St. Irenaeus Ministries

When there are accusations of idolatry, it must be ascertained through credible evidence.  The punishment is designed to be decisive and JUST. The witnesses are involved in the execution in order to discourage false accusations.  A judicial system is carefully created to ensure due process, allowing Levitical priests and higher courts to take care of matters too difficult for local courts. Some ca...

Wise, experienced judges are to be appointed by the people, in every town, and are expected to be righteous.  The justice they seek is the justice required by God.  The Israelites are forbidden from setting up pillars and other graven images, because God HATES them. God also detests blemished and imperfect offerings (e.g. sick oxen).  He requires a perfect sacrifice as Jesus was the perfect sacrif...

Traditional Jewish feasts are outlined, and their new significance to Christians are discussed. Some guidance on how to read the book of Deuteronomy is provided.  It must be read carefully and its precepts dutifully followed. We are encouraged to catechise and be catechised in order to effectively serve the Lord. Just as the Hebrews lived separately from pagan idolatry, so too are we also called t...

The Hebrews were called to grieve differently and eat differently as a reminder that they were a people set apart for the Lord.  Bacon is not inherently sinful to eat, but it was set aside as something the Lord expected His people not to eat.  Christ did not abolish the ritual kosher laws for the Jews, but clarified that they did not apply to Christians.  However, the moral laws set down in the Ol...

The eating of innocent blood is forbidden.  These temple practices are emphasized for correct worship of God but also a guidance even in our lives to recognize the sacredness of life designed by God.  The Israelites (and we) are warned against apostates who try to lead us away from the Lord and from the Torah, even if they are close family and friends. Hebrew law lays out dire consequences for suc...

The Israelites are told to destroy the places of worship of rival religions.  This is because their existence is a temptation to idolatry, one to which many Hebrews would eventually give in.  There is one God, separate from all other religious influences.  Worship of the Lord is done in one central location set aside by Him: a special, sacred place. All sacrifice and offering to the Lord will not...

The Canaanites will be defeated due to their wickedness.  Israel's righteousness or strength will have nothing to do with it, however, as Israel has frequently disobeyed the Lord through their stubbornness. But God is merciful and gracious. This is just as true in the church today as in ancient Israel.  If we repent and be receptive to the love of the Lord, He will redeem us with His infinite love...

The Canaanites would be destroyed gradually, as a test of sustained faith.  They were not to take the gold and treasure of the Canaanites because it was full of temptations to idolatry.  The meaning of the word "abomination" is briefly discussed.  The repetition of Moses' exhortations throughout this text are defended--Moses seeks in this final speech to solidify the importance of the lessons of G...

The Hebrews are called to completely destroy their rivals in Canaan--man, woman, child, and artifacts of worship.  This is a difficult passage to accept.  However, God explicitly wants to protect His people from the temptation of idolatry that would be constant if the Hebrews lived among Canaanite religion (The Hebrews would later fall prey to this very temptation).  Despite this seemingly harsh j...

All of our actions are meant to be put into the effort of loving devotion to God--teaching our children constantly and binding His Word in our heart. God is loyal to His people, and He insists that we be loyal to Him.

The remainder of the Ten Commandments are reviewed.  While on the surface they are concerned with man's responsibility not to bring harm upon one another (through honoring his parents, not killing, stealing, sowing falsehoods, etc,) they ultimately come back to God.  God is our Father, and dishonoring our earthly father is as an affront to Him.  God values life, and killing, stealing, and bearing...

In this episode, we begin discussing the Ten Commandments.  In particular, we discuss the first three--God's commandment against idols, His commandment against taking His name in vain, and His commandment to keep the Sabbath holy.  These commandments are often broken and avoided, even by Christians, but if we do not honor them we do not honor God.

Moses treats the text of Deuteronomy as not just a legal code, but instruction to be preached to Israel in order to be faithful to the Lord.  Both the Ten Commandments and the various statutes and decrees are relevant to us today, and wisdom on how to obey God can be gained from studying them.  God wants to be with His people, but as long as they exist in mortal flesh a mediator is required for Hi...

After the previous generation of Hebrews is punished for Kadesh Barnea, the next generation is guided by God to defeat Sihon and Og on the path to the Jordan river.  Moses exhorts his people to be faithful to God and to teach their children and grandchildren to continue to be faithful.  He warns against idolatry, because like a husband God is jealous for his love Israel, and firmly opposed to the...

This episode explores Kadesh Barnea, where the Hebrews break their covenant with God and accuse Him of murderous intent as they are about to enter the Promised Land.

The Hebrews, led by Moses, have reached the Jordan river after 40 years of wandering in the desert.  After 40 years, the generation who had disobeyed God has died out, leaving their children.  Moses seeks to pass on the law of the Lord to the Hebrews before they cross and take the Promised Land, warning them against the mistakes of their fathers and laying out a basic governmental framework.

Deuteronomy is the roadmap through with the Hebrews were called to live their life.  It is useful for "teaching, reproof, and correction," and preparation "for every good work," but is not a tool to justify themselves before God.  The law, defined in the Old Testament, is not obsoleted in the New Testament but instead fulfilled through Jesus Christ.

The Lord exhorts the Hebrews present at the Jordan to follow His law, unlike the generation of Sinai.  The law is more than a dated legal code applicable only to this ancient people.  Careful study of this book brings a deep understanding of our faith.  Deuteronomy was well studied by Jesus and Paul, and its study is strongly encouraged by the Psalmist.

The dating of the book of Deuteronomy is discussed.  Archaeological and Biblical evidence is considered, as well as its literary style in comparison to Suzerain treaties of the time.

Deuteronomy is the book of God's law, written for the benefit of His people--both the ancient Hebrews and the Christian disciples of today.  More than a mere legal code, it is God's continuing marriage covenant.

In chapter 3 Paul tells Christian what they are to put  off.  "Members of the Earth" refers to all of our worldly passions and appetites, in particular sexual sin, idolatry, greed and malice. Paul tells us to decisively put to death what is Earthbound in us. The practical exhortations of this chapter of Paul's letter contains many guidelines for the Christian life. We are enjoined to live in peace...

The third chapter of Colossians invites us to consider the practical applications of Paul's spiritual message. Paul pulls things together, the various elements of this letter, in the third chapter. There is a certain logic to Paul's Letter to the Colossians, wherein each chapter builds on the previous chapter and drawing on several key themes. The first of these is reorienting ourselves to our tru...

The great theme of the second chapter of Paul's Letter to the Colossians is the sufficiency of Christ. Paul urges Christians to do more than accept the Gospel message on an intellectual level, but to also live it out. In doing so Christians will be filled with a joyful spirit of thanksgiving. Would that our parishes today be filled with such a spirit. Paul also warns against deceptive philosophy a...

Toward the end of the first chapter of Paul's Letter to the Colossians, Paul spoke of the Colossians' "love in the spirit". This expression points to a supernatural love beyond mere human affection. He will go on to speak about how the Christian community is to be built up in such a love. All is centered on Christ. This is a key theme of the letter. Paul praises Christ as the key to everything, th...

"Who is this Christ?" is the fundamental question whose answer is cast in one of the great Christological hymns of the Bible. It is far more than great poetry. Paul expands the terms of the Old Testament to speak of Christ as the head of both creation and redemtpion, as well as a new order of creation on a different level of life. Christ is above all authorities, a truth which the Colossians had e...