TODAY’S READING IN THE ONE YEAR BIBLE
Exodus 19:16-21:21 ~ Matthew 23:13-39 ~ Psalm 28:1-9 ~ Proverbs 7:1-5
HEADLINES: A Fearsome Worship Service at Sinai; The Voluntary Bondslave; Jesus Tells It Like It Is
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Exodus 19:16- 21:21
GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED AT SINAI
In Exodus 19 God has brought the people of Israel to Mt. Sinai, the mountain of God (Ex 3:1; 4:27; 18:5; 24:13). This event was a fulfillment of the promise that God made to Moses when He first made Himself known to him at the burning bush (Exodus 3:12).
Exodus 3:12 This shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain."
The God who created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1 and 2) made Himself known to Abraham (Genesis 12), Isaac (Genesis 26) and Jacob (Genesis 28). He promised them a Redeemer (the promised Seed) and an inheritance (the promised land).
He also humbled Himself and chose to enter a legal agreement with the Patriarchs and their descendants called a ‘covenant’.
The terms of this ‘covenant relationship’ between God and His people are progressively defined as God speaks to Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. Through Moses God prepares the people of Israel to receive 613 commandments known as the Law. These laws would be known as the Mosaic covenant and spell out in writing their moral, social and ceremonial responsibilities before God. Israel would be put in a new position of accountability.
Romans 3:19-20 (NASB) 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Notice that God did not say, "Keep these laws and then I will deliver you out of your bondage". He introduces the Law by saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:1)
He brings His people out of Egypt and then brings them under His government. The Israelites were chosen to be God’s treasured possession among the nations of the earth. The one true God was making Himself known to them and they in turn were to make God known to the nations around them.
God would use this law given through Moses to demonstrate that both the promised redemption and inheritance could only be granted if the conditions of God’s righteousness were fully satisfied.
The good news is that God, the Law-Giver, in Exodus 19, would come to be the Law-Keeper, both on the cross and in our hearts. (Jesus fulfills the law’s demand for a righteous life (Matt 5:17) and the fulfillment for the just punishment for sin through a perfect subsitutionary sacrifice).
God has a purpose for the law. It is holy, righteous, good and spiritual (Romans 7:12,14). It brings to us the knowledge of sin. Never was the law intended to be God’s instrument to put away sin.
A thermometer is an instrument of diagnosis. It shows us if we have a fever. But we do not cure a fever by eating the thermometer. Neither do we cure the ‘illness of sin’ by trying harder to fulfill the law. The law was a guardian, (teacher) put in charge to bring us to Christ. The law brings us to understand that we need God’s grace.
We deserve God’s wrath, but He shows us His favor.
In Exodus 20 we are introduced to The Ten Words, known as the Decalogue, given to Israel.
1. Worship no other gods. (NO FALSE GODS)
2. No created things (Idols) are to have any power over you. (NO FALSE WORSHIP).
3. Don’t misuse God’s name.
4. Keep the Sabbath holy (This was a sign of God’s covenant with Israel).
5. Honor your parents.
6. Don’t murder.
7. Be faithful to your spouse (Do not commit adultery).
8. Don’t steal.
9. Don’t lie.
10. Don’t covet what belongs to others.
We can see how these laws highlight the original relationship that mankind was to have with God. We were made in His image to reflect His moral character. We were created to have fellowship with God and tell the truth about Him. “Do not steal,” says the Law. Why? Because God is not a thief. We were created to tell the truth about God and every time you steal you tell a lie about Him instead. “Do not commit adultery”. Why? Because God is faithful and pure. And to commit adultery is to fail to reflect the moral nature of God. It is telling a lie about God.
Soon we will see that the Law will only be perfectly kept when God, the Law-Giver, becomes incarnate, and as man, perfectly keeps the law on our behalf. He brings the truth about God’s righteousness to light in a way that the written law could not.
John 1:17-18 (NASB) 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God (Jesus) who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
REGARDING ALTARS (Exodus 20:22-26). There shall be no steps leading up to the altar (20:2) illustrating that in the gospel God takes all of the steps to meet us where we are. Any steps we would take would only reveal our nakedness. The gospel repudiates human religion.
We cannot add to the perfection and simplicity of the altar God has given to us with any human instrument. Salvation is of the Lord and not of human construction.
REGARDING SLAVES AND THE ONE WHO SERVES OUT OF LOVE – EXODUS 21
G. Campbell Morgan writes, “Among the first of the Judgments following the enunciation of the Ten Words of the Law, were those which regulated slavery. A careful consideration of them will show that they abolished slavery and substituted for it ‘covenanted labor’. A man might buy a servant, but only for a period of six years service. In the seventh year he must go out free. No man was allowed to hold men or women as his property in perpetuity.” (p. 28, Searchlights from the Word).
There was an exception in which a man could become a servant of His Master for a lifetime (Exodus 21:5-6). It could not be done by the compulsion of the Master. It could only be done by the deliberate choice of the servant.
This is a great example of serving out of love. Many see in Exodus 21:1-6 a foreshadowing of the person and work of Christ, who is called Servant in Isaiah 42:1; Zech 3:8; 52:13; 53:11. Jesus “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant”, (Phil 2:5-7). He fulfills the requirements of His Master- fulfilling the law. In his Transfiguration we see Jesus glorified as the only one who perfectly fulfills the righteous requirements of the Law. But He chooses not to abide alone in His righteousness. Instead He proceeds to be obedient unto death, the death of the cross.
John 12:24 (NASB) 24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Jesus chooses to serve His Master and allow Himself to be pierced that He might take His bride (the church).
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Matthew 23:13-39
Jesus has some scathing criticism of the scribes and Pharisees here. This shatters the picture of tender Jesus, meek and mild. This challenges the sentimental image that people have of the Sunday School Jesus, the ‘nicer than God’ Jesus.
The same Jesus who tells us that idle words will be brought up at the judgment lets His indictments fly at the religious leaders, calling them hypocrites, blind guides, children of hell, whitewashed tombs, beautiful in outward appearance but unclean within.
Jesus also predicts that these leaders will continue the legacy of their ancestors by torturing and killing God’s messengers, specifically referring to death by crucifixion.
When Jesus speaks of the blood guiltiness of all from Abel to Zechariah coming upon the Pharisees and scribes, he is saying that they who claim to be defending God’s messengers are actually guilty of destroying them. Abel was the first one killed for his faith in the Old Testament scrolls (Genesis 4:8-11). The last scroll would conclude with the killing Zechariah (2 Chron 24:20-22)
PROVERBS: PROVERBS 7:1-5 “MAKE INSIGHT A BELOVED MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY” (Prov 7:4, NLT)
As we read through the Bible we gain greater understanding about God’s redemptive work in the world today. The writer of Proverbs reminds us to take God’s commands to heart. Make the insight that God’s Word gives you, your intimate friend.
Proverbs 7:1-4 (NASB) 1 My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you. 2 Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," And call understanding your intimate friend;
I hope you are enjoying reading through the Bible.
Have a blessed weekend!
PASTOR DAVID
So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. (Colossians 1:28, J.B. Phillips paraphrase)
New Life Community Church, Concord, MA 10742
Meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord MA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box Five, Concord, MA 01742
Church Offices: 35 Bypass Rd. Lincoln, MA 01773 978-369-0061
Home Office: 978-371-3176
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