““However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Matthew 24:36, 44 NLT
we must be ready.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. – Matthew 24:43
Wow! What deep powerful reading today about being clean and unclean. Then, the reading transitioned over to the Lord’s return. Keep faith, and trust God. He will return for us, and we need to be ready.
It’s crazy but also kind of exciting to think about the end times. At first I wondered why I was so excited and interested to read about it, then I realized it’s because Jesus coming means we get to spend eternity with him and all the wickedness will be wiped from the face of the Earth. It’s something really hard to fathom now, but it will be the culmination of everything we believe.
I am assuming that this passage has rules around leprosy for the protection of the community? But I found the whole passage saddening as those with leprosy are to be exiled and left alone to rot in their disease. As a healthcare provider myself, I can’t help but question why God would be so explicitly clear that these people need to be set apart from society. They did not choose leprosy, so I’m unsure of why it would be ok to force them out and away from others. I don’t run from a cancer patient, or any patient for that matter; I embrace them, love them and hope to help heal them. I’m sure I’m missing something here, I just felt uneasy after reading this.
Hi Megan! I’m sorry to hear how this has burdened your heart. I totally see where you are coming from. I don’t think God’s heart was to not help them or to abandon them. I think he was more so teaching them the importance of being quarantined so that the disease wouldn’t spread and wipe them out as a people. Which is amazing to think about in the sense that the importance of quarantine wasn’t discovered until the seventeenth century. This really shows us how wise and all knowing our God is. This is more so a model of sanitary legislation.
Megan, I’m definitely feeling the same way after reading this. I have an incurable genetic disease and I shudder to think of being born before the time of Christ! “I was sick and you visited me” MT25:36 I feel blessed every time I am visited! I understand the importance of quarantine for highly infectious disease, but many are afraid of all illness and disability, and blessed are those who aren’t! Thank you for your insights.
What mercy from God to give the Israelites such extensive knowledge and discernment about leprosy. May we recognize our spiritual uncleanliness, our unworthiness to join into the holy fellowship of God and His people without the righteous garments of the Son.
70/365 ❤️ what stuck out to me today, we had to be told not to use things that were molded? And avoid sick people so we ourselves didn’t get sick? I know that’s face value. And there’s a lot of parallels. But simple is sometimes just as profound to me. Laws are in place to protect us. And I’m Mathew. Heaven and Esther shall pass away, but the Word of God remains for ever?! And the parable of the good servant. These give me peace after such a dark and scary passage. Amazing.
Chelsea I am lifting you up in prayers. Just remember repentance is healthy and an important part of the process but ultimately our great God wants you to bring it to him and surrender to him. Please don’t have shame see all the glory that Jesus is. He died for this and for you. There is a much bigger plan at work here growing and stretching you for glory. Hang in there my love. You are being forged.
Unclean. God, my heart is so unclean.
I’m so convicted by this chapter of Leviticus…My leprosy isn’t obvious. It’s in my heart, and it’s eating me away.
I’ve failed. So big. I’ve walked with the Lord my whole life, but just recently, I’ve fallen so out of step with Him. I’ve let my own wants and desires, and a guy I love with my whole heart, come before my relationship with Christ.
And now my lovesick heart is broken, stomped to pieces by that same man who I thought would never hurt me.
And now I’m shattered. So dirty. So unworthy.
I’m begging for your prayers, sisters. I know I’m late in reading this, but if anyone sees this, please pray.
I’ve been there too, Chelsea – remember that our God is BIGGER than any mistake we can ever make. He loves our repentant heart and will always welcome us back in His loving arms. I will be praying for you.
Chelsea, in the past month, the same thing has happened to me. My fiancé (whom I had loved more than my own relationship with God) left me after 7 years. Do not lose heart. God is good and he was walking with you all this time. He has a beautiful future that is good for you because he is a good good God. Although you may often feel such grief and heartbreak, make the choice to cling tightly to the foot of the cross and make God the Lord of your life again. He will give you forgiveness and peace to face each day ahead. You will be in my prayers!!
Chelsea…my heart breaks for you…lifting you up to the Father, His arms are open wide waiting for you to walk towards Him. Hand Him your heart, every dirty, broken piece and He will put it back together again slowly but surely. Praying for you, dear sister! Remember that you are never too far gone…oh, please remember that you are loved. Praying healing through these words and the words of the Word.
“My master is delayed.” OH what a wicked servant I used to be! I remember many nights of partying too hard where a still small voice in my heart would tell me “no man knows the day or the hour….” And the terror would sober me up. Thank GOD my life has changed, & now I can live a life ready for His return at any time! Thank you Jesus!
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
imagine the sores and molds all being sin. A little sin makes a whole body unclean. thank goodness that God sent Christ. we have already been declared clean and holy!
The end times should have very little cause for anxiety to those who are saved. As a saved person, I will not go through the the tribulation. I will be raptures out first. Thank God for His mercy & grace!
Matthew was very powerful! I remember being a little girl and having my grandma tell me about this chapter in Matthew. She told me times would becomes wicked and then the Lord would comes save us!
As a nursing mother, verse 19 freaks me out! Anyone have any insight or connections from other scriptures? Is he describing his coming to us? Or something else?
Matthew 24:44 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will”. Nobody knows when He will return. Every generation has thought they were “living in the end times”. Think about Rome. Christians were burned as lanterns in garden parties. Important thing, it seems, is to be faithful and obedient regardless.
I am with you! Every generation has had signs of it being the end times, and has had those who have clung to that.
(It used to give me serious anxiety, to be completely honest!)
But once I realized I just need to live for Him and to be mindful of my surroundings, trying to honor God in all I do? The end times are no longer a cause for anxiety, and I have to live like they could come today or not in my lifetime at all! And to worry or try to find the time? It’s wasted, time I could be praising Him instead!
Ruth. You have all kinds of stuff. One of the big ones back then was leprosy.. But I’m sure there were other types of infections like staph and stuff like that. Both of those would turn the skin white at first. Staph then can become a boil or blister, both of which are contagious. Leprosy can turn the skin white initially, but will rot away chunks of skin. In the part where he talks about the burns.. He’s talking about 2nd and 3rd degree burns to be isolated, and they are deemed unclean if it gets infected.
Most of you will probably think I’m crazy but I was intrigued by this chapter in Leviticus! More so than the chapters on sacrifices (all of your ladies’ comments are what got me through those passages…true story!). I’m a nurse and was so enthralled with this idea that people would come to the priest when they had these skin maladies. As many of you pointed out, we can see the parallel with our sin and how the Lord gave His people a way, albeit complicated, to become clean (or at least identify if they could be clean). But what also struck me is that we probably think it’s horrible for these people who were deemed “unclean” to be separated from the rest of the community and isolated and identified as “unclean.” Well when I think of this super literally (which is different for me because so much of this OT scripture is hard to think of literally when that time was SO different than ours), I also think of the great lengths the Lord went first to identify what their illness was and whether or not they would be allowed to remain with their family, be isolated, or ultimately removed from the rest of the people. Again, thinking of this literally, I see a way to prevent these diseases from spreading and consuming all of God’s people. Furthermore, He didn’t command that they be immediately cast out of society because they were ill. He gave a clear process and system (an algorithm if you will…yes I’m getting very nerdy now) to identify if it was possible for them to remain. I don’t know…I just see through this section (similar to the sacrifices) that these lengthy processes gave a way to keep God’s people close to each other and in communion with Him. Who would have thought a section on skin diseases could affect me this much…ha! (Sidebar: I am also taking me daughter to the dermatologist tomorrow, which made me chuckle).
Thank you Christina!
This fascinated me too. I like seeing when the laws of God make logical sense. It combats the belief that Christianity is about legalism.
Do you happen to have any insight on what the ailments mentioned would be? I was curious about that.
Matthew 24:44 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will”. Nobody knows when He will return. Every generation has thought they were “living in the end times”. Think about Rome. Christians were burned as lanterns in garden parties. Important thing, it seems, is to be faithful and obedient regardless.
“Unclean! Unclean!” I will shout these words as I walk by. I am unclean and filled with diseases like lust, pride, lying, and so much more…. But that’s not the end of my story or yours. Jesus came as a doctor to heal the sick. He first reveals our sickness and our uncleanliness then provides us the medicine all our hearts ache for….. Love, touch, care.. Jesus heals us and uses His Grace as our bandages. He overwhelms us with his perfection and makes us clean. Praise Jesus!!
Loved Matthew 24 today. Difficult words to read and scary to think about but what a wonderful Lord we have to reassure and prepare us. Let us keep our eyes on the Lord and praise in our hearts!
In verse 31, when Jesus says “the elect”, is he referring to all Christians? I have heard discussions on the term “elect” and the discussions confuse me. Can anyone clarify?
Election is a very difficult doctrine, in my opinion. My youth pastor just did a sermon on it a couple weeks ago. The elect aren’t necessarily Christians, but those who are given the opportunity to become Christians. It gets more into the free will vs. predestination argument. Basically, God choose those who were allowed to experience the gospel call based on the choice he knew in the beginning they would make, and those are the elect. But they’re not all Christians, because some haven’t heard the gospel preached yet. That’s my very basic high school student understanding, clouded by the fact that it’s almost 1 am :P but I have a couple full pages of notes from the sermon, so if you have any more specific questions I can try to find the answer. Hope that helped at least a bit!
Leviticus is all about the law, so when I read it I reflect and think about how Jesus came to fulfill the law. I try and look for him in the midst of all of it. (Check out Hebrews 10)
For example the first five chapters in Leviticus, each sacrifice speaks of Jesus. The first sacrifice (the burnt offering) speaks of Jesus totally dedicated. Check out Ephesians 5:1-2 for the New Testament reference. The second sacrifice (grain offering) speaks of Jesus totally pure. Check out John 12:23 for the New Testament reference. The third sacrifice (fellowship or peace offering) speaks of Jesus is our peace. (Romans 5:1 for NT reference). The fourth sacrifice (sin offering) speaks of Jesus our ultimate sacrifice. (2 Corinthians 5:21 for NT reference). The fifth sacrifice (trespass or transgression offering) speaks of Jesus died for specific sins. (Colossians 2:13 for NT reference). The first three offerings were optional – since they were an aroma pleasing to the Lord. The last two, sin and transgression offering, were mandatory because we ALL sin and have sinned and will sin, so those were required.
When you go on to read chapters 5-7, you’ll notice the order of the offerings changed. The peace (or fellowship) offering moved to the end in its order. This is showing that we won’t have peace until we are reconciled with Christ.
Aaron is a picture of Jesus, our high priest. The sons of Aaron are pictures of us. The grossness of the skin diseases are pictures of how gross sin is.
Praying through theses scriptures and asking God to reveal to you what he’s trying to show you in these passages is always helpful too.
Our pastor always says when we read gross stuff in the Bible it’s a reminder to us how gross sin is! Reading all about infectious skin diseases will really make you think about that.
I love how Jesus puts in in Matt 24:45-51! To stop putting it off until tomorrow or a better time, but to be faithful and grow HERE & NOW. Sometimes I think I put off my spiritual growth or heart changes I know I need to make, thinking I’ll do them later or when life circumstances make it a bit easier to focus. That’s so unwise of me! NOW will always be the best time to move and grow and dig deeper!
Katie, I love what you said. I look at it also as an opportunity of repentance and healing. Instead of hanging on to our issues, to give them to God “here & now”, and continue on…
I was really struck by Matthew 24:8 “All these are the beginning of birth pains.” The implication there is something we can relate to, whether or not we have actually had a child. It’s painful, messy, scary..and life changing. The hope that the verse implies is beautiful. We may not know what to expect on the other side of all of this..but either does a baby when it’s born. Life is beautiful and God’s plan for us to be redeemed with Him is amazing!
You’re welcome sisters, I haven’t thanked you all for your comments which has been a huge help to me while catching up (i’ve been behind and just caught up today)..
Another thing that I realized today is that through all of these exhausting rules and laws, I see the love of God WANTING TO ABIDE with His people! Making a way so He can draw near to them! He could’ve just destroyed them all or start all over again (create another earth or race perhaps!) But NO MATTER HOW COMPLICATED IT WAS, HE INITIATED IT! HE GAVE THESE LAWS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO MAKE A WAY TO DWELL WITH PEOPLE!!! TO ABIDE AMONG THEM, AND TO MAKE A WAY SO HE CAN BLESS THEM!
Here I am sometimes feeling tired and bored of reading all of these laws, BUT GOD! He was willing to go through all these complications… even up to the point of giving His own Prized Possession just so He can dwell with us!
Forgive me Lord, and thank you for revealing this to me today…
Amen! Thank you for this! We are all like the unclean lepers described in this chapter without christ. We are outside the camp, alone and destined to die and to be destroyed by the disease that is sin. But Jesus offered out his hand to us, the unclean, ugly wretches sinner. He came to us outside the camp and bridged the way for us to be made clean and live inside the camp with his people. And now we are like that leper who returned and thanked Jesus profusely for healing him. Let us proclaim to the world how great a gift salvation is, and be the faithful wise servant who helps his master do his ministry
Wow. Quite concise. Yet thought provoking. Is the world worth it? If hell is the consequence? A short time of pleasure followed by an eternity of suffering?
46 “As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.” This reminds me of us having the disease of sinful hearts without Christ. It highlights how before His mission of reconciliation we were alone, living for ourselves, living lives screaming “unclean, unclean” but now we don’t have to live outside camp we get to join in community with Him and with one another- how beautiful our Healer is.
Oh yes, this is scary stuff. But today I hear something different than I’ve heard before in this chapter. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but do not be afraid. I am coming. don’t worry that you won’t recognize me, because you will. there will be a lot going on around you to distract you, events and people who will try to pull you away from me. Don’t be fooled. You will know it’s me when I come. Fix your eyes on me, focus in the task at hand, and you will be ready when I come.
For those who are having a hard time reading the Book of Leviticus (like I do!) I found these “5 Keywords that Captures the Message of the Book”
HOLINESS – Teaching the people to differentiate between “Holy” & “Common”… treating what is Holy as Common OFFENDS God.
CLEAN & UNCLEAN – a constant reminder of our inadequacy to maintain a relationship with God apart from His provision.
SACRIFICE & ATONEMENT – God is the aggrieved party & must be appeased by the offender… Genuine remorse & confession required, not just ritual performance.
PRIESTS – Protecting the Holiness of God by “standing between the living & the dead” ..
These are helpful points to go back to when I get lost in the middle of reading the exhaustive rules and laws… To see these all pointing to JESUS, it’s just mind-blowing!!!! :)
Amen. Thanks for sharing! I was reading a commentary for Exodus the other day, and it shared how holiness, and needing to be stripped of everything unclean that is “us” — it simply means when we come to God, we don’t bring our opinions, our rose-colored glasses, or our natural state of humanity. We come to Him on His level, a place reserved fully for Him alone without human interference.
Misce, thank you so much for sharing with us what you found because my “personal deep” perspective was more in the realms of: running immediately to the hospital to check for any potential sore on my body, scratching everywhere, looking for a priest, and probably ending up in the mental ward for saying out loud “unclean, unclean”! Safe to say your version has more learning potential, than mine.
haha moni! your comment made me laugh! i had a similar reaction at first! seriously, i took a closer look at this rash in my left arm! haha! good thing the Lord led me to read some online commentaries! :)
❤️
““However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Matthew 24:36, 44 NLT
we must be ready.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. – Matthew 24:43
Here’s a short video that helped me better understand Matthew 24. Hope it helps someone else as well.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1tRv9yRk6aE
❤️
Amen!
❤️
❤️
Wow! What deep powerful reading today about being clean and unclean. Then, the reading transitioned over to the Lord’s return. Keep faith, and trust God. He will return for us, and we need to be ready.
44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
“Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” May I never be careless in thinking today doesn’t matter.
This resonated with me as well
❤️
So powerful and really helped me understand much more!!
✅
✔️
✅
❤️
It’s crazy but also kind of exciting to think about the end times. At first I wondered why I was so excited and interested to read about it, then I realized it’s because Jesus coming means we get to spend eternity with him and all the wickedness will be wiped from the face of the Earth. It’s something really hard to fathom now, but it will be the culmination of everything we believe.
I am assuming that this passage has rules around leprosy for the protection of the community? But I found the whole passage saddening as those with leprosy are to be exiled and left alone to rot in their disease. As a healthcare provider myself, I can’t help but question why God would be so explicitly clear that these people need to be set apart from society. They did not choose leprosy, so I’m unsure of why it would be ok to force them out and away from others. I don’t run from a cancer patient, or any patient for that matter; I embrace them, love them and hope to help heal them. I’m sure I’m missing something here, I just felt uneasy after reading this.
Hi Megan! I’m sorry to hear how this has burdened your heart. I totally see where you are coming from. I don’t think God’s heart was to not help them or to abandon them. I think he was more so teaching them the importance of being quarantined so that the disease wouldn’t spread and wipe them out as a people. Which is amazing to think about in the sense that the importance of quarantine wasn’t discovered until the seventeenth century. This really shows us how wise and all knowing our God is. This is more so a model of sanitary legislation.
Megan, I’m definitely feeling the same way after reading this. I have an incurable genetic disease and I shudder to think of being born before the time of Christ! “I was sick and you visited me” MT25:36 I feel blessed every time I am visited! I understand the importance of quarantine for highly infectious disease, but many are afraid of all illness and disability, and blessed are those who aren’t! Thank you for your insights.
13But the one who endures to the end will be saved. -ellie
What mercy from God to give the Israelites such extensive knowledge and discernment about leprosy. May we recognize our spiritual uncleanliness, our unworthiness to join into the holy fellowship of God and His people without the righteous garments of the Son.
Lord lord… as the signs of your coming is growing more and more.. please prepare our hearts more as well so we aren’t left behind
70/365 ❤️ what stuck out to me today, we had to be told not to use things that were molded? And avoid sick people so we ourselves didn’t get sick? I know that’s face value. And there’s a lot of parallels. But simple is sometimes just as profound to me. Laws are in place to protect us. And I’m Mathew. Heaven and Esther shall pass away, but the Word of God remains for ever?! And the parable of the good servant. These give me peace after such a dark and scary passage. Amazing.
Done❤️
This helped me understand V 34 I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.
https://www.google.ae/amp/s/www.gotquestions.org/amp/this-generation-not-pass.html
Thank you Chars, this link was very helpful.
Swim down as many times as you need in this river of tears, and push up, rebound up off that bottom — the cross.
Chelsea, do you know what’s at rock bottom? The cross, love. The cross is always there.
Chelsea I am lifting you up in prayers. Just remember repentance is healthy and an important part of the process but ultimately our great God wants you to bring it to him and surrender to him. Please don’t have shame see all the glory that Jesus is. He died for this and for you. There is a much bigger plan at work here growing and stretching you for glory. Hang in there my love. You are being forged.
Unclean. God, my heart is so unclean.
I’m so convicted by this chapter of Leviticus…My leprosy isn’t obvious. It’s in my heart, and it’s eating me away.
I’ve failed. So big. I’ve walked with the Lord my whole life, but just recently, I’ve fallen so out of step with Him. I’ve let my own wants and desires, and a guy I love with my whole heart, come before my relationship with Christ.
And now my lovesick heart is broken, stomped to pieces by that same man who I thought would never hurt me.
And now I’m shattered. So dirty. So unworthy.
I’m begging for your prayers, sisters. I know I’m late in reading this, but if anyone sees this, please pray.
Chelsea, I am sending prayers for you.
I’ve been there too, Chelsea – remember that our God is BIGGER than any mistake we can ever make. He loves our repentant heart and will always welcome us back in His loving arms. I will be praying for you.
Chelsea, in the past month, the same thing has happened to me. My fiancé (whom I had loved more than my own relationship with God) left me after 7 years. Do not lose heart. God is good and he was walking with you all this time. He has a beautiful future that is good for you because he is a good good God. Although you may often feel such grief and heartbreak, make the choice to cling tightly to the foot of the cross and make God the Lord of your life again. He will give you forgiveness and peace to face each day ahead. You will be in my prayers!!
Chelsea…my heart breaks for you…lifting you up to the Father, His arms are open wide waiting for you to walk towards Him. Hand Him your heart, every dirty, broken piece and He will put it back together again slowly but surely. Praying for you, dear sister! Remember that you are never too far gone…oh, please remember that you are loved. Praying healing through these words and the words of the Word.
praying for you
“My master is delayed.” OH what a wicked servant I used to be! I remember many nights of partying too hard where a still small voice in my heart would tell me “no man knows the day or the hour….” And the terror would sober me up. Thank GOD my life has changed, & now I can live a life ready for His return at any time! Thank you Jesus!
I feel like I’m finally starting to understand Leviticus!
I know I’m behind, but today, Leviticus brought me to tears. I can be the most self centered person and God is still going to love me. Wow.
It’s so interesting reading about The Elect, because that was a central belief within Puritan doctrine. I loved researching Puritan literature!
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
imagine the sores and molds all being sin. A little sin makes a whole body unclean. thank goodness that God sent Christ. we have already been declared clean and holy!
The end times should have very little cause for anxiety to those who are saved. As a saved person, I will not go through the the tribulation. I will be raptures out first. Thank God for His mercy & grace!
Matthew was very powerful! I remember being a little girl and having my grandma tell me about this chapter in Matthew. She told me times would becomes wicked and then the Lord would comes save us!
Powerful verses
As a nursing mother, verse 19 freaks me out! Anyone have any insight or connections from other scriptures? Is he describing his coming to us? Or something else?
I don’t really know but I always interpreted it as it would be very difficult if you had to flee to safety.
I had two babies in 2 years and nursed them both for 4 years so I know the anxiety!
Matthew 24:44 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will”. Nobody knows when He will return. Every generation has thought they were “living in the end times”. Think about Rome. Christians were burned as lanterns in garden parties. Important thing, it seems, is to be faithful and obedient regardless.
I am with you! Every generation has had signs of it being the end times, and has had those who have clung to that.
(It used to give me serious anxiety, to be completely honest!)
But once I realized I just need to live for Him and to be mindful of my surroundings, trying to honor God in all I do? The end times are no longer a cause for anxiety, and I have to live like they could come today or not in my lifetime at all! And to worry or try to find the time? It’s wasted, time I could be praising Him instead!
https://www.biblicaltraining.org/library/diseases… check out this link. All you medical brainiacs would find it interesting. I know I did for sure!
Wow these are quite intriguing! Thanks for sharing this :)
Ruth. You have all kinds of stuff. One of the big ones back then was leprosy.. But I’m sure there were other types of infections like staph and stuff like that. Both of those would turn the skin white at first. Staph then can become a boil or blister, both of which are contagious. Leprosy can turn the skin white initially, but will rot away chunks of skin. In the part where he talks about the burns.. He’s talking about 2nd and 3rd degree burns to be isolated, and they are deemed unclean if it gets infected.
Thanks!!!
Most of you will probably think I’m crazy but I was intrigued by this chapter in Leviticus! More so than the chapters on sacrifices (all of your ladies’ comments are what got me through those passages…true story!). I’m a nurse and was so enthralled with this idea that people would come to the priest when they had these skin maladies. As many of you pointed out, we can see the parallel with our sin and how the Lord gave His people a way, albeit complicated, to become clean (or at least identify if they could be clean). But what also struck me is that we probably think it’s horrible for these people who were deemed “unclean” to be separated from the rest of the community and isolated and identified as “unclean.” Well when I think of this super literally (which is different for me because so much of this OT scripture is hard to think of literally when that time was SO different than ours), I also think of the great lengths the Lord went first to identify what their illness was and whether or not they would be allowed to remain with their family, be isolated, or ultimately removed from the rest of the people. Again, thinking of this literally, I see a way to prevent these diseases from spreading and consuming all of God’s people. Furthermore, He didn’t command that they be immediately cast out of society because they were ill. He gave a clear process and system (an algorithm if you will…yes I’m getting very nerdy now) to identify if it was possible for them to remain. I don’t know…I just see through this section (similar to the sacrifices) that these lengthy processes gave a way to keep God’s people close to each other and in communion with Him. Who would have thought a section on skin diseases could affect me this much…ha! (Sidebar: I am also taking me daughter to the dermatologist tomorrow, which made me chuckle).
Thank you Christina!
This fascinated me too. I like seeing when the laws of God make logical sense. It combats the belief that Christianity is about legalism.
Do you happen to have any insight on what the ailments mentioned would be? I was curious about that.
Matthew 24:44 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will”. Nobody knows when He will return. Every generation has thought they were “living in the end times”. Think about Rome. Christians were burned as lanterns in garden parties. Important thing, it seems, is to be faithful and obedient regardless.
Sorry. That wasn’t supposed to be a response!
I’m a nurse too. I love all the medical stuff :)
“Unclean! Unclean!” I will shout these words as I walk by. I am unclean and filled with diseases like lust, pride, lying, and so much more…. But that’s not the end of my story or yours. Jesus came as a doctor to heal the sick. He first reveals our sickness and our uncleanliness then provides us the medicine all our hearts ache for….. Love, touch, care.. Jesus heals us and uses His Grace as our bandages. He overwhelms us with his perfection and makes us clean. Praise Jesus!!
Loved Matthew 24 today. Difficult words to read and scary to think about but what a wonderful Lord we have to reassure and prepare us. Let us keep our eyes on the Lord and praise in our hearts!
In verse 31, when Jesus says “the elect”, is he referring to all Christians? I have heard discussions on the term “elect” and the discussions confuse me. Can anyone clarify?
Election is a very difficult doctrine, in my opinion. My youth pastor just did a sermon on it a couple weeks ago. The elect aren’t necessarily Christians, but those who are given the opportunity to become Christians. It gets more into the free will vs. predestination argument. Basically, God choose those who were allowed to experience the gospel call based on the choice he knew in the beginning they would make, and those are the elect. But they’re not all Christians, because some haven’t heard the gospel preached yet. That’s my very basic high school student understanding, clouded by the fact that it’s almost 1 am :P but I have a couple full pages of notes from the sermon, so if you have any more specific questions I can try to find the answer. Hope that helped at least a bit!
I’m having trouble getting anything out of Leviticus. What are you ladies learning, besides the literal meaning?
Or how do I learn to enjoy and appreciate it more?
Leviticus is all about the law, so when I read it I reflect and think about how Jesus came to fulfill the law. I try and look for him in the midst of all of it. (Check out Hebrews 10)
For example the first five chapters in Leviticus, each sacrifice speaks of Jesus. The first sacrifice (the burnt offering) speaks of Jesus totally dedicated. Check out Ephesians 5:1-2 for the New Testament reference. The second sacrifice (grain offering) speaks of Jesus totally pure. Check out John 12:23 for the New Testament reference. The third sacrifice (fellowship or peace offering) speaks of Jesus is our peace. (Romans 5:1 for NT reference). The fourth sacrifice (sin offering) speaks of Jesus our ultimate sacrifice. (2 Corinthians 5:21 for NT reference). The fifth sacrifice (trespass or transgression offering) speaks of Jesus died for specific sins. (Colossians 2:13 for NT reference). The first three offerings were optional – since they were an aroma pleasing to the Lord. The last two, sin and transgression offering, were mandatory because we ALL sin and have sinned and will sin, so those were required.
When you go on to read chapters 5-7, you’ll notice the order of the offerings changed. The peace (or fellowship) offering moved to the end in its order. This is showing that we won’t have peace until we are reconciled with Christ.
Aaron is a picture of Jesus, our high priest. The sons of Aaron are pictures of us. The grossness of the skin diseases are pictures of how gross sin is.
Praying through theses scriptures and asking God to reveal to you what he’s trying to show you in these passages is always helpful too.
I hope this helps you Kara! Blessings
This is very insightful, thank you!
Our pastor always says when we read gross stuff in the Bible it’s a reminder to us how gross sin is! Reading all about infectious skin diseases will really make you think about that.
I love that reminder, Sarah! Thanks for sharing!
xoxo-Kaitlin for SheReadsTruth
I love how Jesus puts in in Matt 24:45-51! To stop putting it off until tomorrow or a better time, but to be faithful and grow HERE & NOW. Sometimes I think I put off my spiritual growth or heart changes I know I need to make, thinking I’ll do them later or when life circumstances make it a bit easier to focus. That’s so unwise of me! NOW will always be the best time to move and grow and dig deeper!
Katie, I love what you said. I look at it also as an opportunity of repentance and healing. Instead of hanging on to our issues, to give them to God “here & now”, and continue on…
I love how you put that Katie, thank you!
I was really struck by Matthew 24:8 “All these are the beginning of birth pains.” The implication there is something we can relate to, whether or not we have actually had a child. It’s painful, messy, scary..and life changing. The hope that the verse implies is beautiful. We may not know what to expect on the other side of all of this..but either does a baby when it’s born. Life is beautiful and God’s plan for us to be redeemed with Him is amazing!
You’re welcome sisters, I haven’t thanked you all for your comments which has been a huge help to me while catching up (i’ve been behind and just caught up today)..
Another thing that I realized today is that through all of these exhausting rules and laws, I see the love of God WANTING TO ABIDE with His people! Making a way so He can draw near to them! He could’ve just destroyed them all or start all over again (create another earth or race perhaps!) But NO MATTER HOW COMPLICATED IT WAS, HE INITIATED IT! HE GAVE THESE LAWS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO MAKE A WAY TO DWELL WITH PEOPLE!!! TO ABIDE AMONG THEM, AND TO MAKE A WAY SO HE CAN BLESS THEM!
Here I am sometimes feeling tired and bored of reading all of these laws, BUT GOD! He was willing to go through all these complications… even up to the point of giving His own Prized Possession just so He can dwell with us!
Forgive me Lord, and thank you for revealing this to me today…
Amen! Thank you for this! We are all like the unclean lepers described in this chapter without christ. We are outside the camp, alone and destined to die and to be destroyed by the disease that is sin. But Jesus offered out his hand to us, the unclean, ugly wretches sinner. He came to us outside the camp and bridged the way for us to be made clean and live inside the camp with his people. And now we are like that leper who returned and thanked Jesus profusely for healing him. Let us proclaim to the world how great a gift salvation is, and be the faithful wise servant who helps his master do his ministry
amen to that amber! :)
“Those who choose the world for their portion in this life will have hell for their portion in the other life.” –Matthew Henry
Wow. Quite concise. Yet thought provoking. Is the world worth it? If hell is the consequence? A short time of pleasure followed by an eternity of suffering?
46 “As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.” This reminds me of us having the disease of sinful hearts without Christ. It highlights how before His mission of reconciliation we were alone, living for ourselves, living lives screaming “unclean, unclean” but now we don’t have to live outside camp we get to join in community with Him and with one another- how beautiful our Healer is.
Emily, I like this connection!
Oh yes, this is scary stuff. But today I hear something different than I’ve heard before in this chapter. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but do not be afraid. I am coming. don’t worry that you won’t recognize me, because you will. there will be a lot going on around you to distract you, events and people who will try to pull you away from me. Don’t be fooled. You will know it’s me when I come. Fix your eyes on me, focus in the task at hand, and you will be ready when I come.
Love your synopsis! So true and I agree today I find theses words inspirational. He is coming because he loves us!
Love your perspective here Elisha. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this Elisha! I really needed to here this perspective
Thank you for rephrasing it this way! It is very comforting.
I love this!! Thank you!
Misce, thank you!
For those who are having a hard time reading the Book of Leviticus (like I do!) I found these “5 Keywords that Captures the Message of the Book”
HOLINESS – Teaching the people to differentiate between “Holy” & “Common”… treating what is Holy as Common OFFENDS God.
CLEAN & UNCLEAN – a constant reminder of our inadequacy to maintain a relationship with God apart from His provision.
SACRIFICE & ATONEMENT – God is the aggrieved party & must be appeased by the offender… Genuine remorse & confession required, not just ritual performance.
PRIESTS – Protecting the Holiness of God by “standing between the living & the dead” ..
These are helpful points to go back to when I get lost in the middle of reading the exhaustive rules and laws… To see these all pointing to JESUS, it’s just mind-blowing!!!! :)
thanks, that’s helpful!
Amen. Thanks for sharing! I was reading a commentary for Exodus the other day, and it shared how holiness, and needing to be stripped of everything unclean that is “us” — it simply means when we come to God, we don’t bring our opinions, our rose-colored glasses, or our natural state of humanity. We come to Him on His level, a place reserved fully for Him alone without human interference.
Thank you! It is a tough book to get through without recognizing the themes!
Thank you!!! Very helpful!!
So helpful!!!
Whew! I seriously needed that. Thank you for sharing! :)
Misce, thank you so much for sharing with us what you found because my “personal deep” perspective was more in the realms of: running immediately to the hospital to check for any potential sore on my body, scratching everywhere, looking for a priest, and probably ending up in the mental ward for saying out loud “unclean, unclean”! Safe to say your version has more learning potential, than mine.
haha moni! your comment made me laugh! i had a similar reaction at first! seriously, i took a closer look at this rash in my left arm! haha! good thing the Lord led me to read some online commentaries! :)
Thank you, very helpful! Thankful for this community bible study.
Thanks for this! It’s very helpful and I wrote it down in my Bible. :-)
This is actually really really helpful! Thanks so much :)
Such a convicting passage in Matthew. Praying this stirs many hearts – that our faith in Him may increase and strengthen.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Reminder to live each day in praise and honor of Our Father.
Thank you for that reminder. Often when I read these verses I just get scared but I need to remember to live in praise