By: Robert Serreyn
Question? In Matthew 8:4 what was the “Gift” to be Offered?
Answer:
In Levticus 14:1-4 mentiones what a healed Leper was to give.
(1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (2) This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: (3) And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; (4) Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
Verse 5-7 of Chp 14 describes what the Priest MUST DO.
Leviticus 14:5-7 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: (6) As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: (7) And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
– Leprosy is a picture of sin.
– The Gift ( Two Birds) that was given / offered to the Priest is used as Judgement for sin.
The bird that was killed is a reminder of what Hebrews 9:22 says…
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
In other words WITHOUT the shedding of blood there is NO PAYMENT for sin, No Payment equals No Hope.
– The Running water is a picture of the Holy Spirit that cleans us spiritually (to be saved) by the Word of God.
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
– Cedar Wood represents that God is not a respecter of persons.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
– The Hyssop represents salvation.
The Hyssop plant was easily obtained just like salvation is easily obtained by simply believing in the Death Burial, and Resurrection Jesus Christ.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
– Scarlet = Sin.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
– The living Bird that was let loose in the open field pictures the Lord Jesus Resurrection and Ascension:
Ephesians 1:17-21 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
In Conclusion:
The Two Birds are represenative of what takes place when a person Trust Christ as saviour.
The bird that is killed is Christ WHO shed his blood as payment for OUR sins.
The Running Water is the Holy Spirit that immediately enters to indwell and seals the person upon belief.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
The living Bird is Christ WHO GUARANTEES every believer that THEY WILL just as he was be resurrected and be with him for eternity.
Romans 6:5,8 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH