instead of using “curse” the Jews used the Hebrew word “bless” as a euphemism

2. The greedy man curses/blesses and spurns Yahweh (Psalm 10:3)

3. Job 1:5,11; 2:5,9

4. Hebrew copyists seemed to face the “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” dilemma:

a. Change/euphemize Scripture.

b. Possibly blaspheme God by mentioning Him along with the word "curse."

F. If God the Father did not spare His beloved Son when He took upon Himself our sins at the cross, then God will not spare from damnation any sinner who refused to believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (see 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

1. Gethsemane

a. “let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39,42,44; cf. Psalm 11:6; 75:8,9; Isaiah 51:17, 19, 22; Jer.25:15–16; 49:12; 51:57; Ezek.23:31–34).

b. “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death” (v.38).

c. His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44).

2. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46 with Psalm 22:1)

And certainly he underwent death, not merely that he might depart from earth to heaven, but rather that, by taking upon himself the curse to which we were liable, he might deliver us from it. He had no horror at death, therefore, simply as a passage out of the world, but because he had before his eyes the dreadful tribunal of God, and the Judge himself armed with inconceivable vengeance; and because our sins, the load of which was laid upon him, pressed him down with their enormous weight. There is no reason to wonder, therefore, if the dreadful abyss of destruction tormented him grievously with fear and anguish (John Calvin, J. The Harmony of the Gospels: Calvin's Commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

G. According to the Law of Moses, the sinner is damned. According to the Abrahamic Covenant, in some mysterious way, God’s Son would be damned.

1. Mosaic Covenant: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (Galatians 3:10 with Deuteronomy 27:26).

2. Abrahamic Covenant:

a. “Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to Him as righteousness” (Galatians 3:6 with Genesis 15:6).

i. Ancient covenants and oaths involved death for those who broke their word.

ii. God took upon Himself a self-maledictory (curse) oath (Genesis 15:7-21).

b. On Mount Moriah, God provided a substitute for the sacrifice of Abraham’s beloved son, Isaac (Genesis 22).

“Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56)

QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION

Take what you have learned this morning and make it into a prayer. If you are a believer give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus. Give thanks to Jesus for His willingness to undergo the curse of the law and the wrath of God on your behalf. If you are not a Christian, flee from God’s coming wrath and call upon Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins.

What is the biblical meaning of “curse”?

Can you think of some modern day superstitious “curses”?

If we are to find blessing from God how is it that we are to believe in One Who was accursed by God according to the Law?

Why shouldn’t Christians use lightly words and phrases such as “Goddamn,” “dammit,” or “I’ll be damned”?

How did Abraham see Christ’s day?

What is a self-maledictory oath?

According to the Law of Moses, the ___________ is damned. According to the Abrahamic Covenant, in some mysterious way, _______________ would be damned.