This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

Moses’s speech unpacking the Ten Commandments
continues with honoring your father and mother.

But this principle extends
beyond the household.

Moses instructs the people about the leaders
in the society as a whole they must honor and obey.

There are four categories of leadership:
judges, kings, priests, and prophets.

In every town, the people are to appoint judges
who will settle disputes among their own people.

They are to be well versed in the Law.

But if a matter comes up that is too difficult
for them, they bring it to Yahweh in the temple.

The people may ask for a king.

But the king must be chosen
by God, come from Israel,

and not be given over to excessive
wealth, women, or warfare.

The king is to constantly study the Torah,
fear God, and help Israel keep the law.

Third comes the priests from the
tribe of Levi who work the tabernacle.

Moses reminds the people that the
Levites won’t have a land to call their own

but must be supported by the
offerings of the rest of Israel.

Finally, Moses talks about
the role of the prophet.

A prophet speaks the words of
Yahweh that God gives them directly.

If anything, they say doesn’t come
to pass that person is not a prophet.

These leaders are primarily there
to help the people keep God’s law.

However, the rest of the Old Testament shows
judges failing, kings worshipping idols, priests

forgetting the law, and prophets
giving unchallenged false reports.

Jesus, however, succeeds
in all four categories.

Jesus is our perfect judge.

He takes no bribes, shows no partiality, always
maintains justice, and his decisions are always perfect.

He also is the only judge who justifies
by taking our penalty on himself.

Jesus is our perfect king.

He not only knew the law perfectly
he fulfilled the law perfectly.

So, he does not sit on a throne
enforcing the law on his people

but left his throne to have the
law’s penalty enforced on himself.

Then, like a good king, he leads us to
follow his law as citizens of his kingdom.

Jesus is our perfect priest.

Whereas Israel’s priests were supported
by the offerings given by the people,

Jesus provided his own sacrifice.

He offered up his very self to provide once for
all forgiveness for everyone who believes in him.

Lastly, Jesus is the perfect
prophet Moses said would come.

He not only perfectly spoke God’s word to us,
but he was God’s perfect word in human flesh.

I pray the Holy Spirit
would give you eyes to see

the God who provides leaders
who uphold of justice and grace.

And that you would see Jesus as the final
leader who upholds them both perfectly for us.