The Biblical Age of Accountability (Isaiah 7:15-16 and Deuteronomy 1:39)

Children are innocent until they reach the biblical age of accountability. Isaiah 7:15-16 twice states that until a certain age a baby will not know, "how to refuse the evil and choose the good." Similarly, Deuteronomy 1:39 says, "little ones...have no knowledge of good or evil." This post will allow you to read, watch, or listen if you want to learn about the age of accountability in the bible. Table of contentsAdam and Eve Knew It Was Wrong to Be Naked Because of Their ConsciencesJews Are Guilty Because of the LawGentiles Are Guilty Because of Their ConsciencesBabies "Have No Knowledge of Good or Evil" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of Accountability The Famous Sign to AhazThe Child Is Named Jesus or Immanuel?Babies Can't "Refuse Evil and Choose Good" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of AccountabilitySo, What Is the Biblical Age of Accountability?Two Other Thoughts About the Biblical Age of Accountability...Babies "Cannot Discern Between Their Right and Their Left" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of AccountabilityBabies Are IgnorantFoolishness Versus IgnoranceGod Is Merciful to the Ignorant (Such as Babies)Examples of God's Mercy to the IgnorantJesus's Mercy to the Ignorant Crucifying HimGod's Mercy to the Ignorant Jews Who Crucified JesusGod's Mercy to Paul Because of His IgnoranceGod's Mercy to Babies Who Haven't Reached the Biblical Age of AccountabilityGod Is Less Merciful to the KnowledgeableBabies Are Innocent, But We Are NotFootnotes https://youtu.be/xM4W5BO1VGM Until babies reach the biblical age of accountability they can't, "refuse evil and choose good" (Isaiah 7:15-16 and Deuteronomy 1:39). Before Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they could not choose between good and evil. The evidence of this: Genesis 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. They had so little knowledge of good and evil they didn’t know there was something wrong with being naked. They ate and then: Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. This marked the end of the Dispensation of Innocence, and the beginning of the Dispensation of Conscience. Adam and Eve Knew It Was Wrong to Be Naked Because of Their Consciences Romans 2:12-14 discusses two groups of people: the Gentiles and Jews. They both think they are innocent for different reasons: The Jews think they are innocent because they have the law. They thought having the law made them good. The Gentiles think they’re innocent because they didn’t receive the law. They think they are not accountable because they didn’t know better! Paul wants to convince both groups they are sinners, so they see their need for the Savior: Romans 2:12a For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, These are Gentiles and they’ll perish because they’re sinners. Paul elaborates on this in verses 14 and 15. Jews Are Guilty Because of the Law Romans 2:12b and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. These are Jews who have the law, and they’ll be judged because it’s not enough to have the Mosaic law. The Jews had to obey it. This might seem obvious to us, but it wasn’t obvious to them. Having the law actually made them MORE accountable before God because it gave them the knowledge of good and evil, but they still chose evil. When the Jews received the Mosaic law, it was like Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Then they had knowledge of good and evil. Gentiles Are Guilty Because of Their Consciences The Gentiles didn’t have the law telling them right from wrong, but they did have something else: Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. Gentiles do not have the Mosaic law, but they still obey parts of it. People who have never heard the Ten Commandments or read the Bible still recognize certain things, such as lying, stealing, and murder, are wrong. These people can choose between good and evil. They have this knowledge passed on to them from Adam and Eve. Notice it says "they are a law to themselves." Their conscience serves as a law for them. Romans 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while THEIR CONSCIENCE ALSO BEARS WITNESS, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them. These are the two things our consciences do: Accuse us when we choose evil. Excuse us when we choose good. When Gentiles disobey their conscience, which serves as a law telling them not to do things, they are as guilty as Jews breaking the Mosaic law. Babies don’t have either: the Mosaic law or a conscience to tell them right from wrong. Babies "Have No Knowledge of Good or Evil" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of Accountability  In Numbers 14 the nation of Israel rebelled when the 12 spies come back with a report that the enemies in the land were too great for them. God told the people they would not get to enter the land because of their unbelief, but he added something interesting: Numbers 14:31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. If these little ones were as guilty as their parents, why weren’t they judged? Why did they get to enter the land? We aren’t told in Numbers, but when Moses recounted Israel’s history to the nation in Deuteronomy, right before they entered the land, God revealed why the infants were able to enter: Deuteronomy 1:39 And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who TODAY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD OR EVIL, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. They were able to avoid the judgment their parents experienced, because they couldn't choose between good and evil. Notice the way it’s worded: it says TODAY they have no knowledge of good and evil. It won’t always be that way. At some point they’ll have that knowledge. The Famous Sign to Ahaz Ahaz is the king of Judah and he’s terrified of being attacked by two kings, Rezin and Pekah. God gives Ahaz a sign that within a few years both kings will be dead, so he has nothing to worry about. The sign that God gives Ahaz is one of the most famous in Scripture: Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Even though the word "you" is singular, it can be used plurally, like if someone said to a group of people, “I am talking to all of you,” which is the case here. In other words, the prophecy isn't just for Ahaz. We know how the prophecy is for others: There was a virgin, Mary, who gave birth to a Son, Jesus. But this verse says his name would be Immanuel, so how do we explain that? Listen to Isaiah 7:14 quoted in the New Testament… Matthew 1:21 [Mary] will bear a son, and you SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS.”…22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet [Isaiah]: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL” (which means, God with us).  The Child Is Named Jesus or Immanuel? These verses state his name would be Jesus and Immanuel. We know his name was Jesus, but how do we explain the Immanuel title? Immanuel means God with Us. Jesus didn’t fulfill this by being given this name. He fulfilled this by literally being God with Us. Isaiah said, the Lord Himself will give YOU a sign, referring to Ahaz. Ahaz lived about 700 years before Jesus was born, so how could Jesus’s birth be a sign to Ahaz, who was long dead when Jesus was born? Prophecy often has a future, complete fulfillment, and a near, partial fulfillment. The future, complete fulfillment is Jesus, the true and greater Son born of a Virgin. The near, partial fulfillment took place in Ahaz’s day. There would have been a young woman who was, at the time of this prophecy, a virgin. She would get married, cease being a virgin, have a child, and name that child, Immanuel. To be clear, there was nothing miraculous about this child's birth, other than God predicted it. David Guzik wrote, "Many commentators think this was fulfilled when a young woman in the royal household shortly married, conceived a son, and unknowingly named him Immanuel.” When Ahaz saw this child named Immanuel, he would think of Isiah’s words and be convinced God would deliver Judah. That’s how the child would serve as a sign. Babies Can't "Refuse Evil and Choose Good" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of Accountability Regarding the child: Isaiah 7:15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. The child can’t choose between good and evil UNTIL He can eat curds and honey, or solid food. What age would a child have to be to eat curds and honey? Whatever age that is, it seems infants can’t choose good and evil before that. The point is made even clearer in the next verse: Isaiah 7:16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. Before this child is old enough to "refuse evil and choose good," the 2 kings Ahaz feared, Pekah and Rezin, would be killed. Clearly, until a child is a certain age it is unable to do two things: refuse evil and choose good. When children can refuse evil and choose good they: Become like Adam and Eve when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Develop consciences. Are no longer innocent. Have reached the biblical age of accountability, So,