Contradiction with Matthew 5:44
This verse teaches to love and pray for enemies, contrasting the act of washing hands to signify innocence over a slain body.
Matthew 5:44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Contradiction with 1 John 1:9
This verse emphasizes confessing sins for forgiveness, while Deuteronomy 21:6 speaks of a symbolic act for innocence.
1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Contradiction with James 4:8
This verse calls for cleansing hearts and hands through repentance, differing from a ceremonial cleansing act for innocence.
James 4:8: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.
Contradiction with Proverbs 28:13
It encourages confessing and forsaking sins for mercy, unlike the washing of hands to declare innocence in Deuteronomy 21:6.
Proverbs 28:13: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.
Contradiction with Ezekiel 18:20
This verse states individual responsibility for sin, contrasting the shared communal act for innocence in Deuteronomy 21:6.
Ezekiel 18:20: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Paradox #1
This verse involves a ritual performed by the elders of a city. Some people find it inconsistent with the overall message of justice and personal accountability found elsewhere in the Bible, as it involves a symbolic act to absolve the community of guilt without directly addressing the perpetrator of a crime. This can be seen as conflicting with other biblical teachings that emphasize individual responsibility for one's actions.
Paradox #2
The verse involves a ritual where elders wash their hands to claim innocence. From a scientific perspective, this act does not actually affect responsibility or blame. It's a symbolic action, so the contradiction lies in thinking that a physical action can determine moral or ethical responsibility.
Paradox #3
The contradiction in this verse could arise from the idea of collective responsibility, where elders wash their hands to declare innocence over an unsolved crime. It may conflict with modern values that emphasize individual accountability rather than collective or symbolic actions to absolve guilt.