Heeding God's Teaching

Jesus rebuked scribes and Pharisees to their face when they complained that His disciples failed to observe the tradition of the elders by neglect of ceremonial hand washing.  Jesus fired back at their hypocrisy and explained how they made the word of God by no effect through their tradition.  The oral traditions of the elders had overshadowed God's word to the point God's disobedience to God's commands could be justified.  Jesus said in Matthew 15:7-9:  "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ⁸ 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. ⁹ And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"  The departure from reliance upon God's word led to people's hearts to depart from God and worship Him in vain--divine truth the Jewish religious rulers likely refused to accept.

The laying aside of God's word to accept and promote the traditions of men is a common practice to this day.  I was reminded of this when I browsed the website for the Temple Institute in Israel and read concerning the priestly garments.  Among sprinkled verses of the Old Testament, the main thrust of the article espoused traditional teachings by rabbis what is absolutely foreign to the Torah.  During one of my trips to the Temple Institute, one question asked from our tourist group asked was how sins are atoned for seeing there is no sanctified temple or high priest (among other things) to follow the Mosaic sacrificial system today.  We were told prayer was the means of atonement by the authority of rabbis (not the Bible), and observe what the site says concerning the vestments of the high priest which works to make God's commands of no effect.  The article says "it is taught" (not by Moses or God's word) that priestly garments worn by sanctified priests serve to atone for the sins of Israel even as offerings do.

"This is one of the deeper aims of wearing these garments, and something for the kohen to ponder while they are upon him. For his everyday actions in the Temple transcend his own personal idiom and take on a more universal theme... he makes atonement and spiritual rectification for all humanity.

Thus we are taught:

• The tunic, which covers most of the priest's body, atones for killing. 

• The pants atone for sexual transgressions. 

• The turban, worn on the head, atone for haughtiness. 

• The belt, wound about the body and worn over the heart, atones for "sins of the heart" - improper thoughts 

• The breastplate atones for errors in judgment.

• The ephod atones for idolatry.

• The robe atones for evil speech.

• The High Priest's crown atones for arrogance."

The Bible teaches sanctified priests were commanded to offer a burnt offering daily as a sin offering for atonement in Exodus 29:36.  Exodus 30:10 says concerning the altar of incense in the holy place:  "And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD."  When a census was taken of the people, men numbered over 20 years old were required to give a half-shekel offering to the LORD to atone for their souls (Exodus 30:13-15).  In almost every case under Law, the blood of a clean, animal sacrificed by sanctified priests was required to provide atonement.  There is no suggestion in Scripture what is routinely taught today, that the priestly garments provide "atonement and spiritual rectification for all humanity."  Atonement is a sticky subject because we are all sinners, sinners need atonement by God, and no atonement according to Law is possible because of the lack of the necessary temple, sanctified altar and high priest.  Given the Law even the appearance of atonement under Law today is impossible--just as we sinners cannot keep God's Law without fail.

Paul explained the purpose of the Law of Moses was to shut the mouths of sinners and reveal all as guilty before God, to compel us to trust in Jesus Christ whose shed blood provided atonement for the sins of the world received by grace for all who trust in Him--who atoned for all our sins all at once!  Romans 5:6-11 shows Jesus Christ to be the propitiation for our sins:  "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (KJV, bold emphasis mine)  Jesus is revealed to be the KING OF KINGS as well as our great High Priest, and the book of Hebrews goes into great detail on this point.

While the teachings of men extol intricate garments worn by the priests, God has exalted His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God whose shed blood atones for sin.  Having been born again and washed clean from sin by the Gospel having received atonement, we are called to "put on" the LORD Jesus Christ in Romans 13:13-14:  "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."  Since Jesus has provided atonement for our sins, we ought to live lives sanctified for His glory, led by the Holy Spirit, heeding our Saviour's commands.  There will always be a temptation to lift tradition or teachings above God's word, but Jesus identifies the wise as those who hear His word and do it.  The new covenant in Christ's blood does for us forever what was and would be impossible to do for ourselves even if the priesthood and sacrificial system in Jerusalem was in full swing.  Following the teachings of men causes our hearts to stray from God and vain worship, but heeding God's word guides us to trust in Jesus Christ who provides eternal atonement.

The Contrite Heart

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart--these, O God, You will not despise."

Psalm 51:17

At times I have wondered how people who lived thousands of years ago would react to common experiences today--like riding in a car on the motorway.  This is something most of us have experienced regularly throughout our lives.  As small children we rode in the backseat an looked forward to have a chance to sit up front and see everything better.  I imagine it would be exhilarating or terrifying to be moving so quickly and yet experience the insulated quiet and stillness of a modern vehicle cabin.

I wonder what people from ancient times would think if they were suited up and led into an operating theatre to watch surgery in progress.  They might be shocked to discover there was a living person on the table opened up with organs exposed, cruel torture taking place before their eyes!  I imagine them watching in horror as a surgeon made an incision or remove cancer, and the observers might have judgments about the expert medical professional that is far from the truth--that the surgeon is a barbaric butcher when the procedure actually "went well" with the intent to promote the health of the patients.

I believe there are today that have a similar misunderstanding about God, for they condemn Him as cruel and bloodthirsty without ever knowing Him.  Based on what they know, they would not want to know Him.  What some do not understand is man is solely responsible for bringing death into the world through sin (which God specifically warned against), and the sacrificial system in the Old Testament was a physical means by which spiritual cleansing and union with God was miraculously possible.  God condemned human sacrifice as an abominable practice, and He allowed select animals to provide substitutionary sacrifice for guilty sinners.  It wasn't blood God desired to see but broken and contrite hearts as David said.  God despises sin, but He loves to see humble people approach Him in faith marked by obedience.

God demonstrated His love for sinful mankind by becoming a man, Jesus Christ, and He provided His own life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Jesus humbled and allowed Himself to be killed by sinful men on the cross, that whosoever that believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  His shed blood provided atonement so those who were cut off from God by their own sin could draw near to God in repentance for sin by faith in Jesus.  It is not the one proud of themselves but the humble heart God looks upon as it is written in Psalm 138:6:  "Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar."  James 4:6 also says, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

God does not despise a broken spirit and contrite heart, but the proud heart rises up with enmity against Him.  The fool justifies himself criticise and condemn God he does not know rather than submitting to God who knows all hearts.  Consider the love and grace of God, that He would lay down His life so those who hate Him could come to know Him!  This is the case for every Christian, for we were once aliens of the commonwealth of God and headed for ruin when the grace of God appeared by Christ crucified.  It was not Jesus but the Romans who invented crucifixion, and though Jesus did no wrong the Jewish rulers arrested Him and condemned Him to death.  By laying down His life Jesus conquered sin and death, evidenced by His resurrection from the dead 3 days later and His ascension into heaven.

We will pay big bucks for a medical procedure which requires us to bleed in the wish for a positive medical outcome:  should we condemn or criticise God for freely shedding His blood so we could be guaranteed forgiveness and eternal life by faith in Jesus?  God has sanctified believers with the blood of Christ (Heb. 13:12), and Acts 20:28 explains God's purpose in His sacrifice:  "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "  How humbling it is God has extended His grace to us in our low estate, and how blessed we are to know God in truth.  It is well for the humble, contrite heart before God.

God's Enduring Mercy

Psalm 136 has the highest concentration of the mention of God's mercy in all the Bible--24 times in 24 verses.  Over and over the phrase is repeated, "For His mercy endures forever."  There are only 11 other occasions in the Old Testament this exact phrase is used.  God's mercy has been well described in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary:  "That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being."  Man's natural disposition is thoroughly contrary to mercy, but God's mercy endures forever.

God's mercy is demonstrated by who God is as it is written in Psalm 136:1-2:  "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. ² Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever."  His mercy is seen through everything He has done, does and will do, for His mercy endures forever.  The song references things God has done which, on the surface, may not seem merciful.  But we can know without a doubt God is merciful, and as His people we are in the best position to receive and benefit from it continually.  Man often credits himself for what God alone is responsible for as He extends the richness of His grace to all people--even to His enemies.

The song recounts how God smote Egypt in their firstborn as the final plague the LORD visited upon the nation who oppressed His people.  Pharaoh showed no mercy to the Hebrews, for he enslaved them and commanded their male infants be cruelly thrown into the Nile river.  Before the final plague was unleashed upon Egypt, God mercifully provided a way for everyone who believed and obeyed Him to be spared by striking the blood of a male lamb or goat of the first year they ate for dinner upon the doorposts and lintel of the family home.  God did not have to warn anyone; God was under no obligation to preserve life He created.  His mercy was revealed by the great salvation and deliverance of His people, for His mercy endures forever.

There were times in the history of Israel when they suffered greatly for their sin as the Law of Moses had forewarned.  When the prophet Jeremiah looked around and felt like all his hope and strength had perished, he came to realise the hope that remained in God in Lamentations 3:22-25:  "Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. ²³ They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ²⁴ "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!" ²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."  The consequences of sin were awful and brutal (for the soul that sins will surely die), yet there remained hope in God because His mercy endures forever.  Born again followers of Jesus Christ are granted eternal life by the Gospel because God's mercy endures forever.  There is no question if God is merciful:  the question is will we hope in Him, wait for Him and seek Him?

What God Pleases He Does

"For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods. ⁶ Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places."

Psalm 135:5-6

God is the sovereign creator over all, and whatever pleases Him God does.  No one has any right or authority to criticise or condemn Him, even though man makes a habit of doing this.  God has given mankind the freedom to choose what we say and do as those created in His image, yet God is the only being who always does what is right.  With the understanding God has given us, limited by our short-sighted human perspective, we can complain God is not on task when we are unwilling to trust; we suspect He is not working because we are waiting.  The irony is when it seems God is not actively working, He is accomplishing His good purposes we could never imagine.

We catch a glimpse of this in John 11 after Jesus received word His friend Lazarus was sick.  Mary and Martha were assured of Jesus' love for them and their dying brother, and likely assumed because Jesus loved them He was obligated to come at once and heal Lazarus.  Jesus did not do this.  He waited until after Lazarus was "sleeping" in death and explained His purpose in waiting to wake Him in John 11:14-15:  "Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."  Among the disciples of Jesus, there was at least one (Judas!) who did not believe.  Rather than sparing Lazarus from illness and death, Jesus allowed him to die physically so others could be born again and receive eternal life by faith in Jesus when they saw His mighty works.

When Jesus came to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead 4 days and the village was bustling with mourners who came to comfort Mary and Martha who were bereaved of their brother.  Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus and wept, and this demonstrated His genuine love for him and those who had suffered great loss.  He then commanded the stone to be moved from the entrance of the tomb.  John 11:41-45 reads, "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴  And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." ⁴⁵ Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him."

Isn't this incredible?  While Mary and Martha felt Jesus was not helping them by healing Lazarus, He purposed to save sinners by raising Him to life.  The miracle of people being born again is as great a miracle as Lazarus physically walking out of the tomb.  The sign of Lazarus being raised up was another demonstration of God's grace to prove beyond a doubt Jesus was the Christ, the resurrection and the life, and that people by faith in Him could receive eternal life in His name.  This passage teaches us even when God has not answered our prayers or done our will, He is still working to accomplish His glorious purposes.  As people raised to new life by faith in Jesus, may our lives be a living testimony of God's  grace, love, and power to redeem so others will believe on Jesus Christ and be saved.  How good it is that what God pleases He does!