Author: Administrador

Preachers really should talk about Leviticus, since it can cause great confusion and division among Christians. Interpretations vary all the way from the Marcionate/Bultmannian dismissal of the whole Old Testament, to Luther’s (in)famous pronouncement: “Moses is dead. His rule ended when Christ came. He is of no further service,”1 to the direct and literal application … Continue reading “Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 Commentary by Fred Gaiser”

The Old Testament Reading comes from the book of Leviticus this week. The Old Testament Reading comes from the book of Leviticus this week. Upon noting this selection, preachers may be tempted to skip once again to the Gospel or Epistle Reading without much pause. What busy pastor has time to deal with the intricacies … Continue reading “Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Commentary by Tyler Mayfield”

“I never realized I could fall asleep on a treadmill until I did so while trying to read Leviticus,” said one of my students in a Pentateuch class years ago.  His testimony to the tedium of reading Leviticus will surprise no one, I’m sure. Many a resolution to read the whole Bible from cover to … Continue reading “Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

In the Protestant lectionary, Transfiguration Sunday stands at the juncture between Epiphany and Lent, and as such, offers a glimpse forward to the Easter Season and the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Since the days of the early Christians, Jesus’ transfiguration has been associated with Moses, who also stood before God, and the prophet Elijah. … Continue reading “Exodus 34:29-35 Commentary by Beth L. Tanner”

Moses’ countenance glows throughout this scene of covenant renewal, following the sin of the golden calf in Exodus 32.  The Israelites stand in awe of God’s glory reflected in Moses’ incandescent face as he descends from Sinai bearing a new set of tablets inscribed with the “ten words” or commandments of the covenant (Exodus 34:10-28, … Continue reading “Exodus 34:29-35 Commentary by Esther M. Menn”

After the deliverance from Egypt and the establishing of the covenant at Mount Sinai, God had Moses go back up to the mountaintop, a distance removed from the Israelite camp. On the mountaintop, over the course of 40 days, God conveyed to Moses instructions for crafting the various Tabernacle appurtenances. The sustained attention to the … Continue reading “Exodus 34:29-35 Commentary by William Yarchin”

In Exodus 32:1-14, Moses appeared calm and collected as he successfully negotiated with God on top of Mount Sinai to save the Israelites from God’s anger about the golden calf. His manner changed, however, as soon as he descended, and actually saw firsthand what the people were doing. Moses became so angry, in fact, that … Continue reading “Exodus 33:12-23 Commentary by Karla Suomala”

We are entering this Sunday right into the midst of an ongoing argument between Moses and God about the shape of God’s relationship with the newly formed people of Israel. This reading from Exodus 33 follows (both in the Bible and in the lectionary) the story of the Golden Calf and can be understood fully … Continue reading “Exodus 33:12-23 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

Exodus 33 shows Israel in a state of panic. Plain and simple, God’s people were in triage management following the fiasco with the golden calf (Exodus 32). Like any individual, community, state, or nation who has fallen asunder, the Israelites realized the severity of their actions. They had broken the covenant with YHWH, and their … Continue reading “Exodus 33:12-23 Commentary by Eric Mathis”

A Commentary on Human Nature This Sunday’s Old Testament lesson can be understood as a narrative commentary on the first commandment (“you shall have no other gods…you shall not make for yourself an idol”; cf. Exodus 20:1-4). Or, it can be understood as a narrative commentary on the fickleness of human nature (we are the … Continue reading “Exodus 32:7-14 Commentary by Rolf Jacobson”