Leviticus 15:1-16:28 + Mark 7:1-23 + Psalm 40:11-17 + Proverbs 10:13-14
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Old Testament – Today in Leviticus chapter 15 we read about bodily discharges… Anyone want to be the guest blogger on this chapter today? 🙂 I am thinking today is a good day to share with you some of Bible.org’s essays on the topic of sex. (though sex is only mentioned briefly in this chapter, still seems appropriate) Check out Bob Deffinbaugh’s “Sex and the Spiritual Christian” at this link. (it’s not based on this chapter but 1 Corinthians 7) Daniel Wallace with bible.org has comments on Biblical views of sex at this link. And then Bob Deffinbaugh again at bible.org has commentary on the relationship between spirituality and sexuality at this link.
In Leviticus chapter 16 we read about the Day of Atonement. Ever wonder where the term “scapegoat” came from? Now you know! This chapter. Check out verses 20-23 about the scapegoat – “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tabernacle, and the altar, he must bring the living goat forward. He is to lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the sins and rebellion of the Israelites. In this way, he will lay the people’s sins on the head of the goat; then he will send it out into the wilderness, led by a man chosen for this task. After the man sets it free in the wilderness, the goat will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land.” There was also the other goat which was sacrificed. I read a commentary that said that both of these 2 goats foreshadowed Jesus’ death – that Jesus was both sacrificed for atonement for our sins and Jesus is our permanent scapegoat.
In verse 34 we read – “This is a permanent law for you, to make atonement for the Israelites once each year.” You’ll notice the “once a year” wording in this verse. Contrast this with Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice discussed in Hebrews chapter 10 verses 12 – 14 – “But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” For further study on Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice, please read Hebrews chapters 10 and 9. Bible.org’s commentary on Leviticus chapter 16 & “The Day of Atonement” is at this link.
New Testament – How very interesting that today’s readings in Mark are about “Clean and Unclean” – based on all of our Leviticus readings recently about this subject. Today we read about Jesus confronting the Pharisees about their “own traditions”. I read in NIV Study Bible and OYB Companion commentaries that after the Babylonian exile (we’ll read about this late this year in the One Year Bible), Jewish rabbis began to make meticulous rules and regulations governing the daily life of people. And that these rules were added to God’s law and essentially elevated to the same sacred status by the Pharisees. In 200 A.D. these traditions of the elders were put into writing in the Mishnah. I think what Jesus gets at here in this chapter is that the Pharisees were allowing the “rules & regs” to overshadow the spirit of God’s law. They were not honoring their parents because of the practice of Corban – giving $ to the temple. Which is a good thing… but at the expense of a great thing of caring for your parents? I know we all could probably go round and round on what is the greatest good – how should we spend our time and our money and our lives. I like that Jesus basically takes us to the heart. What is the heart of the matter? No matter what the matter is – taking care of your parents, giving to your church, following God’s laws, receiving God’s grace – what is the heart of the matter? One thing that I have been so blessed to learn over the past few years is that the condition of our hearts matters. Immensely. The motives of why we do something – anything – matters. Immensely. We are called in Proverbs to “guard our hearts, for it is the wellspring of life.” If we do not care for the state of our hearts, we can become very regimented or insensitive in our thinking and doing. We might even get to the point in verse 8 of this chapter where Jesus quotes from Isaiah – “`These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away.” How is the state of your heart today? Is it close to God?
Jesus continues to speak about the importance of what is in our hearts in verses 20-23 today – “It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.” I think this takes us back again to the Sermon on the Mount – where Jesus teaches us in one example that yes, it is wrong to commit adultery. But, if you commit adultery in your heart, it is just as wrong. Because if you commit adultery in the heart, you have essentially defiled your own heart. And from the heart could come the actual act of committing adultery – which would then shatter several lives. But it all starts in the heart…. So – the good news? Jesus can heal our hearts! Jesus is in the business of heart-healing! Maybe in your life, you might need to refocus a little bit less on some external actions and start focusing on the state of your heart? Maybe by focusing on what’s going no inside your heart, the external actions will ultimately change? Maybe allow Jesus to heal your heart – and then your external life will be healed as well? I’m not sure you can go about this the other way – trying to work from the outside back in… I think you may need to start on the inside first and work your way out. But don’t do this alone – let Jesus walk this healing path with you.
Psalms – Today Psalm 40 verse 16 stood out to me for it’s pure joy and praise – “But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”” Does this verse resonate with you today? Have you searched for God in your life? Are you filled with joy and gladness because of that search? Do you love God’s salvation? Do you shout praises to God for all he has done for you?
Maybe if verse 16 does not resonate for you today, hopefully verse 17 can encourage you – “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now. You are my helper and my savior. Do not delay, O my God.” Do you believe that Jesus is thinking about you right now? Do you believe that Jesus is your helper and your savior?
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 10 verse 14 today is a great teaching to literally treasure knowledge. Do you treasure knowledge?
Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the song “Be Thou My Vision.” Here’s a great live version by Shane & Shane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgLHar8VWJI
Who or what is your vision? Click here for your eternal vision!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on four verses of Scripture today: “He (Jesus) went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.'” Mark 7:20-23 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that your heart is clean. Clean of all evil thoughts, sexual immorality and folly.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day – Back to my reflections above on Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice in the OT section above. Do you believe that Jesus’ sacrifice was “once for all”? Do you believe that Jesus is your High Priest who has made Atonement for your sins? Do you believe that Jesus as your High Priest sits at the right hand of God? If so, how might fully realizing this change how you live? How you pray? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Love, Trust, and Obey Jesus,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
Although off topic for today’s reading, but not off topic for the book, I am writing about something that has been on my heart regarding the book of Leviticus. There are a lot of things in this book that we have not grasped the meaning so we wrestle with trying to understand what we are reading about, what is clean and unclean, animal, social practices, etc. Some of it, no, must of what we read doesn’t make sense to our logical minds so we try to place the regulations and cleansing ritual into a form that makes sense to us. WE explain away things as being something for way back then because they didn’t have … But is that the correct thing to do? I don’t know but what I do know is this,
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3)
And knowing all means all, which means no one is left out, so there is no one who hasn’t sinned, except Jesus.
The consequence for sin is death! “For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23).
However there was a sacrificial system put in place both in the Old and New Testament to deal with the sin and death problem. The system put in place by the death of Jesus Christ ushered in the New just as when the testator’s death ushers in the distribution of the wealth left after the death of the will maker. There is no distinction made by God for sin, sin is sin. {10 For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it (James 2:10 Amp)}We are the ones that make up levels of sin and different degrees of sin. And if all have sinned no one is innocent. That death sentenced is stayed and freedom is obtained, we discover, when we finish reading that twenty-third verse of the sixth chapter of Romans, “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus Christ had not come in the Old Testament so they were under the Law, which was more than the Ten Commandments, which pointed to Christ. That Law was provided to keep them in Fellowship with God, it was not put into place to restore Relationship with God because they were still God’s chosen people. Sin cannot abide with God and since we all sin, which by the way in both the Greek and Hebrew means to “miss the mark” as in a bulls eye we have all missed the mark even as we aim for the center!
Remember the word used in the NLT in the first five chapters of Leviticus when describing the reason or situations for the sacrifice, the text states, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the Israelites the following instructions for dealing with those who sin unintentionally … (Lev 4:1-2a) Sin, intentional and unintentional, creates a ripple effect amongst those who are sinned against. If someone carelessly spills coffee on you, the cost for you to have your clothes cleaned is greater than the cost of that cup of coffee, except if you’ve gotten the coffee from Starbucks or my school’s café. That is why the Law provides for restitution.
The sacrificial system of daily sacrifices that were mandatory and the ones required for intentional and unintentional sin reminded the Israelites daily, 24/7, that they were surrounded by sin in a sinful world. A world brought into a sinful state by the fall of man back in the garden. The system of sacrifices in the Old Testament and the sacrifice of Jesus is God bringing us back to the “In the beginning … state that man had been in before the fall as long as man submitted to the terms of the covenant. Failure didn’t break Israel’s relationship with God; they were still His people just as failure doesn’t break the True Believers’ relationship with God today. However failure will break Fellowship and the means and methods to restore Fellowship was and is provided for in both the Old and New Covenant.
Leviticus 15:1-16:28
Chapter 15, dealing with sexual practices, may also be an exercise in “self-control,” one of the fruit of the spirit. I don’t even know if this is a connection but all day I kept thinking about Proverbs 25:28,
He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. [Prov. 16:32.] (AMP). Adhering to the ceremonial cleanliness laws certainly would have a woman’s husband practicing a great deal of restraint.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Sammy:
It is my personal opinion that Chapter 15 of Leviticus is referring to neither the “good” or “evils” of sex. I could go so far as to say I don’t believe it is referring to sex at all. It is speaking of common sense cleanliness. These people were not privileged to live in an age as we do where the means of taking care of “discharges” can be met by the Hygiene aisles at the local pharmacy…ie., incontinence and personal hygiene/sanitary items. Further, the convenience of washing machines, dryers and Tide can make the bed clean should an “accident” happen. Although this is an important chapter, let’s be careful not to make it something other than what it is. Chapter 17, however, is definitely going into the do’s and don’ts of sex and has very important issues which should be addressed. Just a thought!
Sammy
======= Betty:
I totally agree with Sammy’s comment above. When growing up I heard time and time again from my parents when questioning something in the Bible, “When the Word of God makes perfect sense, seek no other sense!” We do sometimes try to add thoughts when God was making a clear, simple principle!!
Regarding the Scapegoat – what a beautiful picture of Jesus! I have always been awed by that thought. Our Savior – Messiah was ALSO our scapegoat. He took the blame laid on Himself and carried it away. The symbolism of the scapegoat gives me an even greater picture of His love than even the name Savior or Messiah! Because as a human I can grasp the concept of the scapegoat where I can’t always fully comprehend all the meaning behind “Savior” or “Messiah.” It is an “earthy” picture, an object lesson of sorts, picturing our Jesus as the scapegoat that took my sins away! How great is His love!
Betty
======= Mark:
Every other sacrifice in Leviticus applies to just one person. The scapegoat was efficacious for all the sin, rebellion and iniquities for the children of Israel. Yes, a beautiful picture of Christ, the second Adam, who gave his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 7:20-23 Ouch!! Sometimes I pride myself in what I avoid – but again I am reminded that it is what goes out of my mouth (and life) that defiles me. How blessed I am that Jesus bore that away from the camp as well!!
Psalm 40:16 “But all who are hunting for you– oh, let them sing and be happy. Let those who know what you’re all about tell the world you’re great and not quitting.”
Have I mentioned that God is great lately? ;-o)
Keep walking with God, keep walking through his Word!
Mark
======= Ed:
How wonderful God is!!! He is so great that we must constantly be reminded that nothing we do makes us holy. He alone is the source of our holiness… As someone has said, “Holiness is not something placed on the outside and forced inward; rather, it is something place on the inside [by God] and works its way outward.”
What great readings today that contrast this very idea that what man could not do in the flesh; God can do in the spirit!
Ed
========= Anka:
Lev16:21 “He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head”.Hmmm the priest sure had his work cut out for him….confessing ALL Israel’s sins…wonder if the goat just stood there quietly,guess not.Jesus has made prayer and intercession so much easier,not to mention having access to God by faith( not cleansing rituals and sacrifices)
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
“The LORD be exalted!”
Truly we have cause to exalt God for his mercy!
Anka
====== Roslyn:
Daniel Wallace’s philosophical, psychological, theological/biblical treatise on love and sex/sexuality is a “must” to read. I’m glad that someone has finally tried to put together a holistic view on love and sex and its signifciance in strengthening the committted relationship between two individuals.
Sometimes Christians when talking about sex (and other issues) merely quote scripture to support their arguments without taking into consideration
the psychological aspects of our humanity. As human beings, we are all these in one: physical, intellectual/cognitive, socio-emotional, moral, spiritual.
It’s when we separate or dichotomize our nature that we end up having problems with our own selves just as when we separate ourselves or out of synch in our relationship with God.
A beautiful sexual relationship between two committed people strengthens the emotional bond and brings about spiritual unity. Indeed this is symbolized by the triangle with Christ at its apex as diagrammed by Daniel in his concluding paragpraph.
This was exactly the kind of marriage that I had with the beauty and splendor of sex, emotionally strong, spiritually grounded/rooted though unfortunately it only lasted seven years, but I can proudly say to this day —-they were the most beautiful years of my life!!!
Roslyn
======= Micah Girl:
What a blessing, Roslyn, that you experienced : – )
Micah Girl
======= Laura:
Rosyln, great synopsis on Daniel Wallace’s article and I am glad that you experienced a happy and Godly marriage for 7 years. It’s unfortunate that it only lasted for so brief a period of time. I hope that you will find that joy in your life again. It’s great that we can have joy and peace in our life because of Christ when people often fail us.
God alone, as Ed says is our source of holiness. I don’t think I could of said that better myself. Good day and God bless.
Laura
======= Mae:
Psalm 40 is awesome!!! Just AWESOME!!!
Verse 16 kept echoing in my head “But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
You know .. it’s 7.30am and THIS is the best way to start my day! I have a huge smile on my face “The Lord is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”.
Does this verse resonate with you today? Have you searched for God in your life? Are you filled with joy and gladness because of that search? Do you love God’s salvation? Do you shout praises to God for all he has done for you? ~ I have searched for God in my life, absolutely! And yes, I’m filled with joy and gladness because of that! I know He’s with me all the time, He lives in my heart and that’s my faith and freedom! He has done so much for me! I just can’t stop smiling today … just because I had the time to start out with doing todays readings and saw verse 16 of Psalm 40. FYI, I’m listerening to U2 now … “40” …
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really need to go. We have a special guest today, my little cousine from 2 years old. She’s so cute … but a hand full, eh? LOL
Have a wonderful day everybody!
Remember: THE LORD IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mae
======= Sunshine:
Psalms 40 is truly awesome!! I sing in my car every day with the except of this week of the sore throat about how awesome God is..:) Yeah!! Air 1 is what I listen to and it makes my day
Jesus is our High Priest.
I believe that Jesus is our High Priest that sits at the right hand of God. This has changed me by the way that I have a little boy and I want him to know who Jesus is and where he came from. He is always asking me questions. We have had a lot of death in our family so I explain to him where Heaven is and he understands, I personally think that is wonderful for a 3 year old.
Sunshine
======= Jenny:
Wow, the I love Ps 40. that is sooo my prayer right now!
“Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. For troubles surround me—too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.
“Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me….As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay!”
i’m just praying this one!
I love in Mark how Jesus talks about the heart: It is what comes from inside that defiles you.
so much we try to blame outer things on our sin, like the ease of access to sinful things. which certainly doesnt help! but wen it comes down to it, all these evil things are already in our heart, and thats still not an excuse.
Lev ch 15, um… eeeeeeeeeeew. lol
Jenny
======== Elizabeth:
Hello Out There! ; )
This verse from psalms reminded me of all we have been reading in Leviticus regarding sacrifices:
“In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.” -Psalm 40:6
And the Believer’s Bible Commentary here fleshes this out nicely:
“In Heb_10:5-9 we learn that these words were the language of the Son of God when He came into the world. He was saying, in effect, that although God had instituted sacrifice and offering for the nation of Israel, they never represented His ultimate intention. They were designed as types and shadows of something better to come. As temporary stop-gaps, they had their place. But God was never really satisfied with them; to Him they were less than ideal because they did not provide a final solution to the sin problem. Recognizing the inherent weakness of burnt offerings and sin offerings, God instead opened the ears of His Beloved Son. This simply means that the Savior’s ears were open to hear and to obey the will of His Father. It was with this attitude of willing and ready obedience that Christ came into the world.”–Believer’s Bible Commentary
With all of those regulations and requirements, it was still not really what the Lord was after with all of us (thank God!) I would crumble under that, at least I think I would from my comfort-driven 21st century perspective.
Thank God that Christ was open to obedience, to bearing our sins when we were clearly not able.
I love this verse from Psalm 40 too:
“He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock.” -Psalm 40:2
Surely He’s done this for ALL who trust in Him. Isn’t there an old song/hymn that uses this imagery: “He took my fee out of miry clay” or something along those lines? And it reminds me of Pilgrim’s Progress too when little Christian was trying to get through that bog.?
Elizabeth
======= Annette:
I have learnt that the only way of victory is to subject each thought to Christ. To flee as Joseph fled from Potiphar’s wife. To leave friends that are bad influence and to watch what I am subjecting my mind to (TV) and certain music. It is like a bird flying over your head (the thought) if you allow the bird to sit it will make a nest. Once … See Morethe thought process has fully developed and if not stopped, sin then is fully grown and brings forth death. Spiritual death especially if continued. Thankfully that should we have sinned we can come to the Father and confess before Him and He makes us just as if we have never sinned because of Christ Jesus. Victory is possible, but we need to understand the process of sin so that we can avoid falling.
Annette
======= Zac:
I have found very few hymns that deal with the themes of Leviticus in a way that is deep and rich. Isaac Watts has written one which is an exception to the rarity. We’ve set it to new music, and if people are interested in a reflection that nails the heart of the first half of Leviticus through the lens of Christ, I commend the song!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/GCTsFBqgaZw?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
Thanks,
Zac Hicks
http://www.zachicks.com
======== Steve:
Mark 7:20-23
He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Today’s readings and Mike’s links all point the same direction, the need to humble ourselves before God and take Him at His word. The links on marriage point to the necessity of seasoning our relationships with grace, humility and solid biblical principles.
The links on relationship also made me wonder if we might do well to re-think some of our relationships, changing our view from people that come up short and don’t fully meet our expectations too people who are succeeding, excelling, doing well. When we look at others as succeeding, we are humbling ourselves; we are soothing and promoting unity. I think this view also frees us because as we stop finding fault in others, we stop skeptical thoughts from incubating which frees us from the need to polish our own brass and maintain our own false image.
Steve
======= Tammy:
Mike,
I know I am a few days late in posting this but I can tell you that I have really gotten into the readings this last couple of days. I was on a retreat w/out internet access so I could read my daily reading but not the blog. So this morning I am catching up with reading the blog. It is really interesting to me this year as I am reading Leviticus how much more I am getting from it and that I am enjoying it. That surprises me! The reading on this day really was interesting because of both a OT and NT teaching on cleanliness. Going to the OT and reading about the sacrifices and the use of a scapegoat is a clear picture of the Christ to come. Just as the priest placed his hands on the goat and transfered sin to the goat who was then slaughtered, we have all place our sins on Christ and He was crucified. What a powerful image in my mind. He was the final sacrifce! I can take my sins directly to my High Priest for forgiveness and His name is Jesus. And yes The word tells us He sits at the Father’s right hand so our voices calling out to Him echo in His Father’s ears also. Oh How He Loves Us!!!
Tammy
======= Bob:
SEX: David Maclean has some interesting words (and tips) about men and our wives in his weekly blogs: “How’s the viz?” Wholehearted Men – Dave MacLean
Here is an excerpt: “Women bear the image of God in a way that is very distinct from how men bear the image of God. There are many ways in which that is evident, but one way is in a woman’s desire to be pursued, to be delighted in.
God said, “If you seek me you will find me if you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:13
Basically God is saying, “I am worth your effort. Pursue me.”
I believe women carry that same desire to be pursued. Your wife wants you to pursue her, to delight in her, to discover her, and to demonstrate your love for her. She wants to know that she is worthy of your pursuit.”
Bob
======== Renee:
I love how Jesus speaks to people. With such direct honesty and clarity. Everything he said had purpose and was meaningful to all he spoke to at that moment. The people could relate to his parables and examples.
Sadly, the Pharisees chose their traditions and practices over what Jesus was saying. They couldn’t and did not want to relate to his messages. They spoke about God…but, their heart was far from him.
Renee
======= Robert:
Mark 7
Lots to chew on and Jesus certainly stirs up things here.
When it comes to God’s Laws I have to try to distinguish between religion and Human tradition. A lot of it like washing hands is common sense and prudent. Our hearts are sometimes in question, especially vain worship. Some of the rules we face can be our human nature and the root of our sin. We had a big issue about teens wearing hats in the sanctuary during worship. I still don’t know if its wrong but it sure stirred up some heated debate. What would Jesus say?
When it comes to guarding my heart, I like to think of myself as a temple of the Holy Spirit. God dwells in me. What’s Jesus say to me about what goes in and comes out of that temple? If I have questions or problems with that then simply asking him should lead me to answers. For instance, I know I have pride issues I don’t always see, so I ask to be aware of that sin before it rears its ugly head. Like in my post yesterday when a friend called me a sage. I had to deliberate over that awhile before I wrote it. My words to him were not mine. It was all God and I was only the chosen instrument. Know what I mean?
BE THOU MY VISION
I have already requested that this be sung at my funeral some day.
Psalm 40:12
My sins are more than the hairs of my head. Yet God knows every hair on my head. Luke 12:7
Marriage Issues
I recommend a good Christian counselor and your pastor can usually help with this. I had the opportunity to attend a Promise Keepers Retreat a few years ago and this is usually a first priority topic. Of course, it is a men’s get together so here are a few good perspectives from a guy’s point of view;
https://www.youtube.com/embed/PhJOMlmUXY4?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
Robert
======= Mitch:
NT – In those times – there was a word for “brain” but humanity did not know how it functioned. In ancient Israel the heart was considered to be the seat of the mind, desires, emotions, and will.
So what comes out of your mind, your desires, your emotions, and your decisions – that is where evil resides. It is in us.
Mitch
======= Dee:
The rituals of clean vs unclean and atonement for sin. I know it all sounds bad but God created everything for our good and wanted nothing to separate us from that love. Then u have Jesus teaching his disciples about clean vs unclean of the intentions of your heart. People that are of this world always want to contradict the Word and its testimony. However nothing. No! Thing! Now tomorrow or forever will separate God’s people from His love. His love reaches to the heavens..is forever! Amen!
Dee
======= John:
Leviticus 16 – Scapegoat
“The Need for Presentation”
How do we stand before the Lord, without the shame of our past? Yes, we are forgiven, but we still are haunted (through thoughts)at times by our past.
The scapegoat is a beautiful picture of that process. Notice first one was to do the sin and burnt offering, for acceptance and forgiveness. Then the scapegoat was addressed.
======================================================
“You notice that all the iniquities, all the transgressions, all the sins were placed upon the head of this goat.
Both of these goats are a picture of Jesus: In one he is represented as satisfying the heart of God on our behalf and rendering God free to love us without any restraint at all by his justice. God’s justice has been satisfied. He no longer makes demands of that kind upon us. He is free to forgive us at any time and to love us. But the second goat represents Christ as bearing the whole weight and load of our guilt, all that which the Devil tries to use as a basis upon which to ground his accusations against us. All this is to be sent back to him from whence it comes. When our Lord died he went into the wilderness of death like this goat, and returned to Satan all the accusations which he has against any believer at any time.
So what this passage is teaching us is that this is what we are to do with these accusations. In Ephesians 6, Paul calls them “the fiery darts of the wicked one” {cf, Eph 6:16}, i.e., all those little suggestions to us that we really aren’t accepted and loved by God, that he still has a reservation about us and that we still aren’t able openly and boldly to come before his presence, and all the haunting memories of our past shame, our feelings of unworthiness, our filthy thoughts, and the flashes of fear that come upon us. What are we to do with them? Well, we are simply to put them right on the head of Jesus and say, “Lord, take them back to Satan. They don’t belong to me. They are not my thoughts. They didn’t originate with me. They may feel like mine but they are not. They belong to him. That is where they came from and I am sending them back. And I recognize that in your sight they are no longer taken into account in any degree, and that I stand boldly in your presence.”
That is the purpose of the great Day of Atonement. It means that we are able to do as the Scriptures exhort us — to stand and present ourselves before the Lord of Glory and, as Paul says in Romans 12, “by the mercies of God, present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship,” {cf, Rom 12:1 RSV}.”
John
======= John:
Mark 7:9
“And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!” NIV
“tradition – Gk. Paradosis – giving over, surrender, substitute.
God wants YOU. He wants all of you. At salvation – He wants all your heart – not just the part you are willing to submit to God.
Isaiah said it, and Jesus said it – people who think they are following God by substituting what “mankind” is willing to “give over” to God – well, their worship is in vain.
Don’t get me wrong – the things offered in substitution are not “bad” – afterall – one would never offer God something bad. People offer God any or all of rituals, Sunday time, money, formulaic prayer, good works. That is not what God wants – He wants ALL of you. The substitutes “man” offers above – are simply not good enough.
He wants repentance (John the Baptist), acknowledgment of sin (Paul), and that you believe and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior (all through the gospel of John). He wants your heart to not only acknowledge and believe, but to Trust in Him.
So the question is: Did you give God what He wants? – what He commands? – or did you (knowingingly or unknowingly)fall into a religious ritualistic upbringing where the “tradition” of man has decided what it is God wants? Seems right to you, plenty of others do it, works for you, I am offering God good things, etc.
That is not an easy question – it is one that each person has to examine in their own hearts. When it comes to God’s Word and the “traditions” (substitutes) of mankind, the choice of which to follow has eternal consequences. When in conflict – the two cannot be mixed.
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I wrote the above in terms of salvation. That is the “worst case scenario” of falling into man’s traditions/substitutes. It certainly can also apply to a “believer” who has retrenched. Who does not worship God with all their heart. Who is in sin, and out of fellowship with God.
The beauty of that is – like in Leviticus 15 – one has to just go wash in the Word and confess and ask for forgiveness from God and fellowship will be restored. Just like the person with discharge (uncleanliness) has to wait for the evening (The new day in Jewish culture). the restoration of fellowship with God will be a “new day” for them. God will forgive and restore.
John
======= John:
Mark 7:20-23
“He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’” NIV
Ray Stedman says, “This is very important for us to know. It is what delivers Christians from being self-righteous snobs — when we realize that what our Lord has outlined here is true of every single one of us. Do not go through this list and pick out the things you do not do. What Jesus is saying to you is, “If you are guilty of one of them, you are capable of all of them.” You need only the proper circumstances to show you how true that is.”
Man is fallen in nature – and it stems from what is in our heart. I believe that is why God demands our coming to Him with an open heart. It is why Isaiah and Jeremiah talk about the “heart” a lot!!!
Even if you do not accept Ray’s comments about your capability of performing any sin on the list – consider this:
-Hitler sinned.
-I have sinned.
-Hitler and I are miles apart from each other in our natures.
-without “salvation” both of us are millions upon millions of miles apart from God.
Therefore – standing where God stands and from his Holy (separate and distinct) postion – when he looks at Hitler and I from millions upon millions of miles away – we are indistinguishable. We may be miles apart – but to God – the difference is moot. We both need the blood of Christ to be able to approach God at death.
The point is: It is not the degree of sin in our lives, but that we ALL are sinners by nature.
Rom 3:10
“As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;” NIV
John
