Daily Lectionary | Exodus 24 and Matthew 22:34-23:12

Exodus 24

Summary

The Book of the Covenant is closed. The Ten Commandments will be written with the finger of God into two tablets and given to the people. But the case laws are also part of the package, the covenant by which they are to live before the Lord. 

Moses tells the people “all the words of the Lord and all the rules.” The people respond that they will keep this covenant. Moses writes down all the words and goes to the foot of the mountain where there are twelve pillars and an altar, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. There he makes offerings, gathering the blood of the sacrifices into the basins. Half the blood he sprinkles on the altar. He reads the Book of the Covenant. And the people say, “Thanks be to God! We will obey!” Moses then takes blood and sprinkles the people saying, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you” 

Now it’s not just Moses, but Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu and the 70 elders see God. Under his feet was like a glass of sapphire stone. The chiefs of Israel “ate and drank” in God’s presence. The Lord singles out Moses, however, to come and receive the tablets of stone inscribed by God on the seventh day. 

Reflection

The people of God are sprinkled with blood in this covenant of Moses. In what ways might this covenant anticipate the new covenant that will be made through the blood of Christ?

Matthew 22:34-23:12

Summary

The Sadducees fail to stump Jesus so now the Pharisees have a go. The question now is which is the greatest commandment. Jesus brilliantly states that loving God is the greatest commandment. And the second greatest is loving each other. This is the summary of the law. Jesus comes preaching a righteousness that exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees. But that doesn’t mean it’s a more complicated righteousness. If anything, Jesus simplifies such a righteousness under the ethics of love: loving God and loving neighbor. This is the Christian ethic. 

In this chapter, the Pharisees have attempted twice to entangle Jesus and the Sadducees once. Jesus puts a question to the Pharisees, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They answer, “The Son of David.” Yet in Psalm 110, Jesus points out that David calls him Lord. How can he be David’s Lord and his son? They had to answer. But Daivd’s son, Jesus the Messiah, and David’s Lord, Jesus the Messiah stands before them. 

The critique of the Pharisees keeps heating up. Jesus now pronounces woes on the Pharisees who love to play Moses, but they don’t even practice what they preach. They ignore the “weightier matters of the law,” heaping up burdens on people. They practice a righteousness that is only meant to be seen by others. They love pomp and circumstance over love and obedience. In their righteousness, they exalt themselves. 

Reflection

How is love the key to Christian living and ethics? How does Jesus’ summary of the entire law expose his opponents? How do they lack love in their “righteousness”?