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Tag: Jesus

  • Hebrews 9- Covenant Ministry

    Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

    Hebrews 9:15B NLT

    It’s not an exact translation from the Greek, but the heart of the author’s message from his letter to the Hebrews. He now proceeds from the main point in Hebrews 8 that Christ is our High Priest to the nature of a new and better covenant.

    Old Covenant Ministry

    Priest before Tabernacle
    High Priest in Holy of Holies

    Remember how the sanctuary is a holy place to the LORD, separated from the sin of the world. Only the priests may enter as the worshipers stand near and the unclean kept distant. To think of the sanctuary as ‘only a tent’ would be contemporary error, for it is the Tent Altar where the LORD meets with His worshipers, hopefully accepting their sacrifices through the appointed priest.

    Hebrews 9:

    Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.

    He continues with description of the holy place familiar to all Jews from scripture.

    6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

    The High Priest alone enters the Holy of Holies, the inner room of the sanctuary, and that just once a year. (A special place to meet the LORD, within the confines of a Tent or Temple.) Then this author of the letter to the Hebrews points to the holy sacrifice.

    And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

    Hebrews 9:7B NLT

    A Revelation of the Holy Spirit

    We do not preach much about the Person of the Holy Spirit, once called the Holy Ghost. He is a revelation of the New Testament (or new covenant), which the writer of Hebrews unwraps here as when Christ is revealed.

    τοῦτο δηλοῦντος τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου μήπω πεφανερῶσθαι τὴν τῶν ἁγίων ὁδὸν ἔτι τῆς πρώτης σκηνῆς ἐχούσης στάσιν

    Hebrews 9:8 Greek NT
    • The Holy Spirit makes this the way into the Holy place.
    • The path into the Holy place had not been revealed while the outer or first Tabernacle was still standing. [This would also be evident by the succession from Tent to Temple to rebuilt temples made by man for worship of God.]
    • The author tells his first century Hebrew readers “[the first Tabernacle] is
      a symbol for the present time [the first generation after Christ’s anointing.]
    • Neither gifts nor sacrifices offered can make the worshiper perfect in conscience.
    • Since offerings [gifts or sacrifices to the LORD] are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings.
    • God imposed ceremonial ordinances only until the time of reformation.

    This reformation of worship revealed by the Holy Spirit creates a new covenant with the Lord.

    But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), he entered the Holiest Place once and for all.

    Hebrews 9:11-12A Complete Jewish Bible

    I like this translation, for it provides a contemporary context to the readers of Hebrews. The Messiah appeared, the Tabernacle is a less perfect Tent and Christ entered the Holiest Place once and for all.

    Just a contemporary reminder for 21st century readers:

    “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. For in Greek, the common language of the Roman Empire, Χριστός Christos is the anointed Messiah of God. We sometimes forget that faithful Jews had expected our Messiah for centuries ‘before Christ.’

    New Covenant Ministry

    Christ (the Messiah) appeared as High Priest. And He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time.

    Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood…

    Hebrews 9:12A KJV

    Think of the ritualistic sacrifices of the Old Covenant. Are we not repulsed by the slaughter and blood at the alter of sacrifice?

    Christ brings a cleansing of blood by His own Sacrifice!

    By His own Blood Christ obtained eternal redemption for the worshipers of God.
    פָּדָה Redeem your soul from sin through our Savior’s blood.

    then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!

    Hebrews 9:14 Complete Jewish Bible

    Jesus, our Mediator

    15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance..

    [Don’t miss this:]

    .. because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

    The writer of Hebrews now presents a legal case for dissolution of the old covenant.

    • a death has occurred
    • a will exists and is valid because of the death
    • (for a will is never in effect while the one who made it is living.)
    • Moses initiated the first covenant by blood (quoting Exodus 24)

    Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said,

    “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words.”

    Exodus 24:8 CSB

    The writer of Hebrews words it as a vow or covenant reminiscent of marriage.

    20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. – KJV

    21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. – KJV

    In fact, according to the Torah, almost everything is purified with blood; indeed, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

    Hebrews 9:22 CJB

    Copies cleansed

    23 Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.

    Christ entered heaven itself (not a copy). He appeared on our behalf in the very presence of God. Once, not many times like a priest on earth.

    … But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.

    Some versions translate this as the consummation or completion of the ages. Jesus speaks of the ages as both ending and forever. Believers would do well to consider it.

    And just as it is appointed for people to die once

    —and after this, judgment

    — so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,

    will appear a second time, not to bear sin,

    but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

    Hebrews 9:27 CSB

    Do you look forward to the judgment? Have you considered the love of God to offer the Blood of His only Son to bear your sin? And do you await Christ’s completion of God’s new covenant?

    The writer of Hebrews continues with more good news in Christ’s sacrifice.

    To be continued...

  • 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

    By Микеланжело Буонаротти - Электронная библиотека.Музеи Ватикана., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2284599
    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.

    To be continued...

  • Hebrews 6-Our Inheritance through Faith & Perseverance

    I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.

    Hebrews 6:14; Genesis 22:17

    What an inheritance we expect from God! A blessing passed on from generation to generation, then unto us and eventually to our heirs. No chosen people can claim any inheritance like the Jews.

    From a detailed Commandment and covenants of scripture the LORD makes wondrous promises of inheritance to the generations. Trouble is, none of us are faithful – no not one. For we all sin against God and must often repent. This is reason enough for our sacrifice as part of our worship. It goes back to Genesis, the faith of Abraham in the beginning.

    Faith beyond traditions

    “THEREFORE,” begins the writer of Hebrews in this important transition of his letter, leave elementary school. And learn the important things of our faith beyond the obvious traditions and practices.

    Two dangers confront believers.

    • We stand where we are. We are chosen by God, we are ‘in,’ we were born into the right religion and family line. Heaven is assured for us (but not others) and God blesses me because of who I am.
    • Or we turn back from where we ought to be. Call it ‘intentional sin,’ for we want nothing to do with God. No repentance, ever. And who cares about God’s inheritance?

    The writer of Hebrews begins by asking us not to stand still in our elementary look at religion. We must repent of our ‘dead works,’ which we think ought to earn us a fair judgment.

    Hebrews 6:

    Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God…

    Hebrews 6:1 CSB

    Why do we need perseverance in our faith? Because just following the rules does not assure us eternal life.

    2 teaching about ritual washings, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

    Basics. These are the foundation of our elementary school. We know these practices, but these ritual works are not the steps of faith which lead to our inheritance.

    4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit… and who have fallen away.

    Listen, here; for you know these who claim to be ‘christians.’

    … they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.

    Hebrews 6:6B CSB

    Beloved believers, he speaks of Jews who have come to know the Messiah and received the Holy Spirit. Yet they turn away from an inheritance of their eternal promise to stand on their own right works.

    And dear Christian brothers and sisters, who does not know one recrucifying Christ with easy teachings denying Christ’s commandment?

    Many despaired that Jesus did not come to the Jews taking the Throne of the Temple victoriously. Even now many Christians lament the same.

    Christ came not to conquer a throne of Jerusalem, but to conquer sin and death upon the altar of sacrifice. For זָבַח the sacrifice is that which is given, slaughtered in divine judgment.

    God’s love for the world

    Who receives the blessings of God? John’s gospel also points toward this.

    He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be[e] children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent…

    John 1:11-13a CSB

    God blessed the Jews, but also blesses the gentiles. The writer of Hebrews uses the blessing of God’s rain as illustration. God’s blessing falls upon the good and the evil. (What will you do with this same blessing?)

    7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

    He says, “We are confident of better things in you. God is not unjust and will not forget your work. He remembers your labors of love toward Him and toward the saints. (NOT Saints, revered examples of the faiths with a capital “S,” but saints, our beloved fellow followers of Christ.)

    Ministering to the saints

    For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

    Hebrews 6:10 NKJV

    We show our love of God through ministering to others who grow in His love. These saints in our midst receive the same rain by which the Lord blesses us.

    Let us not become the thorns to be sifted into the fire of judgment.

    He asks us to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end. Do others receiving rain turn against us? Or do they rail against the Lord, even persecuting some proclaiming Christ even to death? Yes, but death only of this flesh of dust, which has received the water and the Spirit.

    We minister to our fellow saints,serving the Lord’s Holy messengers of the Spirit, fellow failing flesh given eternal life. And the writer gives us the reason.

    12 … so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

    These saints some churches capitalize, “Saints,” as examples for us. Yet the call of Christ and scripture is to minister to the many ‘saints’ among us. For we are the church, saints in the flesh, are brothers and sisters of the Lord by the Spirit.

    God’s Promise through Abraham

    The writer of Hebrews makes clear that not even all followers of Moses received the promise. He now mentions how God guarantees His promise, referring back to Genesis 22.

    God swore it; Abraham waited; his heir waited. And for what reason did the LORD swear this oath to Abraham of the promise?

    That we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. [v.18]

    We still expect God to act for us NOW. (Nothing has changed since Abraham and Moses.) Yet the LORD has purpose in blessing different generations with His more perfect will of eternal promise.

    How does the writer of Hebrews link Abraham and the Messiah Jesus? Once again, he returns to the most symbolic Holy of Holies, which Moses later built.

    This Hope as an anchor of the soul

    19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

    It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf…

    As our hopes and fears leave us tossed about in the depth and vastness of eternity; yet like a ship held secure, Christ holds us in place. He makes the most certain intercession for our soul in the Holiest place before God the Father.

    20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

    Once again, the writer of Hebrews compares Jesus Christ to Melchizedek. He will follow this mature teaching through scripture in his next chapter.

    To be continued...