Matthew 27

What does it say?

The chief priest and elders delivered Jesus to the Roman governor Pilate. Judas hanged himself when he saw that Jesus was condemned. Thief priest took the money that they had paid him to deliver Jesus and bought the potters field in fulfillment of prophecy. The Roman governor was amazed that Jesus did not answer any of the allegations that the chief priest and elders made against him. Pilot knew that they had delivered Jesus because of envy; therefore, he thought to ask the people if they wanted him to release Jesus or Barabbas. Pilot’s wife warned him that Jesus is a righteous man; meanwhile, the chief priest and elders persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas. The people requested that Jesus be crucified; therefore, after publicly washing his hands, Pilot had Jesus scourged and handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers made a mockery of Jesus as king of the Jews. They made Simon of Cyrene carry Jesus’ cross. At the place of the skull, they gave Jesus wine mixed with gall but he refused it. They crucified Jesus, divided up his clothing and put the charge over his head, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Passerby’s, the chief priest, scribes, elders and even the criminals who were executed alongside him insulted Jesus. The land was darkened for three hours until Jesus cried out with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. The women who followed Jesus from Galilee were witnesses to his death and burial. Joseph of Arimathea  took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock and he rolled a large stone against the entrance before departing. The chief priest and the Pharisees requested that Pilot make the tomb secure; therefore, a guard was stationed and a seal was set on the stone.

What does it mean?

Jesus was innocent of any wrong doing, yet all of Jerusalem came against him. Jesus’ suffering was mental as well as physical. He was scourged and he was mocked. Pilot did not believe that he was deserving death, yet swayed by the will of the people, he condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion. Jesus died a death that he did not deserve in place of a man who deserved death. Barabbas was a notorious prisoner who was allowed to go free but Jesus was humiliated, suffered and died. Jesus death on the cross was a sin sacrifice, the innocent in place of the guilty. Everything that happened was in fulfillment of prophecy.

What shall I do?

I am a sinner deserving the wrath of Almighty God for my crimes. I shall live in thanksgiving towards God for giving his only begotten Son, that I may have eternal life. I shall live in thanksgiving towards Jesus Christ. Before I was ever born he died for me. I shall tell people what Jesus did for his glory and their good.

Matthew 26

What does it say?

Jesus told his disciples that in two days time he would be handed over for crucifixion. The leaders of the Jews plotted to seize and kill Jesus, but they feared the people, so they did not think that it wise to seize him during the festival until Judas Iscariot came to them willing to betray him for money. Jesus had reprimanded the disciples for reprimanding a woman who poured a jar of fine perfume on his head. While reclining at the table during the Passover supper, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” (NASB)  Each disciples said, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” However, Judas did not call him Lord but used the title Rabbi. Jesus gave the disciples bread to eat and wine to drink as a physical metaphors representing his body and his blood spilled out as a sin sacrifice. Jesus told the disciples that they would all fall away this night but would be gathered again after his resurrection. Peter vowed that he would never fall away but Jesus told him that he would deny him three times. Jesus took Peter, James and John to keep watch while he prayed. While he was praying they fell asleep. Jesus went away and prayed a second time but the disciples fell asleep again.  Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and men with clubs and swords from the leaders of the Jews seized him. One of the disciples attempted to fight back but Jesus reprimanded him. Jesus questioned the crowds motive for coming by night when the could have been seized while he sat in the temple daily. They lead Jesus to Caiaphas, the high priest, and Peter followed at a distance. The council attempted to find false testimony against Jesus but were unsuccessful; therefore, they adjured Jesus to tell them if he believed himself to be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus took it a step further saying that he is the Son of Man spoken of by Daniel 7:13-14. They accused Jesus of blasphemy and beat him with their fists. Peter being in the courtyard denied Jesus. Peter realized what he had done when a rooster crowed; therefore, Peter went away and cried with much grief.

What does it mean?

The leaders of the Jews wanted to kill Jesus by any means possible. They did not fear God but feared the people. They loved the position of honor and authority that they had. They could not find any wrong doing, so they got Jesus to condemn himself. Jesus went further than what they expected. Saying, “I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” (NASB) Jesus being a man was making himself out to be God. (cf. Jn. 10:33) Jesus knew that this would anger them. On behalf of his disciples, Jesus had to die as a sin sacrifice; therefore, he allowed this to happen.

What shall I do?

I shall worship Jesus as Lord and trust in him as my Savior. Jesus is not simply a good teacher. In this chapter, Judas called Jesus Rabbi (teacher) twice; when all the disciples were saying, “Surely not I,” and again when he betrayed Jesus with a kiss. The world has no problem with Jesus being a teacher but the world has a big problem with Jesus being Lord. 

Matthew 25

What does it say?

The Lord gave his disciples three parables to bring understanding about the end times. The first is a parable about ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. The five foolish virgins took no oil and the five prudent took oil in flasks. When the bridegroom came, the five foolish were in the market place buying oil. The prudent went into the feast but the foolish were shut out. The second is the parable of the talents given to three slaves. Each was given talents according to his own ability. The first two doubled the landowners talents but the third hid his talent because he feared loosing it. The landowner said, “Well done” to the first two slaves but he cursed the third slave who hid his talent. He also gave his talent to the one who had five talents. The third is the Judgment. The Son of Man is going to come in his glory, with the angels and sit on his glorious throne to judge all of the people of the earth. He will divide them into two groups as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. The sheep on his right he calls blessed because they were hospitable to those who were in need and he called the goats on his left cursed because they were inhospitable to those who were in need. The ones on the left (goats) were cast into the eternal fire (eternal punishment) prepared for the devil and his angels but the ones on his right went into the kingdom (eternal life) prepared for them from the foundation of the world. 

What does it mean?

There are two types of people in the world, the blessed and the cursed. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits.” (Mt. 7:16a) All three of these parables show the fruits of the blessed and the cursed. The blessed are waiting patiently for the Lord to return and know that it could be at any moment, however, it could be a long wait; therefore, they are prepared to wait as long as they need to because they love him. The cursed are not prepared to wait for a long time because they do not really love him. The blessed uses the talents that the Lord entrusts him with for the betterment of the kingdom but the cursed is more concerned about himself than he is the Lord’s kingdom. The blessed are hospitable towards those who are in need and the cursed are inhospitable. It comes down to this, do you love Jesus Christ and do you love your neighbor? If the answer is no, repent and believe before it is to late. 

What shall I do?

The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB)

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

I shall examine myself, is Jesus Christ in me? Am I prepared to wait for the Lord for as long as it shall take? Am I using the talents that the Lord entrusted me with for the betterment of his kingdom. Am I hospitable towards people who are in need? Do I love the Lord Jesus Christ with all that I have and do I love my neighbor as myself?

Matthew 24

What does it say?

The disciples, admiring the temple buildings, pointed them out to Jesus; however, he told them that not one stone will be left upon another. While sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples asked  Jesus three questions: When will the temple be destroyed? What will be the sign of your coming? What will be the sign of the end of the age? The first thing that Jesus tells them is to not be mislead by others. Then he tells them that they will be delivered to tribulation, killed and hated by all nations for his name sake. Then he speaks directly to the destruction of the temple saying, when you see the abomination fo desolation (Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) standing in the holy place then flee; however, the tribulation of the last days will go on for a long time and many false Christ and false prophets will arise to deceive many but the sign of Christ’s return will be obvious. All of the tribes of the earth will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and glory and all the elect will be gathered from the earth. Tribulation will continue until the Son of Man returns. Only the Father knows the day and the hour of the Son’s return. People will be living everyday life when the Son returns.

What does it mean?

The temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., but tribulation did not end there, tribulation has continued to this very day. Followers of Christ are killed and hated for Jesus name. False Christ and false prophets still arise to deceive many. Jesus is not going to return through the womb of a young virgin and be born in a stable. He will come on the clouds of the sky with power and glory. His return will be obvious to everyone on the earth. The people of the earth will morn because they will know that judgement day has arrived. When men say that they know the day and hour of Christ’s return do not believe them, because no man knows the day or hour, not even the Son of God knows, only the Father knows the day. Do not live as though everything will continue as it has but live as though Christ is returning at any moment. 

What shall I do?

I shall live this day as though Christ is returning at any moment. I shall not listen if someone says that he has come because his return will be obvious to everyone on the earth. I shall not listen to false prophets who predict the day of Christ’s return. I shall not be surprised by persecution. I shall observe all that Christ commanded; therefore, be found so doing by my Lord at his return.  

Matthew 23

What does it say?

Jesus spoke to the crowds and the disciples about the scribes and the Pharisees. He said that they have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. He said, therefore, do as they say but do not do as they do. They like to seek honor before men and to be called  Rabbi. However, Jesus said to not be called teacher because one is your teacher and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on the earth father because one is your Father and he is in heaven. Do not be called leaders because one is your leader and he is the Christ. Jesus gave eight woes to the scribes and Pharisees and he called them hypocrites because they lay burdens on people that they are not willing to do themselves. Jesus said that he wanted to gather all of Jerusalem together like children and protect them, but they were unwilling; therefore, they will not see him again until they say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Ps 118:26) 

What does it mean?

Many of the words of Jesus get explained away. I think that this is done out of human desire to be honored. Many in the church today are called teacher, father and leader. They are honored but Jesus did not want it to be this way. Do we need teachers? Do we need pastors? Do we need elders? The answer is yes, but they should not think of themselves as better than anyone else in the church, nor should the congregation elevate these persons. Teachers, pastors and leaders need to be very careful with what they burden the church. We are all brothers and sisters with the same Spirit. We are all children of God, adopted by the same Father. We are all subjects of King Jesus. No one in the church should seek honor for themselves and no one in the church should be honored above anyone else in the church. All should think of everyone as equal. No one should think themselves better than the other. Nor should anyone burden another with something that they are not truly willing to do themselves. Nor should anyone think themselves less than anyone else in the church. We are all brothers and sisters. We all have the same Spirit, the same heavenly Father and the same King, Jesus Christ our Lord.

What shall I do?

I shall not elevate teachers, pastors and elders above anyone else in the congregation. I shall not seek to be honored above anyone else in the congregation. I shall not burden my brothers and sisters with anything that I am not willing to do myself. I shall think of everyone in the congregation as equal to everyone else in the congregation. In a Bible study, what one has to say is as worth listening to as much as the other. It is the Spirit who interprets Scripture. It is the Father who loves us, he gave his Son that we should not perish but have everlasting life. It is the Son (Jesus Christ) who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. I shall keep this in mind always. 

Matthew 22

What does it say?

Jesus told a parable about a kings wedding feast. The first group that was invited to the wedding feast refused to come. In fact, they abused the servants that came to them; therefore, the king sent his army to destroy their city. Then the king sent out his servants to gather people from everywhere. On the day of the feast, there was a man not dressed in wedding clothes; therefore, the king had him thrown out into the outer darkness, were there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus concluded by saying, “For many are called, but few are chosen.  The Pharisees sent their disciples and the Herodians to Jesus, to try and trick him, so that they might accuse him of insurrection, but Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and render to God the things that are God’s.” The Sadducees thought that they could stump Jesus about the resurrection using human logic but Jesus answered with Scripture alone; therefore, confounding their understanding. A lawyer asked Jesus which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus answered that the greatest commandment is to love God with your entire being and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. He said that the entire law depends on these two commandments. Lastly, Jesus questioned the Pharisees about there understanding about the Christ. They answered the son of David, but Jesus showed them from Psalm 110:1 that the Christ is David’s Lord. 

What  does it mean?

Jesus is the wisdom of God in human flesh. The chapter begins with a parable about a wedding feast but is actually the third parable that Jesus gave after the chief priests and the pharisees challenged his authority to be teaching in the temple. All three of these parables paint them as false teachers. The wedding feast is the end of time. The invitation is the gospel proclamation and the wedding clothes are the righteousness of Jesus Christ. All of the questioning of Jesus that follows these parables is the chief priests and Pharisees attempts to out wit Jesus, but you cannot out wit the wisdom of God. The final question given to Jesus is the best of all because his answer sums up all of Scripture. Covenantal theologians call the ten commandments the moral law, and say that it is the law written on our hearts from the dawn of creation. However, Jesus shows us in this passage that the ten commandments are dependent on the law of love: the love of God and the love of neighbor. This is the law written on the heart. This chapter concludes with Jesus correcting the Pharisees understanding of the Christ. The Christ is greater than David.

What shall I do?

I shall not question the wisdom of God. Human wisdom is carinate; therefore, it does not work when thinking about the things of God. I shall trust in the wisdom of God and not the wisdom of man. I shall repent of my sins and put my faith in Jesus Christ. Trusting his righteousness to save me on the day of judgement. I shall love God (Father and Son and Holy Spirit) with everything that I have and love my neighbor as myself.

Matthew 21

What does it say?

Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on the back of a donkey and her colt. This was in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9.  The people called Jesus the Son of David and shouted the words of Psalm 118:26. Jesus cleared the temple of those who were using it to make prophet from the people. Jesus was healing and the children continued to shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” Jesus received the praise of the children as it is written about him in Psalm 8:2. When Jesus returned the next day, he saw a barron fig tree and cursed it. This amazed the disciples and Jesus told them that if they believe in prayer they will do likewise. The chief priest and the elders questioned Jesus’ authority. Jesus told them that he would answer by whose authority he was acting, if they answered, by whose authority did John baptize? They answered, we do not know because they feared the people. Jesus followed up with two parables: The first was about two sons. The first of the two sons refused to work in his fathers vineyard but later repented and worked in the field. The second said that he would work but did not. Jesus asked, who did the will of his father? They answered the first son. Then Jesus revealed that the people whom they considered sinners were doing the Father’s will, but they, the leaders were not. The second parable was about those whom a landowner rented a vineyard. They killed all whom the landowner sent to receive produce, including the landowner’s son. The Chief priest and the leaders of the people, realizing that Jesus spoke these parables about them. They wanted to seize him but they feared the people who considered him a prophet.

What does it mean?

Jesus believed himself to be the heir to the throne of David but greater than David because he believed that he was the Son of God. Jesus triumphal entry, riding on the back of a donkey and clearing the temple of wayfarers, demonstrated his belief as the king of Israel. However, more is revealed about Jesus belief about himself in this chapter. Jesus believed himself to be the Son of God; therefore, the heir to all of creation, the Lord of heaven and earth. This is demonstrated when the chief priests and the leaders of the people questioned Jesus’ authority. Both of these parables were spoken against these men, but the parable of the landowner reveals Jesus’ belief that he is the Son of God; therefore, the heir to the vineyard. Jesus believed that he was fully God and fully man in one person. This chapter reveals what Jesus believed about the people, about the leaders and about himself. 

What shall I do?

Jesus believed that he is both the Son of David and the Son of God. The works that Jesus did in the body demonstrate that he believed. Jesus was crucified, died and was buried in a garden tomb. Jesus rose bodily from the dead on the third day. Therefore, I shall believe about Jesus, what Jesus believed about himself. I shall repent and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 

Leviticus 14

What does it say?

If a person becomes healed of his skin affliction, then the priest is to come to him outside of the camp to see if he has been healed of his skin affliction. If the priest sees that he is healed, then the priest slaughters a bird, in a jar, over running water. Then he dips a live bird, a branch of cedar wood and a scarlett string in the water. He then sprinkles the person with the water seven times and declares him clean. This same ritual is done to cleanse a house. The man must stay outside of his tent for seven days. Then on the eight day, he is to shave all of the hair off his body, bath and change his clothes. The priest who declared him clean is to present him before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. The man is to bring a guilt offering; a male lamb and a log of oil. A sin offering, another male lamb or a pigeon if he is poor. A burnt offering, which includes a yearling female lamb or pigeon if he is poor, with an ephah of grain. The guilt offering is a wave offering. Some of the blood and oil are put on the right ear lobe, right thumb and right big toe of the person being atoned. The priest then makes atonement with the sin offering and burnt offering. Besides inspecting persons and clothing for infection he is also given the duty of inspecting houses for leprosy. 

What does it mean?

The sons of Israel did not have the means to clear up an infection. They were fully dependent on the Lord. The cleansing rituals for man and house were an acknowledgement that the person was cleansed by the Lord and not by man. A guilt offering, a sin offering and a burnt offering is made at this time, because the person had been excluded from the congregation; therefore, he was in need of atonement. There is none who does good; (Ps 14:3) therefore, the person must be atoned before being reestablished in the congregation. The congregation is holy to the Lord. 

What shall I do?

I am a Registered Nurse who works at the bedside of the sick and injured in a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. My job and the job of the doctors that I work with are much like that of the priests, except for making atonement. The doctor inspects and makes a diagnosis. However, it is my job to take care of the afflicted person. I give supporting measures until body systems return to normal function. There is nothing that we do, even today, that heals anyone. The surgeon altars the bodily function. He might reroute blood supply around a blocked artery. I manage ventilation until the patient can breath on their own. I manage intravenous medication to stimulate heart function until normal function returns. However, no healing happens unless the Lord grants it. I shall give all honor, all glory and all praise to the Lord our God. Jesus Christ is Lord!

Leviticus 13

What does it say?

One of the jobs given to the priest, was to inspect persons and articles for leprosy. If a person had an open area on the skin, he or she was to go to the priest for inspection. If the suspect area was obviously leprosy, the person was to be considered unclean by all the congregation. If leprosy was not obvious to the priest, the person was quarantined for seven days, then reinspected by the priest. If the infected area grew during the week of quarantine, he or she was to be considered unclean but if the area did not grow he or she was to remain in quarantine for another seven days and reinspected by the priest, who would then declare him or her clean. Persons who had an infected area on the skin lived outside the camp. They were to look disheveled and cry, “Unclean! Unclean!” The priest also inspected articles of clothing that had some suspect area on them. If these had infection, they were destroyed but care was made to determine if it was an infection before destroying them.

What does it mean?

Leprosy, refers to several skin diseases but also to a condition affecting garments and houses. (ESV Global SB Notes) Living in a camp meant close proximity to other persons. Disease unchecked could rapidly spread. Instead of multiple persons inspecting these wounds, the priest became the resident expert on wounds. It should be understood that a person was not excluded from the congregation easily. Great care was given to make sure that the suspect area on the skin was a spreading infection before declaring a person unclean. It should also be noted that all human life has value. The person was excluded from the camp but was not destroyed like an infected garment. The person cried, “Unclean! Unclean!” out of love for his or her neighbor.

What shall I do?

I shall treat all persons as valuable because all persons were created in the image of God. There may be reason to quarantine a person to protect the larger community from illness, but I shall remember that quarantined persons have value and should be treated with dignity. If I should harbor a disease that could be passed to others, I shall submit quarantine, for the love of my neighbor.

Leviticus 12

What does it say?

When a woman gives birth to a male child she was ceremonially unclean for 7 days but for an additional thirty three days she was to be considered as in mensuration. On the eighth day, the flesh of the male child’s foreskin was to be circumcised. For a female child, all of the waiting periods were doubled. At the completion of her separation, forty days for a male child and eighty days for a female child, she was to bring to the doorway of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a turtle dove or pigeon for a sin offering, but if she was poor, she could bring two turtle doves or two pigeons instead of a lamb, so that the priest could make atonement for her.

What does it mean?

In our society there is a lot of emotion involved when males and females are considered and treated differently. Genesis 1:27-28 (NASB)

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

From the beginning, God considered the male and female of equal value but different in function. A female child is not less because the waiting period for the mothers purification is double that for a male child. This is reading modern societal thinking about males and females into the text. If anything, God is giving double honor to the female. The waiting purification period for a female child is double that of a male child because the male child will never give birth or menstruate but the female child will. We should not forget, that it was through the seed of the woman that sin would be defeated. (Gn. 3:15)

What Shall I do?

I shall be careful not to apply modern societal thinking to the biblical text. I must look at the entire canon of Scripture when interpreting text that may seem strange to me living in this modern world. Child birth is holy; therefore, the woman was separated for forty days and because a female child would be able to have children, she was separated for two forty day periods.  I shall consider males and females of equal value but different in function. 

Leviticus 11

What does it say?

The Lord gave Moses and Aaron commandments about which animals the sons of Israel could eat and could not eat. Of the animals on the earth, they could eat animals that had a divided hoof and chewed the cud. If an animal did not have both of these characteristics it was to be considered unclean to the sons of Israel. Of the animals in the water, the sons of Israel could eat any fish that had fins and scales. If a water creature did not have both of these characteristics it was to be considered unclean to the sons of Israel. Of the the birds in the air, they could not eat flesh eating birds. Of the winged insects that walked on all fours, they could eat those who have jointed legs for jumping but all other four legged insects were to be considered unclean to the sons of Israel. Not only could they not eat the unclean creatures but touching the dead carcass of on of these creatures made a son of Israel unclean for the remainder of that day. Not only the person, but if a dead creature is found in a pot, then that pot was to be considered unclean. Even of the clean animals, if it dies without being slain was to be considered unclean. All swarming things on the earth, the small creatures on the earth were to be considered unclean. 

What does it mean?

The Lord wanted to distinguish the sons of Israel from the other people in the land of Canaan. The reason that the Lord gives for making these statutes is holiness. He told the sons of Israel to consecrate themselves and be holy because the Lord is holy.  (Lev. 11:44) According to Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary, the word “holy” is an adjective that signifies “pure” and “devoted.” It is what we understand as Christians to be sanctified, which means to be set apart. In other words different or peculiar from the other people in the world. This may cause people to ask questions. Why do you live this way? The apostle Peter wrote: “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Pe. 3:15, NASB)

What shall I do?

I shall live differently than other people in the world. I shall observe all that Jesus commanded; thereby, sanctifying Christ as Lord in my heart, always ready to give an account for the hope that is in me. When someone asks, “Why do you live that way?” I shall be ready to tell them about Jesus.

Leviticus 10

What does it say?

Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron offered strange fire before the Lord; therefore, fire came out from the presence of the Lord and they died because of there irreverence. Aaron and his other sons (Eleazar and Ithamar) remained in the tent of meeting and did not become ceremonially unclean but their relatives came forward and carried the bodies outside the camp. The Lord commanded Aaron and his sons to never drink wine or strong drink when they come into the tent of meeting. Then the Lord commanded Aaron and his sons to eat the priest’s portion of the grain offering beside the altar but the breast of the wave offering and thigh of the sin offering they are to eat in a clean place. However, Aaron could not eat the sin offering because of the sadness in his heart, for he believe that he could not eat the offering when his heart was not right before the Lord. 

What does it mean?

The third of the Ten Commandments of the Sinai covenant says:

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. ~ Deuteronomy 5:11 (NASB)

What does it really mean to take the name of the Lord in vain. To treat as vain is to treat as if worthless. Nadab and Abihu treated the commands of the Lord as if they were not good enough; therefore, they decided to add to the worship of the Lord with their own fire. Aaron and his other two sons demonstrated reverence for the Lord by not defying his commandments. An additional commandment given in this text is for the priest to not drink wine or strong drink when they come into the tent of meeting. This was so that they could accurately teach the Lord’s statutes to the people and have the cognitive ability to distinguish between the clean and profane. Aaron showed honor to the Lord when he did not eat the offering with a pure heart. 

What shall I do?

I am not the Lord. Jesus Christ is Lord. He has given his statutes to his disciples and they have written them down for us in the books of the New Testament. We are to observe all that Jesus commanded. Therefore, I shall learn and observe all that Jesus Christ commanded and not add to or take away from what he commanded. For example: Jesus said to not resist an evil person and he gave situational examples. (Mt. 5:38-42) However, many explain this statute away. There are many other examples in the church today. However, the word of the Lord is holy; therefore, I shall learn to observe all that Jesus Christ commanded and teach others. 

Leviticus 9

What does it say?

Aaron and his sons were in the tabernacle for seven days, but on the eight day, Aaron came out and spoke to the people. Aaron told them to prepare for the glory of the Lord. Aaron made a sin offering of a calf and a burnt offering for his own purification. Then he made a sin offering, burnt offering and peace offering on behalf of the people, to purify them for the glory of the Lord. He did this work according to the word of the Lord, just as the Lord commanded Moses. When Aaron completed making the offerings, he raised his hands and blessed the people. He and Moses went into the tent of meeting. When Aaron came out again, he blessed the the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. A fire came out from the Lord that consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar. This caused the people shout and fall to their faces.

What does it mean?

Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and he was buried, and he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and he appeared to the disciples. (1 Cor. 15:3-5) Jesus appeared to them on the first day of the week in a closed room but Thomas was not with them; therefore, he did not believe, and he said that he would not believe unless he saw the Lord with his own eyes and touch his wounds. After eight days, the Lord appeared but this time Thomas was there. When he saw the Lord, Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn. 20:19-29) Aaron and his sons were sanctified by the Lord for the work of intercession. The apostles were sanctified by the Lord for the work of the Great Commission. The people of God are forgiven through the purification of a sin sacrifice. The sons of Israel saw the glory of the Lord and shouted and fell on their faces. Thomas saw the Lord and declared, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said, “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (Jn. 20:28-29)

What Shall I do?

I shall believe that all of my sins are forgiven. I have been purified by the righteous blood of Jesus Christ. I shall believe that he rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples. I shall be raised on the last day and see the glory of the Lord just as he promised the disciples. I shall observe the law of Christ while working at the bedside of the sick and injured. I shall believe in the glory of the Lord which has come in the person of the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Leviticus 8

What does it say?

The Lord told Moses to gather the congregation for the consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons. Moses washed Aaron and his sons with water, and he clothed them in the priestly garments. Moses took the anointing oil and he consecrated the tabernacle, all of the articles, the altar and utensils. Then Moses offered up a bull as a sin offering on behalf of Aaron and his sons as the Lord commanded. Then Moses offered up a ram as a burnt offering on behalf of Aaron and his sons as the Lord commanded. Moses presented a second ram of ordination, a wave offering, as the Lord commanded. Moses took the anointing oil and some of the blood off the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his sons. Aaron and his sons ate the bread and meat of the ordination offering; however, what they did not eat was taken and burned outside the camp. Aaron and his sons stayed in the tent of meeting for seven days where they were consecrated by the Lord. 

What does it mean?

To become an intercessor before the Lord on behalf of the people of God is a big deal. No man should decide for himself to become an intercessor before the Lord. The only way that a man can become an intercessor is if he is appointed and consecrated by the Lord. Jesus was not descended from Aaron of the tribe of Levi but from David of the tribe of Judah. However, Jesus was appointed by the Father God as our Priest forever:

“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER

ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” ~Hebrews 7:17, NASB

Jesus is better than Aaron because he lives forever at the righthand of God  to make intercession for us. (Heb. 7:25) The line of Levitical priests is no more. Jesus Christ is our High Priest and he dwells in the true tabernacle which is in heaven with God and he is God. Our intercessor is a man and he is our God. 

What shall I do?

I shall confess my sins to God and trust that he is faithful and righteous to forgive my sins because he died in my place and rose again. He is seated at the righthand of the Father God Almighty making intercession for me.  I shall not think that I should become a priest and intercede for another. I shall, however, point them to Jesus Christ. 

Leviticus 7

What does it say?

The guilt offering and the sin offering  are to be treated the same by the priest and should  be treated as holy.  Peace offerings are to be eaten on the day that they were sacrificed but freewill offerings may be eaten that day and the next day but not on the third day; whatever is left on the third day shall be burned with fire outside the camp. These things are not to be eaten by persons who are not ceremonially clean and whatever touches an unclean thing shall not be eaten but is to be burned. The sons of Israel were not to eat any fat or the blood of any animal. The peace offering is slayed by the sons of Israel. The fat and the breast and the right thigh are given to the priest. The priest offers up the fat in smoke on the altar. The breast is waved before the Lord and eaten by the priest, also the right thigh belongs to the priest. 

What does it mean?

In the old covenant there was a separation between the priest and the common man. The priest could do things that the common man could not do. The common man could not eat the flesh of an animal that was offered as a burnt offering, guilt offering or sin offering but the priests could eat the flesh. However, no son of Israel, not even a priest could eat the fat or the blood of any animal. The fat and the blood belong to the Lord. The life of the animal was in the blood. 

What shall I do?

I shall consider that there has been a change in covenant. In John 6:54, Jesus said:

He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (NASB)

In the old covenant, the guilt and sin offering were considered most holy; therefore, only the priest who were sanctified to the Lord could eat of the flesh but they could not consume the blood. God became flesh in the person of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. He offered up his own body and his own life for us all. To be raised up on the last day, we must eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, which was offered up to God as a sin sacrifice for us, considered as most holy. The bread and the wine eaten in memory of Jesus Christ represents his flesh and his blood. We eat his flesh and drink his blood when we believe that he is God in human flesh and believe that his death on the cross was a sin sacrifice for us. Therefore, I shall have repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, that he will raise me up on the last day.

Leviticus 6

Guilt and Restitution

This text indicates that deception about securities, robbery, extortion, and lying about lost things are actually acts of unfaithfulness against the Lord. Whatever a person does wrong to his or her neighbor is it to the Lord. Jesus said that whatever we do or not do for the least of his brethren, we did it to him. (Mt. 25:40, 45) 

In this Levitical law, the guilty person is to restore whatever they took from another person. On the day that he brings the guilt offering before the Lord, he is to restore whatever he took from the other person and add one-fifth to the value. Then he is to bring a ram as a guilt offering before the Lord. Jesus Christ is our guilt offering. Therefore, we repent of our sins and trust in his sin sacrifice but we still need to make restitution to those whom we have hurt.

The Work of the Priest’s

The fire on the altar was to be kept burning day and night. The burnt offerings were laid on the altar in the morning and kept there throughout the night. Every morning, the priest was to put on his linen robe with under garments next to his flesh. Then he took up the ashes reduced by the fire on the altar and placed them beside the altar until he changed his garments. Then he carried the ashes to a clean place outside the camp. 

We should remember that when the grain offering was given, the priest took a handful and offered it up to the Lord in smoke on the altar but the remainder belonged to the priest. Now the priest portion is to be eaten as unleavened cakes in the court of the tent of meeting. Only the sons of Aaron may eat it. However, when the priest makes a grain offering, it was to be entirely burnt, none of it was be eaten. 

The burnt offerings and the sin offerings were to be slain in the same place. The priest who offers the sin offering was the priest who ate it, in the court of the tent of meeting. Anyone who touches the offerings, whether grain or animal offering, once they have been offered up in smoke to the Lord was consecrated. Sacrifices brought into the tent of meeting, to make atonement, were not to be eaten but entirely burned on the altar. The priest’s sin sacrifice was one of those brought into the tent of meeting; therefore, the sacrifices for the priest was entirely burnt. The priests were to wash whatever the blood sacrifice splashed on. If the meat is boiled in pottery, the pot was to be smashed, but if it was boiled in a kettle, it was to be scoured and rinsed in water. 

The New Covenant

Sacrifices should be understood as food. This is the reason that Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper: (1 Cor. 11:24-25) 

He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (NASB) 

Just as we understand that whoever touched and ate the grain offering or sin offering was consecrated to the Lord. We should understand that the Lord’s supper is holy and whoever takes part in it is consecrated to the Lord; therefore, it should only be eaten in reverence to the Lord. This also shows a change in covenant because in the first covenant only the priests could eat, but in the new covenant all believers shall eat.

Leviticus 5

The Law of Guilt Offerings

There are four situations given in this text by which a person is considered guilty:

1. Not testifying what he knows when a public request has been made for a witness.
2. Touching an unclean thing.
3. Touching some sort of human uncleanness. 
4. Saying that he is going to do something that he really will not do.

The son of Israel who committed one of these offenses was to confess his sin and bring a guilt offering to the Lord; a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. But if he cannot afford a female from the flock, he was to bring two turtle doves or two pigeons, one was for a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. The priest makes atonement for his sin in accordance with the law. But if he cannot offered the birds then he is to bring a bushel of fine flower without oil or incense on it. The priest is to take a handful and offer it up in smoke on the altar but the remainder is for the priest.

There is a fifth situation, which is considered worse offense than the four. The offense is unintentionally acting unfaithfully against the Lord’s holy things. The guilt offering in this case is a ram (male) of the flock. There is no less costly replacement given for this offense. Also, the holy thing is to be valued and the person is to make restitution for the holy thing and add a fifth part to the cost and give it to the priest. 

These five offenses are given in this text but if a person does any of the things that the Lord has forbidden, though he was unaware at the time, he his guilty. Being unaware is not an excuse. When he realizes his offense, he is to bring a ram (male) of the flock without defect to the Lord as a guilt offering. The priest was to make atonement for him and he will be forgiven. 

Regardless of what he brings, it should be noted that sinning (transgression of the law) is not without cost. The first and the fourth offense in this text we would all understand as moral obligations because the first is withholding the truth and the second is speaking a lie. God is truth; (Isa.65:16) therefore, he expects the people called by his name to be truthful. But what about this touching of unclean things or some sort of human uncleanness? The people of God are to be holy. Holy in this context means to be dedicated or consecrated to God. When coming into physical contact with what the Lord has designated unclean, a person is guilty of breaking that commandment. We are not to question the word of the Lord but to observe all that he commands. 

Being that I am a Registered Nurse who has to touch human uncleanness regularly. I am thankful for the new covenant which is in Christ Jesus. Under the law of Christ, I am not only not guilty but I am encouraged to care for these persons who in the old covenant would have been considered unclean. Text like this show us that there was a change in covenantal law from the same God because in both covenants, withholding information and saying that you are going to do something that you have no intention to do is wrong.

Matthew 20

Laborers in the Kingdom

The Lord God is willing to pay anyone who will come to work for him. It does not matter when a person is called, all will receive the same reward. However, there is a progression of things. Those who were called first will receive their reward last and those who were called last will receive their reward first. The way of things is flipped in the kingdom of God. There are three things to consider: First, none deserve the reward that the land owner gives. Second, all will receive an equal reward. Third, the land owner is very generous. Why should anyone be bothered if someone else gets the same reward? No one deserves the reward that they receive. The reward is eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth with God and his Christ. 

Death and Resurrection

Jesus did not keep his passion a secret from his disciples. They either did not want to believe or did not understand what he was saying. To go forward knowing that the one whom you love will be arrested and crucified would be difficult to swallow. I believe that the disciples did not want to believe and did not understand at the same time. When Jesus first foretold his disciples about his death and resurrection, Peter rebuked Jesus, saying, “God forbid it, Lord!” (Mt.16:21-23) They were so unwilling to believe that Jesus would be crucified that they did not really hear that he would be raised on the third day.

Service Not Authority Honored

James and John wanted to be most honored among the disciples; therefore, they came to the Lord with their mother, who asked Jesus on her sons behalf, that they be given places, one on either side of the Lord when he comes into his kingdom. However, the kingdom of God is not like the kingdom of man. In the kingdom of God, no man is greater than any other man. All men are equal in the kingdom of God. Service towards others is considered higher in the kingdom of God than having authority over others. The person most honored in the kingdom of man is last in the kingdom of God and the person considered most lowly (a slave) is considered first in the kingdom of God.

Sight for the Blind

Two blind men wanted sight and Jesus had compassion for them; therefore, he touched their eyes and gave them sight. We are all born blind to the things of God. In John 9:39, Jesus said, (NASB) “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” We need to see things in a different way than we see in the kingdom of man. We need a new set of eyes to see things God’s way. When we look at someone in authority or someone who is a servant, how do we see them? Do we see them with man’s eyes or with godly eyes. If you want sight, the Lord our God is compassionate and he will give you sight.

Leviticus 4

The Law of Sin Offerings

If a priest sins unintentionally but comes to realize his sin. He is to bring a bull without defect before the Lord. He shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and slaughter it just like in the law of burnt offerings and peace offerings. However, this time, the priest takes some of the blood into the tent of meeting and sprinkles the blood with his finger seven times in front of the veil. Beyond the veil is the mercy seat and the ark which contains the convent testimony. The priest is also to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar. All of the fat, the kidneys and the liver are removed just like in the peace offering. They are offered up to the Lord in smoke on the altar. In the peace offering the meat was eaten by the congregation but with sin offerings the meat and hide are taken outside the camp where the ashes are poured out from the altar and it is burned there. Once atonement is made he will be forgiven.

If the whole congregation sins unintentionally but comes to realize their error, then the elders of the congregation are to be their representatives in bringing a bull before the tent of meeting. The elders are to lay their hands on the bull when it is slaughtered. The priest is to do the same things with the blood and fat and hide that he did for the individual who sinned. Once atonement has been made for the congregation, they will be forgiven. 

When a leader sins unintentionally but comes to realize his error, then he is to bring a male goat without defect before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on the male goats head and slay it before the Lord. The priest is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar and pore the remainder out at the base of the altar. All of the fat is offered up in smoke to the Lord on the altar. After the atonement he will be forgiven.

If a common person sins unintentionally but comes to realize his error, he is to bring a female goat or a female lamb without defect before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on the female goats head while it is slayed. The priest dips his finger into the blood and puts some on the horns of the altar but pores the remainder out at the base of the altar. The fat of the sacrifice is removed and offered up in smoke on the altar. After the atonement he will be forgiven. 

It seems that there is a progression in offense based on position. Priest, congregation, leader and common person. For the priest and the congregation, the blood of the offering is taken into the tent of meeting but for the leader and the common person it is not. So, it appears that the offense was greater for a priest than a common person. However, if it is the whole congregation, then it was considered equally offensive. Nonetheless, all sin must be atoned. God cannot turn a blind eye to sin. Sin always results in death but the Lord excepts a sacrifice in place of the person who sinned. In atonement, sin guilt was transferred to the animal. The animal was then treated as if it had sinned. Therefore, guilt is removed from the person. The person is then treated as if he never sinned. This is the way that Christians should understand the atonement of Jesus Christ.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB)

Leviticus 3

The Law of Peace Offerings

The peace offering could be a male or female. The offering must come from the heard of cattle, the flock of sheep or be a goat. No matter the animal. The man making the sacrifice was to bring the animal to the doorway of the tent of meeting. He then laid his hand on the animals head and slay it at the doorway. The priest sprinkled the blood around on the altar. The two kidneys, the liver, the intra-abdominal fat and all the fat is offered up to the Lord on the altar as smoke. The blood and fat of the sacrifice belongs to the Lord but the man may eat of the meat. 

This is a peace offering, an offering that may happen in fellowship, when the sons of Israel come together as a congregation. The meat for the meal must be sacrificed in this way. The blood and the fat are the Lord’s but the meat is given to man. I believe that this goes back to Noah. God gave Noah and his sons the living animals as food. Prior to this, God had only given man green plants for food. (Gn.9:3) The sons of Israel were restricted from every animal, but of the animals that they could eat, they were to understand that death is a result of sin. Man had to eat meat because man was no longer in the garden. Something had to die in the garden to cloth the man and his wife’s nakedness. (Gn.3:21) Sacrificing an animal in this way, for a fellowship meal, would cause one to recall the Scriptures and fear the Lord.

Matthew 19

Concerning Divorce

When Jesus completed his teaching about forgiveness he departed the northern region of Galilee and come into the southern region of Judea. Just like in Galilee, large crowds followed him and he healed them but some Pharisees tested Jesus regarding the legality of divorce because this was a debated topic between rabbinic schools. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 was the debated text: 

The school of *Shammai, predominant in Jesus’ day, argued that the passage allowed divorce only if one’s spouse was unfaithful; the school of Hillel, which eventually won out, said that a man could divorce his wife if she burned the toast (a later rabbi of this school added, “Or if you find someone more attractive”!). (IVP BBC NT) 

So, they asked Jesus if there was any reason for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus did not use the debated text but went back to Genesis 1:27. The male and female are one flesh in the eyes of God. Therefore, they questioned Jesus directly about Deuteronomy 24:1-4, saying: “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” (Mt.19:7) The answer that Jesus gave was not what they expected. They didn’t expect that the conversation would put them in the wrong. Jesus said, “Because of  your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.” (Mt.19:9) It is not God’s will for a man to divorce his wife and send her away. It is God’s will for a husband and wife to be one flesh.  Jesus did, however, give immorality as the only reason for divorce.

Then the disciples began talking to Jesus about divorce. It is better to never marry than to divorce. However, man was not meant to live alone. 

Jesus Blessed the Children

The disciples rebuked the people who brought to Jesus their children because they thought it beneath him. However, Jesus said to not hinder anyone, especially children from coming to him. Therefore, he laid his hands on the children because the kingdom of God belongs to them. 

The Way of the Master

This man came to Jesus wanting to know what good thing that he could do to to obtain eternal life. However, Jesus corrected his understanding about good, saying: “Only God is good!” Then Jesus used the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:1-21) to bring the knowledge of sin, thereby shutting the young man’s mouth from declaring his own goodness. (Rom.3:20) Jesus began with the commandments about our relationship with other men. When the man declared that he had kept these, Jesus went to the higher commandment which the man had not kept. The first Commandment:

I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before Me. (Deut.5:6-7) 

The man had put his wealth and comfort before God; therefore, he went away grieving. Now the story ends her, so we do not know if this led to the young man’s repentance or was if it hardened his heart against the kingdom of heaven. There is no way of knowing, but in this text Jesus shows us the way to show a self-righteous person that they need God’s forgiveness. 

The Disciples Reward

Earthly riches will not save on the day of judgment. However, to leave everything and follow Jesus Christ, trusting him as Lord and Savior, will mean eternal life in the regeneration. Do not trust in your own goodness or allow the things of this world to hold you back from following Jesus Christ. Whatever is holding you back from following Jesus Christ must be left. 

Leviticus 2

The Law of Grain Offerings

Grain offerings consisted of fine flour, oil and frankincense. Frankincense was a white resin used ceremonially and personally. It was one of the ingredients for compounding the holy incense. (Olive Tree Enhanced Strong's Dictionary) The priest took a handful of the mixture and offered it up in smoke as a memorial portion on the altar to the Lord but the remainder was kept by the priests and was considered holy. 

The grain offering could be brought to the priests already cooked into cakes. It may have been baked, cooked on a griddle (over an open fire), or in a pan. The ingredients were the same but varied (depending on how it was cooked) of when the oil was added. Even when cooked, a memorial portion was given to the Lord, in smoke on the altar, but the remainder was for the priests and considered holy because it was given as a grain offering to the Lord. 

The grain offering was not to be leavened, but was to be prepared with fine flour, oil and frankincense; however, it was seasoned with salt. The salt represented the covenant of the Lord. In this case leaven represents false teaching and salt represents the truth of the Lord. Grain offerings were first fruit offerings. The very first of the grain harvest was to be given to the Lord as an offering. It takes nearly a week to naturally leaven a batch of dough; however, the grain offering was to be given or cooked immediately before it had time to leaven. 

If the grain offering was cooked it must be ground into a fine flour but it was expectable to bring grits (whole grain) of early ripened things. However, oil and frankincense was still put on the grain after roasting the grain heads. The priest offered up a handful to the Lord in smoke on the altar. 

For a people who lived off of the annual harvest, this was a thanksgiving offering to the Lord. It was a way of saying thank you for providing for my needs. It was an acknowledgement that the creator God is Lord of the grain harvest. His people are not to be leavened with the teaching of the world but are to be salted with the Word of the Lord. 

Leviticus 1

The Law of Burnt Offerings

The first levitical law involves burnt offerings. The sons of Israel were to bring a male from the heard of cattle to the doorway of the tent of meeting. It should be said that he was not to go into the tent of meeting. Only the priests could go into the tent of meeting. The son of Israel, who was offering the animal, was to place his hand on the head of the animal, thereby transferring his sin to the animal. He was then to slay the young bull before the Lord. The priests sprinkled the blood around the altar, which is at the doorway of the tent of meeting. The animal was skinned and the parts placed on the altar, having been washed, as a burnt offering before the Lord. It was called a soothing aroma to the Lord. Burning flesh is not a soothing aroma, this was not barbecue. Therefore, I do not think that this means a pleasing smell. However, I do think that this means that the aroma of a burnt offering soothed (propitiated) the righteous wrath of God against the sinner.

In addition to a bull, the sons of Israel could offer up a male sheep, a male goat and even a bird. The sheep and goats offered had to be a male without defect. The bird had to be a turtledove or young pigeon.

I do not think the details for each animal sacrifice is important for us but the fact that something had to die to propitiate the sins of man, before the Lord, is very import indeed. The details of each sacrifice, and the manner in which each animal was offered, indicates obedience to the word of the Lord. Laying ones hands on the head of an animal because you had sinned against the Lord, then sacrificing its life on your behalf would have been a humbling experience. 

All of this points to the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins, and the sins of the world. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2Cor.5:21, NASB95) “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1Jo.2:2, NASB95)

Exodus 40

The Lord commanded Moses to set up the tabernacle and all of the furnishings on the first day of the first month. He was also commanded to anoint all of the articles used in ritual worship of the Lord with the perfume oil. They were all to be considered holy once they were anointed with the oil. Aaron and his sons were to be washed with water at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Then they were to be dressed in the priestly garments and anointed with the perfume oil. The Lord declared that this anointing qualified this family as a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations. So, as long as Israel was a nation, a Son of Aaron was to be a priest to the Lord. The articles, the priestly garments, and Aaron with his sons were not innately holy. Nor does anointing with perfume oil make something or someone holy. They are holy once anointed with the perfume oil because the Lord is King in Israel, and it was the Lord’s decree. 

On the first day, of the first month, of the second year after exodus from Egypt, Moses did all of this in accordance with the word of the Lord. Thus, the Hebrew calendar marked time from the Exodus. Moses also placed the testimony into the ark, and attached the poles to the ark, and placed the mercy seat on top of the ark. This was not the first testimony with the commands that God spoke to the people from Mount Sinai but it is the second testimony that God gave  to Moses on Mount Sinai. (cf. Ex.34:10-28) The first testimony was shattered by Moses at the foot of the Mountain when the people sinned against the Lord. (Ex.32:19) It should be noted that Moses had the right to set up all of these things and anoint these things with the perfume oil because the Lord commanded him. It should not matter to us whether something seems logical when the Lord has commanded it. We are to trust the Word of the Lord even if it does not seem logical to us. 

After completing all that the Lord commanded Moses regarding the tabernacle, the articles, and the priests, the cloud of the Lord covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout their journeys in the wilderness, the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was seen in it by night. The sons of Israel knew that when the cloud lifted it was time to move. It should be noted that no man was king over the sons of Israel. Moses was not their king, he was a servant of the Lord. It was the Lord who was king of the sons of Israel in the wilderness. 

Matthew 18

What does it say?

The disciples asked Jesus “who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus answered them with the example of a child and said that they shall be like children in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus then begins to talk about causing others to stumble and says “woe to him who causes others to stumble.” Whatever causes you to stumble should be removed from your life. The weakest in the congregation should not be despised but cared for the most. God’s will is that all whom he has given to the Son will not perish. Then Jesus begins teaching about relationships in the church. There is a time to severe a relationship because of sin, but not before doing everything possible to get the other person to repent. Meet with the person one on one, then take one or two more, then tell it to the entire church that all may plead with the person, but if the person will not listen to the church, then severe the relationship. What the church decides on earth with loving care, will also be bond in heaven. Peter wanted to know how many times he had to forgive someone and Jesus gave him an answer that did not allow for any un-forgiveness. Then he told a parable about a man who owed a debt to his master that was impossible to ever be repaid in a life time. The master had compassion for the slave and forgave his debt, but the one forgiven did not show the same compassion and forgiveness towards a fellow slave who owed him a debt; therefore, the master became angry and handed him over to be tortured until he should repay his debt. Jesus said that his Father will do the same if you do not forgive your brothers from the heart. 

What does it mean?

There are three timeless-universal-principles taught in this text:

1. No one in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than anyone else. God is our Father; therefore, we are all equally his children and Jesus Christ is Lord; therefore, we are all equally his subjects. The pastor who teaches the word should not be held higher than the stay at home mother who cares for her baby. All are equal in the kingdom of heaven. This is not so in the kingdom of man but in the kingdom of heaven all are equal.
2. The one who struggles the most with sin should be cared for the most. We should take great care not to become a stumbling block for the person who struggles with a particular sin. However, sin most be dealt with and the person who is sinning most be confronted. There is a time to severe a relationship within the church but not before great effort is taken to get the person to repent. 
3. There is no un-forgiveness of others in the church. God has forgiven us a debt that we cannot pay. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom.6:23) For our sin against God, we deserve death. Not just the death of our bodies, but the death of our soul, the lake of fire, the second death. Jesus paid our penalty on the cross; therefore, we should forgive all who sin against us without exception.

What shall I do?

I shall not think that I am better than anyone. All are equal in the kingdom of heaven. I shall not become a stumbling block for others. I shall not be put off because I may not have the freedom to do what I want to do because of caring for someone else in the congregation. I shall take great care when one of my brothers is living in sin. It is not the will of God that any of his children should perish. I shall forgive all who sin against me because God has forgiven me of a debt that I cannot pay.

Exodus 39

What does it say?

Of the blue and purple and scarlet material they made finally woven priestly garments for ministering in the holy place. They made these with skillful craftsmanship as the Lord had commanded Moses. Memorial stones with the names of the sons of Israel were engraved and set on the shoulder pieces. They made a breast piece, a pocket on a chain of gold and blue and purple and scarlet material with four rows of three stones engraved with the names of the sons of Israel. They made a robe of blue material and put pomegranates and bells alternating the placement around the hem of the robe just as the Lord commanded Moses. They made the caps and the undergarments just as the Lord had commanded Moses. When the craftsmen completed the work they brought the tabernacle, the articles for worship service and the priestly garments to Moses; after examining the work Moses blessed them.

What does it mean?

The Lord God does whatever he wants to do however he wants to do it. If you observe his commandments and work according to his will you shall be blessed. This is not to say that we receive salvation through works. The Lord adopted the sons of Israel as his special position of all the people on the earth before they did any work at all but the Lord commanded them to build the tabernacle, the articles used in worship service and the priestly garments. He also raised up the craftsmen to do the work. Nonetheless, those who did the work just as the Lord commanded received a blessing.

What shall I do?

The Lord has given the church a job. He said to make disciples of all the nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded. (Mt.28:18-20) I shall do the work that the Lord has command the church, for the sake of his kingdom, knowing that the Lord is a good Master who in the end blesses his servants. (Mt.25:14-30)

Exodus 38

What does it say?

Two more items for the tabernacle and a court for the tabernacle were made by Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. (Ex.35:30-33) The two items were a bronze altar for burnt offerings and a bronze laver for the priest’s ritual washing. Both of these items were beautifully constructed and designed to be transported. He also made a court for the for the bronze altar and laver of fine twisted linen which included a gate. The entire court was constructed with fine twisted linen hung on pillars and sockets. Gold, silver and bronze was given for the sanctuary and the cost was based on the men twenty years old and upward who numbered 603,550 men. 

What does it mean?

The tabernacle was completed. It was Aaron and his sons whom the Lord elected to work in the tabernacle. It was the tribe of Levi whom the Lord elected to carry and set up the tabernacle. But the tabernacle was built by and was built for the people in order that God might dwell amongst them. The people could not see God but he dwelt amongst them in the tabernacle. We should be reminded that God tabernacled amongst is in the person of Jesus Christ. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:14) skenoo (σκηνόω, 4637), “to pitch a tent” (skene), “to tabernacle,” translated dwelt in John 1:14. (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) 

What shall I do?

God walked with Adam in the garden but because Adam sinned Adam was expelled out of the garden away from the presence of the Lord. However, the Lord is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; he keeps lovingkindness for thousands; he forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet, he will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. (Ex.34:6-7) There is a separation between God and man because of sin. The tabernacle made it so that a holy God could dwell amongst men. However, God humbled himself even further by becoming a man, subject to death, even death on a cross. (Phi.2:8) Now God dwells in believers, in the person of the Holy Spirit. We are chosen and precious in the sight of God, a spiritual house. (1Pe.2:4-5) I shall realize that the same God who tabernacled in the desert, is the same God who tabernacled amongst the apostles in the person of Jesus Christ, is the same God who dwells in us in the person of the Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 17

What does it say?

Moses and Elijah appeared talking with Jesus transfigured before Peter, James and John on a high mountain by themselves. Peter wanted to make three tabernacles but God said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him!” The three men were terrified until Jesus touched them and said, “Do not be afraid.” When they looked up they saw Jesus alone. Jesus told the three disciples to not tell anyone this vision until he had risen from the dead. They questioned Jesus about Old Testament prophecy concerning Elijah and in so many words, Jesus told them that John was the last of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus rebuked a demon who was afflicting a young boy but he called those in the vicinity of the boy an unbelieving and perverted generation. The disciples asked Jesus why they could not drive out the demon and he told them because of the littleness of their faith. Jesus told the disciples that he was going to be arrested and killed but he would raised on the third day; however, they were grieved to hear this news. Jesus did not offend concerning the law of Moses, he commanded that Peter catch a fish and pay the temple tax with a coin from the fish’s mouth. 

What does it mean?

Moses represents the Old Testament law, the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. Elijah represents all of the other books in the Old Testament. We should not follow the law and the prophets but follow the Son of God. We are to observe all that Jesus commanded his disciples. We are to observe the law of Christ. The law of Christ is the law of love: the example of Christ, the teaching Christ, and the teaching of the apostles. Therefore, we should interpret the Old Testament in light of Christ, or shall I say, in light of the New Testament. We are to have faith in Jesus Christ, he is the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through him. (Jn. 14:7) Through faith in Jesus Christ great things can be done for the Kingdom of God; however, they may not seem great in the kingdom of man. It did not seem great that their leader would be handed over to men and killed. It slipped their mind that he said that he would be raised on the third day. We are to have faith in the Son of God alone!

What shall I do?

I shall believe in Jesus and listen to him. I am not a mystic but I believe that the Lord speaks to us through the Spirit of truth. We have the New Testament writings of the apostles. The apostles have given us the law of Christ. Everything that we know about Christ came to us from the apostles and the Holy Spirit tells us that what they said is truth. Therefore, I shall observe the law of Christ and put my faith in Jesus Christ alone, he is the Son of God. I shall observe all that is taught in the New Testament and interpret the Old Testament in light of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 37

What does it say?

First, Bezalel constructed the ark and the mercy seat, with the cherubim facing the mercy seat, and their wings spread out covering the mercy seat, exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses . Second, he made the table of acacia wood and the utensils that were placed on the table, exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. Third, he made the lampstand of pure gold, with seven lamps, snuffers and trays, exactly as the Lord commanded Moses. Lastly, he made the table of incense of acacia wood overlaid with gold and he made the holy perfume, exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. The Lord had commanded Moses to make these things, and the Lord put his Spirit in Bezalel to make them. Bezalel made them exactly as the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai. 

What does it mean?

The Hebrew name (Bezalel) means, "in the shadow (i.e. protection) of God" (Olive Tree Enhanced Strong's Dictionary) It is in the shadow of God that Bezalel made these articles used in the ritual worship of the Lord. Bezalel was not one of the sons of Aaron, he was the son of Uri, the son of Hur, nor was he of the tribe of Levi, he was of the tribe of Judah; yet, it was Bezalel whom the Lord filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all craftsmanship to build these articles for worship. (Ex 31:1-5) Only a priest could enter the holy place were these articles were kept and only the High Priest could enter the holy of holies were the arc and the mercy seat were kept; yet the son of Uri, the son of Hur made them. Only a Levite could carry these things articles, yet a man from the tribe of Judah made them. The Lord can raise up whomever he wants to raise up for his glory and purpose.

What shall I do?

I shall except what the Lord has given me to do because he has filled me with his Spirit in wisdom, understanding and knowledge to do it. The Lord has given it to me to work as a Registered Nurse and write. This is for the God’s glory and purpose in Jesus Christ; therefore, I shall do these in the shadow of the Almighty. 

Exodus 36

What does it say?

With Bezalel and Oholiab set apart by the Lord as their leaders, every man whom the Lord had given skill was to perform all the work in constructing the sanctuary. Moses gave to those who were performing the work, the freewill offerings brought by the people for the construction of the sanctuary. The workers told Moses that the people had given more than enough; therefore, Moses commanded that the people give no more. The inner wall of the tabernacle was made with fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material. They also made curtains of goats’ hair for the outer wall. The boards that made the frame for the tabernacle were made of acacia wood. The frame consisted of upright boards and cross bars fitted together with silver sockets. The veil for the holy of holies was made of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, with pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold and golden hooks to hold up the veil. I screen for the doorway to the holy place was of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen set on five pillars with hooks of gold but with sockets of bronze.

What does it mean?

The Lord choses people according to his own purpose. Bezalel was from the tribe of Judah and Oholiab was from the tribe of Dan and the men whom the Lord had given skill to preform the work came from the sons of Israel without a mention of their tribes. The Lord had designated the tribe of Levi for the work done in the sanctuary, and from that tribe, Aaron and his sons as priests to the Lord. Only Levites could carry the sanctuary, and only Levites could set it up, and only a priest could enter the meeting place, and only Aaron the High Priest could enter the holy of holies; yet, the entire sanctuary was constructed by persons who were not of Levi. In fact, there is not a mention of a person from that tribe involved in the construction; therefore, the tabernacle once constructed was considered holy because the Lord made it holy with his presence but the tabernacle was constructed by the people of God.

What shall I do?

I shall realize that the Lord has work for me to do but it may not be the visible work that he has given someone else. One of the things that the Lord has given me to do is write about his word and post it as an article on the internet . Like the unnamed who did the work of constructing the tabernacle, in time, no one will no me, but I hope that whatever work that I do in this life, brings glory to God in the Lord Jesus Christ and benefits my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Matthew 16

What does it say?

Jesus had done many miraculous signs; healing all who were brought to him of their illnesses and casting out demons, yet the Pharisees and Sadducees asked to see a sign from heaven but the only sign that Jesus would give them is the sign of Jonah. Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees but called their teaching leaven, so the disciples thought he was speaking of bread; therefore, he had to explain the meaning to them. Jesus asked who do people say that he is and they answered a prophet. Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter spoke the truth: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus called Peter blessed and said that it was God who revealed this to him and not man. Jesus said that on this confession, he will build his church, and he said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” However, Jesus warned the disciples not to tell anyone at this time. From this time Jesus began to teach the disciples that he would suffer and be killed and raised from the dead on the third day but Peter rebuked him and Jesus called Peter Satan, and a stumbling block, because Peter was thinking in the flesh. Jesus told his disciples that to come after him, you must deny yourself, and be willing to die, rather than deny his name; trusting that Jesus will return in the glory of God and sit down on his throne to judge the people on the earth. Jesus said that some of those standing there will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. 

What does it mean?

There are a lot of people who believe varying things about Jesus. Some say that he was a good teacher or a charismatic leader, but none of these will do. There are only three possibilities: Jesus was either a liar, insane or God in human flesh. The question that Jesus poses to the disciples is the greatest question of all: “Who do you say that I am?” The answer that Peter gave is the answer on which the church of Jesus Christ is built. Christology is the study of Christ. Who was/is Jesus Christ. Was he only a man? Was he a Spirit because even Jesus said that God is Spirit? (Jn 4:24) The answer on which the church is built is two fold: 

1. That Jesus is the Christ which means he is of the lineage of king David; therefore, he has the right to sit down on David’s throne. This is the tile the the Roman’s would have a problem with. 
2. That Jesus is the Son of God. This is the title that the Jews had a problem with because by claiming this title for himself, the Jews understood that he was claiming to be God, yet he was obviously a man. (Jn 10:33)

What did Jesus mean by keys of the kingdom? I do not know but I can safely say that it has nothing to do with Popes. Peter who was called blessed by Jesus for his confession but is later called Satan, and a stumbling block for rebuking Jesus. We need to be very careful to accept the word of God and not make it mean what we want it to mean. Jesus is God’s Christ, and we must follow him, and not make him into what we want him to be. If it leads to death, we must be willing to follow the Christ of the Bible, and not the Christ of man. Government and false religion have always been the persecutors of Jesus followers. Some of the disciples who heard these things would depart from Jesus. However, the ones who remained would see Jesus coming into his kingdom. Jesus has already been inaugurated King but he has not yet returned in the glory of God to sit down on his throne.

What shall I do?

I shall confess before God and before man that Jesus is the Christ, a King and the Son of God, God in human flesh. I shall follow the word of Jesus Christ and not the word of man. I shall not merge human reason into my belief but trust the word of God alone. I shall follow Jesus no matter what it might cost me in the here and now because I know that Jesus will return in the glory of God to judge those who persecute his church. He promises to wipe away every tear from our eyes, and he promises that when that time comes, there will be no more death, crying or pain. (Rev 21:4) I shall follow Jesus Christ as Lord and trust him as Savior, for he is the God-Man who has all authority in heaven and on earth. I shall trust in the name of Jesus Christ to save me from death and hell.