Category: Deuteronomy

March 23: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Matthew 27:1-31 depicts the first half of the longest day, beginning with Jesus being handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor; since the Jews did not have right to execute capital punishment. Judas hanged himself and the thirty pieces of silver given him in exchange for the betrayal of Jesus was used to buy the Potter’s field. Pilate tried to wiggle out of his role as judge; his wife had warned him, so he used his privilege to release one prisoner at Passover which was the custom at that time. Pilate chose Jesus or Barabbas to be released and of the two the people chose Barabbas, a known insurrectionist to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate acquiesced to the mob and so Jesus was flogged by the soldiers for a public spectacle and then he was led away to be crucified.

Deuteronomy 29. In preparation of the tribes entering the promised land God renews the Mosaic Covenant in Moab.

March 22: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

In Matthew 26:31-75 Jesus predicted Peter’s denial. After finishing the Last Supper they all moved on to the Mount of Olives, and there was the garden of Gethsemane. In the garden Jesus prayed “Not my will, but yours be done.”  Jesus prayed this prayer three times, and every time the disciples fell asleep. After that is recorded the betrayal and arrest of Jesus as he was taken to the Sanhedrin to be interrogated. The chapter ends with Peter’s denial.

Deuteronomy 28. The LORD through Moses specified many blessings for obedience and even more curses for disobedience.

March 21: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Matthew 26:1-30 is very important. It begins with the plot against Jesus, continuing with his anointing at Bethany, then Judas agreeing to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, continuing with the Lord’s supper being initiated, and Jesus predicting who is going to betray him.

Deuteronomy 25 tells of the marriage duty of a surviving brother, how to weigh with honest measures, and, totally unrelated, do not forget to destroy the Amalekites.

Deuteronomy 26 shows the regulations for offerings of firstfruits and tithes. Follow the LORD’s commands, you are a special people of God.

Deuteronomy 27 specifies that the Law should be inscribed on large stones on Mount Ebal. There six tribes shall declare curses, and on Mount Gerizim six tribes shall pronounce blessings.

March 20: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Matthew 25: 31-46. Jesus will return to judge the nations, to illustrate how he told the parable of the sheep and the goats, and the sheep were defined as those who do God’s will “You did it for me.”

Deuteronomy 22 contains more instructions, protect your brother’s property, the LORD detests unisex clothing, protect nesting birds, do not yoke an ox and a donkey together. The chapter ends with various laws on sexual morality.

Deuteronomy 23 deals with shunning and exclusion from the assembly, how to deal or not to deal with certain foreigners. Make your relief stations outside the camp and do what you have to do and keep proper camping cleanliness. No harlots allowed and do not accept offerings from them. You may not charge interest to a fellow Israelite, but you can be a Shylock to a foreigner. If you make a vow to the Lord, you better fulfill it!

Deuteronomy 24 tells of divorce laws and limitations for remarriage, leprosy, lending laws, how to properly pay workmen, and after harvest please leave the gleanings.

March 19: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Matthew 25:1-30 begins with the parable of the ten virgins, five with oil, five without oil. (Give me oil in my lamp, keep it burning). After that Jesus told the parable of the five, two and one talent given to three different people, the one with five made ten, the one with two doubled his talents, but the one with only one talent buried his. Jesus had his one talent taken away and be given to the one with ten talents. The moral of this parable is: Equal opportunity, not equal outcome.

Deuteronomy19. God commanded to set aside three Cities of Refuge, maybe three more as the land expands. Do not change property boundaries. There must be two or three witnesses for a conviction in court.  From this chapter also comes the saying “an eye for an eye”.

Deuteronomy 20. Rules for warfare: The Lord fights the battle for you. If you are too chicken or are building a house or are pledged to marry, you may be excused. For the rest of you, show no mercy unless they surrender, but above all, save the fruit trees.

Deuteronomy 21 deals with what to do with unsolved murders. Can you marry a female taken captive?  What are the rights of the firstborn? What to do with a rebellious Son? A man punished to death and hung on a tree, he must be buried the same day. From this we get “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”.

March 18: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Matthew 24:36-51. Nobody knows the time or the day of Christ’s coming, not even Jesus at that time. Many have tried to predict it, and so far all have failed. This makes sense since we are supposed to watch and wait, and with this admonition the chapter ends.

Deuteronomy 16 describes in detail how to celebrate the Passover, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. Bring an offering, no one can go empty handed. Appoint Judges so justice can be properly administered. Do not worship any Asherah poles ever.

Deuteronomy 17, Anyone worshiping other Gods must have justice administered, including stoning. The Israelites will elect a King after they have entered the promised land. He must be an Israelite, not gathering riches or take many wives. He must read the scroll of the Law all the days of his life. As long as he does all these things he will reign a long time.

Deuteronomy 18. The LORD is the Inheritance for Priests and Levites. No Wicked Customs such as child sacrifice, “ or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer ” In other words: “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.” Then the LORD gave a promise. He will raise up a Prophet like Moses. There will also rise up many false prophets, and they are not to be listened to.

March 17: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Matthew 24:1-35, is knocking at the door is a song popularized by Johnny  Cash and gives a description of what is coming. Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple and the events that will occur just before his return. He even quoted Daniel the prophet: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation.” Then he described his coming return to gather his people. He assured us that heaven and earth will pass away, but not his words. My words

Deuteronomy14. Do not do as the heathen do with improper mourning, eat only clean meat and do not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. Observe tithing, and every three years give an extra tithing for the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows.

Deuteronomy 15. Debts are to be canceled after seven years, show generosity to the poor, lend freely but do not borrow, free your slaves after seven years and give them opportunity to continue on their own. Set apart every firstborn animal.

March 16: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Matthew 23, Jesus warned the people about the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. At that time they had formulated the Talmud, which regulated every aspect of Jewish life. He did it in the form of telling of seven woes. Read the chapter carefully and draw your own conclusions.

Deuteronomy 11. Love and Obey the LORD, remember all He has done, meditate day and night on it and always teach the same to your children. God set before them a blessing and a curse, it dealt with obedience.

Deuteronomy 12. God proclaimed the One Place of Worship. All other places of worship where false Gods have been worshiped must be destroyed. You may eat from all clean animals, but do not drink their blood.

Deuteronomy 13. Apostates must be severely punished.

March 15: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

Matthew 22:34-46  The Pharisees tried to entrap Jesus by asking him which is the greatest commandment. Jesus answered with the first commandment and added another: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Once more they tried to entrap him with the question: Whose son is the Christ? Jesus answered: “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?  If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?” That shut them up.

Deuteronomy 9, Israel’s rebellion is reviewed, but in spite of being a stiffnecked people doing abominations to the LORD like the Golden Calf, God in His mercy  kept His promises.

Deuteronomy 10, take Two Tablets, Fear the LORD and circumcise your hearts,  that is the Essence of the Law. Remember, you too were aliens in Egypt.

Psalm 22, of David. It is also called “The Crucifixion Psalm”. Read it and ponder.

March 14: Read through the Holy Bible in a year.

In Matthew 22:1-33 Jesus continued to talk in parables. He was in Jerusalem, teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven and told the parable of the wedding banquet, from which we have the expression “many are called but few are chosen.” Continuing on, the Pharisees tried to entrap him with the question “is it legal to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus answered by the famous quote: “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” an early call to separation of Church and State. Jesus did not say “let the Romans do it”. The Sadducees also tried to entrap him with the riddle “if there is no resurrection and seven brothers have had a woman as his wife on after another, who would marry her in the resurrection?” Jesus answered with another, now made famous, saying: “God is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

Deuteronomy 7 promised that the Israelites were always a Chosen People. God will drive out the people before them. When entering the land they must completely destroy all idols and false gods.

Deuteronomy 8. Remember the LORD your God but if not, you too will be destroyed.