The Nurse Theologian

Concerning Divorce When Jesus completed his teaching about forgiveness he departed the northern region of Galilee and come into the southern region of Judea. Just like in Galilee, large crowds followed him and he healed them but some Pharisees tested Jesus regarding the legality of divorce because this was a debated topic between rabbinic schools. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 was the debated text: 
The school of *Shammai, predominant in Jesus’ day, argued that the passage allowed divorce only if one’s spouse was unfaithful; the school of Hillel, which eventually won out, said that a man could divorce his wife if she burned the toast (a later rabbi of this school added, “Or if you find someone more attractive”!). (IVP BBC NT) 
So, they asked Jesus if there was any reason for a man to divorce his wife. Jesus did not use the debated text but went back to Genesis 1:27. The male and female are one flesh in the eyes of God. Therefore, they questioned Jesus directly about Deuteronomy 24:1-4, saying: “Why…

The Law of Grain Offerings
Grain offerings consisted of fine flour, oil and frankincense. Frankincense was a white resin used ceremonially and personally. It was one of the ingredients for compounding the holy incense. (Olive Tree Enhanced Strong's Dictionary) The priest took a handful of the mixture and offered it up in smoke as a memorial portion on the altar to the Lord but the remainder was kept by the priests and was considered holy. 
The grain offering could be brought to the priests already cooked into cakes. It may have been baked, cooked on a griddle (over an open fire), or in a pan. The ingredients were the same but varied (depending on how it was cooked) of when the oil was added. Even when cooked, a memorial portion was given to the Lord, in smoke on the altar, but the remainder was for the priests and considered holy because it was given as a grain offering to the Lord. 
The grain offering was not to be leavened, but was to be prepared with fine flour, oil and frankincen…

The Law of Burnt Offerings
The first levitical law involves burnt offerings. The sons of Israel were to bring a male from the heard of cattle to the doorway of the tent of meeting. It should be said that he was not to go into the tent of meeting. Only the priests could go into the tent of meeting. The son of Israel, who was offering the animal, was to place his hand on the head of the animal, thereby transferring his sin to the animal. He was then to slay the young bull before the Lord. The priests sprinkled the blood around the altar, which is at the doorway of the tent of meeting. The animal was skinned and the parts placed on the altar, having been washed, as a burnt offering before the Lord. It was called a soothing aroma to the Lord. Burning flesh is not a soothing aroma, this was not barbecue. Therefore, I do not think that this means a pleasing smell. However, I do think that this means that the aroma of a burnt offering soothed (propitiated) the righteous wrath of God against t…

The Lord commanded Moses to set up the tabernacle and all of the furnishings on the first day of the first month. He was also commanded to anoint all of the articles used in ritual worship of the Lord with the perfume oil. They were all to be considered holy once they were anointed with the oil. Aaron and his sons were to be washed with water at the doorway of the tent of meeting. Then they were to be dressed in the priestly garments and anointed with the perfume oil. The Lord declared that this anointing qualified this family as a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations. So, as long as Israel was a nation, a Son of Aaron was to be a priest to the Lord. The articles, the priestly garments, and Aaron with his sons were not innately holy. Nor does anointing with perfume oil make something or someone holy. They are holy once anointed with the perfume oil because the Lord is King in Israel, and it was the Lord’s decree. 
On the first day, of the first month, of the second year af…

What does it say? The disciples asked Jesus “who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus answered them with the example of a child and said that they shall be like children in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus then begins to talk about causing others to stumble and says “woe to him who causes others to stumble.” Whatever causes you to stumble should be removed from your life. The weakest in the congregation should not be despised but cared for the most. God’s will is that all whom he has given to the Son will not perish. Then Jesus begins teaching about relationships in the church. There is a time to severe a relationship because of sin, but not before doing everything possible to get the other person to repent. Meet with the person one on one, then take one or two more, then tell it to the entire church that all may plead with the person, but if the person will not listen to the church, then severe the relationship. What the church decides on earth with loving care, will also be b…

What does it say? Of the blue and purple and scarlet material they made finally woven priestly garments for ministering in the holy place. They made these with skillful craftsmanship as the Lord had commanded Moses. Memorial stones with the names of the sons of Israel were engraved and set on the shoulder pieces. They made a breast piece, a pocket on a chain of gold and blue and purple and scarlet material with four rows of three stones engraved with the names of the sons of Israel. They made a robe of blue material and put pomegranates and bells alternating the placement around the hem of the robe just as the Lord commanded Moses. They made the caps and the undergarments just as the Lord had commanded Moses. When the craftsmen completed the work they brought the tabernacle, the articles for worship service and the priestly garments to Moses; after examining the work Moses blessed them.
What does it mean? The Lord God does whatever he wants to do however he wants to do it. If you observe…

What does it say? Two more items for the tabernacle and a court for the tabernacle were made by Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. (Ex.35:30-33) The two items were a bronze altar for burnt offerings and a bronze laver for the priest’s ritual washing. Both of these items were beautifully constructed and designed to be transported. He also made a court for the for the bronze altar and laver of fine twisted linen which included a gate. The entire court was constructed with fine twisted linen hung on pillars and sockets. Gold, silver and bronze was given for the sanctuary and the cost was based on the men twenty years old and upward who numbered 603,550 men. 
What does it mean? The tabernacle was completed. It was Aaron and his sons whom the Lord elected to work in the tabernacle. It was the tribe of Levi whom the Lord elected to carry and set up the tabernacle. But the tabernacle was built by and was built for the people in order that God might dwell amongst them…