Stone Him to Death!
We must prioritize God and actively work against our sins, even if they are those closest to our hearts.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the seriousness of idolatry and the dangers posed by close relationships that may lead one away from God. He draws from Deuteronomy 13:6-10, urging believers to reject any temptation from loved ones to worship other gods, highlighting that even the closest bonds should not compromise one's devotion to God. Brooks likens these temptations to 'bosom sins' that must be confronted and eradicated with urgency and determination. The sermon calls for a vigorous response against anything that threatens to draw the heart away from God, advocating for a fierce commitment to faithfulness.
Text
"If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or
the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices
you, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods (gods that
neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the
peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end
of the land to the other), do not yield to him or listen to
him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him.
You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be
the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of
all the people. Stone him to death, because he tried to
turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you
out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." Deut. 13:6-10
This Scripture tells us, that if father, or mother, or brother,
or sister, or kinsman, or friend, should go about to draw a
man from God, his hand should be first upon him to put him
to death. Now, bosom sins, darling sins--they seek to draw
a man's heart from God, and therefore a gracious soul can't
but rise up against them, and do his best to stone them,
and to be the death of them!
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Idolatry
- The Nature of Bosom Sins
- The Call to Spiritual Warfare
- Stoning Our Sins to Death
- Seeking to Be the Death of Our Sins
Key Quotes
“Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” — Thomas Brooks
“Bosom sins, darling sins--they seek to draw a man's heart from God, and therefore a gracious soul can't but rise up against them, and do his best to stone them, and to be the death of them!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must be willing to put to death our own sinful desires and prioritize our relationship with God.
- We should actively seek to root out the sins that are closest to our hearts, rather than tolerating them.
- Our relationship with God should take precedence over our relationships with our loved ones.