Pierce My Ear

Pierce My Ear

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: Exodus 21:1-6, Philippians 2:5-11
There is so many ways I could preach about ver.5 – “Let this mind be in you…”

In the context of this chapter, it’s talking about Jesus humbling Himself – even thought He was God, He took on the form of a human.

And not just a human, but the kind of human most of society thinks of as the lowest in importance. Ver.7 Says He took on the form of a bondservant.

The mindset of Heaven is totally opposite from ours. We tend to revere Kings and Presidents, the head leader as the most important, but in God’s Kingdom principals, servants are the ones to be admired and honored.

For an understanding of a bondservant, let’s go to Exo.21.
Right after God gave Moses the 10 commandments, Moses also began laying out the ordinances of practical living in community. For the next few chapters, he gives instruction for different situations.
Ex.21:1-6

Sometimes life was unfair, and a person wound up being a slave not by choice - but to become a bondslave like we are talking about, the only way was for you to make a choice to serve.

So it was a matter of your will that created the bond-slave.

What would happen to a servant that didn’t want to leave?
They would take him to the judges, then bring him to the door post of his master’s house and pierce his ear.

They would usually then take an ear ring and for the rest of his life he would marked as a bondslave. Ver. 6 “…and he shall serve him forever.”
Why the door post?

When Moses gave this instruction, these people understood the importance of doing this at the doorpost.

In their very recent past, what was placed on the doorpost? Blood.

This was a covenant time between this household and God.
I could spend an hour talking about the understanding of the doorpost, and that culture – the whole surrounding regions placed major significance on the doorpost of a house – a portal into your life.

No wonder the servant was taken here to pierce his ear.

The way the blood was placed on the top, the two sides and the bottom formed a cross. This is a complete picture of Christ.

In different OT scriptures about the coming Messiah, they frequently point to Jesus.

Heb.10 tells us Ps.40 is speaking about Jesus – Ver.6 “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened…” “my ears you have pierced…” NIV
Isa.50:5 “The Lord GOD has opened My ear…” (pierced)
Jesus was taken to the cross and His body pierced – the only scars in Heaven.

Jesus loved His Master, Jesus loves His wife, His children and chooses to serve them FOREVER.

Now let’s talk about you and me.
For us the choice is not do I want to be a slave or not, but the choice is, Who do I want to serve?

Song by Bob Dylan – “Gotta Serve Somebody.”

No one is totally free, we are either a slave to our enemy, or the Lord.
There is no middle ground. If I try and play the natural card, I have already made a choice to go different than God’s will for me.
Often people know Jesus as savior, but not Lord.

Saved if they die, but still in charge of their own life, their own time, their own decisions in life.

Their ear hasn’t been pierced.
They are the one in control of their life.
They make out their own calendar for the Year, Month, day, without consulting God for His direction, opinions for what they should do, how they should live.
Pr 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Does my level of commitment to the Kingdom of God go farther than my Sunday morning?

Some recognize the importance of honoring God on the “Lord’s Day,” so I give Him 2 hours of my week.
Then how I live throughout your week is not that different than someone who doesn’t know anything about the Love of God.

My question to you is, has your ear been pierced?
“Let this mind be in you…”
What does it look for God to be 1st in my life?