Exo 23:1-19  Laws of Justice, Sabbath and Festivals

[Study Aired September 12, 2022]

Exo 23:1  Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 
Exo 23:2  Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Exo 23:3  Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.
Exo 23:4  If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Exo 23:5  If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Exo 23:6  Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.
Exo 23:7  Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
Exo 23:8  And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Exo 23:9  Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exo 23:10  And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:
Exo 23:11  But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.
Exo 23:12  Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
Exo 23:13  And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
Exo 23:14  Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
Exo 23:15  Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
Exo 23:16  And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.
Exo 23:17  Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
Exo 23:18  Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.
Exo 23:19  The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.

The first part of this chapter continues to deal with the laws of Moses pertaining to justice and mercy. It also focuses on the rules regarding the sabbath and the three feasts of the Jews.

Exo 23:1  Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Raising a false report is being a propagator of false doctrines. In other words, we are not to be ambassadors of preaching another Jesus as we see our brothers and sisters do in Babylon.

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Being a witness or preacher of these false doctrines means putting our hand with the wicked. This means that we become partners with the wicked and are therefore ensnared by our own works.

Psa 9:16  The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

The wicked are also referred to as workers of iniquity as shown below:

Psa 28:3  Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

They speak peace to their neighbors, meaning they come in the name of the Lord, but their hearts are ruled by the beast, the chief of mischief.

Exo 23:2  Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

A simpler version of verse 2 reads as follows:

Exo 23:2  You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, (ESV)

The people of Israel in the wilderness represent multitudes and therefore, verse 2 refers to the people of Israel.

Deu 1:10  The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

1Ki 4:20  Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

As we are aware, the people of Israel in the wilderness represent Babylon which is in bondage with her children. Verse 2 therefore means that we are not to be part of Babylon. That is why we are admonished to come out of her so that we do not partake of her evil or sins.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Here in verse 2, siding with the many means bearing false witness or perverting justice.

Pro 12:17  He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

Pro 14:5  A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

Exo 23:3  Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause. 

We are admonished not to be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. In this case, a poor man is cast in a negative context, and it refers to anyone who is spiritually bankrupt or devoid of the truth. Being partial to a poor man in his lawsuit is the same as pursuing their course or being partakers of their sins. Verse 3 is therefore another way of saying that we should not be part of those who do not serve the Lord, but rather their own appetites.

Rom 16:17  I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
Rom 16:18  For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Rom 16:19  For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. (ESV)

Exo 23:4  If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 
Exo 23:5  If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

The enemy here is the devil. The enemy’s ox or ass are those who have been taken captive by the devil or are carnal. An ass lying under his burden in verse 5 means those who are weighed down by sin. We are admonished by the Lord to help them, but we must not have company with them.

2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 
2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 
2Th 3:15  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Exo 23:6  Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause. 

In a positive sense, the poor here represent the elect.

Pro 28:11  A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

Psa 70:5  But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!

The word “wrest” (Exo 23:6) refers to twisting, or turning aside, or perverting judgment or justice. Verse 6 therefore means we should not pervert justice due to the poor. Spiritually, this verse refers to us not to disregard or turn aside the Lord’s judgment of the elect. As we are aware, it is through the Lord’s judgment of our old man that results in our obedience. Ignoring or turning aside His judgment is therefore iniquity.

Eze 16:49  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Exo 23:7  Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

We are to rid ourselves completely of false doctrines. The innocent and the righteous refer to the elect. This verse therefore suggests that the elect die spiritually through false doctrines. The wicked here refers to those who propagate false doctrines. These will be required to give an account to the Lord. These false doctrines, together with their propagators, have a form of godliness but they deny the power of Christ. Apostle Paul admonished us to turn away from these false doctrines together with their propagators.

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 
2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 
2Ti 3:8  Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 
2Ti 3:9  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

These false doctrines creep into our heavens or temples and make us captives of the flesh. In 1 Timothy 3:6, the silly women refer to Babylon or Jerusalem which is in bondage with her children. It is these false doctrines which have enslaved Babylon, as she is led away by diverse lusts resulting in being burdened with sin.

Exo 23:8  And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

According to the sum of the Lord’s words, we know that all we have received in this life, both physically and spiritually, are gifts from the Lord.

Ecc 3:13  And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

Ecc 5:19  Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

Eze 46:16  Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance.

Psa 119:160  The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)

One of the key characteristics of children is that they love gifts!! I remember when my children were kids, whenever I came home in the evening from the office, they were eagerly waiting expectantly for their gift. As we know, we understand spiritual things by the things that are made.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

According to Strong’s Dictionary, the word “gift” used here means reward. One of the hallmarks of our carnal walk in Babylon is the desire to receive reward from the Lord in this life. It is the quest for immediate reward for our service to the Lord here on earth that we are admonished not to pursue in verse 8. This is because our quest to be rewarded here on earth will cause us to be blinded from reaching for the ultimate goal of being part of the first resurrection. This pursuit of the physical reward here on earth will also cause our words to be perverted as indicated in verse 8. In other words, we will end up becoming propagators of false doctrines.

Jud 1:10  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 
Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 
2Pe 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 
2Pe 2:3  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Exo 23:9  Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The question is, “What does a stranger signify spiritually?” The following verses show us what a stranger signifies:

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11  Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 
Heb 11:12  Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 
Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The verses above show us that the elect is a stranger in this world. We are therefore to make sure that we do not oppress or vex the members of the church of the firstborn as we are all strangers in this world. To oppress means to keep under subjection and hardship, especially the unjust exercise of authority. As the body of Christ, none of us must exercise unjust authority over one another since we are all strangers in this world and children of God. The whole church system of this world is characterized by pastors keeping under subjection the people of God. This is what the Lord Jesus has to say about that subjection:

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Paul, Peter and Solomon also said the following regarding this matter:

2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Ecc 8:9  All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

To vex means to make someone feel annoyed, frustrated or worried. When our message focuses on what we are required to do without bringing forth the enabling power of the Lord to assist us to do what He wants, we become frustrated or worried since we see that we do not have the capacity to do what is required. Our time in Babylon was characterized by frustration because we thought that everything depended on us. One of the verses which has been abused is that of working our salvation with fear and trembling in Philippians 2:12. We were always mentioning this without knowing that it is the Lord who does the work in the next verse.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Exo 23:10  And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:

The number six refers to mankind. The six years we are to sow in the land signifies the period of our lives here on earth as we sow either to the flesh or to the spirit. Whatever we sow, we shall reap a harvest. If we sow to the flesh, we shall reap corruption. On the other hand, if we sow to the spirit, we shall harvest eternal life.

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Exo 23:11  But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.
Exo 23:12  Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

The seventh-year rest refers to the period of our walk with Christ where we cease from our own strivings and come to rest in the Lord to do His work in us. We, the elect, are the ox or ass or the stranger that will be refreshed through rest given to us by the Lord.

Heb 4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 
Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 
Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 

Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Externally, our lives here on earth are characterized by six days. On the seventh day when we inherit the purchased possession, we shall fully rest in the Lord in the next age.

Exo 23:13  And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

We are admonished here to be circumspect not to be propagators of false doctrine. This verse is another way of saying the following:

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Exo 23:14  Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.

A feast is generally a celebration characterized by eating and drinking sumptuously. This means that keeping a feast spirituality has to do with periods in our lives where our heavens are opened to understand or feast on the Lord’s words. Keeping a feast three times in a year in verse 14 is significant. The number three symbolizes the process of spiritual maturity through judgment. What this means is that through the Lord’s judgment of our old man, our understanding becomes enlightened, and it is through this judgment that we become spiritually mature.

These feasts become possible through what every joint supplies.

Est 9:22  As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

The sending of portions one to another is what every joint supplies.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Exo 23:15  Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

Passover is perhaps the most important of Jewish festivals in the Old Testament. On the evening before the fifteenth day of the first month in the Jewish calendar, Israelites were to sacrifice a lamb and place its blood above their doorposts as a sign that the angel of judgment passed over them when they were in Egypt, sparing their lives. After the Egyptians had received judgment through the death of their firstborn, they admonished Israel to leave immediately. In preparation for this exodus, the people were to make bread without leaven, for it had no time to rise. They were to eat their meal in haste knowing that the following day would be the day of their deliverance. As a memorial, the Feast of Unleavened bread continued to be practiced.

The people of Israel were required to eat unleavened bread for seven days during the feast of unleavened bread. The seven days refer to the period of our lives where we have come to know the truth of the word of the Lord from falsehood and from the letter of the word.

1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Exo 23:16  And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

This feast of harvest, typically called the feast of weeks or the feast of ingathering, celebrates the culmination of the Exodus at Mount Sinai. The Feast of Weeks occurs seven weeks and one day following Passover, thus the Greek term Pentecost, meaning “the 50th (day)” following the historical account in Exodus 19:1-3 of Israel’s arrival at Sinai fifty days after the Passover.  The Feast of Weeks included giving grain offerings to God and included a “holy convocation” and a day of rest.

Num 28:26  Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

The “holy convocation” is a call to holiness or declaration of holiness which is reminiscent of the assembly at the foot of Sinai wherein God called His people to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. During the festival, grain offerings were given as freewill offerings to God in gratitude for redeeming His people and calling them to holiness.

Exo 19:3  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 
Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

The Lord descended upon Sinai at Pentecost, in Exodus 19, in the form of fire and smoke to call the people to holiness. In the same way, the Holy Spirit was sent upon the Church at Pentecost in Acts 2, offering the apostles and all who would follow, the enabling grace to respond to His call to holiness.

Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

As indicated, a feast represents a time where our heavens are opened to know the Lord exponentially. Regarding the feast of ingathering, our understanding is enlightened to know more about the Lord’s judgment and how it enables us to walk in holiness. The judgment we are all facing now is part of the process of making us holy.

Mat 13:21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

During this period, we begin to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord by living a life of Christ’s righteousness.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Exo 23:17  Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD. 

This verse means it is only when we become spiritually mature through the Lord’s judgment of our old man (the meaning of the number three) that we shall appear before the Lord just before the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Exo 23:18  Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning. 

We are warned here in verse 18 not to continue to use leavened bread. In other words, we should not sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth. If we continue to do that, we shall be cast out into outer darkness.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

In verse 18, we are required not to let the fat of our sacrifice remain until the morning.

Lev 16:25  And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.

Lev 17:6  And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.

The fat here represents all that is within us that must be burnt out of us in order to offer to the Lord a sacrifice pleasing to Him. Retaining the fat of our sacrifice until the morning means not being able to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord when He comes!! In this case, we shall suffer loss.

Exo 23:19  The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.

“Thou shall not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk” means that we cannot be offered as a living sacrifice pleasing to the Lord while we are still spiritually immature.

May the Lord grant us the grace to mature in Him through His judgment of our old man. Amen!!