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14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
14:3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
14:4 These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, 14:5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.
14:6 And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.
14:7 Nevertheless these ye shall 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.
14:8 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 carcase.
14:9 These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: 14:10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.
14:11 Of all clean birds ye shall eat.
14:12 But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 14:13 And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, 14:14 And every raven after his kind, 14:15 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 14:16 The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, 14:17 And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, 14:18 And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
14:19 And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.
14:20 But of all clean fowls ye may eat.
14:21 Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God.
Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 14:25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, 14:27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
14:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: 14:29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.


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King James Bible:Deuteronomy
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Deuteronomy
Book: Deuteronomy
Chapter: 14

Overview:
The Israelites to distinguish themselves from other nations.
(1-21) Respecting the application of tithes. (22-29)

1-21 Moses tells the people of Israel how God had given them
three distinguishing privileges, which were their honour, and
figures of those spiritual blessings in heavenly things, with
which God has in Christ blessed us. Here is election; "The Lord
hath Chosen thee." He did not choose them because they were By
their own Acts a Peculiar people to him above other nations, but
he chose them that they might be So By his Grace; and thus were
believers Chosen, Eph 1:4. Here is Adoption; "Ye are the
children of the Lord your God;" not because God needed children,
but because they were Orphans, and needed a Father. Every
spiritual Israelite is indeed a Child of God, a partaker of his
nature and favour. Here is Sanctification; "Thou art a holy
people." God's people are required to be holy, and if they are
holy, they are indebted to the Grace God which makes them So.
Those whom God chooses to be his children, he will form to be a
holy people, and zealous of good Works. They must be careful to
avoid every thing which might disgrace their profession, in the
sight of those who watch for their halting. Our heavenly Father
forbids nothing but for our welfare. Do thyself No harm; do not
ruin thy health, thy reputation, thy domestic comforts, thy
peace of mind. Especially do not Murder thy soul. Do not be the
vile Slave of thy appetites and passions. Do not render all
around thee miserable, and thyself wretched; but aim at that
which is most excellent and useful. The laws which regarded many
sorts of Flesh as unclean, were to keep them from mingling with
their idolatrous neighbours. It is Plain in the Gospel, that
these laws are now done away. But let us ask our own hearts, Are
we of the children of the Lord our God? Are we separate from the
ungodly world, in being set apart to God's Glory, the purchase
of Christ's Blood? Are we subjects of the work of the Holy
Ghost? Lord, teach us from these precepts how pure and holy all
thy people ought to live!

22-29 A second portion from the produce of their land was
required. The whole appointment evidently was against the
Covetousness, distrust, and selfishness of the human Heart. It
promoted friendliness, liberality, and cheerfulness, and raised
a fund for the relief of the Poor. They were taught that their
worldly portion was most comfortably enjoyed, when shared with
their brethren who were in want. If we thus serve God, and do
good with what we have, it is promised that the Lord our God
will Bless us in all the Works of our land. The blessing of God
is all to our outward prosperity; and without that blessing, the
work of our hands will bring nothing to pass. The blessing
descends upon the working Hand. Expect not that God should Bless
thee in thy idleness and Love of ease. And it descends upon the
giving Hand. He who thus scatters, certainly increases; and to
be free and generous in the support of religion, and any good
work, is the surest and safest way of thriving.

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