Leviticus 24:1-23
24:1-23 Much of the Book of Leviticus has been corrected and rewritten by God through Jesus. This chapter calls us to journey to those corrections, specifically in Matthew 5:38-42 and John 8:1-11.
The New Testament came at a time when the world needed a jump-start in faith. God had promised not to flood the earth again, Genesis 9:15, but He needed a profound way to reach out to His children once again. It seems that we, as a species, have a pattern of repeating mistakes. As generations pass, we get further away from Him...despite His urging to keep near.
Even in the very beginning, people missed the message of love given by God. He is merciful and forgiving. He values life above all else and because He knows that compassion sustains life, He would never give a command that is not compassionate. At times in this book of Leviticus, and in this chapter for certain, that God's message is tainted. Now we journey to the books of Matthew and John to understand why.
Matthew 5:38-42 We learn from God that we are to be abundantly COMPASSIONATE rather than vengeful.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
John 8:1-11 We are not meant to be violent; we are meant to be just and humble. We are imperfect (all of us, without exception) and we are not meant to condemn or label others. Our individual lives are God's business. Unless someone is harming an innocent, we are not meant to be the executioners of punishment. It is not our right to determine a person's worthiness.
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
