A Rebellious Son

A Rebellious Son

Q: The punishment for a rebellious son in Old Testament times was

• a. a year in jail.
• b. being stoned to death by the elders.
• c. extra work duty for three years.

Do you think your parents have strict rules? Maybe you lost computer privileges for forgetting to take out the trash. Or perhaps a teacher’s call about missed homework lost you a trip to a friend’s house or the mall. You probably felt like you had the strictest parents to be found.

You might want to check out some of the Old Testament laws. Your punishment was nothing compared to the Old Testament. The punishment for a rebellious son in the Bible? Death. Now, this isn’t talking about the son who forgot to stomp the mud off his shoes outside or who argued about his bedtime. This was the son who had turned from God and his parents’ ways. It went beyond a few occasions of disobedience to the point where the son was not willing to turn from his wickedness.

First the son would be taken to the city elders at the town gate. The elders had the authority, and they discussed and decided problems at the town gate. If the town elders felt the son would not obey his parents, they may have figured he wasn’t going to obey God or the town laws either. In that case, the elders killed the son by throwing rocks at him.

That isn’t done today, of course, but that’s not because God has changed his mind about rebellion. We still shouldn’t rebel, but we can be forgiven and given grace because Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Even though rebellious sons aren’t stoned today, it’s still better to be obedient and reap God’s blessings.

For You

In Matthew 19:19, Jesus said, “Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.” God still wants you to follow those rules today.

Answer: b

The parents must say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious and refuses to obey. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of his town must stone him to death. In this way, you will purge this evil from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid.   Deuteronomy 21:20-21

(The Whole Story: Deuteronomy 21:18-21)