Well, we’ve reached that part of Leviticus. We’re deep in the rules of worship, ancient rituals that can feel weird and distant from our own practice of faith. I know when I’ve tried to read the Bible straight through, this is the part where I usually get bogged down and look for something more relatable. It’s tempting to skim through all these regulations, but if we stick with it, we learn to see one of Jesus’s miracles in a whole new light.
So, what’s the deal with all this bodily-fluid talk? We know the ancient Israelite culture was focused on family legacies, going all the way back to Abraham’s first promise. Stories of children born in extraordinary circumstances are all over Scripture. So perhaps these rules reflect how seriously this culture took the foundations of life. It’s important to notice that these rituals treat sex with respect, not shame, and that unclean is a temporary state, not an entire identity.
Unfortunately, it was entirely possible for this law to bar someone from worship indefinitely. This must have been the case for the woman who sought Jesus after twelve years with a bleeding disorder. According to the law, she was unclean for all of those twelve years (Matthew 9:20–22). Anything and anyone who touched her would become unclean. Her only hope was for her bleeding to heal, and even then, the law required a waiting period and a sacrifice to fully restore her to community worship (Leviticus 15:25–30). For twelve years, through no fault of her own, she was isolated from her community and perhaps, in her eyes, God.
So imagine this woman hearing stories of a traveling healer. Imagine the longing as she spots him and melts into the crowd, too ashamed to ask for help, careful not to let anyone touch her and become defiled. Imagine her quietly slipping up behind Jesus and brushing her fingers on the edge of his robe, hoping that maybe, just maybe, this could make her well.
When we know the gravity of the law and her culture, we can see just how bold she is and the radical kindness in Jesus’s response. He doesn’t rebuke her for contaminating him. He does not treat her like something ugly and unclean. He calls her “daughter” and offers her the words she longed to hear: “Your faith has saved you” (Matthew 9:22).
How often have we seen stories like hers play out, where a good law meant to bind a community together becomes used to divide and dehumanize? It’s a story we’ve seen replay over and over in history, but once again, Jesus offers us a better way. Where human efforts can make us clean, Jesus can make us whole.
Thankful for Jesus. He made a way to always have access to God…no waiting periods or constant sacrifices! Jesus paid it all, once and for all! Hallelujah!
comfort You*** (like I said, I use a tablet that is very old lol)
@Susan L– for some reason, I can not see your post that propelled all these prayers. I don’t use the app, I use the website on my tablet. Maybe that’s why. But based on what other people are praying, I want to pray peace over you. God loves you and He is with you in the valley of the shadow of death. He will guide you and comfort yoie, as His word says. Psalm 23. I pray that over you and speak His perfect and unexplainable peace. <3
These are difficult passages. Another reminder that God makes a way. Thankful for Christ’s sacrifice that freed us in so many ways, and praying for strength to handle today’s challenges.
DIANE MOM – praying for your husband and you
GRAMSIESUE – safe travels, praying for a good report
SUSAN LINCKS – praying for your upcoming surgery, recovery and healing. My heart breaks thinking about what you are dealing with.
DOROTHY – praying for a stress free day
GRETCHEN STENCIL – praying for answers and healing
After reading today’s passages, I am reminded once again just how sinful and unrighteousness we are without the cleansing blood of Christ. Sin taints everything in our lives — everything we do, everything we believe and love, even the way we are. God is the Atonement and is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We saw the ceremony concerning the blood and oil being put on a person’s right ear lobe, right thumb, and right big toe again in today’s reading. I found this thought in Barnes’ commentary. The ear reminds us of what we hear, the thumb of our work (what we do), the big toe of our going (our lives, the way in which we go). Our hearing affects what we do. What we do affects the way in which we live. Jesus cleanses and restores all of these things. He renews our hearing, our work, and our lives. Also, it is Jesus’ blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness and the Holy Spirit that gives us the power live righteously.
This passage also shows us the ceremony concerning the two birds again. I found this thought concerning this ceremony in Barnes’ commentary. The two birds remind us of Christ’s work in our lives. When Christ cleanses us of our sin, we can die to the way of life that leads to death (the bird that is killed) and we can live in a life filled with freedom that comes with following Christ in His power.
The unclean home reminds me of our hearts. Our hearts are a symbol of God’s home. He comes to dwell in our hearts. Our hearts are unclean because of our sin. Even though we are redeemed, we still have sins that the Lord has to reveal to us. As we examine our hearts and the Lord works His work of sanctification within us, He will reveal our sin to us. Sometimes, the sins are not so deeply ingrained in our hearts, so God is able to scrape it out of our hearts. It’s painful, but not too deep. Other sins are so ingrained in us, they become a part of who we are. God has to break our heart over our sin and break our will so that we will submit to His ways. He does this bit by bit. It is very painful, but when it is done, He gives us a new heart that is soft toward Him and His ways. He is able to dwell in us and we are able to abide with Him.
The laws concerning bodily discharges reminds me that we are not sinful because of what comes in our bodies, but what comes out. Our hearts are the springs of our life (Proverbs 4:23). From our heart flows our beliefs, loves, thoughts, and actions. Our actions and attitudes show how our hearts are polluted with sin. Only God can cleanse our hearts and renew them to make them clean and flow with His everlasting life.
Good morning. I would like to ask for prayer for my family. My husband and I are musicians and part of our job is touring and playing shows. We have 4 children and lately someone is always sick. It makes it difficult for us to leave them, even for a day or so. This week we are all supposed to travel together. Last night the 3 year old started throwing up. Sickness feels constant in our house and it is very discouraging. Please pray for health and that we would be able to travel this week and play our shows. Thank you. ♥️
I want to thank everyone for your prayers. Our gracious heavenly Father chose to answer our rising rent problem in a miraculous way. We will not face the possibility of moving for another year! My husband’s Parkinson’s dementia short term memory issues grow worse by the day. More care falls to me but I’m thankful he still is able to care for his personal needs and help with tasks, still knows people. So thankful for family who are very helpful. My health issues remain unchanged but I have new doctors working hard to find pain relief. Please continue to pray. Love and pray for SRT sisters.
Yes Jen, Definitely a hard section of the Bible to read especially as I do my devotions with breakfast. What caught my attention is that the people with leprosy had to offer a sin offering. I know many times throughout scripture it talks about who sinned when a person has an ailment, so I understand that is also the way leprosy was viewed. It also makes sense why even now people sometimes believe an illness is the result of their sin. I feel for the people who believe that when it is not the case. It gives room for greater separation from their relationship with God.