Hello, John and Doves,
The Matzoh bread in communion stands in for Christ's body.
It is written,
23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ESV
Again, it is written,
A Living Sacrifice
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2 ESV
Why Romans 12:1?
It is written,
Season
all your grain offerings with salt to remind you of God's eternal
covenant. Never forget to add salt to your grain offerings.
Leviticus 2:13 NLT
Again, it is written,
The Burnt Offering
8The Lord said to Moses: 9“Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The
burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night,
till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. 10The
priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments
next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that
the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar. 11Then
he is to take off these clothes and put on others, and carry the ashes
outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean. 12The
fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every
morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on
the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 13The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.
The Grain Offering
14“ ‘These are the regulations for the grain offering: Aaron’s sons are to bring it before the Lord, in front of the altar. 15The
priest is to take a handful of the finest flour and some olive oil,
together with all the incense on the grain offering, and burn the
memorial portion on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 16Aaron
and his sons shall eat the rest of it, but it is to be eaten without
yeast in the sanctuary area; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the
tent of meeting. 17It must not be baked with yeast; I have given it as their share of the food offerings presented to me. Like the sin offering and the guilt offering, it is most holy. 18Any
male descendant of Aaron may eat it. For all generations to come it is
his perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord. Whatever touches them will become holy.’ ”
Leviticus 6:8-18 NIV
Unleavened Bread speaks of a life untainted by sin:
10“Son
of man, describe to the people of Israel the Temple I have shown you,
so they will be ashamed of all their sins. Let them study its plan, 11and they will be ashamed
of what they have done. Describe to them all the specifications of the
Temple—including its entrances and exits—and everything else about it.
Tell them about its decrees and laws. Write down all these
specifications and decrees as they watch so they will be sure to
remember and follow them. 12And
this is the basic law of the Temple: absolute holiness! The entire top
of the mountain where the Temple is built is holy. Yes, this is the
basic law of the Temple.
Ezekiel 43:10-12 NLT
As a living sacrifice, each of us is a offering unto the LORD [instructions for the Second Temple]:
18Then he said to me, “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: These will be the regulations for the burning of offerings and the sprinkling of blood when the altar is built. 19At
that time, the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who minister
before me, are to be given a young bull for a sin offering, says the
Sovereign Lord. 20You
will take some of its blood and smear it on the four horns of the
altar, the four corners of the upper ledge, and the curb that runs
around that ledge. This will cleanse and make atonement for the altar. 21Then take the young bull for the sin offering and burn it at the appointed place outside the Temple area.
22“On
the second day, sacrifice as a sin offering a young male goat that has
no physical defects. Then cleanse and make atonement for the altar
again, just as you did with the young bull. 23When you have finished the cleansing ceremony, offer another young bull that has no defects and a perfect ram from the flock. 24You are to present them to the Lord, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering to the Lord.
25“Every
day for seven days a male goat, a young bull, and a ram from the flock
will be sacrificed as a sin offering. None of these animals may have
physical defects of any kind. 26Do this each day for seven days to cleanse and make atonement for the altar, thus setting it apart for holy use. 27On
the eighth day, and on each day afterward, the priests will sacrifice
on the altar the burnt offerings and peace offerings of the people. Then
I will accept you. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
Ezekiel 43:18-27 NLT
And yet, it is written,
10Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.”
Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”
11“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”
says the Lord.
“I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood
of bulls and lambs and goats.
12When you come to worship me,
who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?
13Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;
the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath
and your special days for fasting—
they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.
14I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals.
They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them!
15When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.
Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen,
for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.
16Wash yourselves and be clean!
Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
17Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.
18“Come now, let’s settle this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.
19If you will only obey me,
you will have plenty to eat.
20But if you turn away and refuse to listen,
you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Isaiah 1:10-20 NLT
Again, it is written,
27Zion will be restored by justice;
those who repent will be revived by righteousness.
28But rebels and sinners will be completely destroyed,
and those who desert the Lord will be consumed.
Isaiah 1:27-28 NLT
Thus it is written,
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
James 4:8 NLT
So then, what is the way of purity?
It is written,
Beth
9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
Psalm 119:9-16 ESV
This echoes another passage,
where it is written,
7The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:7-14 ESV
~Blessings,
Mike