2for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession. ❤️
Hello gals!! I’m new here!! I am grateful for everyone here because I believe you read the Bible with your heart and I love seeing how people interpret different messages. Thank you ladies!! Thank you God!!
Yes, this really resonated with me this morning…….Jesus looked at him and loved him, let that sink deeply into our heart and soul ladies! Even tough Jesus knew what his response would be, He looked at him and loved him. Oh, how deep is the love of our Lord abs Savior,
11For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
@Rebecca Leek, for some reason it won’t let me comment directly on your post so I’m posting a separate comment. That’s a great question and I’m thinking about it too. I’m not sure about the killing people part, but for slavery I have heard that God’s instructions to treat slaves fairly and with dignity and respect was very different from how other non-believing slave owners treated their slaves. I’m not sure why God wouldn’t just directly oppose slavery though. I’m sure there is an explanation somewhere!
@Rebecca Leek I heard that Slavery in the context of Deuteronomy was just like normal employment except for the employee slept at your house and ate with you. As we can see in Deuteronomy 15:14 – they were even supposed to give them generously of their flock and winepress and so on when they left and went serving someone else.
I think holiness and that God wanted them set apart and we aren’t talking about modern switching to a new church, in Deut 15 he explains again that the religions they were driving out were burning and sacrificing their own children! I think sometimes we read the Old Testament and judge it but not examining it in the context of our own sin that Christ died a horrible death for us to be holy. I think too slavery may have been more employee/ employers esp since we read about some loving masters and staying. I might be wrong but they are all metaphors for following God even to a servant role like Jesus showed in washing feet.
2For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. -ellie
“ “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. “
Totally stuck me as we are getting ready for the Lords return and the false prophets that will arise!!! I love that he laid it out all the way in OT!!! I love seeing how he warned them and it’s our warning too..
4But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— 5if only you will strictly obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.
As I was reading, it struck me how this applies to us now. God has great things in store for us. We don’t need to worry about what we do or do not have. If we trust in the Lord, he will provide.
Tithes is a ten percent; ten percent of your increase (usually money) but it can include everything! My grandma gives 10% of her day to prayer and spending time with the Lord. An elder saint in our church gets food stamps and spends 10% on sodas for the preacher, since she has no income to tithe.
I personally give 10% of my gross income every paycheck, and if I get any cash from other people (birthdays, Christmas ect.) I give 15% of that unless it’s a giftcard. It’s hard to tithe giftcards.
It could also be a way that Jesus told the people that He was God. Jesus didn’t usually say to the people directly that He was God, those with ears to hear may have picked up on the occasions. If Jesus is good, then He must be God!
I believe he’s drawing attention to the mistaken belief that goodness can come from our actions. The young man believes that, because he has more or less kept God’s commands, he is a good person. If he believes this about himself, it only makes sense that he projects this belief onto other people – because Jesus does good works, he is also a good person. But Jesus understands this is his reasoning for calling him “good teacher” and so tells him that “no one is good but God.” Our actions don’t determine it – in fact, we are all, as humans, incapable of true goodness. I don’t think Jesus was here actually denying his goodness (notice he doesn’t say “I am not good”), but was perhaps saying to the man “only God is truly good, because goodness isn’t achieved by human action So why, if you believe me to be human, do you call me good?”
If that makes sense…
I loved the connection today in the in the old & New Testament verses. In deut 15:8-10 Moses tells the people to reach out to the poor – “8 but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks…10 ‘You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.” And then we read in mark: 21 ‘Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
These passages just reinforce that to love and serve God is to love and serve others. Jesus found his value and calling while serving others – he found significance solely in being kind and compassionate, generous and humble, which is what God wants of us. When reading today, I was reminded of a quote I saw the other day from Ghandi – “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” — you will not find significance or God for that matter by making more money, being the best of the best, etc. those things ultimately lead to a worldly view that doesn’t leave room for God and like Jesus says “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” What car you drive, how much you have you in your bank account, the clothes you wear, etc. etc. are of no importance to God which coincides with what Jesus tells the people – many who are first will be last, and the last, first. God wants us to love him and serve him by opening our hearts to everyone, and in doing that we will be blessed immensely.
With the rich, young man, I am reminded of how easy it is to get distracted my material things. When God tells us to give it all up and follow Him, I can rest assured that my reward is so much greater, because He is my sweet reward and He will fill that void that I am tempted to stuff with “false gods”. He wants to fulfill us :)
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
As a child reading this, I never really took it to heart. Living in middle class-suburban America, I never really considered myself rich. I couldn’t by anything I wanted. I didn’t shower in tubs full of money.
But-
Even as a “poor college kid” I am so rich. I don’t have to worry about where my next meal will come from (A mediocre buffet is still more food than most of the world could dream of).
Of course it’s easier for the poor to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. To do that, Jesus asks for complete trust. The rich (all of us) aren’t used to depending on God for literally everything.
This verse that I never thought applied to me?
Newsflash! It applies to me. And you.
Jesus, change my attitude. Shift my thinking into giving You total control. Help me realize everything I am comes from You. Help me depend on you entirely!
“Jesus looked at him and loved him…” Mark 10:21
It’s so cool to envision Jesus looking at us and loving us. How beautiful that Jesus loves us, despite our sin and sometimes even our unwillingness to follow Him and what He has for us. It’s not because of anything we have done, but because of the nature of who He is. Thank you Jesus for loving me despite my sin and giving the privilege of following you.
Mk 10:20 “And he said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up’.” But how? Was this arrogance? Or false piety? Or was he really that good? To say that he had kept the law of God perfectly since he was a child. It’s not physically possible!
I know many say that Jesus has made all things clean, but personally, since I’m not sure how that applies to the gospel now, I like to use it as a health reference. We saw in our reading last month that God told us to circumsize on the eighth day and modern science has discovered medically beneficial reasons for that. He made us so He knows how we operate best, so I try to stay away from foods He says are unclean (except bacon, I need my bacon! Lol) for example, lobster. It doesn’t have a fin or scales so it was deemed unclean to eat. Modern day dieticians have described lobsters as “cockroaches of the sea”. They aren’t healthy to eat. God already knew that.
How interesting about lobsters! But I’ve noticed also how practical God is in the Old Testament. Idk the science behind them, but the food laws (separating meats and dairy, among others) and other laws like isolating someone after they have been close to a dead body, are meant to keep the Israelites ALIVE! How could God do his work on them if they die from food poisoning or disease. Pretty cool!
Another thing is that the Old Testament is the Old Testament. When Jesus came and did all that he did for us, he restarted a new era, a new beginning. He fulfilled all the things in the Old Testament. Like in Hebrews, it talks about how Jesus is now our high Priests. And all the old ways of the Old Testament have now changed. That’s why the New Testament is new. It’s a whole new understanding. Don’t that make any sense to y’all?
I’m not sure that makes the OT irrelevant…Or maybe you’re not suggesting that. :) Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Mt 5). Jesus IS God in the flesh. All of who God is (holy, loving, just… – His whole character is seen in our Savior Jesus. Yes we are living in the church age but how fascinating that our science is now helping us understand the importance of the OT dietary requirements. Bottom dweller fish for example (garbage eaters) are banned, but fish with fins are permitted. How cool is that? That circumcision fact about blood clotting was cool too. Why do we have such a hard time trusting the Creator of the universe. Ugh… Wretched (wo)men that I am … Thankfully Jesus has saved me from this body of sin and death. Praise God for His grace and salvation!
I know some animals, like pigs, have to be cooked at extremely high temperatures to kill all bacteria and virus’s, and in ancient times it was impossible to heat something that much. So God was protecting the Israelites by saying they couldn’t eat it
Along those lines it also talks about the oils used in the OT for Aaron and other priests and how those had healing, antibacterial, etc properties. God is amazing
Reading Deuteronomy 13 just reminds me of terrorists today.. How if people aren’t following their gods then they kill them. It kind of gives us a new understanding of why they do it because that’s basically what God was telling Israel to do as well only we know that terrorist gods are not real and they do things in a twisted way. Just makes you think.
When we look around in the world, it’s easy to start comparing and thinking “why do those people succeed when they aren’t following God?” But this verse highlights that just because someone may be considered successful and powerful in the eyes of the world, unless they have accepted God’s grace, they will not enter heaven. Contrast that with the poorest person in the world with the worst luck. Although they may seem lowly to the world, their faith in Christ will get them a place with Him in heaven. Hope this helps!
Hi! My NKJV Thomas Nelson Study Bible had a really great explanation of 10:31, this is what it said to break the verse down:
Mark 10:31 (Study) Worldly esteem, which is measured by wealth, social standing, nobility, birth, and personal achievement, will count for nothing in the world to come. Only humility and servanthood lead to greatness in God’s kingdom.
God is just. If he wasn’t able to demand being first and only, he wouldn’t be much of a God. We may not understand the fulness of his power and glory with our human minds.
He loves and blesses those who follow him. He is also forgiving. Those people who turn to other gods and encourage others to follow are essentially killing the believers in spirit, as they are the cause of israelites turning away from God. i have no doubt in my mind that if they repented God would spare them.
I’m really struggling with the first passage. I have such a hard time relating to the wrathful characteristics of God in the Old Testament when he commands the Israelites to put anyone to death who turns to other gods. I realize that with redemption through Christ some of these commandments are no longer applicable but what was the purpose of such a command during that time?
My Bible’s side text says that it’s purpose is to underscore that God means what he says about worshiping other Gods- he is a jealous God and will allow devotion to no one except himself. “And why shouldn’t he? after all, these other gods are false and powerless. But this jealous God is the only one who holds the power of life and death and healing in his hands.”
So it seems like this extreme measure was to emphasize God’s requirement for devotion. Jesus’ sacrifice made this rule null for us, but God is still a jealous God today!
I struggled with it as well but it does give a powerful reminder of how God’s command to “be holy as He is holy” really means every word. God wants His people to worship only Him. It is sin to distort His holiness with our idols.
I’ve learned that where the OT is very literal, Jesus ushered in the NT not to negate OT but to fulfill it through teaching us life giving application of these same principles to the condition of our heart. With that, it helps to read the OT with the lens of “how does this apply to the things of my heart?” For me this passage in Deut. 13 brought conviction of when sin entices…whether brought on my someone I know and trust or every day battles with our sin nature. Christ holds us to a higher standard by saying don’t be passive to sin at your door, but take the first action by killing it before it gains a foothold. Hopes this helps!
I’ve learned that where the OT is very literal, Jesus ushered in the NT not to negate OT but to fulfill it through teaching us life giving application of these same principles to the condition of our heart. With that, it helps to read the OT with the lens of “how does this apply to the things of my heart?” For me this passage in Deut. 13 brought conviction of when sin entices…whether brought on my someone I know and trust or every day battles with our sin nature. Christ holds us to a higher standard by saying don’t be passive to sin at your door, but take the first action by killing it before it gains a foothold. Hopes this helps!
God wants us to fear him. To worship only him. My thoughts were how in the OT he destroys towns and entire family lines and even wants to destroy all the Israelites(aside Moses) He is a jealous God and a just God. Perhaps be killing those lines he is trying to prevent the teaching of false Gods to future generations. As much as Deuteronomy talks about teaching your children in Godly ways-they are others who will pass on the evil ways to their children.
This divorce passage is difficult. I am not divorced, but two friends have recently divorced and they were both Christians. One has remarried and it is so terribly awkward to see her sometimes now. I never know what to say – or not say. I feel like this has left me with more questions than answers.
Lauren, I understand your confusion! I cling to the grace and mercy of Jesus in passages like these. Sin is sin, no matter what. Jesus promises to forgive those who ask, no matter what. Everyone sins and falls short of God’s glory. Divorce is no different than anything else. Smile at your friend and encourage her in her new marriage. She will need it as she starts over.
I understand your confusion too. I have been divorced and remarried, as have several that I know. God’s design for marriage is a perfect one, one man and one woman joined together for life. But we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a very fallen one. Sin in one or both sides sometimes make it very difficult for a marriage to continue. And divorce happens. In my situation, my first husband was abusive and my life was in danger. I had to leave and get a divorce from him. God’s grace and mercy got me out and then healed my wounds. Then I met my now husband and he treats me like a queen. :)
It is a very confusing subject. But here’s what I understand. Sin marred a perfect design. Sin corrupts a beautiful thing. But God’s grace and mercy covers it all. This passage does not allow us to sweep it under the rug, and instead causes us to acknowledge that yeah, this is sin, and we need forgiveness for this. And in God’s grace and mercy, He also provides new beginnings, a chance to start over and do it right this time. And that is so amazing.
So, with your friends, be there for them. Trust me, they feel the shame at having a failed marriage. They know. And they need you to love and support them. And the one that remarried, be happy for her chance to start over and have a new beginning. And above all, just keep praying for them.
That’s the great part about the New Testament. They are forgiven. I know people who are divorced and remarried and are incredible people. Why would it be awkward to see them? Their divorce is no one else’s decision or doing, therefore it’s not up to us to judge them or think badly.
I can’t help but connect again the Psalm from Sunday to this verse…Ps. 45 says to forget your people and your fathers house, for the King is enthrall end with your beauty. Here, King Jesus is telling us that if we leave everything for his sake, we will find new life as the bride of the King. (Mark 10:29-30) not as a disowning, but a willingness to do as He leads and seek first His kingdom…the rest will be added unto us.
Honestly I’ve seen how this can in the end bless your family though obedience hurts at first and may offend hearts. It’s the verse from SOS – “What is your beloved more than another?” Meaning why sacrifice everything for this man? So. Many. Reasons.
thank You for your word
It is alive. Amen (:
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It is difficult for many to enter the kingdom of heaven
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2for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession. ❤️
Welcome Jackie! God bless you!
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Hello gals!! I’m new here!! I am grateful for everyone here because I believe you read the Bible with your heart and I love seeing how people interpret different messages. Thank you ladies!! Thank you God!!
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Yes, this really resonated with me this morning…….Jesus looked at him and loved him, let that sink deeply into our heart and soul ladies! Even tough Jesus knew what his response would be, He looked at him and loved him. Oh, how deep is the love of our Lord abs Savior,
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11For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
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With man it is IMPOSSIBLE to be saved. But we are gifted god’s righteousness as our own so that we can be saved.
It’s not about what you can get, but what you can give.
Also, you are solely chosen by the LORD.
@Rebecca Leek, for some reason it won’t let me comment directly on your post so I’m posting a separate comment. That’s a great question and I’m thinking about it too. I’m not sure about the killing people part, but for slavery I have heard that God’s instructions to treat slaves fairly and with dignity and respect was very different from how other non-believing slave owners treated their slaves. I’m not sure why God wouldn’t just directly oppose slavery though. I’m sure there is an explanation somewhere!
@Rebecca Leek I heard that Slavery in the context of Deuteronomy was just like normal employment except for the employee slept at your house and ate with you. As we can see in Deuteronomy 15:14 – they were even supposed to give them generously of their flock and winepress and so on when they left and went serving someone else.
I think holiness and that God wanted them set apart and we aren’t talking about modern switching to a new church, in Deut 15 he explains again that the religions they were driving out were burning and sacrificing their own children! I think sometimes we read the Old Testament and judge it but not examining it in the context of our own sin that Christ died a horrible death for us to be holy. I think too slavery may have been more employee/ employers esp since we read about some loving masters and staying. I might be wrong but they are all metaphors for following God even to a servant role like Jesus showed in washing feet.
2For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. -ellie
I love how this chapter starts off:
“ “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. “
Totally stuck me as we are getting ready for the Lords return and the false prophets that will arise!!! I love that he laid it out all the way in OT!!! I love seeing how he warned them and it’s our warning too..
Gosh, the Bible is truly alive!!!!
4But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— 5if only you will strictly obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.
As I was reading, it struck me how this applies to us now. God has great things in store for us. We don’t need to worry about what we do or do not have. If we trust in the Lord, he will provide.
How can tithe be applied to today’s way?
Giving from our paychecks instead of our crops
Tithes is a ten percent; ten percent of your increase (usually money) but it can include everything! My grandma gives 10% of her day to prayer and spending time with the Lord. An elder saint in our church gets food stamps and spends 10% on sodas for the preacher, since she has no income to tithe.
I personally give 10% of my gross income every paycheck, and if I get any cash from other people (birthdays, Christmas ect.) I give 15% of that unless it’s a giftcard. It’s hard to tithe giftcards.
Jesus looked at him and loved him.
He knew what the man would struggle with and loved him still.
Missed that. ❤️
It could also be a way that Jesus told the people that He was God. Jesus didn’t usually say to the people directly that He was God, those with ears to hear may have picked up on the occasions. If Jesus is good, then He must be God!
Why does Jesus say, “no one is good but God alone”?
I believe he’s drawing attention to the mistaken belief that goodness can come from our actions. The young man believes that, because he has more or less kept God’s commands, he is a good person. If he believes this about himself, it only makes sense that he projects this belief onto other people – because Jesus does good works, he is also a good person. But Jesus understands this is his reasoning for calling him “good teacher” and so tells him that “no one is good but God.” Our actions don’t determine it – in fact, we are all, as humans, incapable of true goodness. I don’t think Jesus was here actually denying his goodness (notice he doesn’t say “I am not good”), but was perhaps saying to the man “only God is truly good, because goodness isn’t achieved by human action So why, if you believe me to be human, do you call me good?”
If that makes sense…
Thanks Emaleigh!
I loved the connection today in the in the old & New Testament verses. In deut 15:8-10 Moses tells the people to reach out to the poor – “8 but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks…10 ‘You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.” And then we read in mark: 21 ‘Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
These passages just reinforce that to love and serve God is to love and serve others. Jesus found his value and calling while serving others – he found significance solely in being kind and compassionate, generous and humble, which is what God wants of us. When reading today, I was reminded of a quote I saw the other day from Ghandi – “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” — you will not find significance or God for that matter by making more money, being the best of the best, etc. those things ultimately lead to a worldly view that doesn’t leave room for God and like Jesus says “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” What car you drive, how much you have you in your bank account, the clothes you wear, etc. etc. are of no importance to God which coincides with what Jesus tells the people – many who are first will be last, and the last, first. God wants us to love him and serve him by opening our hearts to everyone, and in doing that we will be blessed immensely.
Thank you for sharing that. I see the connection.
With the rich, young man, I am reminded of how easy it is to get distracted my material things. When God tells us to give it all up and follow Him, I can rest assured that my reward is so much greater, because He is my sweet reward and He will fill that void that I am tempted to stuff with “false gods”. He wants to fulfill us :)
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
As a child reading this, I never really took it to heart. Living in middle class-suburban America, I never really considered myself rich. I couldn’t by anything I wanted. I didn’t shower in tubs full of money.
But-
Even as a “poor college kid” I am so rich. I don’t have to worry about where my next meal will come from (A mediocre buffet is still more food than most of the world could dream of).
Of course it’s easier for the poor to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. To do that, Jesus asks for complete trust. The rich (all of us) aren’t used to depending on God for literally everything.
This verse that I never thought applied to me?
Newsflash! It applies to me. And you.
Jesus, change my attitude. Shift my thinking into giving You total control. Help me realize everything I am comes from You. Help me depend on you entirely!
“Jesus looked at him and loved him…” Mark 10:21
It’s so cool to envision Jesus looking at us and loving us. How beautiful that Jesus loves us, despite our sin and sometimes even our unwillingness to follow Him and what He has for us. It’s not because of anything we have done, but because of the nature of who He is. Thank you Jesus for loving me despite my sin and giving the privilege of following you.
I was touched by this as well! I reread it about 6 times just to take in that Jesus could look at us and just love us!
Ah, I totally missed this part of the verse because I was so caught up in the next part. Thank you for pointing this out.
Mk 10:20 “And he said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up’.” But how? Was this arrogance? Or false piety? Or was he really that good? To say that he had kept the law of God perfectly since he was a child. It’s not physically possible!
Deuteronomy 13, why can you only eat of certain things back then and how does that apply to the gospel now?
I can’t find the reference, but somewhere in New testament Jesus made all things clean. I wish I could find it. I will keep looking.
Mark 7:19 :)
Meghan, also reminds me of Acts 10:9-15
thank you!!
I know many say that Jesus has made all things clean, but personally, since I’m not sure how that applies to the gospel now, I like to use it as a health reference. We saw in our reading last month that God told us to circumsize on the eighth day and modern science has discovered medically beneficial reasons for that. He made us so He knows how we operate best, so I try to stay away from foods He says are unclean (except bacon, I need my bacon! Lol) for example, lobster. It doesn’t have a fin or scales so it was deemed unclean to eat. Modern day dieticians have described lobsters as “cockroaches of the sea”. They aren’t healthy to eat. God already knew that.
How interesting about lobsters! But I’ve noticed also how practical God is in the Old Testament. Idk the science behind them, but the food laws (separating meats and dairy, among others) and other laws like isolating someone after they have been close to a dead body, are meant to keep the Israelites ALIVE! How could God do his work on them if they die from food poisoning or disease. Pretty cool!
Another thing is that the Old Testament is the Old Testament. When Jesus came and did all that he did for us, he restarted a new era, a new beginning. He fulfilled all the things in the Old Testament. Like in Hebrews, it talks about how Jesus is now our high Priests. And all the old ways of the Old Testament have now changed. That’s why the New Testament is new. It’s a whole new understanding. Don’t that make any sense to y’all?
I’m not sure that makes the OT irrelevant…Or maybe you’re not suggesting that. :) Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Mt 5). Jesus IS God in the flesh. All of who God is (holy, loving, just… – His whole character is seen in our Savior Jesus. Yes we are living in the church age but how fascinating that our science is now helping us understand the importance of the OT dietary requirements. Bottom dweller fish for example (garbage eaters) are banned, but fish with fins are permitted. How cool is that? That circumcision fact about blood clotting was cool too. Why do we have such a hard time trusting the Creator of the universe. Ugh… Wretched (wo)men that I am … Thankfully Jesus has saved me from this body of sin and death. Praise God for His grace and salvation!
I know some animals, like pigs, have to be cooked at extremely high temperatures to kill all bacteria and virus’s, and in ancient times it was impossible to heat something that much. So God was protecting the Israelites by saying they couldn’t eat it
Along those lines it also talks about the oils used in the OT for Aaron and other priests and how those had healing, antibacterial, etc properties. God is amazing
Reading Deuteronomy 13 just reminds me of terrorists today.. How if people aren’t following their gods then they kill them. It kind of gives us a new understanding of why they do it because that’s basically what God was telling Israel to do as well only we know that terrorist gods are not real and they do things in a twisted way. Just makes you think.
Old Testament vs New Testament.
Yes, Katye! I was thinking the same too!
I’m having a hard time understanding the meaning of Mark 10:31 – But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
When we look around in the world, it’s easy to start comparing and thinking “why do those people succeed when they aren’t following God?” But this verse highlights that just because someone may be considered successful and powerful in the eyes of the world, unless they have accepted God’s grace, they will not enter heaven. Contrast that with the poorest person in the world with the worst luck. Although they may seem lowly to the world, their faith in Christ will get them a place with Him in heaven. Hope this helps!
Very much so! Thank you! :)
You’re welcome!!
Posted on the wrong thread, I apologize!
Hi! My NKJV Thomas Nelson Study Bible had a really great explanation of 10:31, this is what it said to break the verse down:
Mark 10:31 (Study) Worldly esteem, which is measured by wealth, social standing, nobility, birth, and personal achievement, will count for nothing in the world to come. Only humility and servanthood lead to greatness in God’s kingdom.
Hope this helps! :)
God is just. If he wasn’t able to demand being first and only, he wouldn’t be much of a God. We may not understand the fulness of his power and glory with our human minds.
He loves and blesses those who follow him. He is also forgiving. Those people who turn to other gods and encourage others to follow are essentially killing the believers in spirit, as they are the cause of israelites turning away from God. i have no doubt in my mind that if they repented God would spare them.
I’m really struggling with the first passage. I have such a hard time relating to the wrathful characteristics of God in the Old Testament when he commands the Israelites to put anyone to death who turns to other gods. I realize that with redemption through Christ some of these commandments are no longer applicable but what was the purpose of such a command during that time?
My Bible’s side text says that it’s purpose is to underscore that God means what he says about worshiping other Gods- he is a jealous God and will allow devotion to no one except himself. “And why shouldn’t he? after all, these other gods are false and powerless. But this jealous God is the only one who holds the power of life and death and healing in his hands.”
So it seems like this extreme measure was to emphasize God’s requirement for devotion. Jesus’ sacrifice made this rule null for us, but God is still a jealous God today!
I struggled with it as well but it does give a powerful reminder of how God’s command to “be holy as He is holy” really means every word. God wants His people to worship only Him. It is sin to distort His holiness with our idols.
I’ve learned that where the OT is very literal, Jesus ushered in the NT not to negate OT but to fulfill it through teaching us life giving application of these same principles to the condition of our heart. With that, it helps to read the OT with the lens of “how does this apply to the things of my heart?” For me this passage in Deut. 13 brought conviction of when sin entices…whether brought on my someone I know and trust or every day battles with our sin nature. Christ holds us to a higher standard by saying don’t be passive to sin at your door, but take the first action by killing it before it gains a foothold. Hopes this helps!
I’ve learned that where the OT is very literal, Jesus ushered in the NT not to negate OT but to fulfill it through teaching us life giving application of these same principles to the condition of our heart. With that, it helps to read the OT with the lens of “how does this apply to the things of my heart?” For me this passage in Deut. 13 brought conviction of when sin entices…whether brought on my someone I know and trust or every day battles with our sin nature. Christ holds us to a higher standard by saying don’t be passive to sin at your door, but take the first action by killing it before it gains a foothold. Hopes this helps!
God wants us to fear him. To worship only him. My thoughts were how in the OT he destroys towns and entire family lines and even wants to destroy all the Israelites(aside Moses) He is a jealous God and a just God. Perhaps be killing those lines he is trying to prevent the teaching of false Gods to future generations. As much as Deuteronomy talks about teaching your children in Godly ways-they are others who will pass on the evil ways to their children.
I don’t think God loves divorce but I am confident he loves people and above all he wants us to do that too. .. Embrace your friends!
Guys, please go back and read verses 7-12 and look at it with an open mind. Forget what you’ve been told and just read it. <3
So many hard black and white statements in this passage of Mark. Lord let our hearts be open to be receive your truth
This divorce passage is difficult. I am not divorced, but two friends have recently divorced and they were both Christians. One has remarried and it is so terribly awkward to see her sometimes now. I never know what to say – or not say. I feel like this has left me with more questions than answers.
Lauren, I understand your confusion! I cling to the grace and mercy of Jesus in passages like these. Sin is sin, no matter what. Jesus promises to forgive those who ask, no matter what. Everyone sins and falls short of God’s glory. Divorce is no different than anything else. Smile at your friend and encourage her in her new marriage. She will need it as she starts over.
I understand your confusion too. I have been divorced and remarried, as have several that I know. God’s design for marriage is a perfect one, one man and one woman joined together for life. But we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a very fallen one. Sin in one or both sides sometimes make it very difficult for a marriage to continue. And divorce happens. In my situation, my first husband was abusive and my life was in danger. I had to leave and get a divorce from him. God’s grace and mercy got me out and then healed my wounds. Then I met my now husband and he treats me like a queen. :)
It is a very confusing subject. But here’s what I understand. Sin marred a perfect design. Sin corrupts a beautiful thing. But God’s grace and mercy covers it all. This passage does not allow us to sweep it under the rug, and instead causes us to acknowledge that yeah, this is sin, and we need forgiveness for this. And in God’s grace and mercy, He also provides new beginnings, a chance to start over and do it right this time. And that is so amazing.
So, with your friends, be there for them. Trust me, they feel the shame at having a failed marriage. They know. And they need you to love and support them. And the one that remarried, be happy for her chance to start over and have a new beginning. And above all, just keep praying for them.
That’s the great part about the New Testament. They are forgiven. I know people who are divorced and remarried and are incredible people. Why would it be awkward to see them? Their divorce is no one else’s decision or doing, therefore it’s not up to us to judge them or think badly.
I can’t help but connect again the Psalm from Sunday to this verse…Ps. 45 says to forget your people and your fathers house, for the King is enthrall end with your beauty. Here, King Jesus is telling us that if we leave everything for his sake, we will find new life as the bride of the King. (Mark 10:29-30) not as a disowning, but a willingness to do as He leads and seek first His kingdom…the rest will be added unto us.
Honestly I’ve seen how this can in the end bless your family though obedience hurts at first and may offend hearts. It’s the verse from SOS – “What is your beloved more than another?” Meaning why sacrifice everything for this man? So. Many. Reasons.