| Date | Version | Reading Plan |
|---|---|---|
| February 10, 2026 | ESV (2016) | ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026 |
Leviticus 13-14
Observation & Interpretation
These chapters pertain primarily with laws on how to properly handle leprosy and, while it is largely procedural and descriptive, a couple of things emerge that seem worthy of note. First is that disease was and continues to be an issue with which we must deal. A result of the fall was the introduction of death and disease and these deleterious elements will persist until Jesus returns to make all things new. Even still, God by His grace provided His people the means to navigate them through laws of disease identification and mitigation.
This dovetails with the second observation which is that these laws were given long before our now common understanding of modern medicine. The cause of these diseases were unknown to God’s people as their wandered in the wilderness, but the Lord knew both their cause and how to righty handle their management. This He did at the level of proper worship—ensuring that only those ceremonially clean could come before the LORD—and also a practical level of daily living for disease containment, treatment and cleansing. It seems important to reflect that the giving of such laws reflect God’s comprehensive favor for His people and desire that they have plentiful opportunity to exalt His name and praise His faithfulness, a sentiment we should all share as followers of Christ.
Acts 17
Observation & Interpretation
The contrast between the response of the Thessalonicans and the Bereans is striking. Opening the chapter, we read that Paul and those with him came to Thessalonica and Paul went into the synagogue as was his custom. Paul conveyed the message of the gospel—the necessity of Christ’s suffering and of His resurrection—but this was received by the Jews with jealousy and the forming of a mob to set the city in an uproar. After much conflict, the brothers sent Paul and Silas by night to Berea where they again went into the Jewish synagogue. The Jews here “were more noble than those in Thessalonica” and “received the word with eagerness” (v. 11). Rather than jealous retaliation, the Bereans examined the Scriptures daily to verify the claims of Paul.
In much the same way, our response to claims of truth should be on a firm grounding in Scripture. Holy writ is our ultimate authority for all manner of truth and life through which we are enabled to view things as they really are.
Resources
- J. I. Packer et. al, The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
- Colin Hansen (Editor in Chief), TGC Bible Commentary (Columbia, MO: The Gospel Coalition, 2022)
- Iain M. Duguid (Series Editor), ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018-2025)
- Faithlife Study Bible (Lexham Press, 2016)
- Believer’s Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 2016)
- CSB Study Bible Notes (Holman Bible Publishers, 2017)
- The New American Commentary (Brentwood, TN: Holman Reference)
- Lane T. Dennis and Wayne Grudem (Editors), ESV Study Bible, Crossway, 2008.
