RULES FOR PRIESTS

Leviticus 21:1-24 / Keywords 21:8

Regard them as holy, because they offer up the food of your God. Consider them holy, because I the LORD am holy--I who make you holy.

 

1. The priests must be clean and regarded as holy, because God is holy (8). They must not make themselves unclean by touching any dead body except their parents and siblings. God gave this law because Death is the consequence of sin (1-4). They must not shave their heads or the edges of a beard or cut their bodies as expressions of mourning like Gentiles (5-6). They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced (7-8). If a priest’s daughter commits sexual immorality, she must be burned in the fire (9). We must be clean and holy as holy priesthood (1Pe 2:5).

 

2. The high priest must be clean as well. He must not make himself unclean by touching any dead body, even his parents, and he must not leave the sanctuary of his God for mourning because he has been dedicated by the anointing oil of his God (10~12). Also, he must marry only a virgin from his own people so that he will not defile his offspring. God makes him holy (15).

 

3. A priest who has any defect must not be a priest (16~21). But he may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food (22). God is holy and God makes priests holy as they obey him. Holiness comes through God’s words rather than human standards or human culture.

 

Prayer Father, help our spiritual leaders by Jesus’ grace and Holy Spirit to follow God’s decrees.

One Word Priests must follow God’s rules

FOLLOW THE LORD’S DECREES

Leviticus 20:1-27 / Keywords 20:8

Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

 

1. In chapter 20, the Lord gives similar commands as chapter 19, but here he focuses on the judgment. The punishment for some sins is death, and for others, it is to be cut off. God’s absolute attitude demands accountability, for the Lord is clear about protecting the spiritual community. It is not enough to know, believe, and agree with God’s laws. Everyone must practically follow his holy word.

 

2. Among these laws, there are two main categories. The first is in regards to worshiping Molek. This was a predominant form of idol worship at the time in Canaan and involved child sacrifices and is why God brought his judgment upon the Canaanites. Idol worship causes people to be controlled by superstition, fear, and demons, and is hard to cure. It binds a whole nation in demonic darkness.

 

3. The next group of laws involve inappropriate sexual relationships. These tend to occur along family lines or other close relationships. Sexual sins deeply wound and scar people for life and become curses passed down to the next generation. Sexual sins break down the family and society. Though sexual sins are obviously wrong, people are weak. God is telling them and us clearly, “Stop! Don’t! I will judge you!” We need the Holy Spirit to listen to God’s holy word, deny ourselves, and follow him.

 

Prayer Father, grant me Jesus’ grace through the Holy Spirit to follow the Lord’s decrees and be holy.

One Word Follow God’s holy words practically

KEEP ALL THE LORD’S DECREES

Leviticus 19:19-37 / Keywords 19:37

" 'Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the LORD.' "

 

1. Verse 19 teaches us to respect the ceremonial differences that God instilled in animal, plant, and fibers. God who is holy wanted them to keep other things pure and holy. Verses 23-25 teach them to protect the fruit until the trees have passed a stage of cultivation for the first four years.

 

2. Verses 20-37 emphasize staying separate from unholy, pagan cultures around them. They should protect the innocence of slave women, and if a man takes advantage of a slave woman, he must bring a guilt offering and repent of his sin. This high level of justice protects the most vulnerable in society.

 

3. Verses 26-31 are laws that guide them to abstain from the idol worship and witchcraft practices in the land. Verses 32 instructs them to show basic respect for elders. Verses 33-34 emphasize to be kind, just, and fair in their relationships with foreigners, remembering they once suffered as foreigners in Egypt. They should resist the temptation to take advantage of them since the weights differed from each nation. We must love foreigners, no matter how strange or different they may be. We all need the grace of Jesus through the Holy Spirit to love our neighbours as ourselves and to keep God’s laws, remembering he is the Lord.

 

Prayer Father, fill us with your grace and Holy Spirit to love our neighbours and keep your commands faultlessly.

One Word Keep all the Lord’s decrees

WARNING AND PRAYER

2 Corinthians 13:1-14 / Keywords 13:5

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

 

1. Prior to his visit to the Corinthians, Paul warned not to spare those who refused to repent of their sins after being already warned. Paul seemed weak, but he was strong enough in the power of the risen Christ to bring stern discipline to deal with their sins. Paul used his authority to build them up, not to tear them down. Then Paul challenged them to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith. When we abide in Jesus and he in us, we are in the faith. When we repent of our sins and accept God’s forgiveness, we are in the faith. When we love truth and live by it, we are in the faith. The word of God is a mirror to reflect our true self. Daily bread and Bible study should be a time of self-examination in light of God’s word.

 

2. Paul prayed for them not to do evil and to be mature, strong, and robust in their faith. Paul urges them to be of one mind with no division among them. Paul blessed them with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for revealing the desire and life of a mature servant through apostle Paul. Help me to examine myself honestly in light of your word and live according to the truth of God and grow in the beautiful image of Christ.

One Word Examine yourself before God’s word

NOT YOUR POSSESSIONS, BUT YOU

2 Corinthians 12:11-21 / Keywords 12:14b

because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

 

1. The marks of Paul’s true apostleship were clearly demonstrated among the Corinthians by his life and perseverance in the midst of suffering. God displayed his power through Paul in signs, wonders, and miracles. If there was one thing he did wrong, he didn’t exercise his apostolic right to get financial support from them. However, they didn’t commend him but judged him by worldly standards and even misunderstood his integrity as an apostle. While Paul planned to visit them for the third time, he still didn’t want to be a burden to them. What he wanted was not their possessions but their hearts. He was willing to pour out for them everything he had. It was out of love for them; it was his commitment to their maturity. Paul as a spiritual father loved them with God’s long suffering patience and unselfish love.

 

2. Paul’s motive in defending his apostleship to the Corinthians was not based in self-interest or self-defense. Instead, he did it in the sight of God as those in Christ to strengthen God’s flock of sheep. Paul wanted them to repent of the impurity, sexual sin, and debauchery and to restore their pure devotion to Christ. Paul’s aim before God was to strengthen other believers. Passion to build up the body of Christ is a mark of a true servant of God.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to put others ahead of my benefit and have a pure motive to build up others in every circumstance.

One Word The heart and mind of Christ

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 / Keywords 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

 

1. Paul talked about a wonderful vision of heaven and inexpressible revelations to silence his opponents’ claim of spiritual superiority. This kind of mysterious experience was given to Paul to fortify him for his service and sufferings and solidify his hope in the kingdom of God. However, this kind of experience cannot be the basis of our faith. The foundation of our faith is the word of God revealed in the Bible. That’s why Paul didn’t boast about his vision so that no one would think too highly of him. Rather, he wanted to boast about his weakness. Why?

 

2. Paul had a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, which was something extremely painful or source of much distress. It was given to keep him from becoming conceited. Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from him. However, God didn’t remove the thorn, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Whenever Paul depended on God alone in his weakness, God’s power was manifested to the full in his life and ministry. So Paul gladly boasted of his weakness and even delighted in participating in the suffering of Christ if it meant Christ’s power would rest on him. For when he was weak, then he was strong in the power of the risen Christ.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your sufficient grace in my weakness. May my weakness be an opportunity to reveal your power and glory through faith in you!

One Word God’s sufficient grace in my weakness

PRAISE THE LORD, MY SOUL

Psalm 103:1-22 / Keywords 103:22

Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

 

1. David was a man after God’s own heart. Perhaps nowhere in the Bible is this more evident than in Psalm 103. Out of the overflowing love and praise in David’s heart for the Lord his God, he wrote this Psalm. What did David praise the Lord for? Everything!

 

2. David praised the Lord for who he is. He praised the Lord for the holiness of his name (1). He praised him for his love and compassion on his creation (4). He is also a God of righteousness and justice. (6). The Lord “works righteousness and justice for the oppressed.” He is also our eternal king, having established his throne in heaven over all creation (19).

 

3. David also praised the Lord for all he does for us. He heals our diseases. He forgives all our sins (3). He not only forgives our sins, he removes them from us (12)! In God’s sight, we are not just forgiven sinners, we are not sinners at all! We deserve nothing from the Lord, but he has sent his redemption to us through Jesus Christ our Lord (4). He gives so many good things, to the satisfaction of all our desires (5). Most of all, he gives his great, all-encompassing love to those who fear him and keep his covenant.

 

Prayer Father, this Thanksgiving Day, may we be full of thanks and praise to you.

One Word Praise the Lord, my soul!

BOAST IN THE THINGS THAT GLORIFY GOD

2 Corinthians 11:16-33 / Keywords 11:30

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

 

1. The Corinthians—in their self-assured wisdom—tolerated the exploitative, self-promoting, and intimidating leadership of false teachers in the church while rejecting Paul’s servant leadership. Paul gently rebuked their foolishness to help them gain true wisdom. They should discern the difference between just humanly impressive false teachers and humble, self-sacrificing apostles like himself. Indeed, Paul’s human credentials as an apostle were far superior to that of the false apostles, but he did not boast about that.

 

2. Rather, Paul boasted about his sufferings for Christ such as being beaten, put in jail, being hungry, cold, and naked. He boasted about the dangers he faced for the gospel. Out of a shepherd heart, Paul agonized in prayer for the weak and inwardly burdened to rescue God’s sheep from sin and heresy. We want to boast of our success or strength and hide our weakness. But Paul boasted of the things that showed his weakness, mentioning his helpless escape from Damascus by others’ help. By suffering for Christ, Paul became mature and grew in the image of Jesus, the good Shepherd; his boast of weakness revealed God’s power and his grace. A true servant of God is not the one who talks big but who suffers for Christ.

 

Prayer Lord, help me not to suffer for my sins but suffer joyfully for Christ and his kingdom, only boasting in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One Word Boast Christ and his grace and power

PRESENT YOURSELF AS A PURE VIRGIN BRIDE TO CHRIST

2 Corinthians 11:1-15 / Keywords 11:2

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

 

1. Paul was a spiritual father who led the Corinthians to Christ. He wanted to present them as a loyal and pure bride to Christ, the true husband. But false apostles infiltrated the church and deceptively led their minds away from their sincere and pure devotion to Christ. The Corinthians began to disregard the true gospel and began to put up with heresy, that is, another Jesus, a different spirit, a different gospel. Out of deep concern for their spiritual well-being, Paul warns them not be deceived. They should never tolerate false teachers disguised as apostles of Christ and heresies in the church. We must return to the true apostolic gospel and the real Jesus in the Bible.

 

2. Those who preach the gospel have the right to receive support from whomever they minister. However, Paul preached the gospel to the Corinthians free of charge, working as a tentmaker, even though he got support from other churches in Macedonia when he was in need. Paul didn’t want to be a burden to immature Christians in Corinth. Paul took no interest in financial gain in preaching the gospel. He only cared about the integrity of his message and the people to whom he preached.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus, who made me his pure bride by his blood. Help me to remain loyal and pure bride by holding to the gospel and serve Christ with sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

One Word A pure virgin bride of Christ

MAKE EVERY THOUGHT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST

2 Corinthians 10:1-18 / Keywords 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 

1. Some false apostles infiltrated the churches in Corinth in Paul’s absence and raised questions on his apostleship. They put him down, saying that he was timid when face-to-face but bold when away; his letters were weighty and forceful but unimpressive in person and his speech contemptible. How did Paul defend his apostleship?

 

2. Paul didn’t respond impulsively but appealed to them with the humility and gentleness of Christ. Then Paul clarified that in serving the gospel ministry, he didn’t use worldly weapons such as eloquent speech or human ingenuity or personal charisma. Instead, he depended on divine power, the Holy Spirit and the word of God, to take every idea and thought captive and make them obedient to Christ. Gospel work involves a battle for the mind. What are our weapons to call people to obedience that comes from faith?

 

3. Paul used his apostolic authority only to build up God’s people not to tear them down. He never boasted beyond proper limits. His hope was to strengthen the believers’ faith in Corinth so that he could preach the gospel beyond Corinth, for his desire was to please God and seek the Lord’s commendation.

 

Prayer Lord, help me use grace and apostleship to preach the gospel and call people to the obedience that comes from faith, depending on divine power.

One Word Divine power to demolish strongholds

GOD’S INDESCRIBABLE GIFT

2 Corinthians 9:1-15 / Keywords 9:15

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 

1. Paul sent the brothers to the Corinthian churches in advance to prepare their pledged offering. For he wanted their offering to be a generous gift willingly given, not as one grudgingly given. He reminds them of the harvest principles (6) to encourage generous offering. Our offering is an expression of our faith in God, the source of all our blessings. It must be decided prayerfully, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. When we give in this spirit, God will bless us to meet all our needs in all things at all times so that we will have more opportunities to do good and to share more generously with others. Otherwise, we become like a rich fool (Lk 12:20).

 

2. Our giving is more than supplying the needs of others. It results in praise and thanksgiving to God, for our offering is our expression of our deep thanks to God for his surpassing grace. When we give generously, remembering God’s indescribable gift to us, those who receive it will praise God not only for our generosity in sharing with them, but for our obedient life, consistent with the gospel of Christ we confess. God gave his Son to die for us. It is his indescribable gift, which cannot be compared with anything we can give to others. Thanks be to God!

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your indescribable gift, Jesus Christ who died for my sins. Help me to give to others generously and joyfully with a heart full of thanksgiving.

One Word God’s indescribable gift

WE TAKE PAINS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT

2 Corinthians 8:10-24 / Keywords 8:21

For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

 

1. Paul advises the Corinthians to complete their earlier pledge of offering. They didn’t need to be burdened by any amount of giving as long as they had willingness. For no offering is too small in the sight of God if it is given willingly and sacrificially (Lk 21:2). Offering is not to make one party poor to make another party rich. Rather, it is to bring about equality. When Christians voluntarily share their plenty with those in need, they lay up treasures in heaven and enhance equality so that no one has too much and no one has too little as shown in God’s provision for the Israelites.

 

2. Paul sent Titus, his partner, to Corinth to collect the offering from them along with a trustworthy brother, chosen and praised by all the churches. Paul was careful in administering the offering of the Gentiles to the churches in Jerusalem. He did not do it all by himself but worked with several trustworthy representatives of the churches. It was for the sake of accountability, transparency and to avoid any criticism. In administering the offering from the Gentile churches, Paul took pains to do what is right, not only in the sight of God but also in the eyes of people, to honor God and encourage the believers through wise administration.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your abundant blessing. Help me willingly share it with those in need and do what is right not only in your sight but in the eyes of people in the use of offering.

One Word Honor Christ with the use of money

CHRIST BECAME POOR TO MAKE US RICH

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 / Keywords 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

 

1. Paul tells Corinthian Christians about the grace God has given the Macedonian churches. By doing so, he encourages them to excel in the grace of giving to the churches in Judea. The Macedonian churches gave generously and sacrificially out of overflowing joy in the midst of severe trial and extreme poverty. To them, giving was not a burden, but a privilege. They gave voluntarily. To Paul’s surprise, they gave themselves first of all to the Lord and to others according to God’s will. Paul wanted Corinthian Christians not to love with their words but prove the sincerity of their love by action.

 

2. Jesus is the Creator God, the owner of everything, the richest person in the universe, but he became poor when he gave up his power and glory to become flesh. He lived sacrificially to serve all kinds of needy people with no place to lay his head. Finally, he gave his life as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins. We were spiritually bankrupt, but, through his poverty, Jesus enriched us with the grace of forgiveness of sins, meaning, purpose, and much more. Those who know the grace of Jesus are compelled to share what they have with those who are less fortunate. How are we using what God has given us to enrich others?

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your grace which enriched my life beyond my imagination. Help me joyfully and willingly share your blessings with those who are less fortunate.

One Word The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS

Matthew 28:16-20 / Keywords 28:20

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 

1. Jesus had told the disciples to go to Galilee, and he would meet them there. The two Marys had seen the Risen Jesus as they were running to tell the disciples that the angels had told them Jesus had risen. Jesus told the Marys to tell the disciples that he would meet them in Galilee. The eleven disciples obeyed and went to Galilee. There they saw Jesus. When they saw him, “…they worshipped him; but some doubted.” (17). Even though they saw Risen Jesus right in front of them, and even in the very act of worshipping him, some of them doubted. Maybe some believed they were seeing a ghost!

 

2. What did Jesus do with these worshipping yet partially doubting disciples? He gave them the Great Commission. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (19,20a). How could Jesus expect these disciples to preach the gospel all over the world? Jesus promised his disciples, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (20). We are disciples, and we come to Jesus and worship him. But we also are full of doubt. But we can obey Jesus’ Great Commission only because he is with us to the end.

 

Prayer Father, help me obey Jesus’ command to make disciples. Thank you that you are with me to the end of the age.

One Word I am with you

HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN

Matthew 28:1-15 / Keywords 28:6

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

 

1. It seemed the enemies of Jesus, the religious leaders of his own people, the Jews, had won. Jesus was crucified on a cross—a most painful and humiliating death. His body was taken down off the cross and buried in a tomb. Jesus was most definitely dead. But after the Sabbath, two women went to Jesus’ tomb. There was a violent earthquake. Afterwards, the women saw an angel of the Lord sat at the entrance of the tomb.

 

2. The women must have been afraid, for the angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.” (5). Seeing the angels were more than enough to inspire fear in anyone! Why should they not be afraid? “He is not here, he has risen, just as he said.” There is much in this life and in this world that can make us afraid. In those times, we should remember the angel’s words, “He has risen.” There is no reason to be afraid because Jesus has conquered death.

 

3. The angels told the women they would find Jesus in Galilee. With that news, the women hurried to the disciples, still afraid, but full of joy. On the way, the Risen Jesus met them! He gave them instructions to go to the disciples and tell them to go to Galilee and see the Risen Jesus. The Jewish authorities made up a story about Jesus’ body being stolen. But Jesus had risen indeed!

 

Prayer Father, thank you for the risen Jesus!

One Word He has risen!