JESUS AT WORK Colossians 3:22–4:1
IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS Malachi 1:6-10
PRIESTS AND THE LAW • Writing to the rulers of the Israelite people, who were the priests • Priests seen as a spiritual authority • Priests came from the line of Levi and were the mediator between God and His people
HEBREWS 5:1 For every high priest taken from men is appointed in service to God for the people, to o ff er both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
NUMBERS 3:10 You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out their priestly responsibilities, but any unauthorized person who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”
PRIESTS AND THE LAW Focused on keeping and teaching the law to the people of Israel and accepting the sacrifices of Israel for the payment of sins. There were 613 di ff erent laws, 365 were negative (things not to do), and 248 were positive commands.
The laws that matter to us most in this text are the di ff erent sacrificial laws: • Burnt O ff erings: voluntary act of worship –bull, ram or bird • Grain o ff ering: voluntary, recognize God’s goodness –grain, fine flour, olive oil
• Peace o ff ering: voluntary act of worship, communal meal –any animal without defect • Trespass o ff ering: mandatory atonement for unintentional sin, cleanse from defilement, make restitution –ram
• Sin O ff ering: mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sin, confession and forgiveness of sin, cleansing from defilement –young Bull for high priest –male goat for a leader –female goat or lamb for common person –dove or pigeon for the poor –1/10 an ephah of flour for very poor
LEVITICUS 22:19-22 Must o ff er an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for you to be accepted. You are not to present anything that has a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. “When a man presents a fellowship sacrifice to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill o ff ering from the herd or flock, it has to be unblemished to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it.
LEVITICUS 22:19-22 You are not to present any animal to the LORD that is blind, injured, maimed, or has a running sore, festering rash, or scabs; you may not put any of them on the altar as a fire o ff ering to the LORD.
MALACHI 1:6-10 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me? says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.” Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?” “By presenting defiled food on My altar.” You ask: “How have we defiled You?” When you say: “The LORD’s table is contemptible.”
MALACHI 1:6-10 “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts. “And now ask for God’s favor. Will He be gracious to us? Since this has come from your hands, will He show any of you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
MALACHI 1:6-10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no o ff ering from your hands.”
The priests despised God. – held God in contempt, found Him vile, worthless
1. The priests despised God as Father.
MALACHI 1:6-7 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me? says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.” Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?” “By presenting defiled food on My altar.” You ask: “How have we defiled You?” When you say: “The LORD’s table is contemptible.”
1. No honor because they were passive aggressive
2. No honor at the table Verse 7: “By presenting defiled food on My altar.” You ask: “How have we defiled You?” When you say: “The LORD’s table is contemptible.”
3. No honor in the gift
PSALM 51:16-17 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt o ff ering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.
2. The priests despised God the master.
MALACHI 1:6B, 8 “And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me? says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.” “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.
MALACHI 1:10 “I wish one of you would shut the temple doors, so you would no longer kindle a useless fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will accept no o ff ering from your hands.”
The Priests’ Problem: They didn’t understand the greatness of God.
Why does God care what the sacrifice is like?
1. Sacrifices are an allusion to the coming Savior, Jesus.
LEVITICUS 1:3-4 If his gift is a burnt o ff ering from the herd, he is to bring an unblemished male. He must bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting so that he may be accepted by the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt o ff ering so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
2. Sacrifices should cost you.
“When you meet the real Jesus, you always find two things that are shocking, He demands more than you thought and He o ff ers you more than you ever dreamed.” –Tim Keller
3. Sacrifices reveal what you value.
How does a religious person get to this place?
“What weariness is this?” (ESV) They have lost vision of the greatness of God.
God is calling to Israel: Return to me. Worship me with your whole heart. Today, God is making the same request.
ROMANS 12:1-2 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Your body, your life is your living sacrifice. God wants the best of your time. God wants the best of your energy. God wants the best of your money. God wants the best of your words.
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