Tag: tabernacle

  • What God Hath Wrought 2

    What God Hath Wrought 2

    Paul’s Mission – 2 REPORTS

    A.D. 57

    Previously:

    TO James and the Church:

    And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.

    Acts of the Apostles 21:19 – ASV – Paul’s account of his third mission to th
    “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed..” – Acts 21:20b ASV

    James and the leaders of the church in Jerusalem then put forth a plan for Paul to prove his faithfulness to the LAW of Moses to the thousands of Jews in the Temple.

    TO Jewish Worshipers including Proselytes in the Temple courts:

    Followers of the Way of Jesus Christ are convinced, yet through the Spirit Paul will proclaim Christ to the larger multitudes of the Temple courts divided for Jews and separately set-apart areas for God-seekers among the Hellenists and pagans.

    blueprint of Herod's temple

    Acts of the Apostles 21: ASV

    and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

    James, of course, does not receive the murmuring of those influenced by the anti-Christs among the temple leadership; however the issue at hand is for Paul and the Apostles to proclaim CHRIST TO JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE.

    The Lord Jesus had received the same sort of reception in the Temple as the Apostles do now.

    John 5:

    “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

    Gospel of John 5:39-40 LSB – witness of the Lord Jesus to the leaders of the Temple

    “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God?

    “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.

    “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.

    Gospel of John 5:46 – The Lord Jesus challenging leaders of the Temple

    “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”


    James knows how these same Temple officials some twenty ago had falsely convicted and then crucified his beloved half-brother, JESUS.

    These will not believe Paul either.

    Yet by God's grace some will believe the Apostle when Paul once again proclaims Christ in Jerusalem's Temple.

    What God hath Wrought through MOSES

    a Scriptural sample from the Torah from which PAUL or any of the Apostles could have preached on this or any day.

    מֹשֶׁה

    מֹשֶׁה (mōšê), occurs 766x in 704 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

    He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses H4872 hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

    Exodus 3:6

    Then Moses H4872 answered and said, “What if they will not believe me and will not listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘Yahweh has not appeared to you.’”

    Exodus 4:1

    So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their weakness of spirit and hard slavery. – Exodus 6:9


    Therefore the people contended with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.”

    And Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”

    But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to put us and our children and our livestock to death with thirst?”

    Exodus 17:2-3 LSB


    the Tabernacle & the Temple

    Now it happened, in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected… He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and he put up the screen for the gateway of the court.

    Thus Moses finished the work.

    Exodus 40:17,33 LSB

    Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.

    40:34 וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן אֶת־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה מָלֵא אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן׃

    Paul could have preached of MOSES and the Tabernacle. 

    The Apostle could have witnessed SCRIPTURE recalling THE GLORY OF THE LORD filling the Temple during its dedication by Solomon.
    Paul legitimately could have asked Judea's leaders,

    WHEN HAS THE GLORY OF THE LORD EVER FILLED THIS TEMPLE REBUILT BY HEROD UNDER ROME?

    Yet Paul had no need to reiterate this truth that leading Jews under ROME seeking the Apostle knew all too well.

    AND the Apostles knew all-to-well that ‘circumcision’ (the mark of the Jew) was NOT the real issue.

    ‘forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children..’

    FALSE WITNESS against the Apostle to the gentiles, Paul.

    Nor was Moses, against whom many had been stiff-necked.


    περιτομήCircumcision

    Earlier in Paul's missionary journeys:
    (the matter settled by James and the A.D. 49 Council of Jerusalem)

    But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”

    Both the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

    Acts of the Apostles 15:5-6 LSB

    ACTS 21

    Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

    27 Now when the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon noticing him in the temple, began to throw all the crowd into confusion and laid hands on him, crying out,

    “Men of Israel, help!

    This is the man who teaches to everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place;

    and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”


    MORE false accusations and lies

    This latest stirring of the CROWDS in ROMAN JERUSALEM resembles earlier riots and controversies ignited against the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST which Paul and many disciples of The Way have now proclaimed throughout much of Asia and Europe.

    Paul, a Jew among jews, has abandoned an old Covenant broken by the Jews many centuries Before Christ.


    “So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.

    Deuteronomy 10:16  וּמַלְתֶּם אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם וְעָרְפְּכֶם לֹא תַקְשׁוּ עוֹד׃
    “Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh
    And remove the foreskins of your heart,

    Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

    Lest My wrath go forth like fire
    And burn with none to quench it

    Because of the evil of your deeds.”

    Jeremiah 4:4

    NEXT God-willing, we will return to the controversy unraveling in the Temple.


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  • Pentecost – a narrative of the fifty days fulfilled

    Pentecost – a narrative of the fifty days fulfilled

    And in the day of the Pentecost being fulfilled, they were all with one accord at the same place

    Acts 2:1 YLT

    50 days later: Pentecost

    Please discard your New Testament notions of Pentecost for a moment and allow me to narrate what has just taken place for the Apostles in first century Jerusalem which the witness Luke and other Christians have already seen.

    And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting..

    And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together..

    Acts 2:2,6a NASB20

    Perhaps like many, you may not be familiar with the Jewish festivals so central to Jesus’ crucifixion and Scripture more familiar to first century Jews. Festivals brought the crowds to Roman-occupied Jerusalem three times each year.

    Luke gives an account of several acts which take place on this day of Pentecost:

    1. in the upper room where the a hundred followers of JESUS have remained after our Lord’s ascension on the fortieth day after the Passover festival and
    2. outside in the crowded streets of Jerusalem and later
    3. in the even more crowded courtyards of the Temple.

    Before we join Jerusalem’s crowds on this particular day of Pentecost in the same year Jesus was crucified and resurrected, first let’s understand Pentecost by it’s varied English names.

    πεντηκοστή – Pentecost

    • Pentecost = “the fiftieth day”
      • the second of the three great Jewish feasts, celebrated at Jerusalem yearly, the seventh week after the Passover, in grateful recognition of the completed harvest
    • Shavuot, the plural of a word meaning “week” or “seven,” alludes to the fact that this festival happens exactly seven weeks (i.e. “a week of weeks”) after Passover.[14]
      • In the Bible, Shavuot is called the “Festival of Weeks” (Hebrew: חג השבועות‎, Chag HaShavuot, Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10); “Festival of Reaping” (חג הקציר, Chag HaKatzir, Exodus 23:16),[12] and “Day of the First Fruits” (יום הבכורים, Yom HaBikkurim, Numbers 28:26).[13]

    Three Biblical Festivals

    “Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast to Me.

    “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

    Exodus 23:14,17 NASB20

    Crowds in Jerusalem – Multitudes of faithful Jews

    Although Luke begins his account of this festival scene with what happened inside the upper room, he immediately takes the reader to the crowds outside to the crowded streets of Jerusalem.

    Having heard the RUSHING WIND FROM HEAVEN, like most curious observers, the multitudes of Jewish pilgrims rush to the scene of this unusual phenomenon on the day of Pentecost which begins their festival week.

    Now there were dwelling in Yerushalayim Yehudim, devout men, from every nation under the sky. When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them [various Apostles] speaking in his own language.

    Acts 2 – Hebrew Names Version: vs.5-6

    We’ll return to this crowd scene in a moment, but first let’s address the attesting signs of power first witnessed by the crowds, signs not entirely unfamiliar to Jews rooted in Scripture.

    Suddenly Echoes of a Blast of Wind from Heaven

     καὶ ἐγένετο ἄφνω ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἦχος ὥσπερ φερομένης πνοῆς βιαίας καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν ὅλον τὸν οἶκον οὗ ἦσαν καθήμενοι
    
    Do you understand this from the common Greek of Acts 2:2?
     
    Most witnesses on this Pentecost would have, but not all. 
    Soon we will understand what all heard: the Power of the Holy Spirit.
    

    Old Testament Scripture

    Consider some of Scripture familiar to first century Jews encountering the sudden sound from the sky.

    And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

    Genesis 1:2a, 2:7 KJV

    What must they have wondered about these unfolding mysteries?

    Job 37 (KJV)

    God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

    Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind and said,

    “Who is this who darkens the divine plan
    By words without knowledge?

    Job 38:1-2 NASB20

    Moses [Exodus 19]

    Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also trust in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.

    Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the entire mountain quaked violently. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him with [a voice that sounded like] thunder.

    Elijah [2 Kings 2]

    Now it came about, when the LORD was about to bring Elijah up by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah left Gilgal with Elisha.. And Elijah took his coat, folded it, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.. And as they were walking along and talking, behold, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and they separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.

    From Luke’s first account of the acts and teachings of Jesus

    What happens on this Pentecost may have amazed others, but the Apostles had known the powerful work of the Spirit before.

    Gospel of Luke 9:

    Now He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases.

    Peter and the Apostles received power though Jesus at times during the Lord’s three-year journeys with them. They also witnessed signs from heaven which Jesus forbid them to reveal at those times..

    When the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done.. But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him..

    And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

    But He [strictly admonished] warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone..

    Gospel of Luke 9:20-21 NASB20
    Jesus with Moses and Elijah

    33 And as these two men were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; and let’s make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying. But while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

    Do you understand why Peter had asked Jesus to build a temporary tabernacle of worship in three booths?

    The Apostles now speaking in Jerusalem during the festival of weeks and giving powerful signs on this Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection and ascension had witnessed all these things!

    • Strong’s H5521 – sukâ
      • סֻכָּה çukkâh, sook-kaw’; feminine of H5520; a hut or lair:—booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent.

    David before moving the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem –

    And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in temporary H5521 shelters H5521, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field.

    2 Samuel 11:11a NASB20 – H5521 = shelters or booths – סֻכָּה

    Acts 2 – Tongues of Fire in the Upper Room

    And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

    (As Luke will record shortly, this awesome phenomenon would actually happen again!)

    And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

    Acts 4:31 NASB20

    (Luke also records later: ‘And the [community or literally, multitude] congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul.. Acts 4:32a)


    And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them.

    - Acts 2:3

    WAIT! & Don’t skip past this heavenly manifestation taking place over the heads of these worshipers in an upper room in Jerusalem.

    Suppose you were one of the hundred believers present. Wouldn’t YOU have been in absolute AWE?

    And from beyond this upper room full of believers, other faithful worshipers of the LORD in Jerusalem would also witness even more acts by the Holy Spirit.

    Acts of the Holy Spirit

    And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

    Acts 2:4 kjv

    ALL must have feared these unknown acts of GOD: fear as of a Holy Ghost unseen rather than an all-to-familiar ‘holy spirit’ embraced by 21st century christians. ALMIGHTY GOD acted in Jerusalem this Pentecost!

    And from these Acts of the Holy Spirit of the Lord God and Jesus Christ, the church ignited the world with the hope of the Gospel.

    Roger@talkofJESUS.com – on Acts 2

    These hundred believers, thought by the crowds to be merely pilgrims from Galilee in Jerusalem for celebration of the week of Shavuot, AND filled with the Holy Spirit of the LORD, went out into the crowds attracted by the great heavenly wind which came upon that place.

    They began to speak in other languages of the Nations, ‘as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.’

    Many Worshipers Perplexed by Ordinary Men

    .. because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying,

    map of countries reached by Roman Empire
    Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. – Acts of the Apostles 2:5 NASB

    “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

    “And how is it that we each hear them in our own [dialect] to which we were born?

    from Acts 2:7 & 8, CSB & NASB

    9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs

    —we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.”

    Witness of men from many countries upon hearing the Apostles speak of Jesus christ on Pentecost – Acts 2:11B NASB

    Acts of Amazement and Perplexity

    They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

    Acts 2:12 CSB

    Luke uses two Greek words to describe the reactions of the multitudes to these miracles of God:

    • ἐξίστημι – existēmilit. to throw out of position, displace; amazed, astonished, astounded, beside ones self, insane
    • διαπορέω – diaporeō – to be entirely at loss, to be in perplexity

    Their continued amazement at the workings of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost certainly left ordinary men without explanation. Yet note the earlier use of these words by Luke in similar circumstances:

    “What does this mean?”

    • ἐξίστημι Strong’s G1839 – existēmi
      • And all who heard Him [Jesus at age 12 responding to teachers in the Temple] were amazed G1839 at His understanding and His answers. – Gospel of Luke 2:47
      • Her parents were amazed G1839; but He [Jesus] instructed them to tell no one what had happened. – Gospel of Luke 8:56, after Jesus had raised the daughter of a synagogue official from death.
      • “But also some women among us left G1839 us bewildered G1839. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His [Jesus’] body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.- Luke 24:22-23

    YES, AMAZING indeed, these Acts which happened on Pentecost. But look also at Luke’s previous use of perplexity.

    • διαπορέω – Strong’s G1280 – diaporeō [to be entirely at loss, to be in perplexity]
      • Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening; and he was greatly G1280 perplexed G1280, because it was said by some that John [the Baptist] had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. – Luke 9:7-8, after [v.6] the Apostles began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

    They were amazed and astonished G2296, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?”

    Acts of the Apostles 2:7 NASB20

    NEXT: Peter’s Amazing Answer

  • 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...

  • Nun

    Nun

    Nun

    PSALM 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.

    It is the signature verse of Psalm 119, the central theme of importance to the Psalmist.

    God’s word. More than words – actions of man directed by God – a way of life.

    The Proverbs advise of God’s word:

    • 1:23b  I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
    • 4:4b Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
    • 4:20b attend to my words
    • 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

    How are God’s words a lamp (as translated from the KJV)?

    In the Tabernacle of God, Moses was commanded by the LORD:

    Contributions for the Sanctuary

    The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me…

    8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst…

    16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.  17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold…

    22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel…

     

    31 “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold…

    37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.

    The seven lamps on the lampstand light the sacred Tabernacle of the Lord, the place where the High Priest meets with the LORD, the commands are given and oaths sworn on behalf of the people to obey the LORD.

    106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
    107 I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
    108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your rules.

    The KJV demonstrates more reverence for the Lord’s sanctuary and presence by the words of v.108

    Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

    109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.

    110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
    111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.

    Returning to the KJV: Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

    And use of the same Hebrew word in Exodus 25:21-22

    And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony H5715 that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, H5715 of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

    112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

    This is what it means to love the Lord your God with your whole heart.

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