This weeks Parashat teaches us what the Priests do & what makes them Holy. We learn about worthy & unworthy offerings, God’s Appointed Feasts, & what belongs in the Holy place. As New Testament believers we are all called Kings & Priests. The High Priest was not allowed to touch a dead body even if it was his mother or father. When the young man came to Jesus, Jesus told him, “Follow me.” The young man replied he need to bury his father 1st. Jesus’s response was let the dead bury the dead. Jesus had a lot to say about not being a part of the world. Do not love the world for when you love the world you do not have the love of the Father in you. As Kings & Priests we cannot partake of the world & it’s corruption. Just as the High Priest could not leave the Tabernacle to bury his father & mother we cannot leave our place with Christ to partake in the world. Each of us has to approach this as we do our salvation with fear & trembling. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what may be hindering you from all He has for you.
Loren Gentry
If we walk in the spirit we will not fulfill the lists of the flesh. If we practice proverbs 4:20-27 we will always live in the joy of the Lord, and live a very prosperous life.
Steve Heimbichner
Chris: your site is very encouraging to many who will read it and embrace your words. I love the Parasha's every day!! May Yahweh bless you. shalom
Suzanne ThomasYou know, for many years, when I read the part in Scripture where Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their dead," it seemed so cold and unfeeling, and it troubled me greatly that Jesus would talk to him like that! I do not recall any pastor making me feel... moreYou know, for many years, when I read the part in Scripture where Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their dead," it seemed so cold and unfeeling, and it troubled me greatly that Jesus would talk to him like that! I do not recall any pastor making me feel better about it, or giving me another perspective. Over time, however, I began to realize that when you leave your "main focus" to attend to something of a lesser nature (even tho at the time it may seem critical / more important), beware lest it take you captive and you never return to your First Love! I envisioned that follower of Jesus, had he left to bury the family member, likely being constrained by friends and family to remain and not return to Jesus. He was a male and probably much needed in the family to take up responsibilities. He might never have come back! Jesus was saying, I believe, not that family is not important, but to focus on the most important things; , in this case, Him and HIs Kingdom--and all that He requires of you. I know that even in small things, our attention and energy can be expended in things that, while useful on some level, should not have been the key issue or focus for the moment! Take a case in point... I am having my Bible study with the Lord, and I suddenly think, "Oh! I meant to tell so-and-so that it was all right if they did such-and-such today!" Or something totally weird out of left field, like suddenly wanting to send an email to tell a friend to tell him that the spider I'd wanted him to kill the other day that had disappeared by the time he arrived (he got my wasp nests on the porch ceiling, tho--YAY!) had reappeared in my bathroom, and I got him with a fly swatter (apologies to all spider lovers). I thought this was important enough to interrupt my Bible study for? No, I didn't, in the end, interrupt it for that, but I have done as frivolous things before! But I think the analogy is clear. Don't let the enemy draw you away from what is most important in your life (unless, on asking the Lord, He agrees it is)! less
