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Commentary on Deuteronomy 21 verses 18–23
Here is, I. A law for the punishing of a rebellious son. Having in the former law provided that parents should not deprive their children of their right, it was fit that it should next be provided that children withdraw not the honour and duty which are owing to their parents, for there is no partiality in the divine law. Observe,
1.How the criminal is here described. He is a stubborn and rebellious son, Deu 21:18. No child was to fare the worse for the weakness of his capacity, the slowness or dulness of his understanding, but for his wilfulness and obstinacy. If he carry himself proudly and insolently towards his parents, contemn their authority, slight their reproofs and admonitions, disobey the express commands they give him for his own good, hate to be reformed by the correction they give him, shame their family, grieve their hearts, waste their substance, and threaten to ruin their estate by riotous living - this is a stubborn and rebellious son. He is particularly supposed (Deu 21:20) to be a glutton or a drunkard. This intimates either, (1.) That these were sins which his parents did in a particular manner warn him against, and therefore that in these instances there was a plain evidence that he did not obey their voice. Lemuel had this charge from his mother, Pro 31:4. Note, In the education of children, great care should be taken to suppress all inclinations to drunkenness, and to keep them out of the way of temptations to it; in order hereunto they should be possessed betimes with a dread and detestation of that beastly sin, and taught betimes to deny themselves. Or, (2.) That his being a glutton and a drunkard was the cause of his insolence and obstinacy towards his parents. Note, There is nothing that draws men into all manner of wickedness, and hardens them in it, more certainly and fatally than drunkenness does. When men take to drink they forget the law, they forget all law (Pro 31:5), even that fundamental law of honouring parents.
2.How this criminal is to be proceeded against. His own father and mother are to be his prosecutors, Deu 21:19, Deu 21:20. They might not put him to death themselves, but they must complain of him to the elders of the city, and the complaint must needs be made with a sad heart: This our son is stubborn and rebellious. Note, Those that give up themselves to vice and wickedness, and will not be reclaimed, forfeit their interest in the natural affections of the nearest relations; the instruments of their being justly become the instruments of their destruction. The children that forget their duty must thank themselves and not blame their parents if they are regarded with less and less affection. And, how difficult soever tender parents now find it to reconcile themselves to the just punishment of their rebellious children, in the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God all natural affection will be so entirely swallowed up in divine love that they will acquiesce even in the condemnation of those children, because God will be therein for ever glorified.
3.What judgment is to be executed upon him: he must publicly stoned to death by the men of his city, Deu 21:21. And thus, (1.) The paternal authority was supported, and God, our common Father, showed himself jealous for it, it being one of the first and most ancient streams derived from him that is the fountain of all power. (2.) This law, if duly executed, would early destroy the wicked of the land. (Psa 101:8), and prevent the spreading of the gangrene, by cutting off the corrupt part betimes; for those that were bad members of families would never make good members of the commonwealth. (3.) It would strike an awe upon children, and frighten them into obedience to their parents, if they would not otherwise be brought to their duty and kept in it: All Israel shall hear. The Jews say, "The elders that condemned him were to send notice of it in writing all the nation over, In such a court, such a day, we stoned such a one, because he was a stubborn and rebellious son." And I have sometimes wished that as in all our courts there is an exact record kept of the condemnation of criminals, in perpetuam rei memoriam - that the memorial may never be lost, so there might be public and authentic notice given in print to the kingdom of such condemnations, and the executions upon them, by the elders themselves, in terrorem - that all may hear and fear.
II. A law for the burying of the bodies of malefactors that were hanged, Deu 21:22. The hanging of them by the neck till the body was dead was not used at all among the Jews, as with us; but of such as were stoned to death, if it were for blasphemy, or some other very execrable crime, it was usual, by order of the judges, to hang up the dead bodies upon a post for some time, as a spectacle to the world, to express the ignominy of the crime, and to strike the greater terror upon others, that they might not only hear and fear, but see and fear. Now it is here provided that, whatever time of the day they were thus hanged up, at sun-set they should be taken down and buried, and not left to hang out all night; sufficient (says the law) to such a man is this punishment; hitherto let it go, but no further. Let the malefactor and his crime be hidden in the grave. Now, 1. God would thus preserve the honour of human bodies and tenderness towards the worst of criminals. The time of exposing dead bodies thus is limited for the same reason that the number of stripes was limited by another law: Lest thy brother seem vile unto thee. Punishing beyond death God reserves to himself; as for man, there is no more that he can do. Whether therefore the hanging of malefactors in chains, and setting up their heads and quarters, be decent among Christians that look for the resurrection of the body, may perhaps be worth considering. 2. Yet it is plain there was something ceremonial in it; by the law of Moses the touch of a dead body was defiling, and therefore dead bodies must not be left hanging up in the country, because, by the same rule, this would defile the land. But, 3. There is one reason here given which has reference to Christ. He that is hanged is accursed of God, that is, it is the highest degree of disgrace and reproach that can be done to a man, and proclaims him under the curse of God as much as any external punishment can. Those that see him thus hang between heaven and earth will conclude him abandoned of both and unworthy of either; and therefore let him not hang all night, for that would carry it too far. Now the apostle, showing how Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by being himself made a curse for us, illustrates it by comparing the brand here put on him that was hanged on a tree with the death of Christ, Gal 3:13. Moses, by the Spirit, uses this phrase of being accursed of God, when he means no more than being treated most ignominiously, that it might afterwards be applied to the death of Christ, and might show that in it he underwent the curse of the law for us, which is a great enhancement of his love and a great encouragement to our faith in him. And (as the excellent bishop Patrick well observes) this passage is applied to the death of Christ, not only because he bore our sins and was exposed to shame, as these malefactors were that were accursed of God, but because he was in the evening taken down from the cursed tree and buried (and that by the particular care of the Jews, with an eye to this law, Joh 19:31), in token that now, the guilt being removed, the law was satisfied, as it was when the malefactor had hanged till sun-set; it demanded no more. Then he ceased to be a curse, and those that were his. And, as the land of Israel was pure and clean when the dead body was buried, so the church is washed and cleansed by the complete satisfaction which thus Christ made.
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SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 21:20 outlines a severe legal provision within ancient Israel's civil code, detailing the formal accusation brought by parents against a persistently defiant and morally corrupt son before the city elders. This statute highlights the ultimate recourse for parents dealing with an incorrigible child who has fundamentally rejected their authority and societal norms, characterizing him as utterly unmanageable, given to gluttony and drunkenness. The verse underscores the profound importance of parental respect, family order, and community stability, where such extreme disobedience was considered a grave threat not merely to the household but to the wider social fabric of the covenant community.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 21:20 employs several literary devices to convey the gravity of the situation and the nature of the son's offense. The language is Prescriptive and Legalistic, typical of the Deuteronomic Code, meticulously laying out a specific accusation within a judicial framework. The use of strong, descriptive adjectives like "stubborn" and "rebellious," followed by the concrete examples of "glutton" and "drunkard," creates vivid Imagery of a character completely devoid of discipline, respect, and self-control. This progression from internal character (stubborn, rebellious) to external, destructive behavior (glutton, drunkard) serves as a form of Climax, building the comprehensive case against the son and underscoring the severity of his moral decay. The parents' direct address to the elders ("This our son...") functions as a form of Direct Speech, lending immediacy, authenticity, and a sense of desperate finality to their plea. Furthermore, the passage uses Juxtaposition by implicitly contrasting the ideal obedient Israelite child, who honors parents and upholds the family's integrity, with this son who actively undermines these foundational covenant values.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 21:20, while presenting a specific legal case, resonates with profound theological and thematic truths about human nature, divine order, and community responsibility. The law underscores God's high regard for parental authority and the sanctity of the family unit, viewing persistent rebellion and self-destructive behavior as an affront to His established order. It reflects the principle that unchecked sin, particularly that which undermines foundational social structures, cannot be tolerated within a covenant community striving for holiness. The charges of gluttony and drunkenness highlight the destructive nature of unrestrained appetites and the spiritual decay that accompanies a lack of self-control, themes frequently addressed throughout biblical wisdom literature. Ultimately, this passage serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of rejecting divine and human authority, emphasizing the need for obedience, discipline, and moral integrity for individual and communal flourishing within God's covenant.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the severe judicial penalty prescribed in the Old Testament for the stubborn and rebellious son is not directly applied in modern contexts, the underlying principles of Deuteronomy 21:20 remain profoundly relevant for contemporary believers and society. This passage compels us to reflect on the enduring importance of parental responsibility in nurturing children in discipline and instruction, guiding them towards self-control and respect for authority. It challenges individuals to examine their own hearts for areas of stubbornness, rebellion, or unchecked appetites, recognizing that such dispositions can lead to spiritual and relational decay, hindering one's walk with God and others. For the church community, it serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to uphold biblical standards of conduct, to offer guidance and accountability, and to seek restoration for those who stray, recognizing that individual moral health contributes significantly to the vitality and witness of the entire body of Christ. The verse ultimately calls us to cultivate a spirit of obedience, humility, and self-discipline, honoring God and those He has placed in authority over us, reflecting His order in our lives and communities.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was the "stubborn and rebellious son" law commonly enforced in ancient Israel?
Answer: While the law for the stubborn and rebellious son in Deuteronomy 21:18-21 appears extremely harsh, there is no historical or archaeological evidence to suggest it was commonly, if ever, enforced. Many scholars view this law, and others like it in the Deuteronomic Code, as a hyperbolic legal deterrent, designed to emphasize the utmost seriousness of parental authority and the sanctity of the family unit in Israelite society. Its primary purpose was likely to underscore the gravity of persistent, incorrigible disobedience and its threat to the social fabric, rather than to prescribe frequent executions. The stringent conditions for its application—requiring both parents to agree, bringing the son before the elders, and specific charges of gluttony and drunkenness—made it an exceptionally rare, last-resort measure, highlighting the profound value placed on life and the family within the covenant community.
What is the significance of the son being described as a "glutton and drunkard"?
Answer: The description of the son as a "glutton and drunkard" (Deuteronomy 21:20) is highly significant because it moves beyond mere disobedience to characterize a lifestyle of self-indulgence, wastefulness, and a profound lack of self-control. In ancient Israel, such behaviors were not just personal vices but had severe economic and social consequences for the family, potentially squandering their inheritance and bringing public shame. This characterization suggests a son who was not only defiant of authority but also economically unproductive and morally dissolute, embodying a comprehensive rejection of responsible living within the covenant community. It painted a picture of a destructive force within the family and society, reinforcing the severity of the parents' accusation. Wisdom literature, such as Proverbs 23:20-21, frequently warns against these very excesses as paths to poverty and ruin.
How does this law relate to the Fifth Commandment to "honor your father and mother"?
Answer: The law concerning the stubborn and rebellious son in Deuteronomy 21:18-21 serves as a stark illustration of the extreme consequences of violating the Fifth Commandment, "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12). While the Fifth Commandment calls for respect, obedience, and care for parents, the stubborn and rebellious son represents the antithesis of this ideal. His persistent defiance, refusal to obey, and self-destructive lifestyle directly dishonor his parents and undermine their God-given authority. The severity of the prescribed punishment underscores how foundational parental honor was to the stability and moral order of Israelite society, viewing persistent rebellion against parents as a direct affront to God's established covenant order and a threat to the community's well-being and the promise of a blessed life in the land.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The law of the stubborn and rebellious son in Deuteronomy 21:20, like all Old Testament law, serves to highlight humanity's profound need for a Savior and points forward to the person and work of Jesus Christ. This law reveals the depth of human sinfulness—the inherent tendency towards rebellion, self-indulgence, and rejection of authority—which ultimately is a rebellion against God Himself. In stark contrast to the defiant son, Jesus is the perfectly obedient Son, who always did the will of His Father (John 8:29). Where the Old Testament law could only condemn the rebellious, Jesus, through His perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection, offers forgiveness and transformation for those who were once "stubborn and rebellious" in their sin (Romans 5:8). He came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), demonstrating the perfect obedience that humanity could not achieve and bearing the curse of the law on our behalf (Galatians 3:13). Furthermore, the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 provides a New Testament echo of this Old Testament scenario, but with a profound twist: instead of condemnation, it illustrates the Father's boundless grace and readiness to welcome back the repentant, once-rebellious child, showcasing the very heart of the Gospel that Christ embodies. Through Christ, those who were once spiritual gluttons and drunkards, consumed by their own desires, can find true freedom, self-control, and adoption into God's family, becoming obedient children of the heavenly Father (1 Peter 1:14) who delight in His voice.