”What of the Deformed?”
DISCUSSION
Chapters like Leviticus 22 and 23, 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:_________________________________________________________________
Comments
Post a Comment