Leviticus 16
Only once a year appearance within the vailverses 1-2
And the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the
two sons of Aaron – when they offered before the LORD
and died
And the LORD said to Moses – Speak to Aaron – your brother
that he come not at all times into the holy place within the
VAIL before the mercy seat – which is on the ark
that he die not – for I will appear in the cloud
on the mercy seat
Aaron is to enter the Tabernacle properlyverses 3-5
Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place
with a young bullock for the sin offering
and a ram for a burnt offering
He shall put on the holy linen coat
and he shall have the linen breeches on his flesh
and shall be girded with a linen girdle
and with the linen miter shall he be attired
these are holy garments
THEREFORE shall he wash his flesh in water – and so put them on
and he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel
two kids of the goats for a sin offering
and one ram for a burnt offering
Aaron has to offer of self firstverses 6-7
And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering
which is for HIMSELF – and make an ATONEMENT
for HIMSELF – and for his house
And he shall take the two goats and present them before the
LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation
LORD explains the scapegoat to Mosesverses 8-10
And Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats
one lot for the LORD
and the other lot for the scapegoat
And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD’S lot fell
and offer him for a sin offering
BUT the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat
shall be presented alive before the LORD
to make an atonement with him
and to let him go for a scapegoat
into the wilderness
Aaron needs to offer sin offeringverses 11-14
And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering
which is for HIMSELF
and shall make an ATONEMENT for HIMSELF
and for his house
and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering
which is for HIMSELF
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off
the altar before the LORD – and his hands full of sweet incense
beaten small – and bring it within the VEIL
and he shall put the incense on the
fire before the LORD
that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat
that is on the testimony – that he die not
And he shall take of the blood of the bullock
and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat eastward
and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood
with his finger seven times
Blood offering for the peopleverses 15-17
THEN shall he kill the goat of the sin offering – that is for the PEOPLE
and bring his blood within the VAIL – and do with that blood
as he did with the blood of the bullock
and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat
and before the mercy seat
And he shall make an ATONEMENT for the holy place
BECAUSE of the uncleanness of the children of Israel
BECAUSE of their transgressions in all their sins
and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the
congregation – that remains among them
in the midst of their uncleanness
And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when
he goes in to make an ATONEMENT in the holy place
until he come out – and have made and ATONEMENT
for HIMSELF and for his household
and for all the congregation of Israel
Aaron comes out with blood to purify the altarverses 18-19
And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD
and make an ATONEMENT for it
and shall take of the blood of the bullock
and of the blood of the goat
and put it on the horns of the
altar round about
And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times
and cleanse it – and hallow it from the uncleanness of the
children of Israel
Aaron confesses sin of all on live goatverses 20-22
And when he has made an end of RECONCILING the holy place
and the tabernacle of the congregation – and the altar
he shall bring the LIVE goat
and Aaron shall lay both his hands on the
head of the LIVE goat
and CONFESS over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel
and all their transgressions in all their sins
putting them on the head of the goat
and shall send him away by the hand of a
FIT MAN into the wilderness
and the goat shall BEAR on him all their iniquities
to a land not inhabited
and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness
Aaron changes garments and offers burnt offeringverses 23-25
And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation
and shall put off the linen garments
which he put on when he went into the holy place
and shall leave them there
and he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place
and put on his garments – and come forth
and offer his burnt offering
and the burnt offering of the people
and make an ATONEMENT for himself
and for the people
And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar
Man who takes scapegoatverse 26
And he that let go of the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes
and bathe his flesh in water – and afterward come into the camp
Burning skins of sacrifices outside the campverses 27-28
And the bullock for the sin offering – and the goat for the sin offering
whose blood was brought in to make ATONEMENT
in the holy place – shall one carry forth without the camp
And they shall burn in the fire their skins – flesh – dung
and he that burns them shall wash his clothes
and bathe his flesh in water
and afterward he shall come into the camp
All of Israel to fast on 7/10verses 29-34
And this shall be a statute for ever to you
that in the seventh month – on the tenth day of the month
you shall AFFLICT your souls – and do no work at all
whether it be one of your own country
or a stranger that sojourns among you
FOR on that day shall the priest make an ATONEMENT for you
to CLEANSE you – that you may be clean for all your sins
before the LORD
It shall be a Sabbath of rest to you
and you shall AFFLICT your souls – by a statute for ever
And the priest – whom he shall anoint
and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office
in his father’s stead – shall make the ATONEMENT
and shall put on the linen clothes
even the holy garments
and he shall make an ATONEMENT for the holy sanctuary
and he shall make an ATONEMENT for the
tabernacle of the congregation – altar
and he shall make an ATONEMENT for the priests
and for all the people of the congregation
And this shall be an EVERLASTING statute to you
to make an ATONEMENT for the children of Israel
FOR all their sins ONCE a year
And he did as the LORD commanded Moses
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And the LORD said to Moses, Speak to Aaron your brother, that he come not at all time into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is on the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat. (4191 “die” [muwth] means to pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life, to perish, to die prematurely, or assassinate)
DEVOTION: The LORD is warning Aaron of the proper way to worship HIM. Aaron had witnessed his two sons dying for improper worship of the LORD. HE didn’t want it to happen again.
So the LORD gives instructions that can’t be misunderstood by the rest of the priests. Here we have the establishing of the Day of Atonement which is the only day that the High Priest can enter into the sanctuary of the Tabernacle. One day a year.
This was a day when the priests and the people offered a sacrifice for their sins. They were too fast and pray and to not work on that day. It was a special day when everyone had to be involved.
God wants us to know that HE is HOLY and that they were not to take him for granted or HIS place of worship for granted. Every detail had to be followed by Aaron and the other priests.
Today we come to church to worship the LORD each Sunday to remember HIS resurrection from the dead. It is a day to worship HIM in spirit and truth. There has to be a reverence in our attitude and actions.
Children are to know how to be still while the worship the LORD. They can have their own activities outside of the worship center but while in the worship center should be quiet except to participate in the service through singing and reading the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: The LORD wants everything in HIS worship service to be done decently and in order. There should be no confusion when we worship the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches on his flesh and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments, therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. (6801 “attired” [tsanaph] means to wrap, wind around, to arrange or coil around, ball up, or roll up)
DEVOTION: God has a dress code and cleanliness code for all those who serve HIM. HE gives Aaron instructions regarding what to do before he gets dressed and what he is to do when his time of service is over on the Day of Atonement.
HE tells him that he has to bathe before he dresses for service. He is not to be unclean. Once he has bathed he is to put on the holy garments that were made especially for the High Priest.
God even gives the order in which he is to put on the garments. He is not allowed to dress just as he pleases like so many do today when they come to worship the LORD.
HE wants everything to be done decently and in order. There should never be a question regarding the dress and attitude of those who come into HIS presence. Each worship service should be a time when everyone present comes into HIS presence with the right respect for HIM.
CHALLENGE: Both children and adults should show respect for the LORD each Sunday. It is sad when people come into the church not ready to sing praises to the LORD and give HIM an offering fitting HIS place of honor.
: 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat (1486 “lots” [gowral] means pebbles, sticks, pottery shard used for systematic making of decisions)
DEVOTION: Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement which is explained in this chapter. It happens once a year. It is the only time that the High Priest can enter the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. He must first offer a sacrifice for his personal sins. Then he can offer a sacrifice for the children of Israel. This day is for the purification of the Tabernacle.
Atonement is made for the priest four times in this chapter and three times for the people. The priesthood is shown to be important. The tabernacle is shown to be important in the worship of the LORD. Forgiveness is necessary to keep in proper relationship with the LORD. Sacrifice is a necessary part of forgiveness. Without sacrifice there is no manifestation of true repentance.
The sacrifices on this day include two rams for a burnt offering for the High priest and the people. A bull is offered for a sin offering for the High Priest. Finally, two goats are offered for a sin offering for the people. Blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies only at this time. Blood was for the covering of sin.
The chapter starts with a warning given to Moses to give to Aaron regarding his two sons that died because they offered strange fire before the LORD. Aaron was to do all things right, so that, it didn’t happen to him.
On the Day of Atonement the children of Israel were to follow special instructions. They were to use this day as a day of fasting. Everyone was to afflict their soul with fasting. It was a time of examining their lives. The children of Israel had to remember that it was just the LORD’S mercy that kept them going. They were sinner who didn’t deserve to have special blessings from the LORD. HE gave the blessing because it was HIS good pleasure.
God used different means to communicate HIS truths to the people. On the Day of Atonement there were two goats brought. One goat was for sacrifice to the LORD. The other goat was called a scapegoat. There is also the scapegoat that is let loose in the wilderness. It carried the sins of Israel outside the camp. This is one way that they made a decision. Aaron threw pebbles or something to tell him which one of the goats was to be a scapegoat.
We have the Word of God to help us make decisions. Once we have a Biblical worldview, we can make wise decisions for the LORD. We are not to depend on dice or flipping a coin to make decisions. HE is the one who opens doors and closes doors. Trust HIM.
CHALLENGE: Remember that the Day of Atonement gives us a fore shadow of what Christ did on the cross. The children of Israel had to offer sacrifices once a year. Christ died on the cross once for all. No repeat. No need for a scapegoat. We have complete forgiveness of our sins. Honor your position in Christ by striving to do your best for the Master.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. (6261 “fit” [ʿittiy] means timely, ready. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: After the confession of the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement on the head of the scapegoat (the one which was not being sacrificed), there was to be a man ready and waiting to take the scapegoat out into the wilderness and leave it. The expectation was probably that a goat domesticated and raised in captivity would be no match for the other animals of the wilderness and would be killed quickly by them.
The point of this ritual was to acknowledge that there had been corporate sins by the people of Israel, and they were to acknowledge them and separate themselves as far from them as possible. We know that it was not long after this instruction was given that they children of Israel would engage in syncretism with the worship of the gods of the people of the Promised Land, and that God would judge and punish them for doing so. Yet this one day (Yom Kippur) was to be a call back to national fidelity to the LORD.
We know from Hebrew 10 that this exercise did not purge the nation from their sins. Indeed, nothing was able to do that until Jesus came and shed His blood of Jesus to provide the atonement that the shedding of animals’ blood could not provide. Yet the gravity of sin had to be stressed, and this reminded them of the sacrifice that God would make some day on their behalf.
In our day, we are remiss to acknowledge our own corporate sins. Our nation has fallen away from the worship of the true God, and we stand in the place of God’s judgment for doing so. God is waiting for His children to return to Him and call on His name (2 Chronicles 7:14).
CHALLENGE: Take some time today to repent publicly for the sins of the people of your nation and ask God for His forgiveness for them. (BM)
: 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses. (5769 “everlasting” [‘owlam] means perpetual, evermore, ancient, long, forever, always, indefinite or unending future, constancy or eternity.)
DEVOTION: The LORD set up one day a year for the children of Israel to fast and pray. They were not to work on this day. They were to observe a time of worship.
The High Priest had to offer a sacrifice first for himself and other priests. Then people were not going to celebrate this Day of Atonement once and then forget it. It is to be practiced by the children of Israel until there is no longer a need for an animal sacrifice for sin.
This time period is now. Once Christ died on the cross, HE was the ultimate sacrifice for sin. HIS atonement covers all those who come to HIM in repentance. HIS message while on the earth was to “repent” for the kingdom of God is at hand.
We are spreading the same message today. The statute was to help the children of Israel to look forward to the sacrifice Christ made on the cross but the religious leaders didn’t want to listen to the message. They rejected the sacrifice of Christ and continued to offer an animal on the Day of Atonement.
They are leading the Israelite nation away from the Messiah that they have rejected. Today many Jews have turned their hearts over to the LORD. They are following the teachings of the New Testament. The rest of the Jewish nation is blinded by their rejection of Jesus Christ.
Our atonement was covered once by the blood of Jesus Christ. We need to thank the LORD that we are no longer required to bring animals to a Temple.
CHALLENGE: Share this truth with your Jewish friends. There are many Messianic Jews around to help you with your witness to them. Remember there is enough in the Old Testament to lead an individual to a saving knowledge of Jesus the Messiah.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Afflict your soulverses 29, 31
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Day of Atonement (7/10)verses 1-34
No work
Afflict soul
Mercy seatverses 2, 12-20
Cloud of incense
Blood of bullock sprinkled on
Blood of sin offering
Holy placeverse 3
Sin offeringverses 3, 5, 9, 15, 25
Aaron to offer for himself
Aaron to offer for congregation
Burnt offeringverses 3, 5, 24
Apparel of High Priestverses 4, 5
Holy linen coat
Linen breeches
Linen girdle
Linen mitre
Wash his flesh
Children of Israel’s offeringverse 5
Take two kids of goatsverses 5, 7-11
Door of the Tabernacle
Lot for scapegoat
One offered
One let go in wilderness
Sweet incenseverse 12
Cover the mercy seat
Tabernacle of congregationverses 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 33
Atonement first for Aaron and his family and then for congregationverse 17
Live goatverse 20
Aaron lay hands on head
Confess sins of congregation
Send him away by hand of fit man
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Statute for eververses 29, 31, 34
afflict souls 7/10
no work 7/10
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1, 2, 7-10, 12, 13, 18, 30, 34
Appear in a cloud on the mercy seatverse 2
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sinverses 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 15, 16, 21, 25, 27, 30, 34
Uncleannessverses 16, 19
Transgressionsverses 16, 21
Iniquitiesverses 21, 22
Not fasting on Day of Atonementverse 29
Working on Day of Atonementverse 29
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Atonementverses 6, 10, 11, 16-18, 24, 27, 30, 32-34
Reconcileverse 20
Confessverse 21
Hand of a fit manverse 21
Fasting [afflict your souls]verses 29, 31
No work on Day of Atonementverse 29
Cleanseverse 30
Cleanverse 30
Anointverse 32
Consecrateverse 32
Ministerverse 32
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Mosesverses 1, 34
Death of two sons of Aaronverse 1
Aaronverses 2-34
Wash his clothes
Bathe his flesh in water
Consecrate to minster future
High Priest
Within the vailverses 2, 12
Mercy seatverses 2, 13, 14
Sin offeringverses 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 25, 27
Burnt offeringverses 3, 5, 24
Holy garmentsverses 4, 32
Congregation of the children of Israelverses 5, 17
High Priest offer sin offering firstverse 6
Door of the Tabernacle verse 7
Scapegoat into the wildernessverses 8, 10, 20, 21, 26
Sprinkle blood on mercy seatverse 15
Children of Israelverses 16, 19, 21, 34
Tabernacle of congregationverses 16, 17, 20, 23, 33
Blood on horns of the altarverse 18
Sabbath of rest 7/10verse 31
Holy Sanctuaryverse 33
People of the congregationverse 33
Sins once a year (Day of Atonement)verse 34
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things Future Events)
Death of Aaron’s two sonsverse 1
Aaron offering properly to not dieverse 13
Stature foreververses 29, 31
Everlasting statuteverse 34
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QUOTES regarding passage
6409 עוֹלָם (ʿô·lām): adv. [oth n.masc.]; ≡ Str 5769; TWOT 1631a—1. LN 67.78–67.117 everlasting, forever, eternity, i.e., pertaining to an unlimited duration of time, usually with a focus on the future (Ge 3:22); 2. LN 67.78–67.117 ancient, old, i.e., existing for a long time in the relative past (1Sa 27:8; Ps 119:52); 3. LN 67.78–67.117 lasting, for a duration, i.e., an undetermined duration of time without reference to other points of time, with a focus of no anticipated end, but nevertheless may have limits (Nu 25:13; Jer 18:16), note: for MT text in 2Ch 33:7, see 6409 (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
16:29–31 The Day of Atonement was to take place on the tenth day of the seventh month and was designated a permanent statute (ḥuqqat ʿôlam). On this day the Israelites denied themselves and abstained from work (16:29, 31). The admonition to “deny yourselves” (Hb. ʿnh) has been traditionally understood to refer to fasting. This is thus the only fast day in the Mosaic Law. The Mishnah, on the other hand, listed four additional activities from which the Jews were to abstain: (1) bathing, (2) use of oil on body, (3) wearing shoes, and (4) sexual intercourse.46 The term “affliction” (NIV, “deny yourselves”) was used to describe the affliction the Israelites experienced from the Egyptians (Gen 15:13; Exod 1:11). From this demonstration of self-denial, as well as the juxtaposition of personal affliction and atonement in this context (16:29–30), we find that contrition is indispensable for forgiveness. One who hopes to obtain forgiveness of sins from God must repent by humbling himself, acknowledging his sin, and renouncing it (2 Sam 12:13; 1 Kgs 21:27–29; Ps 32).
Those who were forbidden from work on this day included not only every Israelite but also every alien or sojourner (16:29) who may have taken up residence among the Israelites. Those who were in this category came either from the Egyptians who joined themselves to the Israelites at the Exodus (Exod 12:38, 48) or, later, from the occupants of Canaan who aligned themselves with the Israelites (see also Josh 9:3–15; Ruth 1; 1 Sam 21:8; 2 Sam 11:11). These aliens often served as day laborers or artisans (Deut 24:14–15; 29:10). They were required, as we see in this text, to adhere to certain Israelite laws (Lev 17:10–16; 18:26; Num 19:2–10; Deut 16:11, 14), including the observance of the Sabbath (Exod 20:10; Deut 5:14) and, if circumcised, Passover (Exod 12:48–49; Num 9:14). They, like the Israelites, were expected to be obedient to the Lord. These laws regarding the strangers prefigure the conversion of Gentiles in Ezra 2:59–60 = Neh 7:61–62; Ezra 6:21; Neh 10:28–29; Isa 56:3; Zech 2:11; 8:20–23 and in the New Testament (Rom 11), when the term gēr became equivalent of a proselyte or a convert.
Atonement was made for all the sins of the Israelites (16:30). Later Jewish tradition affirms the comprehensiveness of forgiveness on the Day of the Atonement.51 According to m. Šebu. 1:6–7, the blood of the goat taken into the Most Holy Place purified the sanctuary, and the scapegoat made atonement for all other sin. The mention of atonement being made for the people immediately following the preceding context, which focused on the purification of the tabernacle and the Most Holy Place, shows the close connection between people and the tabernacle and the effects of the people’s rebellion and uncleanness upon the sanctuary (see Lev 15:31). (Rooker, M. F. (2000). Leviticus (Vol. 3A, pp. 223–224). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers)
29–34 A series of holy days cluster in the fall in the Jewish calendar (see Notes). The phrase “deny yourselves” in vv.29, 31 probably signifies fasting (NIV mg.). It is used in conjunction with fasting in Psalm 35:13 and in parallel with fasting in Isaiah 58:3 (where in both instances it is referred to as humbling). But as the context in Isaiah 58 shows, God’s injunction was not for mere external fasting but for fasting as an accompaniment of true repentance and new obedience (cf. Kaiser, OT Theology p. 117). The title “high priest” (v.32) is not common in the OT, but this verse shows that a hereditary succession is in view. (On the whole matter of the high priest, see D.A. Hubbard, “Priests and Levites,” NBDrev, pp. 966–72.) Notice that the conclusion to the whole chapter does not mention the cleansing of tabernacle furniture but specifies that atonement was thus “made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites” (v.34). (Harris, R. L. (1990). Leviticus. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, p. 591). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)
16:29–34. This Day of Atonement ritual was to be repeated annually on the 10th day of the seventh month (Tishri, October–November). Apparently the ceremonies were considered ineffective in themselves if they were not accompanied by genuine penitence on the part of the people, who were to deny themselves (usually understood to include fasting, Isa. 58:3, 5; cf. Lev. 23:27, 32; Num. 29:7) and not to do any work since the day was to be a Sabbath of rest. The significance of the ceremony is summarized in Leviticus 16:33–34, and its annual observance reaffirmed in verse 34, along with the historical statement that the ritual of the first Day of Atonement was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.
The Book of Hebrews uncovers the fulfillment of the typical sacrifices of the Day of Atonement by pointing out that Christ’s sacrifice for people’s sins, when He died on the cross, was not annual but once for all (Heb. 9:11–12, 24–26; 10:12). (Lindsey, F. D. (1985). Leviticus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 198). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
Regardless of the day of the week on which it fell, the annual Day of Atonement was considered a Sabbath, and the people weren’t allowed to do any work. God commanded them to “afflict themselves” (“deny yourselves,” NIV), a Hebrew word that means “to humble or oppress.” It’s used to describe the pain that the Egyptians inflicted on the Hebrews (Ex. 1:11–12) and the suffering Joseph felt in prison (Ps. 105:18). The “affliction” on the Day of Atonement is usually interpreted to mean fasting and the confession of sin.
On that day, God called His people to get serious about sin; the church needs to heed that call today. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:8–10, NKJV).
“Repentance is almost a lost note in our preaching and experience,” said Vance Havner, “and the lack of it is filling our churches with baptized sinners who have never felt the guilt of sin or the need of a Savior … We are trying to get young people to say, ‘Here am I’ before they have ever said, ‘Woe is me!’ ”
The fact that the people weren’t to do any work reminds us that we are saved wholly by God’s grace, through faith, and not because of our character or our good works (Eph. 2:8–9). The forgiveness that the people received that day was the gift of God. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Holy (pp. 70–71). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The atonement was provided, but only those who were genuine in faith and repentance received its benefit, the forgiveness of God. That forgiveness was not based on any animal sacrifice, but on the One all sacrifices pictured—the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect sacrifice on the cross (cf. Heb 10:1–10). This holiest of all Israel’s festivals occurred in Sept./Oct. on the tenth day of the seventh month (v. 29). It anticipated the ultimate High-Priest and the perfect sacrificial Lamb. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Le 16:1–34). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 31. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, &c.] From all servile work, as before observed; typical of a cessation from the performance of sinful works, at least from a sinful course of life, and from a dependence on works of righteousness, when a man is brought to believe in Christ, and in the atonement which he has made, see Heb. 4:3, 10: and ye shall afflict your souls by a statute for ever: as long as the ceremonial law, and its statutes and ordinances lasted, which were to be until the time of reformation; and till that time came, once a year, on the day of atonement, they were to keep a severe fast, here called an afflicting of their souls; and in this respect this day differed from the seventh-day sabbath, which was rather a festival than a fast, and is what led some of the Heathen writers into that mistake, that the Jews fasted on the sabbath-day. The time of Christ’s sufferings, and of his being a sacrifice for the sins of his people, was a time of great affliction to his disciples; then it was the children of the bridegroom fasted, he being taken from them; and true humiliation for sin, and repentance of it, are occasioned and influenced by a view of a suffering Saviour, and atonement by him; and this may denote also, that such that believe in Christ, and in his atonement, must expect afflictions and troubles in this world. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 631). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
HEAVEN is a place on EARTH by Michael E. Wittmer
Only those who repent of their autonomy, saying no to their selfish ambition and yes to the forgiveness of God, are eligible to enter the kingdom. (p. 193)
However, scholars have since discovered older, more reliable Greek manuscripts, and these texts say that rather than burning up, “the earth and all of its works will be found.” Instead of being destroyed, this term “found” implies that the quality of our works will be “laid bare,” discovered for all to see. Much like gold passing through a smelting furnace, the good that we do will be purified while our less noble efforts will slough off. Read this way, Peter’s vision of a coming conflagration seems to be a purging rather than annihilating fire. (p. 202)
In sum, we may expect planet earth to survive its final purging largely intact, losing only the sinful dross that the fire burns away. (p. 205)
In sum, materialists and Christians alike look after matter, but they differ in their reason why. Materialists run after created goods for their own benefit, hoping to acquire more stuff to consume, and perhaps quench their insatiable appetites. Christians care for creation because our Father has commanded us to cultivate the resources of his good world, both for our own enjoyment and to share with those in need. (p. 213)
The Hindu worldview gives little incentive to help the poor, for it teaches that those born into a lower caste are merely reaping their sins from a previous life. (p. 216)
Too often well-meaning evangelists reduce the gospel to nothing more than “fire insurance.”(p. 218)
Before we can reasonably expect unbelievers to accept our faith, we must first show them that it works – in our homes, on the job, and on the weekend – not merely when we are at church. Remember that Jesus Christ invested twenty-some years in his father’s carpentry shop and that Paul spent whole weeks making tents. (p. 219)
Until his death in 2011, Dr. Bernard Nathanson was a champion of the pro-life movement. His 1979 movie “The Silent Scream” helped dispel the idea that the fetus was only a clump of cells, and his pioneering work with ultrasound technology paved the way for its widespread use by the pro-life movement.Part of his authority came from his personal history. A co-founder of NARAL, Nathanson had worked alongside people like Betty Freidan to liberalize abortion laws. His eventual change of heart was big news.
A new Bernard Nathanson may have just stepped onto the world stage. Dutch physician Bert Keizer was euthanizing patients nearly 20 years before it became legal in the Netherlands. In fact, he played a significant role in its legalization. As Al Jazeera put it, “When somebody wants to die in the Netherlands, Bert Keizer is often the man they call.”
Like Nathanson, Keiser seems to be having second thoughts about the deadly system he helped create. He is especially alarmed at the developments in Great Britain, where Conservative member of parliament Andrew Mitchell predicted that euthanasia could be legal there by 2025.
Mitchell, a Conservative MP who chairs an “all-party” commission looking into the issue, told Sky News that he wasn’t talking about “a massive change,” but, instead, “very, very tight reform.” The law he would propose, says Mitchell, would contain “very strong safeguards,” such as limiting euthanasia to those with less than six months to live. Patients would also have to get permission from a high court judge and two doctors before proceeding.
Of course, everywhere euthanasia has been legalized also had “very strong safeguards,” which are eventually ignored, violated, or even discarded. Dr. Bert Keizer, having witnessed this up close and personal, is now warning British lawmakers to think twice before legalizing assisted suicide. Writing in the Dutch Medical Journal, Keizer admitted that his British colleagues were correct two decades ago when they warned that countries like the Netherlands, “who embark on euthanasia, venture down a slippery slope along which you irrevocably slide down to the random killing of defenseless sick people.”
Far from being confined to the terminally ill, Keizer admits that the practice, for the Dutch, has expanded to include older people who “find that their life no longer has content.” Eventually, Keiser predicts, the Dutch will expand euthanasia to include disabled children and prisoners serving life sentences. In his own words about his own country, “every time a line was drawn, it was also pushed back.”
The same lines have also been eliminated in Belgium. In Canada, doctors have advocated expanding that country’s “Medical Assistance in Dying” law to include children, even without parental consent. At least eight U.S. states have some form of so-called “death with dignity” laws, and abuses, like in Oregon, are well documented. Inevitably, what starts as legalized suicide ends in legalize homicide.
Dr. Bernard Nathanson’s change of heart about abortion eventually led him to become a Christian. Perhaps God has something similar in store for Bert Keizer. Let’s pray He does.
In the meantime, however, let’s pray his warnings are heeded. The honesty Keizer brings to the discussion about euthanasia is scandalously lacking in the debate, starting with his use of the word “euthanasia.” Phrases like “physician-assisted suicide” and, especially, “assisted dying” are Orwellian euphemisms that only obscure what is really happening: the taking of an innocent human life based on someone’s judgment that it’s no longer worth living. The Third Reich called it: lebensunwertes Leben, “lives unworthy of life.”
Dr. Keizer has given the world some much-needed clarity. Let’s pray the world listens. (Break Point)
Romans 7
A civil war rages in the life of every Christian.
INSIGHT
The “inward man” (v. 22) is created in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24), wills to do good (v. 21), joyfully delights in the law of God (v. 22), and serves “the law of God” (v. 25). However, the “flesh” (v. 18) practices the thing the inward man hates (v. 15). “Nothing good” dwells in the flesh (v. 18). It wars against the law of the mind (v. 23) and serves “the law of sin” (v. 25). As a result of this civil war, our lives do not run smoothly. We do things we don’t want to do, and we fail to do things we want to do. Who can deliver us from “this body of death” (v. 24)? Only Jesus. When we receive Him as our personal Savior, the spiritual forces are put into place to free us from the bondage of sin. Then we must begin the process of dying to sin on a daily basis. (Quiet Walk)
THE HOLINESS OF GOD
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
John has just said, “These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” So how is it to be full? Well, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is…” What would you have expected there? I suggest that most of us would have expected, “God is love” or “God is mercy” or “God is compassion”; but the startling and astonishing thing is that he says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” And we may say to John, “You have been saying that we are to be given an amazing joy, and then you confront us with that?”
But that is precisely what he does say. We must not start with the knowledge of God, though that is absolutely essential. Nor must we start with God as a source of philosophy. We must not even start with God as love.
Now we can see at once how by putting it like this we give an utter contradiction to what has been so popular especially since 1860. The great message that has been preached for a hundred years is, “God is love.” That is the thing that has been emphasized, and we have been told that our fathers, and especially the Puritans
with their preaching about justice and righteousness and repentance and sin and punishment and death, had been entirely contradicting and denying the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have been told that God is love–that is what we needed, and there He was to meet us. Yet what an utter travesty of the gospel that is! This is the message:” God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
A Thought to Ponder: We must not start with God as a source of philosophy. We must not even start with God as love.
(From Fellowship with God, pp. 106-107, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Obedience and Righteousness
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)
Certainly the focal point of all history and the climax of Christ’s earthly ministry, was His sacrificial death on the cross. Christ knew from ages past what was in store for Him, and yet He was “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).
However, as we see in our text, Christ’s obedience included more than His death, for He was perfectly obedient throughout His entire life. Indeed, it is a good thing, for any act of disobedience would have invalidated His sacrificial death. Animal sacrifices in the Old Testament (which prefigured the final sacrifice of Christ) had to be “without blemish” (Leviticus 22:19). But even a perfect animal was not enough (Hebrews 10:4) to satisfy God’s justice and take away sins. “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things…. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Christ’s obedience, therefore, consisted not only of His obedience in death but in His entire earthly life—from His incarnation, “I come…to do thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7)—to His childhood, “[Know] ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49)—to His healing and teaching ministry among the people, “I must work the works of him that sent me” (John 9:4)—to His preparation for death, “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Now, in His obedience, Christ calls us to a life of similar obedience. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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