Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
I don't know why I have been so reluctant to sit down and do the last Hebrews post. I've enjoyed taking a close look at this book and have loved reviewing the logical progression of the themes (I have marked the word 'therefore' 19 times in my ESV) ...and been surprised by the warnings. Yes, I knew they were there before, but, well, maybe it's a reflection of the current state of things that the warnings to pay attention, to not harbor an unbelieving heart, to not neglect these great truths and go off searching for something that isn't there all really stood out to me as I studied through this time.
Suzanne wrote her post on chapter 13 last week, and I had to grin when I read her post because so many of the same things had occurred to me. I wonder what the impetus was to finish the letter quickly so that chapter 13 becomes a list of things the author wanted to say before he had to send it off. He includes one very short little logical discussion comparing Jesus' death outside the city to the disposal of the sacrificial animals outside the city, but the rest of the chapter is a shotgun of last minute thoughts.
Let brotherly love contine
Be hospitable even to strangers
Remember those in prison (one little aside...not to say anything negative about the powerful prison ministries that are changing lives, but I really believe this is referencing those who are in prison because of their faith)
Keep marriage honorable and pure
Don't be greedy but be content with what you have
Don't be led away by strange teaching
Offer up a sacrifice of praise to God
Do good
Share what you have
Obey and submit to your leaders (and I think this is referencing those who are spiritual leaders, as they are described as 'keeping watch over your souls'); make their leadership easy and joyful
The benediction isn't a prayer for peace, favor and prosperity...it is a prayer for God to equip the readers with everything needed to do his will, that God would work through us to do what pleases Him.
Which is a pretty good prayer to pray every day...
Lord, give to me whatever I need this day to do your will, and work through me that what pleases you is the thing that gets done.
That should pretty well shoot down my inclination to procrastinate...if I mean it when I pray it... :-)
Finally, as Suzanne also stated, there's some pretty powerful evidence here that the author is Paul in his relationship with Timothy...stating that Timothy has been released (so he was imprisoned somewhere for a time also), and our friend intends to travel with Timothy in the near future. But, Paul or not, this has been a treat and I'm thankful to Suzanne for providing the push to dig into it a bit this winter.
Showing posts with label Hebrews Online. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrews Online. Show all posts
Friday, February 21, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Hebrews 12 - Running the Race
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Oy. What is it about cold weather and junk food? Here in the Rocket City we have another winter weather frenzy building...this will be about the third one this year, but we have yet to see more than a dusting of frozen precip, for all that it's been way colder than normal.
This has played havoc with my plan to eat healthy and get moving; when the weather's cold outside every instinct is to hunker down with comfort clothes and comfort food.
So that injunction that leaps off the page right at the top of Hebrews 12 brings a bit of a blush to my good intentions...
let us lay aside every weight...and run with endurance...
Ouch.
Seriously, though, Hebrews 12 is a call to get focused and stay focused; maintaining the enduring faith. And, as I read that first verse again, I suddenly saw it in a new light. I'd always considered that 'great cloud of witnesses' being the folks who had been described in the previous chapter, now, having run their races, cheering on those of us who were still running ours.
But it struck me that 'witness' may not be referring to watching us...it may be referring to the testimony of God's faithfulness that those folks now can proclaim. Suddenly, I didn't see the cloud of witnesses as folks that we are to perform for, so to speak, but folks who have shown us what God did in their lives so that we can dare to believe He would do the same in ours.
So, how do we maintain this enduring faith?
- Get rid of anything that distracts, disables, entangles, or hinders (vs 1)
- Follow the example of Jesus and focus on the joy after the trial (v.s 2)
- Endure discipline as sons (vs 3 - 11)
- Encourage and strengthen yourself and those around you; keep your relationships pure (vs. 12 - 17)
- Do not refuse to hear God as the Israelites coming out of Egypt did (vs 18 - 25)
- Be grateful for the kingdom that will not be shaken when everything else is shaking (vs.26 - 28a)
- Worship God with reverence and awe (28b - 29)
I think I'm going to set myself the challenge to read Hebrews 12 at least once a week...until I can get the discipline back and throw off some weight and move with endurance.
In more ways than one. ;-)
Check out Suzanne's breakdown of discipline .
Oy. What is it about cold weather and junk food? Here in the Rocket City we have another winter weather frenzy building...this will be about the third one this year, but we have yet to see more than a dusting of frozen precip, for all that it's been way colder than normal.
This has played havoc with my plan to eat healthy and get moving; when the weather's cold outside every instinct is to hunker down with comfort clothes and comfort food.
So that injunction that leaps off the page right at the top of Hebrews 12 brings a bit of a blush to my good intentions...
let us lay aside every weight...and run with endurance...
Ouch.
Seriously, though, Hebrews 12 is a call to get focused and stay focused; maintaining the enduring faith. And, as I read that first verse again, I suddenly saw it in a new light. I'd always considered that 'great cloud of witnesses' being the folks who had been described in the previous chapter, now, having run their races, cheering on those of us who were still running ours.
But it struck me that 'witness' may not be referring to watching us...it may be referring to the testimony of God's faithfulness that those folks now can proclaim. Suddenly, I didn't see the cloud of witnesses as folks that we are to perform for, so to speak, but folks who have shown us what God did in their lives so that we can dare to believe He would do the same in ours.
So, how do we maintain this enduring faith?
- Get rid of anything that distracts, disables, entangles, or hinders (vs 1)
- Follow the example of Jesus and focus on the joy after the trial (v.s 2)
- Endure discipline as sons (vs 3 - 11)
- Encourage and strengthen yourself and those around you; keep your relationships pure (vs. 12 - 17)
- Do not refuse to hear God as the Israelites coming out of Egypt did (vs 18 - 25)
- Be grateful for the kingdom that will not be shaken when everything else is shaking (vs.26 - 28a)
- Worship God with reverence and awe (28b - 29)
I think I'm going to set myself the challenge to read Hebrews 12 at least once a week...until I can get the discipline back and throw off some weight and move with endurance.
In more ways than one. ;-)
Check out Suzanne's breakdown of discipline .
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Hebrews 11 - By Faith...
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
This post, I get to answer some questions. Suzanne asks, 'Which act of faith speaks to you today? Why?' and, kind of corollary to that, 'What is it about Hebrews 11 that causes you to have deeper resolved faith?' (there are two other questions, but, wow, I'm not sure I'm ready to throw those answers up here...)
I have to admit that among all the acts of faith listed in Hebrews 11, one has always stood out to me as the most astonishing.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named'. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead... -- vs. 17-19
Abraham lived for the promise of God. His whole life had been structured around that promise. Isaac represented the fulfillment of that promise.
And God told Abraham to give it all up...to sacrifice the son he loved and the promise he represented.
And Abraham obeyed absolutely without hesitation, because he trusted God to make it ok.
If there is anything that challenges me in that chapter, it is that.
Do I trust God enough to release to him even the promises that I am counting on...those things that I hold dear as my hope and my future? Do I really believe that he will make it ok, even if it looks hopeless? Even if I don't understand?
Sometimes I wonder. I like being reasonably comfortable. I like being secure.
And I don't like that I have this nagging doubt in my head that if God said to me that I should give it up, sacrifice it to him...I would actually have enough faith and obedience to do it.
But I remember a story in The Hiding Place...Corrie had asked her father about some future fear she had, and he responded by asking her a question...when they were taking a trip, when did he give her the ticket she needed? Corrie responded that he always gave it to her just before they boarded the train. Her father then assured her that her heavenly father, in the same way, would give her the grace she needed to face any challege at the moment that she would need it.
So I have to remind myself of the same thing...that if there is ever a need for me to trust God to that extent, and, you know, sooner or later there will be, he will provide the grace and faith I need to walk it out.
Even if it seems far beyond my ability at this moment.
As to the second question, I have always been amazed that this list contains people who saw God's miraculous deliverance and healing right along side of those who were not delivered or healed but suffered greatly. They were all commended for their faith. Yet some were answered...and some, apparently, were not. And none of them saw the ultimate fulfillment of the ancient promise.
So...my take home message is that a 'no' answer is not a judgement on my lack of faith. It is a reflection of the purpose of God. Somehow, 'no' accomplishes his purpose... and if I get hung up on and offended by a 'no' answer, I won't go past it and see His purpose.
Because, after all, what happens here is temporary, even if we don't see it. The other side...His purpose...that's forever.
This post, I get to answer some questions. Suzanne asks, 'Which act of faith speaks to you today? Why?' and, kind of corollary to that, 'What is it about Hebrews 11 that causes you to have deeper resolved faith?' (there are two other questions, but, wow, I'm not sure I'm ready to throw those answers up here...)
I have to admit that among all the acts of faith listed in Hebrews 11, one has always stood out to me as the most astonishing.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named'. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead... -- vs. 17-19
Abraham lived for the promise of God. His whole life had been structured around that promise. Isaac represented the fulfillment of that promise.
And God told Abraham to give it all up...to sacrifice the son he loved and the promise he represented.
And Abraham obeyed absolutely without hesitation, because he trusted God to make it ok.
If there is anything that challenges me in that chapter, it is that.
Do I trust God enough to release to him even the promises that I am counting on...those things that I hold dear as my hope and my future? Do I really believe that he will make it ok, even if it looks hopeless? Even if I don't understand?
Sometimes I wonder. I like being reasonably comfortable. I like being secure.
And I don't like that I have this nagging doubt in my head that if God said to me that I should give it up, sacrifice it to him...I would actually have enough faith and obedience to do it.
But I remember a story in The Hiding Place...Corrie had asked her father about some future fear she had, and he responded by asking her a question...when they were taking a trip, when did he give her the ticket she needed? Corrie responded that he always gave it to her just before they boarded the train. Her father then assured her that her heavenly father, in the same way, would give her the grace she needed to face any challege at the moment that she would need it.
So I have to remind myself of the same thing...that if there is ever a need for me to trust God to that extent, and, you know, sooner or later there will be, he will provide the grace and faith I need to walk it out.
Even if it seems far beyond my ability at this moment.
As to the second question, I have always been amazed that this list contains people who saw God's miraculous deliverance and healing right along side of those who were not delivered or healed but suffered greatly. They were all commended for their faith. Yet some were answered...and some, apparently, were not. And none of them saw the ultimate fulfillment of the ancient promise.
So...my take home message is that a 'no' answer is not a judgement on my lack of faith. It is a reflection of the purpose of God. Somehow, 'no' accomplishes his purpose... and if I get hung up on and offended by a 'no' answer, I won't go past it and see His purpose.
Because, after all, what happens here is temporary, even if we don't see it. The other side...His purpose...that's forever.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Hebrews 10 - The New and Living Way
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
The author sums up the argument of the superiority of the covenant that is administered by Jesus with one last declaration and affirmation that that covenant is based on a superior sacrifice...the blood of Jesus, offered once, perfecting all who come to him forever:
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified - v. 14
Because, you know, once something is cleaned away, it's gone. Forgotten.
I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more - v. 17
Once sin is gone, there's no reason to keep sacrificing offerings to deal with it. It's done.
Finished.
And...guess what the next word is after this point is firmly established...
Therefore.
(That's 'Therefore' number 10 in the ESV, if I haven't missed any)
He restates the argument he's so carefully structured:
Since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God...
Since we have the superior offering, the superior covenant and the superior priest...now, the author says, we need to put that to work in our lives. To do that, we need to
Draw near to God
Hold fast to our hope
Stir one another up to good works
Put a priority on meeting together
Because...we have the power to do that! Christ has opened the way!
Interesting that at this point, the author stops once more and repeats the warning to anyone who hears and understands what it is that Christ is offering: if this truth is rejected, there's nothing else out there that can cleanse that sin away. To look at the sacrifice Jesus gave and then reject it is to cut oneself off from the grace of God and stand with the enemy and all his followers who are under the sentence of destruction.
This is a serious thing; this warning has been repeated and will be repeated. Jesus receives everyone who comes to Him, and everyone who truly comes to Him is transformed. For those who do not want to give up the comfort/pleasure/familiarity of the lifestyle they lead before learning the truth but just want to add the rituals of worship and fellowship onto their former way of life...participation without repentance...well, the author pretty bluntly states that will not bring about the salvation of God. In fact, he says it is an act of blasphemy against the very blood that was given to redeem them. It is hard. It is heavy. But it is the Word. Jesus opened up the way for us to go into the most holy places, but we cannot take our ungodliness in with us. Paul gives us a partial list of these deeds in Galatians 5: 19-21:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
My point is not to try and lay some heavy oppressive guilt trip on anyone; this is not talking about the process of maturing in Christ in which we learn not to give in to weakness but grow in grace and learn from our mistakes. This is referencing folks who attempt to add the benefits of faith to a self-promoting, self-centered lifestyle...whether that self-centeredness manifests itself as drunkenness, sexual immorality or being a gossip who stirs up trouble is not really part of the discussion. Any of those things are 'works of the flesh'...the selfish, self-promoting human nature. And only true repentance...stopping, turning around, and heading away from them...will put us into position to receive the cleansing power of Christ and the ability to enter into those holy places.
But the author then reminds his readers of how they stood under persecution when they believed, how they helped others and did not revolt even when their property was confiscated...you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
We do not shrink back and cling to an unrepentant lifestyle...but by faith...through the new and living way... we enter those holy places where that better, abiding possession lies.
Suzanne said all of that in about half the space...someday I'll learn to write succinctly.. ;-)
The author sums up the argument of the superiority of the covenant that is administered by Jesus with one last declaration and affirmation that that covenant is based on a superior sacrifice...the blood of Jesus, offered once, perfecting all who come to him forever:
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified - v. 14
Because, you know, once something is cleaned away, it's gone. Forgotten.
I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more - v. 17
Once sin is gone, there's no reason to keep sacrificing offerings to deal with it. It's done.
Finished.
And...guess what the next word is after this point is firmly established...
Therefore.
(That's 'Therefore' number 10 in the ESV, if I haven't missed any)
He restates the argument he's so carefully structured:
Since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God...
Since we have the superior offering, the superior covenant and the superior priest...now, the author says, we need to put that to work in our lives. To do that, we need to
Draw near to God
Hold fast to our hope
Stir one another up to good works
Put a priority on meeting together
Because...we have the power to do that! Christ has opened the way!
Interesting that at this point, the author stops once more and repeats the warning to anyone who hears and understands what it is that Christ is offering: if this truth is rejected, there's nothing else out there that can cleanse that sin away. To look at the sacrifice Jesus gave and then reject it is to cut oneself off from the grace of God and stand with the enemy and all his followers who are under the sentence of destruction.
This is a serious thing; this warning has been repeated and will be repeated. Jesus receives everyone who comes to Him, and everyone who truly comes to Him is transformed. For those who do not want to give up the comfort/pleasure/familiarity of the lifestyle they lead before learning the truth but just want to add the rituals of worship and fellowship onto their former way of life...participation without repentance...well, the author pretty bluntly states that will not bring about the salvation of God. In fact, he says it is an act of blasphemy against the very blood that was given to redeem them. It is hard. It is heavy. But it is the Word. Jesus opened up the way for us to go into the most holy places, but we cannot take our ungodliness in with us. Paul gives us a partial list of these deeds in Galatians 5: 19-21:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
My point is not to try and lay some heavy oppressive guilt trip on anyone; this is not talking about the process of maturing in Christ in which we learn not to give in to weakness but grow in grace and learn from our mistakes. This is referencing folks who attempt to add the benefits of faith to a self-promoting, self-centered lifestyle...whether that self-centeredness manifests itself as drunkenness, sexual immorality or being a gossip who stirs up trouble is not really part of the discussion. Any of those things are 'works of the flesh'...the selfish, self-promoting human nature. And only true repentance...stopping, turning around, and heading away from them...will put us into position to receive the cleansing power of Christ and the ability to enter into those holy places.
But the author then reminds his readers of how they stood under persecution when they believed, how they helped others and did not revolt even when their property was confiscated...you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
We do not shrink back and cling to an unrepentant lifestyle...but by faith...through the new and living way... we enter those holy places where that better, abiding possession lies.
Suzanne said all of that in about half the space...someday I'll learn to write succinctly.. ;-)
Monday, January 27, 2014
The Power of The Blood: Hebrews 9
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Well, I took a breath and checked out the answers to the Chapter 8 questions and, to my great relief, found that I was pretty much on the same page as Suzanne. ;-).
So we move on into chapter 9...after looking at the contrast between the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, now we look at the difference between the covenants each of those priesthoods mediated...the first being the shadow or forerunner of the second. The author details what happened in the administration of the first covenant in the first 10 verses, and concludes
According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper - v. 9
Do you know what the first word in the next section is?
BUT.
BUT when Christ appeared...
he entered once for all into the holy places, the greater and more perfect tent that is not made with hands and not of earthly creation,
he did not enter through the blood of animals, but through his own blood, securing eternal redemption.
if the blood of boats and bulls, and the sprinkling of the defiled person with ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God - vs. 13-14
The new covenant does what the old could not...it purifies the conscience.
I'm tempted to just type out the rest of the chapter, because it is SO GOOD, but, you know, you can read it for yourself. Note that the old, the copy, the shadow of what was to come laid the groundwork and established the truth: without blood, sin can not be cleansed.
I'm going to sit on that for just a minute. I've read any number of writers who believe that God was so angry with mankind that he required blood to appease him for the error.
But the scripture repeatedly says things like 'Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to listen than the fat of rams' (1 Samuel 15:22) and For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise. (Ps. 51: 16-17).
We're not talking about appeasing God, we're talking about washing away sin.
Because sin cannot come into the presence of a holy God. Not that God won't allow it...by its nature, it cannot exist where He is. That would be like darkness hanging out in a room full of light. It can't happen. Light banishes darkness just by virtue of their opposite natures.
So God made a way for sin to be cleansed, so that we could put on the righteousness of Christ and stand in God's presence.
And when you clean anything, you have to use the right solvent.
Back in the day before oxy-cleaners and shamwow rags, housewives had a list of stain removers, based on the stain.
A berry or fruit stain was removed by pouring boiling water on it.
A blood stain was removed by soaking in cold water.
Ink was removed...hopefully...with cheap hairspray.
And so on.
The solvent depended on the make up of the stain; and the sin stain was such that only blood could clean it.
Clean, un-sin-stained blood.
Which Jesus had, and freely offered so that people who receive it can be cleansed from the sin stain that would keep them from the presence of God.
The blood of animals could only temporarily cover sin; Jesus' blood had only to be offered once for everyone, for all time, forever.
Now the question is...what will we do with that offering? Receive it? Or reject it...and try to find something else that will work? Or deny that the work needs doing?
(Be sure you read all the way to the end of Suzanne's post that I linked above; she has a challenge for her readers that is well worth considering)
Well, I took a breath and checked out the answers to the Chapter 8 questions and, to my great relief, found that I was pretty much on the same page as Suzanne. ;-).
So we move on into chapter 9...after looking at the contrast between the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, now we look at the difference between the covenants each of those priesthoods mediated...the first being the shadow or forerunner of the second. The author details what happened in the administration of the first covenant in the first 10 verses, and concludes
According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper - v. 9
Do you know what the first word in the next section is?
BUT.
BUT when Christ appeared...
he entered once for all into the holy places, the greater and more perfect tent that is not made with hands and not of earthly creation,
he did not enter through the blood of animals, but through his own blood, securing eternal redemption.
if the blood of boats and bulls, and the sprinkling of the defiled person with ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God - vs. 13-14
The new covenant does what the old could not...it purifies the conscience.
I'm tempted to just type out the rest of the chapter, because it is SO GOOD, but, you know, you can read it for yourself. Note that the old, the copy, the shadow of what was to come laid the groundwork and established the truth: without blood, sin can not be cleansed.
I'm going to sit on that for just a minute. I've read any number of writers who believe that God was so angry with mankind that he required blood to appease him for the error.
But the scripture repeatedly says things like 'Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to listen than the fat of rams' (1 Samuel 15:22) and For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you will not despise. (Ps. 51: 16-17).
We're not talking about appeasing God, we're talking about washing away sin.
Because sin cannot come into the presence of a holy God. Not that God won't allow it...by its nature, it cannot exist where He is. That would be like darkness hanging out in a room full of light. It can't happen. Light banishes darkness just by virtue of their opposite natures.
So God made a way for sin to be cleansed, so that we could put on the righteousness of Christ and stand in God's presence.
And when you clean anything, you have to use the right solvent.
Back in the day before oxy-cleaners and shamwow rags, housewives had a list of stain removers, based on the stain.
A berry or fruit stain was removed by pouring boiling water on it.
A blood stain was removed by soaking in cold water.
Ink was removed...hopefully...with cheap hairspray.
And so on.
The solvent depended on the make up of the stain; and the sin stain was such that only blood could clean it.
Clean, un-sin-stained blood.
Which Jesus had, and freely offered so that people who receive it can be cleansed from the sin stain that would keep them from the presence of God.
The blood of animals could only temporarily cover sin; Jesus' blood had only to be offered once for everyone, for all time, forever.
Now the question is...what will we do with that offering? Receive it? Or reject it...and try to find something else that will work? Or deny that the work needs doing?
(Be sure you read all the way to the end of Suzanne's post that I linked above; she has a challenge for her readers that is well worth considering)
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Hebrews 8 and a look back...
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
For those that are joining us late, I'm participating in an online study of the book of Hebrews, which is being blogged by my former Bible Study Fellowship teaching leader, Suzanne Matthews.
I'm trying hard to catch up to Suzanne's posts; as of this moment I'm two weeks behind. ;-).
After the first chapter's study, when I read her commentary before really thoroughly considering the chapter myself, I decided I needed to follow the BSF practice of not reading outside material until after 1) answering the study questions and 2) discussing the questions in small groups and 3) listening to the teaching leader present an expository lecture on the passage and 4) reading the official BSF notes. That way, we would not be falling back on what 'the pastor' or 'this author' had to say about the passage until after we had read and studied it out for ourselves, getting our own revelation rather than just pondering someone else's.
It's a pretty good way to do a disciplined study like that.
So, I started skimming Suzanne's posts quickly to see if there were questions I needed to answer or consider as I looked at the assignment, but I didn't read her comments in depth until after I'd written up my own thoughts because I wanted to dig into it myself first. Sorta like doing the questions before hearing the lecture.
For her chapter 8 post, though, there are questions. So instead of going into details on chapter 8, which is basically a continuation of the argument presented in chapter 7 about the superiority of Christ's priesthood, quoting a passage from Jeremiah 31 as support, I'm going to do my best to answer Suzanne's questions:
1) Hebrews 8 begins with, the point of what we are saying is this
By now we should know the point of Hebrews. What would you say it is?
Jesus is the Priest, continually ministering on our behalf,of the New Covenant, which is superior in all ways to the previous covenant.
2) Why is Jesus our perfect High Priest?
He suffered as a human, but remained sinless; therefore, He did not have to offer sacrifices on His own behalf; furthermore, he did not offer animal sacrifices but instead offered up himself; the perfect priest offering the perfect sacrifice.
3) Who made the New Covenant?
The Lord Himself, as stated in the passage quoted from Jeremiah in 8:8 - 12
4) What are the differences between the old Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant?
Lots, but I'll name a few:
Mosaic Covenant atoned for sin but did not wash it away; the New Covenant has the power to cleanse us from the sin stain itself;
Mosaic Covenant was administered by priests who were selected according to man's application of the Law; the New covenant is administered by a priest who was selected by God and declared a priest by God's own sworn oath
Mosaic Covenant was a shadow, a picture of that which is to come; the New Covenant is the thing itself
Mosaic Covenant was comprised of laws written on stone tablets; the New Covenant is written by the Spirit on the very hearts of those who receive it.
The Old Covenant was men reaching for God through obedience; the New Covenant is about God reaching for Men and Men responding with faith.
And, looking ahead to Chapter 9:
5) Where were the priests' sacrifices made?
The priests made their sacrifices in the earthly tabernacle, which had been built according to the pattern shown to Moses on the Mountain of God
6) Where were Jesus' sacrifices made?
Jesus brought His sacrifice to the heavenly tabernacle, the one that was the model for the copy made on earth, the one that was set up by the Lord and not men (8:2)
At least, that's how I read the questions...this is always risky, because I may find I misread something and put a wrong answer out for all the world to see...
I'll try to do chapter 9 tomorrow...
For those that are joining us late, I'm participating in an online study of the book of Hebrews, which is being blogged by my former Bible Study Fellowship teaching leader, Suzanne Matthews.
I'm trying hard to catch up to Suzanne's posts; as of this moment I'm two weeks behind. ;-).
After the first chapter's study, when I read her commentary before really thoroughly considering the chapter myself, I decided I needed to follow the BSF practice of not reading outside material until after 1) answering the study questions and 2) discussing the questions in small groups and 3) listening to the teaching leader present an expository lecture on the passage and 4) reading the official BSF notes. That way, we would not be falling back on what 'the pastor' or 'this author' had to say about the passage until after we had read and studied it out for ourselves, getting our own revelation rather than just pondering someone else's.
It's a pretty good way to do a disciplined study like that.
So, I started skimming Suzanne's posts quickly to see if there were questions I needed to answer or consider as I looked at the assignment, but I didn't read her comments in depth until after I'd written up my own thoughts because I wanted to dig into it myself first. Sorta like doing the questions before hearing the lecture.
For her chapter 8 post, though, there are questions. So instead of going into details on chapter 8, which is basically a continuation of the argument presented in chapter 7 about the superiority of Christ's priesthood, quoting a passage from Jeremiah 31 as support, I'm going to do my best to answer Suzanne's questions:
1) Hebrews 8 begins with, the point of what we are saying is this
By now we should know the point of Hebrews. What would you say it is?
Jesus is the Priest, continually ministering on our behalf,of the New Covenant, which is superior in all ways to the previous covenant.
2) Why is Jesus our perfect High Priest?
He suffered as a human, but remained sinless; therefore, He did not have to offer sacrifices on His own behalf; furthermore, he did not offer animal sacrifices but instead offered up himself; the perfect priest offering the perfect sacrifice.
3) Who made the New Covenant?
The Lord Himself, as stated in the passage quoted from Jeremiah in 8:8 - 12
4) What are the differences between the old Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant?
Lots, but I'll name a few:
Mosaic Covenant atoned for sin but did not wash it away; the New Covenant has the power to cleanse us from the sin stain itself;
Mosaic Covenant was administered by priests who were selected according to man's application of the Law; the New covenant is administered by a priest who was selected by God and declared a priest by God's own sworn oath
Mosaic Covenant was a shadow, a picture of that which is to come; the New Covenant is the thing itself
Mosaic Covenant was comprised of laws written on stone tablets; the New Covenant is written by the Spirit on the very hearts of those who receive it.
The Old Covenant was men reaching for God through obedience; the New Covenant is about God reaching for Men and Men responding with faith.
And, looking ahead to Chapter 9:
5) Where were the priests' sacrifices made?
The priests made their sacrifices in the earthly tabernacle, which had been built according to the pattern shown to Moses on the Mountain of God
6) Where were Jesus' sacrifices made?
Jesus brought His sacrifice to the heavenly tabernacle, the one that was the model for the copy made on earth, the one that was set up by the Lord and not men (8:2)
At least, that's how I read the questions...this is always risky, because I may find I misread something and put a wrong answer out for all the world to see...
I'll try to do chapter 9 tomorrow...
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Hebrews 7 - The Significance of Melchizedek
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
(See Suzanne's post on Hebrews 7)
Oh, the beauty of a logical argument! That little part of me that loves to see precept built upon precept just wants to stand on a chair and applaud the logic in Hebrews 7.
For, after declaring for the second time that Jesus is a high priest of the order of Melchizedek, the author now sets about to explain just exactly what that means.
First, he tells us a bit about Melchizedek...
He emphasizes that Abraham recognized the holiness of Melchizedek and gave him a tithe of everything. That's important for a point he's going to make later.
He points out that 'Melchizedek' means 'King of Righteousness' and that 'King of Salem' translates to 'King of Peace'...both titles for Jesus.
We have no record of Melchizedek's parents or burial...no beginning and no end.
A picture of the Priesthood of Jesus...no beginning and no end.
Now the author launches into the meat of his argument...that the Priesthood of Melchizedek is superior in every way to the Levitical priesthood, with the corollary that the covenant that is administered by the priesthood of Melchizedek is therefore superior in every way to the covenant administered by the Levitical priesthood, as Melchizedek preceded Levi, and Levi, in the person of his ancestor Abraham, paid tribute to and was blessed by Melchizedek, as a subject pays tribute to an overlord.
The Levites, the author points out, had to offer sacrifices continually for both themselves and the people. Jesus, our High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, had no need to offer sacrifice for himself but offered himself as the one and only, complete and final sacrifice on behalf of the people and now lives forever to intercede on our behalf.
Finally, after quoting from Ps. 110 to establish that God had sworn with an oath that the Son would be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, he states
For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. - 7:28
A better hope (v. 18); a better covenant (v.22), permanent (v. 25).
Let me leave you with the glorious declaration of 7:25, as it is rendered in the Amplified...
Therefore, He is able also to save to the uttermost -- completely, perfectly, finally and for all time and eternity -- those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.
That's My King!
(See Suzanne's post on Hebrews 7)
Oh, the beauty of a logical argument! That little part of me that loves to see precept built upon precept just wants to stand on a chair and applaud the logic in Hebrews 7.
For, after declaring for the second time that Jesus is a high priest of the order of Melchizedek, the author now sets about to explain just exactly what that means.
First, he tells us a bit about Melchizedek...
He emphasizes that Abraham recognized the holiness of Melchizedek and gave him a tithe of everything. That's important for a point he's going to make later.
He points out that 'Melchizedek' means 'King of Righteousness' and that 'King of Salem' translates to 'King of Peace'...both titles for Jesus.
We have no record of Melchizedek's parents or burial...no beginning and no end.
A picture of the Priesthood of Jesus...no beginning and no end.
Now the author launches into the meat of his argument...that the Priesthood of Melchizedek is superior in every way to the Levitical priesthood, with the corollary that the covenant that is administered by the priesthood of Melchizedek is therefore superior in every way to the covenant administered by the Levitical priesthood, as Melchizedek preceded Levi, and Levi, in the person of his ancestor Abraham, paid tribute to and was blessed by Melchizedek, as a subject pays tribute to an overlord.
The Levites, the author points out, had to offer sacrifices continually for both themselves and the people. Jesus, our High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, had no need to offer sacrifice for himself but offered himself as the one and only, complete and final sacrifice on behalf of the people and now lives forever to intercede on our behalf.
Finally, after quoting from Ps. 110 to establish that God had sworn with an oath that the Son would be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, he states
For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. - 7:28
A better hope (v. 18); a better covenant (v.22), permanent (v. 25).
Let me leave you with the glorious declaration of 7:25, as it is rendered in the Amplified...
Therefore, He is able also to save to the uttermost -- completely, perfectly, finally and for all time and eternity -- those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.
That's My King!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Hebrews Chapter 6...The Heart of the Matter
posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi.
I will be straight up honest with you. Hebrews chapter six contains one of the most difficult passages to process in the New Testament. There are some pretty awesome promises at the end of the chapter, but there is a gorilla in the living room that we must address first.
Of course, I'm talking about verses 4 - 6:
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted in the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Suzanne's discussion of Chapter 6 lists four possible interpretations of that passage, and I would star the same one.
Let me explain why...
The author of Hebrews actually gave a clue to this argument back in chapter 2, verse 3:
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
And another in 3:12:
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Note that the author is addressing BROTHERS, that is, folks who are active in the body of believers, clearly indicating that it is possible to be among those who believe and yet not be a true believer; having an evil, unbelieving heart...and the end of harboring an evil, unbelieving heart is to fall away, to reject what one has seemed to embrace.
Two verses in Psalms both state The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."...and I wrote a post about a year ago pointing out the difference between saying with one's mouth and saying in one's heart.
And, if one really and truly renounces faith in God after experiencing the fellowship of those who believe, after attending Bible studies and being an eye witness of God's work in those around him...what is left for him? Where will he go to find forgiveness and redemption? Having rejected the sacrifice of the Son of God Himself, what hope has this person of ever finding a superior truth or more sure way?
There is none.
And the Bible is clear that there is a point of no return, a place of such hardened rebellion that God's Spirit will withdraw and allow the person to continue on the chosen path. As C.S. Lewis said, 'All who chose death receive it.'
But neither you nor I can identify that point in another's life. So long as a single spark of desire for God exists in a heart, that heart has not fully rejected God. In fact, the author of Hebrews goes on to state
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things -- things that belong to salvation.
Then he concludes his discussion by extolling God's promise to us as unbreakable, sure and steadfast, based not on our own works but on God's oath and promise and the action of Jesus.
A wicked, unbelieving heart will cause one to fall away; a heart full of faith and patience will inherit God's promise. It all comes down to what's in the heart.
I will be straight up honest with you. Hebrews chapter six contains one of the most difficult passages to process in the New Testament. There are some pretty awesome promises at the end of the chapter, but there is a gorilla in the living room that we must address first.
Of course, I'm talking about verses 4 - 6:
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted in the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Suzanne's discussion of Chapter 6 lists four possible interpretations of that passage, and I would star the same one.
Let me explain why...
The author of Hebrews actually gave a clue to this argument back in chapter 2, verse 3:
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?
And another in 3:12:
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Note that the author is addressing BROTHERS, that is, folks who are active in the body of believers, clearly indicating that it is possible to be among those who believe and yet not be a true believer; having an evil, unbelieving heart...and the end of harboring an evil, unbelieving heart is to fall away, to reject what one has seemed to embrace.
Two verses in Psalms both state The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."...and I wrote a post about a year ago pointing out the difference between saying with one's mouth and saying in one's heart.
And, if one really and truly renounces faith in God after experiencing the fellowship of those who believe, after attending Bible studies and being an eye witness of God's work in those around him...what is left for him? Where will he go to find forgiveness and redemption? Having rejected the sacrifice of the Son of God Himself, what hope has this person of ever finding a superior truth or more sure way?
There is none.
And the Bible is clear that there is a point of no return, a place of such hardened rebellion that God's Spirit will withdraw and allow the person to continue on the chosen path. As C.S. Lewis said, 'All who chose death receive it.'
But neither you nor I can identify that point in another's life. So long as a single spark of desire for God exists in a heart, that heart has not fully rejected God. In fact, the author of Hebrews goes on to state
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things -- things that belong to salvation.
Then he concludes his discussion by extolling God's promise to us as unbreakable, sure and steadfast, based not on our own works but on God's oath and promise and the action of Jesus.
A wicked, unbelieving heart will cause one to fall away; a heart full of faith and patience will inherit God's promise. It all comes down to what's in the heart.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Hebrews 5 - Ouch
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
I'm a whole lotta behind on the Hebrews Study, but since Suzanne kinda took a break for the holidays I'm not as far behind as I thought..#goodthing...
When we last parted with the study, we had just covered Hebrews 4, and our homework was to read chapter 5 in the New Living Translation. Suzanne very kindly provided a link to Bible Gateway Hebrews 5 NLT for those of us who don't have that translation on the shelf yet. I don't, so I clicked my way over and read it...and one phrase pretty much stopped me cold. It's verse 11, coming right after the glorious description of Jesus as the highest of high priests, perfectly qualified, absolutely authorized, interceding on our behalf.
It's as if the author suddenly remembered who he was talking to.
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.
Spiritually dull and don't seem to listen.
As someone who is involved in a job where training other folks is part and parcel of what I do, I get this.
I have spent hours documenting, step by step, with screenshots and explanatory text boxes with little arrows pointing to specific buttons to click, the process that we have used, reproduced the documentation and passed it around to everyone who needed it, only to find months later that nothing had been done as prescribed because, basically, no one wanted to take the time to read the manuals and follow the step-by-step.
I've just watched as that very thing happened to a colleague recently. 'I don't understand,' she lamented, 'I gave her all the step by step documentation that I made for that process. Why didn't she do it that way?'
Insert emoticon of head banging against wall.
If someone has already made up their mind as to how something should happen, you can wave the little screenshots with the arrows and textboxes all you want, but it isn't going to make a bit of difference. Their mind is made up. They know what they're going to do. And it doesn't involve paying the least attention to the instructions.
They're going to do what makes sense to them. Not what is efficient, or according to procedures or even right.
How could it not be right if it's what makes sense?
The complaint of a generation, right there.
Dull and not listening.
I get the author's frustration. There is so much he wants to share, so many great truths to explore, but he can't do any of it because his audience is dull and not listening. They've already made their minds up about so much of what God has to offer that they can't even hear what is really available to them.
...you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word... (verse 12)
I'm right here with everyone else. How often to I fall back on 'what makes sense' instead of what is plainly presented to me as instruction? How many times have I circled 'round back to the beginning, to start learning the same lesson over again, because I just didn't want to give up what makes me comfortable to venture into the new, the better, the stretching and growing zone of being sharpened into something no longer dull; to pay attention and heed instead of singing 'Lalalalalalala' so that I can pretend I'm not responsible for what I didn't hear?
Time to grow up.
If you want to go back in time to November (yeah, that's how far behind I am), Suzanne's challenging post on chapter 5 is here
I'm a whole lotta behind on the Hebrews Study, but since Suzanne kinda took a break for the holidays I'm not as far behind as I thought..#goodthing...
When we last parted with the study, we had just covered Hebrews 4, and our homework was to read chapter 5 in the New Living Translation. Suzanne very kindly provided a link to Bible Gateway Hebrews 5 NLT for those of us who don't have that translation on the shelf yet. I don't, so I clicked my way over and read it...and one phrase pretty much stopped me cold. It's verse 11, coming right after the glorious description of Jesus as the highest of high priests, perfectly qualified, absolutely authorized, interceding on our behalf.
It's as if the author suddenly remembered who he was talking to.
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.
Spiritually dull and don't seem to listen.
As someone who is involved in a job where training other folks is part and parcel of what I do, I get this.
I have spent hours documenting, step by step, with screenshots and explanatory text boxes with little arrows pointing to specific buttons to click, the process that we have used, reproduced the documentation and passed it around to everyone who needed it, only to find months later that nothing had been done as prescribed because, basically, no one wanted to take the time to read the manuals and follow the step-by-step.
I've just watched as that very thing happened to a colleague recently. 'I don't understand,' she lamented, 'I gave her all the step by step documentation that I made for that process. Why didn't she do it that way?'
Insert emoticon of head banging against wall.
If someone has already made up their mind as to how something should happen, you can wave the little screenshots with the arrows and textboxes all you want, but it isn't going to make a bit of difference. Their mind is made up. They know what they're going to do. And it doesn't involve paying the least attention to the instructions.
They're going to do what makes sense to them. Not what is efficient, or according to procedures or even right.
How could it not be right if it's what makes sense?
The complaint of a generation, right there.
Dull and not listening.
I get the author's frustration. There is so much he wants to share, so many great truths to explore, but he can't do any of it because his audience is dull and not listening. They've already made their minds up about so much of what God has to offer that they can't even hear what is really available to them.
...you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word... (verse 12)
I'm right here with everyone else. How often to I fall back on 'what makes sense' instead of what is plainly presented to me as instruction? How many times have I circled 'round back to the beginning, to start learning the same lesson over again, because I just didn't want to give up what makes me comfortable to venture into the new, the better, the stretching and growing zone of being sharpened into something no longer dull; to pay attention and heed instead of singing 'Lalalalalalala' so that I can pretend I'm not responsible for what I didn't hear?
Time to grow up.
If you want to go back in time to November (yeah, that's how far behind I am), Suzanne's challenging post on chapter 5 is here
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Hebrews: Chapter 4:14 - 16 - The introduction to our High Priest
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Interesting side note: I did find my ESV Bible (I'd left it in my office), so I have been using that as my primary text for this study. And, as I've been reading, I have noticed how many times the word 'therefore' appears (as of 4:13, I have counted 8 'therefores', not including those that are part of an Old Testament quote).
But the passage that was assigned for this week, Heb 4: 14 - 16, in the ESV, begins 'Since then...'
And the discussion for these verses begins with a look at the word 'therefore', which is how verse 14 starts in the NIV.
So I'm not sure there's much point in counting the 'therefores', since it varies from translation to translation. But the use of connecting words such as 'therefore' and 'since then' indicates the logical structure of Hebrews, the building of one concept upon another.
And these three little verses are just such connectors, connecting the argument for the superiority of Jesus to his superior priesthood.
We actually looked at the temptation of Christ in our Friends Club lesson last night, comparing the temptation He endured in the desert to the temptations that face us on a daily basis. It was one of those classes where the teacher (i.e., me) just didn't feel like the essence of the scripture was adequately communicated; a typical junior-highish night, so I was a bit amazed to see this discussed today.
My concept of that passage has been based on Matthew's account...which states that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for the purpose of being tempted. I've supposed that he was in the wilderness all that time, waiting on the devil to come to him and try to deflect him from his purpose...and that the devil waited forty days, until Jesus was exceedingly weak and weary from hunger and near hydration (I think he found at least some water, but that's another post), and THEN the enemy came at him with his enticements.
But, because we looking at Luke's account last night, today I happened to re-read that and I noticed something a little differently than I had ever noticed before; the first two verses of Luke 4 tell us that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted by the devil. The verb tense here suggests that my suppositions are wrong. It almost reads as if the enemy was tempting him the whole time; we just see the biggest guns that he saved for the last, when Jesus was at his weakest.
That would make sense. Not that the enemy hit him hard, but that he hit him consistently, with annoying and distracting petty temptations with the intention of keeping him from his communion with the Father. Then, when Jesus was worn in body AND mind AND spirit...THEN the enemy pulled out those temptations to satisfy his physical appetite and achieve the honor and the wealth without enduring the suffering that following the Father's will would cost him.
But...Jesus did not even try to fight the devil with his own strength. He just applied the scripture...common, ordinary, well-known scripture to the situation at hand. I almost wonder if he were using the scripture to strengthen his own resolve not to give in. Luke records the temptations in a different order than Matthew, and Matthew includes Jesus' dismissal of Satan, but the two accounts both show that Jesus never called on any supernatural power to defeat the enemy...Scripture, applied to a specific situation, was enough to keep the enemy at bay.
Our Superior High Priest, having been weakened as a human, withstood the enemy as a human, using the same weapon that is available to the rest of us: the sword of the Spirit. He knows what it is like to be tempted, and he knows how to use The Sword to avoid temptation's trap.
And, as this little passage in Hebrews reminds us, he is available to us to help us do the same.
Interesting side note: I did find my ESV Bible (I'd left it in my office), so I have been using that as my primary text for this study. And, as I've been reading, I have noticed how many times the word 'therefore' appears (as of 4:13, I have counted 8 'therefores', not including those that are part of an Old Testament quote).
But the passage that was assigned for this week, Heb 4: 14 - 16, in the ESV, begins 'Since then...'
And the discussion for these verses begins with a look at the word 'therefore', which is how verse 14 starts in the NIV.
So I'm not sure there's much point in counting the 'therefores', since it varies from translation to translation. But the use of connecting words such as 'therefore' and 'since then' indicates the logical structure of Hebrews, the building of one concept upon another.
And these three little verses are just such connectors, connecting the argument for the superiority of Jesus to his superior priesthood.
We actually looked at the temptation of Christ in our Friends Club lesson last night, comparing the temptation He endured in the desert to the temptations that face us on a daily basis. It was one of those classes where the teacher (i.e., me) just didn't feel like the essence of the scripture was adequately communicated; a typical junior-highish night, so I was a bit amazed to see this discussed today.
My concept of that passage has been based on Matthew's account...which states that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for the purpose of being tempted. I've supposed that he was in the wilderness all that time, waiting on the devil to come to him and try to deflect him from his purpose...and that the devil waited forty days, until Jesus was exceedingly weak and weary from hunger and near hydration (I think he found at least some water, but that's another post), and THEN the enemy came at him with his enticements.
But, because we looking at Luke's account last night, today I happened to re-read that and I noticed something a little differently than I had ever noticed before; the first two verses of Luke 4 tell us that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted by the devil. The verb tense here suggests that my suppositions are wrong. It almost reads as if the enemy was tempting him the whole time; we just see the biggest guns that he saved for the last, when Jesus was at his weakest.
That would make sense. Not that the enemy hit him hard, but that he hit him consistently, with annoying and distracting petty temptations with the intention of keeping him from his communion with the Father. Then, when Jesus was worn in body AND mind AND spirit...THEN the enemy pulled out those temptations to satisfy his physical appetite and achieve the honor and the wealth without enduring the suffering that following the Father's will would cost him.
But...Jesus did not even try to fight the devil with his own strength. He just applied the scripture...common, ordinary, well-known scripture to the situation at hand. I almost wonder if he were using the scripture to strengthen his own resolve not to give in. Luke records the temptations in a different order than Matthew, and Matthew includes Jesus' dismissal of Satan, but the two accounts both show that Jesus never called on any supernatural power to defeat the enemy...Scripture, applied to a specific situation, was enough to keep the enemy at bay.
Our Superior High Priest, having been weakened as a human, withstood the enemy as a human, using the same weapon that is available to the rest of us: the sword of the Spirit. He knows what it is like to be tempted, and he knows how to use The Sword to avoid temptation's trap.
And, as this little passage in Hebrews reminds us, he is available to us to help us do the same.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Hebrews: Chapter 4 on REST
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
To catch up...the assignment for today was to read chapter 4, vs. 1 - 13, and ponder REST.
I have been here before; it was one of the topics I considered during the Jubilee Year, and one truth I discovered early on was that 'real rest is a discipline'.
And what struck me as I read through today's verses was the author's repeated warnings that we, like the ancient Israelites, can hear the good news of God's promises and still not receive them.
From last week, we see that they failed to enter God's rest because of unbelief (3:19)
Today's passage shows that they did not benefit from the message because they did not unite it w/faith (4:2) and they failed to enter God's rest because of disobedience (4:6)
The ancients who fell in the desert did so because they did not believe God would give them victory against intimidating foes, they did not listen to those who declared that God was able, and they refused to act on God's direct instructions.
We are warned 'if you hear the message, do not harden your hearts.' (4:7)
In verse 10, we read that whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works.
God's rest means that I believe, have faith, and obey.
But that ain't easy.
Notice the author says that we must strive to enter that rest (v. 11). We have to purposely choose to trust God, when situations say He doesn't make sense. We have to believe what He tells us, even if everything around us appears to be contrary. We have to do what He says, especially when he tells us to do something that is beyond our ability.
Because He takes it at that point and does for us that which could not have been done otherwise. And we rest from our own efforts and work.
Yes, real rest is a discipline...of belief, faith and obedience.
To catch up...the assignment for today was to read chapter 4, vs. 1 - 13, and ponder REST.
I have been here before; it was one of the topics I considered during the Jubilee Year, and one truth I discovered early on was that 'real rest is a discipline'.
And what struck me as I read through today's verses was the author's repeated warnings that we, like the ancient Israelites, can hear the good news of God's promises and still not receive them.
From last week, we see that they failed to enter God's rest because of unbelief (3:19)
Today's passage shows that they did not benefit from the message because they did not unite it w/faith (4:2) and they failed to enter God's rest because of disobedience (4:6)
The ancients who fell in the desert did so because they did not believe God would give them victory against intimidating foes, they did not listen to those who declared that God was able, and they refused to act on God's direct instructions.
We are warned 'if you hear the message, do not harden your hearts.' (4:7)
In verse 10, we read that whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works.
God's rest means that I believe, have faith, and obey.
But that ain't easy.
Notice the author says that we must strive to enter that rest (v. 11). We have to purposely choose to trust God, when situations say He doesn't make sense. We have to believe what He tells us, even if everything around us appears to be contrary. We have to do what He says, especially when he tells us to do something that is beyond our ability.
Because He takes it at that point and does for us that which could not have been done otherwise. And we rest from our own efforts and work.
Yes, real rest is a discipline...of belief, faith and obedience.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Hebrews Chapter 3 Discussion
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
As I read through (late, overdue, but still...) the Hebrews 3 assignment, a kind of broken sentence formed itself:
Therefore...consider Jesus...who was worthy of more glory than Moses...and take care we do not harden our hearts as those led by Moses and were unable to enter God's rest...
Another place in scripture where the chapter breaks not only a section but a thought. The first word in chapter 3 is 'Therefore'.
Which, of course, means that one must carefully consider what comes after that word in light of what went before it.
In this case, the previous chapter ended with a discussion of how Jesus had become like us in order to help us.
And, therefore, we are to consider Him...look at Him, ponder Him, see how He walked out His destiny.
Consider Christ, in comparison to the lawgiver Moses: Moses was the House; Christ the Builder. Moses was the Servant; Christ the Heir.
We are His, so we are to be careful that we do not fall into the same traps that those who followed Moses fell into.
The traps are all summed up in one: an evil, unbelieving heart.
One that accuses instead of confesses. One that provokes instead of petitions. One that rebels instead of reverences.
The followers of Moses who did those things fell in the desert and never saw the culmination of their dreams and journeys. They never saw God's rest.
If that evil, unbelieving heart is the block to God's rest, then one who follows the instruction to be on guard against that would have easy access to the rest of God.
A heart that believes and seeks God's good is a heart that has the ability to rest.
Because a heart at rest is a heart that has truly learned to trust God in all things.
As I read through (late, overdue, but still...) the Hebrews 3 assignment, a kind of broken sentence formed itself:
Therefore...consider Jesus...who was worthy of more glory than Moses...and take care we do not harden our hearts as those led by Moses and were unable to enter God's rest...
Another place in scripture where the chapter breaks not only a section but a thought. The first word in chapter 3 is 'Therefore'.
Which, of course, means that one must carefully consider what comes after that word in light of what went before it.
In this case, the previous chapter ended with a discussion of how Jesus had become like us in order to help us.
And, therefore, we are to consider Him...look at Him, ponder Him, see how He walked out His destiny.
Consider Christ, in comparison to the lawgiver Moses: Moses was the House; Christ the Builder. Moses was the Servant; Christ the Heir.
We are His, so we are to be careful that we do not fall into the same traps that those who followed Moses fell into.
The traps are all summed up in one: an evil, unbelieving heart.
One that accuses instead of confesses. One that provokes instead of petitions. One that rebels instead of reverences.
The followers of Moses who did those things fell in the desert and never saw the culmination of their dreams and journeys. They never saw God's rest.
If that evil, unbelieving heart is the block to God's rest, then one who follows the instruction to be on guard against that would have easy access to the rest of God.
A heart that believes and seeks God's good is a heart that has the ability to rest.
Because a heart at rest is a heart that has truly learned to trust God in all things.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Hebrews, Chapter 2 Discussion
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Aiieeee....in the craziness that has been October, somehow I missed the post on Hebrews 2 on the 16th. And the chapter 3 post was up last week...I did see that one, but didn't have time to comment, since I was in full out sleepover prep. So...I'll hit chapter 2 today and try to get chapter 3 in on Wednesday, just in time for chapter 4...
The theme Suzanne found in chapter 2 is 'He is able'. The phrase that hit me as I read through it was 'Great Salvation', from 2:3-4:
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. ( ESV)
Look at that salvation...it was
1) Declared by the Lord
2) Attested by eyewitnesses
3) validated by signs, wonders and gifts of the Spirit.
As we read on, we find more details about this salvation...
- by God's grace, Christ tasted death for everyone (vs.9)
- he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all brothers (v. 11)
- through death, he destroyed the one who has the power of death (v. 14) and delivered all those who were slaves because of the fear of death (v. 15)
- He is able to help those who are tempted (v. 18)
The Great Salvation is not just a ticket punch for the ride to heaven, it is an ongoing, growing, reciprocal relationship.
And it is not surpassed by anything. Not to jump ahead, but here is the groundwork laid for a later argument. The author is already trying to get the reader to consider...if I neglect this relationship, overlook this truth, reject this opportunity for redemption...what is left? What will replace it? What will do its work?
If one goes in search of a superior way...how can that person escape?
Aiieeee....in the craziness that has been October, somehow I missed the post on Hebrews 2 on the 16th. And the chapter 3 post was up last week...I did see that one, but didn't have time to comment, since I was in full out sleepover prep. So...I'll hit chapter 2 today and try to get chapter 3 in on Wednesday, just in time for chapter 4...
The theme Suzanne found in chapter 2 is 'He is able'. The phrase that hit me as I read through it was 'Great Salvation', from 2:3-4:
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. ( ESV)
Look at that salvation...it was
1) Declared by the Lord
2) Attested by eyewitnesses
3) validated by signs, wonders and gifts of the Spirit.
As we read on, we find more details about this salvation...
- by God's grace, Christ tasted death for everyone (vs.9)
- he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all brothers (v. 11)
- through death, he destroyed the one who has the power of death (v. 14) and delivered all those who were slaves because of the fear of death (v. 15)
- He is able to help those who are tempted (v. 18)
The Great Salvation is not just a ticket punch for the ride to heaven, it is an ongoing, growing, reciprocal relationship.
And it is not surpassed by anything. Not to jump ahead, but here is the groundwork laid for a later argument. The author is already trying to get the reader to consider...if I neglect this relationship, overlook this truth, reject this opportunity for redemption...what is left? What will replace it? What will do its work?
If one goes in search of a superior way...how can that person escape?
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Hebrews, Chapter 1 discussion
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Suzanne has posted the first installment of the online study of Hebrews; just looking at how she dug into that first chapter is an education in Bible study in and of itself.
I read chapter one last week, marveled at the author's use of OT scriptures, reveled in the amazingness of Jesus, and waited to see what she'd say.
She listed all the names and titles given to Jesus in that chapter...which made me go back and look at it again and pay real attention to what each one of those names and titles were, instead of just being dazzled by the whole list.
Then Suzanne contrasted them with what other major religions say about Jesus.
It's pretty eye opening to see the discussion laid out like that.
But here's one thing she said:
In our society today we see an eagerness to assimilate facets from all religions into one modge-podge belief system.
I read that and thought, 'That is the TRUTH!'
And then I thought about the kingdom of Judah before they were defeated and carried away into captivity.
That is exactly what they did.
They tried to maintain the worship of God, even while they participated in the pagan belief systems around them; trying to stay in God's favor by going through the motions of worship in the temple while they also did all they could to appease the idols of their unbelieving neighbors. A 'modge-podge' indeed.
And we all know how that turned out.
All the more reason for us to make sure of our faith...where it is placed, and how we exercise it...to not let any of the opinions of people affect how we relate to the One who is
God's Son
Heir to all things
Creator of the World
The Radiance of God's Glory
The Exact Imprint of God's Nature
The Upholder of the Universe
Superior to Angels
Inheritor of the Most Excellent Name
God whose throne lasts forever
Whose scepter is the scepter of uprightness
Layer of the foundations of the earth
One who stays the same, whose years have no end
Wow.
On to chapter two...
Suzanne has posted the first installment of the online study of Hebrews; just looking at how she dug into that first chapter is an education in Bible study in and of itself.
I read chapter one last week, marveled at the author's use of OT scriptures, reveled in the amazingness of Jesus, and waited to see what she'd say.
She listed all the names and titles given to Jesus in that chapter...which made me go back and look at it again and pay real attention to what each one of those names and titles were, instead of just being dazzled by the whole list.
Then Suzanne contrasted them with what other major religions say about Jesus.
It's pretty eye opening to see the discussion laid out like that.
But here's one thing she said:
In our society today we see an eagerness to assimilate facets from all religions into one modge-podge belief system.
I read that and thought, 'That is the TRUTH!'
And then I thought about the kingdom of Judah before they were defeated and carried away into captivity.
That is exactly what they did.
They tried to maintain the worship of God, even while they participated in the pagan belief systems around them; trying to stay in God's favor by going through the motions of worship in the temple while they also did all they could to appease the idols of their unbelieving neighbors. A 'modge-podge' indeed.
And we all know how that turned out.
All the more reason for us to make sure of our faith...where it is placed, and how we exercise it...to not let any of the opinions of people affect how we relate to the One who is
God's Son
Heir to all things
Creator of the World
The Radiance of God's Glory
The Exact Imprint of God's Nature
The Upholder of the Universe
Superior to Angels
Inheritor of the Most Excellent Name
God whose throne lasts forever
Whose scepter is the scepter of uprightness
Layer of the foundations of the earth
One who stays the same, whose years have no end
Wow.
On to chapter two...
Thursday, September 19, 2013
I'm In - Hebrews Online Study
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
I'm finding that all my mental creativity is getting poured out at work; trying to figure out ways to make the new software do what we need it to do while I simultaneously teach the procedures to folks who also need to know how to use it.
I really, really enjoy work like this; I just wish I had time to work through the processes before I had to go live with them. Fortunately I figured out a way to give myself mulligans...i.e, that didn't work, so label it a false start and try again.
But, what all that means is that the blog is languishing for lack of creative energy. The Siesta Scripture Memory Team has given me some blog material when I haven't had time to develop my own thoughts, and I've been working on memorizing the verses, even if I don't make it to the conference event.
Then, today I found another source for discussion. I did all seven years of Bible Study Fellowship some time ago (there may be more than 7 now; I've heard rumors of new studies), and for six of those seven years my teaching leader was Suzanne Matthews. Suzanne has a real desire to dig deep and a real gift of communication.
Not too long ago, I discovered Suzanne's Blog (Coffee, Tea & Thee, on the sidebar). Now she has announced that she's going to do an online study of the book of Hebrews, and I decided to join in.
She put up the first post in the study today, listing six reasons to study Hebrews, then asked her readers 1) which of those six reasons tugs at the heart and 2) why would each individual personally need to study Hebrews.
And she assigned us to read Chapter 1.
So, true to the 'I really need to post something now and again' mode in which I seem to be operating for at least a little while more, I'm going to participate. And you, my faithful friends and family (Hi, Mom and Aunt Linda!) are invited to come along. You can click through and leave comments on Suzanne's blog, or, if you've got your own bloggy space, write it up over there and leave a link.
Anyway, that's a lot of introduction. I first decided to use my ESV edition, since I wanted to get the fresh perspective of unfamiliar wording, but I could. NOT. find. it. And I had it just a couple of days ago; I've no clue where I put it. Not in any of the usual places.
I sighed and pulled out the NIV. But, since this Bible is less than a year old, it's not marked up yet. So I will have a bit of a new perspective after all...
So. Question One.
Of the six reasons Suzanne listed, the one that stood out the most to me was reason number 5:
Hebrews has always intrigued me because the author so plainly links Jesus to the Old Testament. Which would be necessary, of course, if he (she? ;-) ) were writing to a predominately Jewish audience. So I will enjoy exploring that.
But I need to study Hebrews (Question 2) because I need to be reminded of everything Christ is, and therefore who I am in Christ. The year the BSF class did 'Acts of the Apostles' (which included a look at a number of the epistles those apostles wrote, including Hebrews), my 'Wow!' revelation for the year came from Hebrews.
I'm sure I'll mention it when we get there. ;-)
Chapter one is an amazing logical argument for the superiority of Christ, based on Old Testament scripture.
It has really only been fairly recently that it struck me that every OT verse cited in the NT was written from memory. The only copies of those priceless scriptures were in the synagogues, not in the libraries of the common folks. Not counting the ESV that I seem to have mislaid, I could grab about 6 different translations from various bookshelves about the house. If I want to quote a verse, I can pull out the book itself and look it up by chapter and verse.
The NT authors had nothing more than their memory. Which makes me want to work a little harder on those SSMT verses...
I'm finding that all my mental creativity is getting poured out at work; trying to figure out ways to make the new software do what we need it to do while I simultaneously teach the procedures to folks who also need to know how to use it.
I really, really enjoy work like this; I just wish I had time to work through the processes before I had to go live with them. Fortunately I figured out a way to give myself mulligans...i.e, that didn't work, so label it a false start and try again.
But, what all that means is that the blog is languishing for lack of creative energy. The Siesta Scripture Memory Team has given me some blog material when I haven't had time to develop my own thoughts, and I've been working on memorizing the verses, even if I don't make it to the conference event.
Then, today I found another source for discussion. I did all seven years of Bible Study Fellowship some time ago (there may be more than 7 now; I've heard rumors of new studies), and for six of those seven years my teaching leader was Suzanne Matthews. Suzanne has a real desire to dig deep and a real gift of communication.
Not too long ago, I discovered Suzanne's Blog (Coffee, Tea & Thee, on the sidebar). Now she has announced that she's going to do an online study of the book of Hebrews, and I decided to join in.
She put up the first post in the study today, listing six reasons to study Hebrews, then asked her readers 1) which of those six reasons tugs at the heart and 2) why would each individual personally need to study Hebrews.
And she assigned us to read Chapter 1.
So, true to the 'I really need to post something now and again' mode in which I seem to be operating for at least a little while more, I'm going to participate. And you, my faithful friends and family (Hi, Mom and Aunt Linda!) are invited to come along. You can click through and leave comments on Suzanne's blog, or, if you've got your own bloggy space, write it up over there and leave a link.
Anyway, that's a lot of introduction. I first decided to use my ESV edition, since I wanted to get the fresh perspective of unfamiliar wording, but I could. NOT. find. it. And I had it just a couple of days ago; I've no clue where I put it. Not in any of the usual places.
I sighed and pulled out the NIV. But, since this Bible is less than a year old, it's not marked up yet. So I will have a bit of a new perspective after all...
So. Question One.
Of the six reasons Suzanne listed, the one that stood out the most to me was reason number 5:
5.
It was written because Jesus is the answer to every. human. need.
Hebrews is the clearest and most systematic presentation in the entire
Bible of the Lord Jesus Christ. - See more at:
http://ctandthee.com/blog/#sthash.cKikTVLr.dpuf
It was written because Jesus is the answer to every. human. need. Hebrews is clearest and most systematic presentation in the entire Bible of the Lord Jesus Christ.Hebrews has always intrigued me because the author so plainly links Jesus to the Old Testament. Which would be necessary, of course, if he (she? ;-) ) were writing to a predominately Jewish audience. So I will enjoy exploring that.
But I need to study Hebrews (Question 2) because I need to be reminded of everything Christ is, and therefore who I am in Christ. The year the BSF class did 'Acts of the Apostles' (which included a look at a number of the epistles those apostles wrote, including Hebrews), my 'Wow!' revelation for the year came from Hebrews.
I'm sure I'll mention it when we get there. ;-)
Chapter one is an amazing logical argument for the superiority of Christ, based on Old Testament scripture.
It has really only been fairly recently that it struck me that every OT verse cited in the NT was written from memory. The only copies of those priceless scriptures were in the synagogues, not in the libraries of the common folks. Not counting the ESV that I seem to have mislaid, I could grab about 6 different translations from various bookshelves about the house. If I want to quote a verse, I can pull out the book itself and look it up by chapter and verse.
The NT authors had nothing more than their memory. Which makes me want to work a little harder on those SSMT verses...
5.
It was written because Jesus is the answer to every. human. need.
Hebrews is the clearest and most systematic presentation in the entire
Bible of the Lord Jesus Christ. - See more at:
http://ctandthee.com/blog/#sthash.cKikTVLr.dpuf
5.
It was written because Jesus is the answer to every. human. need.
Hebrews is the clearest and most systematic presentation in the entire
Bible of the Lord Jesus Christ. - See more at:
http://ctandthee.com/blog/#sthash.cKikTVLr.dpuf
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