I noticed how God tells the Israelites not to do as Egypt did and not to do what the land he is sending them to does, because it goes against the way of God. Isn’t that true today? As Christians, we do not need to be so complacent in the lifestyle in America that defiles God at every turn.
let us not take all that God does and does not do for granted. Let us not take the freedom that Jesus has given us for granted. And let us remain in God by staying true to him and keeping his word so we can experience his abundant love and strong presents
These readings are such a great way to start the day. Remembering what Jesus did for me and how he loves me changes the way I look at the day and interact with people
25and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. – wow strong description but I think they were even sacrificing children- realize why God wanted the Israelites to be holy from the nations they would go into in the Promised Land
He did, but that was before this law and their issues with each other reveal all the reasons you shouldn’t do this. (Also, Jacob probably wouldn’t have married sisters if his father in law hadn’t tricked him by marrying Leah to him first)… even the protagonists in the Bible are all (except for Jesus) sinful human beings. Their stories aren’t necessarily told for us to emulate but to see how God uses them anyway
How the disciples called it a waste for her to pour it out, but Jesus saw as good….reminds me that I need to not pay attention to the disciples voice when doing what God has laid on my heart.
I also loved the ties between avoiding eating the blood in Leviticus and Jesus shedding his blood for us in Matthew. The blood is life, and Jesus’s life was given to us. Amen! Also, as a somewhat history nerd, I love finding little things in the OT that I can relate to things I’ve studied in history. Today that was in Leviticus 18:21 when they talked about sacrificing children to Molek. The Canaanites had a horrible practice of sacrificing toddlers to be burned alive to their idol Molek because they believed that was the only way to appease their “god.” And then the true God specifically forbids this practice! I love finding ties like this!
I am touched by Levicticus 17:14(For the life of every creature is its blood). And in Matthew 26:28 (For this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins) Jesus came to be my sacrifice and my life. He is my life. Reading through Levicticus makes me understand the cross in a deeper way.
I believe, in part, this was because it was a part of practices done in worship to idols by the people around them. He had to be explicitly clear that they were not to do anything associated with the worship of false gods. That is was all of the law was about, setting them apart, making them look completely different so they reflected God’s holiness to the people around them.
The disciples reaction to the perfume is similar to what we would naturally think. The world has raised us to be logical, to be rational, and to do good deeds. But here Jesus is reminding them – He is first. The woman loved the Lord SO much that even His disciples saw it as a waste. When we are following God, we can’t think of our deeds as “sacrifices” or what we gave up in terms of worldly value. It must be love that compels us first and foremost.
I loved my matt 26 commentary about Mary : “what kind of hospitality does jesus receive from your life? Are you so busy planning and running your life that you neglect precious time with God? Or do you respond to him by listening to his word and then finding ways to worship him with your life? It’s the kind of hospitality he longs for from each of us”. Would I have poured out one of my biggest treasures on Jesus?
I have. A question…in Matt 26:24 it says “it would have been better for him if he was not born” referring to judas. can someone explain this to me? Why jesus would say that about someone he created? And, if it was all apart of the plan, then how is he saying that??
I think it’s important to note that Jesus doesn’t say it would’ve been better if you were never born. He says it would have been better for HIM (judas) if he had never been born… Because Jesus knows that judas will later kill himself and suffer eternity apart from God. Hope that helped!
not just disowning Him, i think it’s mainly not seeking repentance and forgiveness after it. Judas didn’t take the blood of Jesus as his payment for sin
“Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced — before you came — and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.’” I love this verse because God saw the past, and was not holding it against the people but rather emphasized the point “before you came”… God’s strict rules, which were very clear and blunt, were for their benefit, their protection.
Fast forward to Judah now. Interesting enough, that while he may have left his old self for a period, his heart went back to the “before he came” to the Lord part. There is a shift in Judah when Jesus spoke about the beautiful thing the woman did for him. It says Judah then went to priests and asked “what are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?”. Judah looked for them, Judah asked…
Great perspective that old habits can still linger in our souls, and we may revert back to old ways. Peter replied “even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”. Great reminder of our weakness, and that as humans we will fall and make mistakes. We constantly need to repent & revert back to the cross…
Of this whole chapter of sexual sin, only three are listed as wickedness, detestable and perverted…are other sins described this way in other chapters? I don’t remember. This brings us back to relationship with others. Having worked with survivors from the sex trafficking my heart is sad realizing God knew before He created us what we would do.
I love when I’m going through a Bible reading plan & passages line up so beautifully, & I can see the connection the Lord makes between the Old covenant and the New. Here in Leviticus we’ve read about sacrifice, and eating blood, and in Matthew we read about the institution of the Lord’s supper, where Jesus offers His very flesh and blood for us. What a beautiful sacrifice, thank you Jesus.
EVERYTHING in the OT Law was so symbolic of the NT reality in which we live. This is one of the parts of the Law that I find fascinating. The very institution of this incomplete Law was set up to point to the completion in Christ!
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’
14 “For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.’
I love that the Law was also set up for Israel’s good. It wasn’t ONLY a set of symbolic principles to hold them over until the coming of Christ.
5 So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may LIVE if he does them; I am the Lord.
I also find it fascinating that the sin of a people affected the very physical land which they inhabited.
25 For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants.
And then the beauty of the Gospel. Here we see one of the first verbal explanations of Jesus’s blood being the full payment for sin and its effects.
27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:21 “As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” They said, “is it me?” Not “is it him”.
❤️
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I noticed how God tells the Israelites not to do as Egypt did and not to do what the land he is sending them to does, because it goes against the way of God. Isn’t that true today? As Christians, we do not need to be so complacent in the lifestyle in America that defiles God at every turn.
Jesus was honored by the woman with the alabaster jar
❤️
❤️
let us not take all that God does and does not do for granted. Let us not take the freedom that Jesus has given us for granted. And let us remain in God by staying true to him and keeping his word so we can experience his abundant love and strong presents
❤️
❤️
Hearing God’s love even for those who betrayed him is so powerful!
✔️
❤️
Isn’t that amazing?!
Officially 20% done with the Bible!
So cool!
✅
These readings are such a great way to start the day. Remembering what Jesus did for me and how he loves me changes the way I look at the day and interact with people
Done❤️
25and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. – wow strong description but I think they were even sacrificing children- realize why God wanted the Israelites to be holy from the nations they would go into in the Promised Land
Reading through Leviticus and Matthew has deepened my thankfulness for the freedom found in knowing and being known by Christ! ❤️
Leviticus 18:18- Didn’t Jacob do this with Leah and Rachel?
He did, but that was before this law and their issues with each other reveal all the reasons you shouldn’t do this. (Also, Jacob probably wouldn’t have married sisters if his father in law hadn’t tricked him by marrying Leah to him first)… even the protagonists in the Bible are all (except for Jesus) sinful human beings. Their stories aren’t necessarily told for us to emulate but to see how God uses them anyway
Yes! And Judah and his daughter in law!
And it made me think of Noah and his sons after the flood
Awesome explanation
trusting in God at all times is harder than it sounds -ellie
May our great hope and excitement be for the day we get to drink of the vine in fellowship and celebration with our Savior in the Kingdom of God.
❤️
Love the connections made here from Leviticus and Matthew! Life is given through blood.so thankful for my savior!!!
Thank you for this insight – excellent
How the disciples called it a waste for her to pour it out, but Jesus saw as good….reminds me that I need to not pay attention to the disciples voice when doing what God has laid on my heart.
I have to ask myself, “Who and what am I focusing on? How I look to others? Or am I furthering God’s kingdom?” Great comment, Stephanie V!
The woman who poured the perfume on jesus gave him her all, is that what I am giving him? Am I giving him my all everyday?
Check out a song called “stay amazed” by Klaus. He talks about this at the end of the song. Really good!
I also loved the ties between avoiding eating the blood in Leviticus and Jesus shedding his blood for us in Matthew. The blood is life, and Jesus’s life was given to us. Amen! Also, as a somewhat history nerd, I love finding little things in the OT that I can relate to things I’ve studied in history. Today that was in Leviticus 18:21 when they talked about sacrificing children to Molek. The Canaanites had a horrible practice of sacrificing toddlers to be burned alive to their idol Molek because they believed that was the only way to appease their “god.” And then the true God specifically forbids this practice! I love finding ties like this!
Thank you for sharing that piece of knowledge about history.
I am touched by Levicticus 17:14(For the life of every creature is its blood). And in Matthew 26:28 (For this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins) Jesus came to be my sacrifice and my life. He is my life. Reading through Levicticus makes me understand the cross in a deeper way.
Good connection! Thanks so much for pointing it out!
Thank you for that beautiful insight, Meaghan
Can I just say how gross it is that people have to be told not to have sex with their mom/stepmom/dad/sister/animal?
I mean, gross.
I believe, in part, this was because it was a part of practices done in worship to idols by the people around them. He had to be explicitly clear that they were not to do anything associated with the worship of false gods. That is was all of the law was about, setting them apart, making them look completely different so they reflected God’s holiness to the people around them.
Love your insight Katyemama
The disciples reaction to the perfume is similar to what we would naturally think. The world has raised us to be logical, to be rational, and to do good deeds. But here Jesus is reminding them – He is first. The woman loved the Lord SO much that even His disciples saw it as a waste. When we are following God, we can’t think of our deeds as “sacrifices” or what we gave up in terms of worldly value. It must be love that compels us first and foremost.
Great perspective! Love the part that “even his disciples saw it as a waste”…
I loved my matt 26 commentary about Mary : “what kind of hospitality does jesus receive from your life? Are you so busy planning and running your life that you neglect precious time with God? Or do you respond to him by listening to his word and then finding ways to worship him with your life? It’s the kind of hospitality he longs for from each of us”. Would I have poured out one of my biggest treasures on Jesus?
Yes, would I be willing to let go of the things I hold so closely? A relationship is worth so much…often I forget. Jesus called her act beautiful-
I have. A question…in Matt 26:24 it says “it would have been better for him if he was not born” referring to judas. can someone explain this to me? Why jesus would say that about someone he created? And, if it was all apart of the plan, then how is he saying that??
I think it’s important to note that Jesus doesn’t say it would’ve been better if you were never born. He says it would have been better for HIM (judas) if he had never been born… Because Jesus knows that judas will later kill himself and suffer eternity apart from God. Hope that helped!
I think He is saying that because He knows what Judas will have to endure for an eternity in Hell for disowning Him.
Thank you both!!
not just disowning Him, i think it’s mainly not seeking repentance and forgiveness after it. Judas didn’t take the blood of Jesus as his payment for sin
“Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced — before you came — and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.’” I love this verse because God saw the past, and was not holding it against the people but rather emphasized the point “before you came”… God’s strict rules, which were very clear and blunt, were for their benefit, their protection.
Fast forward to Judah now. Interesting enough, that while he may have left his old self for a period, his heart went back to the “before he came” to the Lord part. There is a shift in Judah when Jesus spoke about the beautiful thing the woman did for him. It says Judah then went to priests and asked “what are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?”. Judah looked for them, Judah asked…
Great perspective that old habits can still linger in our souls, and we may revert back to old ways. Peter replied “even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”. Great reminder of our weakness, and that as humans we will fall and make mistakes. We constantly need to repent & revert back to the cross…
Amen!
Of this whole chapter of sexual sin, only three are listed as wickedness, detestable and perverted…are other sins described this way in other chapters? I don’t remember. This brings us back to relationship with others. Having worked with survivors from the sex trafficking my heart is sad realizing God knew before He created us what we would do.
I love when I’m going through a Bible reading plan & passages line up so beautifully, & I can see the connection the Lord makes between the Old covenant and the New. Here in Leviticus we’ve read about sacrifice, and eating blood, and in Matthew we read about the institution of the Lord’s supper, where Jesus offers His very flesh and blood for us. What a beautiful sacrifice, thank you Jesus.
…it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. Leviticus 17:11 – Thank you, JESUS for the blood!!
Isn’t that a great parallel to the last supper reading today??
Amen!
EVERYTHING in the OT Law was so symbolic of the NT reality in which we live. This is one of the parts of the Law that I find fascinating. The very institution of this incomplete Law was set up to point to the completion in Christ!
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’
14 “For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.’
I love that the Law was also set up for Israel’s good. It wasn’t ONLY a set of symbolic principles to hold them over until the coming of Christ.
5 So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may LIVE if he does them; I am the Lord.
I also find it fascinating that the sin of a people affected the very physical land which they inhabited.
25 For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants.
And then the beauty of the Gospel. Here we see one of the first verbal explanations of Jesus’s blood being the full payment for sin and its effects.
27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Thank you, Jesus!
Lydia, thank you for making that connection!
We can say thank God for the resurrection
Matthew 26:21 “As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” They said, “is it me?” Not “is it him”.
The guilt was there