Leviticus 17-18, Matthew 27:27-50 Key Verses: Matthew 27:28-29 The imagery of the crown, that was set on Jesus head is much fuller than the English translation conveys. It was a crudely and cruelly fashioned crown, the branches of a thorn bush hastily twisted together. The blows to Jesus’ head undoubtedly...
Leviticus 15—16, Matthew 27:1-26 • Key Verses: Matthew 27:3-4 Peter's actions are tragic enough, but ultimately he served Jesus courageously and faithfully. Yes, he denied and deserted Jesus, but he found forgiveness and restoration. The actions of Judas are tragic but in a far more intense way. Ultimately he faced...
Leviticus 14, Matthew 26:51-75 Key Verse: Matthew 26:75 In Peters life there was a slow, downward spiral, a regression from courage to cowardice. It began with a denial, moved to a defense and concluded with a denial of a different kind. Just prior to these verses is the boast of...
Leviticus 13, Matthew 26:26-50 • Key Verses: Matthew 26:34-35 In the space of just a few verses are recorded words spoken by two disciples. The first was a lie and the second was a boast. Judas lied and did what he denied. Peter boasted and did not do what he...
Leviticus 11-12, Matthew 26:1-25 • Key Verses: Matthew 26:12-13 Mary’s act of worship is a scene of beauty in many ways. First is the extravagance of it—the perfume is described as being “very expensive” (v. 6). From Johns account we learn that she then wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair,...
Leviticus 8-10, Matthew 25:31-46 • Key Verse. Leviticus 10:3 Once again we find that people “did everything the LORD commanded” (8:36). The sad thing to note in this situation, however, is that the commitment did not last one week. Two of Aarons sons, Nadab and Abihu, decided to make some...
Leviticus 6-7, Matthew 25:1-30 • Key Verse: Matthew 25:19 The parable of the talents is one of opportunities seized and lost. If talent is understood as it is used today, one thinks of skills or abilities. This train of thought can lead to identifying talents as spiritual gifts. However, the...
Leviticus 4-5, Matthew 24:29-51 Key Verse: Matthew 24:42 If you are reading this, then you survived Y2K. Once again those who forecast the end of the world were wrong. Throughout history there have been those who have announced that the end was near. Sometimes they even gave the exact date....
Leviticus 1-3, Matthew 24:1-28 • Key Verses: Matthew 24:4-5 Every generation has had the sense that it could be the last one before Jesus comes. That is the reality of the imminent return of Jesus. As Jesus spoke of the end times in this passage, what He described sounds like...
Exodus 36-38, Matthew 23:1—22 • Key Verses: Exodus 36:4—5 Today’s reading includes one of the few times in history that a fund- raising effort was too successful. Exodus gives great detail to the constriction and furnishing of the Tabernacle. In almost an incidental way, the funding of the project is...