"What of the Deformed?"
BIBLE
READING: Leviticus 22-23
DISCUSSION
Chapters like
22 and many others in this book form the background to much New Testament
teaching. Christ is both the perfect
priest and the perfect victim. His bride
is the church, whom he is sanctifying to make her "without spot or wrinkle
or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians
5:27).
We see here that the demand for holiness is
common to both testaments. The New sees
it primarily in moral terms, however, and insists that true holiness can be
achieved only through redemption, not by nature. This redemption includes those with physical
deformities; to Christ's marriage feast are invited the maimed, the lame, and
the blind (Luke 14:13, 21).
All Christians are called to be priests in
a figurative sense (1 Peter 2:5, 9).
They are to put love of God above love for family (Luke 14:26). The high priest was not allowed to defile
himself by burying his father and mother (21:11). In a similar vein, Jesus challenged a
reluctant disciple with the words, "follow me, and leave the dead to bury
their own dead (Matthew 8:21-22).
PRAYER
REQUESTS:_____________________________________________________________
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