Idol Worship and Snares- Exodus 23:20-33

https://feeds.castos.com/nxp3 In the context of this Law, which was given for the good of Israel—that the people would live long and prosper—God promises to drive out the people groups that do not worship Him from the land. Their ways are bad for people. But, God’s Law will effectively prevent sickness, miscarriages, barrenness, and premature death.... Continue Reading →

On Denying Jesus

https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 The theme of Matthew’s Gospel is the arrival of the kingdom of heaven. At the beginning, Jesus is born and begins preaching, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). At the end of the Gospel account, He proclaims, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).... Continue Reading →

Celebration- Exodus 23:14-19

https://feeds.castos.com/nxp3 God writes into His Law that Israel is to celebrate three national feasts each year—the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), the Feast of the Harvest (Weeks or Booths), and the Feast of Ingathering (Pentecost). The fact that these are feasts, insinuates that the people not only sacrificed to the Lord, but ate of the... Continue Reading →

Bearing False Witness and Loving Justice- Exodus 23:1-9

https://feeds.castos.com/nxp3 This set of laws promotes truth in society. The people were not to bear false witness, neither favoring the poor nor rich nor taking bribes. They were not to make false charges against others or misrepresent them. What is God’s goal? He desires to teach His people what it means to be just. We... Continue Reading →

When Jesus is Coming in the Clouds

https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 The theme of Matthew’s Gospel is the kingdom of heaven. From the start, Jesus’s message has been that the kingdom of heaven is at hand (near). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus revealed that the hour was here. It was time for the kingdom of heaven to finally be established. At the end of... Continue Reading →

Well Being Instead of Welfare- Exodus 21:12-36

https://feeds.castos.com/nxp3 God provides laws that carry punishment based on damages incurred by victims. If one person kills another intentionally, that person is to be killed. If it is unintentional, there is a way for that person to remain alive but be sentenced to a form of exile. Striking or cursing parents, an adult abusing his... Continue Reading →

Lying and Biblical Subterfuge

https://feeds.castos.com/733p8 Worldly society is awfully good a making men into little girls. Strong men who are faithful to their wives, discipline their children, defend their kinsmen, and speak against true injustice threaten the wiles of the devil and power of the worldly system. Part of the enemy’s tactic to strip biblical and sacrificial manhood from... Continue Reading →

Initial Statements About Slaves- Exodus 21:1-11

https://feeds.castos.com/nxp3 God instructs Israel concerning slavery and the appropriate times to free slaves. I always found it difficult to recognize that God gave instruction concerning slaves. Like we just saw in Chapter 20, the Law is not the standard for ethics. The Law is meant to bring longevity and prosperity for Israel. Thus, some laws... Continue Reading →

The Law Given for Our Good- Exodus 20:22-26

https://feeds.castos.com/nxp3 God acknowledges that the people were able to see His manifestations and know that God is the one giving the commands. Moses is not manipulating them. God repeats His command for the people not to make idols and worship them. He even gives some interesting instruction concerning an altar for sacrifices. It is not... Continue Reading →

The Insufficiency of the Law- Exodus 20:18-21

https://feeds.castos.com/nxp3 All the people perceive the signs of God, see the manifestation of God, from the bottom of the mountain—including the trumpet sounds. They are afraid. Surely to see any manifestation of the holy, almighty God is terrifying. Because they are afraid, they ask Moses to speak to them. They feel if God speaks to... Continue Reading →

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