Strangers or Immigrates or Pilgrims in the Land
Old Covenant Law
Note: Immigrates were required to observe the Law.
For seven days no
leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is
leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of
Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. Exodus 12:19
"This shall be a
statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the
month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a
native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.”
Leviticus 16:29
“Say to them: ‘Any
Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who offers a burnt
offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance to the tent
of meeting to sacrifice it to the LORD must be cut off from the people
of Israel. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given
it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is
the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ Therefore, I said to the
children of Israel, 'No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any
stranger who dwells among you eat blood. Whatever man of the children
of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and
catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its
blood and cover it with dust; for it is the life of all flesh. Its
blood sustains its life.’ Therefore, I said to the children of Israel,
'You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is
its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’” Leviticus 17:8-14
“Then you shall speak
to the children of Israel, saying: 'Whoever curses his God shall bear
his sin. And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be
put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the
stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the
name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. Whoever kills any man shall
surely be put to death.’” Leviticus 24:15-17
Note: Immigrates had to conform to participate in society.
And the Lord said to
Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner
shall eat it. But every man's servant who is bought for money, when you
have circumcised him, then he may eat it. A sojourner and a hired
servant shall not eat it. In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not
carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of
its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a
stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord,
let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep
it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised
person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the
stranger who dwells among you." Exodus 12:43-49
"Remember the Sabbath
day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you
shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male
servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger
who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and
the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh
day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
Exodus 20:8-11
This is to be a
lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you
must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a
foreigner residing among you—because on this day atonement will be made
for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from
all your sins. It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny
yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. Leviticus 16:29-31
“If a man causes
disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to
him - fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has
caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. And whoever
kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put
to death. You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from
your own country; for I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 24:19-22
“And if a stranger
dwells among you, and would keep the Lord's Passover, he must do so
according to the rite of the Passover and according to its ceremony;
you shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger and the native of
the land.” Numbers 9:14
“And if a stranger
dwells with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations,
and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord,
just as you do, so shall he do. One ordinance shall be for you of the
assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you, an ordinance forever
throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be
before the Lord. One law and one custom shall be for you and for the
stranger who dwells with you.” Numbers 15:14-16
Note: Law abiding immigrates were not to be mistreated.
"You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Exodus 22:21
Also, you shall not
oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you
were strangers in the land of Egypt. Exodus 23:9
“Six days you shall
do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and
your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the
stranger may be refreshed.” Exodus 23:12
“When you reap the
harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your
field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you
shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your
vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the
Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:9-10
“And if a stranger
dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger
who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you
shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of
Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34
“When you reap the
harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your
field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your
harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am
the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23:22
Note: No one was to practice idolatry or sexual perversion.
“And you shall not
let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall
you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. You shall not lie with
a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with
any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand
before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion. Do not defile
yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are
defiled, which I am casting out before you. For the land is defiled;
therefore, I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land
vomits out its inhabitants. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My
judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any
of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you.” Leviticus
18:21-26
“Do not make
idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not
place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD
your God.” Leviticus 26:1
Asa did what was
right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done. He
expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all
the idols his ancestors had made. He even deposed his grandmother
Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a
repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned
it in the Kidron Valley. 1 Kings 15:11-13
All her idols will be
broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will
destroy all her images. Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of
prostitutes, as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.
Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and
naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl. For Samaria’s
plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah. It has reached the very
gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself. Micah 1:7-9
Note: Examples of how strangers or foreigners were treated.
I put on
righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. I was
eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I
took up the case of the stranger. I broke the fangs of the wicked and
snatched the victims from their teeth. Job 29:14-17
I have not allowed my
mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life—if those of my
household have never said, ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s
meat?’—but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my
door was always open to the traveler— Job 31:30-32
Then Boaz said to
Ruth, "You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean
in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.
Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have
I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are
thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have
drawn." So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to
him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice
of me, since I am a foreigner?" And Boaz answered and said to her, "It
has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your
mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left
your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come
to a people whom you did not know before. The Lord repay your work, and
a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings
you have come for refuge." Ruth 2:8-12
“Then the King will
say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father;
take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation
of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was
thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you
invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you
looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” Matthew
25:34-36
Note: Strangers or foreigners were welcomed who love God.
Praise the Lord, all
you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is
great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the
Lord! Psalm 117:1-2
"Also, the sons of
the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to
love the name of the Lord, to be His servants-- Everyone who keeps from
defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant--Even them I will
bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My
altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
Isaiah 56:6-7
And one of them, when
he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified
God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he
was a Samaritan. So, Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten
cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned
to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him,
"Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." Luke 17:15-19
The New Covenant
Note: Prophecies proclaimed foreigners will be saved through faith.
They shall not hurt
nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. And in that day
there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the
people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be
glorious. Isaiah 11:9-10
This is what God the
LORD says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who
spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath
to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the LORD, have
called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep
you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for
the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah
42:5-7
“Indeed He says, 'It
is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the
tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will
also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My
salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:6
Arise, shine; For
your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For
behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the
people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen
upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the
brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3
When Jesus heard
this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you,
I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you
that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their
places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven.” Matthew 8:10-11
Then Paul and
Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you
first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of
eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord
has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you
may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard
this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were
appointed for eternal life believed. Acts 13:46-48
Therefore receive one
another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I
say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the
truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the
Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this
reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your
name." And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" And
again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!"
And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who
shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope."
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans
15:7-13
And the Scripture,
foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the
gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be
blessed." So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing
Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the
curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in
all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." But
that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for
"the just shall live by faith." Yet the law is not of faith, but "the
man who does them shall live by them." Christ has redeemed us from the
curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written,
"Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham
might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:8-14
And they sang a new
song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its
seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us
kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:9-10
Note: No one is considered a foreigner who believes in Jesus Christ.
And there were
dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were
confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then
they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are
not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in
our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and
Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus
and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining
Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and
Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of
God." Acts 2:5-11
While Peter was still
speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the
word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as
many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been
poured out on the Gentiles also. Acts 10:44-45
But now the
righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by
the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith
in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no
difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously
committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that
He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but
by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by
faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews
only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles
also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith
and the uncircumcised through faith. Romans 3:21-30
And He came and
preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For
through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now,
therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having
been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being
joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also
are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:17-22
Do not lie to one
another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have
put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image
of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but
Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:9-11
For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God
and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave
Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was
appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ
and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 1 Timothy
2:3-7
And without
controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in
the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16
Note: Actions expected of believing pilgrims wherever they may live.
Let every soul be
subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except
from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God,
and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are
not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of
the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be
afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's
minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Therefore, you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for
conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are
God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render
therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to
whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one
anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has
fulfilled the law. Romans 13:1-8
So, whether you eat
or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not
cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God even
as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own
good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians
10:31-33
Now I pray to God
that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you
should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. For we
can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 2 Corinthians
13:7-8
For you, brethren,
have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity
for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is
fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as
yourself." Galatians 5:13-14
But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Therefore, putting
away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we
are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the
sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who
stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands
what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let
no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do
not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day
of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil
speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ
forgave you. Ephesians 4:25-32
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5
Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things
are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there
is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which
you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God
of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
Therefore, as the
elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and
forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even
as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things
put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God
rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be
thankful. Colossians 3:12-15
Walk in wisdom toward
those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be
with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to
answer each one. Colossians 4:5-6
But concerning
brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you
yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so
toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you,
brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead
a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own
hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who
are outside, and that you may lack nothing. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Now we exhort you,
brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold
the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to
anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
For even when we were
with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall
he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a
disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those
who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that
they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you,
brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 10-13
Therefore, I exhort
first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Remind them to be
subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good
work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all
humility to all men. Titus 3:1-2
Beloved, I beg you as
sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against
the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when
they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which
they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore, submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to
the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him
for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do
good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men--as free, yet not using liberty as
a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love
the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:11-17
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