How are you doing in your Bible reading?  For many people it is challenging to read through all the OT laws because their world was so very different from our own.  Soon we will finish Deuteronomy, and begin a new section of the OT that is mainly historical narrative.

In Deuteronomy we begin the section on specific laws that they were to follow.  Quite a few of the laws are about setting up worship once they enter the land, including the various offerings and feasts.  There are repeated warnings to avoid the  influence by the religions of the nations that they will be displacing.  Other laws cover the administration of justice and the punishments for various crimes.  Take special note of the many laws designed to protect the poor and needy. The final two chapters include the recitation of curses for disobedience and blessings for obedience, which were to be recited on Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerazim, respectively, once they had entered the land (cf. Deut. 11:29).  Their obedience to carry this out is recorded in Josh. 8:30-35.

In Luke we read about the birth of John the Baptist and of Jesus, and of the early life of Jesus.  Luke goes into much more detail than the other Gospels concerning these events.  It is likely that one of the eyewitnesses that Luke interviewed in his investigation (Lk. 1:1-4) was Mary the mother of Jesus.  We read of the angels and shepherds at Christ’s birth and the witness of two older godly Jews in the temple, Simeon and Anna.  Then Luke covers an incident that took place when Jesus was 12 years old, around the age when Jewish boys were considered old enough to take up adult responsibilitiy for obedience to God’s law.  Finally we read of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and the beginning of His public ministry.

Please share your thoughts and questions in the comment section.

Written by Pastor Ken in CFC Bible Blog