I’m just making an assumption here, but perhaps the fig tree was of a certain age where it should have been bearing beautiful fruit, a mature plant perhaps? A metaphor for a mature human who has rejected the good fruits of the Spirit? So, Jesus then basically made the plant wither and die, as those who reject God will experience eternal death, I.e. Eternal separation from God.
The rituals were rough, the rules unending. The priests were deemed holy but still they could sin — they were human, after all — and the price for atonement was higher than some could afford to pay. My eyes flicker across the pages of Leviticus, and all I see in every verse is our 150% need for JESUS. His sacrifice fulfilled our need to be cleansed from sin with endless sacrifices, His perfect life paid the price for mine, a flawed and messy existence. How is that an even trade? What love is this that Jesus prepared a way for US to come to the Father and appear BLAMELESS, as if we, like him, had never sinned?? There is nothing like His radical, game-changing love. There is no one like our God!
It has been a rough crazy couple of weeks(and while that still doesn’t give me the right to not find time to read my bible) I have been having a tough time to read his word because I end up asleep with my phone in my hand. I going to try really hard to start from today and continue on everyday.
I find sometimes it’s easier to catch up a couple days at a time than to read every single day. As long as you are getting it done, that is what matters more than certain verses on certain days.
Yes! I agree with Monica. I found myself not reading every day but rather reading two or three days worth at a time (though when I fell behind nearly a week it was a little overwhelming trying to catch up). Lately, instead of saving it for the end of the day I set my alarm just 10-15 minutes earlier in the morning and read the day’s lesson as soon as I wake up! Starting my day with prayer and reading the bible has given me such positivity! The last thing you want is for it to feel like a chore… So don’t pressure yourself to read every single day if that’s what it seems like. Try to find a routine that works for you! Blessings!
In January I started getting up 30 mins earlier, making coffee and sitting in quiet with God praying and reading. It was hard at first but it has become my favorite part of my daybutdaubecome
Monica, I too have trouble with Leviticus and other Old Testament passages. I think, though, the message for us today is to see what it took to atone for our sins. Jesus made all of that obsolete by becoming the sacrifice. We can come to him now, we don’t have to go through the priests or through rituals. The rituals pointed to Jesus, our perfect and final sacrifice.
I also needed the reminder of praying with belief. I struggle with that, I don’t want to demand things of God or think that the power is from me, that it will happen because I said it will happen. I want to learn more about praying in faith, Lord, help my unbelief
Hi Monica! Leviticus is a hard book to read. The biggest that that I always take away from this book is how great our sins are and the great cost for atoning for our sins. In the OT, the atonement from the sacrifice forgave the sin temporarily, but once you sinned again you had to offer another sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross means that He fully atoned for our sins and fully satisfied God’s wrath. We are forgiven!
What stood out to me today was the reminder of God’s holiness. Our world really doesn’t see unintentional sin as bad because, “you didn’t mean to do it”. But the standards of God’s holiness say that it is a sin as soon as you realize you’ve done it. I think that’s partly how the rest of the world is going to be held at judgement– they will suddenly know that what they have done was wrong and it will be too late for them to have a sacrificial offering to remove that guilt.
God is holy completely.
I wonder why Jesus did not say bare fruit to the tree instead of killing it.
I’m just making an assumption here, but perhaps the fig tree was of a certain age where it should have been bearing beautiful fruit, a mature plant perhaps? A metaphor for a mature human who has rejected the good fruits of the Spirit? So, Jesus then basically made the plant wither and die, as those who reject God will experience eternal death, I.e. Eternal separation from God.
Good point
I wondered the same.
Matthew 21:21-22 -thank you, Lord!!!!
The rituals were rough, the rules unending. The priests were deemed holy but still they could sin — they were human, after all — and the price for atonement was higher than some could afford to pay. My eyes flicker across the pages of Leviticus, and all I see in every verse is our 150% need for JESUS. His sacrifice fulfilled our need to be cleansed from sin with endless sacrifices, His perfect life paid the price for mine, a flawed and messy existence. How is that an even trade? What love is this that Jesus prepared a way for US to come to the Father and appear BLAMELESS, as if we, like him, had never sinned?? There is nothing like His radical, game-changing love. There is no one like our God!
Amen!
I believe Lord! He is so faithful and gracious! He deserves all the praise, I want to be like the disciples and follow his word as soon as he says it!
It has been a rough crazy couple of weeks(and while that still doesn’t give me the right to not find time to read my bible) I have been having a tough time to read his word because I end up asleep with my phone in my hand. I going to try really hard to start from today and continue on everyday.
I find sometimes it’s easier to catch up a couple days at a time than to read every single day. As long as you are getting it done, that is what matters more than certain verses on certain days.
Yes! I agree with Monica. I found myself not reading every day but rather reading two or three days worth at a time (though when I fell behind nearly a week it was a little overwhelming trying to catch up). Lately, instead of saving it for the end of the day I set my alarm just 10-15 minutes earlier in the morning and read the day’s lesson as soon as I wake up! Starting my day with prayer and reading the bible has given me such positivity! The last thing you want is for it to feel like a chore… So don’t pressure yourself to read every single day if that’s what it seems like. Try to find a routine that works for you! Blessings!
In January I started getting up 30 mins earlier, making coffee and sitting in quiet with God praying and reading. It was hard at first but it has become my favorite part of my daybutdaubecome
*day
Monica, I too have trouble with Leviticus and other Old Testament passages. I think, though, the message for us today is to see what it took to atone for our sins. Jesus made all of that obsolete by becoming the sacrifice. We can come to him now, we don’t have to go through the priests or through rituals. The rituals pointed to Jesus, our perfect and final sacrifice.
I also needed the reminder of praying with belief. I struggle with that, I don’t want to demand things of God or think that the power is from me, that it will happen because I said it will happen. I want to learn more about praying in faith, Lord, help my unbelief
I still don’t understand Leviticus. My bible says it was the rules for Jewish priests. I don’t see any relevance to my life. :/
Hi Monica! Leviticus is a hard book to read. The biggest that that I always take away from this book is how great our sins are and the great cost for atoning for our sins. In the OT, the atonement from the sacrifice forgave the sin temporarily, but once you sinned again you had to offer another sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross means that He fully atoned for our sins and fully satisfied God’s wrath. We are forgiven!
What stood out to me today was the reminder of God’s holiness. Our world really doesn’t see unintentional sin as bad because, “you didn’t mean to do it”. But the standards of God’s holiness say that it is a sin as soon as you realize you’ve done it. I think that’s partly how the rest of the world is going to be held at judgement– they will suddenly know that what they have done was wrong and it will be too late for them to have a sacrificial offering to remove that guilt.
God is holy completely.