Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 26-27
NT: Matthew 25:1-30
Ps: Psalm 31:1-8
Pr: Proverbs 8:1-11

Gospel Thread - OT:

Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Exodus 26:33 (NIV)

Some people see symbolism in the description of the tabernacle; although, while such symbolism is imaginative and perhaps inspired, I haven't found a great deal of scriptural support to consider it to be doctrinal. Unmistakable, though, is the symbolism of the tearing of the curtain preventing access to the Most Holy Place upon the death of Christ. The curtain separated the Most Holy Place, and symbolized the separation of the people from the presence of and access to God. The tearing of the curtain represented the restoration of access to God.

Gospel Thread - NT:

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

Matthew 25:19 (NIV)

An important part of the gospel message is that each of us will be held accountable for that which we have been given in this life. Life does not end with physical death. God gives to each of us according to His will and our ability (which also comes from God), and will one day make an accounting of that which He has given. He has given us the revelation of His plan for salvation, and we are responsible for receiving and responding to that revelation.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

Psalm 31:5 (NIV)

"Into your hands I commit my spirit" - Jesus spoke these words on the Cross before He breathed His last (Luke 23:46).

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 23:14-33, Exodus 24-25
NT: Matthew 24:29-51
Ps: Psalm 30
Pr: Proverbs 7:24-27

Gospel Thread - OT:

Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt.

Exodus 23:15 (NIV)

Leaven (yeast) is symbolic of sin. Unleavened bread symbolized sinlessness and foreshadowed the Messiah. The Feast of Unleavened Bread pointed toward the burial of the sinless Messiah. (Note also, the Feast of Ingathering is symbolic of the Second Coming, which we will explore further in Leviticus.)

⁹ Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up ¹⁰ and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.

Exodus 24:9-10 (NIV)

Some believe this appearance of God to be a pre-incarnate Christ. True or not, the entire scene - the voice of God, the physical appearance, and the shekinah glory of God descending as a consuming fire - cannot help but evoke imagery of the Trinity: the Triune God - Father, Son, Spirit.

Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.

Exodus 25:8 (NIV)

The Tabernacle was the place of God's dwelling, where God made His Presence known among man. Jesus, the Christ, was Emmanuel: God With Us - God in the presence of man. After the sending of the Holy Spirit, we believers are the Temple: the vessel of indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and witnesses to the presence of God among men.

Gospel Thread - NT:

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:30 (NIV)

Jesus here is predicting His Second Coming, at the end of the age.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

Psalm 30 is a psalm for the dedication (that is, Hanukkah) of the temple. Here is an explanation of the correlation between Hanukkah and the Christ, Jesus. Several verses of this psalm can easily be perceived as symbolic of Christ's death and resurrection.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 21:22-36, Exodus 22, Exodus 23:1-13
NT: Matthew 24:1-28
Ps: Psalm 29
Pr: Proverbs 7:6-23

Gospel Thread - OT:

If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull must be stoned.

Exodus 21:32 (NIV)

Thirty pieces of silver is the price to redeem oneself for the loss of a slave - the purchase price for a slave. Jesus was betrayed for the same thirty pieces of silver: the price of a slave (Matthew 26:14-15).

Gospel Thread - NT:

...but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:13 (NIV)

This is our great hope: no matter what we face in this world, we have but to stand firm in our faith in Christ Jesus, and we will be saved.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

¹⁰ The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
¹¹ The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:10-11 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the rightful King of the earth, for, by, and through whom all things were created. God's blessing of peace to His people comes through Christ.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 19:16-25, Exodus 20, Exodus 21:1-21
NT: Matthew 23:13-39
Ps: Psalm 28
Pr: Proverbs 7:1-5

Gospel Thread - OT:

And God spoke all these words:

Exodus 20:1 (NIV)

Today we begin God's presentation of the Law to Israel. What is the significance of the Law, its importance to us, and its correlation to the gospel? First, the Law exposes sin (Romans 7:7-8). The Law convicts us of our sin (Romans 7:9-10). The Law defines sin as sin. (Romans 7:11-13). The Law demonstrates our utter hopelessness for life on our own (Romans 7:24-25), and our need for the Messiah (Romans 8:1-4). The Law foreshadows the saving work of the Messiah for the justification and redemption from sin for all mankind (Romans 5:12-21). Finally, through the Messiah, the Law gives us ultimate, unshakable hope of right relationship with God (Romans 8:37-39).

Gospel Thread - NT:

²⁵ "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Matthew 23:25-26 (NIV)

Jesus is describing the insufficiency of the Law to bring righteousness apart from faith in the atoning work of the Messiah (as with yesterday's NT reference).

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

⁸ The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalm 28:8-9 (NIV)

Whenever I see David speak of God's "annointed one" in the Psalms, I think of the Messiah. Perhaps not all such uses of "annointed one" refer to The Annointed One, but in this case, with verses 8 and 9 taken together, the reference is stronger. Jesus Christ is the Annointed One, the Savior of God's people, the One through Whom comes the blessing upon God's inheritance, and the Shepherd of God's people.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 17:8-16, Exodus 18, Exodus 19:1-15
NT: Matthew 22:34-46, Matthew 23:1-12
Ps: Psalm 27:7-14
Pr: Proverbs 6:27-35

Gospel Thread - OT:

⁴ 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, ⁶ you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.

Exodus 10:4-6 (NIV)

God's purpose with bringing the Israelites out of Egypt was to reveal Himself to Israel, to bring them to Him, and to make them His people - a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. This purpose for Israel foreshadows God's purpose for all mankind, through Jesus Christ; for it is through Christ that God reveals Himself to us (Matthew 1:23, John 14:6-14), reconciles us to Himself (II Corinthians 5:16-21), and makes His people, a holynation and a kingdom of priests (I Peter 2:9-10).

Gospel Thread - NT:

³⁷ Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

Jesus is again pointing out that the Law, given by God to the Israelites, was intended to point to God's ultimate standard. The Law set Israel in the direction of God's holiness and love, but the Law could not be perfected without the Messiah to whom it also pointed. Not only could the Law not be followed perfectly by mere men, but also, even explicit conformance to the letter of the Law could only bring external cleanliness. The external, physical cleanliness imparted by the Law could not save apart from the foundation of the internal, spiritual cleanliness imparted by the Messiah.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

Psalm 27:12 (NIV)

As with yesterday's Psalm reference, some see this verse as an example of David speaking both literally, of his own enemies who were pursuing him, and figuratively, of Messiah who would also be pursued by His enemies.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 15:19-27, Exodus 16, Exodus 17:1-7
NT: Matthew 22:1-33
Ps: Psalm 27:1-6
Pr: Proverbs 6:20-26

Gospel Thread - OT:

I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'

Exodus 16:12 (NIV)

Perhaps the manna in the desert is the origin of the "daily bread" for which Jesus prayed in the Lord's prayer? Perhaps, or perhaps not; either way, God provided Israel with bread to sustain their physical life in the desert of Sinai - just as He provided Jesus, the Bread of Life, to sustain our spiritual life from out of the desert of our own sin.

Gospel Thread - NT:

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.

Matthew 22:2 (NIV)

The parable of the wedding banquet is an allegory for God's relationship with Israel and the gentiles. God chose Israel to be His people, and prepared them for salvation through His Son, Jesus. However, Israel rejected both the Son (Jesus), the king's servants (the prophets), and the servants' message (the gospel). So the king extended the invitation to the wedding banquet (salvation) to all the people who could be found (the gentiles).

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

Psalm 27:2 (NIV)

Some see this verse as an example of David speaking both literally, of his own enemies who were pursuing him, and figuratively, of Messiah who would also be pursued by His enemies.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 2 February 2007; back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 13:17-, Exodus 14, Exodus 15:1-18
NT: Matthew 21:23-46
Ps: Psalm 26
Pr: Proverbs 6:16-19

Gospel Thread - OT:

While the presence of the Pillar of Fire (Exodus 13:21-22) and the passage through the Red Sea remind me of the words of John the Baptist: "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Matthew 3:11 NIV, and also Luke 3:16), I don't think these are intended allusions.

Gospel Thread - NT:

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

Matthew 21:42 (NIV)

Jesus is speaking about himself, and according to the NIV footnotes, is quoting Psalm 118:22-23.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

No direct gospel/messianic thread in today's Psalms/Proverbs reading.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 12:14-51, Exodus 13:1-16
NT: Matthew 20:29-34, Mathew 21:1-22
Ps: Psalm 25:16-22
Pr: Proverbs 6:12-15

Gospel Thread - OT:

It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.

Exodus 12:46 (NIV)

Is it coincidence that God commanded that none of the bones of the passover lamb be broken, and none of Jesus' bones were broken when He was crucified?

An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it.

Exodus 13:48 (NIV)

The principle of grafting or adopting foreigners into the nation of God's chosen people exists even here, in the beginning, even before God gave the Law to Israel.

Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal.

Exodus 13:2 (NIV)

Perhaps God is consecrating to Himself the every firstborn male after bringing salvation from Egypt to the Israelites in order to emphasize that He will sacrifice His own, only Son in order to bring salvation from sin to the world?

Gospel Thread - NT:

⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ⁵ "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

Matthew 21:4-5 (NIV)

From the NIV footnotes, this is a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9.

The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

Matthw 21:9 (NIV)

From the NIV footnotes, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" is a quote of Psalm 118:26.

"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"

Matthew 21:16 (NIV)

From the NIV footnotes, Jesus here is quoting Psalm 8:2.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

No direct gospel/messianic references in today's Psalms/Proverbs reading.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 10-11, Exodus 12:1-13
NT: Matthew 20:1-28
Ps: Psalm 25:1-15
Pr: Proverbs 6:6-11

Gospel Thread - OT:

The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

Exodus 12:13 (NIV)

The Passover - so much theology is wrapped up in this event. Here we see that only death can satisfy a Holy God's wrath against sin. Here we see that an innocent sacrifice can stand in the place of the one for whom death is decreed. Here we see that it is the sign of the blood of the innocent one that signifies the one spared God's wrath. And for us, we find that Jesus Christ fulfills each of these: in His death, God poured the fullness of His wrath against sin; in His death, He died a perfect, blameless, sinless, atoning sacrifice; and it is by His blood that we are marked as justified.

Gospel Thread - NT:

...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

This principle is one of the primary reasons the Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah who was to come: they were looking for a conquering king, rather than a servant-king. The Messiah must first have become the perfect Passover lamb, giving his life as a ransom for all. This truth was God's plan from the beginning, and it was only after Jesus became our Passover lamb that He could return as the Conquering King, reclaiming His rightful place of authority.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

No direct messianic/gospel references in today's Psalms/Proverbs reading.

OYB Photo of the Day:

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths
Psalm 25:4 (NIV)
Photo © Chip Bennett; all rights reserved.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Exodus 8-9
NT: Matthew 19:13-30
Ps: Psalm 24
Pr: Proverbs 6:1-5

Gospel Thread - OT:

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16 (NIV)

In everything, God's purpose is to glorify Himself: creation, mankind, His plan of salvation - all bring glory to God.

Gospel Thread - NT:

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

Salvation, apart from God, is impossible. There is no "good thing" that we can do to earn for ourselves eternal life. We can only receive that which God offers us freely through Jesus Christ.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Psalm 24:7 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the King of glory! This psalm culminates the Shepherd Psalm Trilogy (Psalm 22-24). We saw in chapter 22 that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for his flock (portraying his death and resurrection). We saw in chapter 23 that Jesus is the Great Shepherd, who cares for, tends, and ministers to his flock (portraying his current ministry in heaven). Here in chapter 24 we see that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, returning to his flock as the King of glory (portraying his second coming).

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.