Leviticus 1

“If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord” (v3). Animal sacrifice was common in the ancient world, but Leviticus gave Israelite worshipers specific instructions to honor the Creator. The animal had to be without blemish (something valuable), and the Israelites were not to randomly sacrifice anywhere or anyhow; they were to come

Exodus 39-40

“And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations” (40:15). Although all of Israel was called to be a “kingdom of priests,” representing God to the world and the world to God, Aaron’s descendants were chosen to offer sacrifices. The priests were anointed to represent everyone, and their garments included twelve gems engraved with the names of tribes, so that all the people were carried together into God’s holy presence (39:14). 

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Exodus 37-38

“And he made a mercy seat of pure gold” (37:6). The head craftsman, Bezalel, used gold for the important objects of the tabernacle, including the covering (“mercy seat”) of the ark of the covenant. Precious acacia wood, bronze, silver, and embroidered linens decorated the holy place, even though it was temporary. Eventually, the tabernacle would be replaced by a Temple, and that Temple would point toward Jesus Christ. 

The “tabernacle of the testimony” (38:21), though temp

Matthew 24

“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (v24). Jesus knew that his followers would face many competing voices – false ‘messiahs’ - promising to fix the world, fulfill their desires, and bring peace to chaos. He reassured them that his glorious return would be unmistakable (v29-31). Until then, they were called to resist deception and “stay awake” (v42), focused on doing his wi

Matthew 23

“They love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues ... and being called rabbi by others” (v6-7). The human bent toward sin means that even God’s amazing Law was used as a means to gain personal glory and have power over others. Jesus warned his listeners against the desire to be ‘above’ others (Rabbi, teacher, Father), instead of all submitting to his Lordship (v10). True moral leadership follows Jesus’ example of humility – “the greatest among y

Psalm 16

“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure” (v5). Through the struggles and dramatic events of his life, the psalmist had learned that God “alone” was his security. Wealth, status, and health could be snatched away, and even close companions were not always reliable. He gave thanks for his blessings – his boundary lines had fallen in “pleasant places” – and recognized that, whatever his circumstances, lasting peace and joy came from the Lord. “You

Exodus 35-36

“And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab ... He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work” (35:34-35). The creation of the extraordinary tent of meeting was an opportunity for the Israelites to offer their best skills and possessions. God called “everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work” (36:2). Not only was God’s Spirit active in their work, but God also inspired experts to teach others, so that knowledge could be shared. 

“The m

Exodus 33-34

“Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” (33:16). Moses realized that he and the Israelites were in no special except for God’s presence among them. They were ordinary, but God had committed to them (34:10), revealed his character and how they should live (34:1), and promised to bless the world through them. His plan was that one day the intimate relationship he had with Moses (34:29)

Exodus 32

“Come, make us gods who shall go before us” (v1). The God of Abraham had parted the sea for the Israelites and gave them miraculous food and water in the desert. He had met every need and committed to them. But when their leader, Moses, spent weeks up on the mountain, the Israelites turned away from this powerful, awesome Creator and turned back to familiar religion. They exchanged the God of the universe for an idol they could see - a god who inspired self-indulgence, no

Exodus 31

“I have called by name Bezalel ... and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship ...” (v2). The meeting tent, and later the temple, was the physical center of Israelite life, just as the Sabbath ordered their week (v12-17). God filled individuals with gifts “to devise artistic designs”, to cut gemstones, to carve wood, and to embroider materials, so that the objects of worship honored the Lord by their be

Matthew 22:23-46

“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (v32). The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had their own ideas about God’s kingdom, righteousness, and authority. They were constantly “testing” Jesus, sensing that his words and actions threatened their power (v15,35). When they asked about which man ‘possessed’ a certain wife in heaven, Jesus knew they were focused on the status and competition which belong to a dying world. God’s kingdom, on the other hand, is “of the

Matthew 22:1-22

“Come to the wedding feast” (v4). Jesus compared God’s kingdom to a king who invited people to an amazing celebration for his son. Many turned away, and others mistreated the king’s servants. The servants then “gathered all whom they found, both bad and good” (v10), while the king rejected a presumptuous guest who wanted in on his own terms (v12). The invitation to God’s kingdom is open to all who desire to enter; however, “hypocrites” who want to look righteous but do no

Psalm 15

“Who shall dwell on your holy hill?” (v1). The psalms tell us that God’s righteousness is not arbitrary nor mysterious; he has revealed what holiness looks like, in his Word. Holiness includes acting with integrity and truth (even at the heart level, v2), not telling lies or harming others, and refusing to boost the reputations of those who are evil. Holiness means keeping our promises even when it costs us, and it means rejecting opportunities to get ahead by stepping on

Exodus 29, 30

Exodus 29:19-20 describes part of the ceremony of consecration and ordination of Aaron and his sons.  Part of that ceremony is described in 29:20. The blood of a ram was put on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear symbolizing he was to hear and obey the voice of God. The thumb of his right hand was anointed indicating that the pragmatic “doing” of life belongs to God.  And finally, the big toe of his right foot was anointed with blood indicating he would follow God’s “way” of li

Exodus 27, 28

A responsibility of the priests was to provide a sufficient amount of virgin olive oil for the lamps in the tent of meeting to be kept burning through the night (27:20,21). The lamp symbolized the Holy Spirit; the Spirit did not leave when the natural light of day was over. 

Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins emphasizes this very personal responsibility (Matt. 25).  Peter (1 Peter 2:9) reminds us we are a “royal priesthood… so that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him wh