Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry

Episode Summary – March 1 (Leviticus 21–22; Psalm 56; Luke 20)

Episode Overview

This episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year" covers three distinct readings: Leviticus 21–22 (priestly regulations and sacrificial laws), Psalm 56 (David’s plea for mercy amid persecution), and Luke 20 (Jesus’ confrontations with religious leaders in the temple). The episode’s purpose is to guide listeners through key passages, highlighting the holiness required of priests, the psalmist’s trust in God, and Jesus’ wisdom and authority in the face of opposition.

1. Leviticus 21–22: Rules for the Priests and Acceptable Offerings

Timestamps: 00:01–07:08

Key Discussion Points

• Holiness of Priests:
  • The Lord instructs Moses on the strict standards for priests, especially concerning ritual cleanliness and marital choices.
  • Priests must avoid defilement from contact with the dead (except for immediate family) and must not engage in mourning practices linked to pagan rituals (e.g., shaving heads, cutting the body).
  • Marriages are regulated to ensure the priest's holiness: “They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled… For the priest is holy to his God.” (Narrator, 00:44)
• Restrictions for the High Priest:
  • The high priest, distinguished by anointing and special garments, faces even stricter rules—a reflection of his unique role: “He shall not go into any dead bodies, nor make himself unclean, even for his father or for his mother.” (Narrator, 01:40)
• Physical Blemishes and Ritual Participation:
  • Any descendant of Aaron with a physical blemish cannot approach to offer the food offerings, though he may still eat of the holy food: “For no one who has a blemish shall draw near…” (Narrator, 02:17)
• Uncleanliness and Access to Holy Things:
  • Emphasizes need for purity: “If any one of all your offspring… approaches the holy things… while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence.” (Narrator, 03:11)
  • Various forms of uncleanness (contact with dead, bodily emissions) bar participation until ritual cleansing and sundown.
• Laypersons and Priestly Food:
  • Only priests, their households, and certain dependents may eat priestly foods—outsiders are not permitted.
• Requirements for Sacrificial Offerings:
  • Sacrificial animals given to the Lord must be male and without blemish, underscoring God’s perfection: “You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.” (Narrator, 05:11)
• Concluding Commission:
  • The Lord’s commandments reinforce the purpose: “You shall not profane my holy name… I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord.” (Narrator, 07:07)

Notable Quotes

• “They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lord’s food offerings, the bread of their God. Therefore they shall be holy.” (Narrator, 00:23)
• “I am the Lord who sanctifies them.” (God, recurring: 01:40, 03:09, 04:06, 04:13, etc.)

2. Psalm 56: David’s Trust in God Amid Persecution

Timestamps: 07:11–08:26

Key Discussion Points

• Context:
  • Psalm attributed to David during his capture by the Philistines in Gath.
• Cry for Mercy:
  • David laments being trampled and pursued, expressing vulnerability and an emotional plea for God’s grace: “Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me.” (Reader, 07:24)
• Affirmation of Trust:
  • Despite fear, David turns to faith: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Reader, 07:43)
• God’s Care and Record:
  • Emotional depth is shown as David remembers God’s awareness of his suffering: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Reader, 08:10)
• Commitment and Thanksgiving:
  • David vows to keep his promises and thank God for deliverance: “I will render thank offerings to you, for you have delivered my soul from death… that I may walk before God in the light of life.” (Reader, 08:20)

Notable Quote

• “In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Reader, 07:54)

3. Luke 20: Challenges to Jesus’ Authority

Timestamps: 08:28–end (approx. 13:00)

Key Discussion Points

• Religious Leaders Challenge Jesus’ Authority:

  • Chief priests, scribes, and elders demand, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” (Reader, 08:34)
  • Jesus redirects, questioning them about John the Baptist, exposing their motives and silencing them: “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Jesus, 08:46)

• Parable of the Wicked Tenants:

  • Allegory for Israel’s leaders’ rejection of prophets and, ultimately, God’s son:
    • The tenants repeatedly mistreat servants, finally killing the owner’s son in hopes of gaining the inheritance: “Let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.” (Reader, 09:50)
    • Jesus rebukes them, referencing Psalm 118: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Jesus, 10:10)

• Religious Leaders Plot Against Jesus:

  • Their anger is palpable: “The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them. But they feared the people.” (Narrator, 10:28)

• Question on Taxes to Caesar:

  • Spies attempt to trap Jesus; he responds:
    • “‘Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ He said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” (Jesus, 11:00)
    • “Marveling at his answer, they became silent.” (Narrator, 11:06)

• Sadducees’ Question about Resurrection:

  • The scenario of the woman with seven husbands is posed to mock resurrection belief.
  • Jesus clarifies:
    • “But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.” (Jesus, 11:50)
    • “Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” (Jesus, 12:10)

• Jesus Questions the Scribes:

  • Cites Psalm 110 to confound them on the Messiah’s identity: “David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” (Jesus, 12:36)

• Warning Against Religious Hypocrisy:

  • Jesus warns listeners: “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and love greetings in the marketplaces… who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Jesus, 12:44–12:50)

Notable Quotes

• “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Jesus, 11:04)
• “He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” (Jesus, 12:10)
• “Beware of the scribes… They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Jesus, 12:44–12:50)

Memorable Moments & Insights

• God’s Holiness Is Central: Throughout Leviticus, the repeated assertion “I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (multiple instances) drives home God’s perfect standard and the call for distinctiveness among his people.
• Trust Amid Suffering: Psalm 56’s vulnerability—“put my tears in your bottle”—offers reassurance of God’s intimate care.
• Jesus’ Wisdom Disarms Opponents: In Luke 20, Jesus repeatedly turns traps into teaching moments, leaving challengers “marveling at his answer” (11:06) and solidifying his authority and identity as the Son of God.

Timestamps to Key Segments

• Priests’ Regulations (Leviticus 21–22): 00:01–07:08
• David’s Prayer (Psalm 56): 07:11–08:26
• Jesus Questioned and Teaches (Luke 20): 08:28–end

All passages reflect the serious call to holiness, the steadfastness of faith under distress, and the supremacy of Christ’s authority—central threads woven throughout this day’s readings.