Fri.’s Devo - The Intentions of the Heart

Read: Leviticus 4:1-5:19; Mark 2:13-3:6; Psalm 36:1-12; Proverbs 10:1-2 God provided a way that man could be cleansed from sinning unintentionally. He was guilty the moment he sinned, even if he didn’t realize it was a sin. When God made that revelation for him, he then had a way to be cleansed. If he realized his sin and he was the high priest, he must give an offering of a young bull since the high priest represented Jesus to the people. He would place his hands on the head of the ox transferring his sin to the ox. Blood of the ox would be put on the horns of the altar of incense and the curtain to the Holy of Holies where the Ark stood. The rest of the blood would be poured out at the base of the brazen altar which stood for the cross. So he was being cleansing before heaven and earth. Then the internal organs of the ox was burnt on the brazen altar and the rest of the animal was burned outside the camp. If the community sinned and realized it the elders were bring the ox and place their hands on the head of the ox transferring the sins of the community to the ox. Then the same process would be carried out as for the high priest. If a leader sinned unintentionally then realized his sin, he was to transfer his sin to a female sheep or goat. Its blood would only be placed on the horns of the brazen altar with the rest of the blood poured out at the base of the brazen altar. In other words, he just takes his sins to the cross. In the middle of all of this talk of sacrifices we have a very important command. If we are called to testify about something we have seen or know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify. God loves truth and exposure leads to cleansing and freedom. If a person unknowingly touched something that was ceremonially unclean and then they realize it, or they made a foolish vow and then realized the foolishness of it, they must admit their sin. They must bring a female sheep or two turtledoves or two young pigeons as a penalty for their sin. One of the birds would be the sin offering and the other the burnt offering. Some of the blood of the blood of the bird for the sin offering would be sprinkled on the side of the altar and the rest poured at the base. The second bird would be burnt on the altar. This process would make them right before the Lord. If the person can’t afford a sheep or birds, they can substitute flour mixed with oil. If a person sinned by unintentionally defiling the Lord’s sacred property they must bring a guilt offering to the Lord of a ram. if they didn’t have a ram they would bring silver the value of the ram. Silver has to do with redemption. Restitution must be made for any property that needs replaced with an extra 20% added. The same was true if you unintentionally broke one of God’s commandments and then realized your sin. A ram or silver would be the ransom for your sin. Jesus explains the difference between sinning unintentionally in Mark. The Pharisees sinned behind closed doors and in their hearts but looked very clean and pious on the outside. The people Jesus ministered to looked and acted like sinners. They were the ones who realized their sins and could bring repent. The pride of the Pharisees kept them from being able to get rid of their guilt and sin. Jesus was trying to get the leaders of the law to renew their minds. They were the old wineskins who needed to change so He could pour his new wine into them. It wasn’t the letter of the law that God was concerned with; it is the intention of the heart that God looks at. The Pharisees got really hung up about the Sabbath and Jesus explained it so well. He said, “the Sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” Then he added that He was Lord, even over the Sabbath. In other words, he was Lord even over the law. He gave them a picture when he healed the man’s deformed hand. Everything we do, we do with our hands - they represent “work”. The Pharisees were all about “works”. Jesus healed the man’s hand and His heart was broken over their hard hearts. Making a man’s hand right would not save his soul. It was an act of love and compassion that would woo his heart. The Pharisees couldn’t see that. Lord, help us to not be like the Pharisees and miss the point of compassion and grace. May we love the unlovely today and be thankful for your unforgiving love in our lives. Show us someone we can give this same love and forgiveness to today.