Today we’re looking at two parallel verses in Deuteronomy 12. First verse 12, then verse 18:

And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.

but you shall eat them before the Lord your God in the place that the Lord your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your towns. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all that you undertake.

These verses are found in the midst of instructions on giving offerings to the Lord and where and how to consume what portions of meat that remain after offerings. I don’t want to get into all of those details, but I find it fascinating to look at the list of people mentioned in each verse:

• you
• your son(s)
• your daughter(s)
• your male servant(s)
• your female servant(s)
• the Levite within your towns

The only difference in the lists between the two are the plurals that are found in verse 12. I love how the list gets so specific, making sure to include pretty much everyone. Descendants and servants and even those Levites who serve but don’t have any land of their own to speak of. All of them are supposed to rejoice and eat and follow these instructions. No one is exempt. It brings to mind Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Just as no one was exempted from this law given through Moses to God’s people. so also is no one left out of the promise of salvation in Jesus. During this Holy Week, it is good to remember that He who died on the cross died for all, no matter their station in life.