Old Testament reading: Numbers 27-29
Numbers 27 clarifies inheritance laws for those who die without a son, daughter, or brother to preserve the possession of the various families. The Israelites guarded their inheritance with great gravity, as their land inheritance could not be permanently sold (Lev 25:23; Num 36:7, cf 1 Ki 21:3). Chapters 28 and 29 give instructions regarding the various offerings to be made on a daily, weekly, monthly or other basis. This text provides what I believe to be further evidence that the Sabbath was not a day of worship for the Jews as the first day of the week is for Christians. In Numbers 28:18 and 25 we find the phrase “holy convocation.” This holy convocation refers to a gathering or assembly of the people. Note an assembly was to be made on the first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first day of Unleavened Bread fell on the 15th day of the first Jewish month and the seventh day fell on the 22nd day of that same month. Just as our January 15 and 22 fall on various days each year, these dates also fell on various days, and do not refer to what we would call Sunday and Saturday. Jewish assemblies were ordered by a date on the calendar, not by the day of the week.
New Testament reading: Romans 4-6
Romans 4 begins with a discussion of Abraham’s faith. Many erroneously use Romans 4:3 as an example of salvation by faith only without any works of obedience – “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Problem: James, also an inspired writer, said that Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac on the altar (James 2:21). James continued by declaring that Abraham’s faith was made perfect (complete) by his works of obedience (James 2:22). Finally, James quotes the same verse as Paul (Gen 15:6), concluding, “and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (James 2:23). Within the context, the law under discussion is the law of Moses. Paul is stressing to the Christians of Jewish descent how Abraham was saved apart from the works of the Mosaic Law.
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