Leviticus 19:1-20:21
Big Idea
The book of Leviticus emphasizes the importance of holiness and obedience to God's laws for the Israelites.
Commentary
The LORD speaks to Moses about the laws for the people of Israel and strangers who sojourn in Israel, emphasizing their responsibility to be holy.
The commands given by the LORD include not turning to idols or making gods of cast metal, offering sacrifices of peace offerings, eating the sacrifice on the same day or next day, burning leftover food after three days, leaving gleanings and fallen grapes for poor and sojourner, doing no injustice in court, judging neighbor in righteousness, loving your neighbor as yourself.
The LORD provides specific instructions on how to offer sacrifices and eat them, emphasizing the importance of being accepted by God.
The people are commanded to love their neighbors as themselves and treat strangers who sojourn with them as natives.
The LORD commands justice in court, not to oppress neighbors, and to stand up before gray heads and honor the face of an old man.
The people are commanded to consecrate themselves and be holy, and to keep His statutes.
Claims
- The Israelites must offer sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD and eat them on the same day or next day.
- Anyone who gives their children to Molech shall surely be put to death.
- If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, they will be cut off from among their people.
Popular Mistakes
Misunderstanding
Making sacrifices of peace offerings is optional
Correction
The Israelites must offer sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD and eat them on the same day or next day.
Misunderstanding
Giving children to Molech is not a serious offense
Correction
Anyone who gives their children to Molech shall surely be put to death.
Application Questions
- What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself, and how can you apply this command in your daily life?
- How can you show respect for the elderly and honor the face of an old man?
- What are some ways you can consecrate yourselves and be holy, and why is this important?
Mark 8:11-38
Big Idea
Jesus teaches about the importance of spiritual understanding and the dangers of seeking signs from heaven.
Commentary
The Pharisees test Jesus by asking for a sign from heaven, but he refuses to give one.
Jesus warns his disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, indicating the corrupting influence of their teachings.
A blind man is healed outside Bethsaida village, demonstrating Jesus' power over physical and spiritual blindness.
Jesus teaches his disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected, but will rise again after three days.
Peter rebukes Jesus for saying he must die, but Jesus corrects him by calling him Satan.
Jesus teaches the crowd about the importance of denying oneself and taking up one's cross to follow Him.
Claims
- The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, scribes, and be killed.
- Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Jesus' sake and the gospel's will save it.
- What can a man give in return for his soul?
- The Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
Popular Mistakes
Misunderstanding
<a blind man is healed because he has faith
Correction
A blind man is healed because Jesus has compassion on him and performs a miracle>
Misunderstanding
<Jesus refuses to give a sign from heaven because He is unwilling to perform miracles
Correction
Jesus refuses to give a sign from heaven because it would not change the Pharisees' hardened hearts>
Application Questions
- How can we apply Jesus' teachings about denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow Him in our daily lives?
- What does it mean to lose one's life for Jesus' sake and the gospel's, and how can we demonstrate this in our actions?
Psalm 42:1-11
Big Idea
The psalmist expresses deep longing and thirst for God's presence.
Commentary
The psalmist compares their soul to a deer panting for water, emphasizing the depth of their desire for God.
The psalmist remembers past experiences of worship and praise, highlighting their desire to return to that state.
God is described as a rock and a source of steadfast love, emphasizing their reliability and faithfulness.
The enemies' taunts about the absence of God are repeated throughout the passage, underscoring the psalmist's sense of isolation.
The psalmist's adversaries are portrayed as oppressors, adding to the sense of danger and vulnerability.
The psalmist's soul is compared to a deer panting for water, emphasizing their deep longing for God.
The psalmist remembers past experiences of worship and praise, highlighting their desire to return to that state.
God is described as a rock and a source of steadfast love, emphasizing their reliability and faithfulness.
The enemies' taunts about the absence of God are repeated throughout the passage, underscoring the psalmist's sense of isolation.
The psalmist's adversaries are portrayed as oppressors, adding to the sense of danger and vulnerability.
Claims
- Hope in God is a recurring theme throughout the passage.
- God is described as a rock and a source of steadfast love.
- The psalmist expresses deep longing and thirst for God's presence.
- The psalmist remembers past experiences of worship and praise, highlighting their desire to return to that state.
Popular Mistakes
Misunderstanding
<The psalmist is complaining about God's absence.>
Correction
<The psalmist is expressing deep longing and thirst for God's presence, despite feeling isolated and oppressed.>
Misunderstanding
<God is not present in the psalmist's life.>
Correction
<God is described as a rock and a source of steadfast love, emphasizing their reliability and faithfulness.>
Application Questions
- How can you apply the psalmist's expression of hope in God to your own life?
- What are some ways you can cultivate a sense of longing for God's presence in your daily life?
- How can you respond to the taunts of enemies or oppressors, as the psalmist does in this passage?
Proverbs 10:17
Big Idea
The importance of heeding instruction and rejecting reproof in order to live a good life.
Commentary
The verse emphasizes the consequences of one's choices, highlighting the contrast between following God's guidance and ignoring it.
Whoever heeds instruction is on the right path, but whoever rejects reproof leads others astray.
Heeding instruction is a key to a good life, as it keeps one on the path to life.
Rejecting reproof has a negative impact on others, leading them astray from God's guidance.
The choice between two paths is a personal one, and each individual must decide which way they will go.
Heeding instruction shows that one values wisdom and is willing to learn from others.
Rejecting reproof indicates a lack of humility and a refusal to listen to others' advice.
The path to life is contrasted with leading others astray, highlighting the importance of making wise choices.
God's warning is directed at the general public, emphasizing that this message is for everyone.
Claims
- Heeding instruction leads to a good life.
- Rejecting reproof leads to negative consequences for oneself and others.
- The choice between two paths is a personal one.
Popular Mistakes
Misunderstanding
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life
Correction
This implies that following God's guidance guarantees success, but it actually emphasizes the importance of making wise choices. (Corrected understanding: Heeding instruction is a key factor in living a good life, but it does not guarantee success.)
Misunderstanding
Rejecting reproof leads others astray
Correction
This might be misread as saying that rejecting reproof only affects oneself, when in fact it has a negative impact on others.
Application Questions
- How can you apply the principle of heeding instruction to your daily life?
- What are some ways you can reject reproof and lead others astray without realizing it?
- How can you make wise choices that will keep you on the path to life?