Day 76- Leviticus 20; John 13; Hebrews 7

Sometimes, I find that I have to read and read and read various sources or pages to find the simple point I should derive from the reading.  Sometimes it is s imply evident.  Here, Henry gives a succinct description for Leviticus 20,

The laws which before were made are in this chapter repeated and penalties annexed to them, that those who would not be deterred from sin by the fear of God might be deterred from it by the fear of punishment. If we will not avoid such and such practices because the law has made them sin (and it is most acceptable when we go on that principle of religion), surely we shall avoid them when the law has made them death, from a principle of self-preservation.

Have you ever prepared for a long journey?  I mean, for us in a simple sense that is getting our employees and employers, our paperwork and household assistance in order.  Here is the same basic premise with Jesus.  But do we have, as we gleam from Leviticus 20, the right house in order?  Have we prepared ourselves for our journey?

Our Saviour having finished his public discourses, in which he "endured the contradiction of sinners,’’ now applies himself to a private conversation with his friends, in which he designed the consolation of saints. Henceforward we have an account of what passed between him and his disciples, who were to be entrusted with the affairs of his household, when he was gone into a far country; the necessary instructions and comforts he furnished them with. His hour being at hand, he applies himself to set his house in order.

I do enjoy the discourse on priesthood.  It really is one of those questions that I have carried for a long time.  Silly, isn't it, since so much of the answer has been right here all the time?

The doctrine of the priestly office of Christ is so excellent in itself, and so essential a part of the Christian faith, that the apostle loves to dwell upon it. Nothing made the Jews so fond of the Levitical dispensation as the high esteem they had of their priesthood, and it was doubtless a sacred and most excellent institution; it was a very severe threatening denounced against the Jews (Hos. 3:4 ), that the children of Israel should abide many days without a prince or priest, and without a sacrifice, and with an ephod, and without teraphim. Now the apostle assures them that by receiving the Lord Jesus they would have a much better high priest, a priesthood of a higher order, and consequently a better dispensation or covenant, a better law and testament; this he shows in this chapter.

I really needed a good reading today and this "hit the spot!"  See you tomorrow.