#242 Matters

“‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.

2 “‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground) and they are unaware that they have become unclean, but then they come to realize their guilt; 3 or if they touch human uncleanness (anything that would make them unclean) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; 4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.

7 “‘Anyone who cannot afford a lamb is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck, not dividing it completely, 9 and is to splash some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar; the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way and make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.

11 “‘If, however, they cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering.’” Leviticus 5:1-13

God, search my heart. We have come to believe ourselves the authorities of right and wrong, always asking, "hath God said?" I have mentioned before about saying, "it's just business or it's family." This expounds upon the moral law in that thou shalt not lie and that thou must not bear false witness. You may not  bear false witness against your neighbor but also you shall not on his behalf lest you also be responsible in his sin. There is no boy's club, guy code, or thickness of blood that exceeds God's decree. While love does cover a multitude of sin, in that our hearts should still feel, in all sincerity, a love for our family, friends and neighbors, it does not cover by pretend. I have often heard, "whose side are you on?" I have been asked by and have asked others to cover for me in my sin. There is a higher moral law than that of show or who I can convince or fool. God help me to give up the excuses or the desire to find such things, and help me to say what is right in your eyes and I know that must be in love. 

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”63 But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” Matthew 26:57-68

Men would rather win arguments, lawyers win their pay, and the truth is not the priority. When Christ stood before his accusers they incorrectly used his words to try him. They did not attempt to understand the words; their minds were made up. They felt deep and justified in their actions. I have seen the same look on our own president, on actors, musicians and in the voice of talk show hosts. Everyone quotes the word of God, thinking they have offered some meaningful objection to the topic at hand. I use to run around saying, "judge not, lest you be judged." Here it is though, Christ on trial, the sinless judged by sinners, the religious having no part with God. Tell the truth, realizing that it may not be handled correctly, but often rather by those who hate it, or feel that they are the ultimate source of it, above it. Tell the truth and as it is stated, ""If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.27"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Many people tell me, "when your child does this, or if your brother did that, and what about your friends or being a friend?" It is important to be loyal, but you are not being disloyal by telling the truth, disloyalty is in asking someone to go against the truth. You will be accused of hate merely for repeating the words of God, but hold fast, continue to love, and to not think more of yourself than you ought. Tell the truth because you love the people you are talking to.