He That Is Hanged Is Accursed of God (Deuteronomy 21:23)

2024-06-02

And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

The hanged man is accursed of God. Among the likes were Pharaoh’s chief baker (Genesis 40:19), the king of Ai (Joshua 8:29), five Amorite kings (Joshua 10:26), and Bigthan and Teresh (Esther 2:23). All these were accursed of God per the Law of Moses. But there was another who was hanged.

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree” (Acts 5:30). What sin did this Jesus that was worthy of death? Why would He be called accursed of God?

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree” (Acts 10:38-39). So His crimes were His anointing of God with the Spirit and power? Perhaps He was hung for healings and good deeds?

Rather, it was because He “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” (1 Peter 2:24). If our sin was on the tree with Him, we are dead to those sins. He paid for them, and because He paid, they were judged once, and cannot be judged a second time. We can live righteously, being healed from the mortal blow of our own sin.

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). He was cursed so we wouldn’t be.

But to fulfill the Scripture, the body of Jesus was taken down and buried that day. “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus” (John 19:38).