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Week 2: 5-11 February

OT – Exodus 33 – Leviticus 7

Despite God’s judgment on the people for making an idol of a golden calf, Moses intercedes for them and God goes with them. He assures Moses of his Presence and shows him his glory. When he comes down the mountain he has to veil his face because he reflects the glory. God commands them to be faithful to him, to serve no foreign gods. He instructs them about the building of the Tabernacle and the crafting of the priests’ clothing. All of these are rich in symbolism (we’ll return to them in our reading of Hebrews in the NT). As we begin Leviticus, there is much about offerings and sacrifice. These point to our worship but also to the idea of our salvation coming through the death of a substitute. When they follow God’s instruction about worship properly it results in his Presence with them. When they don’t, it ends in death.

Feb. 5: Exo 33-34; Feb. 6: Exo 35-36; Feb. 7: Exo 37-38; Feb. 8: Exo 39-40; Feb. 9: Lev 1-3; Feb. 10: Lev 4-5; Feb. 11: Lev 6-7

There is a book background to Leviticus here.

NT – Matthew 23:13–26:46

We have seen how Jesus has continually challenged the religious leaders but now he really lets them have it! He calls them hypocritical, pretentious, blind guides, obstacles to entering the Kingdom, legalists, externalists and killers of God’s messengers. Jesus shows his compassion for Jerusalem but its religious leaders will be judged. He then goes on to warn of signs of the future and the end times. His meaning isn’t always clear, as sometimes he seems to be speaking of the fall of Jerusalem that was going to happen in AD 70, and sometimes something much more apocalyptic. Much of this can be explained when we understand that prophecy can be fulfilled multiple times, culminating in an ultimate fulfilment. One clear thing is that the gospel of the Kingdom will be preached through all the world before the end comes. Jesus develops the idea of being ready through the parables of the ten virgins and the three stewards. He then goes on to speak of the key issue being the judgment that will come at the end. The unfolding of the end of his life then begins with the Last Supper, his betrayal, his arrest, his trial and Peter’s denial.

Feb 5: Matt 23:13-39; Feb 6: Matt 24:1-31; Feb 7: Matt 24:32-44; Feb 8: Matt 24:45-25:13; Feb.9: Matt 25:14-46; Feb 10: Matt 26:1-30; Feb 11: Matt 26:31-46

If you are enjoying the Bible Tour, why not take a look at some of the other resources on the Different Kingdom website? See the most recent book review – Live No Lies by John Mark Comer. There is also a summary of the book at LifeWord Summaries