Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
21:23 yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.
(Constable's Commentary) "Physically inferior priests were not necessarily inferior spiritually … the priests' physical condition also had to display the perfection of God's creation, just like the animal sacrifices. Physical wholeness symbolised spiritual holiness." And still it is the Lord who makes them holy.
It is because of the symbolism that handicapped priests were disallowed. In these early days, God wanted the symbolism to be accurate in order to not only tell the Israelites, but show them that the Lord is holy.
21:23 yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.
(Constable's Commentary) "Physically inferior priests were not necessarily inferior spiritually … the priests' physical condition also had to display the perfection of God's creation, just like the animal sacrifices. Physical wholeness symbolised spiritual holiness." And still it is the Lord who makes them holy.
It is because of the symbolism that handicapped priests were disallowed. In these early days, God wanted the symbolism to be accurate in order to not only tell the Israelites, but show them that the Lord is holy.
22:32-33 Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who made you holy and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.”
(Wenham in Constable's Commentary) "These chapters … form background to much NT teaching. Christ is both the perfect priest and perfect victim. His bride is the Church whom he is sanctifying to make her 'without spot or wrinkle …'"
Jesus – our perfect priest, perfect sacrifice and the one who makes his church perfect.
22:32-33 Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who made you holy and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.”
(Wenham in Constable's Commentary) "These chapters … form background to much NT teaching. Christ is both the perfect priest and perfect victim. His bride is the Church whom he is sanctifying to make her 'without spot or wrinkle …'"
Jesus – our perfect priest, perfect sacrifice and the one who makes his church perfect.
23:4 These are the LORD’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times
(From Constable's Commentary) "The Sabbath was the heart of the whole system of annual feasts in Israel. The feasts all related to the central idea of rest that the Sabbath epitomized." "To remember God's work for them that resulted in their being able to rest."
We are able to rest from our fleshy works because God has achieved holiness for us.
23:4 These are the LORD’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times
(From Constable's Commentary) "The Sabbath was the heart of the whole system of annual feasts in Israel. The feasts all related to the central idea of rest that the Sabbath epitomized." "To remember God's work for them that resulted in their being able to rest."
We are able to rest from our fleshy works because God has achieved holiness for us.
24:2 Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.
Olives were pressed three times. The first time produced the fine clear oil for burning in the temple lamps which was donated by the Israelites.
(From Constable's Commentary) The oil symbolized them "as a congregation which caused it light to shine in the darkness of this world … In this offering Israel offered its life to God daily for consumption in his service of bringing light to the nations".
24:2 Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.
Olives were pressed three times. The first time produced the fine clear oil for burning in the temple lamps which was donated by the Israelites.
(From Constable's Commentary) The oil symbolized them "as a congregation which caused it light to shine in the darkness of this world … In this offering Israel offered its life to God daily for consumption in his service of bringing light to the nations".
25:21 I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years
(From Constable's Commentary) "When God created human beings and put them into the Garden of Eden, they were not to work for their livelihood but were to worship … The Sabbath year was a foretaste of that time of rest and worship."
We did not work for our spiritual livelihood but are to worship and rest in him – to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
25:21 I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years
(From Constable's Commentary) "When God created human beings and put them into the Garden of Eden, they were not to work for their livelihood but were to worship … The Sabbath year was a foretaste of that time of rest and worship."
We did not work for our spiritual livelihood but are to worship and rest in him – to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.