God's Sacrifice
Today's Scripture: Leviticus 22
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD.
3Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.
4What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;
5Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;
6The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.
7And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food.
8That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith; I am the LORD.
9They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them.
10There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.
11But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.
12If the priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things.
13But if the priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father's house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's meat: but there shall be no stranger eat thereof.
14And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing.
15And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto the LORD;
16Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the LORD do sanctify them.
17And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
18Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering;
19Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
20But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
21And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
22Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD.
23Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
24Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.
25Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.
26And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
27When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
28And whether it be cow, or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.
29And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.
30On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am the LORD.
31Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD.
32Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,
33That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.
Today's Scripture Meaning:
aws concerning the priests and sacrifices.
- In this chapter we have divers laws concerning the priests and sacrifices, all for preserving the honour of the sanctuary. Let us recollect with gratitude that our great High Priest cannot be hindered by any thing from the discharge of his office. Let us also remember, that the Lord requires us to reverence his name, his truths, his ordinances, and commandments. Let us beware of hypocrisy, and examine ourselves concerning our sinful defilements, seeking to be purified from them in the blood of Christ, and by his sanctifying Spirit. Whoever attempts to expiate his own sin, or draws near in the pride of self-righteousness, puts as great an affront on Christ, as he who comes to the Lord's table from the gratification of sinful lusts. Nor can the minister who loves the souls of the people, suffer them to continue in this dangerous delusion. He must call upon them, not only to repent of their sins, and forsake them; but to put their whole trust in the atonement of Christ, by faith in his name, for pardon and acceptance with God; thus only will the Lord make them holy, as his own people.
Today's Scripture Application
Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Leviticus with Chapter 22 and in today's text we see a continued look in this part of the second half of the book of Leviticus which has been called the "Holiness Code". We see God's way, God's plan, God's rules, God's punishments, God's standards and today God's Sacrifice. God instructed Moses that animals to be sacrificed needed to be perfect without blemish picturing the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who was perfect. In making application we see that we too should give our best in Worship. Our response to the Lord's best should be our best. The first fruits of our labor, the first day of the week, our talents, time, attendance, and service should reflect our love in response to the Lord. How about you? Do you give the Lord your best in Worshiping the Lord as a response of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Let us learn from today's text and respond to God's sacrifice with our best as an act of our Love to the Lord.