Feb. 9, 2021
In the Old Testament, offerings cleansed the people of Israel from their sin. There were many laws surrounding the type of offering the people were to give, depending upon the sin committed and who was sinned against.
The sin offering was for the atonement of a committed sin and focused on the purification of the one offering it. The guilt offering was also for the atonement of committed sins and covered more serious offenses with more costly offerings. These offerings focused on making reparations between the Lord and his people.
The Lord commanded that the altar fire burn nonstop, day and night, and Aaron and his sons were given the task of keeping the fire lit and maintained. This commandment required the priests to be faithful in their duties to ensure that the worship of the Lord never ceased.
Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins to instruct his disciples on how and why they should prepare for his coming. In Jesus’ time, it was customary for the groom and his friends to leave for the home of the bride to conduct the ceremony at night.
It was each person’s responsibility to make preparations to travel back with the bridegroom to the wedding banquet at his house. The purpose of this parable is that Jesus’ disciples must watch and prepare for the Son of Man when he returns.
Jesus also tells the parable of the talents which describes a master entrusting his servants with funds while he was gone. In modern equivalents, one talent would be worth approximately $600,000.
Upon the master’s return, two of the servants managed their money well but one servant did not. The wicked servant hid his talent, revealing the condition of his untrusting heart. Jesus warns his disciples to be a faithful servant of all that God has entrusted to their care.
Make it Personal
- How do you manage the gifts and the time you have been given by God?
- Ask the Lord to show you where you need to trust Him.