Obtaining Our Jewish Law Degree 101

Are you hanging in there???   I know reading about all the sacrifices and rules and regulations and laws can seem tedious.  The one that talks about if someone finds a person dead in a field and no one knows who committed the murder is especially curious to me. The priests had to play private investigator in many disputes or questions concerning breaking the "law."  In this instance, they had to measure the distance from the dead body to the nearest town. The elders from the nearest town had to bring a heifer to a valley that had not been cultivated and the valley had to have a running stream.  The priests and elders then broke the heifer's neck and the elders washed their hands over the heifer's neck proclaiming themselves and their town innocent or not guilty of bloodshed. 

I have added Jewish links in case you would want to read more and have more insight into all the rules and regulations.  When I read this section, I wish I had a rabbi across the table from me so that I could ask him all my questions.  The website Judaism 101 is set up that way and is written by a Jew.  Most of his questions regarding the Levitical law and sacrifices comes from non-Jews.  The links are just for information purposes.  PRAISE THE LORD, Jesus came not to destroy the law but to fulfill the law.  Moses's Law has been improved and amended.

The Jewish people have not been able to sacrifice to God since the temple's destruction around 70 AD.  Remember reading about how once the temple was established that people were no longer to sacrifice just any where or at any time but they were required to present their sacrifice to a place God would designate...the temple where the priests would present their offering to God. Deuteronomy 12:1-15.  So what are the Jews suppose to do to at this time to obtain forgiveness of sin?   Hosea  14:1,2 (NIV) reads Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God.  Your sins have been your downfall!  Take words with you and return to the Lord.  Say to him:  Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.  The portion reading "the fruit of our lips" is interpreted as "offer our lips as sacrifices of bulls".   The KJV reads:  Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips.

I can't imagine the smell and mess there must have been at the temple with the constant slaughter and bleeding of animals. And animals being animals, I am sure there were animals screaming as their throats were cut and lets face it, none of them were house trained. It must have been a constant offensive reminder of their sinful nature.  What a wonderful thing the grace of God is.  How blessed we are to have Jesus Christ as our High Priest!  And don't forget, the Holy Spirit, who wants to help you discern truth and righteous living.  The Holy Spirit is a very real deity and is there to guide you and to let you know when you have grieved him.  A big difference from the slaughtering of animals.

The more you understand how Moses's law parallels the New Testament the more interesting and meaningful it will be to you.  There are links added to the blog if you would like to learn more about that also.  You'll find the links under the Jewish Website header.

Please feel free to post comments, questions etc.... I would love to hear your thoughts too!

Bon apetit