One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Friday, February 25th
Click Here to Listen to All 4 Readings
Click Here to Read Leviticus 16:29-18:30
1. As we close out chapter 16, we see the final details of the Day of Atonement, which is still celebrated today and called "Yom Kippur". We see the regulations for the Israelites to observe this day as a Sabbath and to abstain from work and sexual relations. It is also the only time the Law calls for a fast.
"For us there is no waiting for an annual day of atonement. We need not wait, with sin undealt with for an hour. Our Priest abides in the holiest, and we have access there through Him at all times.” (Morgan)
2. In chapter 17, God commands Moses regarding blood of the sacrificed animals and also warnings against eating the blood of animals that are killed in the field. Why is blood such an important part of these Levitical laws? Because the blood is the lifeforce of both humans and animals.
"God agreed that there was spiritual significance in the blood of an animal or person. The difference was that among pagans, they said: “The life is in the blood; I must eat or drink it and take that life for myself.” The godly Israelite said, “The life of the flesh is in the blood, and it therefore belongs to God and not to me.”
This emphasized a powerful idea: life belongs to God. God sets His face against that person who takes authority over life for themselves. Life depends on blood, is preserved by blood, and is nourished by blood. When enough blood leaves a body, life leaves a body." (Guzik)
God also tells them that no person shall make a sacrifice for themselves, they are ONLY to give the sacrifice to Aaron and his sons to offer in the tabernacle. Those who conduct their own sacrifices are to be exclued from the community.
"When one came to the tabernacle of meeting and God’s appointed priests, it was to offer the sacrifice to the LORD – Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. They were to stop their sacrifices to demons and bring their sacrifice to Yahweh only, at the tabernacle of Yahweh, performed by the priest of Yahweh." (Guzik)
Finally, chapter 18 deals with all the kinds of sexual practices that are prohibited by the Law. They include all kinds of situations basically which are outside the prescribed place for sexual intimacy which is between a man and his wife. Some of the sexual practices outlawed are more perverse than others, but they include: incest of many different forms, homosexuality and bestialitiy.
The Lord points out that these were the practices of those in Egypt where they came from, and the practices they were going to be encountering in Canaan. God has set them apart from these people groups and called them to be holy.
Though there were negative consequences for disobeying these laws, but there is also the postive prescription for obedience, "If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord."
Click Here to Read Mark 7:24-8:10
1. Jesus went north 50 miles, which was unusual because it was away from the lost sheep of Israel and the home of Gentiles. Though Jesus initially seemed reticent to answer the woman to heal her demon possessed daughter, she exhibited great and humble faith in Jesus.
"The woman responded with great faith. First, she accepted her low place before Jesus by not debating the reference to little dogs. Second, she asked Jesus to deal with her on her own low level (even the little dogs under the table eat). She therefore received from Jesus." (Guzik)
2. Next Jesus healed a deaf man with a speech impediment. This is another example, like the healing of the paralytic who was lowered down through the roof on a mat, where others brought a person to be healed by Jesus. This showed how strong the belief was among the people that Jesus could heal. Jesus used an unusual method to heal the man by putting his finger in his ears and spitting on his fingers and touching his tongue. It reminds us that it is not the method we use to heal, but the power of the Holy Spirit.
"Jesus used a curious manner in healing this man. Throughout His ministry, Jesus used many different ways of healing. He healed with a word, healed without a word, healed in response to one’s faith, healed in response to the faith of another, healed those who asked, and healed those He approached. Jesus didn’t want to be tied down to any “one method” to show that His power was not dependent on any method but on the sovereign power of God." (Guzik)
3. So many people had come to see what Jesus was doing, the need emerged to feed the people. Jesus again asked the disciples what they had that he could use to meet the need, similar to the previous story of feeding the 5,000.
"We can imagine Jesus hoping one of the disciples might say, “Jesus, You did this before. You can do the same kind of work again.” Jesus hoped they would regard His past faithfulness as a promise to meet their present need." (Guzik)
Some people think this is merely the same story repeated as the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. But this is a different location and some of the deails are different.
"Some scholars argue this specific miracle never happened. They claim that this was merely a retelling of the feeding of the 5,000. Their main argument is, “how could the disciples forget Jesus’ previous work so quickly?” Yet even mature Christians, having experienced God’s power and provision, sometimes go on to act in unbelief. This wasn’t so surprising after all." (Guzik)
If you are like me, sometime I need to learn the lesson several times, in several ways before I actually act in faith they way I should given Jesus' past faithfulness to me.
Click Here To Read Proverbs 10:15-16 10:13
"What Now" Study Questions:
God specifically instructed His people to set themselves apart from the religious practices of other nations. How are you tempted to allow your worship of God to take on cultural, worldly trappings?
Jesus was willing to physically touch those that He healed. How can you get your hands dirty extending the grace of Christ?
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