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Tag: Christ

  • Hebrews 5- Christ a High Priest

    וְהַכֹּהֵן֩ הַגָּדֹ֨ול מֵאֶחָ֜יו אֲֽשֶׁר־יוּצַ֥ק עַל־רֹאשֹׁ֣ו שֶׁ֤מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ וּמִלֵּ֣א אֶת־יָדֹ֔ו לִלְבֹּ֖שׁ אֶת־הַבְּגָדִ֑ים אֶת־רֹאשֹׁו֙ לֹ֣א יִפְרָ֔ע וּבְגָדָ֖יו לֹ֥א יִפְרֹֽם׃

    “‘The high priest – who is greater than his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured, who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments – must neither dishevel the hair of his head nor tear his garments.

    Leviticus 21:10 WLC NET

    The High Priest – a greater man

    If you have been following this series on the book of Hebrews you may already be thinking, ‘he just talked about the high priest in Hebrews 3.’ It’s obviously an office of great importance, but what more can be said by the author of Hebrews?

    https://mymorningmeditations.com/2014/07/30/sermon-review-of-the-holy-epistle-to-the-hebrews-the-bypass/
    High Priest in Holy of Holies

    In fact, even though we don’t necessarily revere an anointed priest above priests (or a bishop above bishops) as any more relevant to religion than any man, the LORD established an authority to come closer to Him on behalf of the congregation.

    Therefore the writer continues to make a connection between the high priest and Christ not only here, but also later in Hebrews 7 and 8. The priest and high priest are more than just anointed offices of the Temple and church.

    Hebrews 5 :

    For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

    Hebrews 5:1 CSB

    We don’t really think of a priest in this way anymore, do we?

    Yet if we are not able to stand before the Living God, who can?

    And, in fact, if the Lord anoints a man to ‘offer both gifts and sacrifices’ for our sins, who should he be?

    So why do we need a priest? The writer of Hebrews reminds us:

    2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness.

    Think of one of your many sins. Would you want someone who will deal with your punishment and correction gently? And do you hope this intercessor between you and Almighty God in his own weakness will have compassion for you?

    Of course. And he continues:

    3 Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people.

    Therefore any intercessor for our sins must also offer a personal sacrifice for his own sins. We cannot hide our sins from God. Perhaps the priest and high priest will be even more fearful coming before the judgement seat than you or me.

    4 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was.

    Scripture points to Christ as our High Priest

    5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him,

    You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father,

    Hebrews 5:5, Psalm 2

    The writer of Hebrews adds:

    You are a priest forever
    according to the order of Melchizedek.

    He speaks not only of the high priest anointed for an appointed time, but of an order of priests before Levi, referring to Melchizedek to whom Abraham gave sacrifices to present to the LORD. (He will elaborate in later chapters.) The priests descended from Israel’s son, Levi, are only human.

    “Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to the priest Aaron to assist him.

    Numbers 3:6

    The Son Intercessor

    Scriptural reference to Biblical quotes from Genesis and Psalms point to the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, as a first born Priest, even Most High above every High Priest.

    Who is this Son?

    His praises are sung by King David in Psalm 110, where His heart is revealed to those who know scripture.

    Psalm 110:

    110 לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה׀ לַֽאדֹנִ֗י שֵׁ֥ב לִֽימִינִ֑י עַד־אָשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝יְבֶ֗יךָ הֲדֹ֣ם לְרַגְלֶֽיךָ׃

    This is the declaration of the Lord
    to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies your footstool.”

    Examine part of verse 3: רֶחֶם rechem מִשְׁחָר mishchar; from the womb of the dawn. 

    The root word of womb, רָחַם, means to love, to have compassion or be compassionate.

    Can you find any better description of the Son of the Living God?

    And to say from the womb of the dawn may be metaphorical for the dawn of time, the beginning of light, but also derives from another Hebrew root, שָׁחַר, ‘to seek, seek early or earnestly, look early or diligently for.’ Is this not what the Messiah has done for sinful, yet faithful followers?

    He was with God in the beginning. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    John 1:2,4,11, 14 CSB

    The writer refers to Jesus in Hebrews 5:7-10 speaking of His earthly life, yet comparing Him to Melchizedek.

    Our immaturity in Scripture

    Then a challenge. Do you know your Bible?

    Essentially, this is our consideration of the remainder of Hebrews 5.

    “…you have become too lazy to understand. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. “

    Of course, this may not apply to all, yet he chastens most of the congregation. And doesn’t it sound so much like our 21st century ‘too long, but not too deep’ sermons?

    Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.

    But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.

    Hebrews 5:13-14

    Now which are you, beloved brother or sister in Christ, dear friend and heir of our Hebrew heritage?

    Are you lazy for milk or hungry for the mature nourishment of Scripture and the holiness of the LORD?

    To be continued...

  • Hebrews – 2 – Pioneer of Perfect Salvation

    In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.

    Hebrews 2:10 NIV

    But we see Jesus… Hebrews 2:9a

    The author begins his letter to his Jewish brothers stating that G_d’s final word is through the Son, not angels or prophets.

    Previously the author of Hebrews has made a case through scripture that Jesus, the Son of God, is higher than the angels.

    Heir of all things

    Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
    Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
    Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
    What is His name or His son’s name?
    Surely you know!

    Proverbs 30:4 NASB

    Continuing in our study of Hebrews, a letter authored to first century Jews, we now continue the second chapter after what we covered previously in the beginning verses 1-9 in Hebrew 2 – Pay Attention.

    Fitting and proper perfection

    Are you a perfect Jew?

    Or more to a personal point, am I a perfect Christian?

    Of course not.

    So how do we have any chutzpah outside of the Messiah Jesus to say that we may be accepted into eternal life by the Lord? This is the issue of salvation the writer of Hebrews takes on here.

    Hebrews 2:

    For it was bekavod (fitting, proper) for him, for whom are all things and through whom are all things, in bringing banim rabbim (many sons) to kavod, to bring to shleimut (perfection, completion) the Rosh (Head) and Mekhonen (Founder) of their Yeshua’at Hashem through yissurim (suffering).

    Hebrews 2:10 Orthodox Jewish Bible

    Most Christians lack a full understanding of many terms of Hebrew origin like perfection, author, purification and redemption. I am neither a Torah trained Rabbi nor Messianic Jew, but further readings of Paul‘s letters will help you to understand an academic Jewish approach to some of these terms.

    10 – It was fitting for Him

    Various translations of πρέπω read: it became Him, it was bekavod, it was fitting, it was entirely appropriate – the concept that God does what is right and perfect. Jews and Christians must agree that man has a tendency to weigh perfection incorrectly.

    כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִישׁ יָשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו וְתֹכֵן לִבֹּות יְהוָֽה׃

    עֲשֹׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַיהוָה מִזָּֽבַח׃

    Proverbs 21:2,3

    in bringing many sons

    “Many sons – πολύς υἱός speaks of multitudes and not specifically men (as opposed to women) or of a specific son. Think of the beneficiary as humanity, rather than all creation or even the Creator Himself. And what is the benefit – what is our reward?

    unto glory

    “εἰςδόξα – eis doxa – To glory or toward glory.

    Gloria Patri

    Now glory means many things to different people, so let’s be clear in our completed understanding of doxa, as in ‘doxology.’ Yes, praise of God or of a man.

    Glory becomes a Biblical description of the brightness of God, or of the sun, moon, stars, angels or an object; implying magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace and majesty.

    God is unsurpassed glory! A higher indescribable brightness. Yet the glory of God has a contrasting glory of which we seldom speak.

    Doxa in Greek translates as an opinion, judgment, view; therefore our human opinion or estimate of someone or something, whether good or bad, is a glory or judgement – Biblically of God, a Most High Glory.

    to perfect

    τελειόω – to complete (perfect), to bring to the end (goal) proposed, to accomplish or bring to a close, a fulfillment by event of the prophecies of the scriptures.

    לָכֵן אֲחַלֶּק־לֹו בָרַבִּים וְאֶת־עֲצוּמִים יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱרָה לַמָּוֶת נַפְשֹׁו וְאֶת־פֹּשְׁעִים נִמְנָה וְהוּא חֵטְא־רַבִּים נָשָׂא וְלַפֹּשְׁעִים יַפְגִּֽיעַ׃ ס

    Isaiah 53:12

    their head and founder

    We must, at some point in our lives, confess that some have authority over us. (This is assumed in a Biblical-based Hebrew culture.) Current authority, previous authority and a succession of authority all come into play.

    Abraham, Israel, Moses, David and family patriarchs may all be mentioned as a head or founding father of Jews. The Lord granted both His Authority and succession through them. Here the author of Hebrews points to their Higher Authority.

    ἀρχηγός – archēgos implies one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer. Jesus, therefore, becomes a captain or founder, a chief leader or Prince over these who followed.

    Within the same verse His origin was established as ‘Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things’… or other translations read: ‘God—for whom and through whom all things exist—...’ Clearly, the Son of God IS God! Jesus IS before all founders and over all authority.

    of their salvation

    Two questions come immediately to mind:

    1. What is salvation?
    2. Whose salvation? (Or who can be saved?)

    σωτηρία sōtēria –Salvation, in Greek, the common language of first century Judea and much of the Roman Empire, refers to deliverance, preservation, safety, even from molestation by one’s enemies. A Roman understanding of sōtēria could have viewed a “savior” as a threat to their own authority.

    In an ethical sense, that which concludes to the soul’s safety, of Messianic salvation.

    יָשַׁע – yasha` is the Hebrew concept. Isaiah asks,

    פָּגַ֤עְתָּ אֶת־שָׂשׂ֙ וְעֹ֣שֵׂה צֶ֔דֶק בִּדְרָכֶ֖יךָ יִזְכְּר֑וּךָ הֵן־אַתָּ֤ה קָצַ֨פְתָּ֙ וַֽנֶּחֱטָ֔א בָּהֶ֥ם עֹולָ֖ם וְנִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃

    How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?

    Isaiah 64:5 CSB

    The question of who can be saved is one of some debate, which we will not take on today. Since the writer of Hebrews refers to the Son, the Messiah, as God in this introductory passage, we will briefly examine His own answer to this question.

    When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved? ”

    Matthew 19:25 CSB

    The Jewish Apostle and tax collector relates consecutive stories about money, the rich and salvation, asking the Messiah who can be saved. Hear His answer:

    26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

    Matthew 19:26 CSB

    Not even an Apostle or rich ruler can earn salvation or buy perfection. Yet God the Father has made a way for the completion of sinful man.

    through sufferings.

    διά dia πάθημα pathēma

    We hesitate here, even that the Messiah must suffer, let alone that we must in death. Yet the meaning is clear: that which one suffers or has suffered. We shrink from some of the descriptions of sufferings: misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction.

    Many of us have experienced some of the afflictions which Christians must undergo. And we know we cannot endure that with the Messiah suffered for our sins as a Sacrifice painfully crucified on the Cross.

    Hebrews and gentiles know that in perfection a price must be paid for sin.

    Sanctification – ἁγιάζω

    To sanctify is to purify, separating from the profane and dedicating or consecrating to a Holy God.

    How can a sinner be consecrated to the Lord God?

    The author of Hebrews continues by assuring us that the Messiah Jesus completed our sanctification and He, the crucified Son of Man calls us brothers (or sisters). What undue grace and love of those of the world. And grace for both Jew and gentile, grace for those of the first century and sinners of this twenty-first century.

    Once again the writer of Hebrews quotes familiar scripture, even the very song
    from Psalm 22 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ Yĕhowshuwa` cried out from the cross! He also quotes the historical record of Samuel and the prophet Isaiah.

    Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.

    Hebrews 2:13 CSB

    The Lord God has become a personal God on the Cross!

    וְה֥וּא כֹהֵ֖ן לְאֵ֥ל עֶלְיֹֽון׃

    a Priest of G_d Most High

    The writer of Hebrews closes this section about Jesus becoming our Pioneer of Perfection with explanation why the Son of Man became a High Priest for us.

    17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

    More about atonement and our need for this Priest in Hebrews 3.

    To be continued...

  • Emmanuel -3

    Emmanuel -3

    Introduction to God in a Manger

    We glanced at the introduction of Jesus in the Gospels of Mark and John in part 1 of this series. Yesterday in part 2 we examined issues of the virgin birth from the Gospel of Matthew. Today, Christmas, we conclude with scripture from Luke, our most familiar source of the Christmas story.

    Immanuel (Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל‬ meaning, “God with us”; also romanized Emmanuel) – Wikipedia

    Every biography requires an introduction and the all-important announcement of “God With Us,” the Son of Man born in a manger requires not only an introduction, but a cultural context we can only mention today.

    Introduction to the Nativity

    The Nativity of Matthew, beginning with the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph and David, examines the Messiah of Israel from a Jewish perspective. Of course, Matthew, John and all of the Disciples were Jewish, as was Jesus.

    Mark and Luke were first century gentiles, Greeks, men who recorded the impact of Christ born to save not only Jews from sin, but all who believe.

    Luke 1:

    1 … a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.

    Luke begins his two-part writing, Luke-Acts, with an introduction and overview in Chapter one. Many believe John the Baptist to be the Messiah; therefore Luke introduces John and Jesus as teachers prior to the well-know nativity of chapter 2. Note the same angelic witness.

    Gabriel

    5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah… 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him…

    13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

    … He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. … to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

    19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.

    26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”

    1:28 καὶ εἰσελθὼν ὁ ἄγγελος πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν

    Luke 1:28

    Name Him Jesus

    31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

    Please do not miss here that Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, comes to a woman, Mary. In most instances of angelic encounters, as was the case with Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, the angel brings the Lord’s message to a man with authority over his wife, family and others.

    Translations

    Much to consider here, even before the all-too-familiar narrative of the nativity which follows. Much disagreement among Christians based on translations which reinforce various cultural (denominational) beliefs. Consider just one brief passage.

    • KJV (English) And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
    • HNV (from Hebrew) Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
    • VUL (Latin) et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit have gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus
    • Greek listed above for Luke 1:28. Some translations in Latin and the Hebrew Bible come from the Septuagint, with origins in Alexandria, Egypt.

    Some versions of the Bible use less-controversial synonyms in some passages and prejudicial word imagery in certain key passages.

    Mary – favored woman

    And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” [Other mss add Blessed are you among women.]

    Luke 1:28 CSB

    The angel Gabriel does not say, “Hail Mary,” such as one might say, “Hail Caesar.” The Greek word χαίρω chairō could also be translated: rejoice, be glad, joy, greetings, even God speed or farewell when appropriate. Much like שָׁלוֹם shalom in Hebrew, chairō is simply a greeting of encounter.

    Mary’s enduring witness

    Luke records Mary’s reaction in verse twenty-nine. How would he know this or details of the rest of this portion of her encounter with angels?

    Recall that unlike Joseph, Mary lived into Jesus’ complete life as the Son of Man and along with His brothers became part of the early church after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Therefore Luke would have interviewed Mary and/or those who had known her consistent witness for many years.

    30 Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

    • φοβοῦ Μαριάμ – Fear not Mary.
      • Do most all who personally encounter God’s angelic messenger not need this comforting assurance?
      • Yet what does it mean to have found favor with God?
    • εὑρίσκω heuriskō – 
      • ‘You have found,’ clearly indicates that Mary has been seeking the LORD.
        • ‘To come upon after searching:
          • to find by enquiry, thought, examination;
          • to find out for one’s self. 

    Mary, a young Hebrew virgin betrothed to Joseph, is a worshiper of the LORD and she is a young woman with great faith.

    Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” [Lit. since I do not know a man]

    Luke 1:34 CSB

    Gabriel then told Mary of Jesus’ conception and birth, the birth to be detailed more by Luke in the most familiar nativity of chapter 2 and reveals the distant miracle of her relative Elizabeth, to whom Mary will go as she is with child.

    35 The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

    The Magnificat – a Hymn of Praise

    Mary magnifies or lifts up the Lord for His faithfulness to His faithful ones, much in the same way as Hannah, mother of Samuel, who anointed David.

    46 And Mary said:

    My soul praises the greatness of the Lord,
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
    because he has looked with favor
     on the humble condition of his servant.
     Surely, from now on all generations
     will call me blessed,
    because the Mighty One
     has done great things for me,
     and his name is holy.


    “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
    And holy is His name.

    Luke 1:49 NASB

    The Nativity

    by Roger HarnedWhat is the Nativity?

    Nativity, Latin nātīvitāt, refers to birth, the place and circumstances of birth, the place of the stars at a time of birth, and most specifically, but not exclusively, refers to the birth of Christ, the Messiah, Jesus.

    Luke 2:

    And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

    Luke 2:4-5 ESV

    A census by order of Rome. Joseph travels to his hometown to register.

    While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

    Luke 2:6-7 CSB

    Birth happens (ready or not, irregardless of place) and this lowly humble couple had no place for the Son of God to be born into this world. No reservation and no place fit for a Son of Man, only an animal-filled barn with mangers of hay to feed the donkeys and camels.

    We have already heard of other singular events of the Nativity unique to Jesus’ birth. Kings had followed a star to Bethlehem and then brought gifts just for this time and this King of Kings, so humbly born in a manger.

    Luke then documents a similar event from the hills just beyond Bethlehem.

    Angels and Shepherds

    Of course, these very hills had been the place where Samuel had sought out David, the shepherd and youngest of his clan, when the Lord had anointed him King.

    And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

    Luke 2:10-11 KJV

    And the angels told these lowly shepherds where and how to find and recognize Jesus in Bethlehem, the baby Son of God in a manger made for lowly animals. Surely some among these Jewish shepherds would have known the prophesy of Micah.

    But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
     Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
     From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
    His goings forth are from long ago,
     From the days of eternity.”

    Therefore He will give them up until the time
     When she who is in labor has borne a child.
     Then the remainder of His brethren
     Will return to the sons of Israel.

    And He will arise and shepherd His flock
     In the strength of the LORD,
     In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
     And they will remain,
     Because at that time He will be great
     To the ends of the earth.

    Then these faithful keepers of the flocks received yet more confirmation.

    A multitude of angels sang

    Imagine angels from the sky joining voices with you as their audience!

    δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

    Luke 2:14 KJV

    Amen! Glory to God in the highest, who has sent His Own Son to a manger as a Son of Man, one like a lowly shepherd.

    And the shepherds departed their fields to witness and worship the Christ child, their Messiah in a manger. Then they will tell others, perhaps later one will even confirm their witness to Luke.

    Recalling the Nativity to others

    We do not have here or anywhere in scripture angels worshiping Mary, shepherds worshiping Mary or Kings worshiping Mary. And we do not have Joseph, Mary, shepherds or kings worshiping angels, even Gabriel. These are later idolatries suggested by false shepherds of the church and false prophets.

    The LORD IS and the Nativity of Jesus is not His beginning.

    Let us witness the redeeming love of God, who came to us in His Own Image in the Person and humility of Christ Jesus. He IS the One we worship, for Jesus IS the Messiah who will save all who believe.

    But Mary kept all these things in her mind, pondering them in her heart.

    And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.

    Luke 2:19-20 DBY

    Keep these things in mind, pondering them in your heart, glorifying God for all things.

    Christ is born. The Messiah died for your sins. Christ Jesus will come again.

    Incarnate in a manger in Bethlehem; crucified on a Cross at Calvary, risen from a tomb in Judea; witnessed by thousands, risen into the clouds to return again…

    Jesus IS, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, the beginning and end.

    Amen,