How do you feel about rituals? A ritual is an action performed in a customary way. There were rituals for ceremonially cleansing the person who was infectious after a skin disease had been cured. He was brought to the priest for inspection. It consisted of three parts: 1) Ritual for the first week (outside the camp); 2) Ritual for the second week (inside the camp), and 3) Special permission for the poor. It was necessary, very necessary, to determine if someone or something was clean or unclean.
Mildew even had its own set of cleansing regulations, as well. We know that mildew is a form of fungus, which had to be absent from the homes, and requiring inspection after being cleansed. At the end of the chapter, after reading all of the rituals, and the cleansing process, it said, “These are regulations for infectious skin diseases and mildew.” (Leviticus 14: 57)
- Cleansing our lives is a lifelong process. Thank you Jesus that you have washed us.
Jesus is also addressing a cleansing issue, in our New Testament reading. However, this was an inner cleansing He was speaking of. He said, “No one is greater than the temple here, I desire mercy not sacrifice.” (Matthew 12: 6-7) The temple was a holy place for the Jew.
This conversation initially began when the Pharisees were angry that the disciples were hungry and had picked some grain of wheat or barley on the Sabbath, and ate it. That was considering working, which they were prohibited to do on the Sabbath. Jesus is quoting what the prophet Hosea, said, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6: 6)
The word “mercy” is the Hebrew word: hesed which refers to the right conduct toward one’s fellow man or loyalty to the Lord, or both, is the summary of what God requires of His servants. This same Hebrew word is translated, love. Sacrifice apart from faithfulness to the Lord’s will is wholly unacceptable to Him.
The things, in this life, that really matter is how we treat one another, our fellow man. As we grow, we come to understand that some of our fellow mankind may exhibit a “short-fuse. These folks require special treatment. That special treatment is learning to walk away from them. It diffuses anger!
If someone is already erupting why would we want to fuel that eruption? Pouring gasoline on a fire will only ignite it.
Another example, on dealing with our fellow man, is: If someone wants to pull you into a maligning gossip circle, remember what wise Solomon said, “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” (Proverbs 26: 20) There are some things we need to just let die down or walk away from. Showing mercy has many facets to it.
(Leviticus 14, Matthew 12: 1-21, Proverbs 26, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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