Old Union Church

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8th (Leviticus 4-6; Matthew 25:1-30)

Leviticus 4-5 is mostly about one type of offering the sin offering. The sin offering was given when one had broken their relationship with God, either intentionally or unintentionally. This offering was to point out the impurity of humans, and that because we are sinners we need to have atonement made for our sin. This looks ahead to the Day of Atonement (which shows up later in Leviticus) and finally ahead to the cross, the day when atonement was made for sin for all time through Christ's death and resurrection. In case you do not know what atonement means, here is a good definition: 'Atonement refers to God's act of dealing with the primary human problem, sin. Both OT and NT affirm that sin has broken the relationship between God and humankind. According to Christian theology, God accomplished the way of restoration through Christ's death.' (Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms)




The two parables here are stressing two different points. First, the parable of the 10 Virgins stresses that one must be ready and prepared for the coming of the Kingdom. We need to have a watchful attitude. The point of Jesus' return is never when he will come back, but that always that He will come back and find us ready for Him. Second, the parable of the Talents rejects passivity in waiting on the Lord. God is coming back, which means we need to be at work in His Kingdom. This does not just mean going to church all the time, but our whole lives are to be lived sharing the Gospel with our kids, families, friends, and within our church so that when Jesus comes back He will have found us faithful with what He has given us.