So this week is our fourth installment in the Backgrounds of the New Testament series but it is also the second installment in our series on Hannukah and the Maccabeean Revolt. We are going to talk about the pilgrimage olah, which is an important piece of Bible context from the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy and we are also going to explore what exactly is meant by the phrase “coming before the Lord empty-handed.” It is a much misunderstood and abused verse because, like most laws in the Bible, no specific instructions are given as to how to fulfill that. So where do we find our answers? Well, interestingly enough, Paul gives us the exact definition in the Book of Acts – once we see that, you will be able to spot it hiding in plain sight throughout the Bible.
For those of you who never caught it last year, please take the time to watch my teaching on Vayikra last year – “What were the sacrifices really about?” Understanding how the ancient Israelites viewed the sacrifices is crucial to understanding the reasons for the Temple, and why it is being rebuilt – it is not for the reasons that most people think because they do not understand the purpose of the sacrifices!