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  • 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 

  • 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,

  • Emmanuel -1

    Emmanuel -1

    7:14 לָכֵן יִתֵּן אֲדֹנָי הוּא לָכֶם אֹות הִנֵּה הָעַלְמָה הָרָה וְיֹלֶדֶת בֵּן וְקָרָאת שְׁמֹו עִמָּנוּ אֵֽל׃

    prophesy of Isaiah [יְשַׁעְיָה – Yĕsha`yah]

    Emmanuel – I AM: born a man, GOD for us

    As I have written previously, contemporary celebrations of Christmas have been much overblown in our worldly “christian” pageants, performances and present-buying excesses. Our sins of false witness in this season go back centuries and as I also mentioned earlier at one time celebrations of Christmas were actually outlawed by Puritans and other Christian believers. Furthermore, Christmas was never celebrated by believers of the early church.

    Christmas isn’t the important story of Good News, but every story must have a beginning, even the Gospel of Christ Jesus.

    a baby born - is he Immanuel - God with us?

    Look upon the face of innocence, sinlessness flesh born of man, who would remain without sin, a Sacrifice for our redemption.

    I do not assume that all Christians will know the full biblical meaning of many common 'christian' terms. If you don't know one, go ahead: click on the secure link and look it up. RH

    The Gospel Stories of Christmas

    Mark

    1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

    Mark simply begins from the prophesy of Isaiah (as I have above), proceeds to the witness of John the Baptist that Jesus is the Messiah, then tells of the grown man, Jesus in His ministry to us as the Son of Man. No mentions of the virgin birth which all knew to be prophesied by Isaiah and no ‘nativity scene,’ by which we have become so enthralled. 

    Although he makes no mention of Jesus’ birth, Mark clearly witnesses in his Gospel that Jesus IS who He says He is: the Son of Man.

    Mark 14:61b

    Again the high priest questioned him,

    “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One? ”

    “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

    Mark 14:62

    John

    We rarely hear from the beginning of John’s gospel during the Christmas season, because like Mark, John offers no nativity narrative. 

    John doesn’t approach his Gospel as “Good News” or “glad tidings,” but rather explains a more personal relationship with Jesus.

    I must confess my personal preference to John’s look back at the beginning of the Good News of Christ. For after all, if Jesus IS GOD, then His story does not begin in a manger.

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    John 1:1

    A remarkable reference to Christ! In the beginning, is of course a reiteration of the opening of Genesis. God creates by speaking and John refers to Jesus as “the Word,” or logos. John places Jesus “with God,” then continues with the inescapable premise:  and the Word was God.

    Therefore, John states of the time of creation, Jesus IS God!

    John’s singular reference to the birth of Christ occurs after the introduction of John the Baptist, explaining how Jesus came to us as the Son of Man, to whom the Baptist had already testified.

    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 1:14

    Immanuel – עִמָּנוּאֵל 

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

    The name of Immanuel, clearly referred in the Gospels, originates in the scriptures of the Old Testament from the book of Isaiah. 

    Immanuel = “God with us” or “with us is God”

    Blueletterbible.org 
    • symbolic and prophetic name of the Messiah, the Christ, prophesying that He would be born of a virgin and would be ‘God with us’

    “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

    Isaiah 7:14 CSB

    In two of the four Gospels we have no mention of the nativity or birth of Jesus.

    Our Christmas traditions, teachings, songs, stories (and yes, myths and false impressions) all come from the two remaining Gospels, Matthew and Luke.

    Yet in all, Emmanuel appears, God as a man. And all mankind begins as newborn babies. In this very personal sense, God becomes a man like us – God With Us.

    To be continued...