April 17, Reading 1 – Leviticus 24

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Holiness and blasphemy are set side by side deliberately. Jesus had something to say on blasphemy too in Matthew 12:31. The Pharisees justified their stoning of Stephen and the crucifixion of Christ from here. The eye for an eye verses teach: the punishment must fit the crime – no leg for an eyelash! Ancient Israel operated on the practice of compensation for injury. This is advice for judges, not for a mob.

SJA Notes

* Loving Father God, please teach us from Your word to us today.

“If anyone injures his neighbour, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth;”

This is one of the places in the old testament that speak to the eye-for-eye mechanic.

Exodus ch 21 has an expanded list. Eye, tooth, hand, foot, burn, wound and stripe. Here it is said, “Your eye shall not pity.”

Deuteronomy ch 19 has a smaller list. Life, eye tooth, hand footy.

Here in this passage we see this held up. Take a life, your is forfeit. Give someone a fracture, you get a fracture.

There is no usury or interest in this law. Fairness was the order of the day. The judges were not to let revenge have its head.

In Matthew ch 5 Jesus preaches about this – He has something to say about fairness.

Jesus doesn’t undo the “life for life” fairness rule. He pushes it further.

Instead of seeking punishment for the person who wrong you, instead be a fount of mercy. Turn from raging thoughts of vengeance to hard-won actions of grace.

All of the sermon on the mount is along these lines. Go deeper, upgrade your thinking, there’s more to it!

This is a strong word for us today.

Go further than just wanting justice (this is a good thing to want). Go deeper. Push to show grace and mercy.

Because in the end that’s what was shown to us in and through Jesus.

Grace unmeasured and free, mercy where there was none.

* Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your grace and mercy to us, undeserved.

Thank You for saving us through Jesus’ work on the cross.

Thank You for His resurrection on the third day, defeating death.

Please help us show mercy and grace to those around us, as You have shown to us.

Amen.

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