Talk of JESUS . com

Tag: John

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?

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...
```
January 27, 2019
Hebrews -4- Rest Promised or Pursued?
But the message they heard did not benefit them…
Hebrews 4:2a CSB

Previously I asked, “Will you enter into God’s perfect rest?” The author of Hebrews traces our Hebrew heritage and history back to Moses and then states, “So we see that they were unable to enter [rest] because of unbelief.” It is significant warning to those who only pursue righteousness, rather than obtaining its rest.

What is rest?

Perhaps ‘rest from your work,’ as in Sabbath rest, a vacation or retirement?

Do we think ‘rest in peace,’ when in fact it is rest in life we seek? Vanity. (Or futility, as Solomon suggests in Ecclesiastes.)

Life convinces me of the elusiveness of rest more each day.

Closed on Sunday – Rest in the Lord (it’s a Commandment).

We begin with the application of these scriptures about the promised rest in our own lives, but first a look at definitions.

Hebrews 4:

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands – NIV

Note some subtle differences of approach from verse 1.

A promise to enter, a promise remains, a promise still open, a promise stands – all promises made, but not yet fulfilled. Surely the Lord will keep His promise.

The warning of Hebrews 4:1 is that we ‘have fallen short, therefore take heed to our own obligation to the promise of the Lord. In fact, the previous warning to God’s chosen was, “So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.” KJV

So what role do we have in completing the promises between the Lord and His faithful?

The followers of Moses and many generations since did not receive the promise. Some continue to pursue the promise, others have abandoned God’s word. What is left to us is an inheritance; a promise not yet received, but a rest to be received – a rest only in the promised Messiah of God.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Words of the Messiah Jesus, Matthew 11:28 CSB

Rest defined
- ἀναπαύω anapauō – One rest of which Jesus speaks is quiet, calm, an earthly collecting of strength. God can give us rest.
- נָחַם nacham – in Hebrew is rest. In the sense of being comforted it means that God has compassion on us. In a most curious application from Moses’ story of creation he says,
Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.”
Genesis 5:29 NASB

The LORD cursed creation, regretted man for our evil on the earth; yet in the LORD’s compassion He called נֹחַ Noah, which means ‘rest’ as a savior of creation.

Instructions for the priesthood speak of a complete Sabbath, an increased rest in addition to our weekly worship of the LORD.

שַׁבַּ֨ת שַׁבָּתֹ֥ון הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם וְעִנִּיתֶ֖ם אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּתִשְׁעָ֤ה לַחֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ בָּעֶ֔רֶב מֵעֶ֣רֶב עַד־עֶ֔רֶב תִּשְׁבְּת֖וּ שַׁבַּתְּכֶֽם׃ פ
“It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls…
Leviticus 23:32 NASB

Again, I remind us that first century Jews who practiced regular worship of the LORD with sacrifice knew scripture better than most modern Jews and Christians. The application of a promised rest, a rest pursued by the faithful, had more meaning in completion of the promise.
- κατάπαυσις katapausis in the common Greek of the day –
  - a putting to rest or a calming of the winds.
  - resting place; נוּחַ; metaphor for the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells, and of which he has promised to make persevering believers in Christ partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth are ended
When the author of Hebrews, Paul and other Jews speak of perfection, it is this complete rest in the Lord of which they speak metaphorically.

εὐαγγελίζω – Good News / Bad News

We’ve all heard it told: I have good news and bad news. (Which do you want to hear first?) Once again the writer of Hebrews supports his gospel with scripture.

2 For we also have received the good news just as they did…
Hebrews 4:2a CSB

Again he quotes scripture from Psalm 95 and Genesis, applying a warning to us.

Psalm 95:

Worship and Warning

¹Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord,
shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!
²Let us enter his presence with thanksgiving;
let us shout triumphantly to him in song.

⁸אַל־תַּקְשׁ֣וּ לְ֭בַבְכֶם כִּמְרִיבָ֑ה כְּי֥וֹם מַ֝סָּ֗ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

⁹אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִ֭סּוּנִי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּ֝חָנ֗וּנִי גַּם־רָא֥וּ פָעֳלִֽי׃

¹⁰אַרְבָּ֘עִ֤ים שָׁנָ֨ה׀ אָ֘ק֤וּט בְּד֗וֹר וָאֹמַ֗ר עַ֤ם תֹּעֵ֣י לֵבָ֣ב הֵ֑ם וְ֝הֵ֗ם לֹא־יָדְע֥וּ דְרָכָֽי׃

¹¹אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי בְאַפִּ֑י אִם־יְ֝בֹא֗וּן אֶל־מְנוּחָתִֽי׃

So I swore in my anger,
“They will not enter my rest.”
Psalm 95:11 CSB

A bad news warning

… and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, 7 he again specifies a certain day—today.

The writer of Hebrews warns that Joshua did not give them rest.

⁹Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.

11 Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

Make every effort.

He pleads with the readers and listeners of scripture to σπουδάζω – be diligent or eager to hear the gospel of our promised rest in Christ Jesus, the Messiah.

Again, the common first century Greek logic to think toward what the LORD God meant in giving rest to us through the Messiah. (And this time don’t ignore His warnings spoken in scripture.)

Then, as if speaking to those who feared the very Voice of G_d spoken from Sinai,

11 Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

And the author of Hebrews then follows with perhaps scripture’s best reason for all to read, hear and obey scripture.

The Word of God

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB

The word of God, λόγος logos θεός theos is living and active.

In the Greek does this have a familiar ring to it, beloved Christian or Messianic Jewish brother or sister?

ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Gospel of John 1:1

Could the writer of Hebrews possibly be referring to Yeshua the Messiah, witnessed by many as risen from the dead?

He is living and active! ‘and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’

Who can divide the soul and the spirit? Who holds power over our heart and every breath of life?

Only the LORD God! This sounds like the True Judge, who is ‘able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’

Nothing hidden from God’s sight

The writer of Hebrews then continues appropriate warning to those who hear this word of scripture, all those who seek our promised rest.

13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight…

Not you, not his first century Hebrew audience, and certainly not me.

… but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

So imagine the Perfect Judge who can separate joints and marrow, discerning our thoughts and looking upon the nakedness of the intents of our hearts.

How will we ever rest, when we have not laid down our sin before the Perfect Sacrifice of the Lord, slain for us – the Son of God Who IS and will judge our sin?

Our Compassionate High Priest

מֹשֶׁה Mosheh פָּלַל palal עַם `am
And Moses interceded for the people.
Numbers 21:7 NASB

Moses interceded, then Aaron interceded as High Priest. Later anointed descendants of Levi stood in the Holy of Holies between the people and the Lord. But these godly men were all imperfect.

Yet all priests, pastors and rabbis sin. Their sacrifices have been imperfect.

The Messiah, however, is our perfect intercessor, a Son of man like us. He became our sinless Lamb whose Body and Blood were broken and shed for us.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

A promise fulfilled – rest in the Messiah Jesus. Confidence that the Lord has chosen us through Him. Yet have we pursued our rest in Christ, or presumed the promise as those who perished in the wilderness?

Draw near to the Throne of grace, for we have confidence in Christ.

Receive His compassionate mercy and grace, which is favor with God. For we are chosen if we believe in our compassionate High Priest, Christ Jesus.

Is this your time of need?

Do you desire God’s help?

Pray – pray through our loving intercessor who has descended to His own and ascended to the Throne of heaven.
```
 To be continued...
```
January 24, 2019
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...
```
January 8, 2019