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Tag: jeremiah

Hebrews 10- Sacrifice and Offering
Offering on the Altar

I waited patiently for the LORD;
40:6 זֶ֤בַח וּמִנְחָ֨ה לֹֽא־חָפַ֗צְתָּ אָ֭זְנַיִם כָּרִ֣יתָ לִּ֑י עֹולָ֥ה וַ֝חֲטָאָ֗ה לֹ֣א שָׁאָֽלְתָּ׃

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

Psalm 40:6 Masoretic Text; NKJV

The Perfect Sacrifice

The author of Hebrews states that in Christ we have a High Priest who does not need to repeatedly make offering and sacrifice. Therefore, the sacrificial blood of the Messiah on the Cross represents a new and better covenant.

Once again, he logically makes his case supported by the evidence of well-known scripture.

Hebrews 10:

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. ²Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

He refers to the many rules and regulations of sacrifice and offering prescribed in the Mosaic law. Moses gave us a law of better things to come, a mere shadow of true worship. When we finally make the perfect sacrifice, becoming completely purified before the Lord, wouldn’t we then stop making more sacrifices? Wouldn’t our guilt be left covered?

Sin remains in the shadow sacrifice of the Law, because the blood of bulls and goats cannot cleanse sin perfectly.

We have awaited a Messiah.. patiently.. a High Priest Perfect for all time. From
a thousand years before, the writer quotes David’s well known Psalm 40:

Patience

I waited patiently for the Lord,
and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.
2 He brought me up from a desolate pit,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.

Think of this hope in the hearts of faithful Jews when the writer reminds us:

6 You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
you open my ears to listen.
You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.
7 Then I said, “See, I have come;
in the scroll it is written about me.
Psalm 40:6-7A CSB

‘The Lord is trying our patience,’ they must have thought as Rome dominated their land, their city and culture. We wonder why the Lord has not blotted out evil and accepted faithful worshipers only – faithful in these last days.

Those receiving this letter in the first century would have known the next verses of the Psalm as well. The writer of Hebrews continues:

Hebrews 10:9 [quote of Psalm 40] he then says, See, I have come to do your will.

He takes away the first to establish the second.

The author’s firm reason taken in the second half of verse 9 compare the old and new covenants. He then follows this statement of God’s will with:

By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
Hebrews 10:10 CSB

The priest of their shadow sacrifices stands imperfectly at the altar day after day.

¹²But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

Testimony of the Holy Spirit

Then the writer of Hebrews then adds even more support from Scripture.

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says:

16 This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days,

the Lord says,
I will put my laws on their hearts
and write them on their minds
Hebrews 10:16 quote from Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah by Michaelango

A new covenant – ” Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—

The writer of Hebrews appeals to scripture of the prophet Jeremiah, 600 years before Christ, for support of the New Covenant where sacrifice and offering will no longer be required.

He concludes:

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Enter the Sanctuary through the Blood of Jesus

Several editors of Hebrews take different directions for labeling the next section of chapter 10, which we will examine in my next post. Again the author quotes scripture known to faithful Jews as he pursues the argument for the Messiah Jesus.

Note just a few headings for the section to come:
- How We Should Live? – ISV
- Hold Fast Your Confession – NKJV
- Exhortations to Godliness – CSB
- The Full Assurance of Faith – ESV
- Let Us Come Near to God – GNT
All, thoughtful considerations of scriptural application to our lives. If you would like to take a preview, take it from the Greek in verse 19.

10:19 ἔχοντες οὖν ἀδελφοί παρρησίαν εἰς τὴν εἴσοδον τῶν ἁγίων ἐν τῷ αἵματι Ἰησοῦ
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February 11, 2019
Hebrews 8- Minister of the Holy & true Tabernacle
The Main Point

Now the main point of what is being said is this:
We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.
Hebrews 8:1-2 CSB

Let’s not miss this, the author of Hebrews emphasizes the ‘main point’ of the letter (not just this chapter, a reference added to the Letters later). Let’s look more closely.
- ἀρχιερεύς – archiereus, High Priest in english points to the ‘chief priests’ of Judaism and also to Christ.
Specifically, by the text which follows, the author affirms a text familiar to some from Luke 22:69 and other references. “[He] is seated at the right hand of God].”

Ministers

Now the writer of Hebrews points beyond the authority, nearer to our experience. God assigns a High Priest to minister to His people. Consequently, the High Priest is: “A minister of the sanctuary.”

“Minister” is a favorite description of the leader of some denominations of Christianity, and for good reason. Because a minister is a servant, perhaps even a public servant of his community. He may even be a tax collector, assigned as a minister of the state or your servant of government delivering some military labor.

Yet τῶν ἁγίων λειτουργὸς καὶ τῆς σκηνῆς, “a minister of the sanctuary and true tabernacle” serves the Lord God. A High Priest ministers to God’s people from the sanctuary.

Reverends

Of course we commonly hear of the esteemed leaders of some churches referred to as Reverend Soandso or the Reverend Doctor Soandso. But ‘reverend relates more to their position in the sanctuary, ἅγιον hagion, defined as: reverend, worthy of veneration; of persons whose services God employs; set apart to God; in a moral sense, pure sinless upright holy.

Once again, from the text of Hebrews (in Greek) the imagery of holiness points back to the position of the High Priest in the Holy of Holies. And that is where the author points next.

and of the true Tabernacle

καὶ τῆς σκηνῆς τῆς ἀληθινῆς
Hebrews 8:2b gk.

Perhaps we understand the Holy of Holies more in the context of the Temple, yet it’s description as an exact place for God to come down to the High Priest is a temporary meeting place within a tent.

Hebrew מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan), Tabernacle in English.

Therefore, the Tabernacle, σκηνή skēnē is a tent, a shadow of the place of holiness like prescribed to Moses. This was why Peter wanted to build three tabernacles when he witnessed Moses and Elijah with Jesus.

Exodus 25:

8 “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them. 9 You must make it according to all that I show you—the pattern of the tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings.

The key point of the author of Hebrews is this ‘pattern of the tabernacle.’ Consequently Jesus the Messiah becomes a minister of the sanctuary and ‘true tabernacle.’ His appointment as a minister of Authority at the right hand of God makes Jesus a better High Priest.

The tabernacles of the earth (including the Temples of Jerusalem) are temporary.

These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle.
Hebrews 8:5

Covenant

What is a covenant? (Twenty-first century Christians and Jews can hardly imagine its impact, because we do not even keep our less solemn promises.)

‘I’ve heard of it. I think God may be involved in a covenant.’

“I will establish My covenant with you,” said God [אֱלֹהִים] to Noah.

And “the LORD [יְהֹוָה] made a covenant with Abram.”

But covenants may also be made between men. A covenant [בְּרִית bĕriyth] [διαθήκη diathēkē] is and alliance and pledge, a solemn promise to the agreed relationship.

The Person of God our Father in heaven has made a covenant with you. Who do you think would break it? Certainly not the LORD!

And Jew and follower of the Way knew scripture well enough to recall their heritage of breaking covenants with the Lord God. For a long history of kings ‘did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.’

The Prophet Jeremiah

Jeremiah by Michaelango

Jeremiah lived about 600 years before the writer of Hebrews. His witness of the fall of Jerusalem follows calls for repentance which went unheeded.

“Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant which I commanded your forefathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Listen to My voice, and do according to all which I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your God,’ in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I said, “Amen, O LORD.”

11:6 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י קְרָ֨א אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֤ים הָאֵ֨לֶּה֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְחֻצֹ֥ות יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר שִׁמְע֗וּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַבְּרִ֣ית הַזֹּ֔את וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹותָֽם׃

And the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying,
‘Hear the words of this covenant and do them.
Jeremiah 11:6

The author of Hebrews now quotes scripture they know.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 excerpts

I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8

“… My covenant which they broke… – Jeremiah 31:32

I showed no concern for them, says the Lord,
because they did not continue in my covenant.
Hebrews 8:9B

32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors… —the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts…

“For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.
Jeremiah 31:34D; Hebrews 8:12

A Superior Covenant

His point: we broke the old covenant and the intercession of human priests is insufficient.

The author of Hebrews shows how the Temple and tabernacle were mere shadows of the relationship to the Lord yet to be fulfilled in a superior covenant. He then continues after quoting Jeremiah’s prophesy with hope for a more perfect outcome of its fulfillment.

13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

The author of Hebrews will proceed by contrasting Jesus with the old covenant.
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February 5, 2019
A River of Redemption Flowing from Eden – Redeemer
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth. – Job 19:25 ESV

Redeemed from what?

Scripture records that Job is a righteous man. Can you say that? Most assuredly, I cannot.

A great and powerful leader loves God and does everything right, yet the Lord permits Satan to test him. He has everything a man could ever want, but then the Lord takes it away. Job loses everything except his life.

And how does he respond?

Job cries out to the Lord to be saved from miseries which have come to him in the flesh of this life (and his miseries are many). Yet hear Job’s assurance of judgement by a just God.

19:25 וַאֲנִי יָדַעְתִּי גֹּאֲלִי חָי וְאַחֲרֹון עַל־עָפָר יָקֽוּם׃
19:26 וְאַחַר עֹורִֽי נִקְּפוּ־זֹאת וּמִבְּשָׂרִי אֶֽחֱזֶה אֱלֹֽוהַּ׃
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: – Job 19:26 KJV

Though he dies he will see God his Redeemer, face to face. In a word: resurrection. Judgment, face to face judgment by God!

Our return to dust

The Lord’s original curse against man does not dissuade Job from hope of seeing his Redeemer on the day of his judgment. Job repents before God acknowledging that he knows that he is dust.

Do you? Have you acknowledged before God that you are only dust?

By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.” – Genesis 3:19

Redeemers

What is a Redeemer? (It’s certainly another important concept this world has relegated to triteness, as in ‘redeeming coupons.’)

Redeem – to buy or pay off, buy back, recover, exchange or convert (as in the blood of an animal for sin or money for a sacrificial animal), to discharge or fulfill a promise or a debt, to make amends for (some wrong), obtain release by a payment, restoration; theology: to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

Job was a righteous man, yet he knew he would face his redeemer after his death. Have you had enough to have cried out to your Redeemer?

Earlier in this series I referred to Joseph as a redeemer not only Israel, but also of Egypt by saving them from famine. Joseph was purchased and no ransom was paid for his release. With God’s help Joseph paid for his own redemption.

Many look to Moses as a redeemer of the Hebrews, saving them from slavery. Moses had been born into slavery under imminent threat of death, but the Lord rescued the Hebrew boy into the household of Pharaoh. He escaped when discovered buy returned when called by the Lord. Moses freed the Hebrews from slavery under Pharaoh. The Lord used Moses to save His covenant people, but Moses did not pay a ransom for their return.

The Lord saves David and other later kings of Israel and Judah. In fact, it is always the LORD who intervenes in these and other rescues of mankind. Even Noah had been rescued by God.

From Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph before the Law, to Moses, David and kings after the Law you will read of sacrifices made to the Lord. All of these faithful men recognized their own need for a Redeemer for their sins.

If you have never considered your own need for a Redeemer, you may want to weigh the significance of its antonym as it could apply to your soul at the Judgment without a Redeemer:

Antonyms
1. abandon.
Strong currents of these last days

Have you plead to the Lord for mercy? ‘Oh Lord, do not abandon me.’

Though requirements of the Law placed severe penalties upon those disobedient to the Lord, Moses assured the faithful:

“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

In Psalm 16, David offers an assurance similar to to that of Job:

10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol;
you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.

God warned Adam and Eve that on the day they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they would surely die. Adam died. So did Eve and their sons, daughters and descendants, except the family of Noah.

So did Eve and their sons, daughters and descendants, except the family of Noah. And all mankind from Adam until now has sinned, every one of us.

Surely we will also die; then as Job said, we will be resurrected to the Judgment.

LORD, the hope of Israel,
all who abandon you
will be put to shame.
All who turn away from me
will be written in the dirt,
for they have abandoned
the LORD, the fountain of living water. – Jeremiah 17:13

A Redeemer and Judge

Our Redeemer was before Eden and was in Eden. He IS a river of righteousness, pure waters springing forth which refresh the soul and give life to dust.

John 1:2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him… 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 4:13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.”

John 5:24 “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live… a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Christ Jesus! He IS our Redemption, for He has sacrificed His own blood as payment for our sins. Jesus the Son of Man sacrificed His life as payment for mine. He IS the river of life, springing forth from before Eden and cleansing our sins.

Beloved brother of dust and sister of sin, will you plea to our Redeemer for His great mercy?

Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river…
Revelation 22:
August 21, 2018