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Tag: hebrews

  • Hebrews – 2 – Pay Attention

    Hebrews – 2 – Pay Attention

    προσέχω – prosechō – Pay attention!

    For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.

    Hebrews 2:1 CSB

    Does this sound familiar? (Perhaps a teacher comes to mind.)

    Take heed; beware; pay close attention and remember what I taught you before.

    We began by mentioning that the writer of Hebrews was proclaiming to fellow Jews: Jesus is the predicted Messiah. First century Jews knew their scriptures more than most Jews or Christians in these last days. Scriptural messengers included prophets and angels, but the Messiah IS the very Word of the LORD, in Person.

    Warning to Pay Attention

    Why pay attention to Scripture?

    So that we do not fall into faithlessness, so that we will not turn away from the Lord and so that we receive the promises of God made to His beloved chosen souls.

    Therefore, receive what the LORD has told us, for the sake of your eternal soul.

    We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

    Hebrews 2:1 NIV

    2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

    Consider the consequences of your neglect. Here is our conviction in legal terms.

    Logical consequence of the Law

    Legally binding in this translation from the Greek λαλέω conveys a word generally translated as ‘steadfast,’ meaning stable or firm. Law must have a basis, inviolable definition from which judgement may be made. If the LORD sends a message via an angel to a man or woman, obedience to the LORD is legally binding, as if the LORD Himself spoke the command.

    We therefore must be held accountable for our own obedience or disobedience to the LORD’S command. The Greek root παρακούω parakouō suggests logically that we may not casually or carelessly dismiss it or be unwilling to hear, i. e. on hearing to neglect, to pay no heed to the messenger. In other words, we are accountable for what Lord has delivered to us though these heavenly messengers.

    Transgressions פֶּשַׁע or trespasses more familiarly refer to violating the Law given by the LORD through Moses. But these apply generally in the same manner to mean: falling away, breaking away or turning away from what is right; violating what is good to do what is evil in the eyes of the Lord.

    Some versions call for ‘just reward,’ though the Greek meaning of ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν points to the consequences of justice bringing punishment.

    Disobedience to God, of course, is a big deal, deserving just punishment.

    How will we, the guilty escape the just punishment of the Lord?

    Israel’s sons recognized this same guilt and consequence in their treatment of Joseph.

    If we neglect

    Then they said to one another, “Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.”

    Genesis 42:21 NASB

    The writer of Hebrews points his brothers in the faith, fellow Jews, to the conviction of scripture.

    Hebrews 2:3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

    God spoke to us through angels and dreams. Yet as Apostles and disciples of the Messiah, we confirm everything from those who heard God’s Word, spoken to us in the Person of Christ Jesus.

    Quite a statement! It was confirmed to us by those who heard him, men chosen by God With Us, Immanuel עִמָּנוּאֵל.

    4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.

    He then continues by presenting the testimony of evidence, facts known to various Jewish contemporaries about the miracles of Jesus of Nazareth. Confirmation by the Holy Spirit, also witnessed in the Apostles and others after Pentecost, is also known to many first century Jewish readers. Indisputable evidence.

    Jesus and Humanity

    Of course the key evidence presented here and in the rest of the letter of Hebrews is that God came to the Jews, as promised, as a man, Redeemer and Savior. If this evidence stands the test of truth, then the Son of Man, or God In Person, is NOT subject to any authorities. In fact, angels serve Him!

    5 For he has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about.

    Once again, the writer points to the evidence of scripture. Psalm 8 in the Greek Septuagint, translated from the Hebrew.

    8:1 εἰς τὸ τέλος ὑπὲρ τῶν ληνῶν ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ κύριε ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν ὡς θαυμαστὸν τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ ὅτι ἐπήρθη ἡ μεγαλοπρέπειά σου ὑπεράνω τῶν οὐρανῶν

    8:1 לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּית מִזְמֹור לְדָוִֽד׃ יְהוָה אֲדֹנֵינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּיר שִׁמְךָ בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תְּנָה הֹודְךָ עַל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

    Psalm 8:1 Greek SEPTUAGINT & Hebrew
    Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious
     is your name throughout the earth!

    (4) what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them;
     humans, that you watch over them with such care?
    (5) You made him but little lower than the angels,
     you crowned him with glory and honor,
     7 (6) you had him rule what your hands made,
     you put everything under his feet —

    Jesus, King and Lord

    What is a King? What is the Authority of a Lord?

    Important questions the writer of Hebrews addresses immediately – questions to which the answers, in truth, establish the nature of the Messiah Jesus (יְהושֻׁעַ ).

    8 and subjected everything under his feet.
    For in subjecting everything to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him.

    Hebrews 2:8, ref. to Psalm 8

    The Messiah King will be in charge of all creation! This is quite clear. Yet clearly, Jesus, having been crucified, had not taken charge of everything.

    So the writer of Hebrews presents the obvious question immediately. Why not?

    9 But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone—crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death.

    Why should God suffer death?

    God’s grace for everyone — even Greeks, Romans and other gentiles?

    Yes, and grace for a remnant of Jews who will believe through Him.

    It is a topic so important to the Jew and gentile alike that we must pursue it separately as we complete this chapter.

    יָשַׁע יְהֹוָה יְהוֹשׁוּעַ

    Ἰησοῦς

    Jesus = “Jehovah is salvation”

    Strong’s G2424 – Iēsous
    Hebrews 2: To be continued 

  • Hebrews – 1

    1:1  πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐντοῖς προφήταις

    It’s Greek to me…

    multifariam et multis modis olim Deus loquens patribus in prophetis


    God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

    Hebrews 1:1 KJV
    In our עִבְרִי Hebrews Intro I suggested that we will explore some translation back to the Greek and Hebrew. Follow links to secure sources.

    Translations of Hebrews 1 above, from the original Greek, to the Latin Vulgate,  to Hebrew do not seem to exist. Greek was the common language of Jews and Romans of the first century empire. Even early English translations include unfamiliar words and terms, like “sundry times.” indicating a portion of time.

    So what is the connection of the book of Hebrews to Hebrew descendants, Jews who became the Messianic followers of The Way?

    The opening of the book makes the connection. Its purpose is to explain the connection of the Messiah Iēsous to GOD, θεός theos in the Greek,in Hebrew, אֱלֹהִים ‘elohiym.

    Hebrews 1:

    The Nature of the Son

    Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man, a specific messianic reference to the Messiah, only Son of God, born as a man.

    Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.

    Hebrews 1:1-2a CSB

    An immediate mention of God speaking through recognized prophets of the Jews. These include Abraham, Israel, Moses, David, Isaiah and many others. The voice of ‘his Son’ speaks with a first-person authority of the LORD speaking directly.

    God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.

    The Son of Man, Jesus, is heir of all creation, much as a human son receives the inheritance of his father’s work. Yet the author of Hebrews points out even more of the Image of the Son to the Father.

    The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

    Hebrews 1:3 CSB

    After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

    Jesus is of the same glory and exactly like God the Father and assumed the Throne of Majesty after making the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins on the Cross. The action of God Himself on the Cross purged our sins!

    So he [Jesus] became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.

    Angels and messengers of God

    The writer of Hebrews states that the man Jesus is much more than a prophet, then proceeds by comparing Jesus to the glory of God the Father. After briefly considering the Son of Man, now the writer of Hebrews proceeds to compare Jesus to unseen messengers .

    Angels are spirit messengers of God. Jesus emphasized the importance of the unseen spirit of man – soul, if you will – in its role of communication with God.

    Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.

    John 3:5-6 CSB

    The water of baptism or purification is not enough. Repentance is not enough. Good works of the flesh are not enough. No one is justified by God without receiving the Spirit of God, messenger to your soul. The writer of Hebrews quotes scripture about angels, holding up Jesus as the Highest Messenger.

    The Son [Jesus] Superior to Angels

    5 For to which of the angels did he ever say,

    • Psalm 2:7 אֲסַפְּרָה אֶֽל חֹק יְֽהוָה אָמַר אֵלַי בְּנִי אַתָּה אֲנִי הַיֹּום יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃
    • or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son?”
    • Hebrews 1:6 Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
    • Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX (Septuagint) εὐφράνθητε, οὐρανοί, ἅμα αὐτῷ, καὶ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ· εὐφράνθητε, ἔθνη μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνισχυσάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες υἱοὶ Θεοῦ· ὅτι τὸ αἷμα τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκδικᾶται, καὶ ἐκδικήσει καὶ ἀνταποδώσει δίκην τοῖς ἐχθροῖς καὶ τοῖς μισοῦσιν ἀνταποδώσει, καὶ ἐκκαθαριεῖ Κύριος τὴν γῆν τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ.
    • Psalm 97:7 LXX (Septuagint) σαλευθήτω ἡ θάλασσα καὶ τὸ πλήρωμα αὐτῆς, ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτῇ.
    • All the gods must worship him. [97:7 LXX, Syr read All his angels]
    • Hebrews 1:7 7 And about the angels he says:
    • Psalm 104:4 עֹשֶׂה מַלְאָכָיו רוּחֹות מְשָׁרְתָיו אֵשׁ לֹהֵֽט׃
    • NKJV Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.

    “Rejoice with him, you heavens,
    and let all of God’s angels worship him.

    Deu.32:43a NLT As in Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version; Masoretic Text lacks the first two lines.

    The writer of Hebrews makes clear that Jesus is superior to the angels, using scripture from the Old Testament to do so.

    but about the Son

    Hebrews 1:8-12 is glorification of the Son of God. Like his opening, the author quotes scriptures known to the Jews.

    Quotes from Psalms often glorify God and glorify the king. The inference here is that Jesus, the Messiah, is a King forever.

    Psalm 45

    יָפְיָפִיתָ מִבְּנֵי אָדָם הוּצַק חֵן בְּשְׂפְתֹותֶיךָ עַל־כֵּן בֵּֽרַכְךָ אֱלֹהִים לְעֹולָֽם׃

    Psalm 45:2
    2 You are fairer than the sons of men;
     Grace is poured upon Your lips;
     Therefore God has blessed You forever.
     3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One,
     With Your glory and Your majesty.

    The king holds up the royal scepter of righteousness, the symbol of justice in the right hand.

    6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
    A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
    7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
    Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
    With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

    This reference by the writer of Hebrews to the Son being higher than the angels comes directly from this song of love in Psalm 45. The Messiah is an answer to prayer – centuries of prayers by faithful Jews. Hebrews continues by quoting another Psalm.

    Psalm 102 – The Lord’s Eternal Love

    Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    And let my cry come to You.

    12 But You, O Lord, shall endure forever,
    And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.

    18 This will be written for the generation to come,
    That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.

    25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
    And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
    26 They will perish, but You will endure;
    Yes, they will all grow old like a garment;
    Like a cloak You will change them,
    And they will be changed.
    27 But You are the same,
    And Your years will have no end.

    You are the same

    “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

    The revelation of Jesus Christ to John 22:13

    Hebrews 1 closes reaffirming that the Son IS the creative Word of the Lord.

    13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

    Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies your footstool?

    Once again, quoting a Psalm announcement of the Messiah’s reign.

    14 [NIV} Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

    Yes. Angels are ministering spirits of the LORD.

    Yet the Son of Man, God Incarnate: was, and IS, and will be higher than the angels; the righteous King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

    To be continued...

  • עִבְרִי Hebrews – Intro

    What does it mean to be Jewish? Does it mean something entirely different to be Christian? How does the Hebrew Bible fit with the Christian Bible? All important questions of faith, along with other foundational tenants of belief in the Lord God.

    Authorship

    Every authentic book of Scripture has at least two authors, the LORD God and a man writing God’s message for a specific reader response.

    In the same way one might question the writings of a prophet to be authentic or the word of God accurately delivered to mankind, we might ask the source of the book of Hebrews, any other scriptural writings or a book authored by one claiming an authority of a god of their making.

    I claim no expertise on the changing and varied practices of Judaism now or then, but defer to others. Hebrews lists no author and theologians speculate several suspected sources.

    Of more importance to the reader than the human author or authors is a better understanding of the context as Hebrews relates to a specific audience.

    Hebrews assumes a practice or at least knowledge of first century Judaism. The readers and more often hearers of the first century were Jews, who spoke Greek, likely learned Hebrew scripture and practiced blending into a Roman cultural context of their local town.

    We can safely assume that first century Jews who came to believe in their Messiah did so by faith and by the witness of fellow Jews. They knew Scripture better than most Jews and Christians of this century.

    As I pointed out in the previous series, only Matthew and John were Jews proclaiming the Good News of the Messiah Jesus (Mark and Luke were not).

    In the letters of the New Testament we should note that Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was a Jew; highly intelligent, well-trained in Scripture and skilled in Hebrew and Greek logical argument. Unlike Paul’s letters, often addressing congregations of gentiles or Greeks, the letter of Hebrews addresses the cultural and religious issues of the faithful Jewish reader who sought to understand the love of God and incarnation of the Messiah Jesus.

    Book of Hebrews

    In the posts to follow we will explore Hebrews a bit at a time, mostly following the thirteen chapters, including some translation back to the Greek and Hebrew. As always, our study of Scripture verifies these teachings by looking back to the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms, which Jews know as the Bible and Christians refer to as ‘the Old Testament.’

    To be continued...