Read: Joshua 21:1-22:20: Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16
It was now time for the Levites to step up and receive their inheritance. The Israelites gave the Levites land out of their territories for the Levies so they would have cities of refuge near them and a place to go and learn the law from the priests. There were three Levitical clans: the Kohathites who were descendants of Aaron, the Merari clan and the Gershonites. The Kohathites received cities in the land of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh. They got the city that Abraham and Sarah were buried in.
THe Kohathites go land from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, half of Manasseh. The Gershonites were given land in half of the tribe of Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali. The Merorites were given land from the tribes of Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad. There were 48 towns total given to the Levites.
Joshua called in the tribes that had requested land on the eastern side of the Jordan and commended them for fulfilling their promise. They had helped the other tribes conquer their land and now they were free to return home. He commissioned them to love the Lord and always remember his laws to follow them.
In Luke, I love how the Pharisees would ask Jesus a question that would require him to reveal who he was. Jesus was not ready to be mocked over his identity, so he would reply with a question he knew they didn’t want to answer because it would require them to say something they didn’t want to say either. It sounds like Jesus is being arrogant but he was really being wise.
Answering a question with a question was the Middle-eastern way of teaching. Jesus did answer their question in the parable he told them next about the owner of the vineyard and the tenants. The owner of the vineyard was God. The tenants were the religious leaders and the heir was Jesus. It was in essence telling them that the authority he operated under was God’s because he was his heir…his son.
They actually understood this parable and it started a campaign to find a way to kill him. They started by using politics to trap him. We can see that in the media today. Everyone wants the churches’ response to abortion and alternative lifestyles so they can trap us into seeming hateful. Our authority is the Word of God and we don’t ever have to make apologies for it. It is our manual for life.
Lord, help us to never compromise your Word.
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