What do we do with the Old Testament when God seems to be commanding death? (Leviticus 24:14) And then, when there are two verses, back to back, that conflict? "Aliens as wells as citizens, when they blaspheme the Name, shall be put to death. Anyone who kills a human being shall be put to death." (24:16-17)
Scripture is the writings of a people who are responding to God's acting in their world. In Leviticus, we have a people who are trying to faithfully live out the 10 commandments by spelling out the specifics of what it means to live the Law. Therefore, to fail to keep the first three commandments (Only one God, no idols, do not take the Lord's name in vain), must have serious consequences. And here, we see the scribes of the Law take a very human way forward: Inspire people to keep the Law through fear. shall be put to death. And yet, the recognition that another law is: thou shalt not kill. The question we have to ask ourselves today as we wrestle with this, since we have been granted the gift of the New Testament and the New Covenant through Christ, how does this spelling out of the Law in Leviticus fit with the entirety of Scripture? After all, if humanity had it right, why then the reframing of the covenant through Christ? Hmmm, no answers; simply food for thought.
Mark 11: Jesus sees a fig tree in leaf. Since the fig tree was in leaf, Jesus expected there to be fruit.
Sarah needs some help. She thought she had everything figured out, but she is not able to buy one of her important medications. She doesn't know what to do. A few months ago, a woman at work, Liz, was talking to her about her church: how wonderful it was, how friendly, Sarah should come. Sarah thinks to herself: "Didn't Jesus say whatever you do for the least of these? I'm certainly one of the least of these." Sarah doesn't want to ask Liz, whom she doesn't know very well, for help; but, she doesn't know what else to do. She doesn't know where to turn.
Almost unable to look her in the eye, Sarah explains to Liz her dilemma. Liz is stunned. She tells Sarah, "I barely know you. You are asking a great deal from me. I'm sorry, I can't help you. Isn't there welfare or something? I can't believe you asked me for that kind of money."
When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves. . . .
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