MORAL PRECEPTS

Self-Contradictions of the Bible, by William Henry Burr, [1860], at sacred-texts.com

24.

ROBBERY COMMANDED.

When ye go, ye shall not go empty; but every woman shall borrow of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians. (Ex. 3:21, 22.)

And they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. . . . And they spoiled the Egyptians. (Ex. 12:35, 36).

ROBBERY FORBIDDEN.

Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him. (Lev. 19:13.)

Thou shalt not steal. (Ex. 20:15.)

25.

LYING APPROVED AND SANCTIONED.

And the woman [Rahab] took the two men and hid them and said thus: There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were; and it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark that the men went out; whither the men went I wot not; pursue after them quickly, for ye shall overtake them. But she had brought them up to the roof of the house and hid them with the stalks of flax. (Josh. 2:4, 5, 6.)

Was not Rahab, the harlot, justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (James 2:25.)

And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives. (Ex. 1:18-20.)

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. . . . I will go forth and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him and prevail also; go forth and do so. (1 Kings 22:21, 22.)

LYING FORBIDDEN.

Thou shalt not bear false witness. (Ex. 20:16.)

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. (Prov. 12:22.)

All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. (Rev. 21:8.)

26.

HATRED TO THE EDOMITE SANCTIONED.

He [Amaziah] slew of Edom, in the valley of Salt, ten thousand . . . And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. (2 Kings 14:7, 3.)

HATRED TO THE EDOMITE FORBIDDEN.

Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite, for he is thy brother. (Deut. 23:7.)

27.

KILLING COMMANDED.

Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor. (Ex. 32:27.)

KILLING FORBIDDEN.

Thou shalt not kill. (Ex. 20:13.)

28.

THE BLOOD-SHEDDER MUST DIE.

At the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. (Gen. 9:5, 6.)

THE BLOOD-SHEDDER MUST NOT DIE.

And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. (Gen. 4:15.)

29.

THE MAKING OF IMAGES FORBIDDEN.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath. (Ex. 20:4.)

THE MAKING OF IMAGES COMMANDED.

Thou shalt make two cherubims of gold. . . . And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look to one another. (Ex. 25:18, 20.)

30.

SLAVERY AND OPPRESSION ORDAINED.

Cursed by Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. (Gen. 9:25.)

Of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy. . . . They shall be your bondmen forever; but over your brethren of the children of Israel, ye shall not rule with rigor. (Lev. 25:45, 46.)

I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people afar off; for the Lord hath spoken it. (Joel 3:8.)

SLAVERY AND OPPRESSION FORBIDDEN.

Undo the heavy burdens . . . let the oppressed go free, . . . break every yoke. (Is. 58:6.)

Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him. (Ex. 22:21.)

He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. (Ex. 21:16.)

Neither be ye called masters. (Matt. 23:10.)

31.

IMPROVIDENCE ENJOINED.

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. . . . If God so clothe the grass of the field . . . shall he not much more clothe you? . . . Therefore, take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? . . . Take no thought for the morrow. (Matt. 6:28, 31, 34.)

Give to every man that asketh of thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. . . . And lend, hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great. (Luke 6:30, 35.)

Sell that ye have and give alms. (Luke 12:3.)

IMPROVIDENCE CONDEMNED.

But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (1 Tim. 5:8.)

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his childrens’ children. (Prov. 13:22.)

32.

ANGER APPROVED.

Be ye angry and sin not. (Eph. 4:26.)

ANGER DISAPPROVED.

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. (Eccl. 7:9.)

Make no friendship with an angry man. (Prov. 22:24.)

The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (James 1:20.)

33.

GOOD WORKS TO BE SEEN OF MEN.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works. (Matt. 5:16.)

GOOD WORKS NOT TO BE SEEN OF MEN.

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them. (Matt. 6:1.)

34.

JUDGING OF OTHERS FORBIDDEN.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. (Matt. 7:1, 2.)

JUDGING OF OTHERS APPROVED.

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? If, then, ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. (1 Cor. 6:2, 3, 4.)

Do not ye judge them that are within? (1 Cor. 5:12.)

35.

CHRIST TAUGHT NONRESISTANCE.

Resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matt. 5:39.)

All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. (Matt. 26:52.)

CHRIST TAUGHT AND PRACTICED PHYSICAL RESISTANCE.

He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. (Luke 22:36.)

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple. (John 2:15.)

36.

CHRIST WARNED HIS FOLLOWERS NOT TO FEAR BEING KILLED.

Be not afraid of them that kill the body. (Luke 12:4.)

CHRIST HIMSELF AVOIDED THE JEWS FOR FEAR OF BEING KILLED.

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1.)

37.

PUBLIC PRAYER SANCTIONED.

And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven. [Then follows the prayer.] And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees, with his hands spread up to heaven. . . . And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication that thou hast made before me. (1 Kings 8:22, 54; & 9:3.)

PUBLIC PRAYER DISAPPROVED.

When thou prayest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. . . . But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret. (Matt. 6:5, 6.)

38.

IMPORTUNITY IN PRAYER COMMENDED.

Because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. . . . And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him? (Luke 18:5, 7.)

Because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. (Luke 11:8.)

IMPORTUNITY IN PRAYER CONDEMNED.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be ye not therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. (Matt. 6:7, 8.)

39.

THE WEARING OF LONG HAIR BY MEN SANCTIONED.

And no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb. (Judg. 13:5.)

All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head; until the days be fulfilled in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. (Num. 6:5.)

THE WEARING OF LONG HAIR BY MEN CONDEMNED.

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (1 Cor. 11:14.)

40.

CIRCUMCISION INSTITUTED.

This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee: Every man and child among you shall be circumcised. (Gen. 17:10.)

CIRCUMCISION CONDEMNED.

Behold, I Paul, say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (Gal. 5:2.)

41.

THE SABBATH INSTITUTED.

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. (Ex. 20:8.)

THE SABBATH REPUDIATED.

The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity. (Is. 1:13.)

One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. (Rom. 14:5.)

Let no man therefore judge you in meat and drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon; or of the sabbath days. (Col. 2:16.)

42.

THE SABBATH INSTITUTED BECAUSE GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY.

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (Ex. 20:11.)

THE SABBATH INSTITUTED BECAUSE GOD BROUGHT THE ISRAELITES OUT OF EGYPT.

And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and a stretched out arm; therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day. (Deut. 5:15.)

43.

NO WORK TO BE DONE ON THE SABBATH UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH.

Whosoever doeth any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. (Ex. 31:15.)

And they found a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath day. . . . And all the congregation brought him without the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Num. 15:32, 36.)

JESUS CHRIST BROKE THE SABBATH AND JUSTIFIED HIS DISCIPLES IN THE SAME.

Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. (John 5:16.)

At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were a hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. But he said unto them, . . . . Have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? (Matt. 12:1, 2, 3, 5.)

44.

BAPTISM COMMANDED.

Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 28:19.)

BAPTISM NOT COMMANDED.

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. . . . I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius. (1 Cor. 1:17, 14.)

45.

EVERY KIND OF ANIMAL ALLOWED FOR FOOD.

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you. (Gen. 9:3.)

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles that eat. (1 Cor. 10:25.)

There is nothing unclean of itself. (Rom. 14:14.)

CERTAIN KINDS OF ANIMALS PROHIBITED FOR FOOD.

Nevertheless, these shall ye not eat, of them that chew the cud or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel and the hare, and the coney; for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore, they are unclean unto you. And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass. (Deut. 14:7, 8.)

46.

THE TAKING OF OATHS SANCTIONED.

If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. (Num. 30:2.)

Now, therefore, swear unto me here by God. . . . And Abraham said, I will swear. . . . Therefore, he called the place Beersheba [the well of the oath]; because there they sware both of them. (Gen. 21:23, 24, 31.)

And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. (Gen. 31:53.)

Because he [God] could swear by no greater, he sware by himself. (Heb. 6:13.)

THE TAKING OF OATHS FORBIDDEN.

But I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven for it is God's throne; nor by the earth for it is his footstool. (Matt. 5:34.)

47.

MARRIAGE APPROVED.

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make a help-meet for him. (Gen. 2:18.)

And God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth. (Gen. 1:28.)

For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave unto his wife. (Matt. 19:5.)

Marriage is honorable in all. (Heb. 13:4.)

MARRIAGE DISAPPROVED.

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (1 Cor. 7:1.)

For I [Paul] would that all men were even as I myself. . . . It is good for them if they abide even as I. (1 Cor. 7:7, 8.)

48.

FREEDOM OF DIVORCE PERMITTED.

When a man hath taken a wife and married her, and it come to pass that she found no favor in his eyes, . . . then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. (Deut. 24:1.)

When thou goest out to war against thine enemies, and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thy hands, and thou hast taken them captive, and seest among the captives a beautiful woman and hast a desire unto her, then thou shalt take her home to thy house; . . . and after that thou shalt go in unto her and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. . . . And if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money; thou shalt not make merchandise of her. (Deut. 21:10, 11, 14.)

DIVORCE RESTRICTED.

But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery. (Matt. 5:32.)

49.

ADULTERY FORBIDDEN.

Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Ex. 20:14.)

Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (Heb. 13:4.)

ADULTERY ALLOWED.

But all the women children that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. (Num. 31:18.)

And the Lord said unto Hosea, Go, take thee a wife of whoredoms. . . . Then said the Lord to me [Hosea], Go, yet, love a woman, beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress. . . . So I bought her; . . . and said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man; so will I also be for thee. (Hos. 1:2, & 2:1, 2, 3.)

50.

MARRIAGE OR COHABITATION WITH A SISTER DENOUNCED.

Cursed is he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father. (Deut. 27:22.)

And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, . . . it is a wicked thing. (Lev. 20:17.)

ABRAHAM MARRIED HIS SISTER AND GOD BLESSED THE UNION.

And Abraham said, . . . She is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother. (Gen. 20:11, 12.)

And God said unto Abraham, as for Sarah thy wife, . . . I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her. (Gen. 17:16.)

51.

A MAN MAY MARRY HIS BROTHER'S WIDOW.

If brethren dwell together, and one of them die and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger; her husband's brother shall come in unto her bed and take her to wife. (Deut. 25:5.)

A MAN MAY NOT MARRY HIS BROTHER'S WIDOW.

If a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing, . . . they shall be childless. (Lev. 20:21.)

52.

HATRED TO KINDRED ENJOINED.

If any man come unto me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brother, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26.)

HATRED TO KINDRED CONDEMNED.

Honor thy father and mother. (Eph. 6:2.)

Husbands love your wives. . . . For no man ever yet hated his own flesh. (Eph. 5:25, 29.)

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. (1 John 3:15.)

53.

INTOXICATING BEVERAGES RECOMMENDED.

Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. (Prov. 31:6, 7.)

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and thine often infirmities. (1 Tim. 5:23.)

Wine maketh glad the heart of man. (Ps. 104:15.)

INTOXICATING BEVERAGES DISCOUNTENANCED.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Prov. 20:1.)

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red; when it giveth his color in the cup. . . . At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. (Prov. 23:31, 32.)

54.

IT IS OUR DUTY TO OBEY OUR RULERS, WHO ARE GOD'S MINISTERS AND PUNISH EVIL DOERS ONLY.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. . . . For this cause pay ye tribute; for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. (Rom. 13:1, 2, 3, 6.)

The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat; all, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do. (Matt. 23:2, 3.)

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto the governors as unto them that are sent of him for the punishment of evil doers. (1 Pet. 2:13, 14.)

I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment. . . . Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing. (Eccl. 8:2, 5.)

IT IS NOT OUR DUTY ALWAYS TO OBEY RULERS, WHO SOMETIMES PUNISH THE GOOD, AND RECEIVE UNTO THEMSELVES DAMNATION THEREFOR.

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them. . . . Therefore God dealt well with the midwives. (Ex. 1:17, 20.)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said. . . . Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Dan. 3:16, 18.)

Therefore, king Darius signed the writing and the decree. . . . (that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God for thirty days . . . he shall be cast into the den of lions). . . . Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house and . . . kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed . . . as he did aforetime. (Dan. 6:9, 7, 10.)

And the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou has anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together. (Acts 4:26, 27.)

Beware of the Scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the market places, and the chief seats in the synagogues. . . . These shall receive greater damnation. (Mark 12:38, 39, 40.)

And Herod with his men of war set him at naught, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. . . . And Pilate gave sentence. . . . And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. . . . And the people stood by beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him. (Luke 23:11, 24, 33, 35.)

55.

WOMEN'S RIGHTS DENIED.

And thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. (Gen. 3:16.)

I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (1 Tim. 2:12.)

They are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (1 Cor. 14:34.)

Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord. (1 Pet. 3:6.)

WOMEN'S RIGHTS AFFIRMED.

And Deborah, a prophetess, . . . judged Israel at that time. . . . And Deborah said unto Barak, Up, for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thy hand. . . . And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak. (Judg. 4:4, 14, 15.)

The inhabitants of the villages ceased; they ceased in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel. (Judg. 5:7.)

And on my hand-maidens I will pour out in those days my spirit, and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:18.)

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. (Acts 21:9.)

56.

OBEDIENCE TO MASTERS ENJOINED.

Servants, obey in all things your masters after the flesh. . . . And whatsoever ye do, do it as heartily as to the Lerd. (Col. 3:22, 23.)

Be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also, to the froward. (1 Pet. 2:18.)

OBEDIENCE DUE TO GOD ONLY.

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matt. 4:10.)

Be not ye the servants of men. (1 Cor. 7:23.)

Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, even Christ. (Matt. 23:10.)

57.

THERE IS AN UNPARDONABLE SIN.

He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness. (Mark 3:29.)

THERE IS NO UNPARDONABLE SIN.

And by him all that believe are justified from all things. (Acts 13:39.)