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FEBRUARY 28
Leviticus 22:17-23:44
There are many recurring phrases
in the reading today, some of which actually show the structure of the
chapters. Keep your highlighter and pencil handy.
Leviticus 22:17-33
Vs. 17-25 We talked a little
about this yesterday, that the people had to offer the best animals for their
sacrifices. We'll see the abuse of this in Malachi at the end of the year. If
the people looked at everything they had as God's provision for them, it would
make this easier; yet I'm sure there were situations that arose that made
giving one of these animals in sacrifice, a real sacrifice.
V. 21 I never noticed this
before, but animals offered for sacrifice couldn't be branded or cut with some
identifying mark of ownership. This means that people had to be thinking in
advance, at the birth of an animal, whether it would be used for sacrifice or
not. This would be another one of those customs that would become a part of
daily life and planning.
V. 23 For a freewill offering that had nothing to do with sin or guilt or
repaying a vow, only thanks and celebration to God, the animal could be a
little off.
Vs. 26-28 This must have been a
way for the Lord to give them a cultural object lesson in propriety, respect
and decency. This sounds very much like not boiling a goat or lamb in its
mother's milk.
Vs. 29-30 I think the reason for
this was that the celebration was supposed to be fully before the Lord with no
thought of taking something home. If everything was supposed to be eaten that
day, it was an incentive to invite the poor, the maimed, the blind and the
lame.
Vs. 31-33 This is the summary
that gives the statement of purpose for the passage. The people were to
sanctify God, that is, be separate to Him, and make Him special; because God
had done that for Israel by saving them and bringing them out of Egypt. It was
all based on the love of God and their love for Him.
Leviticus 23
Vs. 1-2 These feasts are more
than religious events. They are feasts and celebrations of God's salvation and
grace to them. Instead of non-religious holidays like New Year's, Valentine's
Day, St. Patrick's, May Day, and Halloween, all of the holidays of Israel
pointed to God's mercy and their salvation. Two of these feasts would be generational
reminders of the flight from Egypt and their salvation. Two of the feasts would
remind them of the land and provision being given to them. All of this was a
fulfillment of the promise to Abraham, as Israel fulfilled its mission to
become a light and blessing to the nations. And remember, they were feasts, fun
times, to enjoy and celebrate God's blessing to them. This is pretty cool to
have this built into their culture.
V. 3 It’s funny that the Sabbath
was mentioned first, because this was weekly; but the interesting thing is that
it is mentioned under "feasts." The Sabbath was not a fast; it was a
weekly rest of thanksgiving, remembering God's care. It should have been a
weekly celebration.
Vs. 4-8 There are two things
here. First came the one day Passover celebration. On the following day the
week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread began. In the NT when it says that Jesus
went up to the "feast" or the "feast of the Passover," this
is what is being referred to. Notice that regardless of when the Sabbath
occurred during that week, both the first and last day of the feast were to be
regarded as Sabbath days; that is, on those two days they could only celebrate.
This yearly feast was to be
attended by all the men in Israel to remind them of God's salvation and the
flight from Egypt. It was a celebration of their salvation.
Vs. 9-14 During the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, on the day after the Sabbath that occurred in that week, or
at the end of that week, came this very special anticipation of the blessings of
God. This was at the time of the barley harvest, so barley was the sheaf that
was being waved. What you have then is three major events being clustered
together: Passover-Unleavened Bread-Firstfruits. It almost seems like a
reminder of the salvation in Egypt-salvation through the wilderness-the
blessing of the land.
Notice that v. 14 has one of
those recurring phrases.
Vs. 15-21 So, once that sheaf
was waved, you began counting and looking forward to the next feast. You had
all the males in Jerusalem for the Passover-Feast of Unleavened Bread-
Firstfruits of the barley harvest. This was linked to the salvation from
slavery, flight from Egypt and the anticipation of the coming blessing in the
land.
So, the men would all go home.
After the wheat harvest, 50 days after the Feast of the Firstfruits, they would
appear again for the Feast of Weeks, named for the seven weeks after the
firstfruits. This is Pentecost, when we celebrate the birth of the church and
the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Notice that this feast was
designed to signify fullness or completion of blessing. This was the only feast
where leavened bread was offered. This signified that the flight was over and
that the fullness of the promise was complete. You realize that when the Lord
instituted this day, linked to and following the Passover, He already had the
birth of the church and the giving of the Spirit in mind.
V. 22 Since God has been talking
about feasts and harvests, He reminds the people to leave parts of their fields
un-harvested, so as to provide for the poor.
Now come the fall feasts. Just
like the three feasts in March, these three feasts in October are all clustered
together.
Vs. 23-25 The Feast of Trumpets
was a Sabbath beginning the three feasts. All of the males in Israel were required
to be at the Day of Atonement, so they probably showed up here. This feast is
the symbolic calling of the people to come to receive forgiveness. It's a
Sabbath, but it is a feast.
Vs. 26-32 Nine days later is the
Day of Atonement. This day was not a feast; it was a Sabbath and the only
Sabbath in their year when they had to fast.
Vs. 33-44 Five days later was
the Feast of Booths. This was a feast when all the people had to make little
huts to sleep in to remind them of their journey in the wilderness to the
promised land. Notice that they were to rejoice and celebrate before the Lord
all seven days.
What hits me is that this looks
like the covenant at Mt. Sinai, the trumpet sound before the mountain calling
the people, God making the covenant with them, and then God carrying them
through the wilderness.
Vs. 41-43 Notice the heart of
God in giving this feast. He wanted the people to celebrate His love for them.
It appears that although Israel may have celebrated this feast, they didn't do
it consistently nor did they make the little hand-made huts. Look at Nehemiah
8:14-17.
Both the feasts in March and the
feasts in October have to do with God saving, calling, forgiving, and providing
for the people. The reminder that I think is interesting is the Feast of Booths.
They needed to remember what it was like in the wilderness with nothing but God
to sustain them, over 2,000,000 of them.
Maybe in the western world, we
need reminders like this, too, something that helps us appreciate that only God
sustains us. It is interesting that most of the world celebrates Christmas and
Easter. But the main celebration the Lord has given for His disciples in the
harvest involves a loaf of bread and a cup of wine. If you think about that
celebration that coincides with the birth of the church and the giving of the
Spirit, we can get rid of those unleavened crackers and go back to the warm
loaf of bread that symbolizes the fulfillment of blessing.
Mark 9:30-10:12
Particularly now, Jesus is using
every incident as a teaching opportunity for His disciples. As those who are
now called to make disciples we should probably see this in two ways. First,
everything the Lord brings into our lives is designed to lead us closer to Him
in following Him in the harvest. Second, as we encourage and mentor others, we
should have that same sense of using the stuff of life as opportunities to
apply the Word and focus them on following the Lord.
Mark 9:30-50
Vs. 30-32 This shows that Jesus
was now preparing them for the completion of His mission and how that would
affect them. They didn't understand at all. So why didn't they ask Him? I
remember in Algebra when the teacher explained something to me in front of the
class and then asked me if I understood. Of course I said, "yes," but
I really had no clue. Then I was afraid to ask for fear of looking dumber than
I already was.
Vs. 33-37 But they weren't
afraid to talk about which of them would be the next in command when He
established His kingdom. They still did not believe He would die. They still
could only see the Kingdom being established. It was natural for any leader to
choose his "right-hand man" out of his immediate group of followers.
Jesus waited until they were settled at this house, most likely Peter's, before
approaching the subject.
It is interesting that at first
they didn't answer Him, but eventually they ask Him (Matt. 18:1). So who was
the kid? I'm thinking it wasn't a son of any of the disciples. That would have
been playing into their hand. But Jesus was followed by lots of people and many
women who supported them out of their means, and it might have been from one of
these women. Who knows?
Vs. 38-41 In answer to John's
question in v. 38, Jesus says that no one who does a mighty work in Jesus' name
will be able to speak ill of Him. How do you balance what Jesus is saying here
to what He said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not
everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will
say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons
in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare
to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Apparently, motives matter.
Doing a mighty work in Jesus' name and not "speaking evil" of Him
doesn't equal receiving Him as Savior and Lord. I think what Jesus was aiming
at here was that they thought Jesus was forming an exclusive group.
Vs. 42-50 This is a very serious
warning and aimed at the disciples. In this context, I would suggest this
meaning. Jesus knew there would be diversity among those who would follow Him.
Salt and light are important to Him, not Jew/Gentile, educated/illiterate,
spotless theology/flawed theology. At the end of this, Jesus tells them to mind
their own business and bear fruit (salt in the world) and live at peace with
others. To enter into theological or racial conflict with other believers,
causing them to stumble and become "unsalt" (give up following) is
absolutely wrong. The reality of life is that some of us have spotless
theology, yet reach few. Some, in China or in Siberia or the Ukraine, are
reaching people for Christ and risking their lives, yet they have very spotty
theology. Some of these people are so narrow, that they wouldn't worship with
us, and we wouldn't worship with them. Jesus says to His disciples to watch out
and be aware of pride and arrogance. Whatever causes a disciple to feel
superior and make the weaker brother stumble (read Rom. 14-15) needs to be
"cut out" before it causes ruin.
I don't think we can lose our
salvation, but like some of the people mentioned in Matthew 7:21, I don't think
everyone I've met in church or in Christian service is necessarily a believer.
If we constantly are making others stumble and lifting ourselves up, it might
indicate that "Christianity" means something other to us, than Christ
alone.
V. 49 I think this is referring
to the judgment seat of Christ where our work in Christ will either survive or
be burned away. (1 Cor. 3:12-15)
V. 50 We are to have salt in
ourselves (following in the harvest making disciples) and to live at peace with
others who are following Christ in the harvest, though perhaps not, in every
detail, according to our particular denomination or view of the rapture.
Mark 10:1-12
V. 2 The Pharisees were like
fire ants in Texas, always everywhere and ready to sting. There were two very
different views of divorce built around two different rabbis. One view was very
liberal allowing divorce for everything and the other view was conservative,
allowing divorce only for unfaithfulness. What the Pharisees were interested in
was trying to find out which "rabbi" Jesus held to.
Vs. 3-9 Jesus answered their
question with a question about the Bible and then taught them the Bible. What a
great idea.
Vs. 10-12 In the house, the
disciples ask Jesus and He tells them the awful truth. In God's eyes a couple
is still married after a divorce and when they remarry, as they consummate the
relationship with the new spouse, they both commit adultery, breaking the
covenant of their first marriage. This is messy business in a dying world where
hardness of heart keeps people from being unified in God. God granted a
certificate of divorce and laws regarding remarriage, but only because sin
keeps us in rebellion to God. The miracle and need for oneness is built into
our being, and even in rebellion to God its need for fulfillment is
irresistible.
Interesting that Jesus taught
them like this instead of giving a schedule and saying, "Next week,
Tuesday, 2 p.m., we'll meet at Peter's porch for a lecture on Scripture and Marriage." That might
have been forgettable, but this discussion, born out of conflict, would always
be remembered, and it has been. These are good lessons for us too, as we make
disciples in the harvest.
Psalm 44:1-8
Today we only get the first
eight verses of this 26-verse cry for help.
Vs. 1-3 The writer, like us,
looks to the past and sees the power of God in saving the people.
Vs. 4-8 Based on what he knows
from the Bible, he has put his trust in the Lord.
Now comes the real drawing near
to God. We see this pattern so often in the psalms and in our lives. God shows
us truth and then allows us to suffer. In it all, in a heart of faith, we draw
even nearer and learn the truth even deeper.
We live in this tension in
following Christ. We "know" Him and we "know" the Word. Yet
it is so easy in all of what happens, subtly, to think we are the ones opening
doors and pushing everything forward. Then the Lord leads us into a situation
where doing everything we've done before doesn't work. We can't even start
gasoline on fire. And we realize it always was the Lord. Sometimes the Lord
needs to dry up the well, to make us realize the water comes from Him. He alone
is the One who brings fruit or success to working in the harvest. We have to be
willing to get involved, but then, it is really all from Him.
Proverbs 10:19
I wish I had learned this in my
20’s. Still, reading Proverbs like this, it makes you wonder some days if the
Spirit isn't giving you a warning. I've had many days when something has come
up unexpectedly, and this word of caution from the Lord is exactly what I
needed to remember, to honor Him and stay out of trouble.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are interested in growing
deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the
growth of a discipleship culture in the church, that is, groups of 3-4
disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to
reach out and make disciples, who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most
universal and important discipleship manual we have and it is the key to our
growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here,
or what we are to be doing, or whom we are to be following. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us, as disciples, focused on Christ and our role in His
harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be
willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their
growth as disciples, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
Anyone reading along with us is
welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own
observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition
or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any
point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as
I understand it. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a supplement,
a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we will keep
following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who
make disciples. Being in the Word every
day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the essential
essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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