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Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 24

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Verses 1-23

Intro:
1. Tonight, afterwards, you’re welcome to stay & watch the Israel pics w/us.
2. We move from the feasts to a brief reminder about the Tabernacle.
  1. Some see this as a “parenthetical”. – Others a tie in to the feasts because it was part of the 3 main feasts.
LIGHT! (1-4)
1. Show Menorah!
2. PEOPLE BRING!
  1. It had to be supplied by the people.
  2. Oil was part of the peoples tithe.
    1. I think this is another great picture of Unity! - They were working & shining together before God! - It wasn’t a one-man show!
    2. Lighthouse analogy! – Picture the church as a giant “Lighthouse” in our world. If every believer showed up with 1 battery., it would take all of our batteries for that light to shine bright! (for every “weak” Christian, the light would be a little less bright!)
  3. Q: Have you been bringing your share of oil?
3. PURE OIL!
  1. Only the purest could be used. - Not 2^nd best.
  2. George Macdonald in “Diary of an Old Soul” said,…Lord, in thy Spirit's hurricane, I Pray,Strip my soul naked--dress it then thy way.
  3. Our lives should be both kept clean with Integrity, & washed clean with repentance!
  4. Bring to Him your pure, uncontaminated, unpolluted, clean oil!
4. PRESSED OLIVES!
  1. Olive oil comes from the crushing of the seed itself not from the flesh of the olive. The precious oil is hidden inside the seed, & must be crushed for it to be released.
    1. Jesus was in Gethsemane(oil press)when he was crushed, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.”
    2. Because of it, out flowed the sweetest oil man has ever seen.
  2. Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” As Jesus took the crushing of sin, we need to expect a hard pressing also, so we can extract the same sweet oil.
    1. 2 Cor.4:8,9 “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”
  3. Q: Little Olives, when the squeeze is placed on you, do you try to stay away from every press? or, do you “press on” & pour forth sweet oil?
  4. Pitted Christians??? (oxy-Moran)
    1. We buy the “pitted” olives because they are “easier” to eat! (w/garlic cloves)
    2. A Christian that has the easy life: with never a persecution, never a trial, never a tribulation…is no Christian at all!…For Paul tells Timothy, 2 Tim.3:12 “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
    3. Q: If you were any threat to “the enemy” don’t you think he would ever attack?
    4. Testing in our lives makes us stronger, like wind to a young sapling tree, making its roots grow deeper!
5. PERPETUAL BURNING!
  1. Students disagree on how long they burn. Day & Night or just through the night.
    1. Continually Day & Night both? - Need it during the day also, as there is no other light inside.
    2. Continually every night? - Ex.30:7,8 (why would he have to light it every night?
    3. 1 Sam.3:3,4 “and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!" sounds like it was only to last till morning.
  2. Careful care was given by the priests to make sure the lamps would always be burning.
    1. Q: Which 4^th of July firework would best describe your “steady burning”? [Sparkler(a short burst of flash); Roman candle(intermittent balls of fire); Piccolo Pete(all noise no flame); or a Punk w/a slow steady burn?]
      1. We used the punks to light everything else.
6. RESULTS:
  1. Light! - 1^st for God, as no one else was able to see it. Next, For the Priest to see, when he was working inside.
  2. Q: What if your light could only be seen by God & no other…would you still burn?
7. APPLICATIONS:
  1. In Rev.1:20 we have the church represented as a Menorah also!
    1. “…the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”
  2. Q: Do we today, as God’s people, help the light of the church to keep shining…continually?
  3. 1^ST we must have the light IN us, then it should shine FROM us!
    1. 2 Cor.4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
    2. Mt.5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
8. BREAD! (5-9)
  1. Bread = “bread of presence”(i.e. God’s presence)
  2. Always the finest & the best!
    1. As David did with Araunah’s field. Little did he know he was purchasing the land that Solomon would build the Temple on.
  3. Frankincense – was probably placed alongside the bread not on it. Probably in a bowl.
    1. Some say that the incense was burnt while the bread was being replaced.
  4. 12 loaves? – A reminder again it is not “my” offering but “Israel” as the whole.
    1. Not - “My” Father who art in heaven! But Jesus said to pray “our” Father…”
    2. Also, it is reminiscent of the standing Israel had as a people, particularly near to Him! (as the bread was placed in the holy place the nearest to the presence of God!)
BLASPHEMY! (10-16)
1. Every Jew knew the 3^rd commandment, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”
  1. So fearful were the Jews of breaking this commandment that hey substituted the name “Adonai” or Yahweh” when they read the Scriptures. (often times with à G_d.)
  2. To respect a name was to respect the person who bears the name!
2. (11) Shelomith = “woman of Peace”.
  1. Moms name is mentioned Prov.10:1 “a foolish son is the grief of his mother.”
3. (12) Moses was humble enough to admit that he didn’t know everything & had to ask the Lord what to do.
  1. That is a good example for leaders to follow today.
  2. Ps.25:9 “The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.”
  3. Q: How do you handle questions you don’t know the answers to?
  4. Q: Do you wait on God for direction? For your family matters, in your business, in friendship problems, on big decisions, on little ones?
    1. “Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter.”
    2. David said, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” Ps.27:14
    3. Hosea said, “Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually.” (12:6)
    4. Example: It is hard to be still! – Varella’s Ranch by the pond…so quiet!
  5. Moses knew exactly what to do if it was an Israelite but wasn’t sure about resident aliens!
4. (14) The decision then became a precedent for use in later years. This is what today we call “case-law”.
LEX TALIONIS! (17-23)
1. Here, continues the laws regarding both the “stranger” & the “home-born” Israelite.
2. The principle here is the “Lex Talionis”(Latin, Laws/Punishment).
  1. Jesus referred to these words(an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth)in Mt.5 to condemn an attitude of personal retaliation & revenge.
  2. Private irresponsible retaliation was not permitted by Mosaic law.
  3. The Lex Talionis was designed as a principle of exact justice, not revenge!
    1. “An eye for an eye” served as a check on the extreme of “a life for an eye”!
    2. Punishment must fit the crime…but not exceed it.
  4. It was publicly administered.
  5. Compensation for injuries usually took the form of a fine.
3. Capitol punishment?
  1. The #1 purpose of capital punishment is not to frighten potential criminals into being good, but to uphold & defend the law!
    1. God wants us to respect the Law, respect life, & respect humans made in the image of God!
  2. Yet is does fulfill the former also!
    1. Eccl.8:11 “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
4. End:
  1. Israel photos, start 10 minutes afterward(kids welcome to come in).
  2. Next trip next April.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 1-23

Intro:
1. Tonight, afterwards, you’re welcome to stay & watch the Israel pics w/us.
2. We move from the feasts to a brief reminder about the Tabernacle.
  1. Some see this as a “parenthetical”. – Others a tie in to the feasts because it was part of the 3 main feasts.
LIGHT! (1-4)
1. Show Menorah!
2. PEOPLE BRING!
  1. It had to be supplied by the people.
  2. Oil was part of the peoples tithe.
    1. I think this is another great picture of Unity! - They were working & shining together before God! - It wasn’t a one-man show!
    2. Lighthouse analogy! – Picture the church as a giant “Lighthouse” in our world. If every believer showed up with 1 battery., it would take all of our batteries for that light to shine bright! (for every “weak” Christian, the light would be a little less bright!)
  3. Q: Have you been bringing your share of oil?
3. PURE OIL!
  1. Only the purest could be used. - Not 2^nd best.
  2. George Macdonald in “Diary of an Old Soul” said,…Lord, in thy Spirit's hurricane, I Pray,Strip my soul naked--dress it then thy way.
  3. Our lives should be both kept clean with Integrity, & washed clean with repentance!
  4. Bring to Him your pure, uncontaminated, unpolluted, clean oil!
4. PRESSED OLIVES!
  1. Olive oil comes from the crushing of the seed itself not from the flesh of the olive. The precious oil is hidden inside the seed, & must be crushed for it to be released.
    1. Jesus was in Gethsemane(oil press)when he was crushed, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.”
    2. Because of it, out flowed the sweetest oil man has ever seen.
  2. Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” As Jesus took the crushing of sin, we need to expect a hard pressing also, so we can extract the same sweet oil.
    1. 2 Cor.4:8,9 “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;”
  3. Q: Little Olives, when the squeeze is placed on you, do you try to stay away from every press? or, do you “press on” & pour forth sweet oil?
  4. Pitted Christians??? (oxy-Moran)
    1. We buy the “pitted” olives because they are “easier” to eat! (w/garlic cloves)
    2. A Christian that has the easy life: with never a persecution, never a trial, never a tribulation…is no Christian at all!…For Paul tells Timothy, 2 Tim.3:12 “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
    3. Q: If you were any threat to “the enemy” don’t you think he would ever attack?
    4. Testing in our lives makes us stronger, like wind to a young sapling tree, making its roots grow deeper!
5. PERPETUAL BURNING!
  1. Students disagree on how long they burn. Day & Night or just through the night.
    1. Continually Day & Night both? - Need it during the day also, as there is no other light inside.
    2. Continually every night? - Ex.30:7,8 (why would he have to light it every night?
    3. 1 Sam.3:3,4 “and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!" sounds like it was only to last till morning.
  2. Careful care was given by the priests to make sure the lamps would always be burning.
    1. Q: Which 4^th of July firework would best describe your “steady burning”? [Sparkler(a short burst of flash); Roman candle(intermittent balls of fire); Piccolo Pete(all noise no flame); or a Punk w/a slow steady burn?]
      1. We used the punks to light everything else.
6. RESULTS:
  1. Light! - 1^st for God, as no one else was able to see it. Next, For the Priest to see, when he was working inside.
  2. Q: What if your light could only be seen by God & no other…would you still burn?
7. APPLICATIONS:
  1. In Rev.1:20 we have the church represented as a Menorah also!
    1. “…the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”
  2. Q: Do we today, as God’s people, help the light of the church to keep shining…continually?
  3. 1^ST we must have the light IN us, then it should shine FROM us!
    1. 2 Cor.4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
    2. Mt.5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
8. BREAD! (5-9)
  1. Bread = “bread of presence”(i.e. God’s presence)
  2. Always the finest & the best!
    1. As David did with Araunah’s field. Little did he know he was purchasing the land that Solomon would build the Temple on.
  3. Frankincense – was probably placed alongside the bread not on it. Probably in a bowl.
    1. Some say that the incense was burnt while the bread was being replaced.
  4. 12 loaves? – A reminder again it is not “my” offering but “Israel” as the whole.
    1. Not - “My” Father who art in heaven! But Jesus said to pray “our” Father…”
    2. Also, it is reminiscent of the standing Israel had as a people, particularly near to Him! (as the bread was placed in the holy place the nearest to the presence of God!)
BLASPHEMY! (10-16)
1. Every Jew knew the 3^rd commandment, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”
  1. So fearful were the Jews of breaking this commandment that hey substituted the name “Adonai” or Yahweh” when they read the Scriptures. (often times with à G_d.)
  2. To respect a name was to respect the person who bears the name!
2. (11) Shelomith = “woman of Peace”.
  1. Moms name is mentioned Prov.10:1 “a foolish son is the grief of his mother.”
3. (12) Moses was humble enough to admit that he didn’t know everything & had to ask the Lord what to do.
  1. That is a good example for leaders to follow today.
  2. Ps.25:9 “The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.”
  3. Q: How do you handle questions you don’t know the answers to?
  4. Q: Do you wait on God for direction? For your family matters, in your business, in friendship problems, on big decisions, on little ones?
    1. “Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter.”
    2. David said, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” Ps.27:14
    3. Hosea said, “Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually.” (12:6)
    4. Example: It is hard to be still! – Varella’s Ranch by the pond…so quiet!
  5. Moses knew exactly what to do if it was an Israelite but wasn’t sure about resident aliens!
4. (14) The decision then became a precedent for use in later years. This is what today we call “case-law”.
LEX TALIONIS! (17-23)
1. Here, continues the laws regarding both the “stranger” & the “home-born” Israelite.
2. The principle here is the “Lex Talionis”(Latin, Laws/Punishment).
  1. Jesus referred to these words(an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth)in Mt.5 to condemn an attitude of personal retaliation & revenge.
  2. Private irresponsible retaliation was not permitted by Mosaic law.
  3. The Lex Talionis was designed as a principle of exact justice, not revenge!
    1. “An eye for an eye” served as a check on the extreme of “a life for an eye”!
    2. Punishment must fit the crime…but not exceed it.
  4. It was publicly administered.
  5. Compensation for injuries usually took the form of a fine.
3. Capitol punishment?
  1. The #1 purpose of capital punishment is not to frighten potential criminals into being good, but to uphold & defend the law!
    1. God wants us to respect the Law, respect life, & respect humans made in the image of God!
  2. Yet is does fulfill the former also!
    1. Eccl.8:11 “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
4. End:
  1. Israel photos, start 10 minutes afterward(kids welcome to come in).
  2. Next trip next April.

return to 'Top of Page'

LeviticusLev 23 LeviticusLev LeviticusLev 25

Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Leviticus 24". "Bell's Commentary". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/leviticus-24.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesLeviticus 24

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-23

Verses 1-23

Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 24