Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Thoughts on February 6 and 7 Readings

February 7, 2018
Reading: Leviticus 4-6, Matthew 25:1-30

I have not posted thoughts on our readings in a couple of days, but I hope your time with the Lord is going well and that you are staying in His Word. 

Leviticus 1-6

Well, here we are in the book of Leviticus. This is the place where many who start to read the whole Bible lose heart and quit. Leviticus is a difficult book to understand and apply as a Christian in the 21st Century. Below I am posting a video which gives an overview of the book and also an outline of Leviticus that comes from the ESV Study Bible. These will be a help to you as you seek to understand Leviticus and how it may apply to your life. Remember that this is a part of God’s Word and the Lord has given it to us for a reason. I am happy that our reading plan includes a New Testament reading most days as well.

  
Matthew 24:44 (CSB)
44This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:45–46 (CSB)
45“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time?
46Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.
Matthew 25:13 (CSB)
13“Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:19 (CSB)
19“After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

Matthew 24 and 25 include Jesus’ teaching from the Mount of Olives during the week of His crucifixion. This portion of Matthew is often called the Olivet Discourse. In these chapters, Jesus taught His disciples about things related to end times prophesy (destruction of the Jerusalem temple, the time of great tribulation, the return of Jesus, etc.)

The verses from Matthew 25 above struck me this morning while I was reading and echo what Jesus said in Matthew 24. First, we do not know the time of Jesus’ return or when He may call us home through death. Therefore, these chapters show us how important it is to be prepared for Christ’s return or our death. His return will come suddenly and unexpectedly, are we prepared to meet God?

Second, Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:45-46 and the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 remind us that we must continue to be faithful to fulfill the ministry God has given each of us to do until He returns or calls us home. Every Christian is called to serve the Lord and His Kingdom in some capacity (see Ephesians 2:10). We cannot neglect the responsibilities He has given us. Being reminded that He is coming unexpectedly should motivate us to faithful service to the Lord every day.

Hang in there, Brothers and Sisters. God will use your daily interactions with Him in His word to continue to conform you to the image of Christ. Praying for you in the journey!

Mac

Outline of the Book of Leviticus from the Introduction to Leviticus in the ESV Study Bible

  1. Five Major Offerings (1:1–6:7)
    1. The burnt offering (1:1–17)
    2. The grain offering (2:1–16)
    3. The peace offering (3:1–17)
    4. The sin offering (4:1–5:13)
    5. The guilt offering (5:14–6:7)
  2. Handling of the Offerings (6:8–7:38)
    1. The burnt offering (6:8–13)
    2. The grain offering (6:14–23)
    3. The sin offering (6:24–30)
    4. The guilt offering (7:1–10)
    5. The peace offering (7:11–36)
    6. Summary (7:37–38)
  3. The Establishment of the Priesthood (8:1–10:20)
    1. The ordination of Aaron and his sons (8:1–36)
    2. The first tabernacle service (9:1–24)
    3. The Nadab and Abihu incident (10:1–20)
  4. The Laws on Cleanness and Uncleanness (11:1–15:33)
    1. Clean and unclean creatures (11:1–47)
    2. Uncleanness of a childbearing mother (12:1–8)
    3. Leprous diseases and their purification (13:1–14:57)
    4. Discharges from male and female reproductive organs (15:1–33)
  5. The Day of Atonement Ritual (16:1–34)
  6. The Handling and Meaning of Blood (17:1–16)
  7. The Call to Holiness (18:1–22:33)
    1. Prohibitions against pagan practices (18:1–30)
    2. Call to holiness (19:1–37)
    3. Punishment for disobedience (20:1–27)
    4. Holiness of the priests (21:1–24)
    5. Holiness of the offerings (22:1–33)
  8. Holy Times (23:1–25:55)
    1. Holy feasts (23:1–44)
      1. Introduction and weekly Sabbath (23:1–3)
      2. The Passover (23:4–8)
      3. The Firstfruits (23:9–14)
      4. The Weeks (23:15–22)
      5. The Trumpets (23:23–25)
      6. The Day of Atonement (23:26–32)
      7. The Booths (23:33–36)
      8. Summary of the annual feasts (23:37–44)
    2. Oil and bread of the Presence (24:1–9)
    3. The case of a blasphemer (24:10–23)
    4. The sabbatical year and Jubilee (25:1–22)
    5. Laws of redemption (25:23–55)
  9. Blessings and Curses (26:1–46)
    1. Fundamental conditions (26:1–2)
    2. Blessings for obedience (26:3–13)
    3. The first stage (26:14–17)
    4. The second stage (26:18–20)
    5. The third stage (26:21–22)
    6. The fourth stage (26:23–26)
    7. The fifth stage (26:27–39)
    8. Conditions and confession within the covenant (26:40–46)
  10. Vows and Dedication (27:1–34)
    1. The case of persons (27:1–8)
    2. The case of animals (27:9–13)
    3. The case of a house (27:14–15)
    4. The case of land (27:16–25)
    5. The case of the firstborn (27:26–27)
    6. The case of devoted things (27:28–29)
    7. The case of tithes (27:30–33)
    8. Postscript (27:34)


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