The beloved physician Luke wrote how the Jews in Jerusalem told Paul, “We have four men which have a vow on them. Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-five of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Jews tell Paul that the Gentiles should, “keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication” where we read:
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
The verse begins, “As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, ...” Luke began with the words, “as touching the Gentiles” which means “and concerning the non-Jewish people who were pagans and heathens” “which believe” or “who trust in, rely upon, cling to and have confidence in Jesus”, “we have written” which means “we, James and the elders in Jerusalem, have delineated or formed in letters a message, command or instructions” “and concluded that they observe” or “and decided, resolved, decreed and deemed that the Gentiles attend to, guard and carefully take care of” “no such thing” which means “not anything such as this kind or sort”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” told “Paul” they concluded in a “letter” that the “Gentiles” did not have to “keep or carefully take care of” the law of Moses.
The verse goes on to say, “save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.” Luke continued with the words, “save only that they keep themselves” which means “except solely that the Gentiles guard, protect and preserve their own selves” “from things offered to idols” or “apart and separated from the animals or objects sacrificed and presented to false images or gods”, “and from blood” which means “and apart and separate from bloodshed, violence and murder”, “and from strangled” or “and apart and separated from things that are suffocated, smothered and deprived of life without the shedding of blood”, “and from fornication” which means “and apart and separated from illicit sexual intercourse, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, etc”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” repeated their earlier judgment concerning the “Gentile believers” concerning the “four” laws to which they were to obey – keep from things offered to idols, from blood or bloodshed, from eating animals that were strangled or smothered and from sexual sins.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” decided that the “Gentile believers” were not to keep the entire “law of Moses” with the exception to the “four laws” they pronounced upon them in Acts chapter fifteen. God wants people to have a personal relationship with him through His Son Jesus, and when they yield themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. The “law” is meant to draw people to Jesus Christ, and when they come to Him, they are to obey the laws given to the “Gentiles” and understand that only by the grace of God does anyone come to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how, “Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment