Presents
"Introduction To The Hebrews"
Who are the Hebrews Paul addresses
this book titled "Hebrews" to.
descendants Abraham, who crossed over the Euphrates river.
What does that tell us?
#1. Abraham's nephew Lot was a Hebrew because he crossed the River with Abram.
a. Only two of Lot's daughters survived Sodom and Gomorrah and both gave birth to sons that Lot fathered; therefore, all the descendants of Lot's daughters are Hebrew to a lesser degree depending on who the sons married. But they can not be greater than 50% Hebrew.
#2. All descendants of Abraham's son Ishmael to Hagar, Sarai's (Sarah's) handmaid, are at best only 50% Hebrew because Hagar was Egyptian.
a. This would include all descendants of Ishmael's 12 sons to some degree. But they can not be greater than 50% Hebrew.
#3. All descendants of Abraham's son Isaac to Sarai (Sarah), are Hebrews since Sarai was Abram's half sister from the other side of the river.
a. This would include all descendants of Isaac's son Esau, (Edom/Russia). But they can not be greater than 50% Hebrew since Esau did not take Hebrew women for wives.
b. This would include all descendants of Isaac's son Jacob (Israel) He had 12 sons. If all were to Hebrew wives this makes it possible for his descendants to be 100% Hebrew depending on who the sons married.
b1.
Ten of these sons formed the House of Israel after escaping captivity in
Egypt only to be carried away out of their own land to Assyria in 721 BC
(II Kings :23).
History - In 721BC, well over eight hundred thousand Israelite men 2 Samuel 24:1 - 9 and their families from ten different tribes, all except the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, were taken captive and brought out of the promised land by the Assyrians. 2 Kings 16:9 - 17:6 They were all removed completely and never returned.
b2. Two of these sons formed the House of Judah after escaping captivity in Egypt only to be carried away by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon 135 years later in 586 BC. But not all of the House of Judah was left in Judea for Nebuchadnezzar to carry away because Assyria also carried away most of the House of Judah shortly after they carried away the House of Israel.
But not only the ten tribes of The House of Israel; Assyria also took many from the other two tribes when they took all the fenced cities of The House of Judah.
II Kings 18:13 "Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them."
II Kings 18:13 Makes it clear that much of the House of Judah was also taken by Assyria and most likely went with the House of Israel over the Caucasus Mountains after the power of Assyrians was broken.
That means it was only those in and around Jerusalem who were left of the House of Judah for Nebuchadnezzor to carry into Babylon several hundred years later.
It is this group of Israelites after mixing with descendants of Cain (Kenites) while in Babylon that we now call Jews, and who latter, in 740 A.D. mixed with the Khazar empire (another group of Kenites) who now populate the tiny country in the middle east called Israel today (They call themselves Irraeli, they don't even claim to be Israelites).
History - In 586BC, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon carried more than one half million Israelite men 2 Samuel 24:1 - 9 and their families from the other two tribes, Benjamin and Judah (the Jews), away to Babylon. 2 Kings 25:1 - 21 These were the only remaining Israelites in the Promised Land.
They were taken away to Babylon from where a small percentage returned to Palestine to rebuild the temple and restore worship 70 years after Judah's captivity.
History - 70 years after Judah's captivity the temple was rebuilt and 42,360 (Nehemiah 7:66 - 67) from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin returned again "unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city". (Ezra 8:1 - 20 & Nehemiah 7:5 - 45) Note: The Nethinim listed (Nehemiah 7:46 - 65) were not Israelites or even of the tribe of Judah, but we incorectly include them as and call them Jews today.
Those returning were of the House of Judah and they returned "unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city" (Ezra 2:1). Only those of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi, who constituted the house of Judah, returned (Ezra 1:5). These Israelites, from the house of Judah, along with The Khazar civilization which adopted Judaism as their state religion in 740 AD make up the people we call Jews today.
Anyone who would like to be brought up to "modern times" concerning the Khazar conversion can do some research on the subject of Khazars. The Khazars were not Hebrews. Khazaria was a conglomerate of Turkish tribes. Here's a quote from one paragraph in the Encyclopedia Britannica:
"Khazar civilization shows a fairly complex texture and their religious life raises more than one problem... About 740 the Khazar ruler - and probably the greater part of the ruling classes - were converted to Judaism. The circumstances of the conversion remain obscure, the depth of the Jewish layer difficult to assess; the fact itself is, however, undisputed and unparalleled in the history of Eurasia. ... The story of this conversion of the Khazars had a considerable and lasting impact on the western world."
Editors Note: log unto Google and
do a search on the word Khazar. The Thirteenth Tribe
#4. All descendants of Abraham's from the wife he took after Sarah's death and his concubines. (Genesis 25:1-6)
a. These were all non-Hebrew women. Therefore their descendants can not be greater than 50% Hebrew.
The Book of Hebrews is not written to a specific person or church, but to a people, which includes those Israelites who had (and have) "crossed over" from where Paul was even to the west and the isles of the west (see note below), even to the time of the final generation. In other words, the Book of Hebrews is written to the dispersed House of Israel in these last days. That could be and probably is you, my Christian friend, if you are a descendant of any one of the tribes of the ancient "House of Israel" which was carried away by Assyria in the 700s BC, who later dispersed after Assyria was over thrown, and established new homes in Western Europe, the Isles of Britain and the Americas, after Jesus Christ was crucified.
Note: The knowledge concerning the whereabouts of the so-called 10 lost tribes of the House of Israel is a prerequisite to being able to mature in one's understanding of the Word of God, even the Book of Hebrews which contains an entire chapter one could call the "Acts of the Patriarchs" (Ch. 11). To that end, if you are in need of or would like some basic information about the migrations of the tribes of Israel and where their sons and daughters reside in this final generation, log unto the pamphlets below.
Does it make sense to you that the
United States of America, the greatest superpower in the history of the
world, would be left out of endtime Biblical prophecy? Of course not! Log
unto the pamphlets below to learn more about where the 10 "lost" tribes
of the House of Israel reside today. Pamphlet
#1064 or Pamphlet
#1020 You can also find them in the Table of Contents under
"Wisdom" on this American Wisdom Series web site.
Must they be 100% pure in their generations?
I don't think so, but it makes sence to me that he is speaking to those who have crossed over.
Hum! "Crossed Over"
They crossed over the Euphrates physically in Abraham's day, and later over the Jordan. Did those physical ensamples happen as a guide for our spiritual actions today?
1 Corinthians 10:11 tells me they did!
Read Acts 26:15-18
In the past God communicated with our fathers many times and in many ways by the prophets, but now, in these last days, He speaks to us through His Son whom He has appointed heir of all things and by whom also He made the "worlds" (Heb. 1:1-2).
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Followed by the complete book of Hebrews all on one file, separated only by chapter headings and a row of purple stars.
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Book of Hebrews is a truly remarkable "transition" book "crossing over" from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
We begin our study of the incredible and most fascinating Book of Hebrews in the context of having completed an in-depth study of the 12 books of the Minor Prophets. This is significant in that the Book of Hebrews is a truly remarkable "transition" book "crossing over" from the Old Testament to the New Testament as we shall even see evidenced by the first two verses. To that end, the very title "Hebrews" comes from the word "eber" which is from the root word "abar" meaning "transition" or to "cross over". The "ebers", or "Hebrews", were the people, the descendants of Noah and Abraham, who "crossed over" the Euphrates river.
eber = øá–òÅ€eòberay'-ber Strong's #H5676
From H5674; properly a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the Jordan; usually meaning the east):— X against, beyond, by, X from, over, passage, quarter, (other, this) side, straight.abar = øá—òÈ€aòbaraw-bar' Strong's #H5674
A primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literally or figuratively; transitively, intransitively, intensively or causatively)...
We also find in Acts chapter 9 that Paul, who was himself an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin (Rom. 11:1)... not a Jew, i.e. not of Judah, had a threefold commission from God and therefore taught on three different levels.
Here is his commission:
Furthermore, Paul not only taught on three levels but it is written that he taught people from different "perspectives" as well. In other words, Paul communicated with people on their level that he might be able to more effectively bring them to Christ and to the knowledge of His Word.Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Here is your documentation:
Paul sought to "gain the more" for Christ, not for himself.1 Cor. 9:19
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
It makes sense too that one would communicate differently to someone who has never read the law (the word of God) than you would to someone who knows the scriptures, doesn't it?[20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;[21] To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
Paul's wisdom** and gift of communication skills coupled with the fact that he was a well educated Hellenist who spoke many different "tongues" (1 Cor. 14:18), meaning he spoke many different languages and dialects, declares it to be congruent rather than remarkable that Paul would speak or write to one group in a manner different from another. Therefore the argument as to a different style, especially from one so gifted in knowledge, the different languages, and the law and prophets, is totally without foundation, even going contrary to Paul's own admissions written in the scriptures.[22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
To wit, the Book of Hebrews is not written to a specific person or church, but to a people, to those Israelites who had (and have) "crossed over" from where Paul was even to the west and the isles of the west (see note below), even to the time of the final generation. In other words, the Book of Hebrews is written to the dispersed House of Israel in these last days. If you are a Christian from northwest Europe, to the far western island of Britain, or the Americas it could be and probably is to you, my Christian friend.
With that background in mind, it should also be easy to understand that the Book of Hebrews is written to those who might gain by the way he communicates in his writing of Hebrews, which we find to be filled with many references and quotes from the law and prophets, i.e. the Old Testament! That in itself ought to let one know that those without the knowledge of that which has been written and spoken to our forefathers in the OT will not gain as much as those who have studied His Word.
Paul
even wrote in 1 Cor. 10:11-12 that those things which
happened unto them, i.e. unto our forefathers, happened as ensamples for
us upon whom the ends of this world (age) are come! Therefore you
better "take heed", Paul said, to what was written to them if you want
to "stand" in these last days... lest ye fall!
Does it make sense to you that the
United States of America, the greatest superpower in the history of the
world, would be left out of endtime Biblical prophecy? Of course not! If
you would like to learn more about where the 10 "lost" tribes of the House
of Israel reside today go to Pamphlet
#1064 or Pamphlet
#1020 under Table of Contents "Wisdom" on the this American Wisdom
Series site.
** The apostle Peter spoke of the "wisdom" Paul had in communicating with people.
Peter also documents that those who are unlearned and unstable (without foundation in the Word) will "wrest" (twist and misconstrue) what is said to their own downfall.2 Peter 3:15-16
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the
wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Let's jump ahead a little in this our introductory, to Hebrews chapter 5 and "see" the skilful manner in which Paul communicated this of which Peter speaks. Paul had been teaching Christ and had just made reference to His being called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 5:10).[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Here is what he had to say next:
Paul was saying that he could not effectively "relate" (i.e. it was hard to "utter" and have a discourse about) Christ to Melchisedec in his teaching because it falls on deaf ears. In other words, the people are not familiar with that which is written even after many, many years of being Christians, by which time they should be knowledgeable of the scriptures. But you see, because of their "dullness" they are still Biblically illiterate. Here is the definition of "dull" from Strong's #3576: nothros (no-thros') From a derivative of G3541; sluggish, that is, (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid:—dull, slothful.Hebrews 5:11-14
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Paul continues:
Paul makes the simple analogy that babies who have not grown up can only handle milk and are not able to eat and digest steak dinners. Of course it is ok to be a babe in Christ, for we all start out that way. However, after 20 or 30 years of going to church one should be able to eat some meat from the Word of God instead of saying "Melchisedec who?"[12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach
you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Characteristically in a spiritual sense, it seems rather fitting that those of this final generation of the fig tree (which began May 15, 1948) are called "Baby Boomers"! Nevertheless, Paul said that if you are still on the milk of His Word and are "unskilful" (Strong's #552: apeiros; From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3984; inexperienced, that is, ignorant:—unskilful.) then you've got trouble with discernment indeed! And it is evident that the majority of our Christian brothers and sisters fall into this category, else how is it that a predominantly Christian nation with the power to vote can allow such liberalism and "evil ways" to flow through our house? It is because they cannot discern between "good" and "evil" (which is so often disguised as "feel good"). Therefore, grow up and mature in His Word and become STRONG in Christ and learn to kick some dragon![13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Again, the reality is that babies are unskillful (unknowledgeable) and cannot relate to the deeper truths and ensamples of God's Word and since they have immature minds they therefore cannot "discern" between good and evil.[14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Let us now begin our study of the great "transition" book, the Book of Hebrews
We hope and pray that you can "relate to" and partake of the incredible dinner Paul has prepared for us.
Paul will document with certitude to those who know the Old Testament that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah. We hope and pray that you can "relate to" and partake of the incredible dinner he has prepared for us. We thank our Father and ask for His spirit of wisdom to guide us, in Yeshua's name.
Our Father has recorded for us in His Word, for our admonition and edification, the many times (sundry times) and the many ways (divers manners) throughout history that He has spoken unto the "fathers", our forefathers, by the prophets! If we have been diligent and taken the time, or will begin today to take the time, from our busy schedules to study and understand what was said by those prophets, then we can come to better know and understand and yes, love the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Anointed One, Emmanuel, the Son of God, who came to dwell in the flesh and pay the price on the cross for us. So consider the question,"Have you read with understanding what God said to our fathers by the prophets?"Hebrews 1:1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
And so it is that we have made the transition from hearing the words of the prophets to "hearing" the very Son of God, the Spirit that moved upon the waters and rejuvenated this earth following the destruction of the first earth age. He is the Word, the Logos, the very One who created the heavens and the earth and the "worlds", which are the "aeons", even the three earth ages. He made all things and came into this world of darkness and has shed His light upon our hearts and minds.[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Col. 1:16-17 " For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: [17] And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist."John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.[2] The same was in the beginning with God.
[3] All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
Do you know why He created all things? The answer is found in Rev. 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." You see, His pleasure, His delight (Prov. 8:31), is the love of His children and to give them of His inheritance.
Genesis 1:2 "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."[4] In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.[5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
We shall "see" how that One, the express image of God, the one by whom all things consist, became flesh and by himself purged our sins, and now sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high. How exciting and how precious is the Word of God.
Hang with us through this great Book of Hebrews and you will be blessed and filled with meat and made stronger indeed!
If we cannot see the things which are unseen, i.e. which are invisible to the naked eye, how can we learn and know about the things of the spirit?
In preface to this study, let us attempt to lay a foundation by trying to understand a basic difference between the dimension of the physical and the dimension of the spiritual, i.e. between flesh and spirit.
For example, one cannot see an attitude, which is a spiritual thing, nor can one take a lie or joy as in "good" or "evil" and place either of them on a slide and look at them under a microscope.
These are things that one comes to "know" or "see" (understand) only by discernment, in one's mind, which discernment can be aided by seeing spiritual things manifested (shown, acted out) in a physical way.
You see, the physical universe the flesh man dwells in "under the (physical) sun", is made up of only three dimensions, length, height, and width.
But spiritual things are not bound by those lower dimensions, nor can they be measured or quantified by them.
In other words, one cannot take a ruler or a yardstick or a set of balances and measure or weigh the amount of love he or she has for someone else because love is spiritual, without length or breadth or weight.
Hopefully one can understand that concept, because without that understanding one will have much difficulty even understanding Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the spiritual relationship of the Father to the Son.
So the question is, "If we cannot see the things which are unseen, i.e. which are invisible to the naked eye, how can we learn and know about the things of the spirit?
Better yet, if God is a Spirit as is written in John 4:24, how can we come to know and understand Him and relate to Him because we cannot see Him in that dimension?
The apostle Paul explains that to us in very simple terms:
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
The Plan of God was set in motion from the beginning when the Spirit, the Word, Truth and Wisdom (Prov. 8:22) was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." You see, that is the nature of God. He is a God of truth and wisdom which are spiritual characteristics of Him which again, one cannot see under a microscope, i.e. with flesh eyes. Deut. 32:4 "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." The manifestation, the works of God and His judgments, could be nothing but perfect since He is a God of pure truth!Flesh man cannot see God who is in the spiritual, and therefore invisible, dimension. So Jesus Christ came to this earth and by Him and through Him hath declared the Father.
God is also love! 1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." Again, love is a spiritual thing. And you know what? A person's love for someone, like his mate or his child or his God, etc., is understood by how he (or she) shows that love, i.e. by his or her actions, works (John 14:15)!
Consider now the Plan of Salvation and the immense love of God who first loved us (1 Jn. 4:19). It would come to pass according to the Plan of God from the beginning that the Word would come forth of woman and be made flesh, and dwell among us, which is what the word Emmanuel means in Hebrew, "God with us"! And we would be able to behold (see, perceive) His glory, as the glory of the only one brought forth of the Father, of Himself, from the sack of water (begotten, Gr. monogenes) and then glorified as His Son. (More on this later.)
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
HAVING SEEN JESUS!
Therefore as Christ would say to Philip in John 14:9 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?"[18] No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared him.
So far we have learned that in the past God communicated with our fathers many times and in many ways by the prophets, but now, in these last days, He speaks to us through His Son whom He has appointed heir of all things and by whom also He made the "worlds" (Heb. 1:1-2).
The "brightness of His glory" is the effulgence or "radiant splendor" of God. Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son, the only "flesh born" of God and He was the "express image" (like an exact metal cast die) of God, of His "person"... in appearance, yes, but He was also the express image of truth and wisdom and justice, God's nature, His character, which as we read is without iniquity (Deut. 32:4)! When you think about it, don't most children resemble their parents... like father, like son? Nevertheless, it was because God loves us so, that He willingly came to this earth and was crucified on the cross to "purge" our sins and pay the price as our "kinsman redeemer"... if you can relate and are not dull of hearing. (We shall learn more of why Christ came in our study of chapter 2.)Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Let's consider our forefather Abraham for a moment knowing that Paul will speak of him and relate to him in this Book of Hebrews. The name "Abraham", changed by God from the name "Abram" (meaning "high father"), means "father of a multitude" or the "father of many nations". You see, Abraham was the "father of the covenant", the one to whom God made His covenant, His promise that Abraham's "seed" would become as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is upon the seashore (Gen. 22:17). Understand that the "father", Abraham along with his wife Sarai, were a barren couple, without sons (Gen. 11:30). (Are you seeing the Plan of God in this type?) And it would be through Abraham's only begotten son (of Sarah his wife) that the "promised seed" would come. (Note: If you are familiar with the whole story then you know that Abraham would end up having other seed present on earth before the promised seed of Isaac came forth, i.e. referring to his sons through Hagar and Keturah.)
Again, understand that Isaac was Abraham's only begotten son of the promise, and it is written that Abraham loved him, and certainly very dearly so (Gen. 22:2). But the father (Abraham) would be asked by God to take his only begotten son and heir of the promise, the son whom he loved, and go the land of Moriah ("Seen of Yah") and place that child he loved more than anything in the world upon the altar as a burnt offering. "Oh my!", we all say, when we hear what we perceive to be an awful thing God asked the "father" to do, especially we who have children of our own!
It pains our hearts to even imagine Abraham going through with it! Of course God spared Isaac but as it is written in this book of Hebrews, written to our people, by faith Abraham was willing to trust God and offer up his only begotten son.Genesis 22:1
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.[2] And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Our heavenly Father DID offer up His only begotten Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice that we might have life everlasting. And as we read in Heb. 1:3, after paying the price Jesus ascended and "sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Here is a second and even a third witness to that:Hebrews 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Notice that Peter declares that the angels and authorities and powers have all been made subject to Him. Let us continue with Hebrews 1:4 concerning Christ who paid the price and now sits at the right hand of the Father.Col. 3:1-3
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.1 Peter 3:22
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
"Being made" means "having become" so much better [nobler, as in nobility] than the angels/us/we, God's created children. In other words, because he was the only begotten Son of God, he inherited the kingship, a more excellent [surpassing] name [authority] than [para = above] they [them, i.e. the angels]. In other words, Jesus Christ become so much nobler than the angels, because as the heir to the throne He has inherited all things, all power, and all authority in both heaven and earth. Remember Hebrews 1:2 "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." So the Word of God, Jesus Christ, the One who made all things, has through the relationship of being the only begotten Son, been appointed by the Father to become the heir of all things. Remember, the Godhead is understood by the things which are seen, even His eternal power (by inheritance) and Godhead, i.e. the Father and Son.Hebrews 1:4
Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name* than they.
Do you know what that more "excellent name", which means "far surpassing name" (i.e. authority) is?
This next verse should help us in our understanding.Rev. 19:16
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
We see the spiritual "relationship", the two "offices", established here of the Father and the Son. The Son of the Father is the inheritor of all things! We understand that relationship by that which is seen among men. You see, there is a reason why we have families with a father and a mother and a firstborn and children who are brothers and sisters. Paul is saying "Who else have you ever heard God call His Son whom He has "begotten" this day?"That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
You will find however that the word "begotten" in this verse is not the same word translated "begotten" in John 3:16, which is "monogenes" meaning only [born] child. The Greek word "begotten" used here in Hebrews 1:5 is "gennao" which in this case means "brought Thee to the birth!" This is a quote from Psalm 2:7 which with Acts 13:33 documents that this is speaking of the first advent and the day of His resurrection when the Son "became the glorified Son, the Head of the body, the Firstborn of many brethren".
You see, that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Christ explained all this in John chapter 3 concerning being born of the flesh and of the spirit. Jesus Christ was willing to come down from above and be born of water (in the sac of water) and then be raised in the spirit. To learn more on this subject go to Pamphlets #1507, #1508, & #1509. Paul also speaks of that which is natural and that which is spiritual.Psalm 2:7
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.Acts 13:33
God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
And so it was that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is both Lord and King over all and now sits at the right hand of God awaiting His second advent which is spoken of in the next verse.1 Cor. 15:45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
When Yeshua returns at the second advent every knee (all the angels) shall bow to His name (and authority)! By the way, the word firstborn is "prototokos" which means just that... the first-born. Christ was the firstborn among many brethren who have been predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son and then resurrected (glorified, raised in status) to eternal life at His second coming, which is the first resurrection:Hebrew 1:6
And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.
Christ is returning as the King of kings and Lord of lords whereby He has not only been appointed heir of all things because He is the Son of God, but He has also been appointed high priest after the order of Melchi-Zedek, which means "king of the just"! Those just ones are His ministers of "fire"!Romans 8:29
For whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Rev. 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
This is a quote from Psalm 104:Hebrews 1:7
And of the angels He saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29) and the brightness of His coming shall consume all that is wicked.Psalm 104:1-5
Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. [2] Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: [3] Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: [4] Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: [5] Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
The Prince of Peace, the inheritor of all things, will soon come as King of kings to sit on the throne and rule this earth with a rod of iron, even with the rod and the sceptre of righteousness for He is also our Shepherd, the Lord of lords. Of course if you are one of His, a just one, then His rod and His staff are a comfort of peace and protection, even now as we "walk through the valley of the shadow of death" wherein we also "see" the (spiritually) dry bones spoken of in Ezek. 37.Hebrews 1:8
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
The majority of our people have not ears to hear (understand) nor eyes to see (spiritually perceive).
Paul, the great teacher and Hebrew scholar, is giving an "utterly" awesome Bible lesson to the Hebrews, those lost (dispersed) tribes of the House of Israel in this final generation (Do you know who and where they are?). He is actually bringing forth and expounding the kingdom of God and the glory of Jesus Christ from the Old Testament... as was his manner of teaching. Of course there was no canon of writings called the New Testament at that time and it would come to pass that Paul himself would actually end up writing the majority of it. However, the fascinating truth of the matter is and the part that the "dull of hearing" do not "see" and understand, is that most of Paul's teachings simply expound and testify to that which is already written in the Old Testament. You see, Paul knew and taught that "Jesus Christ came in the volume of the Book", ALL of it, for it is "written of Him"!
As if to further illustrate the point, even this New Testament scripture in not "new"! Paul quoted it from the Book of Psalms:Hebrews 10:7
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Let us document how Paul teaches about the kingdom of God and persuades us concerning Jesus Christ. It is written in the book of Acts concerning his methodology:Psalm 40:7
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
It should not be surprising to know that one who is knowledgeable of the law and the prophets can easily "preach Christ" and testify to the kingdom of God.Acts 28:23-27
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Some of God's elect become a little bewildered or even discouraged at times when folks (especially loved ones) are not receptive to hearing the truth of God's Word after the manner of "thus saith the Lord" and "it is written". Hey, not even the apostle Paul, one of the greatest teachers of all time next to Jesus Christ, could "persuade" them. It just further documents that God's Word through the mouths of the prophets are RIGHT ON![24] And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
Yes, "well spake" the Holy Spirit by Isaiah, i.e. how true it is both then and now, that the majority of our people have not ears to hear (understand) nor eyes to see (spiritually perceive).[25] And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
The reason for the spiritual "blindness" and "dullness of hearing" is that so many of our brothers and sisters are so indoctrinated with the traditions of men (churchianity) that they have become "hardened" (hard headed would be more like it) and consequently they see no need to be converted, which means "to turn" to Him, to His Word, wherein He dwells.[26] Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye s hall see, and not perceive:
And so behold, here Paul is in this great Book of Hebrews expounding and testifying the kingdom of God and teaching and persuading us concerning Jesus out of both the law and the prophets. (the Old Testament)[27] For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Let's make a structural picture of Hebrews 1:5 through
1:14
to illustrate that so much of what we are reading from
the lips of Paul
is taken directly from the Old Testament.
Pay close attention to Hebrews 1:5 & 1:6 and you will
"see" both the First Advent (vs. 5)
and Second Advent (vs. 6) of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ.
(Note: If you are "sharp" minded and not "dull minded" then Deut. 32:43 should immediately "utter" to your mind the second half of Ps. 61:2 concerning the second advent.
A word to the wise.
Also, in verse 6, the fact that the Septuagint, the Greek version of the OT translated by 70 (hence "septuagint") scholars at Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy Philadephus (285-247 BC), attests to the scholarship of Paul who would have been well familiar with it.
Here then is Paul's teaching in Hebrews 1:5-14 in parallel, in perfect harmony, with the law and the prophets.
Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?Psalm 2:7Hebrews 1:6
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Deut. 32:43Hebrews 1:7
Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengence, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall the land of his people. (Septuagint) (See also footnote in NIV)
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.Psalm 104:4Hebrews 1:8
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.Psalm 45:6
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Hebrews 1:9
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.Psalm 45:7
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Hebrews 1:10
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:Psalm 102:25
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
Hebrews 1:11
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;Psalm 102:26
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
Hebrews 1:12
And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.Psalm 102:27
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
Hebrews 1:13
But to which of the angels said he at any times, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?Psalm 110:1
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Psalm 103:20-22
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.[21] Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
[22] Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
The point is that if one truly wants to come to KNOW Jesus Christ, He is FOUND in the volume of the Book, ALL of it!
So never let the "ignorant" milk bottle suckers give you this "All you need is salvation and baptism" stuff!
Salvation and Baptism are beautiful and they are necessary, but as Paul explains in Hebrews 5, they are for babes, new Christians!
Once you have "been there and done that" (ONE TIME) then grow up and mature in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God!
2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
Earlier we left off where Paul was teaching us from Psalm 45 that the Son of God would sit on the Throne of His kingdom for ever and ever, ruling with truth and justice.
Hebrews 1:8
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.Psalm 45:6
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
So Paul has just taught us from the Psalms about the fairness and justice of the everlasting kingdom ruled by Jesus Christ. Let us now continue our study with Hebrews 1:9 concerning our LORD.
To "anoint" in Hebrews 1:9 means to "consecrate", as to an office. In other words, Jesus Christ, the "Anointed One" (Messiah) has been consecrated with the "oil* of gladness" or "oil of exultation" to the highest office, above His fellows, i.e. to that of King of kings and Lord of lords.Hebrews 1:9
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.Psalm 45:7
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Note: The word "oil" in Greek means "olive oil" from Strong's #G1637, "elaion" the neuter of Strong's #1636 "elaia" or "el-ah'-yah"! Those who are familiar with the Hebrew names of God will immediately see His names, the Creator and the Father, contained in the anointing "olive oil", "El" and "Yah".
It should be noted from Strong's Concordance that the word "Lord" in Heb. 1:10 is "kurios" which means kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; by implication Mr. (as a respectful title):—God, Lord, master, Sir. You see, the Plan of God was laid out from the beginning when the Word was with God. He was in charge (supreme in authority) then and He is in charge (with supreme authority) now! Only the heavens and the earth had a beginning because it was at that time (in the beginning) when they became the works of His hands. However, God existed before the beginning... "ere the earth ever was" as it is written in Proverbs 8:23, "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." And though the "heaven and earth (age)" shall pass away, He shall eternally remain after they have perished. Thus we come to a richer understanding of the "Alpha and Omega", from before (ere) the beginning of the Plan of God to after it is finished, i.e. has ended.Hebrews 1:10
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:Psalm 102:25
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
The corruptible (flesh, earthly body) putting on the incorruptible (spiritual, heavenly body) is NOT THE SAME thing as the "mortal" putting on "immortality".
All that is "temporal" and of this flesh age shall perish, which includes these tabernacles we dwell in "under the sun", i.e. our flesh bodies! Paul writes of this "mystery" in 1 Cor. 15 which is worth a little side trip to "see" what he says... especially if you like to see mysteries solved.Hebrews 1:11
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;Psalm 102:26
They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
If you think there will be "flesh" people in the Millennium, you are wrong. Does that mean we are all going to die when Christ returns? Well, in a sense, for Paul will teach us how that all the sons of God must first pass through the womb before judgment. Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment". However, we are not all going to be "killed" or "die" after the manners we naturally think of concerning death. You see, we just read that the "old garment" shall be changed. Open your ears and hear what Paul has to say concerning this mystery:1 Cor. 15:50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Something has to happen because we just read, "flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of God" which occurs at the sound of the 7th Trump, at the sound of the last trump (not when Satan, the false-christ, comes at the 6th Trump)! In other words, the flesh age is over when Jesus Christ returns as King of kings and Lord of lords to usher in His kingdom. So goodbye flesh... somehow, right? Here's how...[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
If you have read all of 1 Cor. 15 concerning the "two bodies" which every one has, and what actually happens when a person dies and is "sown in the ground", then this becomes much less a mystery. You see, both the (spiritually) dead shall be "raised incorruptible", i.e. changed into their spiritual incorruptible (not immortal) bodies, and we too shall all be changed into our spiritual (incorruptible) bodies! Hey, sounds like "Beam me up, Scotty!" (Actually, if you understand 1 Thes. 4:13-18 and how we "meet the Lord along with our returning loved ones" in our "aer" bodies, the "transporter" concept is a pretty good pictorial analogy for we shall literally "step out of these flesh shells" into our "aer" (breath of life) bodies. Just like that! In an eyewink's time!)[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The corruptible (flesh, earthly body) putting on the incorruptible (spiritual, heavenly body) is NOT THE SAME thing as the "mortal" putting on "immortality". The former is simply the raising of the body (from flesh to spirit) while the latter is the raising of the person, the soul, to the status of eternal life, which is called the "First Resurrection (first raising to eternal life)".[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
NOT until you have done BOTH have you defeated death, i.e. defeated the second death and put on immortality by being raised (resurrected) to eternal life! That is why the people who are not part of the first resurrection (raising to eternal life) when Christ returns are called "dead" in the Millennium.Though they shall have put on incorruptible bodies (that don't get sick, etc.), they shall not have put on immortality and therefore are still liable to die in the lake of fire if they don't get their act together before then.
There he goes again, that rascally Paul, quoting from the Old Testament (Isa. 25:8, Hos. 13:14)![54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
If you decide to study the 102nd Psalm to read in context what Paul is teaching here, you will find that the next verse, Ps. 102:28, speaks of those servants of His who shall be made like Him! That would be the "sons and daughters" (seed) of this final generation that Christ spoke of while hanging on the cross. They are that "seed" who would come serve Him in the final generation and declare His righteousness (Ps. 22:31)!Hebrews 1:12
And as a vesture [mantle] shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.Psalm 102:27
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
His servants, shall come forth, even they have, and "finish the work" and then the Son who sits on the throne on the right hand of His Majesty on High, shall grant His servants to sit on His throne (i.e. to rule with Him) when He returns to this earth. Until then, as His servants, we still have some "dragon" kicking to do. Rev. 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."Psalm 102:28
The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
He has given us His Word, His Spirit, His "Fire", His "Power" to tread down that which is evil! In fact, He has given us "power" over ALL the power of the enemy. So let's stomp those snakes and vipers under His footstool!Hebrews 1:13
But to which of the angels said He at any times, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?Psalm 110:1
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Do you serve and minister to Christ? Are you made strong by His power (Ezek-i-el, "God is my strength"), through eating "the meat" of His Word and growing tough, impenetrable skin, called the Gospel Armor by this one Paul in the 6th chapter of his letter to the Ephesians. That gospel armor is a "spiritual garment" which cannot be pierced by the "fiery darts" of the Wicked one (Eph. 6:16). Nor shall that spiritual righteousness, that "garment" also known as fine white linen, perish (Rev. 19:8)!Luke 10:18-19
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.[19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
The word "sent forth" is "apostello" which is where the word "apostle" (one sent forth) comes from. It is a title of service, not a title of elevation or high ranking. Even the apostle John who says in Rev. 1:9 "I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ..." considered himself "one of the boys", i.e. one of the brethren (no gender intended) who serve Him. So here is a question you might ask yourself, "Do you have a purpose and a destiny to serve Him as one of the brothers and sisters and companions in tribulation in these last days?" God is calling forth His sons and daughters in this final generation to minister unto Him and to declare His righteousness, His Word, unto His children.Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
In conclusion to this study, let us visit the 110th Psalm which Paul quoted from in Heb. 1:13 and see what we might learn concerning the Anointed One in the Old Testament!
Psalm 110:1-7
A Psalm of David.
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
As it is written in the Old and confirmed in the New, Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father, but He shall be sent forth to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Rev. 12:5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."[2] The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Melchizedek means "king" (melchi) of the "just" (zadok). Are you one His "zadok", one of God's elect? Paul will be teaching us much about Christ and the kingdom of God as we continue in the Book of Hebrews by referring often to Melchizedek. If you are not "dull of hearing" concerning this one, then you will be fed much meat through his teaching.[3] Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.[4] The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hint: "Are you one of His "right hand" servants?"[5] The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
He is coming to the Valley of Jeho-shaphat (Yahveh Judges, see Joel 3) to judge the heathen, i.e. the nations. And when He comes, He shall destroy the "fallen angels" according to Rev. 11 and shall wound (to death) the "heads" of the one world beast system, the New World Order, which even now controls the nations. In other words, Satan, the false-christ and Babylon the Great are coming down... hard and fast![6] He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries .
The brook is the "living water" from which one who drinks shall never thirst![7] He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the head.
In chapter 2 we shall be fed so much understanding about why Jesus Christ came to this earth that we will all feel like it is Thanksgiving Day... and you know what... it will be... because every day is a day of thanksgiving when you eat from the table of the Lord.
Hebrews chapter 2
Many of our beloved Christian brothers and sisters have never seen the wonderfully beautiful picture of Hebrews chapter two in its entirety.
The "complete and expanded version" of chapter two of the scholarly Book of Hebrews, written by the apostle Paul to the dispersed House of Israel in these last days, gives us a truly remarkable and in-depth understanding of the reasons (plural) why Jesus Christ came to this earth and the Word became flesh. What is the "complete and expanded version"? It is the one which takes in the many scriptures Paul references and quotes from the law and the prophets and fills-in the details, like adding more pieces of a puzzle, thereby giving us a more complete picture to "see". And how truly exciting it is for those who take the time to "study and rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15)" for many of our beloved Christian brothers and sisters have never seen the wonderfully beautiful picture of Hebrews chapter two in its entirety. Those who have seen it have been deeply touched by what they have "seen", so let's get started with our study.
Paul begins this chapter two, which is actually a continuation from chapter one, with a stern admonition (call it a warning if you will) based on the true and certain things he told us regarding the glory of Son of God in chapter one, which things he expounded on from the many scriptures he rightly divided and drew from the Word of Truth, the fountain of life. Here is what he has to say to us ALL:
The words "more earnest" mean "superabundant attention" (see Strong's #G4056) and the word "heed" means "pay attention to" as in diligently "apply oneself" (Strong's #G4337). Paul in his love for the brethren is telling us that all of God's Word has real depth of meaning for our understanding and we need to earnestly, with discipline (as disciples), especially NOW in these last days, pay close attention to what is written, lest we should let them slip away as time marches on and we fall short of having enough oil in our lamps to make it through the dark hour.Hebrews 2:1
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
In other words, do not let the cares of this world rob you from the fullness of His Truth nor let the traditions of man keep you from studying ALL of God's Word lest you end up withering on the vine. Mark 4:19 "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." So wean yourself from the milk bottle and begin to grow and understand your Father's emotions and the love He has shown to us all by sending His precious and beloved Son to both "suffer" and "...taste of death for every man" Hebrews 2:9!
In linguistic terms, the word "if" ("ei" in Greek) is followed by the "Indicative Mood" meaning that the hypothesis (the condition of the "if") is assumed as an actual fact. In simplistic terms, "if" as used here means "since it is true".[2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
In other words, Paul is stating the fact that God's Word has already been proven true, in every case, in that the words spoken by His messengers concerning the correction and chastisement that follows transgression and disobedience to His Word is stedfast (sure and true) for it is well documented, or haven't you paid close attention to HIStory? You see, our forefathers (the Israelites) did not "take heed" and obey His commands to remain true and stedfast in His Word... so... they stumbled and fell and were scattered abroad.
So, that being the case...
If we likewise neglect His Word as they did, instead of earnestly heeding to the things that are written as per Paul's instruction in verse one, how shall we be any different than our forefathers? Shall we not also stumble and fall and receive our just recompense in these last days if we become lazy and "dull of hearing"? Time is swiftly marching by and the final hour glass that is reserved for this final generation has already been tipped and the sands are quickly running out. Do not let His saving truth and knowledge slip away and run out on you along with those precious few remaining sands of time.[3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him;
Also, verses two and three here should bring our thoughts back to the first two verses of this great Book of Hebrews which stated that many times in the past God spoke to our forefathers by the prophets (whose words were stedfast) but now "in these last days" He has spoken unto us (concerning salvation) by the Lord Himself, His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things (Heb. 1:1-2). And that great message of salvation was "confirmed", meaning "passed on", by those that heard Him, even as it is by those who earnestly "hear" Him in these last days...
All this was done NOT as man so chose to do, but according to the Plan of God which was ordained from the beginning, when the Word was with God, remember?[4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
How well do you understand the Plan of God? Surely you have read and understood that man was placed "in charge", i.e. been given dominion in this flesh age (though he "blew it" in the fall and what a mess he has made of things since then)! In fact, you can read of the dominion mankind was given in the very first chapter of Genesis (vs. 26-29). Of course, that part of the plan is clearly obvious though the reason and purpose has remained obscure to most.[5] For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
It is also written, for we just read in verse five, that the angels (meaning you and me and our brothers and sisters in our incorruptible bodies) will NOT be in charge of the way things are run in the "world to come", which is the world Paul is talking about when the "garments" are folded up and perish at the end of this flesh age! No, according to His will, His Plan, as it is written in both the Old and New Testaments, Jesus Christ shall return at the sound of the 7th Trump as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule ALL nations with a rod of iron and THEN, though He now sits on the right hand of the Father with all power and authority in both heaven and earth having been given unto Him, we shall see ALL things placed in subjection to the SON. As it is written, every knee shall bow to the name of Jesus Christ, i.e. to His supreme authority (Rom. 14:11, Philip. 2:10).
That having been said, let us now begin to understand the reasons why God sent His Son to dwell in the flesh, beginning with words of "one in a certain place", i.e. one of those prophets and messengers who "testified", i.e. spoke those sure and stedfast words in times past to our forefathers.
This verse is quoted from the 8th Psalm, a Psalm of "new beginnings (8)", a Psalm of David, so let us go there and expand our understanding. Notice that this Psalm both "begins" and "ends", like bookends encasing the words of His plan in between, with "O LORD, our Lord, (Yahveh, our Adonim (Supreme Ruler)) how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!" Just so you know, our Father was, is, and always will be in complete control of His Plan from beginning to end. Therefore, if you are one of His children who love and serve Him, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. He has ALL POWER... for He always has![6] But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
He is above all things (Jn. 3:31) because "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:3)Psalm 8:1
O LORD our Lord, how excellent ["addiyr" = powerful and mighty and noble] is Thy name [meaning His character and authority] in all the earth [the subject of this Psalm]! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
The enemies are having a "field day", aren't they? But don't worry... as it is written, they shall receive their just reward. Of course He could squish them like a bug any time He wanted to, couldn't He (See "power" in verse 1), but you see, He has a purpose and a PLAN to bring many sons to glory![2] Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Makes you kind of wonder, doesn't it? I mean, look at the GRANDEUR of the universe and the POWER of His awesome creation, even like the morning sun (a star indeed) and then read on...[3] When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Hang in there until we return to Hebrews where Paul is going to explain the "why" of these verses to us.[4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?[5] For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
What a magnificent plan our Father has in bringing many sons unto glory (Heb. 2:19). You see, the first man Adam couldn't cut it but the second man Adam did and shall! Hopefully by the time we finish this second chapter of Hebrews you will be able to see more clearly from having visited this incredible 8th Psalm the full purpose of Jesus Christ being made "a little lower than the angels". Here is Paul quoting Psalm 8:5-6 in Hebrews 2:7-8 which he shall expound upon in the remaining verses of the chapter.[6] Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:[7] All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
[8] The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
[9] O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Jesus Christ was "made a little lower (meaning "for a little while lower") than the angels. In other words, He came to this earth and dwelt in the flesh, was glorified as the only begotten Son of God, and appointed heir of all things.Hebrews 2:7
Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst Him with glory and honour, and didst set Him over the works of thy hands:
[8] Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we see not yet all things put under Him.
Next Paul is going to explain to us not only how that Christ, by the loving grace of God, was made a little lower than the angels for the purpose of paying the price on the cross as the "perfect", unblemished sacrifice for our sins, but why it was that He had to "suffer" as He did. Do you know why He endured the direct face to face temptation by Satan and then suffered humiliating ridicule and a bloody scourging and the severe cruelty of death by crucifixion on a Roman cross? There is more to it than most of us have been taught.1 Cor. 15:22
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.[23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
[24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Paul shall complete the picture for us. Don't go away!
We learned in the first few verses of Hebrews chapter two that the Word of God, even that which was spoken in times past to our fathers by and through His prophets, is steadfast and sure and that every transgression and disobedience carries with it a "recompense of just reward". In other words, there is a penalty, a price that must be paid for sin.
Let's recap what Paul wrote just to refresh our memories:
This leaves us sinners in a heap of trouble unless we do as Paul told us in the first verse of this 2nd chapter and earnestly heed the things we have heard concerning His salvation and His deliverance.Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
We are going to learn more about the Word who became flesh, Jesus Christ, and also those who carry on as His messengers, those who declare His righteousness and bear witness to His truth and justice in these last days. Hopefully this will bring joy to your heart even adding to the way in which you "see" our "Lord" and "Savior", Jesus Christ, and view your own trials and tribulations and even those of your brothers and sisters![3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;[4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Paul is now going to teach us more concerning the Plan of God we read of in Psalm 8 where it was declared long ago that Christ would be made a little lower than the angels, i.e. made to dwell in the flesh as one of us.
For the purpose of comparison, here is Paul's quote from Psalm 8:5 in Heb. 2:7:
Paul now repeats Heb. 2:7 (from Psalm 8:5) with further explanation for our understanding:Hebrews 2:7
Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst Him with glory and honour, and didst set Him over the works of thy hands:
If we take the time to understand what Paul is teaching us, we will come to a richer understanding in "seeing" Jesus and the reasons He was made a little lower than the angels, i.e. made subject to pain and suffering and death. Of course we know that Christ was totally innocent, without iniquity, the perfect and unblemished Lamb of sacrifice for sin and that by His death on the cross He made our salvation possible in providing us with deliverance (salvation) from the certain penalty of death which accompanies transgression and disobedience. In fact, Jesus Christ is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7).Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Many people like to say that "salvation is free", but it really is not in the sense that the just recompense for sin and disobedience MUST be executed, i.e. the price MUST be paid, which is what Jesus Christ did on our behalf, "standing in for every man" (Heb. 2:9), meaning anyone, "whomsoever will", who will come to repentance and believe in Him. So you see, our salvation cost Jesus Christ His life, which was an awesome price to pay, wouldn't you say?
But wait! There's more! You see, because of His death AND His enduring temptation and suffering He is able not only to deliver us from death and the hands of all our enemies, but to succor us (as in relieve or help us, vs. 18) through all our trials and tribulations. To wit, we have now read numerous times that Christ has been "crowned" with glory and honor as a result of His suffering and death. This is extremely important because the PLAN IS to bring many more sons unto glory. Open your eyes and ears... here it is:
[10] For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Jesus Christ came down from above ("anothen" in Greek) and became as one of us, one of the brethren, even "taking on Him the seed of Abraham" (vs. 16) and dwelling in the flesh in the midst of us. To wit, His name was "Emmanuel", which means "God with us"! In other words, Christ became as one of us in that He felt pain and suffered and was tempted in more ways than most of us will ever be during our flesh experience. Remember, we just read in verse 10 that He was the Creator of the Universe, the One for "Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things" and yet He was not "too good" (i.e. not ashamed) to be made lower than the angels and become one of us, a member of the brotherhood of man. In other words, He did not ask us to do anything that He wasn't willing to do both in becoming flesh and enduring trials, tribulations, and even death. Think about it! This is more than profound! This is the greatest act of love and unselfishness ever![11] For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
And you know what? Is was written concerning Him becoming "one of the brethren in our midst" long before He even did so. Paul brings this to our attention.
Paul is quoting Psalm 22:22 in this verse which now makes that Psalm part of the Book of Hebrews, and therefore part of the New Testament. And indeed it is part of the New Testament for every word of Psalm 22 depicts the events of that momentous day including the very pain and suffering and death of Messiah on the cross, establishing beyond a shadow of doubt by the evidence of its complete fulfillment that Jesus Christ was the Messiah.[12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
And the reason Paul quotes this particular verse from Psalm 22 is that it directly relates to (utters to) what he just said in verse 11, i.e. that Christ became one of the brethren and dwelt in the midst of us, as one of us!
Note: Psalm 22, written 1,000 years before the crucifixion, gives the details of the events that happened on that day of His crucifixion, even foretelling of the gambling for Christ's clothing that would take place by the Roman soldiers. Furthermore, there can be little doubt that Jesus Christ quoted and taught this entire Psalm while He hung on the cross. To that end, consider for a moment the thoughts of the thief alongside Him who witnessed those events, like the gambling, etc., as they unfolded and the words of the Psalm being uttered by Messiah came to pass right before his very eyes. Yes, he became a believer! You see, it is written in Mat. 27:46 & Mark 15:34 that Christ cried with a loud voice saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Did you know these are the first words of Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?.. (Ps. 22:1)". Jesus was simply quoting this Psalm! It is also written in John 19:30 that the last words Christ spoke before He died were "... It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." "It is finished" are also the last words of Psalm 22 in Hebrew. (See note on Psalm 22:31 in the Companion Bible.)Yes, I believe Jesus quoted the whole 22 chapter of Psalms. Matthew and Mark just didn't tell us so. No wonder the thief was converted! It all took place just as written and quoted! right before his eyes.
It is also written in the last two verses of Psalm 22 ( vs. 30-31) concerning that "seed", the brethren (brothers and sisters) who come and serve Him in the final generation, declaring His righteousness, even His Holy Word, unto a "people that shall be born"! They are those disciples Paul spoke of Heb. in 2:2-3 who "hear Him", i.e. who hear His voice, teaching and confirming the Word of God and bearing "witness" in these last days!Here is the verse from Psalm 22 that Paul just quoted in Hebrews 2:12:
And so Jesus Christ did declare the Father unto His brethren: in the midst of the congregation, as the one called "Em-manu-el"... God dwelling "im", with us, i.e. in our midst! Not only THAT, Paul gives us further reference concerning what "Emmanuel" said in the scriptures. He next quotes excerpts from Psalm 18/Isa. 8 and then from Isa. 12.Psalm 22:22
I will declare Thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Hebrews 2:13
And again, I will put my trust in Him.
What do these two verses tell us? Let's go to their source and read them in context.And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
This is also written in Isaiah chapter 12 concerning trusting the LORD as our deliverer. Paul will emphasize this "deliverance" in Heb. 2:15 just a few verses hence.Psalm 18:1-2
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.[2] The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
First of all, DO NOT ever let someone tell you that Jesus Christ was afraid of dying. Fear is not of God. 2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Neither do God's servants fear those who can only kill the flesh for they revere the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell, Gehennah, which represents the lake of fire (Mat. 10:28). God's servants, His true unwavering, uncowering Christian soldiers, always take a stand and fight and defend the kingdom. You see, as God's servants we KNOW who it is we serve. We serve the Creator of Universe, the One who has ALL POWER in both heaven earth. As an ensample (1 Cor. 10:11) of how God's servants are so concerned about their flesh bodies, read what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedneggo said when they were delivered up to death before king Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon who was a type (an ensample) of the king of Babylon in these last days, i.e. a type of the false-christ, Satan, "the-instead-of-Christ"?Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
They did not have to think about nor "premeditate" what they said to the king of Babylon when they were delivered up, did they?Daniel 3:16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
The only way Satan can harm or kill one of God's elect is to first "get past" (i.e. by permission) our Father who protects them according to His will. To that end, it was God's will, ordained from the beginning, because of His love and grace that His Son would suffer and pay the price on the cross. It is all part of the PLAN, the grand purpose, in bringing many sons to glory.[17] If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.[18] But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
By the way, the Hebrew word for "salvation" in Isaiah 12:2 is "yeshuwah" meaning "deliverance".
Paul next quoted in Heb. 2:13 the phrase "I and the children whom the LORD hath given me" from Isa. 8:18. Let's go read that entire verse (Note: It is beyond the scope of this study of Hebrews to be able to bring in the full content and context of all the scriptures Paul refers to in his teaching, but serious students should do so on their own):
All of us must be born "from above", into the sack of water and then be re-born of the spirit in order to enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus Christ along with the elect of God, the ones chosen before the foundation of this earth age (Eph. 1:4), i.e. the ones the LORD had given Him, all serve His purpose, His will, and serve as conspicuous "signs" which means beacons, signals, lights, evidence, even as witnesses. Again, we already noted that Psalm 22:30-31 speaks concerning the "seed" who shall come (even have) and serve Him in this final generation. Those sons and daughters make up those two rays of light spoken of in Habakkuk 3, who are those two golden candlesticks in Rev. 2 & 3, who are the churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna.Isaiah 8:18
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
Paul is now going to recap, as if to say "in others words", and then he will explain something else that Jesus Christ accomplished by His death, the depth of which is understood by those who have been eating "meat" for awhile!
So... Jesus Christ took part of flesh and blood after the same manner as all the children of God who must all be "born again", which is to be born "anothen" meaning born "from above", into the sack of water and then be re-born of the spirit in order to enter into the kingdom of God. Christ explained this requirement to Nicodemus in John 3 and that "even the Son of man, who is now in heaven, was willing to do the same (John 3:13). It is also confirmed by the words of Paul in the 9th chapter of Hebrews where he teaches us that it is given unto all men once to die (i.e. in the flesh) before the day of judgment (which occurs at the end of the Millennium). Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Again, Christ was willing to do the same thing as the children and so we see the love and fairness of our Father in that He did not ask His children to come down from above and be born of flesh while exempting Himself.Hebrews 2:14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
It is the "will of God" to bring many sons to glory though the training (I'll call it) in the flesh!
We "see" in Heb. 2:14 that one of the things Christ purposed "through (His) death" was "that through death He might destroy Satan"! Now students of God's Word know from Ezekiel 28 that Satan has already been sentenced to perish in the lake of fire and there is no turning back for him, i.e. there is no pos+sibility for repentance. That is why he is even called the "son of perdition", which means the son who will perish. Those seasoned students also know from Ezekiel 28 that Satan was once a prince of our people until he decided he wanted to be king and sit on high! That's right! Ezekiel 28 will show that Satan was once a beloved son of God, a prince of our people, a bright morning star who once wore the breastplate of (as a priest) and walked up and down in the midst of "the stones of fire", which are the 12 tribes of Israel whose identity stones are listed there. Again, he was a beloved son of God and he was positioned very high in the mountain (kingdom, govt.) of God, even as a cherub covering (protecting) the mercy seat where the Word of God dwelt. Things were going along fine until iniquity was found in Satan and he ended up becoming as a great red dragon whereby he drew 1/3 of God's children away from that mercy seat of truth and justice he was once the guardian of (Rev. 12:4).
So God sentenced His once beautiful and beloved son (our brother) who went bad to DIE... which would not be an easy thing to do, would it? However, it would come to pass that Satan would bring about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, while He dwelt in the flesh. To that end, Jesus Christ actually became a witness to Satan killing the Son of God. This all goes back even to the prophecy from the beginning in Genesis 3:15 which declared that the "enmity" would result in causing Satan to "bruise His heel" (when He walked in the flesh) but He would wound (to death) the serpent's head. To that end, the murderous serpent, Satan, showed his true colors (none of them white by the way) by killing the Son of God. The point is... even aside from the fact that the law itself justifies Satan's execution as a convicted murder... it somehow makes it easier to see this son perish, knowing that he not only brought death into this world through the temptation of Adam of Eve, he murdered the Son of God.
And so it is that through Christ's death we have the victory over death and the bondage of this flesh.Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
So we now begin to see the wondrous reasons why Jesus Christ did not come as an angel, but rather came in the flesh, even taking on Him the seed of Abraham, whose name means the "father of many nations".1 Cor. 15:54-58
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Again, Jesus Christ, the Word of God from the beginning, for whom and by whom all things were created, could have come at any time with all power and glory and subdued all things and all people. But you see, it is the "will of God" to bring many sons to glory though the training (I'll call it) in the flesh during this flesh age! Remember, Christ was "crowned" with glory and honor through His suffering and death!Hebrews 2:16
For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.
We all know too well that we are all subject to the pains and sufferings and death of this corruptible flesh.
Just never let it be said that Jesus Christ, our "perfect" advocate who sits at the right hand of the Father, does not understand what you are going through. Quite frankly, it is much harder for most of us to understand the amount of pain and suffering and endurance of temptation that He went through. The saying goes that if we all sat around and threw our problems into the center of the ring, we would all end up taking our own back. To wit, would you rather endure what you are enduring or endure what Messiah went through? The fact is, He never puts on our plate more than we can handle.
Now, think hard, for this can forever change the way you "see" your trials and tribulations, even death, from here on out! If you can "see the picture" Paul has drawn for us using the scriptures and understand the "glory and perfection" that was accomplished in the pain and suffering of Jesus Christ, then you will have absolutely no difficulty understanding the opening words of James, the brother of Christ, in his great and marvelous book titled after his name:
Why in the world should we count our temptations joy? Here's the reason:James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Do you KNOW THIS? Do you "see" and "understand" that the testing of your convictions builds character, as in maturity and endurance and faithfulness?[3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
You hang in there and be patient and endure those trials and tribulations and overcome those temptations as best you can with His help. He knows what's going on and He can and will help if you come to Him. THEN... you shall become a can-do "helper", able to succor others, not a "helpee" as in a poor why-is-this-happening-to-me baby! In other words, you will be able BECAUSE of having been there and having done that and having gotten the victory in Him, to be a more compassionate, and merciful, and faithful servant of God able to take a stand in these last days and overcome Satan and His beast system thereby being a champion, an example, a leader, of your people. How glorious indeed![4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Consider our merciful and faithful high priest, Jesus Christ.
It "behoved" Him means it "benefited, advantaged" Him on our behalf, on behalf of the brethren, so that He now KNOWS AS ONE OF US exactly what we are going through! Therefore... He went through and endured all that one-on-one temptation by Satan himself, and endured all that humiliation and pain and suffering of an horrendous death by crucifixion on our behalf, because He loves us and so we now KNOW that HE KNOWS and we are comforted by knowing that He is a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. What an advocate we have sitting on the right hand of the Father!Hebrews 2:17
Wherefore in all things it behoved* Him to be made like unto his brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
You SEE! He knows... having been tempted Himself... and so He is able to succor (aid, relieve, help) them that are tempted. How about you? Are you able to help others? Think about it! If you have endured little or no pain and suffering and have not been subject to much temptation, how much relief and comfort are you able to give unto others who are tempted and or suffering? Understand how much more compassionate and of help (succoring) you can be if you have been "put through the wringer" or "tried in the fire" and have been victorious in the patience of Jesus Christ? To wit, Paul endured many trials and tribulations including among other things, being stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, tried in court, bit by a serpent, etc., etc.[18] For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.
Hopefully now, by understanding how Christ was "made perfect" through sufferings and the enduring of temptation, perhaps we can quit being "cry babies" (babies drinking only milk) and have a more mature and meat filled understanding of what Paul said after praying thrice that the thorn in his flesh be removed. Here was the Lord's reply to Paul's petition:
Paul understood the strength, the power of God, that comes from the faithful patience and endurance of our weaknesses and infirmities. So he was only too glad, joyous as James says, to endure and become more "Christ-like"! Here are his own words giving his own conclusion:2 Cor. 12:9
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Therefore, when we see one of our brothers or sisters suffering or going through a trial or struggling with temptation, know that in their "patience and endurance" they shall be made strong in Him and shall become more gracious and merciful as a result of their victory in overcoming! As a mature Christian, as a brother and companion in tribulation, pray and succor them and encourage them to be patient and endure, trusting in Jesus Christ, the Word of God, for deliverance!Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
So you have problems and trials and tribulations? Good for you! Count them as joy and hang in there and trust in the Lord and be made strong in Him, knowing full well from the Word of God that He knows exactly what is going on in your life!
What more can one say, other than "Thank you Father!"
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Hebrews chapter 3
You either believe the Word of God or you just think you do!
What a report Paul has given us in the first two chapters of this great Book of Hebrews. The question is, do you really believe his report? Romans 10:16 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" Paul not only told us and documented from the law and prophets who Jesus Christ was, the builder and the maker of all things, but he also told us and documented why it is He came to this earth to dwell in the flesh.
So it all comes down to this: You either believe Paul's report or you don't. You either believe the Word of God or you just think you do while stubbornly hanging on to traditions, thereby rejecting His Word in your unbelief!
You see, for many people if what they "hear" does not align with what they have been taught from childhood, then they turn a deaf ear and harden their hearts (minds).The problem for most is that the majority of those things they grew up believing are the traditions of men which have now become preconceived ideas and doctrines.
Here is what preconceived means:
Of course "pre" means prior to or beforehand, so "pre-conceived" means that your mind is already impregnated with ideas and beliefs! To that end, the topic in chapter 3 is put forth simply in the question, "Will you open up your eyes and ears to "hear" Christ's voice or will you harden your heart (mind) and hold on to the idolatrous preconceived traditions of men?" The choice is yours, while it is still "today", for when "tomorrow" comes it will be too late. Let us therefore read and understand and act upon what our Father has given us through His servant, the great teacher and Hebrew scholar, the apostle Paul.Main Entry: con·ceive
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): con·ceived; con·ceiv·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French conceivre, from Latin concipere to take in, conceive, from com- + capere to take --
1 a : to become pregnant with (young) b: to cause to begin : ORIGINATE
2 a : to take into one's mind <conceive a prejudice> b: to form a conception of : IMAGINE
3 : to apprehend by reason or imagination : UNDERSTAND
4 : to be of the opinion
intransitive senses
1 : to become pregnant
2 : to have a conception -- usually used with of <conceives of death as emptiness>
synonym see THINK
- con·ceiv·er noun
Wherefore... as in consequently having heard and understood all that Paul has taught us so far in the first two chapters concerning just who Christ is and why He came to this earth to dwell in the flesh... you "holy brethren", you sanctified brothers and sisters who are partakers of the heavenly calling, i.e. you set aside ones who have a job to do as that "seed" of Ps. 22:31 who would come in the final generation and declare His righteousness, you "consider" the One sent to declare the Father (and to pay the price) and High Priest (made perfect through sufferings) of our profession (confession). You do profess to be a Christian, a man or woman who believes and follows Christ, do you not?"Are you one of those to whom Paul is addressing in this first verse?" Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
So... the question is, "Are you one of those to whom Paul is addressing in this first verse?" In other words, do you have a heavenly calling, a destiny to fulfill as one of the "holy brethren" chosen from before the foundation of this earth age (Eph. 1:4)? Because if you are one of His and do have a purpose and a destiny, then right now, today, is the time to stop and "consider", which means to observe fully, perceive, fully comprehend, the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to Him that appointed Him.
Paul now points out in his teaching that Moses was also faithful, as in trustworthy, in all his house, i.e. in the house of the Lord... but you "see"... there is a huge difference between the two which Paul wants us to understand. He begins his explanation of this difference by quoting Numbers 12:7, so let's go there and see what we might learn in our "considering" of Jesus:[2] Who was faithful to Him that appointed Him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
Moses was a faithful and trustworthy servant through whom God spoke "mouth to mouth", even "apparently" meaning very clearly and plainly and not in dark speeches. And he spoke after the manner of, or the image of, the LORD which simply means that all he spoke of and did was to behold the image of the Lord Jesus Christ who was to come! Paul makes this very clearly in verse 5 (Heb. 3:5) when he says that Moses truly was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. In other words, Moses gave documentation, a complete foreshadowing as a witness to Christ who would be the fulfillment of all those foreshadowings, and he also gave testimony to the words that He would speak.Numbers 12:7-8
My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. [8] With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold..."
To wit, Moses was a teacher of the law which is the great "schoolmaster", and what he as a faithful servant of God built in the wilderness was a type, a clear and precise foreshadowing from beginning to end, so that we who are present in these last days could SEE, as in get a visual glimpse, of the real house which is Jesus Christ, the temple of the Lord, the body of Christ. So have you gone to "school" and learned from the schoolmaster? If you want to "consider" the Lord Jesus Christ and "see" how the temple of the Lord, His house, is built in these last days, it is ALL RIGHT THERE in the testimony of Moses who gave us a complete witness to Jesus Christ!
Paul continues concerning Christ:
Every house is built by someone. In other words, just as you cannot have a law without a lawgiver, you cannot have a house without a house builder! You see, "the One for whom and by whom all things are created" (Heb. 2:10), the One who brought into existence all there is and ever was, is the builder of His house, the many membered body of Jesus Christ. Again, Moses was just a servant of God, a faithful laborer in the construction of the type of the house which Christ would permanently build, even through His servants in these last days, who are of that house IF... upon condition of... they remain faithful to the end !!!(vs. 6)!!! That may be a little deep for some, but hang in there and continue to seek His wisdom if you are somewhat lacking (James 1:5)! James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given himHebrews 3:3
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.[4] For every house is builded by some man; but He that built all things is God.
You see, just to believe that Christ is God or that there is only one God, is not what true belief is.
Paul is persuading us after the same manner in this great Book of Hebrews. What a report he is giving us!Acts 28:23-27
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Heb. 3:5
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
CHRIST and thus have the type of faith and confidence Paul refers to in this Book of Hebrews?"
[6] But Christ as a son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Live Link to- Will you Endure til the end?
Let us dwell on the question of "belief" for a little while as we let Paul continue to teach us and explain the simplicity of all this by bringing to light the 95th Psalm.
Paul now quotes the 95th Psalm beginning with the SECOND HALF of verse 7 (above) all the way to the end of the Psalm. Hmmm... perhaps it would "behoove" one to read the first part of the Psalm, especially the first part of verse 7, in order to gain the context and put the whole Psalm in perspective.[7] Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear His voice,
Psalm 95:1-6
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. [2] Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. [3] For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. [4] In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also. [5] The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. [6] O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
Psalm 95:7
For He is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
John 10:1-5
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is the door to His sheepfold... even the door to His house! You see, the traditions of men, taught in most churches, will not gain you entrance to His house. You must "hear His voice" as one of His![2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
[3] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, leads His own sheep and they follow His voice. The point is, He does not go behind them and drive them like a bunch of cattle!
[4] And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
[5] And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Psalm 95:8
Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: [9] When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. [10] Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: [11] Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Hebrews 3:8
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
You know, many think today that if they were back in the wilderness during the time of Moses that they would not be among those who hardened their hearts and did not follow after His ways. Oh foolish virgin... have you not read? Do you not see the picture, the type set forth?
Again, our fathers saw, they witnessed, all those wonders and great miracles of our Father for 40 years and still many did not BELIEVE! So our Father let them wander and wander until they died in the wilderness. Remember, that was a type for us to SEE in this generation. "for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Cor. 10:11)".[9] When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
We also have His Word printed and made available to any and all as never before in the history of mankind.
We are going to take a little side trip here to explain why you need to be cautious of what version of the Bible you read, Please bare with us.
We here at The American Wisdom Series feel confident that the official 1611 King James version of "The Companion Bible" is the most accurate and unaltered Bible still available and being sold today.
Readers of The Companion Bible are put in possession of information denied to former generations of translators, commentators, critics, and general Bible students. Because of "The Massorah".
All
the oldest
and best manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible contain on every page, beside
the Text (which is arranged in two or more columns), a varying number
of lines of smaller writing, distributed between the upper and lower
margins. This
smaller writing is called the Massorah Magna or Great Massorah,
while that in the
side margins and between the columns is called the Massorah Parva or
Small Massorah.
The illustration given below is a reduced facsimile of a Hebrew
Manuscript (16.25 x 12.375), written in a German hand, about the year
A.D. 1120.
The small writing in the margins in this particular
Manuscript is seen to occupy seven lines in the lower margin, and four
lines in the upper; while in the outer margins and between the three
columns is the Massorah Para.
The
word Massorah is from the root masar, to deliver something into the
hand of another,
so as to commit it to his trust. Hence
the name is given to the small writing referred to, because it contains
information necessary to those into whose trust the Sacred Text was
committed, so that they might transcribe it, and hand it down correctly.
The
Text itself had been fixed before the Massorites were put in charge of
it.
This had been the work of the Sopherim (from
saphar, to count,
or number). Their work, under Ezra and Nehemiah, was to set the Text in
order after the return from Babylon; and we read of it in Nehemiah 8:8
1(compare Ezra 7:6,11). The men of "the Great Synagogue"
completed the
work. This work lasted about 110 years, from Nehemiah to Simon the
first, 410-300 B.C.
The Sopherim were the authorized revisers of the Sacred Text; and,
their work being completed, the
Massorites were the authorized custodians of it. Their
work was to preserve it. The Massorah is called "A Fence
to the Scriptures," because it locked all words and
letters in their places.
It does not contain
notes or comments as such, but facts and phenomena.
It records the number of times the several letters occur in the various
books of the Bible; the number of words, and the middle word; the
number of verses, and the middle verse; the number of expressions and
combinations of words, etc. All
this, not from a perverted ingenuity, but for the set purpose of
safeguarding the Sacred Text, and preventing the loss or misplacement
of a single letter or word.
This Massorah is not contained in the margins of any one
Manuscript.
No Manuscript contains the whole, or even the same part. It is spread
over many Manuscripts, and Dr. C.D. Ginsburg has been the first and
only scholar who has set himself to collect and collate the whole,
copying it from every available Manuscript in the libraries of many
countries. He has published it in three large folio volumes, and
only a small number of copies has been printed. These are obtainable
only by the original subscribers When the Hebrew Text was
later printed, only
the large type in the columns was regarded, and small type of the
Massorah was left, unheeded, in the Manuscripts from which the Text was
taken. Therefore; When translators came to the printed
Hebrew Text, they were
necessarily destitute of the information contained in the Massorah; so
that the Revisers as well as the Translators of the Authorized Version
carried out their work without any idea of the treasures contained in
the Massorah; and therefore, without giving a hint of it to their
readers.
The Companion Bible,
is the first time, an edition of the Authorized Version has been
given
containing any of these treasures of the Massorah, that affect so
seriously the understanding of the Text. A vast number of the
Massoretic notes concern only the orthography, and matters that pertain
to the Concordance. But many of those which affect the
sense, or throw any additional light
on the Sacred
Text, are noted in the margin of The Companion Bible.
Some
of the important lists of words which are contained in the Massorah are
also given, videlicet, those that have the "extraordinary points"
(Appendix 31); the "eighteen emendations" of the Sopherim (see Appendix
33); the 134 passages where they substituted Adonai for Jehovah (see
Appendix 32); and the Various Readings called Severin (see Appendix
34). These are given in separate Appendixes; but other words of any
importance are preserved in our marginal notes.
Readers of The Companion Bible are put
in possession of
information denied to
former generations of translators,
commentators, critics, and
general Bible students.
For further information on the Massorah see Dr. Ginsburg's Introduction
to the Hebrew Bible, of which only a limited edition was printed; also
a small pamphlet on The Massorah published by King's Printers.
NOTE
1
The Talmud explains that "the book" meant the original text;
"distinctly" means explaining it by giving the Chaldee paraphrase;
"gave the sense" means the division of words, etc. according to the
sense; and "caused them to understand the reading" means to
give
the traditional pronunciation of the words (which were then without
vowel points).
IF
you don't have a Companion
Bible you
can
Download
a
Companion Bible free at: http://www.companionbiblecondensed.com/
When you open site click unto and download one book at
a time unto your disk or hard drive.
and
the appendix at: http://www.markfoster.net/rn/companion_bible_appendices.pdf
End of side trip. Sorry for the long distraction from out study of Hebrews chapter 3. Just be sure you are not studying from corrupted Scripture!
But STILL our people do err in their hearts (minds) and have NOT known His ways.
And the problem is... time is running out on this final generation and Yeshua (same in Hebrew as Joshua) will soon lead His people across the river to the promised land.
Hebrews 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.[11] So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
So many of our dear brothers and sisters do not have "ears to hear" nor "eyes to see" though they have His Word in their possession, readily available to them in their own language.
They truly believe that what they do in their church traditions is pleasing to our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is written that MANY will come to Him crying Lord, Lord, we have done all these wonderful things we were told (by our one verse Rev.) were pleasing to you.
Here is what is written concerning them:
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Do you know from His Word what is pleasing to God?
They do err in their hearts, in what they "perceive" to be Christianity as exampled in the next verse.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
They are still Biblically illiterate along with the majority of our people and consequently they do NOT KNOW Him!
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You see, iniquity is "lawlessness", that which is contrary to the Word of God.
And it is written, those vain traditions make void the Word of God (Mark 7:13).
The Greek word for "err" used in Heb. 3:10 is "plano" which means to roam, to go astray, deceive, seduce, wander, be out of the way!
The corresponding word "err" in Psalm 95:10 means to vacillate, to waver or reel, to go astray, as in to stagger and wander.
In conclusion, let us go to the prophet Isaiah once again and see why our people "stagger".
Isaiah 29:9-13 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
They are drunk on religion.
If they had a sure foundation in His Word, the Rock of our salvation, they would not stagger nor would they fall to their spiritual death in the final day of temptation.
[10] For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
To wit, most do not even know that many of the people of the United States and Great Britain and Canada, etc. comprise the so-called "lost" tribes of the House of Israel.
[11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
They cannot see the simplicity of His truth for as it is written, no man in heaven or earth can open the seals of the book!
Only Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, can do that, and in order for Him to do that, you must come to Him. (PICK IT UP AND READ IT; YES, YOUR BIBLE (HIS WORD), IT's LAYING OVER THERE ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE GATHERING DUST!)
Rev. 5:3 "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon."
[12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
Our brothers and sisters are told that one must be "learned" as in have a ThD or PhD or a seminary degree of some sort in order to be able read with understanding the letter their own Father wrote to them.
However, many of those who do have those degrees are all but clueless themselves regarding His truth and so they continue to perpetuate the idolatrous traditions of men and substitute praise and worship services in place of teaching His Word chapter by chapter and line by line.
[13] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
It is really quite simple.
They just do not know His Word.
They have been fed milk all their adult Christian lives according as Paul declares in Heb. 5.
Therefore, all that most of our people know about the fear (reverence, i.e. love) of God is what they have been taught from the traditions of men, which are pre-conceived, pre-impregnated ideas!
So remember that the generation who wandered in the wilderness was a type for our admonition which Paul brings to our attention here in his teaching to the Hebrews, to the dispersed tribes of the House of Israel (Christians from north-western Europe to the British isles and, later, on to the Americas) "in these last days upon whom the ends of the world (earth age) are come" (1 Cor. 10:11).
SEE LIVE LINK TO- pamphlets #1020 & #1064
SEE LIVE LINK TO- Generation of the "Fig Tree"
In other words, it will not be "Today" much longer!
Tomorrow is coming when Joshua (Yeshua) will come and lead His people into the promised land.
Will you enter into that promise land, into His rest, or will you spiritually die in the wilderness?
By the way, did you know you can enter into His rest right now, today, if you "believe"?
Stay with us in this study of Hebrews and learn all about the "sabbath", His peaceful rest available to you right now.
You see, just saying you believe doesn't make it so.
What does the word "believe", as in to "believe in Christ", mean to you?
Whatever that is, I am sure you would agree that the opposite of "belief" is "unbelief"!
Here is the definition from Strong's Concordance of the word translated "unbelief" in this 3rd chapter of Hebrews:
unbelief = apistia, ap-is-tee'-ah, Greek 570; from Greek 571 (apistos); faithlessness, i.e. (negative) disbelief (want of Christian faith), or (positive) unfaithfulness(disobedience):- unbelief.
Now Paul is going to teach and show us what "unbelief" is lest any of the brethren don't quite "get it" because they have hardened their hearts, meaning they have become "hard hearted (hard minded)", or as we say today "hardheaded" and keep their ears closed by remaining stedfast in the idolatrous traditions of men.
And in order to help us "get the picture" Paul is going to exhort us to learn by the "ensamples" of our forefathers in the wilderness what "unbelief" is and to know that those who harbor that unbelief will NOT cross the (spiritual) river and enter into His rest!
The subject therefore of today's teachings of Paul in the remainder of this 3rd chapter of Hebrews is "unbelief" the purpose of which is that by "seeing" the unbelief of our forefathers hopefully we will be able to better understand what it means to truly "believe".
You see, just saying you believe doesn't make it so.
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
It is a word of warning to the brethren to beware and behold!
What is it we are to "take heed" and pay so much close attention to?
Remember we learned from Acts 28 that it was Paul's manner to teach Christ from the law and the prophets which all give witness unto Him.
You may also recall we saw in Mat. 7 that there shall be many Christians who come to Christ crying "Lord, Lord", who have not "taken heed" to His Word in trusting and obeying His Voice, but nevertheless believe that they as do-gooder Christians have pleased Him in all the things they have done in His name.
Unfortunately, in their ignorance of His Word they do not even know that what they do in their traditions is iniquitous and evil in the sight of the Lord and provokes Him to anger.
That may sound like we are judging them or "putting them down" which is not at all the case.
Paul is very blunt and clear on this matter in 1 Cor. 10 where he says that if you as a Christian think you stand, i.e. if you think in your heart (mind) that you are in good standing with the Father, and yet you haven't paid close attention to, studied and "taken heed" to the ensamples which are written for our admonition and understanding, then you are in big danger of falling (in the wilderness of temptation).
In other words, you will fall in the great falling away, the great apostasy Paul speaks of in 2 Thes. 2, and (spiritually) die in the wilderness when Satan shows up as the false-christ!
Why?
Because you do "err" and are "unstable" indeed!
Read the HIStory lesson Paul gives in 1 Cor. 10:1-10 concerning the children in the wilderness before reading what he says in these next two verses.
1 Cor. 10:11-12 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
[12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heedlest he fall.
The point is... if all one ever does is go to church and follow after the traditions of men... that person shows his or her "unfaithfulness" to Him in not hearkening unto His Voice... thereby demonstrating that he or she Does Not Believe in Him!
This should help us to more fully understand the word "believe" in the most quoted verse in all of Christiandom:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
However, all that is called Christ is not Christ.
In fact, it is written that there is a false one coming soon who shall claim that he is Christ by showing great signs and wonders in the sight of men (2 Thes. 2).
The question is, Do you believe in the real Jesus Christ, the Son of God, or do you believe in the other Christ, the fake Christ?
Certainly not you!
You say!
That's really interesting when you
think about it,
because it is written that it
is the majority who shall be deceived and believe in the false messiah.
Well, the fact is that those who are deceived do not know or believe they are deceived.
That is the very mark of what deception is.
The question is, "Do you believe in the real Jesus Christ, the Son of God, or do you believe in the other Christ, the fake Christ, Satan as the spurious mesiah?
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
You see, in Heb. 3:12 we just read that God is a living God and it is only through His Son Jesus Christ, through believing in Him that we can be partakers of that everlasting life.
However, all that is called Christ is not Christ.
In fact, it is written that there is a false one coming soon who shall claim that he is Christ by showing great signs and wonders in the sight of men (2 Thes. 2).
The question is, "Do you believe in the real Jesus Christ, the Son of God, or do you believe in the other Christ, the fake Christ (Satan as the spurious mesiah)?
Of course there is no one who reads that question who is going to think that he or she believes in the false-christ, right?
Certainly not you!
That's really interesting when you think about it, because it is written that it is the majority who shall be deceived and believe in the false messiah.
Well, the fact is that those who are deceived do not know or believe they are deceived.
That is the very mark of what deception is.
So take heed!
Yes, you!
Take a look at the trustworthiness of your "profession", which is your confession or conviction, i.e. your professed belief in Jesus Christ as a servant of His.
You see, your actions, what you do, declares whose voice you listen to and follow.
Have you ever read what Christ says to the 7 churches that are in existence at his return? Rev. chapters 2-3
He knows their works, what they do! In fact, He says to each and every one of them, i.e. to all Christians, "I KNOW YOUR WORKS"!
And you know what?
Only two out of those 7 churches were found pleasing to Him and that is because they "kept His Word" (Rev. 3:10) and taught the truth... even concerning the kenites who claim to be God's chosen people but are not (Rev. 2:9 & 3:9).
So how do we stay on track and not be drawn away by those things that only appear to be good and of Christ in order that we might enter into eternal life?
Stay in His word, cast aside the traditions of men and listen to His voice, to what the Word of God has to say.
The more you live (dwell) with Christ, the Word of God, the better you will get to know Him and the more you will come to love and trust Him and walk in His ways. (Read 1 Jn. 4:15-16).
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
On a little deeper level, Paul is telling us if you want
to be a partaker of Christ (next verse) when He returns,
then hear His voice today,
even during this 6th and final day before the 7th Day,
the Day of Rest, the Millennium, has arrived.
So begin today, even this very day!
The warning is that you must hear (with understanding) and do those things which Christ commands in His Word, else you will miss the wedding and "the door" will be shut to you throughout the Millennium whereby you will have to wait until after the 1000 years and the great white throne judgment in order to receive life eternal, which is called the second resurrection, the second raising to the status of immortality.
The second resurection, not until after the Millennium, based on your Works!
One more thing in verse 13.
The "deceitfulness of sin" is the delusion (apate) that the iniquitous, idolatrous, traditions of men are good and pleasing to our Father.
They are not!
Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
So hear and take heed to His Voice, Today, and walk in His ways!
Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
The
apostle Paul, chosen by God before the foundation
of this world (Eph.
1:4)
to
carry forth His truth as an OBEDIENT servant of Jesus Christ, the Word
of God,
disagrees
with many of our preachers and ministers!
To be a "partaker" is to be "one who shares" and those who love the LORD will be crowned and share in the glory and honor of Jesus Christ at His return!
Who are those who love (agapao) Him?
You should know that by now from what Paul has taught us about Christ and Moses being trustworthy and faithful to the commands of God, to ALL of His commands.
In other words, those who truly believe and love the Lord, do keep His Word... all of it!
Of course, you do not have to take my word for it but perhaps you will believe the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
nor does he or she really believe in Him!
So Paul is simply saying in Heb. 3:14 that you are assured to be a partaker with Christ IF you love Him, because if you do love Him you will show that love by staying in His Word and keeping His commands!
And this you will do because you want to, not because you have to.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Hebrews 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
One would have to say he has placed much emphasis on what is written there, right?
He keeps pointing to the lessons to be learned from the "ensamples" of the children in the wilderness who did not listen (hearken) to God's commands but rather provoked Him by going astray!
In doing so they "proved" by their actions that they were disloyal and unfaithful, and therefore demonstrated their "unbelief"!
In other words, Paul is documenting from the scriptures, from the law and the prophets (David was a prophet), what it means to "Believe in Christ!"
You must trust and obey His commands else He has a problem with you, just as any loving parent gets provoked when his or children are disobedient and do not listen.
The Greek word for "sinned" is "hamartano". Here is Strong's definition:[16] For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.[17] But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
sinned = hamartano, har-ar-tan'-o, Greek 264; perhaps from Greek 1(a) (as a negative particle) and the base of Greek 3313 (meros); properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e. (figurative to err, especially (moral) to sin:- for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.
which resulted in their unfaithfulness, which we now know is unbelief.
Therefore God allowed them to die in the wilderness.
Those children who did not obey Him in the wilderness did not make it across the river into the promised land.
In the same spiritual sense, exampled to us by what we "saw" happen in the wilderness, those who not "take heed" to His Word in these last days shall also die (spiritually) in the wilderness.
Paul now documents that Almighty God does not mean "maybe" they will not enter into His rest, but He swares to it!
In other words, it is a PROMISE that those who provoke Him to anger in their unbelief shall not enter into His rest!
Take heed.
[18] And to whom sware He that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
[19] So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
That is certainly what the many preachers and ministers who come in Christ's name tell our people, isn't it?
The apostle Paul, chosen by God before the foundation of this world (Eph. 1:4) to carry forth His truth as an OBEDIENT servant of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, disagrees with them!
Furthermore, Jesus Christ warned all of us about the massive deception in these last days that would result in the unbelief of so many of our brothers and sisters who would provoke Him to wrath.
Take heed, study and believe His Word and see that you are not among those who are drawn away from Him.
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Hebrews chapter 4
We have thus seen by example and clear explanation from Paul that it is only those who believe, only those who really have faith and trust in Him, who shall enter into His rest.
Chapter four of Hebrews carries over from the previous
chapter where Paul had exhorted us to remain steadfast in the Word of God
and not go astray lest we become as the unbelievers in
the wilderness who left their carcasses there and did not enter into the
promised land.
Paul says we had better "take heed" and pay attention to, as in read and learn and understand, all those things that happened of old.
Therefore, we must have confidence in Him and trust in Him thereby showing that we "believe" in Him.
You see, how can one say he or she believes in someone and His ways and then go follow another and his ways.
To that end, we know that there was an appointed time,
a generation of 40 years, when our forefathers wandered in the wilderness
during which time many came up short of entering into His rest.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Paul says we had better "take heed" and pay attention to, as in read and learn and understand, all those things that happened of old.
In fact, God promised in His wrath that the unbelievers, the disobedient, would NOT enter into His rest.
Just so we all know, though He is a loving and compassionate Father, don't treat Him like dirt and ignore His Word for it provokes Him, as it would you also!
Rather, let us show our love (fear, i.e. reverence) for Him by trusting and relying on Him and doing the things He asks us to.
Boy, does that make Him proud (as in well pleased) and happy with His children.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Read I Corinthians 10:11&12 again!!!!!!!
To that end, the apostle has gone to great lengths to show us that the reason they did not enter into His rest was because of their "unbelief", their lack of faith and trust in Him which translates into disobedience.
Therefore, he warns us, it is time to take heed and begin today, while there is yet time [i.e., while it is still called today... and it is], to love our Father by doing those things which He has spoken unto us... and not harden our hearts as did our forefathers.
We have thus seen by example and
clear explanation from Paul that it is only those who really believe, only those
who have faith and trust in Him, who shall enter into His rest.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
[2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Paul has already told us
Instead, they "erred" and were drawn away from Him and followed after idols and ungodliness.
Had they truly believed by trusting and relying on the word preached unto them, they could have entered into His rest, even into the promised land.
Understand the words with which Paul opened this great book of Hebrews explaining that God "at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds (Heb. 1:1-2).
You see, Jesus Christ is the Word of God and it is Jesus Christ who does the saving and leads us into His rest.
Do you trust and rely in Him... which is to say, Do you trust and rely in the Word of God?
A word to the wise (virgin) is sufficient.
James 1:21-22 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.[22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
It is by our hearing (hearkening unto) His Voice and not hardening our hearts that we enter into rest.
So we know... it is by our hearing mixed with "faith",
faithfulness to His Word, i.e. by being a "doer" that we enter into His
rest.
Therefore, get to know the Lord
Jesus Christ. You can only do that through His Word. Read it! Study it!
Eat the little book/His body!!
Make your abode with Him, for He is the living Word of God. John 14:23 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
The plan of God and the "rest", that eternal rest He has prepared for His children who love Him, was appointed even before foundation of the world, which means before the overthrow of Satan in the "world that then was (1 Pet. 3:6)". (See appendix 146 in the Companion Bible.)
[4] For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
After the same manner, Christ entered into that place after He had finished His work whereby He said, "It is finished (Jn. 19:30)".
How is your work coming along?
Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Jesus Christ has prepared that place, a resting place, an abode or mansion (Jn. 14:2) for you IF you will come and enter in.
Hebrews 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
[6] Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Paul has emphasized this point because he wants to be sure we understand what constitutes belief and unbelief!
Those who do believe can enter into His rest or dwelling places.
In fact, if you truly understand His rest, you can enter into that rest To Day.
Will you hear His saving voice, To Day, and cast aside the idolatrous traditions of men?
[7] Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Or using James terminology, "Do you receive with meekness (humility) the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls?"
The logic Paul reasons to us with is that after all that time, 500 years later, David again speaks of hearing His voice and not hardening your heart and entering into His rest.
In other words, that alone shows us that the rest Joshua gave the people was not, and could not have been, the "day" which God limited (i.e. appointed) even from the beginning.
It was but a type of the true rest, the "sabbatismos", which is fulfilled in Christ Jesus.
That is the true rest into which we enter.
[8] For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
The physical "rest" that Joshua gave them was but a foreshadowing of the spiritual "rest" into which we can enter through faith and trust... and that rest is a "sabbatism", i.e. the Sabbath which is Christ. Read and digest I Corinthians 10:11 and what it means to us spiritually.
This Greek word translated "rest" in this verse in not "katapauo" as is the case in the previous verses. This word is "sabbatismos" which is a rest on a much higher plane. It is the heavenly rest. It is the rest that comes from "finished work".[9]There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
sabbatismos = sab-bat-is-mos' Strong's #G4520
From a derivative of G4521; a "sabbatism", that is, (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven):—rest.
The fact is that Israel's sabbaths were calculated from the vantage point of the first day of the year according to the Solar Calendar which is the Vernal Equinox.
For example, read Lev. 23 and you will see that the high day of Christianity, which is the Lord's Passover, was to be "in the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover (Lev. 23:5)".
The point made is that the Vernal (or Spring) Equinox is basically a fixed calendar date (March 20-21) according to our Gregorian calendar.
It is much like Christmas or New Year's Day which are affixed to specific dates, which means that the date does not change but the day of week certainly does.
Those who have listened to men, instead of hearing His voice, and have become subject to the law contained in ordinances, be careful to do your homework.
You wouldn't want to be keeping Saturdays or Sundays as sabbaths if the sabbaths were all on Wednesdays this year, would you?
(You can do your own research to find out when and by whom the weekly sabbath was affixed to Saturday... in the bringing forth of the great synagogue.)
Perhaps it would help to understand the remainder of this 4th chapter of Hebrews concerning the "rest" we enter into through our labors, if we read what Paul wrote in Col. 2 concerning our completeness in Christ.
Col. 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
[9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.[10] And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Circumcision is also not of the flesh, but of the heart (mind). (See Rom. 2:29.)[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
You are made alive (quickened) by Jesus Christ, the Word of God from the beginning who came to this earth and paid the price, fulfilling the witness of Him contained in the law and the prophets, all of which was a foreshadowing teaching us as a schoolmaster all about Him.[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
All blood sacrifices and ceremonial ritualisms were nailed to the cross. For instance, we no longer go out on the 10th day of the first month and find an unblemished lamb and keep it until the 14th day and then kill it and eat it. Why not? Because Christ was the fulfillment of that law and so He became the sacrifice once and for all and now IS our Passover![14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
1 Cor. 5:7 "... For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
[15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
[16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
[17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
One more thing concerning the "day". Those who believe in Jesus Christ are the children of light (which light is Christ) and the children of the day, and thus it never becomes night for them for they remain in the light of "day"!
You see, a ritual or a day of the week cannot give you eternal peace of mind and rest. However, those who believe in Him have His rest every day, for every day in Him is a continuation of that "sabbath" day, a day in which His priests do labor.1 Thes. 5:5
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
The fact that there is work which precedes the rest is so often overlooked! But now let your labor be your faith and trustworthiness as exampled by Moses and Jesus, and remain stedfastness in your profession (confession as a Christian). If you are just hanging around going to church and awaiting the Rapturemobile to come give you a ride to never-never land, you better take heed to the example of unbelief Paul has so patiently brought to our attention.Hebrews 4:10
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased [rested] from his own works, as God did from his.
Note: It is significant and fitting that it was Joshua (a type of Jesus) and not Moses who led the children of Israel into the promised land. Moses represents the law which Paul explained was a foreshadowing of Christ, a schoolmaster which teaches us all about Jesus Christ. It is therefore not the law, the shadows, that can take you into the "promised land", it is only Jesus who can do that.
Once again Paul refers to that example of "unbelief" which is disobedience to God's Word. Now consider the following profound statements by Paul in tying together what we have learned from the examples he gave us and his exhortation to love God (vs. 1) and serve Him (vs. 11), which together comprise the subject of His teaching in this chapter.Hebrews 4:11
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
[12] For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
So the choice is yours. You can either turn to Him and love and obey Him, i.e. trust and rely on Him having faith and enter into His rest, or you can "die in the wilderness" and remain (spiritually) dead for 1,000 years and await the great white throne judgment day at the end of the Millennium when the books shall be opened, your book containing your life (testimony) and the Book of Life, the Word of God which is alive and by which you shall be judged!
That's right! Your works are written in your detailed biography which your Father keeps, for as it is written, He knows both you and your works very well. After all, you are His child!Rev. 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,according to their works.Note: This is those of us who go through the Millennium spiritually dead who will be judged by our works at the end of the Millennium as opposed to those of us who are faithful to Christ until the end (the day Christ returns, i.e. the start of the His Millennial reign)who have already received eternal life at His return.
Editor's note: When you awake from
a dream do you remember your dream and how you handled various morality
tests, i.e. responded to the many different situations you found yourself
reacting to in your dream. Do you wake up feeling good about yourself,
or have you need to get down on your knees and beg His forgiveness; asking
Him to change your heart.
So is there anything that can be hid from God? No, but thank God for Jesus Christ who became our Passover and shed His blood for us, so that upon repentance God will forgive us our transgressions and remember them no more.
The word "opened" in Greek is "trachelizo" from which get the word "trachea" meaning "windpipe". You see, He can take you and bare all by figuratively looking right down your throat and see what is inside you. Thankfully, we have such a great high priest as our Lord and Savior who is merciful to us and has shown us the way by being faithful in all that He did, through all His trials and temptations and suffering of death. Why are we so thankful for that? Because we know that He "has been there and done that" in that He was tempted in EVERY WAY as we are with one exception... He did NOT sin! Therefore, we know that when we mess up, we have an advocate at the right hand of the Father who is merciful and compassionate and knows exactly what we are going through.Hebrews 4:13
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
So let us be steadfast and trust and rely in Him for what He has done for us because He loves His children so. He is not out to "get" people or cause them to fall. Truth is... it not only provokes Him to anger but it also breaks His heart when His children are so disobedient and have to suffer the consequences of their actions.[14] Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
The great teacher Paul made this abundantly clear as to why Christ was tempted and suffered. No matter what trial or tribulation you go through or are going through, never forget that HE KNOWS! Go to Him and He is able to succor you! Hebrews 2:18 "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (aid, relieve) them that are tempted."[15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
To "come boldly" means to come openly and honestly with frankness. Return To Day to the mercy seat of God from whence His children were drawn astray and know that you may obtain mercy (His love) and find grace to help in time of need! What a loving Father we have. How could anyone not love Him for all He has done for us?[16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
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Hebrews chapter 5
There is much more to God's Word than most Christians have been taught.
To believe or not believe, that is the question!" Sounds a little like a quote from Shakespeare, doesn't it? But it actually sums up a great deal of what Paul has been teaching us in this great Book of Hebrews concerning our confidence and conviction in claiming to be Christians. We repeat, there is much more to God's Word than most Christians have been taught. Some have always had a sense of that while others remain blinded and in a stupor and have no clue (Rom. 11:7-8). In fact, Paul is going to address that issue at the end of chapter five and admonish those who are still unskilled in His Word, at a time when they should now be able to teach others, to grow up and move beyond the basic doctrines of Christianity and begin to mature in the Word.
In chapter four Paul began teaching us concerning what a great high priest we have in Jesus Christ who now sits at right hand of the Father, and because of what He has done for us we need to "hold fast" (as in strengthen) our profession, which is our confession to trust and obey in Him. Hebrews 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession."
Paul now continues with his teaching concerning our high priest in chapter five beginning with some knowledge of the priesthood in general.
The "for" in this verse connects it with the subject continued from the previous chapter which was that our high priest, Jesus Christ, having humbled Himself to come to this earth to dwell and be tempted and suffer in the flesh, has compassion and understands all of our weaknesses and infirmities. Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Therefore when we fall to temptation or have need of repentance we have the confidence and trust in knowing that we can go directly to the throne of grace and obtain forgiveness and mercy. Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."Hebrews 5:1
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Paul explains to us that the duty of every (legitimate) high priest, which is to serve men in the things pertaining to God, i.e. to speak for God and offer up sacrifices on behalf of the people, is performed by human beings who also have weaknesses and infirmities. Being human just like everyone else does give one the ability as a priest to relate to what others are going through and to be compassionate (deal gently) with both those who are ignorant of His ways and those who are out of the way, i.e. those who have "erred" and who have been deceived by Satan. The point is that a priest is merely a flesh man (taken from among men) performing the duties which God has chosen him to do. In that sense, he is no better than anyone else (being himself also a sinner) and must therefore likewise include himself when making sacrifices for sin![2] Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Remember this well if you are ever tempted to exalt or elevate some man or woman because of the duties he or she performs for God. There is none among us who is perfect... no not one... no matter how exalted the title is that one may carry nor how much alphabet soup trails one's name. To that end, you will never see a true man or woman called of God exalt or elevate himself or herself above the brethren pretending to be something he or she is not... like holier than thou! That is Satan's way, the one who exalts himself (Isa. 14:13) and takes glory and honor unto himself, and as it is written, anyone who does that shall surely be abased (Luke 14:11 "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.")[3] And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Therefore take heed and idolize no man and realize that any church or religion who sets up or holds men or women in positions of exaltation instead of service certainly do not follow the example of Jesus Christ nor of His servants who are called forth according to His will. Paul was a prime example of a man called of God who was humbled by His calling, even declaring himself to be unworthy and chief among sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). Or take the apostle John for another example. Here is how he looked upon himself:
This John, the one who was taken in the spirit to the day of the Lord, even to the first day of the Millennium, was still an humble and "down to earth" kind of person who considered himself one of the brethren with trials and tribulations like the rest of us.Rev. 1:9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Man is not the one who decides or calls forth the priest any more than Aaron made that decision for himself. It is rather Almighty God who chose Aaron and it is Almighty God who does the choosing and calling forth of His servants according to His will and His plan established even before the foundation of this earth age (Eph. 1:4). In other words, the example set forth is that it was not given to any family other than through the one whom God chose (i.e. Aaron's) to be the high priest or of that Levitical priesthood. Exodus 28:1 "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons."Hebrew 5:4
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
So we see that it remains a matter of whether or not one has a purpose and a destiny according to His plan and whether it was man or Almighty God who has called you into His service. Perhaps you are among those who have a purpose and a destiny according to will of God. Nevertheless, let there be no doubt in your mind that men as priests ALL have weaknesses and shortcomings, but we as obedient brethren all have as our high priest one who is perfect. Let's see if He set Himself up and glorified Himself as high priest.
It was declared long ago in Ps. 110:4. Let us read it in context.
Jesus Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father following His resurrection and that is where He is right now! He is the King on high who will soon come to rule this earth with a rod of iron.Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David.
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Christ is now not just the High King of kings, He is now also become the High Lord of lords... the high priest forever... declared by God to be so![2] The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.[3] Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
"After the order of" means "after the rank of". Again, Jesus Christ is both the High King and the High Priest. In chapter seven of Hebrews Paul is going to teach us much about Jesus Christ through that which is written of "Melchisedec, the King of Salem, which is the King of Peace" (Heb. 7:2). Who was Melchisedec? Well, his name along with the fact that he had no earthly mother or father should give one a major clue. We will discuss him in an upcoming study.[4] The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
The day of His wrath when He shall strike though (destroy) kings occurs at the 7th Trump when the 7th vial is poured out of His cup upon the ungodly.[5] The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
We even see in this a fulfillment of the first prophecy in Gen. 3:15 concerning Christ who shall come and wound the head of the serpent. To that end, it is written that those fallen angels who come to rule with Satan when he is cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9) shall not only bite the dust when the King of kings and Lord of lords returns, but they shall surely be slain (Rev. 11:13). It is also written that every knee shall bow to Jesus Christ (Rom. 14:11, Philip. 2:10).[6] He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries.
The "brook in the way" is that living water which gives us life.[7] He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
And so we see it was written long ago that Jesus Christ would be made high priest. Let us now return to Hebrews where Paul is showing us Christ's reverence (love) and obedience and what He went through in becoming high priest.
The Father heard the reverence (not fear*) and saw the obedience of Jesus Christ in ALL that He did. You see, contrary to what is commonly taught Jesus Christ was never at any time afraid of dying on the cross, and not because of what we call bravery, but because of the immeasurable love He has for you and me. (The spirit of God is not of fear - 2 Tim. 1:7) It was because of that love that He WILLINGLY suffered and endured the cross and laid down His life, even though He was the Son of God. For it was the will of God to which Christ was trustworthy and faithful in ALL things given unto Him.Hebrews 5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared*;
*The word translated "feared" in vs. 7 is "eulabeia" in Greek and means "reverence". Here is Strong's definition:[8] Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
What were those "prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears" to the One who was able at any time to save Him from death, which means at any time Christ said so? Mature in wisdom and understand that they had to do with the verses following vs. 4 in the 110th Psalm we just read! The sacrifice was about to be made and those prayers and supplications were the prayers and supplications of an high priest on behalf of the people! They had to do with the "cup", the cup of wrath that He knew would have to be poured out, a task much more sorrowful and painful to a loving person than the fear of facing death in the flesh. Jesus Christ did not pray to the Father to spare Him from fulfilling that which He was expressly sent to this earth to do! In other words, it was not Himself He was thinking of and praying and weeping for. Do people know so little about the nature of Christ? He even quoted the 22nd Psalm and brought salvation to the thief on the cross while He Himself was hanging there to die! How could anyone even think Christ was thinking of Himself and not of those He loved?feared = eulabeia yoo-lab'-i-ah Strong's #G2124
From G2126; properly caution, that is, (religiously) reverence (piety); by implication dread (concretely):—fear (-ed).
Do you remember what He said to those who were weeping for Him as He walked up the hill to Golgotha? Read Luke 23:28-31 and it will not only document that Christ was still thinking about the last days but that He was still not thinking of Himself:
Christ was reverent (loving) and obedient right up to His very last breath. What a wondrous and magnificent example set forth by our Savior, Jesus Christ! Thank you Father so much for what you have done for us!Luke 23:28
But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Christ was brought to perfection in His obedience and suffering culminating in His glorious resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father. He is the author (the one who made possible, the causer) of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him, not those who only say they believe and worship Him with their lips (Isa. 29:13). How about you? Do you obey the Word of God and trust and rely in Him, having that sure confidence and conviction. Sure, we all have weaknesses and infirmities and we all sin and fall short and have need of repentance. Thankfully, when we come to that point we do not need to dial an 800 number, nor pledge $30 a month, nor knock three times on the ceiling! We can go boldly directly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy and forgiveness (Heb. 4:16) for our King and our Lord, our High Priest, sits at the right hand of God as our advocate.Hebrew 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Notice now that Paul once again quotes verse 4 of Psalm 110.
This word "called" is not the same word used in vs. 4. This word is "prosagoreuo" in Greek which means to "address". In other words, now being made perfect God called or addressed Jesus Christ as High Priest![10] Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Paul is now going to take a little digression before continuing his teaching about Melchisedec to drive home a major point. You see, in as much as he would like to bring forth the meat of God's Word and teach us "in depth" about Christ by relating the things written concerning Melchisedec, it seems the people are so Biblically illiterate and dull of hearing that he cannot relate those things which are written of old. Here is what he has to say about using Melchisedec in his teaching.Note: If you would like to "see" and know more of the perfection of God's plan and of His Son, Jesus Christ, and how it is that Christ could become an high priest if only those of the tribe of Aaron could become high priests (Remember?) you should read the little booklet titled (Live Link to-) "Christmas" which was published by Lancelot C. Knight on his King's Chapel website some years ago and documents that Christ's mother Mary was only half of the tribe of Judah through whom the kingship line came, for she was also half of the tribe of Levi through whom the priesthood line came! That's right! Christ qualified as King of kings and Lord of lords right down to His perfect genealogy. (We have a copy of that booklet here on our website under Constitutional rights and other stuff of interest to Americans or just open it by clicking the following live link. Christmas)
The word "uttered" means "discourse" or "to relate". In other words, Paul is saying that he cannot effectively communicate or relate, as in draw the connection between Christ and Melchisedec in his teaching, because the people are so Biblically illiterate and void of understanding spiritual things on a deeper level.Hebrews 5:11-14
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
The truth of the matter is that our people just do not care to take the time to study the letter (BIBLE) their Father wrote to them giving them all the wisdom and knowledge they will ever need to be blessed and happy in the flesh and enter into His eternal rest!dull = noôthros no-thros' Strong's #G3576
From a derivative of G3541; sluggish, that is, (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid:—dull, slothful.
Many claim they are just too busy and do not have the time to study His Word. I suppose the reality of it is, that really is "stupid" seeing that it is their eternal salvation which is at stake.
Paul continues:
How long have you been a Christian? Can you handle the depth of what Paul is going to teach concerning Melchisedec, the king of the just and king of Salem, or have you never learned of him?Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
In other words, those doctrines we just mentioned, like salvation and baptism for instance, are the first and basic steps in Christianity, but after that it is time to grow and mature in the Word of God and partake of strong meat and taste the hidden manna! Of course we all start out as babes. However, after 20 or 30 years of going to church one should be able to relate on a deeper spiritual level to the things written of old in the Word of God instead of saying "Melchisedec who?" Paul says we should mature and come to the point that we have the understanding and knowledge of a teacher, not that of a babe.
[13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
It just seems rather fitting that those of this final generation of the fig tree (which began May 15, 1948) are called "Baby Boomers"! Nevertheless, Paul said that if you are still on the milk of His Word and are unskilful in it because of your ignorance (which comes from ignoring His Word) then you are unable to tell the good guys from the evil. It is evident, by the fruit we see, that the majority of our Christian brothers and sisters fall into this category, else how is it that a predominantly Christian nation with the power to vote (choose) can allow such liberalism and "evil ways" to flow through our house? Our Father is not interested in our religious appearances. He wants truth and justice to flow like a river throughout our land:
It is the increased knowledge of our Father's Word that gives us the ability to discern between the "good" and "evil" (which so often "looks good" and "feels good"). Therefore Paul says, it is time to grow up and mature in His Word and become STRONG in Christ, the Word of God!Amos 5:23-24
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. [24] But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Again, the reality is that babies are unskillful (unknowledgeable) and cannot relate to the deeper truths and ensamples of God's Word and since they have immature minds they therefore cannot "discern" between good and evil. Quite frankly that means that they cannot tell the difference between the "tree of life" and the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" which also means they surely will be easily seduced by the "anti-christos", the instead of Jesus, when he is soon cast out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9) at the sound of the 6th Trump and comes to this earth claiming to be the real Jesus Christ, who does not return until the 7th Trump sounds. Yes, the great imposter and deceiver of men shall come with great power and the ability to back up his claim by showing forth great signs and wonders and performing miracles in the sight of men. Unfortunately, multiple millions of those "aged babies" who are dull of hearing and unknowledgeable in God's Word are expecting Jesus to return at any moment and rapture them away!Hebrew 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
spiritual death that is!
What is the conclusion of the matter? Paul says to get away from constantly dwelling on the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, like salvation and baptism, which in some churches is all you hear about week after week after week! Get into the meat of God's Word and come to full age whereby you can discern between good and evil and between the real Jesus and the fake Jesus! Here are the first two verses of the next chapter which document Paul's admonition to grow past those basic doctrines. (We will pick these up in our next study.)
Hebrews 6:1-2
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection [full age]; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,[2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
************************************************
Hebrews chapter 6
It is no wonder that the spurious messiah, Satan, will be so popular and deceive the whole world including the majority of Christianity when he comes claiming to be the real Messiah.
How long have you been a Christian?
That means quite frankly that after so long a time when you could be a teacher and of great service to the family of God you are yet an unprofitable servant, a spiritual baby who still needs to be taken care of yourself and thus one who also cannot discern between that which is holy (Jesus) and that which is profane (Satan) (Heb. 5:14)!
It is no wonder that the spurious messiah will be so popular and deceive the whole world including the majority of Christianity when he comes claiming to be the real Messiah.
Note: This address is to those who are capable of "labor" and does not necessarily refer to those who are disabled and handicapped who have their special place in His service.
So what are you going to do about it?
Has Paul been speaking to you when he refers to those who are still on "milk" and have not matured in His Word.
If so, you do NOT need to be "re-saved" as Paul is going to explain to us.
Simply purify your heart, as in do not harden your heart, i.e. open up your mind and make To Day the day you turn to Him, to His Word, and begin to hear His Voice.
James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to
you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double minded."
To be "double minded" is to be
like a weed shaken in the wind, tossed to and fro.
Do not be like that!
Mature in His Word and grow up tall and straight like a cedar of Lebanon whose roots, by the way, are as deep as the tree is tall.
In fact, if you mature in His word you will be able to spot many crafty men and women in pulpits who claim to represent Christ, just as Christ said there would be in these last days in Mat. 24:4-5.)
Simply open your mouth and take the little book and begin to eat it (that means read it and study it) as per His instructions!
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Paul makes it quite clear that a Christian must move beyond the basic doctrines of Christianity which he likens to milk, the food of new born babes in Christ.
It is interesting to note that even though these are basic doctrines of Christianity there is still a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding regarding them. This again is because of the widespread lack of maturity in His Word, even among the pastors and ministers most of whom teach the traditions of men which are contrary to the Word of God. To wit, some teach the nonsense that bodies will come out of the grave when Christ returns, or that you must be physically baptized like this or that, or they use "fear" of an everlasting burning Dante's Inferno to hold people captive in their churches which have become Beth-avens (houses of emptiness or vanity) instead of Beth-els (House of God). Have they never read 1 Cor. 15 where Paul explains the two bodies, the earthly and the spiritual? Have they never read Eccl. 12:7 which also tells us what happens to a person when the flesh "kicks the bucket"? Have they never read 1 Thes. 4:13-18 where Paul explains where our loved ones who have passed away are, even with Jesus Christ, and when He returns He shall bring them with Him? Have they never looked up what the word "perish" means? It means GONE, finis, up in smoke![2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
You hear a lot preachers and pastors speak about Jesus Christ in the churches of our land and you hear them say Lord, Lord... but the point is in most cases you just do not hear His Voice, His words taught! Please understand that I am not saying that to be judgmental. It is just that the consequences produced by the latter day famine is that there are many people who shall stumble and fall (faint) when Satan comes to earth claiming to be the Messiah.Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: [12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. [13] In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
The way it works is that you must first permit for God to permit.You draw near unto Him and He will draw near unto you. In other words, IF you are willing, To Day, to come to Him and seek Him through His Word and not harden your heart, then He is willing to open to your eyes and grant you understanding that you might "see". You "see", He is the ONLY ONE who can open your eyes and ears and (except for His elect) the choice is yours because we know for sure that it is His will that we all grow in grace and in the knowledge of His Word. 2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."[3] And this will we do, if God permit.
Again, Paul's point is that a Christian cannot grow and mature in His understanding and become strong if he or she is lazy and "dull of hearing". One's diet in His Word must consist of more than just milk, so wean yourself from the bottle and begin to eat and digest some solid food, i.e. our daily bread! Then you shall grow and become strong** in the Lord.
**The name Ezek-i-el in Hebrew means "God is (my) strength". Here is how a servant matures and becomes strong in the Lord:
The "roll" is the complete Word of God, i.e. written within and without (Ezek. 2:10). Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is our strength! Yes, "Your BIBLE"Ezekiel 3:1-4
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
Simply open your mouth and take the little book and begin to eat it as per His instructions! Our brother John did in Rev. 10:9-10![2] So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
[3] And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
Eat the roll and digest it, meaning absorb it all into your very being until it becomes what you are made of. You see, if you dwell in Him, He will dwell in you.
One cannot mature to the level of teacher Paul was talking in the last chapter unless he or she has eaten and digested His Word. So move past the basic principles and begin To Day to "go on to perfection (completeness in Him)".[4] And He said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,[5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
(Unfortunately because of the famine, few Christians are even familiar with the wondrous "world that then was (Gen. 1:2, 2 Pet. 3:6)" that God destroyed following Satan's rebellion.)
[6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.
And for one to teach or claim that he or she needs to be "re-saved" is an offense and akin to blasphemy for that one brings shame unto Christ.
How so?
Well, the reason it brings shame and makes a mockery of Jesus Christ when you say that one needs to be "re-saved" is because you are implying He did not do a very good job the first time, i.e. that He was not able to save you the first time!
The fact is you cannot renew salvation... but you can repent and return unto Him and begin to listen to His Voice and mature in His Word.
That you can do... To Day!
You see, the onus is upon you once you have become a Christian, else perhaps Christ wasn't the one who saved you in the first place.
Nevertheless, if you claim to be a Christian, a servant of Jesus Christ, quit sitting around on your pew and get to work and be productive to the point that you can begin taking care of babies instead of being one!
And what a wonderful and rewarding labor it is indeed!
Paul now draws upon an analogy of nature for us that we might see in graphic format what he has just explained regarding our labor in His Word.
[7] For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
"Dressed" means "tilled" as in worked the ground.
You see, His doctrine, His truth, is that latter day rain which falls upon the earthen man in these last days.
Deut. 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
God has made it all possible though salvation, giving us the foundation and the spirit, like the earth (foundation) and the rain from heaven (spirit).
All we have to do is work the ground, to till it, to dress it and keep it and we will surely reap the bountiful blessings from God.
However, if we remain "dull of hearing", lazy and ignorant of His Word, and leave the ground uncared for, then the thorns and thistles shall have their way.
Here is Strong's definition of "dress":
dress = G1090 ãåùñãÝù georgeo gheh-ore-gheh'-o
From G1092; to till (the soil):—dress.G1092 ãåùñãüò georgos gheh-ore-gos'
From G1093 and the base of G2041; a land worker, that is, farmer:— husbandman.
GEORGE (m) "farmer" from Greek georgos "earthworker",
which was derived from the elements
ge "earth"
and ergon "work".
So make your commitment to do some ploughing in the word of God, and do it To Day, by George!
Let us now learn a spiritual lesson from the beginning.
Do you remember what Adam was supposed to do in the garden?
Genesis 2:15 "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."
dress = H5647ãá—òÈ€abad aw-bad'
A primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:— X be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour (-ing man), bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve (-ing, self), (be, become) servant (-s), do (use) service, till (-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper.keep = H8104 øîÇLÜ shamar shaw-mar'
A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attendto, etc.:—beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).
Genesis 3:18 "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field."
Again, our Father has made it all
possible but we must do our part otherwise there are going to be a bunch
of thorns and thistles grow up
whereas there could have been a
beautiful bountiful crop!
Thorns and thistles are worthless!
Again, that's what you get when you become "dull of hearing" and do not labor in the field leaving it uncultivated and uncared for... thorns and briars! Need we be reminded once again what to be "dull" means?Hebrews 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Paul's analogy is even likened to the tares of Mat. 13 which are simply good for nothing and thus shall be burned and consumed in the lake of fire. However, it is not "fear" by which the servants of God are driven to serve and obey Him, but rather by their love for Him in knowing and understanding what He has done and purposed for us, His children. We are also driven by our love for our brothers and sisters.dull = noôthros no-thros' Strong's #G3576
From a derivative of G3541; sluggish, that is, (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid:—dull, slothful.
What is it that is to accompany salvation?[9] But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
We work and labor in bringing forth fruit for the kingdom and family of God.
We all have different gifts of the spirit and none of us is perfect, no not one.
Some are even handicapped which is a special ministry allowing others to be inspired by seeing such strong faith in those less fortunate (as man sees it) in the flesh.
Nevertheless, we should all try our best to do those things which please Him and cast aside the traditions of men which provoke Him to anger... remember (Heb. 3:16)?
And you know what?
Though you may not win any popularity contests among men, God will not forget your work and labour of love.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
However, it is extremely important to notice that the majority of the works of those churches, in fact five out of seven churches, were not found favorable in His sight and thus He gave them STRONG WARNING to repent of their ways!
That leaves only two churches whose works He did find good and acceptable and the reason for that is made clear in Rev. 3:8.
In other words, they know His Word and they tell it like it is including who the kenites are, and they speak His words after the manner of "Thus saith the Lord" to their brothers and sisters, just like Ezekiel was instructed to do.
Read Hebrews 6:10 again and notice that the work and labour of love is shown toward His name, which again means toward the authority of His name which is His Word. In other words, they study and obey the Word of God, Jesus Christ, and therefore it is them to which salvation belongs... remember?
The conclusion of the matter is simply this:Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Don't just sit in your pew and listen to the doctrines of salvation and baptism and words spoken about Jesus Christ.
Do not harden your heart and stubbornly hold on to the traditions of men
If someone, even someone you know has integrity, makes you a promise, you have only that person's word that he will carry out that promise, right? However, what if that person was so sincere in his purpose to fulfill his promise to you that he goes before a higher authority, such as a justice of the peace or a judge in a court of law, and swears an oath under penalty of law thereby making the surety of his promise subject to the enforcement by the court? You would certainly feel much more confident in believing that he was going to fulfill his promise to you, now knowing it is even backed by a higher authority, wouldn't you? Just keep that thought in mind as we proceed through this study.
Paul admonished us to move beyond the basic principles of Christianity and begin to do some work and dig deeper into our Father's Word. In fact, he drew the analogy to that of a farmer, by George, and said that if you want to receive God's bountiful blessings then you need to do some labor and work the ground as it soaks in the rain from heaven. Else if the ground is left uncared for, the briars and thorns will have their way and soon possess the garden. Then in verse 10 of Hebrews chapter 6 he told us that God is "not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." In other words, He has promised to bless you if you will trust and rely on Him and keep His Word. Paul continues:
Paul's desire is that we all become workmen right up to the very end, laboring with diligence and earnestness with full assurance of hope, which means being entirely confident of the hope of His blessings and promises. How does one obtain that full assurance and confidence in Him? Stick to God's Word and do some ploughing! Soak up the rain and prayerfully study and follow the examples of those who have gone before us who exercised their faith and trust in Him, whose witness our Father has recorded for our benefit (1 Cor. 10:11).Hebrews 6:11
And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
The whole point is, do not be led astray from the truth of His Word. Do not harden your heart and stubbornly hold on to the traditions of men. Begin also, To Day, to wean yourself from a milk-only diet in order that you may grow and mature in His Word. Otherwise you will end up not having what it takes to endure unto the end for your lamp will go out in the hour of darkness because you were an unwise virgin and did not fill it with the oil of His Spirit from His Word (Mat. 25:1-13).
Here are the words of Jesus Christ declaring it to be so.
Either Christ was telling us the truth concerning false prophets in these last days or He Himself is found to be a false prophet. If the former is correct, which it is! then let us use some common sense and think for a moment and realize that the probability is extremely high that any given preacher or minister is a false prophet, which simply means he or she prophesies (teaches) church traditions instead of God's Word chapter by chapter and line by line. One should then ask the question, "How is it that they are so able to get away with teaching that stuff?" It is because milk bottle Christians, who although they may love going to church and singing songs of praise and worship, do not intelligently check out what their leaders teach to see if it aligns with their Father's Word. That in itself shows a lack of respect for His name and His authority, i.e. His Word! Have they not read that it is their responsibility to try the spirits (doctrines) to see if they are of God, i.e. to see if they are contained in His Word before they believe them? 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."Matthew 24:11-14
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
[12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Did you grasp how it is Christ manifests Himself to you? Judas, not Iscariot, wasn't quite clear so he asked for clarification.John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
You better well know the answer to this question.[22] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Don't you get it?
Whose words, whose voice, are you listening to? If you never check out what you are being taught then you'll never know... until it is too late! So get with the program and begin to show Him you love Him by becoming strong, strengthened through the meat of His Word.[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
If you do not have faith and patience and stay working the field tending the garden, you aren't going to make it! Let's put forth some effort and do a little digging and take a look at the Greek word translated "endure":Mat. 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
I guess that shoots a hole in the old "Left Behind" theory Satan has milk bottle Christians believing, doesn't it? Teaching God's Word straight on as it is written does not always make one very popular with the majority, but the fact is that the any-moment Rapture theory that makes the false promise to "dull" Christians that they are going to "fly away" when things get tough is notG5278 ›ðïìÝíù hupomenoô hoop-om-en'-o
From G5259 and G3306; to stayunder (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), havefortitude, persevere:—abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
Biblical. In fact, Paul makes it very clear in 2 Thes. 2 that Christ does not return until AFTER Satan sits in the temple claiming to be Jesus and the whole world, including the majority of Christians, bow before him believing he is God. The exception are those who have the seal of God in their foreheads (Rev. 9:4), i.e. God's elect who are spiritually rich from having received His blessings from working and laboring in the field. In fact, they shall be the ones who proclaim the coming kingdom of God in all the world for a witness unto all nations when some of them are delivered up to the councils and synagogues. So you see, the servants of God who love Him are not going anywhere but shall remain and endure and carry out His will until the end comes at the sound of the 7th Trump.
To endure requires faith and patience and due diligence. We have a choice to either remain "dull" (lazy and stupid) and listen to the many preachers who promise us "blue sky" and a ride in the Rapturemobile when Satan, the false-christ shows up, or to listen to Jesus Christ who says it is those who "stay behind" and work and labor in the field and endure unto the end who shall be saved.[14] And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Isn't it interesting that so many Christian churches often teach exactly the opposite of what the Word of God says?
For example, most Christians have been told that the first one taken in the field in Mat. 24:40 is taken by Jesus Christ in the rapture of the church. However, a little tilling and digging (even just reading Mat. 24 in context) will reveal that the subject of the entire chapter is the deception of Satan and the events leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. You see, the first one taken in the field is taken and seduced by antichrist, the false messiah.
The other one is "left behind" laboring and working in the field, enduring until the end.
The choice is yours so stay with us and listen carefully to Paul's admonition.Matthew 24:40
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
The word "slothful" in Greek is exactly the same word translated "dull" in Heb. 5:11 which by now you know full well means "lazy and stupid". Paul is talking real plain here when he says with love and sincerity, "Do not be lazy and stupid" when it comes to studying and understanding your Father's Word. Move beyond the basic principles like salvation and baptism and get ploughing in the word. Stay focused and study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), and learn to follow the examples of the patriarchs who through their faith and longsuffering became inheritors of the promises. He now gives us a great example to learn from:Hebrews 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers [imitators] of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Understand the importance of what this verse says in that God not only (1) made a promise to Abraham, but (2) He took an oath and sware by Himself, for there is no higher authority in all the universe, that He would carry out that promise! By this we can be certain that His promises are sure and cannot and will not ever fail! Here is an example of one's faith and patience in awaiting the fulfillment of God's promise, even the one He made to Abraham:[13] For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself,
Paul is quoting God's promise to Abraham from Gen. 22:17.[14] Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
Remember Abraham, whose name means "Father of a multitude (of nations)", was willing to sacrifice the promised "seed", Isaac, his only begotten son (through Sarah), even after he had to wait all that time, even until he was 100 years old, to receive that promise.Genesis 22:16-18
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
[17] That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Abraham never doubted God's promise of Isaac, though he thought perhaps it could come about another way, and he faithfully obeyed God when He asked him to sacrifice his precious son who finally came after so long a time, just as God said he would![18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
And so, by relying on the promise and through his longsuffering, Abraham showed his faith and belief in God. Again, Abraham had to wait until he was 100 years old and Sarah until she was 90 before the promise of Isaac came. But he never gave up on that promise because he knew God SWARE TO IT that it would be so. Think about this carefully as Paul continues his explanation:[15] And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Men make oaths to some authority that is greater than themselves, like to God Almighty with their hand on the Bible, to confirm that what they say is "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God!" That oath puts an end to the doubt of their veracity else it becomes the grounds for recompense against their perjury.[16] For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Our Father wants there to be NO DOUBT in your mind that His Word is true and that you can count on every single promise He has ever made to you to be fulfilled EXACTLY as He said He would. And you know what? If you will study His Word you will "see" that His track record is impeccable among those who have gone before us!
You are an heir of all His promises... if you trust and rely on Him and tend the garden. And when you do some digging you will discover His truth will eliminate all doubts and fears and you will come to believe the hope of His promises through concrete evidence which becomes the solid foundation of your faith which Paul will later explain in chapter 11! Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began." Oh yes! You can even document His promise before this earth age began because His plan of eternal salvation, including His promise to send the Redeemer, is all written in the stars of heaven, in the uncorrupted Zodiac! (see appendix 12 in the Companion Bible.)[17] Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability [unchangeability] of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
The two immutable, totally unchangeable, things are His promise and His oath that He WILL carry them out. You see, what Paul is saying is that Almighty God, your Father and mine, has MADE HIS PROMISES and He is now UNDER OATH to carry them out. And since it is impossible for God to perjure Himself, we can totally rely on His Word. (Later in this great Book of Hebrews Paul is going to recap the faith of the many witnesses to God's immutable promises to His children. That is how our faith is increased, by seeing the surety of His Word come to pass... for it always has and it always will.)[18] That by two immutable [unchangeable] things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope [the promises] set before us:
[19] Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Jesus Christ is the High Priest for ever after the order of the King of the Just, Melchisedec, and in chapter 7 we will learn just who this Melchisedec was. How exciting the Word of God truly is![20] Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
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Hebrews chapter 7
You will even find in Bible commentaries that many supposed learned men refer to Melchisedec as a "mysterious" one.
Let's study this marvelous seventh chapter of Hebrews, a chapter misunderstood by many who even use it to claim that Jesus Christ had no lineage connected to the tribe of Levi.
However, such is not the case at all, as we shall document.
Again, remember and understand that the reason for such shallow understanding has already been addressed by Paul in that "babes" are unable to discern the depth of what he is "uttering" from the law and the prophets, and specifically to what he is trying to relate to our minds concerning that which is written of Melchisedec.
You will even find in Bible commentaries that many supposed learned men refer to Melchisedec as a "mysterious" one.
However, before we get started in our study of this remarkable and revealing chapter seven, perhaps it would benefit some if we first jumped ahead to the first few verses of chapter eight where Paul gives a summary of what he has taught so far and what he is going to teach us in this seventh chapter.
That way we can keep locked in our minds the conclusion of the many details Paul gives to us in this chapter leading up to and confirming our spiritual understanding.
Here's the first part of the summary:
Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
who sits at the right hand of the throne in heaven, has for us because He came to this earth to dwell in the flesh and experience the trials and temptations common to us all.
To
that end, it is so important that we understand that our
Father did not ask us to do anything
He
was not willing to do Himself.
(Consider
that throughout this study.)
You see, it is not so much a matter that we can never say nor claim that He does not know and understand what we are going through, which thing we can never do because of what He has done, but rather to confirm in the hearts of those who love and serve Him that He in fact does know and understand.
By this alone we know how great and loving a Father we have.
But the point Paul is going to make here in chapter seven
is that our High Priest is eternal, after the order or rank of Melchisedec,
whose very name means King of the Just.
And "the order", "the rank", of Melchisedec doesn't get any higher than that, as we shall see, because neither his kingship nor his priesthood was of man!
The conclusion of the matter is, that neither was Christ's kingship nor priesthood of man, because as it was promised and written (Ps. 110:4), and declared by the oath of God that He would be a priest "after the order of Melchisedec"!
Open your eyes and ears and learn from your Father's Word.
[2] A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
His priesthood would not be of man but after the order of Melchisedec, whose priesthood was likewise not of man.
Paul
now explains the priesthood of Melchisedec and once again ... if you open
your eyes and ears...
there
is no mystery here and you will be able to "discern" just how great this
person is who is called the King of the Just and the King of Peace.
when infact He was also half of the tribe of Levi.
This is only "evident" to those who have been enriched by the meat of His Word.
Paul now explains the priesthood of Melchisedec and once again... if you open your eyes and ears...there is no mystery here and you will be able to "discern" just how great this person is who is called the King of the Just and the King of Peace.
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
The question is: "How is it and by whose authority did this Melchisedec have the power to bless him who has already been blessed by God?"
Hopefully you already know the answer.
Nevertheless it shall be made quite obvious in the rest of this chapter.
Paul is now going to repeat and emphasize that Melchisedec was the King of the Just and the King of Peace, even the King of kings* and Lord of lords.
And you know what?
Even those who are fed only "milk" from His Word know that there is only one who is righteous and there is only one King of Peace, and even that there shall be no true peace on earth until He returns.
*Question: Do you know who the kings and priests shall be when Christ returns?
Rev. 5:10 will give you the answer!
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
We are going to take a short side trip to talk about Kings and Priests:
Let's jump into the future, after
our Lord's Return,
and see what it's
going to be like!
Let's imagine for a minute or so that the 6th
trump has already sounded. Satan
has been here; claimed he was God. Many
proclaiming Christians believed he was and worshiped him. Then at the
7th trump the
real Christ returned and found them out. But,
there were a number of us
who were not fooled by Satan and waited for the real Christ's return.
We are now "Kings
& Priests" The Millennium has
started; But, What
will it be like? Many have heard and
read that it will
be a time of teaching,
especially that of discipline. But some say, "I just don't quite get it. I
know what discipline in the Word is. It is to faithfully study the Bible
and absorb
it into my being, but
if people will be in their spiritual bodies during the
Millennium and will have perfect recall, meaning they will be able to
quote the
Bible from beginning to end and therefore they will know the Word of
God, then
what will God's elect be teaching? (The
elect, now being us "The Kings and Priests" who are to help
our Lord
teach and discipline those who did not endure until the end; therefore,
worshipped the beast, Satan, the spurious messiah.)
This somehow presumes that
intellect and knowledge are equivalent to good behavior and wisdom!
See Live Link to-Kings and Priests
Hebrews 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
So what is it that we "see" here?
What is it on a deeper level that Paul is trying to "utter" to the minds of those who have eaten of the meat of God's Word?
In other words, the eternal kingship and the priesthood
are
united in Jesus Christ
and not separated by lineage.
We therefore have but one King and High Priest to whom all the kings of the earth are made subject and to whom all the priests are likewise made subject... and He is eternal, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, without beginning and without end of days!
[3] Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
You see, we just read that Melchisedec had no father and no mother, which means he had no genealogy, i.e. he was without descent!
He had no beginning of days which means he was never a baby... a logical statement indeed seeing that he had no earthly parents.
Nor did he grow old and die but abides a priest forever, because he was like unto the Son of God!
Do not make this difficult.
He was like unto the Son of God because he in fact was the Son of God!
You see, He has never been far removed from His people and in knowing that we can take much comfort!
Daniel 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.[25] He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is
like the Son of God.
And it was this same one, the great "I AM that I AM", which means "I will be whomever I will be", who appeared unto our father Abraham, as evidenced by Christ's own words.
John 8:56-58 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.[57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
[58] Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Hebrews 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Understand that the law had not yet been given which would require that the tithe be given unto the priests of Levi, so there was no Levitical priesthood at this time.
In fact, both the kingship line (which would come through Judah) and the priesthood line (which would come through Levi) were still in the loins of Abraham.
This is an important point to our understanding (discerning) the greatness of Melchisedec which Paul explains in the next few verses hence.
[5] And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come
out of the loins of Abraham:
Again, Melchisedec was present before Aaron and the sons of Levi were ever born, but even so, the Levites were subordinate to Abraham who was subordinate to Melchisedec, the King of the Zadok and the King of Peace.
Remember again that Melchisedec had no father or mother and was therefore not descended from man.
In other words, he was neither descended from the kingship line nor the priesthood line, although Jesus Christ when He came to dwell in the flesh did, to continue the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec, would be descended from BOTH!
How truly marvelous and wondrous is the plan of God!
[6] But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
You "see", that is exactly what the promise and the prophecy of Psalm 110:4 was, which is why Paul has and continues to quote it so often!
Psalm 110:4 "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
In other words, Melchisedec was already King of the Just and High Priest which is why he was able to both receive tithes from and bless father Abraham.
[7] And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
To wit, all true gifts and blessings come from God (Ja. 1:17), the Creator of all things.
In that same respect that is why God sware to Himself, because there was no greater to sware by!
Hebrews 6:16 "For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife."
So here in the person of Melchisedec we have the "greater" blessing Abraham, the heir of the promised seed, and in so doing he blessed the Levitical Priesthood that would come through Abraham's loins until the fulfillment of Ps. 110:4... which Paul is documenting has come to pass!
[8] And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
He just said that men who receive tithes are mortal and they DIE, as in they "kick the bucket", but this one Melchisedec, the greater one who blessed Abraham, lives on for he was not mortal...he was immortal.
"It is witnessed" to, Paul said. In other words, "It is written" and you just read the witness that he lives on! Is there still any doubt in your mind that Melchisedec was the Son of God?
Here's one more thought for the day:
[9] And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
[10] For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Got it?
Therefore, as Paul expounded concerning Levi who received tithes according to the law, in fact the whole family of Levi payed tithes to Melchisedec through the greater, their father Abraham!
That should surely help you "discern" how great Melchisedec was!
Next we will complete chapter seven in which Paul will discuss the actual (flesh and blood) genealogy of Christ, when He came to earth as a human being to dwell for a time with us, only part of which, the fact that He was descended from the tribe of Judah, is "evident" to those who are still only "milk fed".
So if you are one who believes that Christ was a "Jew", meaning He was only of the tribe of Judah, then do not miss the remainder of chapter 7 for we will give concrete evidence from the Word of God as to the perfection of Christ's lineage, showing us that even in the flesh the kingship and the priesthood was united in Jesus Christ!
Christianity is not contained in religion nor in the following after traditions... it is the reality of knowing Him.
Paul is giving us quite a Bible lesson in this 7th chapter of Hebrews concerning the divine authority and power of our Lord and High Priest, Jesus Christ, who alone is able to "save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25)".
The point Paul is so thoroughly making and documenting is that the priesthood of Christ, promised by God and backed by His solemnly sworn oath to the highest power in the universe (Himself) was "to be after the order of Melchisedec (Ps. 110:4)", the one who "abideth [remains] a priest continually [forever] (Heb. 7:3)".
Let us continue to enjoy this rich full-course meal Paul has prepared for us to consume and digest. Keep in mind that were those who were still trying to observe the law of ordinances which Christ "blotted out" and completely "took away" when He died on the cross (see Col. 2:10-17 below.)
Of course there is nothing new under the sun and there are still those today who follow church systems based on religious ceremonies with commandments of do's and don'ts, such as keep this day or that day or perform this ritual or that ritual.
Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
That is because "life" can only come from "life", meaning that eternal life can only come from eternal life itself, for that which is temporal cannot supercede itself!
That is why it was necessary and promised by Almighty
God that Jesus Christ would be a priest after the succession of Melchisedec
(Ps. 110:4), who we learned was "Without
father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days,
nor end of life;
but
made
like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually
(Heb. 7:3)."
To that end, Paul just explained to us in verse 11 that if perfection (meaning "salvation") could have been obtained through the Levitical priesthood under the Old Covenant, then there simply would have been no need for another priest to be raised up after the order of Melchisedec.
The logic is that there would be no need to have a New Covenant if the Old Covenant of laws and sacrifices administered by the priests of Aaron were sufficient unto salvation, right?
Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
You see, the law required that the priesthood be after the order of Aaron, i.e. of the tribe of Levi... period!
So if Christ were to become the
high priest through any other tribe or order (such
as the tribe of Judah or after the order of Melchisedec),
that law would have to be changed,
would it not?
Well, it was!
Never again would there ever be a need for another high priest for He is our priest forever, eternally, i.e. after the order of Melchisedec!
Christianity is not contained in religion nor in the following after traditions... it is the reality of knowing Him.
Col. 2:10 And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
To wit... It is still against the law of God to commit murder!
[15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.[16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Tell the fool to go read Col. 2 and "bug off"!
** Please understand that I am not condemning going to church, especially where the Word of God is taught.
[17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
"Oh... but you don't understand brother!
You must keep Saturday as a holyday, or you must observe lent, or you must do this and that!"
I'm sorry,
I'm really not into religion.
Let us now continue listening to Paul give supporting evidence and expound on Heb. 7:12 where he stated that because the priesthood was changed that the law requiring the priests to be after the order of Aaron (i.e. of the tribe of Levi) must also of necessity be changed.
Hebrews 7:13 For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
[14] For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
So using Christ's own lineage Paul make his case concerning the law rather easily because it is also evident to everyone, including all the "babes who drink only milk", that Jesus Christ was of the tribe of Judah, which is the kingship line and not the priesthood line.
However, in as much as Melchisedec was both King of the Just and High Priest, so was Jesus Christ in the flesh both descended of the kingship line (through Judah) and the priesthood line (through Levi), the latter of which is not evident to babes but is nevertheless easy to document!
Here is how:
You will find that there are two genealogies of Joseph given in the New Testament, one in Matthew (Note that the NT opens with this most important information) and one in the third chapter of Luke. Many people struggle with these two genealogies because if you read them carefully you will find they are not the same, i.e. they have not all the same fathers. Some even use this to discredit God's Word claiming the two genealogies "conflict" with one another. However, such is not the case at all... and never is. It is just man's ignorance derived from his "slothfulness" in studying and rightly dividing the Word of God that accounts for all the so-called discrepancies.So why are we given Joseph's genealogy anyway, for he had nothing to do with Christ's descent. Well, in Matthew we are given Joseph's genealogy documenting that he was a "pure blooded" Judahite, the lineage of the kingship, remember? Again, why is this so important? Because it is a matter of the "law"! You see, Christ had no earthy father and so Joseph was Christ's stepfather. So by law, through adoption, Christ became Joseph's son and inherited the rights and lineage of his father Joseph! Therefore, those wicked scripture lawyers of the sons of Cain, i.e. the kenites, could never claim that Jesus Christ had no legal right to be king of Israel. Ironically, it is by this same witness that anyone of any race or language or creed, even the kenites, can through adoption become a child of God and an heir of the promises! And THAT, my friend, qualifies it to open the New Testament!
We move now to the genealogy of Joseph in the Book of Luke and lo and behold, we discover that this is actually not Joseph's genealogy at all!
Notice what Luke 3:23 says, "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli." The phrase "as was supposed" means "by law"! In other words, Christ was Joseph's son by law, i.e. his stepson. Now what about Joseph? Whose son was he? Well, we read in Matthew that he was "begotten" (sired) by Jacob. Matthew 1:16 "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ." However, in Luke we read that Joseph was the son of Heli, but not by "begettal"! He was Heli's son also "as was supposed", i.e. his son by law! You see, Joseph was the husband of Mary and therefore Heli's "son-in-law"! So the genealogy in Luke is actually Mary's genealogy through her father Heli, Joseph's father-in-law, documenting that Mary's father was also a "pure blooded" Judahite! Why is this important for us to know? Because it tells us that the paternal half of Mary's bloodline was of pure Judah, the kingship line. That leaves open the question of her mother's side. Do we know what bloodline she was from? Yes we do! Read
Luke 1:5-6: "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. [6] And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."
We are actually told twice (for emphasis) in the above two verses that Elizabeth, the mother of John of Baptist, was a "pure blooded" Levite. In verse five we are told flat out that she was of the daughters of Aaron. However, to eliminate any doubt and to document that she was a "pure blooded" daughter of Levi, we are told that she and her husband walked "blameless" in all the commandments and ordinances! You see, it was lawful for a Levitical priest to marry ONLY a full blooded Levite woman so as to keep the priesthood line pure (Lev. 22)! For Zacharias to have done otherwise would make void Luke 1:6. Now let's read Luke 1:36 concerning Mary's relationship to Elizabeth and tie this all together: "And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren."
First of all, it is evident that since Mary and Elizabeth were cousins that Christ was of necessity a blood relative of John the Baptist, who was a pure blooded Levite with pure blooded Levite parents. That tells you right away that Christ had Levite blood running through His veins but it was more than just a trace! If you think carefully about what has been said you will see that Mary's mother (because her father was of Judah only) would have been the sister of Elizabeth's mother, who also had to be a pure blooded Levite for Elizabeth's sake. Therefore... Mary's mother was a "pure blooded" Levite and her father was a "pure blooded" Judahite! Do you see the perfection of the Word of God how that Jesus Christ descended in the flesh from both the kingship line and the priesthood line, uniting them into One, even the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
So the law pertaining to the priesthood must of necessity be changed!
Hebrews 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Selah: Are you getting all this?
Carnal commandments and religious ordinances and priests of men can NEVER provide a way of forgiveness and sanctification, i.e. salvation! Only Jesus Christ, the power of the Living Word of God can grant such!
[16] Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
[17] For He testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
There is no other way!
[18] For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
As it is written, those things of the law were but shadows of Him who was to come.
However, as Paul has already admonished us, starting "To Day", we had better get off the "milk bottle" and "go to school" in His Word and begin to know and understand those things of the law for they teach us all about Jesus Christ that we may come to KNOW HIM and have faith in Him!
Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
Again, there was simply nothing in the law itself or administered through the Levitical priesthood that could "make perfect", i.e. bring forgiveness and salvation to man.
Therefore, not until the PROMISE of His coming was there HOPE of salvation!
And you know what else, it is because of the "sonship" God has given us that Jesus Christ has the legal right to stand in as our kinsman redeemer and to make intercession for our souls!
[19] For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
We draw near to God by dwelling with Him, by seeking Him through His Word.
[20] And inasmuch as not without an oath
He was made priest:
[21] (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by Him that said unto Him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
Surely by now you can see and understand that Melchisedec, the King of the Just and the King of Peace was indeed Christ, Himself.
[22] By so much was Jesus made a surety
of a better testament.
Nothing and no one prior to or coming after could have or will provide that salvation.
Our Father's contract is therefore sure and binding which means the rest is totally up to you, to love Him and exercise your faith by trusting and relying on Him, laboring earnestly and patiently to enter into His rest!
[23] And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Fact: No mortal priest can give you life or offer sacrifice to atone for your sins, because he doesn't have life to give you!
You see, he himself is subject to death.
There is only One priest who can atone for your sins and grant you salvation and that priest does have life, eternal life, and that priest was the One promised by God and sworn to by His oath who would come after the order of Melchisedec, who abideth a priest forever!
[24] But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Therefore you shall NEVER have need to change priests.
You never need to put your trust in men nor elevate them to a higher status because they are all sinners just like you and they all die just like you.
But our High Priest is eternal, immortal, and without sin, and He has ascended and now sits above the heavens at the right hand of His Majesty on high!
It is Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone, who can redeem and save your soul!
[25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
[26] For such an high priest became [He for] us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Remember, "You are COMPLETE in Him!"
[27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up himself.
[28] For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated [perfected] for evermore.
How exciting and wondrous the Word of God truly is!
***************************************************
Hebrews chapter 8
We are complete in Him. We do not need buildings and ordinances and circumcisions, nor do we need to keep certain days or abstain from this or that or have priests offer gifts and sacrifices.
This study in Hebrews is quite simply a lesson in "reality verses religion" beginning with Paul's summation, the most important point he wants us to draw from his teaching, which is as follows:
Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;[2] A minister of the sanctuary, and of the
true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
This is important because the main point Paul wants us to understand is that our High Priest, the One promised by the sworn oath of Yahveh to be priest forever after the order of Melchisedec, the One who has risen and now sits on the right hand of the throne of His Majesty in the heavens, has entered into and ministers as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, the REAL Holy of Holies of the true tabernacle which the Lord has set up, and not man.
For all that man set up was merely an earthly representation, a "shadow" of that which is the real thing.
Not only that, but the earthy sanctuary which is symbolic of the heavenly, was ministered to by sinful, fallible man!
You see, by law the Levitical High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies, which was hidden behind the veil in the taberbacle, only once a year and stood before a "shadow" throne, one which was only symbolic of the true throne which is heaven.
However, our High Priest has entered into the Holiest Place in heaven and sits at the right hand of the real throne, the one that the "shadow" on earth only represented.
Do you remember what happened to that earthly veil which was before the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle at the moment Yeshua Messiah died on the cross?
Mark 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.[38] And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
entered in to the true sanctuary for one and all time!
And you know what else?
We are complete in Him.
We do not need buildings and ordinances and circumcisions, nor do we need to keep certain days or abstain from this or that or have priests offer gifts and sacrifices.
Read and understand all of what Paul wrote in Colossians chapter two and then think about those many false prophets (preachers and ministers) who still like to play "tabernacle" and have you enter in to their place and follow the traditions they have in store for you to be "complete" and show yourself approved!
Here are a few excerpts from Col. 2:
Col. 2:9-10 For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.[10] And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col. 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;Col. 2:17
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
is not a building.
John 2:19-21
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.[20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
do not understand and comprehend the MAIN POINT Paul has been making concerning the true tabernacle, for they are blinded by the traditions of men which look to those things which pertain to this earthly dimension.
[21] But he spake of the temple of his body.
Hebrews 8:3
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
However, that was just a type, a "shadow", for you see Jesus Christ our High Priest has entered in (albeit not the earthly sanctuary) and also offered sacrifice... which was His precious blood He shed for one and for all time for the remission of our sins.
It is that blood which made the new and better covenant a reality.
In other words, Christ's priestly office is exercised in heaven, not on earth in the tabernacles of men![4] For if He were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Even so, if Christ were on the earth defacto, He would still not be accepted in many of the churches in this land much for the same reasons He was rejected when He was here, some of which are:
Although He taught boldly with knowledge and authority, He was accused of being "unlearned", as in not possessing man's credentials such as a seminary degree from the Pharisaical Theological Institute of Advanced Mosiac Law.
John 7:14-16 "Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. [15] And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? [16] Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me."Since His "doctrine" was not mainstream, He was accused of deceiving the people.
John 7:11-12 "Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? [12] And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but He deceiveth the people."
He was accused of being a "winebibber" because He "dared" associate Himself with sinners. Luke 7:34
"The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!He broke the "law" such as healing the sick on the Sabbath Day, a law of their "tradition". John 7:23 "If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?"
And the list goes on...
[5] Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Do you "see" how that in itself documents that it WAS NOT the true tabernacle but merely a "model", an earthly representation, a shadow, of the heavenly tabernacle which was NOT PITCHED (set up) by man.
By this do you also "see" and understand that the true tabernacle is not an earthly building or structure or temple.
How is it then that man places so much emphasis on churches and religious things?
[6] But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Remember?
He was made our high priest after the order of Melchisedec by the promise of God which He made legally binding with His solemnly sworn oath.
Jesus Christ is therefore the surety, the guarantor of that covenant, giving us the hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life to those who believe in Him and obey His commands.
[7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Note: It is important to recognize that Paul quotes the following verses (vs. 8-12) directly from the 31st chapter of Jeremiah in the Old Testament letting us know that the promise of the New Covenant is contained therein and was ordained long ago.
Hebrews 8:8
For finding fault with them, He saith,
You see, being "religious" and following the traditions of men and keeping those divers ordinances proprietary to this denomination or that, and even performing goodly deeds, etc., etc., does not make one righteous nor cause one to draw near to God in his or her heart!
In other words, true faith and true love must emanate from within the heart of a "believer".
That is why Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 29:13
"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch
as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour
me, but have
removed their heart [mind] far from me,
and their fear
[reverence, i.e. love] toward me is
taught by the precept [traditions]
of
men."
To that end, there was nothing essentially wrong with the old contract, the Old Covenant, for God faithfully kept His part of the agreement and was a true husband (Jer. 31:32) who provide for and protected His own.
The fault was in the hearts [minds] of His people who kept ordinances but did not absorb and internalize the Word of God whereby that Word did dwell in their hearts and minds.
If you can understand that, you are a step closer to understanding the beauty of the New Covenant which was explained by the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet a long, long time ago.
Paul now quotes from Jeremiah to bring us up to speed concerning the process of the New Covenant.
(Note: Included below are the corresponding verses in Jeremiah 31 with those in Hebrew 8 letting the reader know that he or she is reading both the old and the new testaments simultaneously.)
The word "make" in Heb. 8:8 is "sunteleo" which means "to bring to completion" as in "complete entirely" or "finish to the end"![Hebrews 8:8... cont.] Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:Jeremiah 31:31
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
make = 4931 sunteleo soon-tel-eh'-o from 4862 and 5055; to complete entirely; generally, to execute (literally or figuratively):--end, finish, fulfil, make.[Hebrews 8:9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.Jeremiah 31:32
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
[Hebrews 8:10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into
their mind, and write them in their
hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Who is it we are complete in?
We are complete [made perfect - Jn. 17:43] in Jesus Christ, the Word of God.
And although Heb. 8:10 actually
looks ahead to the time of the Millennium when Jesus Christ returns,
if Christians will only "draw near"
and "believe" in Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and "dwell in Him" thereby
becoming "sealed" (Rev. 7:3, 9:5) in their hearts and minds with the Word
of God, then they can partake of that New Covenant right now, To Day, and
enter into His rest!
Such is the case with God's elect who have partaken of that New Covenant and have "eaten and digested" the whole "roll", the whole Word of God (the Bible) (Ezek. 2:9-3:3).
Again, it doesn't matter how religious you are or what lofty position you might hold within the tabernacles of men!
It matters only that He dwells in you and you in Him for if you are to "live", as in have eternal life, then you must live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Our Father gave us a "visual", an ensample for our understanding, when He caused our forefathers to first "hunger" and then provided them with "manna", food from "heaven", angel's food!
"See" and understand from the Books of Moses, for if you have eyes to see and ears to hear you will see the New Covenant written of long ago!
Deut. 8:3
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Do you hunger and
thirst
for the true bread of life
or are you satisfied just drinking
a little milk every Sunday?
The way to "life" is to be complete in Christ, the Word of God.
In fact, it is that very thing, quoted from Deut. 8:3 (above), that Jesus Christ said to the spiritually "dead man", Satan, when he tempted Him after being an hungered following 40 days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness?
Take heed and beware of the leaven!)
Luke 4:4 And
Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall
not live by bread alone, but by every
word of God.
Is the Word of God sealed in your mind and written in your heart whereby you have "life"?
Or, are you too busy with church
and church activities, as in playing tabernacle,
to take the time to get to know
Jesus Christ whereby His Word, His Spirit, the Holy Spirit,
unites with your spirit (your intellect)
and you become one in Him?
All you need understand is that Jesus is the Living Word of
God... then read John 15:3-10!
John 15:3-10
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [6] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. [8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. [9] As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. [10] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Remember the words Paul quoted from Psalm 95 so many times:
"While it is said, To day if
ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation (Hebrews
3:15)."
By the way, the Greek word translated "write" in Hebrews
8:10 is "epi-grapho"
which means to "overwrite" or "inscribe", i.e. to "engrave".
So get rid of all those other religious
"graven images" in your mind as per the 2nd Commandment (Ex. 20:4)
and begin "To Day" to allow Him
to "write His law (His every word) in your heart"!
Or you can wait until it is too
late and discover your shame and spiritual nakedness
and come to know you missed
out on the first resurrection when you try to cash in all the things
you did
in the name of Christianity, while
you ignored Christ (forsook the Word of God) whereby you could have received
"life"!
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
and He will come dwell with you, i.e. in your mind and in your heart!
Yes, Christ in you and you in Him!
Hebrews 8:11
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.Jeremiah 31:34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD...
from the King of kings and Lord of lords shall flow from Mt. Zion throughout all the world and there shall be no lack of the knowledge of the LORD!
It is written... therefore so shall it be!
He will forgive your iniquity now and remember your sin no more if you come to Him and repent and ask for forgiveness. You "see": "We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. "[12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.Jeremiah 31:34 (...cont.) for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
[13] In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
by virtue of the fact it was made after a "pattern",
so is the old covenant made obsolete by the fact that He declared there would be a New Covenant,
the "finishing" of which has not yet been completed.
But as Paul said regarding the "vanishing away", all
man made tabernacles are temporal
and all that is earthly shall pass
away, but the true tabernacle remains eternal.
So cast aside "churchianity" with its promotion of the "traditions of men" and take part of the New Covenant... To Day.
Hebrews chapter 9
Do you realize that if it were not for the Old Testament, the New Testament would be impossible to understand because so many of the words of Christ and Paul and Peter, etc., which were direct quotes from the Old Testament, would be gone!
Then too, Christ said in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 that if you want to understand about the "abomination of desolation" go read the Book of Daniel, so you'll need to read that book to come up to speed on what's happening, won't you? Yes, It is in the old testament!
Christ also referred to Genesis and Isaiah and Jonah and David and Abraham, etc., etc. The reason I mention this is because without the first covenant with its worldly sanctuary and laws of divine service you would have great difficulty coming to know and understand the true tabernacle. Yes, They are all found in the old testament!
To that end, in this ninth chapter of Hebrews Paul compares the details of the earthly tabernacle, along with the ordinances of divine service, to the true tabernacle, Jesus Christ, and what He has done for us as our High Priest who entered into the Holy of Holies once and for all time. By teaching us in this manner, Paul shows us how perfectly the Old Covenant explains the New by letting us "see" how those shadows represent the true tabernacle, which is Jesus Christ. Col. 2:17 "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."
In chapter 8 Paul quoted the promise of the new covenant from the Book of Jeremiah after explaining to us that the problem with the first covenant was not the covenant itself, for God kept His promises faithfully, but rather with the hearts and minds of the people. Hebrews 8:8 "For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah."
Here's how the new covenant would work:
Paul then said in the last verse of chapter eight that in as much as God promised there would be a "new covenant", by the very fact of the declaration itself He made the old covenant obsolete and ready to vanish.Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; (The Christian nations of this 21st. century) After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Hebrews 8:8
For finding fault with them, He saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:[9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Also note: The Jews still don't believe our Lord is their God. Maybe "The House of Judah's" new covenant will start when they recognize who the Kenites are and seperate themselves from them! see Live Link to- Ezekiel 37 where Ezekiel tells us about the two houses (sticks) being joined back together.
Hebrews 8:11
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Paul now continues his teaching by explaining the things pertaining to the first covenant.Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in
their inward parts, and write it in their
hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
***************************************************
The ordinances of "divine service" and the "worldly sanctuary" were only figures, visible likenesses, images of the true tabernacle, Jesus Christ. In other words, they were earthly things, things our flesh eyes could see, things made and services performed to show us and teach us as a schoolmaster the things which cannot be seen, even His eternal power and Godhead, that power which can forgive sins and grant us "life" eternal. Romans 1:20 "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."Hebrews 9:1
Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
And so it was that the worldly (earthly) tabernacle was made by men's hands according to the "pattern" God gave Moses, and the ordinances of divine service were ordained so that we might be able to clearly "see" and "understand", and come to know Jesus Christ, the true tabernacle and the one and only true sacrifice for sins. He was the "real thing", the reality, the One promised by the sworn oath of Almighty God who would come and "open the way", fulfilling all things. And once the reality came, all those representative "things" were completely done away with (Col. 2:14-17).
To that end, Paul is now going to give us a description of how the earthly tabernacle was set-up and what the ordinances of divine service (vs. 1) entailed pertaining to the Holy of Holies, the Holiest part of the sanctuary, and compare them to Christ. He speaks first of that part of the sanctuary wherein all the priests could go.
The candlestick or lampstand with the seven lamps, the detailed description of which you can read in Ex. 25:31-40, was placed on the south side of the first apartment of the tabernacle, opposite the table of shewbread (Exodus 25:37) and it was lit permanently to give light inside the Holy Place. Wise virgins might find it interesting to know that the priests in the tabernacle were responsible, evening and morning, for trimming the wicks and filling up the seven lamps with the purest of olive oil sufficient to keep it burning throughout the night (see Mat. 25:1-13).[2] For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
You will also find that the shewbread, consisting of "twelve" loafs of "unleavened" bread, was placed on the "pure" table before the LORD and set in two rows of six cakes each.Exodus 27:20-21
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. [21] In the tabernacle of the congregation without the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Space and time do not permit us to go into great detail about all these things. However, one should take it upon himself or herself to study and learn all he or she can about the tabernacle and the things contained therein and the ordinances of service. Why? Because they teach us all about the true tabernacle, Jesus Christ, and the things of the spirit.1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."Leviticus 24:5-7
And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. [6] And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. [7] And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Paul now moves to the ten cubit by ten cubit Holy of Holies hidden behind "the veil".
This was the veil symbolizing the partition that separated us from the Holy of Holies, which itself was symbolic of God's throne! And it was this thick veil that was rent from top to bottom the instant Jesus Christ died on the cross. One can only imagine the expression on the face of Caiapas the high priest who was in the temple at that moment and witnessed this remarkable, symbolic, miraculous event. So from here on out we won't be requiring the services of Caiapas or any other earthly high priest anymore, will we? Looks like your out of a job, Caiapas!Hebrews 9:3
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Paul now recaps what was contained behind the veil in the Holy of Holies.
Again, if you are not familiar with all these things then by all means begin "To Day" to "dig in" and "stablish" yourself by reading and studying and absorbing their significance. For example, the sacred Ark of the Covenant contained the golden pot of "manna". Have you read and studied how God fed our forefathers in the wilderness and how they "labored" for six days that they might enter into "rest" on the seventh? Our Father supplies that "manna" for us "To Day" and we must also labor to gather it and eat it! Do you "SEE" how wonderfully He teaches us? Like we said in our opening paragraph to this study, if you are not familiar with the "things" contained in the Old Testament you will not fully understand what Christ speaks of in the New Testament, like in John 6 for example:Hebrews 9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Christ was speaking of the "meat" of His Word, the same "meat" Paul spoke of to the "milk drinkers" in chapter five. Remember? By the way, this verse ought to also give some insight to those with eyes to see as to what the "sealing" of the 144,000 in Revelation chapter 7 means. To wit, if you are fortunate enough to have a Companion Bible, read Dr. Bullinger's comments on "sealed" on page 1530.John 6:27-33
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but [labour] for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
This is actually a common question people ask concerning what God wants them to do. And the answer is, as you will see in the next verse, to "believe" in Him whom He sent, i.e. Jesus Christ. And "if you can understand the things that are seen" that our Father had made to teach us, then perhaps you can "see" that "believing" in Christ doesn't mean to just believe that Jesus Christ is the Holy One of God, for James writes in 2:19, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."[28] Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Let Christ, the greatest teacher of all, explain it to us:
If you understand this, then you will also understand John 3:16.[29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom he hath sent.
Do you want to know HOW to "see" (as in come to KNOW) and "believe" in Jesus Christ?[30] They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
Here's how:
We are in that spiritual desert of the tribulation (40 = trial and tribulation) of these last days where there is a "famine" (Amos 8:11-3) for truth all around us.[31] Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
The manna Moses gave our fathers in the wilderness was a similitude of the REAL THING, the REALITY, which is Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, the Word of God![32] Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Jesus Christ was the Word in the flesh and you have that Word, that precious "manna", if you will only labor to gather it in! With the help of the Holy Spirit, you'll find it in the little "black book". Yes, "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things" (Mark 13:23). It's all there for us to find, but we have prayerfully search and rightly divide His Word of truth.
The "Bread of Life" came down from above and was born in Beth-lehem which is a Hebrew word meaning "House (beth) of Bread (lehem)". Jesus Christ is that House of Bread, the true tabernacle, which giveth life![33]For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
We could go on and on with the simplicity and beauty of these things God has shown us for our understanding. For instance, the tables of the covenant, the 10 Commandments, are also contained in the Ark of the Covenant. Yes, both Truth and Justice are contained in Ark of the Covenant for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords from which all truth and justice flow!
Note: Occasionally we still read articles and see movies about people trying to locate the Ark of the Covenant. However, trying to find the Ark of Covenant is as futile as trying to find the body of Moses, for God took them both away. To that end, if you read the last verse of Rev. 11 you will find out where that Ark is located at present.
The phrase Paul uses, "of which we cannot now speak particularly", means "it is not now convenient to speak about these things". In other words, Paul is also saying there is much to be said concerning these things but it is not within the scope of his teaching regarding the comparison of the two tabernacles and two covenants to go into great detail and elaborate upon the significance of each one. So you will just have to labor on your own and gather in your own "manna" and eat it! And in doing your due diligence concerning the "cherubims of glory" shadowing (which means overshadowing) the mercyseat, the seat of Christ, remember to include one of the original cherubims given the awesome responsibility by God Himself to protect and uphold the truth and justice which flows from that mercyseat. You will find it written of in the 28th chapter of Ezekiel.Hebrews 9:5
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Here's a quick overview:
This speaks of Satan as the following verses will document. Then too, the name "Tyrus" means "rock" in Hebrew. However, this rock is not our Rock (Deut. 32:31)!Ezekiel 28:12-19
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Satan is also a created son of God. However, he has been "judged" to be the first son who will perish in the lake of fire. Thus he is called the "son of perdition", the son who will perish. Also, if you go to Exodus chapter 39 you will find that the "stones" spoken of in this verse that Satan wore (which is what "covered with" means) match stone for stone those worn on the breastplate of the Levite Priests. In other words, Satan was once a great spiritual leader of our people. Actually, he still is today... only that which he feeds our people is not "manna" but bread cakes filled with "dung" (see Ezek. 4:9-17).[13] Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
For more about bread cakes filed with dung please read "Dung Crisp", "Dung Toasties", and "Sugar Dung Pops"Pamphlet #1152
There you have it! Satan was once anointed, appointed by God, to cover the mercyseat and uphold truth and justice and he walked not "to and fro" at this time but rather walked "up and down" as in "straight up and down" in the stones of fire with the truth from the altar of God.[14] Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
You can read what this iniquity found in him was in Isa. 14. He wanted to elevate himself, to ascend on high and sit on the mercyseat, i.e. ascend to the throne of God and be like God .So he, Satan, started his own church and political party! Take a look around my friend, for there is nothing new under the sun, especially at the close of this earth age in comparison to the close of the last. (In fact, you will even find the "trumpets" "sounding the alarm" and warning our people of the impending desolation to come, the "tohu va bohu" of Gen. 1:2.) See Jeremiah 4:21-22[15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
"How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? [22] For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge."
God is going to destroy Satan from the midst of His children, who are those stones of fire represented by the 12 fiery stones of the Levite breastplate. Of course, Satan has his own stones (the kenites/descendants of Cain) in this earth age which can be numerated, as in traced, as per Rev. 13:18. Do you know who they are (see Rev. 2:9 & 3:9)? Those who belong to the two churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia know and teach who the kenites are and those two churches are the only two with whom Christ found no fault.[16] By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Now here is what happened to pretty boy in the first earth age:
[17] Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.[18] Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
[19] All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
One of the "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
Let us now return to Paul's comparison of the Old and New Covenants where he now gives us a summation of the ordinances of divine service mentioned in verse one:
Hebrews 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
However, only the high priest could enter into the holiest place, the holy of holies, and then only once a year to make atonement for his own sins and the sins of the people.
Thank God our Eternal High Priest (Jesus the Christ) who is without sin is always in the Holy of Holies and we do not have to wait a year to have our sins atoned for.
[7] But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
You see, man will eventually let you down but Jesus Christ will never let you down.
And so it was according to the law that no one could enter behind the veil into the Holy of Holies except the high priest, and then only once a year.
And though the earthly high priest was a mortal and sinful man like everyone else, he was nevertheless used as a figure, a shadow, to teach us about the true High Priest who would enter into the true Holy of Holies once and for all time.
Note: The Greek word for "errors" in verse seven is "agnoema" which means "not (ag) to know or understand (noema)". In other words it means ignorances (see Lev. 4:2).
[8] The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
What does that mean?
It means that, before Christ, salvation had not yet come!
It means that the eternal remission and forgiveness of sins, i.e. eternal redemption (vs. 12), was not possible until the eternal High Priest entered in with His blood, the One whom God promised by His sworn oath to come after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
[9] Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Only Jesus Christ is able to cleanse us and grant us "life"!
Therefore, all those laws contained in ordinances requiring gifts and sacrifices and ritual cleansings were only "temporary coverings" until the time of the New Covenant which we have seen was promised time and again in the Old Testament!
That's right, the promise of the New Covenant was contained in, as in was part of, the Old Covenant.
[10] Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
It simply means to "cover them" as a "cloak" until the time of redemption, i.e. to cloth them temporarily until Christ would come and we could put on those spiritual white linen garments of His righteousness.
You may recall that the LORD took the skins of animals and covered the "nakedness" of Adam and Eve who needed "covered" after that they had sinned.
You see, sin causes spiritual nakedness!
[11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
i.e. this cosmos (Jn. 8:23).
In verse 11, all the "good things to come" which our High Priest (Jesus Christ) made possible by His shed blood begin with the attainment of eternal redemption (next verse, vs. 12)!
How blessed we are indeed to be made free in Christ our Lord and not have to be bound under the law of sacrifices and ordinances!
Again, make sure to read and thoroughly understand the second chapter of Colossians.
Col. 2:14-17 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which area shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
It says the "ordinances" were nailed to the cross, not the Laws!
So much for religion and the keeping of certain days and the performing of ritual ceremonies, etc. etc.
Christianity is not a religion of shadows!
"Believe" in Him and you shall not perish (Jn. 3:16) for the second death, the death of your soul in the lake of fire, shall have no power over you!
So "harden not your heart", but rather turn to Him... "To Day"... and be a partaker and inheritor of the "good things to come (Heb. 9:11)"!
Rev. 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
And they shall "walk straight up and down" in His ways and carry the authority of His rod with which He shall rule all nations (Rev. 12:5)!
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
[13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Only by His perfect sacrifice and His eternal Spirit returning unto us can our sins be forgiven and our souls be completely cleansed from all unrighteousness.
Next we will see how the death of Christ made it possible for us to claim the promises of our Father's Will, which is His testament.1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Are you a child of God? If so, did you know that your heavenly Father left you a "will", a testament, full of "goodly" promises and blessings, including the incredible promise of eternal redemption and salvation, which is the promise of eternal life... if?
In fact, "it is written" that many of those "goodly" things He has included in His will, i.e. has in store for those who love and serve Him, are beyond our wildest dreams and imaginations! 1 Cor. 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart [mind] of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." The thing is, even though you are an heir, even a joint-heir with Christ under whose feet ALL THINGS have been put in subjection (Heb. 2:8), you must still step forward and claim those promises.
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if
so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
In today's study, Paul is going to explain that it is because He did pay the price and became our High Priest, that He is now the one and only mediator of the New Covenant, which means the one and only mediator between us and God.
Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause [for this reason] He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
In other words, we no longer need the sacrifice of animals nor the intercession of fallible earthly high priests.
You see, it was by His death in becoming our Passover, the one and only sacrifice for our sins, that He made possible the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant which neither the blood of calves nor goats could permanently atone for.
We therefore need always remember that those things and rituals pertaining to the earthly tabernacle were but types and shadows of the real thing, which was Jesus Christ!
And when He entered into the Holy of Holies once and for all time He became our High Priest who now sits at the right hand of God as our advocate, making intercession for us!
Then too, it was also by His death that He made possible the promise of eternal inheritance, even salvation which is the promise of eternal life.
You see, our Father made out His will, His testament, and included many blessings and promises in it to be granted to His heirs, "those which are called" (vs. 15)!
Of course we all know that when someone makes a will, the things contained in that will do not become effective until the testator, the one who made the will, dies!
Therefore, the promises contained in God's testament to His heirs, such as redemption and eternal life, were only made possible by His death. That is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ died on the cross.
In other words, as Paul just said, He died so that those which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance!
The wonderful news is, that IF you are one of His, you can even step forward and claim some of those many blessings and promises "To Day"!
Paul now explains to us about "wills".
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
He or she must first die, then the will goes into effect and becomes legally binding.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.[18] Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
Paul documents that for us.
[19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
Then Moses said the following when he instituted the Old Covenant:
Here is the verse in the Law from which Paul quoted:[20] Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
Exodus 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
Here are the words Christ spoke when He inaugurated the New Covenant:
Mark 14:24 And He said unto them, This is my blood of the new
testament, which is shed for many.
Hebrew 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
However, it is only the blood of the Lamb of God that can spiritually cleanse our souls and make our garments white: Rev. 7:14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.
And he said to me, These are they which came out of great
tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made
them white
in the blood of the Lamb."
[22] And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Therefore, it was necessary that the "patterns" of things in the heavens, those physical representations (shadows) of the things that are spiritual, had to be purified (cleansed) with blood! But again, those "earthly" sacrifices were not able to cleanse the heavenly (spiritual) things.
It would take "better" sacrifices to accomplish that!
[23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
In other words, animals have no spirit; that can return to us and "purge our consciences" for evermore.
Only His "eternal spirit" can do that and give us comfort!
That is why we read in the next verse that Christ Himself never entered into the earthly Holy of Holies, but into heaven itself!
[24] For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
He never entered into the symbolic, worldly, model sanctuary made with flesh hands.
Again, He has entered into heaven itself and now sits on the right hand of the throne of His Majesty on high to make atonement and intercession FOR US!
Paul wrote it to Timothy like this: 1 Tim. 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
This means you can kiss all the keeping of certain days and rituals and traditions of men's do's and don'ts goodbye and good riddance!
[25] Nor yet that He should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
To that end, Paul wants us to be sure we know and understand that it is because Christ was the perfect unblemished Lamb of God and our High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec, there are no more blood sacrifices required nor services of any other high priest needed... period!
Again, it was through His "eternal power" that He offered Himself to God and shed His blood one time and entered in the Holy of Holies once and for all time.
The reason this is such an important point to understand is because otherwise, without that "eternal power", Christ's sacrifice would not have applied to those who have already lived and died in the flesh, such as Adam and Eve, Noah, etc., who all lived and died in the flesh before He came to this earth and paid the price!
But He did appear "in the end of the world" and paid the price for all, even those all way back to the beginning of this earth age.
That is why it is written He went and preached unto the spirits in prison and offered salvation to all those who waited until the promise of His coming was fulfilled (1 Peter 3:19-20).
[26] For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Actually, Christ explained this in detail to Nicodemus in John chapter three.
The fact is, if a person is not willing to come down from above ("anothen" in Greek) and be born of woman, he or she cannot enter into the kingdom.
John goes on to explain that even Christ was willing to come down from above and be born of woman and tabernacle in the flesh!
Remember we discussed this in an earlier study?
Our Father did not ask His children to do anything He was not willing to do Himself, such as die once in the flesh!
Note: Since it is written that it is given unto all men ONCE to die, you can totally rule out the false doctrines of reincarnation.
[28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time
without sin unto salvation.
So stay steadfast in His Word and look to those heavenly things; for your redemption draweth nigh!
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.THEY HAVE BEGUN!
Watch, watchmen, watch!
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Hebrews chapter 10
The love of of God and His truth and His ways, must come from within, as a sincere desire to know Him, which is to hunger and thirst after righteousness (His Word).
Does it make sense to you that just going to church and performing rituals and ceremonies and even doing good deeds cannot "seal up" the Word of God in your mind? The only way that can be accomplished is for one to desire from within his or her soul to drink from that fountain of life and eat daily the true bread of life, the Word of God. "Give us this day our daily bread!" To wit, Paul has been teaching us the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in that none of those "shadowy things", i.e. going to the temple and tithing and making sacrifices, etc., can "put the laws of God in your heart" and "seal His Word in your mind" whereby you become Christ-like, one with Him. You see, the love of God, the love of His truth and His ways, must come from within, as a sincere desire to know Him, which is to hunger and thirst after righteousness ("His Word").
The key therefore to understanding about the New Covenant begins with understanding what to be "perfect" (teleioo in Greek) means, which is to be "finished", "consummated", "fulfilled", as in "filled up to the full"! In other words, to be "perfect" is to have your heart and mind "filled up" with the precious golden olive oil, the Holy Spirit, meaning that the Word of God is written in your heart and sealed in your mind. Then you are brought to completion! Let's listen to the great teacher and apostle Paul concerning those temporal, shadowy things contained in the Old Covenant as compared to the real thing, which is Christ.
Just as the tabernacle that was "made with hands" was only a model and not the real thing, which is Christ, so it was with the sacrifices and the shedding of the blood of animals. In other words, they too were only an image of the "real sacrifice", the Lamb of God, the only sacrifice who could atone for our sins and take them away... forevermore. Only through Him could those "good things to come" Paul just spoke of come to pass, which "good things" begin with the forgiveness of sins that will be remembered no more... followed by eternal life!Hebrews 10:1
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
[2] For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the
[3] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
[4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
The shadows, all those sacrifices, could not bring us to perfection (teleioo, i.e. completion, fulfilled.) because first of all, the blood and spirit of animals simply cannot purge sin from our conscience. For that reason, they had to be offered year after year continually. It is only through the blood and sacrifice of the One whose spirit is eternal and can return unto us to dwell with us, that our sins can be forgiven and our minds purged.So the question is: If all those sacrifices and shadowy doings could not do the job, i.e. if they could not bring His sons to completion, then what possible pleasure could our Father have in them? The answer is as simple as it should be obvious... none at all (Heb. 10:5)! Then why did He ordained them? That answer is also obvious... if one has eyes to see and ears to hear (Ps. 40:6). It was to teach us by using types and models (shadows) about the true tabernacle and the true sacrifice, the "real thing" which is Jesus Christ. In other words, it was to "Bring us to Christ"! Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." You see, there is no other way to receive forgiveness for sins and receive eternal life for there is no "earthly sacrifice" that can atone for us in the spirit.
Paul is quoting directly from the 40th Psalm... yes... in the Old Testament which is as much a part of the complete Word of God as the New Testament. So if our Father has no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, what does pleasure Him? Our Father's desire, that which He most wants, is for His children to love Him, to come to Him and love and obey His Word, that He may be able to pour out His blessings upon them... which gives Him great joy. Let's look a little closer at the verses in the 40th Psalm from which Paul quoted.Hebrews 10:5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: [6] In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no
pleasure.
Did you notice that Paul left out "mine ears hast thou opened" in his quote of Ps. 40:6 in Hebrews 10:5-6? The irony in this is that only those who dig deeper into His Word, who sincerely seek to gain a fuller understanding and come to know Him, would even notice the missing phrase.You see, they are the ones whose ears He opens! To wit, they are not the "milk only drinkers" Paul spoke of in Hebrews 5:11-14.Psalm 40:6
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Nevertheless, in Heb. 10:5 Paul is referring to any sacrifice (zebach in Hebrew) of which four are specifically referred to in Ps. 40:6, the verse he quoted. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to take a look at what was involved in making those sacrifices and what they were for (definitions below are taken from appendix 43, pg. 37, in the Companion Bible).
Any sacrifice = Zebach = any offering slain (from No. II. iv, above). The proper word for a victim, slain and offered. The Hebrew name for altar (mizbeah) is derived from the same root, and denotes the place of slaughter. Compare Genesis 22.The point is that none of those sacrifices could make us whole or redeem us. Only the One of whom it was promised by the sworn oath of God, the One who became all those things, could cleanse us and make us white. It was the promise of the New Covenant!The meal offering = Minchah = the Meal offering = a present, assuch. Hence a gift-offering, not necessarily to secure admittance, but to secure favour. It might be sacrifice by blood, or more generally and later, without blood. It is used of the offerings of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:3, 4, 5), of Jacob's present to Esau (Genesis 32:13-21), etc. In Exodus and Leviticus it acquires a special limitation, and is the only word rendered "meat", or better (with Revised Version), "meal-offering" (though it has a wider signification than literal "meal").
The burnt offering = 'Olah = the burnt offering: so called from the Hiphil of the verb 'alah, to cause to ascend [as the flame and smoke ascend by burning]. In Greek holocausta, which conveys its meaning as being wholly burnt.
Sin offering (Ps. 22) = Chattath = the Sin offering from chatt'a to sin coming short of, by missing the mark in sins of commission. In the Piel it means to purge from such sin (Psalm 51:7). In the 'Olah (II. ii) the blood went upward, in the chattath it went downward and outward "without the camp". The former was burnt up on the altar, the latter went down on the ground.
Trespass offering (Ps. 69) = 'Asam = the Trespass offering. Relates to sins of omission, while chattath relates to sins of commission = sin in general; 'Asham sin in relation to Mosaic Law; sins of error arising from ignorance or negligence.
I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Do you also delight in doing the will of God or do you delight in following after the traditions of men and doing religious, churchy, things?Psalm 40:7-8
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,[8]I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Remember from chapter 8 what the New Covenant was? Hebrews 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people."
Again, sacrifices and following after the traditions of men are NOT what our Father wants. Of course, this is nothing new for He has declared it many times through His prophets. Take Hosea for example (Hosea means "salvation" in Hebrew.):Hebrews 10:8
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Ephraim, the largest of the 10 tribes, is used here to represent the House of Israel, just as America is the largest nation among the tribes of Israel today. God is saying to America and her sister nations, "What am I going to do with you children?" Your love is so fleeting, like the early morning fog and dew that are quickly burned away when the sun comes up. You go to church once a week and sing praises to me but do you ever crack the Book during the week and study my letter which I have written unto you?" The words of Isaiah 29:13 are so true: "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men." All our people know about the love of God is what they have learned through the traditions of men while they ignore His Word, which reveals the very nature and mind of our Father and His Christ as well as His entire Plan of Salvation.Hosea 6:4
O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
What this verse is saying is that the entire Plan of God, His Plan of Salvation for His people, is "cut in stone", i.e. hewn! That's right, the whole plan from the beginning is cut out and laid out by the prophets of God through whom He spoke His Words, the words of His mouth! Therefore, His people are WITHOUT EXCUSE! Jesus Christ said it simply and clearly in His own words in Mark 13:23 when He declared that He has foretold us ALL THINGS! "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things (Mark 13:23)." Therefore, as we just read in Hosea 6:5, as SURE AS THE SUN COMES UP (which is what "as the light goeth forth" means) His judgments shall come to pass! YOU CAN COUNT ON IT![5] Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
And you know what? It is really too bad that His cup of wrath must be poured out because all our Father really wants from His children is their LOVE and devotion. He doesn't want their animal sacrifices or their money, etc.! He just desires that they love Him and get to know Him through His Word!
Hosea 6:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
[7] But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
Yes, from Adam (like "men") even to this day God's children have broken His covenant and they have been unfaithful (dealt treacherously) against Him. Even as Eve was seduced by the serpent (Satan) His children continue to break their spiritual marriage vows with total disregard as if they meant nothing. Even this very day, though our people have the Written Words of the Living Word right on their coffee tables or book shelves, they ignore His warnings and instructions He gave them through the prophets and the apostles and they have allowed themselves to be hypnotized and seduced by that old serpent, the false messiah, the prince and power of the air. And their "many" preachers of whom Christ warned them to be wary in Mat. 24 and Mk. 13, lead them right down the path to spiritual death.
He wants justice and truth to flow throughout the land as a mighty river. That can only be if His laws are written in the hearts of His children. But it is not, for they have transgressed the covenant and have dealt treacherously (unfaithfully as an harlot) against Him.
Let's hear it from one more of the prophets. Here's Amos, the sheepherder from the town of Tekoa, which means "Trumpet" in Hebrew.
You can offer the best (fattest) sacrifices you can find, but if you do not love His Word, which is His righteousness, and walk in His ways, your sacrifices and even your songs are in vain.Amos 5:22
Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
We have millions and millions of Christians in this nation who have become "tolerant" of iniquity and continually allow perversion and injustice to permeate our society. Then they go to church on Sunday and sing praises and hymns. Do you think our Father is pleased and honors all those songs? No, it hurts Him and angers Him. Again, it is written that our Father wants "Truth" and "Justice" to flow like a mighty river throughout this great nation.[23] Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
[24] But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Let's return to Paul in Hebrews.
Jesus Christ, the true tabernacle, came to this earth as promised and sworn to by the immutable oath of God, to fulfill the loving promise of our Father and establish the New Covenant. God gave His only begotten Son, the perfect Lamb of God, to be our Passover that we may have the victory over death. It is therefore by His perfect sacrifice which He made once and for all time, that we are sanctified. And in His becoming the "true sacrifice", the only sacrifice for sins, He did away with all the shadows and nailed them to the cross (Col. 2:14).Hebrews 10:9
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.
That's it... period! There is no other sacrifice through which one can be sanctified because there simply is no other sacrifice which can take away sins.[10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Our eternal High Priest sits as our advocate and intercessor at the right hand of God! There is no other priest required or necessary! Why not? Because He can handle it![11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:[12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
This is the 7th time in the New Testament that the 110th Psalm has been referred to. Do you think perhaps it is important that we understand that 110th Psalm? It sure is! You see, one would think that by our Father sending us the "true tabernacle" to dwell among men and pay the price for all their sins, that that alone would be enough to bring forth love from all His children! But alas! For many it will happen only when their eyes are opened to the shame of their iniquity (as spiritual harlots) whereby they can see the transgressions they have committed by straying from His Word. Then they will become willing to receive Him in their hearts and have His laws engraved in their foreheads... whereby they are sealed forever! Because it is so important to our understanding, let's look one more time at Psalm 110:[13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
The "until" is until He returns as King of kings and subdues all nations at the sound of the 7th Trump.Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David.
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
He shall crush His enemies while delivering His people, and shall then rule ALL nations with a rod of iron.[2] The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
When second half of Isa. 61:2 comes to pass at the sound of the 7th Trump and the day of vengeance arrives, and all His enemies are made His footstool, then His people, the true House of Israel, O Ephraim, will be willing (of their own freewill) to have His laws put in their hearts and etched in their minds according to the New Covenant.[3] Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
Note: You will find in Luke 4 that Christ stood up and began reading from the great Book of Isaiah (chapter 61) until He had finished reading the first half of Isa. 61:2, which declared His first advent and the purpose thereof. He then closed the book and sat down because the rest of verse two (quoted above) spoke of His second advent when He comes as King of kings.Isaiah 61:2-3
... and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;[3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.
Christ fulfilled the promise of the first advent, to open eternal salvation to all who will repent and come to Him for forgiveness and "believe" in Him. And it is our Father's will that all would do so: 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.Psalm 110:4
The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
When His wrath is poured out at the sound of the 7th Trump, it is written that every knee shall bow! Romans 14:11: "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (see also Philip. 2:10.)[5] The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall judge all nations, all those spiritually dead people and leaders, and He shall "wound their heads", i.e. take all their crowns.[6] He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
When the glory of Christ is revealed at His coming, then His truth and justice shall flow as a mighty river and His people will turn to Him.[7] He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
When you step out of the shower in the morning, do you still feel dirty? Of course not! Neither should you feel dirty when you wash away your sins, your filthy garments, with the blood of the Lamb...
Let us now return to Hebrews 10:14 where Paul once again is going to show us the beauty of the New Covenant, as compared with all those sacrifices of the Old Covenant which could not sanctify the children of God.
Them that are sanctified" are those who love Him. And again, to be perfected is to be "teleioo" in Greek, which means completed, fulfilled. Are you beginning to understand?Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Here it is once again:
We learned that the word "write" (epigrapho) means to "engrave upon" (epi = against or upon, grapho = to grave, i.e. engrave). This should help us to understand the second commandment:"We are "complete" in Jesus Christ, which means that we are complete when the laws of God, the Word of God, dwells (lives) in our hearts because it is etched (graven) in our minds."[15] Where of the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,[16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
What on earth or what in heaven's name is engraved upon your mind? What occupies your mind? In other words, what images would one see if he were to look upon the walls of your mind? Material things? A church perhaps? Saints for this day or that? It is the law of God, i.e. His Word, that is to be engraved there. Sadly though, for so many of our brothers and sisters this is not the case, because the fact is we are nation of Biblical illiterates, void of understanding, who have allowed materialism and the traditions of men to creep in and to be engraved where they ought not, in the space where His Word should be written!Exodus 20:4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
This is profound! We can be forgiven and have peace of mind and serenity (entering into His rest) for evermore, because once forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that's it... it's gone... leaving nothing more to be atoned for!Hebrews 10:17
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
To enter in "boldly" does not mean to be "brazen", but rather to enter in with "full assurance", with complete and utter confidence, knowing with certitude that you are forgiven and made clean by the blood of the Lamb.[18] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.[19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
When you step out of the shower in the morning, do you still feel dirty? Of course not! Neither should you feel dirty when you wash away your sins, your filthy garments, with the blood of the Lamb... that is if you believe God is faithful and true to His Word! Do you have that "full assurance of faith" which comes from knowing Him?If so, Paul just said that when we wash our bodies (cleanse our "garments") with "pure water" ("rain" from heaven) then we should have a clear conscience, knowing that we have been thoroughly cleansed because the blood of the Lamb has been "sprinkled" on us to make us clean and white. (Remember Hebrews 9:22: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.")[20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;[21] And having an high priest over the house of God;
[22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Therefore, when you repent and ask for forgiveness, do not then walk around depressed all day with a guilty conscience. Otherwise, it is like you took your shower without turning the water on.
We live in perilous times, a time of trials and great temptations, with even greater spiritual tribulation just ahead. Know therefore and understand the reality of what Paul is teaching us in this great Book of Hebrews and "be thou cleansed", and you shall have the victory over death.
Rev. 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The Book of Hebrews was written and addressed to the dispersed of the true house of Israel in these latter days... you know, the Christian nations of the world today with America as the leader along with her brothers and sisters like Great Britain and Canada, etc.
For that reason the apostle Paul wrote this epistle in a scholarly fashion, a style different than he used in his other writings, so much so that many so-called scholars cast doubts as to whether or not it actually was the apostle Paul who wrote it.
You "see", the reason the Book of Hebrews is "scholarly" is because Paul specifically wrote it to those of the dispersion who are of "strong meat", who have studied their Father's Word and are well founded in the writings of the law and prophets, i.e. the Old Testament, having therefore a deeper understanding which enables them to grasp "hard sayings", like what it means to have an "eternal" High Priest promised "after the order of Melchisedec"!
You "see", Paul is "uttering things"
hard to be understood in this great epistle,
a fact which we documented in Heb. 5:11-14.
Remember he said he could not "relate" the "deeper truths" he desired for them to understand because they were all a bunch of "milk" drinkers who after years and years of going to church (at a time when they should be teachers) they still only knew the very basics of Christianity like salvation and baptism.
In other words, since they were not of strong meat they simply would not be able to "relate" to what he was saying and therefore could not come to a full understanding of those "deeper truths", which is to partake of the rich "hidden manna" (angel's food), i.e. gain "rich" understanding (Rev. 2:9).
This distinction between the "unwise" and unknowledgeable virgins and the "wise" and knowledgeable virgins is important to understand the "depth" of what is contained in today's study.
To that end, we will find that what
Paul is going to teach us in today's study is yet another example of that
disparity, for he is going to "utter" another "hard saying" and explain
to those of strong meat,
those "whose ears He has opened"
(Ps. 40:6), what the "unpardonable sin"
is, a matter which being proprietary to God's
elect, can only be committed by them and they are therefore the only ones
who actually "hear" (understand) what it is!
To that end, Paul has now set the stage for our understanding by showing us and explaining to us the magnitude of God's faithfulness to His Word in sending the promised One to become the one and only sacrifice for our sins and to become our eternal High Priest.
You "see", without faith, i.e. without having the "full (unwavering) assurance", based on concrete evidence, that God is true to His Word, you will simply not have the "patient stedfastness" to endure (hupomeno) unto the end.
Why is that so important?
Because regardless of what the any-moment "fly away" preachers say, it is only those who remain in the field and do not turn back to take up filthy garments (Mk. 13:16), those who "hold fast" faithfully doing His will patiently enduring unto the end of the reign of Satan, who comes first as the false-christ, when the 7th Trump sounds and Yeshua returns as promised with all those "good things" Paul speaks of, who shall "live"!
Don't take my word for it... It is written!
Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.Rev. 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Explain to those who can "hear" what the "unpardonable sin" is. Let's recap a little of what we have learned so far in order to set the stage for what he is about to teach us!
Not only that, Paul explained how that Christ was tempted and tried and suffered many things, even taking those "stripes" for us (Isa. 53), that as our High Priest who has entered once into the Holy of Holies, He is able as a result of those sufferings to have compassion on us, for he knows exactly what we are going through.
And so it is, as we learned in Heb. 10:21, that He now sits on the right hand of the throne of His majesty as our High Priest, the only High Priest over the house of God, and furthermore, He shall remain at the right hand of the Father UNTIL He has made His enemies His footstool.
Yes, it is He who shall accomplish that, but it shall be through His elect that He brings it to pass.
What a privilege it is indeed to serve the Most High God in this final generation of the fig tree.
That brings us to where we left off in our last study, which was Heb. 10:22 where Paul explained that because we know God is faithful to His Word and His promises, we can draw near (and dear) to Him with boldness, i.e. with "full assurance" of faith, knowing with certitude that the blood of Christ "sprinkled on our hearts" has made us clean and white.
So GET OFF worrying about your little old fleshly sins, WON'T YOU?
Do you believe God and have that full assurance, or not?
Christ paid the price... claim the sacrifice and quit wasting time, both His and yours.
In other words, repent and have a clear conscience and get to WORK in the field!
So Paul having now prepared our minds, let's get ready for some deep plowing, because he is now going to look ahead to the future, to the "day approaching", the period of the great tribulation just before Christ returns, and explain to those who can "hear" what the "unpardonable sin" is.
Today you'll learn what it means to "blaspheme" the Holy Spirit; "The Unpardonable Sin".
The point is, the test of your faith is coming and you better know with "full assurance" that God is faithful in His promise when He says He will never leave you nor forsake you and that He will be with you always, even unto the end. To wit, the subject Paul is going to discuss in the remainder of this chapter is "holding fast" to your FAITH without "wavering". It is imperative therefore that we understand what "wavering" means, especially as it relates to understanding what the unpardonable sin is. Here is Strong's definition of "wavering":Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)
A-klines is the negative, or opposite of, "klino".wavering = aklineôs ak-lee-nace'Strong's #G186
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G2827; notleaning, (that is, (figuratively) firm:—without wavering.
In other words, Paul is going to talk about "enduring unto the end" (holding fast) and not "flying away" and "bowing down" to the abominable one" (i.e. wavering)! First though, he gives us some positive instruction to make sure we "consider" our brothers and sisters and encourage them and love them as we do God's will, which is what "good works" are.G2827 = klinoô klee'-no
A primary verb; to slant or slope, that is, incline or recline (literally or figuratively):—bow (down), be far spent, lay, turn to flight, wear away.
To "provoke" means to "incite to good", to "sharpen alongside". In other words, we seek to encourage and "build up" each other in the unity of the faith, not make it our business to go around tearing down other's beliefs. That is why we never single out denominations, or ministries, or individuals and "tear them down" by making personal accusations, etc. We are to simply teach our Father's Word to show forth and declare His righteousness (not their unrighteousness), and let the chips fall where they may! Psalm 22:31 "They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this."[24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
This is not speaking of going to some church building, as it is so often used to lay guilt upon people or teach them that God's Word says they must go to church every week. Paul is speaking of our fellowshipping in the Word whenever we come together, in our homes or Bible studies or even electronically through TV and radio or on the phone or online, etc.. We are one body, the body of Christ, and we need be mindful (to consider) each other and exhort one another, ESPECIALLY as we see the day approaching, which is all but upon us! Wake up! The watchmen know the season and they know the season has grown long and so we see "the day" soon approaching". Take Heed![25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
I'm not even going to address how the "milk drinkers" are told by their blind leaders that this means once they become Christians they will no longer commit sins. The reality is that as long as we are in the flesh, we will fall short at times... and some... more times than others! But no matter, Christ died for us! The reality of the moment is the fact that the "day is fast approaching" and what Paul is saying is that... IF, AFTER, you have been sanctified, i.e. IF you are one of God's elect having had your eyes and ears opened whereby you have received the knowledge of the truth, and THEN you WILLFULLY sin, which is to NOT holdfast but rather to waver, the subject being discussed here, then you are in BIG TROUBLE![26] For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
You "see", God's elect know full well that most Christians have not received the knowledge of the truth. Most of our brothers and sisters follow after the traditions of men, being blinded and asleep in a stupor as per Romans chapter 11. Therefore... since they have NOT received the knowledge of the truth in the first place, they are not able to turn back, i.e. to turn away from the truth! Surely that makes sense to you! It is akin to the fact that if you have never been somewhere then you cannot go back there. Yes, they will fall in the great apostasy and bow down to the false messiah, but they will do so in ignorance, not willfully after having come to a full knowledge of the truth.
However, if you are one of God's elect and you turn back and worship the abomination of desolation (Satan, the false-christ), then this is what you have to look forward to:
You certainly do not want to be among those numbered with His adversaries for they shall be consumed by the fire of His indignation. Again, Paul is speaking about the "approaching day", the time just before the return of Christ known as the great apostasy, the great falling away, when the son of perdition comes first and sits in the temple claiming to be God (2 Thes. 2).[27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Remember that Paul was an Hebrew scholar who studied under the renown doctor of law, Gamaliel. So knowing God's Word very well he makes reference to Deut. 17:2-7 regarding those who worship the abomination, i.e. go and serve other gods such as Satan and his angels. This explains the "unpardonable sin", the sin worthy of death![28] He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
This really needs no commentary for those with eyes to see!Deut. 17:2-7
If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing His covenant,[3] And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
[4] And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
The worship of abomination is an unpardonable sin unto death, if you are within the gates, i.e. one of God's chosen, one of the elect![5] Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
Now having gained an understanding of what Paul was referring to in Heb. 10:28, "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses", "listen" to the comparison he makes to the time of the "approaching day".[6] At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.[7] The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
The Greek word for "trodden under" is "katapateo", which means to reject . Again, Paul is specifically addressing those who have truly been "sanctified". If they deny Christ and do not allow the Holy Spirit to speak through them, but rather turn away to the abominable one, the "unholy thing" (unholy means "profane") then they have "blasphemed" the Holy Spirit, i.e. done despite unto the Spirit of grace. Now you know what it means to "blaspheme" the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Grace.(You can look up the word "despite" for yourself in your Greek dictionary or Strong's Concordance.)Hebrews 10:29
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
So what is the answer to the question, "How much sorer will their punishment be?" The answer is instead of being stoned to death in the flesh they shall experience "eternal death" from the Rock! Did you know all this is contained in the Song of Moses, the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy which speaks all about this final generation of the fig tree? To wit, Paul is now going to quote from the Song of Moses, which is also the song that the "overcomers" will be singing at the victory celebration over the beast as documented in Rev. 15.
Do you know how to say "King of the saints (just ones)" in Hebrew? Melchi-sedec!Rev. 15:3-4
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
That should definitely cause those who have eyes to see and ears to hear to know both the season and the time whereof Paul speaks. It is the time when our people shall stumble and fall in the great apostasy and worship the false rock instead of the true Rock of our salvation. Again, if you are a "sanctified one" and you turn back and worship along with them, you are in big trouble![4] Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Here now is Paul quoting from Deut. 32, the Song of Moses!
This speaks of the day of Vengeance, the second advent, the 7th Trump when Yeshua returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. However, do you remember when we noticed that Paul left out the phrase "mine ears hast thou opened" when he quoted Ps. 40:6? You should now always remember to go check referenced scriptures to gain a fuller understanding of that which is being "uttered", i.e. related to. So let's check out Deut. 32:31-36 that Paul is quoting from. Pay close attention, those of you whose ears He has opened, to that which is written between the words Paul quoted above.Hebrews 10:30
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Their vine is not our vine and the field they plow is not the Word of God. Therefore, the fruit that they produce is vile and bitter. In fact, it is so spiritually poisonous it will kill you (spiritually) because it comes straight from the old dragon himself.Deut. 32:31-36
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. [32] For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:
Paul quotes the first part of the next verse:[33] Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.[34] Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?
"Their foot shall slide" is the great falling away, the great apostasy Paul speaks of in 2 Thes. 2, the great bending and bowing to the false messiah, the great "carrying away" into the arms of the abominable one, i.e. the great seduction by the serpent. It shall come upon them suddenly, i.e. when they least expect it. You see, they are watching for the return of Christ, which happens at the sound of the 7th Trump. But the 6th Trump shall sound FIRST and they will all fall to the abominable one, Satan claiming to be Christ. The truth of the matter is that their preachers are sounding the alarm of the wrong Trump. They should know that the number "6" comes before the number "7" in the chronological order of things, like trumps![35] To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Here is the definition of "slide":
Paul also quotes from the next verse, vs. 36:slide = mote' Strong's # H4131
A primitive root; to waver; by implication to slip, shake, fall:—be carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in decay, X exceedingly, fall (-ing down), be (re-) moved, be ready shake, slide, slip.
Their "power" is Jesus Christ. Their "power" shall be GONE for they shall have all been swept away in the great flood of deception to befall this generation. Then... He who promised He will come, SHALL COME. (And you wonder where Paul got the chronological order of events he told us of in 2 Thes. 2 concerning the abominable one, the son of perdition. It has been right here in the Song of Moses all along.)[36] For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when He seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
Why is it a fearful [formidable] thing? Because you "see", God can destroy not only your flesh body, but your very soul. He is the one you should fear, as in revere! Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear [revere] Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
"Call to remembrance" means to "keep ever in mind". You not only remember what it was like when you first came to the knowledge of the truth (were illuminated) and all the things some of you went through, but on a deeper level this too refers to the Song of Moses, Deut. 32:7, for it has to do with your FAITH. "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee."[32] But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
In the next chapter Paul will give us a great lesson concerning those who have gone before us and how that relates to our faith.
Though at times it may have been difficult, you had no problem dealing with coming out of Babylon (confusion).[33] Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Keep focused on the eternal reward and that great city of God! How much faith do you have? Do you wilt when someone calls you weak or labels you because of the Christ in you? The question is, are you willing to take a stand for what you believe or are you "intimidated" by the beast already?[34] For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Do not "cast your faith" away and turn back to the abomination. Christ told His watchmen to stay out of his (the abominable one's) house, because their is nothing in there but filthy garments and death! (Mark 13:15 "And let him that is on the housetop [the watchman] not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house."[35] Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Again, you hang in there (hupomeno) and keep your eyes focused on your crown and that same great city our father Abraham saw! God has promised that He will never forsake you and He has promised to deliver you and "God is faithful" to His EVERY WORD!
As we said before, your faith is going to be tested so remember what James has to say: James 1:3 "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." You need to have "patient endurance" knowing with certitude that God will reward you for doing the right thing, for doing His will, which is staying in the field and working His plan. We KNOW we have the victory and the promise of eternal life and all the "good things" Paul spoke of because Christ paid the price and in doing so He defeated death, that old serpent, the son of perdition.[36] For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Time is short in this final generation, but you should know the reason why God is longsuffering. It is because He loves His children and is giving them more time than ever in this final generation to turn to Him... "TO DAY"... with all their hearts and minds. To wit, the bridegroom tarries and we have had a great wake-up call (9-11) to both the "wise" and the "unwise virgins" (Mat. 25). What are you doing about it? Have you awakened to answer the call? Have you gone out to get to know the bridegroom, to draw near unto Him and study His Word so as to fill your lamp with that precious oil of His Spirit whereby you can make it through the darkest hour of the night?[37] For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
For yet a little while, and He that shall come WILL COME, and will not tarry (Heb. 10:37).2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
If you are going to "live", as in make it to the end and receive life (eternal life), you are going to have to have faith! Do not turn back to the abominable one when he comes and sits in the temple claiming to be God! Again, Christ gave us stern warning in Mat. 24 and Mark 13. Do not go into his house. Stay in the field and keep your righteous garments on, the gospel armor of light. Romans 13:12 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."Hebrews 10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
You see, if you are one of His sanctified ones and you "draw back" and deny the true Christ by worshipping the abomination of desolation along with your deceived brothers and sisters, then as Paul just stated... your Father will have NO PLEASURE in you (Heb. 10:38).
Remember, God is faithful to His promises, to His Word, so put on the shield of faith and the whole armor of God and be ready to take a stand and please Him regardless of what man, or angels, or principalities or powers might do or say. If you are one of God's elect and He has opened your eyes and ears, then you are not among those who shall "draw back" unto the son of "perdition". We have the victory and no one is going to take our crown!
If you are one "whose ears He has opened" then you are a child of light and not of darkness. The night is far spent and you are awake to the truth of His Word and what is happening in this final generation. Only those who sleep in the night are going to "draw back", i.e. fall in the great apostasy and bow before the son of perdition! They already cower before the first beast of Rev. 1 and are intimidated by the bite of the asps and sting of the scorpions! Here is the Greek word for "draw back":[39] But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
In chapter 11 Paul is going to "Remember the Days of Old" and show us the substance of what real faith is made of!draw back = Strong's #G5289 hupostoleô hoop-os-tol-ay'
From G5288; shrinkage (timidity), that is, (by implication) apostasy:—draw back.
***************************************************
Hebrews chapter 11
"What is faith?" Believe it or not, most Christians do not know for most have not read the Word of God.
In chapter 10 Paul made a strong appeal to us by explaining that we need to "Hold fast the profession [conviction] of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised)".
In order to do that, i.e. to hold fast, we are going to have to believe and trust in God by knowing with "full assurance" that He is faithful to every promise He has ever made... to those who diligently seek Him.
Of course that precludes that one must first know what the "promises" are He has made to those who love and serve Him.
Believe it or not, most Christians do not know, for most have not read the Word of God and fewer yet have ever diligently (sincerely) studied it to show themselves "approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15)"!
So "What is faith?"
And if a person has it, doesn't common sense tell us there must be some reason, some foundation we can point to, that causes them to possess it?
Well, as we begin this 11th chapter of Hebrews, Paul is first going to explain to us what faith is and then bring forth the testimonies of those who possessed it and acted upon it during their many trials and tribulations demonstrating to us that God indeed IS FAITHFUL!
(By the way, none of the people Paul will discuss in this 11th chapter exercised their faith in believing and trusting in God because they were afraid of burning in hell, but rather for their love of God and the hope of the fulfillment of His glorious promises.)
Here then is the definition of "faith":
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
"Hupostasis" therefore means the foundation (under you) upon which you stand to support your convictions (faith), i.e. your belief in the faithfulness of God to keep His promises (the things hoped for).
That foundational support had better be the Rock, the Word of God, or as it is written you will be swept away in the great flood of lies and deception in these last days.
=
The
reason for the question is that if you do not know and do the things He
commands, why would you expect Him to reward you at His coming?
Consider what Jesus Christ has to say on the matter:
Luke 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Here is what to do: Open your Bible and prayerfully go to Him, to Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and hear His Voice, and then do as He commands... not the commands of preachers and ministers who tell you that following their church traditions are pleasing to God.[47] Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Why?
(Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)."
The point is, if you work in the field, if you plow and dig deep into the Word of God and lay that foundation under you, then you are indeed a "wise" and unshakable servant of God who shall be able to hold fast without wavering.
So ask yourself another question: "How much substance supports my faith?"[48] He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.[49] But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Dr. Bullinger in his "Greek Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament", Kregel Publications, pg. 746, defines substance (hupostasis) as: "what is set or stands under; underlayer, prop, foundation; that which lies at the foundation of a matter; confidence;". He also points out in the Companion Bible, pg. 1839, that the word "substance" was "used of title-deeds in the Papyri" (Companion Bible, pg. 1839).
If you have a "deed" to something, it is the proof, the evidence, that you own it!
You see, the Word of God (the Bible) is that title-deed that is the proof of your inheritance, for if you are a child of God you are an heir to the promises God has made to those who love Him, even the promise of eternal life as a joint-heir with Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together."
Think about it for a moment.
If you possess the legal deed to an estate, for example, even though you may have not even visited the mansion, you still have the evidence in the title-deed you hold that it belongs to you, right?
Paul is going to make the point that our forefathers who
had unwavering faith because they "believed" God and what He said was true,
all died never having received all the promises.
For example, Abraham "who looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God", though he never possessed it had the faith, i.e. he knew with certitude, that someday he would!
Hebrews 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
You "see", our elders not only pleased God as His faithful servants but we have their testimony, their "good report", their witness to the immutable fact that God keeps His promises... every single one of them.
However, we must believe and endure, having patience knowing that all things work according to His will!
That takes the exercising of "faith"!
Advertisers know well how that many people are convinced
by
testimonials, even those of complete strangers like in
an Infomercial,
that a product or service is good and worthwhile having
or pursuing.
But we have the testimonials of our own family, our elders and forefathers who have all TESTIFIED to the faithfulness of the Word of God.
Seeing then the witness of their trust and faith (belief in God), serves to increase our faith by underlying the foundation upon which we stand.
Again, that is why Paul exhorts us so in 1 Cor. 10:11-13 to "take heed" to the things which are written because they show us that God IS faithful to all His promises.
Here is what he writes after speaking about Moses and our forefathers:
1 Cor. 10:11-13 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.[12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standethtake heed lest he fall.
but in having the faith to "holdfast without wavering" which is the subject Paul has been speaking about since the 23rd verse of the last chapter (Heb. 10:23).
Therefore, if you take the time to read and understand all the testimonials in the Word of God you will find supporting evidence through the witness (testimonials) of all those who have gone before us that the following verse is true,the point being that GOD IS FAITHFUL!
His promises to you, to be with you unto the end and reward you for your faithfulness, are as sure as the sun coming up in the morning!
However, you must believe and step forward and claim the title-deed to those promises.
[13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Furthermore, as the evidence of the witnesses show He always does, your Father will provide a way for your escape from falling whereby you may stand and holdfast without wavering, and be able to endure unto the end!
(Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Is not the thing made evidence
of a maker?
Pay close attention to the witness and testimonials Paul is going to outline for us in this 11th chapter of Hebrews, commonly called the faith chapter.
Then too, a truly "wise" person would not consider the outline itself sufficient ground upon which to stand, but would at some point go back and dig out all the precious details of the things which are written, thereby strengthening his or her foundation.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
You "see", Paul is not talking about the material creation, the "earth" itself, but rather the worlds (plural), the "aions" past, present, and future, which are the three world ages Peter speaks of in 2 Pet. 3.
Read verse one again and you will find that "faith" is the evidence of things which are NOT SEEN, not evidence of the things which are seen.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Go ahead, try it!
Look all around you and see what there is you can see that was not made.
For example, if you look at a car you do not need faith to tell you someone made it, do you?
Is not the thing made evidence of a maker?
Of course it is!
Well, the same common sense that tells you someone made the car applies when see a much more intrinsically complex vehicle, like a horse!
It doesn't take anymore faith to tell you that someone made the horse than it does to tell you someone made the car.
It's what we call a no-brainer!
In other words, it just takes good old common "horse sense" which is far superior to intellectual "non-sense"!
(Note: I am not insulting the intelligence of horses when I use the phrase "no-brainer" for God knows they have more sense than someone with a PhD who believes in evolution.)
So it is not creation itself
that requires faith, but rather the purpose,
the plan,
the who and why of creation
that requires faith and understanding.
These things cannot be "seen" under a microscope for they are invisible things.
However, Paul tells us in the Book of Romans that spiritual things which are invisible things can actually be understood by the creation, by nature itself.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made."
It is through faith, through the foundation we have laid by digging deeper into His Word and seeing "so great a cloud of witnesses" (Heb. 12:1) testifying that all He says is true, that God is Faithful to His promises, whereby we know that the "worlds", the three earth ages (aions) past, present, and future, have been "framed", i.e. fitly joined together in the Plan of God.
It is through that same faith then that we know where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going!
To do God's will; that's what "good works" is!
Let us now take heed to the teachings of Paul as he recaps the testimony of the elders, the men and women who down through the ages have demonstrated their "belief" in God by the exercising of their faith, keeping in mind that the bottom line is God is Faithful to His every Word and He is the rewarder of all those "good things to come" to those who love Him! If you therefore believe in Him, you hold the title-deed to all the blessings and promises He has made. Imagine that! Just think about it!
Abel's excellent sacrifice, to which God Himself gave witness, serves not only as testimony that he was righteous, but it also serves as witness (testimony) against the unrighteousness of Cain. You see, when judgment comes, all of the testimony (witness) will be laid out in the open and everyone will get exactly what he or she has got coming to them. For some, His children who love Him, that judgment will be the reward of His promises. For others, the children of disobedience, that judgment will be His vengeance, a "reward of recompense" He also has promised. You see, our Father doesn't forget and as it is written, all the witnessing and testimony is laid up in store for judgment and the day vengeance! Remember we saw in our last study where Paul quoted that very fact from the Song of Moses? (Hebrews 10:30 "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.")Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
You see, God is completely fair (just and true are His ways, Deut. 32:4) and He will judge no one without sufficient witness and testimony according to their own doing... and you know what... everyone's life is on record in the courthouse of the Supreme Judge of the universe. Thank God for repentance and the forgiveness of sins whereby He blots them out! Think about it! And remember what Paul just said, that the testimony of Abel still speaks to us today, for his blood still cries out until that great day of judgment.
To that end, this first witness brings to mind the promise of the "true sacrifice" which Paul so eloquently spoke of in chapter 10. Hebrews 10:12-14 "But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
The test of one's belief and true love for God lies in his or her actions, not just words.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
And although we are not given all the details of His walk
with God, his testimony is written ("he had this testimony") and what he
did,
which became his testimony, PLEASED our Father greatly.
Yes, the test of one's belief and true love for God lies in his or her actions, not just words.
For example, you can tell your spouse that you love her
or him, but if you never do anything that pleases the one you claim to
love,
then your words become vain, which means they are empty
and void of meaning.
The witness of Enoch's reward is so relative to these last days in that it reminds us of the promise spoken through Paul in 1 Cor. 15:51-53, that we who endure unto the end shall not all "sleep", but shall be changed in the moment and in twinkling of an eye into our spiritual bodies and be given a crown of life (immortality).
Paul then says in conclusion to
that great chapter: 1 Cor. 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be
ye stedfast,
unmovable,
always abounding in the work
of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain
in the Lord."
Indeed, your faith is not in vain for "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him".
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
In fact, many Christians rarely even open the cover to His Word much less do any plowing or digging.
It is for that very reason that it can be truly said (Isa. 29:13-17) they do not know Him, as in who He really is, for though they say Lord, Lord, they do not "diligently seek Him" as Paul states above.
You "see", for one who has been a Christian for some length of time to claim that he or she knows Jesus Christ, the "living" Word of God, but does not know the "written" Word of God, is itself "testimony" that he or she has forsaken Him.
That's right!
It doesn't matter how many times you go to church or how much money you give to this charity or that one, if you ignore the Word of God, you ignore Jesus Christ.
Is it any wonder that He will say the following to those many Christians who try to cash in their goodly deeds, having diligently followed the traditional things their preachers and pastors told them to do instead of diligently seeking the Word of God:
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
They have no faith because they do not diligently (sincerely) seek after Him to hear His voice and do His will.
Remember we quoted Luke 6:47 earlier?
"Whosoever
cometh to me,
and heareth my sayings, and doeth
them, I will
shew you to whom he is like."
Here is what Christ said just prior to "depart from me, ye that work iniquity":
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
God speaks to us through His Word in these last days
(Hint: They all are!)
Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Thus Noah believed God by faith because neither he nor anyone else had ever seen rain, much less witnessed a torrential downpour and flooding!
And because Noah prepared an ark of salvation for his house (exactly as per God's directions, i.e. God's way) while at the same time blowing the trumpet of warning to those who were "eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage", his testimony and witness condemned (brought judgment against) the world.
Again, it is written that "as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be..."!
God has appointed His watchmen in these last days and has "warned us of things not seen as yet" which is the flood of lies and deception that will sweep the whole world by storm during the great tribulation (40 denotes "tribulation" in Biblical numerics) when Satan and his death angels (nephilium), come to this earth at the sound of 6th Trump as per Rev. 12:7-9.
How has He warned us in these last days, you say?
Do you not remember how Paul opened this great Book of Hebrews?
He let us know first off that "God,
who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets,
[2] Hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his Son, whom He hath appointed heir of
all things,
by whom also he made the worlds".
In other words, God speaks to us through His Word in these last days and as "He says", i.e. as it is written in Mark 13:23, "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."
The questions are, "Do you know about the worldwide "flood" that our Father has warned us will soon sweep the whole world?
If so, what are doing about it?
Are you making "preparations" for your house according to the blue print our Father has laid out in His Word?"
You see, God said He would bring a flood during the days of Noah, and HE DID!
God has also said He will bring a flood (a storm of lies and deception) upon this final generation, and HE SHALL!
Next we shall add some "concrete" evidence to the "footers" of our foundation with the witness of the faith of Abraham and Sarah!
Don't miss it!
It'll be a keeper!
Are you "fully persuaded" that God is faithful to His Word and that He will fulfill all the promises He has made to you?
The reason to consider the question is that there is a vast difference in just saying you believe, which is a "blind" or "unsubstantiated" faith indeed, and being "fully persuaded" from "seeing" and internalizing the preponderance of evidence to the point there is no "staggering", no doubt whatsoever in your mind, that God is faithful and able to fulfill His promises.
It is that type of "full assurance" which is the "substance", the substantiation, the confirmation, upon which true faith and trust in God stands!
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
To that end in this great 11th chapter
of Hebrews, Paul is giving us but a short synopsis of the witnesses to
God's faithfulness
in keeping His EVERY PROMISE to
those who love and serve Him!
He has already summarized for us the faith and witness of Abel, Enoch, and Noah who became "heirs of the righteousness" which is by faith (Heb. 11:7).
We also learned and saw that God is a rewarder of those who diligently (earnestly) love and obey Him and that without believing that He is true to His Word and exercising your faith, it is impossible to please Him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
The question is: "Why is it that Paul goes to such great lengths to remind us of all this?"
That's simple!
It is to increase the foundation upon which we stand, thereby strengthening our faith.
Consider Paul's words in the great Book of Romans concerning Abraham's faith:
Romans 4:19-25 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
"So what?", a man or woman of faith would say.
You "see", Abraham had the faith to know that "with God nothing shall be impossible"and so he wavered not one bit in his belief that God was able to fulfill His promise.
That is true faith, dear ones!
[20] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And how is it he was so steadfast in his trust and belief in God?
Do not miss the REASON which is contained in the next verse!
[21] And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.
That trust and strong faith in giving glory to God, pleased His Father and was therefore imputed to him for righteousness!
How "persuaded" are you?
These next two verses are the reason we came here:[22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
[23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;[24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The same thing applies to all of God's servants in that the "full assurance" of your faith in trusting and believing and giving glory to God, is also imputed to you for righteousness!
That is why we have the written testimony of our elders, the prophets, i.e. to give us confidence and build up the foundation upon which our faith firmly stands.
Let us now return to Hebrews and read what Paul has to say concerning the faithfulness of Abraham, whose name means the "father of many nations".
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
In Abraham's case he was willing to give up all that he possessed in the land to go out and sojourn in a foreign land!
You "see", he had enough faith to trust that God would provide a better place, a better inheritance, than the one he left behind!
Also, the very fact that Abraham was willing to trust and follow God's commands even though at the time he did not know "whither he went" is very relative to God's elect today.
How so?
Well, just as Abraham did not fully know his "destination", i.e. what God had in store for him to fulfill according to His will, many of God's elect also do not fully know their destiny but are willing to trust and obey God's commands knowing with "full assurance" that He will, in His time, bring them to fulfill their destiny according to His purpose!
[9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
And would you believe that "same promise" to be His heirs is also made to us, the sons and daughters in this final generation of the fig tree?
Yes, that would be to you, if you love and serve Him!
[10] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
[Speaking of foundations, "Did you know you can be made a 'pillar' in the temple of God (Rev. 3:12)?"]
[11] Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
You see, it is when a person "judges" in his or her own mind, knowing with "full assurance" that Almighty God is faithful to His promises, that he or she receives "strength" (dunamis, power). In other words, if you truly believe in God and His Christ, that He is true to His Word regardless if what He says "appears" to the flesh eyes to be impossible or beyond reach, then you have the faith to receive strength as did Sarah and Abraham who were 90 and 100 years old respectively when Isaac was conceived.
Think about it!
This was a really old couple as far as both conceiving and bearing children is concerned.
Yet, it was to them that the promise of the "seed" was made and so it came to pass that the promise was fulfilled exactly as God said!
[12] Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Here is the promise to which Paul was referring in verse 12:
Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
he also knew that Messiah would come through his loins, through Isaac and Jacob.
Keep that in mind as we complete this study.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
However, when Messiah did come, immediately following His death he went to those still bound by the penalty of sin and all who would believe in Him, even back to the antediluvian period (the days of Noah), were set free by the blood of the Lamb (1 Pet. 3:19-22).
It should also be pointed out that in order to confess (fully acknowledge) that one is a "stranger and pilgrim" (resident foreigner) requires the foundational knowledge of the three world ages which by faith we know are "fitly joined together" (Heb. 11:3) in the plan of God.
In other words, we know that this temporal flesh age is Satan's earth age and so we look forward to the heavenly kingdom.
Those who have faith, who know with certitude the promises of a "better inheritance", embrace those promises and hold on to them endearingly, knowing and confessing that they are not of this world, but rather sojourners on the earth.
This is confirmed by the very words of Jesus Christ Himself in that beautiful prayer to the Father in John 17.
Concerning His disciples He said:
John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
And we know that there is NOTHING in this earth age that can compare to that which is coming.
Even the trials and tribulations and sufferings in the flesh, in these tabernacles in which we dwell for such a short time, are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Hebrews 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
We seek an heavenly country wherein our heavenly Father dwells.
By the way, the Greek word for country is "patris" which means father-land, figuratively a "heavenly home".
country = patris pat-rece'Strong's #G3968
From G3962; a father land, that is, nativetown; (figuratively) heavenly home:—(own) country.
[15] And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Again, he knew that he was but a sojourner in the "land", i.e. on this earth, walking under the sun for a short time.
The point is, once your "eyes" are opened to the vision of the Father land, the heavenly country, that heavenly city that awaits those who believe in God, there is nothing worthwhile to look back upon!
So don't look back!
To wit, remember what happened to Lot's wife who looked back, meaning she longed to return to the former life she had (Luke 17:33).
Such a lack of faith, which is unbelief, is not pleasing to God.
[16] But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.
And remember Hebrews 11:6 which declares that He is a "rewarder" of those who love and serve Him?
And so it is that He has prepared a beautiful new home for His faithful children, even that glorious New Jerusalem we read about in Rev. 21.
You "see", that great city is not "wishful thinking"!
We have the concrete evidence that the Word of God is true and accurate in every detail.
It always has been and so it always shall be!
How solid is your faith?
Is it founded upon the Rock, the Word of God?
Well, you will soon find out as we enter into the final hour of the last days, the period known as the great testing period... or if your prefer, the great tribulation!
Oh, you didn't know that your faith shall be put to the test?
Abraham's faith was surely tested, wasn't it?
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
However, remember we said earlier to keep in mind that Abraham knew that the promised "seed", not Isaac but Messiah Himself, would come through his loins, through his son Isaac?
Therefore, because Abraham "staggered not" in His belief that God is faithful to His promises and is able to perform them, he just logically figured that God would "raise up Isaac from the dead"!
In fact, verse 19 below documents that is precisely what was on his mind when he lifted up that knife!
[18] Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
In other words, he judged God to be faithful to His Word!
That "full assurance" in his mind did not allow for doubt to conceive but to logically conclude that since God certainly is able to raise the dead, that must be what He is going to do to Isaac, raise him up.
[19] Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
In conclusion, remember to stay in your Father's Word every day and become "fully assured" by the "witness" and "testimony" of all those who have gone before us, that our Father is faithful to all of His promises and He is a rewarder of those who sincerely love and serve Him.
Furthermore, know that it pleases Him so much that when we are "tried", though it be with fire, we "stagger not" and exercise our faith by trusting and believing in Him!
How precious it is indeed!
1 Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:[8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
[9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Are you "fully convinced"?
The evidence upon which you can stand is truly overwhelming!
To "know whose child you are" is quite a revelation to many of God's children!
One of the greatest "eye openers" to the sons and daughters in this final generation occurs when they come to "see" the fulfillment of the promises, the unbreakable covenant, that God made to Abraham (Gen. 17:4-7), established in Isaac (Gen. 26:1-5), and confirmed in Jacob (Gen. 35:10-12) whose name was changed to Israel. Therefore, let us begin by reading the confirmation that God Almighty gave to Jacob:
Yes, for the "fatherless" and "orphans" of the "Lost 10 Tribes" of true Israel to discover the way back home to their "fathers" literally fills their hearts with joy and gladness and increases their faith tremendously. I mean, to "know whose child you are" is quite a revelation to many of God's children! To that end, one of the promises of God was that He would send "Elijah the prophet (teacher)" to "turn back" the heart of the (lost) children to their fathers in these last days before the "great and dreadful Day of the LORD"! And as you know if you have faith, God ALWAYS keeps His promises.Genesis 35:10-11
And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.[11] And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
We read of the faith that both Abraham and Sarah had regarding the promised seed and how that Abraham, in knowing with certitude that God's promise of both Messiah and an "innumerable multitude" would come through Isaac, had the faith to obey God when He asked him to sacrifice his only begotten son. Yes, Abraham believed that God could and would resurrect his son! Now, Paul is going to acknowledge for our benefit the faith of the Abraham's son and grandsons, the patri-archs (patri = fathers) Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, through whom the blessings of national greatness would come as promised.Malachi 4:5-6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:[6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest [before] I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Note: If you would like to know more about the migrations of the children of Israel and document from both scripture and the pages of secular history where those so-called "lost tribes" dwell today, then get and read a copy of "The Abrahamic Covenant", by E. Raymond Capt, (ARTISAN PUBLISHERS - P.O. Box 1529, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74402 - Phone (918) 682-8341 - www.artisanpublishers.com) and begin today to see how the promises of God come to pass exactly as they are written. This little booklet, which you can read in one sitting, is sure to open your eyes if you have been wandering as a lost child in the wilderness. You can also get some of the same information, although not as complete as the above booklet, by logging unto pamphlets #1064 and #1020 on this web site.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
What is it we are to understand by this one short verse concerning the faith of Isaac? Well for one thing, that the blessings concerned a future time, a time to come, even the last days when both Jacob and Esau would become great nations, as in "superpowers".
You "see", we cannot know very much unless we go back and establish a firm foundation by learning all that transpired with Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob and Esau and know who these two nations are today that were in Rebecca's womb (Hint: They are America and Russia). Then we can know why it is Isaac blessed the younger over the elder as he blessed the future generations of these two! It is written (Rom. 9:13) that God loved Jacob but hated (loved less by comparison) Esau, even while they were still in their mother's womb. That is because even in "the world that then was" (2 Pet. 3:6) Esau did not regard (as in despised) his heritage, which he would once again prove in the flesh by "selling out" for a mere bowl of red pottage. Esau simply did not have the faith to truly trust God!Genesis 25:23
And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Also, a careful examination of the scriptures, knowing that Isaac knew what transpired at his sons' births concerning the "heel grabbing" and what God said in Gen. 25:23, will reveal that Isaac was aware of and had faith in the plan of God, i.e. that the greater blessings would go to Jacob.
Below is the blessing Isaac bestowed on Jacob after drawing him near to "kiss" and "smell the smell of his raiment", determining the smell to be that of a field.
The deeper student will refer to the Song of Moses, Deut. 32, in understanding the "dew of heaven", etc.Genesis 27:27-29
And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:[28] Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
Again, Esau received the lesser of the blessings because he did not have faith, for when he was an hungered he literally sold his birthright. There is nothing new under the sun and Esau will still "sell out" his people today for the same reason.[29] Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
However, unlike his brother Esau, Jacob did have faith as testified to next!
The word "staff" used in this verse means a "sceptre" or "baton of royalty". In other words, this was a divine blessing Jacob bestowed upon Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, whom he literally adopted and split the birthright (national blessings) between the two. In so doing, Manasseh (whose name means "forgetful") actually became the 13th tribe, which is quite interesting because a little homework will reveal that the number "13" is stamped all over the Great Seal of the United States of America. In fact, there are 13 sets of "13" between the reverse and the obverse of our seal. Yes, Manasseh has become a "great people" indeed!Hebrews 11:21
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Joseph believed all the promises of God without "wavering" and therefore knew, having no doubts whatsoever, that the children of Israel would exodus the land and dwell in the land flowing with milk and honey. He showed his faith along with his desire to be with them when he "gave commandment concerning his bones". Here is the account in Genesis where Joseph "makes mention" of the exodus:[22] By faith Joseph, when he died [was dying], made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
And sure enough God did visit them to deliver them out of the land. Exodus 3:8 "And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites."Genesis 50:24-25
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Here also is the commandment of Joseph concerning his bones:
You will find that because of Joseph's faith God saw to it to bless the fulfillment of his desires: Joshua 24:32 "And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph."[25] And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
We in this final generation of the fig tree, must also make a "choosing" as to whether they will patiently "endure to the end" or take the easier softer way and "enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season"!
You "see", it is written that most of our brothers and sisters "will sell out" (apostatize) to the peace and prosperity brought about by the deception of the false-christ.
Moses' parents, Amram and Jochebed (Num. 26:59), "saw" that "Divine Spirit" shining in the face of this child from the moment he was born. You can document that by using your Strong's Concordance to look up "exceeding fair" (theos asteios) in Acts 7:20.Hebrews 11:23
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Moses' parents therefore knew that the hand of God was upon Moses and their faith was strengthened whereby they nourished him three months without fear of the king's command in Ex. 1:22 to destroy all the male Hebrew newborns. You "see", they trusted in the Lord to take care of His own for true servants of God who have faith in Him know full well the answer to the question Paul poses in Rom. 8:31, "... If God be for us, who can be against us?" The answer is "No One!" Did not Jesus also tell us in Mat. 10:28 to "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul"? He went on to say "rather love your Father" who has all power over life and death, both physical and spiritual! Kings of the earth... beware!Acts 7:20
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
Moses was at the point where the very throne of Egypt was within his grasp when he discovered the truth of his heritage, that he was truly of the House of Israel!Hebrews 11:24
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Many of God's elect today, along with the kings and queens of the ethnos, can attest to the same revelation and increase in faith when their "eyes are opened" to know the rich heritage of God's people!
Take heed to what we are learning in this great "faith" chapter and become well acquainted with all the men and women of faith whose testimonials and witness are recorded for our benefit (1 Cor. 10:11-13). The relevancy to what Paul just told us concerning Moses "choosing" rather to suffer affliction, is that the sons and daughters, the brothers and sisters in this final generation of the fig tree, must also make a "choosing" as to whether they will patiently "endure to the end" or take the easier softer way and "enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season"![25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
A word to the wise is sufficient.
You "see", it is written that most of our brothers and sisters "will sell out" (apostatize) to the peace and prosperity brought about by the deception of the false messiah who will come claiming he is God. But the true servants of God, those who have faith firmly rooted in the Word of God, who have the evidence sealed in their minds whereby they know with certitude that they hold the "title-deed" to the glorious riches of the kingdom of God, shall take a stand and suffer spiritual affliction (trials and tribulation), knowing as did Moses (next verse) that the "recompense of the reward" far exceeds the tribulation we must endure for such a short time!
Have you ever read the great Book of Ecclesiastes where wise old Solomon documents from his personal experience as the wealthiest, wisest, and most powerful man on earth, that there is simply not enough power, not enough money, not enough wine, not enough women, etc., to satisfy the flesh for even a short season, much less for all eternity?[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Once a person's spiritual "eyes and ears" are opened to the REALITY of the heavenly kingdom, then all there is "under the sun" becomes vanity (emptiness, nothingness) by comparison.
Moses endured because he had faith! Will you endure unto the end and be saved and receive a crown of life?[27] By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.
Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
[28]Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Paul taught us well in this Book of Hebrews about "shadows", didn't he? We therefore know how Jesus Christ became the fulfillment of the types (shadows) and became the one and only true sacrificial Lamb (our Passover, 1 Cor. 5:7) who shed His blood once and for all time and has now entered into the heavenly Holy of Holies and sits at the right hand of the throne of His Majesty on High as our advocate and compassionate High Priest.Do you have faith to know that when you "sprinkle that blood of the Lamb" on the doors posts of your mind, the death angel (Satan) must pass over you and cannot harm you?
This is actually a good example showing that mere boldness and bravery are not the same as the strength which comes by faith. Faith is belief and trust in God which the Egyptians did not have! Therefore, without faith, they were not pleasing to Him and brave though they may have been in trying to "cross over", they all drowned in their unbelief!Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
One can only imagine what the inhabitants of Jericho thought about these priests of God marching around the city blowing the trumpets. The point is, as the servants of God sound the alarm that the walls of this flesh age and of Babylon the great shall come "crashing down" at the sound of the 7th Trump, so shall they also be mocked* and jeered. No matter... for the servants of God shall "endure unto the end" keeping focused on the "recompense of the reward" that awaits them.[30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
*2 Peter 3:3-4 "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, [4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
What makes you think your shortcomings are worse than others of your brethren? Have you never read what David did?
The promise of all promises was that Messiah would come and pay the price on the cross, so that all those who believe in Him would not "perish" but receive eternal life. You see, these all had faith even before that promised one, Jesus Christ, came in that they knew and believed God's promise that Messiah would come. In fact, the prophets testified of His coming. And as we discussed earlier, it is written in 1 Peter 3:19-20 that they saw Him immediately after the crucifixion and accepted Him and were set free from the penalty of sin, which is death.
Thus they obtained a "good report" and that "good report" has earned them the "recompense of reward" at His second coming when we as a family, the family of God, all join together with Him!
Yes, we are so privileged to give witness and testimony for the Word of God, Jesus Christ, in this final generation of the fig tree. Just think of the reward for going through and enduring the "great tribulation" of these last days and "taking a stand" with the full panoply of "gospel armor" on and in place against the adversary, Satan, himself! That will be some "testimony", won't it? Think about it! As for all those who have gone before us and hold their "good report", their testimony (which we also have written for us), they must rest (wait) until this final season has ended and we have finished the work and given our witness and testimony for Christ to this generation:Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Do you have faith and trust in God as one of His servants? Oh you're so weak in the flesh, you say! Poor baby! The question wasn't are you a "goody, goody two shoes"? To be sure, your not! None of us is without sin for we all fall short in the flesh. And besides, what makes you think your shortcomings are worse than others of your brethren? Have you never read what David did?Rev. 6:9-11
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:[10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
[11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
If you have faith, believing in Him and obeying His commands, then you have absolutely NOTHING to fear in this final generation. You "see", the One who has ALL POWER has promised to be with you, even to the end of this flesh age! It is written!
***************************************************Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hebrews chapter 12
Do you desire to be part of that valiant family of God's servants Paul spoke of in Hebrews chapter 11?
Are you sure... after seeing all the temptations and trials and tribulations they endured?
One could easily say that many of them went through some pretty "rough times"!
Yet it was through their faith in Him that they "took a stand" and overcame great obstacles and seemingly insurmountable odds and emerged as victorious champions of our people who had "quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens".
It was also by their faith in Him and in looking forward to the "recompense of the reward", the fulfillment of His promises, and to that glorious city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God, that they "endured" many things among some of which were cruel mockings and scourgings and being sawn asunder. They were also tempted, some were "slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, and tormented." (Hebrews 11:34-37)
These were truly men and women of faith whose courage came not from their own strength, but from their trust in God, from their belief and faith that He "is" (Heb. 11:6) and that He is always faithful to His promises because His Word is the most sure thing in the universe.
So if you do wish to gather with that "great cloud (assembly) of witnesses" when Yeshua Messiah returns to this earth at the sound of the 7th Trump (1 Thes. 4:17) and ushers in His Kingdom, then take heed to the words of wisdom our Father has given us in this 12th chapter of Hebrews through His faithful servant Paul.
Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
No, they "hold fast" to His Word and do those things which He commands them to do, regardless of the obstacles or adversaries which stand in their way.
Let us therefore go back and briefly review where Paul left off at the end of chapter 10 before he paused to give us all those "ensamples" of faith in chapter 11.
Remember that he was teaching us that we need to have patience which is the endurance to go the distance.
This will help us place Heb. 12:1 in the proper context from which it flows.
Hebrews 10:36-39
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
patience = hupomone, hoop-om-on-ay', Greek 5281; from Greek 5278 (hupomeno); cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy :- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).
endurance = hupomeno, hoop-om-en'-o, Greek 5278; from Greek 5259 (hupo) and Greek 3306 (meno); to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figurative to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere :- abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
Now Paul just told us that we are going to "need" patience to do God's will in this final generation and that after we have done so, i.e. after we have finished the work, we will receive the promise!
Do you believe him?
How about Jesus Christ?Would you believe Him if He told
you that you must "stay behind" (be "Left
Behind" while the first woman in the field is taken and spiritually seduced),
in that you must "have fortitude" and "persevere" and "patiently suffer"
TO THE
END, i.e. until Christ returns at the sound of the last (7th) trump,
which is AFTER the son of perdition has come at the sound of the 6th trump
and reigned on this earth as "instead-of-Jesus" (see 2 Thes. 2:1-12)?
Here are Christ's words to those of this final generation of the fig tree:
Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.Luke 21:19
In your patience possess ye your souls.Mark 13:13
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
And if you take the time to read the verses surrounding those listed above, you will discover it is very much like reading Hebrews 11:34-37!
Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten:(brow beaten) and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.Hebrews 11:36
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonmentThe question is: "Are you in the "race" (Heb. 12:1) to go the distance and go for the 'gold', the gold crown that is?"
If so, just know that it is going to take "faith and endurance" to the end but the reward of recompense far exceeds anything material in this world!Therefore, knowing that He is faithful and shall never leave nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5) but rather shall be with you unto the end (Mat. 28:20), there is NOTHING and NO ONE to fear.
Besides, you've read all the testimonies of the patriarchs and elders to confirm that fact, have you not?
Live Link to- The Fig Tree Generation
Rev. 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Trust the Word of God which tells you that you shall "overcome the beast" (Rev. 12:11) if you have faith but that you are going to have to "patiently endure" unto the end!
Then "take heed", and prepare yourself by putting on the gospel armor and get ready to take a stand! (Ephes. 6:11"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
I repeat: (Remember, the great tribulation of Satan will not be physical because he will want you to believe he is God!)
Let's continue with the last few verses of Heb. 10.
Hebrews 10:37
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
[See Fig Tree]
[38] Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, (i.e. Believe Satan's lies!) my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
God's elect simply do not "draw back" from His Word because they have faith!
They face the adversary head on because they are defenders of God's truth and declare His righteousness!
[39] But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Again, there is nothing new under the sun and today in this generation, just as he did in the "world that then was", Satan uses economics and merchandising and influence peddling to corrupt justice and pervert wisdom and education while at the same time promising and convincing many of God's Biblically illiterate children that life will be just grand in his Great Society, his New World Order!
So don't be one who "draws back" unto perdition, unto Satan and his ways.
Be a man or woman of God and put on the gospel armor and be ready to take a stand!
Have faith and exercise patient endurance and stick around unto the end.
You see, there is some major dragon kicking and stomping that has yet to be done and God's elect are privileged to be a part of bringing Babylon the great to its knees before the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Now let's go back and repeat Heb. 12:1.
Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
You "see", there is a "race" (contest, conflict, fight) set before us, a "course to run" and we need to get in shape... starting NOW!
Let's break some of the words in this verse back to the Greek fountain.
Note: Some may think we are getting a little too scholarly here with all these Greek references, but then such (i.e. scholarly) is the nature of the Book of Hebrews, is it not? Remember, it was written to those who can handle the "meat" of His Word instead of just the "milk" of salvation and baptism (Heb. 5:11-14)! Therefore, the deeper truth contained herein it is written specifically to the spiritually "rich" which would bring the mind of the wise to note Rev. 2:9 again!
Run = trecho, trekh'-o, Greek 5143; apparently a primary verb (properly threcho; compare Greek 2359 (thrix)); which uses dremo, drem'-o (the base of Greek 1408 (dromos)) as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily (literal or figurative) :- have course, run.
Course = dromos, drom'-os, Greek 1408; from the alternate of Greek 5143 (trecho); a race, i.e. (figurative) career :- course.
Race = agon, ag-one', Greek 73; from Greek 71 (ago); properly a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figurative an effort or anxiety :- conflict, contention, fight, race.
Fought, fight = agonizomai, ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee, Greek 75; from Greek 73 (agon); to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive (to endeavor to accomplish something) :- fight, labor fervently, strive.
Here is his admonition to those who do not "draw back":
2 Tim. 4:5-8
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
[6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.[7] I have fought a good fight (agonizomai), I have finished my course (dromos), I have kept the faith:
And not him only, but to all them also that love his appearing!
That would be you, if you love and serve Him.
[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Stop and think; How many of those seemingly bad things that happen to you in your life, here on earth, during this earth age in this animal body, are God's CHASTISEMENT? For your own good!
There was no doubt in Paul's mind that a "crown of righteousness" awaits him when the Lord, the righteous judge, appears at that day when the 7th Trump sounds.
And not him only, but to all them also that love his appearing!
That would be you, if you love and serve Him.
[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The old adage that leadership is best exemplified by example certainly is true when it comes to Jesus Christ, who is the "captain of our salvation"!
He showed us "the way" and we are "finished", "made perfect", i.e. are complete in Him (Col. 2:10).
"Focus on" what He went through for us in enduring the cross and being scorned and humiliated.
He overcame the world (Jn. 16:33) and overcame Satan (Heb. 2:14) and is now "set down at the right hand of the throne of God".
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
So don't let your brothers and sisters, especially those who are weak in faith or have not eyes to see, "see you sweat on your first cruise"!
It gives them no encouragement or incentive to see your unbelief, does it?
You "see", through faith in Him you can "have peace", i.e. peace of mind, entering into His rest (sabbath) at any time, any day, any hour, any moment!
And how would you like to sit with Him in His throne?
You can!
He said so!
Just follow His example and through faith firmly founded upon the Rock, i.e. in His Word, you will be a champion of your people, an overcomer of the world and the wicked one, even as He overcame!
And there shall be a crown of righteousness laid up in store for you too!
Rev. 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured [hupomeno] such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
[4] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Overcoming the world and the temptation to "draw back" (apostatize) isn't quite like being scourged and beaten and then crucified on the cross, is it?
That should be point enough to help us put our problems into their proper perspective, but there is yet another point that Paul would have us not be ignorant of... and that is that we should not overlook the fact that our heavenly Father sometimes chastises us when we veer off the track!
[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Sometimes we do a fine job all on our own of messing things up.
However, the VERY FACT that we are being disciplined is actually proof positive that God loves us and we are His precious children!
Only a parent who does not care if his child grows up wild and unruly, undisciplined, would withhold the rod of correction (i.e. chastisement) from his child.
So learn to recognize when you are being chastised and then "Kiss the paddle" and say "Thank you Father" because you know in your heart He did it for your own good.
In other words, chastisement is your confirmation that you are His son or daughter.
[6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
This time he quoted from the great Book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
In street English it means don't get all "bent out of shape", i.e. distressed and anxious, when you receive chastisement.
Take your "thumpin" like a man and get back in the race!
[12] For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
In other words, there is no joyful feeling in disciplining a child except in knowing in your heart that in the long run he or she will benefit from the love you give them in the correction.
So can you "endure" a little chastening from your heavenly Father without whining and moaning and complaining?
Because if He chastens you, it is because He loves you!
Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Therefore that child is without a loving parent!
[8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
When His children know they have been chastened, that just makes them love and respect Him all the more, just as it did when our earthly fathers and mothers corrected us!
Of course, one should never chasten a child in anger or rage!
[9] Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
"Wise" children of God also love their heavenly Father when He corrects them because they know that He cares for them and loves them.
[10] For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
So why would you think that your heavenly Father would not chastise you?
[11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Did you know that?
In fact, without chastening, without discipline, there often can be no growth which is expressed by the proverbial saying, "No pain, no gain".
Again, it isn't pleasant for either the chastener or the chastenee but the reward which comes from being steered back on the path of righteousness is well worth it... to BOTH parties!
Do you have a purpose and a destiny?
If so, Paul has given you instruction to cast aside those things that burden you and weigh you down and "run the race (do Father's will) which is set before us."
In so doing, learn to be disciplined IN the Word of God and walk in His ways while at the same time learning to be disciplined (be chastised) BY the Word of God.
Therefore, keep your eyes "looking up", focused on Jesus Christ, and stand up and "run the race set before us" with patient endurance.
In other words, God's elect must first stand up tall and be strong in His Word and disciplined in His ways so as to be able to serve Him by helping to "strengthen" others!
That is what running the race, which is doing God's will, is all about.
Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
How can one run the race if his knees are feeble?
The point is that the great spiritual battle of these last days requires the strengthening of one's mind which can only come from the proper spiritual nourishment obtained by "eating" and "absorbing" the Word of God.
It is the duty of the watchman, of whom EZEK-I-EL (whose name means "God is my Strength" or "Whom God Strengthens") was the forerunner, the type given for our "ensample", to first "eat the roll written within and without", i.e. the entire Word of God,and then bring forth and teach that Word which both lifts up and strengthens to his brothers and sisters (see Ezek. 2:9-3:4).
It is Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who does the spiritual "healing" of the blind and the lame and raises up the spiritually dead, even those "dry bones" of Ezek. 37 & Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.[13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it [him] rather be healed.
Matthew 11:4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see:
Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Editors Note: I read verse 5 several times. Did I miss the part about the poor recieving welfare checks stolen from others in the form of Federal taxes?
So stay on course by being disciplined and following the truth of God's Word and do not stray to the right nor to the left to follow after the paths of man's traditions which will lead you down the wrong road and worse yet, cause others to follow.
Do as Paul just said, quoting from the scriptures, and "Make straight paths for your feet" so that others who follow you do not stumble, are not tripped up, and are not lead astray by the path you follow!
We find these same "words to the wise" in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 4:26 Ponder [prepare] the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
It is to have that solid foundation (the substance of faith) under you whereby you stand unmovable upon the Rock!
There is a great shaking coming and all that is not firmly established in truth and justice shall be destroyed.
[27] Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
However, the path we are discussing are His "ways" of Truth and Justice which flow from the mercy seat, from the Word of God.
You see, there was once a "morning star" whose name was Lucifer (which means "morning star") who walked the straight and narrow path in adhering to and protecting the mercy seat.
In fact, he was appointed by God to do just that, to cover (protect) truth and justice as an anointed cherub.
We can read about him (Satan) in Ezek. 28:
Ezekiel 28:14-16 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.[15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Live Link to- All of Ezekiel 28
However, the big problem was that he "drew a third of the stars (Rev. 12:4)", God's children, away from the mercy seat to follow after his crooked paths!
[16] By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
It was because of his "chata" that Satan was judged and sentenced to perish, to be destroyed as the above verse documents.
The point is, make straight the paths of your feet and don't wander away from the truth of God's Word and thereby cause others to follow the wrong path which are the "ways" patterned after the vain traditions of men.
See pamphlet #1012
Thank God it won't be this way much longer, because after the "chastisement" brought about by the king of Babylon (Satan, the false-christ), our people who now choose to remain ignorant of their Father's Word and thus learn the "hard way", will have their eyes and ears opened and desire to return to His ways and walk in His paths.
Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
So let us be about our Father's business and run the race and declare His righteousness (Ps. 22:31) by strengthening the hands that hang down and the feeble knees that others may join in the race and take part in the joy of healing and being healed.
Let us now review Heb. 12:12-13 through the words of Isaiah the prophet:
Isaiah 35:3-10 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
You must have faith to please your Father!
Remember Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
[4] Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you.
The choice is up to each individual.
So remember how to instruct those who have a "fearful heart" to be strong!
Teach them to study God's Word, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15) whereby they can receive their daily bread and be strengthened and nourished and healed of their blindness and deafness!
[5] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
[6] Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Yes, the wilderness, the desert, the valley of those dry bones which are symbolic of the spiritually dead, shall come alive and become a fruitful place when the living waters of His truth and justice flow like mighty rivers from Mt. Zion.
[7] And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
it will be.
The good news is though, you can enter into His rest and lay by the still waters and eat the lush green grass of His pasture even now, even while still walking in this valley of the shadow of death, i.e. this flesh age, while still in your animal body!
Follow Him, His Word, and walk in His ways and He will lead you there! (Ps. 23)
Read about The Shadow Death (Live Link to- Psalm 23)
[8] And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
"Fools" are those who are either ignorant of God's Word or choose not to follow it.
The "Wise" are those who do know their Father's Word and choose to walk in His ways.
[9] No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed
shall walk there:
[10] And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
and come to Zion, to the Mountain of God, with joy in their hearts and He shall wipe away all their tears.
Rev. 7:17 "For the Lamb which is
in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
and shall lead them
unto living fountains of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes."
God's elect in this final generation who love their brethren and serve Him, likewise feed His sheep (Jn. 21) and lead them to His lush green pastures to graze upon His Word.
So make straight the paths of your feet and walk in His ways, always!
Paul now gives us some more sound doctrine to absorb and act upon.
Always follow after (pursue) peace, if it is possible, and holiness, which means "purity", the same word which is used for "sanctification". In other words, strive to be peaceable will all men but do not be a "people pleaser" but rather be a "purifier" (follow holiness) and strive to say and do that which is right and just according to God's Word, understanding all the while that not one of us is perfect and we all sin and fall short. But you see, we know we have an High Priest who sits at the right hand of God who is willing to intercede on our behalf that we may be forgiven upon repentance. It is Jesus Christ, the Word of God, that "sanctifies" us and makes us holy.Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Knowing then the grace which He has bestowed upon us, it is only fitting that we should pursue peace and do what is right when dealing with all men. For example, we should not talk about, gossip about, nor criticize our brothers and sisters... keeping in mind the saying "there for but the grace of God go I"! This should apply to all walks of life for the seeds of criticism, gossip, and division should not be permitted to take root among the brethren!
"Looking diligently" means to "oversee" or to "take the oversight of". In other words, be positive and don't let "seeds" of bitterness, which means "gall" or "poison", which is the "wormwood" of Satan, germinate (spring up) in your mind. As a servant of God, you set the path straight according to His ways so that there is none occasion to cause your brothers and sisters to be defiled and turn away from the Lord God whereby they might stumble and fall. This is a reference to Deut. 29:18.[15] Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
To "beareth" means to "bring forth fruit" which comes after germination. "Gall" (rosh) means the poison of serpents and "wormwood" means "to curse", even with the accursed thing! Wormwood is actually one of Satan's names (Rev. 8:11), therefore never let the "cursed one" interject into your house his poisonous gossip and false accusations and poisonous seeds of corrupt doctrine, etc. As the saying goes, "git after it" and "nip those things in the bud" before they have a chance to germinate and bear ugly fruit. Or better yet, stomp on them with the flaming boots of the gospel armor!Deut. 29:18
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
Why is this so important? Paul explains...
Hebrews 12:16
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Esau did not repent by turning to God with prayer and humbleness to seek to restore His birthright which he so casually disregarded, but rather weeped and mourned because he felt sorry for himself in that he "lost" his birthright blessings. He was remorseful for having suffered the penalty of his own doing, his own works, his own iniquitous lack of faith. In fact, Esau did not accept responsibility at all for disregarding and losing his birthright (the promises of God, i.e. His Word) but rather blamed his brother for "taking" it away from him! THEN, to top it all, he wanted his father to change and do something about it, not himself.[17] For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
The point is, take a lesson (take heed) from what Paul is teaching us and begin to have regard and reverence for your Father's Word by studying it and rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15)! For there shall yet be a future rejection of the those Christians who ignore (and therefore disesteem) their Father's Word, His promises, and "sell out" their inheritance to the false messiah. In other words, because they follow the wrong path which are the vain (empty) ways of the traditions of men instead of walking in His ways according to His will, having faith built on that foundation (Rock), they will also prostitute themselves as spiritual whores and harlots! Then they will come whining and moaning when it comes time to receive the blessings because they believe they are deserving of the rewards though they disesteemed His will. Here are the very words of Jesus Christ foretelling and forewarning of that great rejection:
They listened to preachers who told them that "being involved" in church and Sunday school and church activities is what pleases God. But after years and years of going to church they are still Biblically illiterate and do not know the Word of God (Heb. 5). You "see", if you do not know the "written" Word of God, though you claim to be Christian and cry Lord, Lord, you really do not know Jesus Christ, the "living" Word of God.Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Speaking of "drawing near"... consider the contrast Paul now makes between the Old Covenant and New Covenant, between coming to Mount Sinai and coming to Mount Zion, between the "law" whose penalty (recompense) for trespassing is death and the "grace" of our Lord whose reward is life, eternal life.
Hebrews 12:18
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
The people were forbidden to go up into holy the mountain of God for it was not accessible to them. They trembled and feared before the burning mountain and did not want to hear His thundering voice. Well, there is nothing new under the sun for today the people still do not want to hear His voice, His words, else the Word of God, His voice, would be known throughout the land.[19] And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
So ok, God would grant their request and He would give His laws and statutes to them through His servant Moses. They could then choose to obey His commands and reap the blessings and rewards thereof (Deut. 28:1-14) or turn away and choose not to hearken unto His voice and reap the consequences thereof (Deut. 28:15-68). Of course, there was and still is nothing at all wrong with the law itself. The problem lies with the heart and mind of man who cannot keep the law.
Exodus 19:13 reads concerning the mount: "There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount." In other words, if a man touched it he would be stoned to death or if a beast touched it, it would be thrust through with a spear or javelin (dart). For sure, this must have been an awesome sight for when God spoke "His voice" shook the earth! And you know what? His voice shall yet shake this earth and the heavens as well! And it shall happen in and unto this final generation (Rev. 16:18).[20] (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Now contrast the picture you have in your mind's eye of the fearful sight at Mount Sinai and being under (subject to) the penalty of the law, with the joy and reverence and peace of mind in coming to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the saints and the firstfruits are gathered together. You see, Jesus Christ came and defeated death and therefore when we repent we are set at liberty in Him and are no longer subject to the penalty of death which accompanies the transgression of the law, which is sin (1 Jn. 3:4).[21] And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Blessed and happy are the firstborn, the firstfruits, for they shall inherit a double portion of the blessings and will not have to stand before God, the Judge of ALL, at the great white throne judgment at the end of the Millennium. Why? Because they will no longer be mortal having already received the crown life eternal at His coming and therefore are not subject to the second death, which is the death of the soul! Rev. 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."Hebrews 12:22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,[23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
To wit, all the names of the firstborn are written in the Book of Life which is in heaven, not in some church office. Rev. 21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
Paul has taught us well about the "shadows" of old, of earthly high priests and sacrifices, and how that we are no longer subject to the "shadows" and earthly types. For we have an eternal High Priest after the order of Melchisedec who became our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7), that perfect and unblemished sacrificial Lamb, who entered once and for all time into the Holy of Holies with the "sprinkling of His blood". He is therefore the one and only mediator between God and man. By the way, if He is not your mediator, you better start shaking and trembling![24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
The seriousness of all this, and what Paul has been leading up to, is contained in the following verse in his instruction to make sure you do not forsake hearing His voice, the Word of God, which is how He speaks to us today (read the opening two verses of Hebrews).1 Tim. 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 1:1You see, there is a time soon coming when God shall come forth and His Voice shall once again shake the earth, and not only the earth but the heavens (all that is spiritual) as well.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord thy God (Deut. 4:23)". Do not turn away and forsake the Word of God for it is His voice, the voice of the Shepherd who speaks from heaven. It is that same voice that was heard on Mount Sinai that did shake the earth (even in the first earth age, Jer. 4:26).Hebrews 12:25
See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven:
Hey, He HAS PROMISED to shake the earth one more time! Do you know and believe His promises? They shall happen exactly as they are written. They always have and they always will. (Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.")[26] Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is going to shake this old earth and that time, at the sound of the last trump (#7) all that is temporal, such as our flesh bodies, and all that is wicked as in all evil "rudiments" (translated "elements" in 2 Peter 3:10) shall be destroyed, even consumed by the fire of His wrath.[27] And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
The "shaking" is well recorded (it is written) in the minor prophets:2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Haggai 2:5
According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
It is written that every knee shall bow to the name of Jesus Christ and the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our God. Here is what that great shaking will shall sound like. See if it reminds you of anything we have read in this study.[6] For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;[7] And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
However, we are part of that house spoken of in Haggai 2:7, that many membered body of Christ, the temple of the Lord, and it is those saints, those just ones, the Zadok called God's elect, who shall stand on Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1) and His kingdom shall be established forever and ever! Daniel 7:18 "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."Rev. 16:18
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
If you have received the grace of God, then you no longer have to fear and tremble, for He is your loving Father and He is not angry with you. His fire is warming to our hearts and minds, therefore, let us serve Him "acceptably", in other words, do those things that are pleasing to Him by loving Him and walking in His ways. But let those who are without, those who forsake and disesteem His Word wherein the promise of their heritage lies, fear and tremble before Him for as the Word of God declares, "Our God is a consuming fire."Hebrews 12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Paul quotes this from the Book of Deuteronomy so in conclusion let us read the verse just prior to this which sums up what he has been teaching us in the latter part of this 12th chapter of Hebrews.[29] For our God is a consuming fire.
Do not allow any other "images" or "idols" to be engraved (etched, sealed) in your mind where the law of God, His Holy Word, is to be written (epigrapho).Deut. 4:23-24
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which He made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
[24] For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Earlier Paul made reference to the great shaking of the heavens and the earth that is yet to come at the end of this flesh age, thereby establishing this final generation of the fig tree, the generation that would see the fulfillment of all the things Christ foretold us of in Mat. 24 and Mark 13, which includes those shakings, as the time period concerning running "the race which is set before us". Yes, the wonderful works of God in this final generation just before that great and final shaking, shall be (and are being) accomplished and shall be finished by that "seed" who would come forth in the last days (Ps. 22:31) and serve Jesus Christ. That "seed" is the offspring, the sons and daughters spoken of by the prophet Joel who Peter quoted on that first Pentecost Day following the resurrection of our Lord in Acts chapter two, who would "see" the visions of the prophets and prophesy (teach the words of the prophets) to the lost sheep of the true house of Israel. Of course the sons and daughters of the Father are naturally brothers and sisters to each other, right? And so it is that it is the church of the brothers (sons) and sisters (daughters), i.e. the church of Philadelphia (brotherly love) along with her sister church of Smyrna (Rev. 3:7-13 & 2:8-11), those who love and serve God "acceptably" by patiently enduring and declaring His righteousness (PS. 22:31), His Word to this generation, who shall come and finish the work.
Therefore, let us review the last few verses of chapter 12 to refresh our memories concerning the subject Paul was addressing, which was indeed our serving God in the days just prior to "receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved", the Kingdom of God.
That great shaking that shall remove all that is temporal and wicked, followed by the ushering in of the Kingdom of God, shall happen in and unto this final generation, and perhaps sooner than many might think. A word to the wise! Therefore, what should we who are waiting to receive that kingdom which cannot be moved, be about doing? The answer is: We should be about doing our Father's business, serving Him acceptably... according to His will, with reverence and godly fear!Hebrews 12:27
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
God's elect, those with eyes to see and ears to hear, have a purpose and a destiny, a duty to perform, for there is work to be done and you know what? It involves our brothers and sisters, our family! So let us have grace, even graciousness and gratitude giving thanks always for the love and grace He has bestowed upon us, and let us be about doing our Father's business acceptably (acceptable and pleasing to Him) with reverence (love) and godly fear, knowing and understanding the magnitude and importance of our labor in the field. We already know of the exceeding reward and inheritance that awaits us and not only that... we have the very "title-deed" to those promises in our possession. Consider how remarkable that truly is![28]Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
That "consuming" fire, which is the same fire that warms the hearts of his children and his ministers of fire (Heb. 1:7), is soon coming to melt with the fervent heat of His Word, all the evil rudiments and wicked works of this world (2 Pet. 3:10)![29] For our God is a consuming fire.
With the timeframe of these last days now having been established, let us complete our study of the great Book of Hebrews, written as instruction to all Christians but also on a deeper "scholarly" level to those who came from "across the river" (Eber) to bring the strength of His Word to those whose hands hang down and whose knees are feeble. If you do not understand that, do not worry about it. Just keep studying our Father's Word and you will surely increase in grace and knowledge and understanding. Many of you know that Paul taught on different levels (for not all can handle the meat of God's Word as he explained in Heb. 5:11-14) and for that reason we shall deem the first level of understanding to be easily discernable and teach this 13th chapter on the deeper level concerning "serving Him acceptably" in the work to be done in this final generation.
Paul begins...
The subject Paul is going to discuss in detail in this chapter is the 'endurance' of the work of the church of "brotherly love", which is "philadelphia" in Greek. The word "continue" is "meno" which means to endure, abide, to tarry, remain.Hebrews 13:1
Let brotherly love continue.
You "see", this is what it is all about in running "the race which is set before us", not for self gain nor for self glory but for the love of the brethren.meno, men'-o, Greek 3306; a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) :- abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), × thine own.
The sons and daughters who serve God acceptably in this final generation know and "see" that many of our brothers and sisters, though they claim to be Christians and they cry "Lord, Lord, Praise the Lord", are spiritually blind and spiritually deaf and have become spiritually weak and lame indeed for they have been "drawn away" after the traditions of men and led down the wrong path which leads right into Satan's camp. To that end, always remember that we too were born in and were called out of spiritual Babylon, the land of confusion, like as Zerubabbel. Therefore since we were once lifted up ourselves and by His grace given eyes to see and ears to hear, always keep in mind when dealing with our brothers and sisters the saying "There for but the grace of God go I."philadelphia, fil-ad-el-fee'-ah, Greek 5360; from Greek 5361 (philadelphos); fraternal affection :- brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren.
***************************************************
Hebrews chapter 13
With the time frame of these last days now having been established, let us complete our study of the great Book of Hebrews, written as instruction to all Christians but also on a deeper "scholarly" level to those who came from "across the river" (Eber) to bring the strength of His Word to those whose hands hang down and whose knees are feeble. If you do not understand that, do not worry about it. Just keep studying our Father's Word and you will surely increase in grace and knowledge and understanding. Many of you know that Paul taught on different levels (for not all can handle the meat of God's Word as he explained in Heb. 5:11-14) and for that reason we shall deem the first level of understanding to be easily discernable and teach this 13th chapter on the deeper level concerning "serving Him acceptably" in the work to be done in this final generation.
Paul begins...
The subject Paul is going to discuss in detail in this chapter is the 'endurance' of the work of the church of "brotherly love", which is "philadelphia" in Greek. The word "continue" is "meno" which means to endure, abide, to tarry, remain.Hebrews 13:1
Let brotherly love continue.
You "see", this is what it is all about in running "the race which is set before us", not for self gain nor for self glory but for the love of the brethren.meno, men'-o, Greek 3306; a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy) :- abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), × thine own.
The sons and daughters who serve God acceptably in this final generation know and "see" that many of our brothers and sisters, though they claim to be Christians and they cry "Lord, Lord, Praise the Lord", are spiritually blind and spiritually deaf and have become spiritually weak and lame indeed for they have been "drawn away" after the traditions of men and led down the wrong path which leads right into Satan's camp. To that end, always remember that we too were born in and were called out of spiritual Babylon, the land of confusion, like as Zerubabbel. Therefore since we were once lifted up ourselves and by His grace given eyes to see and ears to hear, always keep in mind when dealing with our brothers and sisters the saying "There for but the grace of God go I."philadelphia, fil-ad-el-fee'-ah, Greek 5360; from Greek 5361 (philadelphos); fraternal affection :- brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren.
Nevertheless, the fact remains that our people are right now being starved to spiritual "death" by the MANY false preachers and ministers Christ warned about in Mat. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, who WOULD COME and deceive our people. Oh yes, those preachers hold praise and worship services but they just never quite get around to teaching God's Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse whereby our people can be nourished and strengthened by the true bread of life. You "see", we are right now in the midst of the great famine of the last days and most Christians have so little knowledge and spiritual discernment that they do not even know it. That is not a "put down", just a fact of observation coupled with the truth from His Word. To wit, Amos clearly explains to us what the famine is in these last days:
Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
[Amos 8:12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
We have "ensamples" written where God's servants such as Abraham and Lot did entreat angels. At the same time we are also cautiously reminded of the fallen angels of Rev. 12:9 who come with Satan when he is cast out of heaven to this earth. However, in as much as the subject here is "enduring" (continuing) in brotherly love which concerns running the race set before us and the bringing forth of His truth to this starving spiritually captive world, then what Paul is explaining concerning the stranger and them that are in prison (spiritually) refers to the same thing Christ explains to us in Mat. 25:Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful* to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.[3] Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
We look toward and await our inheritance, even the kingdom! Meanwhile we are here to entertain in His Word and receive all those who hunger and thirst, etc., i.e. all who will hear the truth of God's Word.Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
took me in = sunago, soon-ag'-o, Greek 4863; from Greek 4862 (sun) and Greek 71 (ago); to lead together, i.e. collect or convene; specially to entertain (hospitably) :- + accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in.[35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."[36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
That last verse says it all! And of course we know that salvation is open to "whosoever will", be they family, friend, or even foe (kenites), of any race, color, tongue or status in life! So don't forget, Paul is telling us, to extend that same brotherly love in bringing forth the Word of God to strangers and to those who are in bondage to ignorance through the traditions of men whenever the occasion arises.[37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?[38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
[39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Receive strangers also because you never know who it is you might be entertaining with the Word of God. In fact, some of the most unlikely folks have been brought in and entertained in His Word and have grown in such grace and knowledge to where they became excellent ministers and teachers of God's Word, acceptably so!
* Note: Take notice to some of the key points Paul emphasizes in this 13th chapter with "don't forget" (vs. 2), "remember" (vs. 3), remember" (vs.7 ), and "don't forget" (vs. 16)
Hold fast to the truth of God's Word and stay the course and do not wander off after the traditions of men and their seducing spirits (doctrines).
In these few words (Hebrews 13:22 ... for I have written a letter unto you in few words.) Paul is speaking to those who "serve God acceptably" concerning the precious (honourable) spiritual marriage to Christ and remaining chaste (pure, undefiled) while awaiting the true Bridegroom, warning us about those who become harlots and sell out their inheritance by jumping in bed with the false messiah and "defiling" themselves by becoming spiritually impregnated by the flood of lies spewed forth by the false bridegroom.Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Note: The word "whoremonger" in verse 4 is the Greek word "pornos" which if you recall in our last study was the same word used of Esau "prostituting" himself by selling out his birthright. That is the subject here!
Jesus Christ Himself gave warning concerning being "defiled" in Matthew 24 where He gives the signs and warnings concerning the events leading up to His return, the same timeframe Paul gave us in Heb. 12:27-28. Matthew 24:19 "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" Christ wasn't talking about becoming physically impregnated by your own spouse, which is a blessing indeed, but rather of being spiritually seduced and impregnated by the other Jesus who is preached in the Beth-avens, the instead-of-Jesus, the false messiah, i.e. Satan.
Paul uses a few more words to explain all this in his second letter to the Corinthians.
You make sure in your "entertaining" that you do the same and espouse others to only one husband, to the true Messiah and not the false one. You hold fast to the truth of God's Word and stay the course and do not wander off after the traditions of men and their seducing spirits (doctrines). Do as John teaches us in 1 Jn. 4 and try the spirits, i.e. test (assay) every doctrine with the fire of His Word and see whether it stands as precious gold or is consumed as worthless stubble.2 Cor. 11:2-4
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Stay with the simplicity of His Word.[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
[4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Read it for yourself!
That may not be popular to teach since it goes against what is so commonly 'espoused' in the churches today, but then neither was what Jesus Christ taught found to be popular by the "religious community", and you know what they did to Him for speaking the truth! You "see", those who serve God acceptably, who truly love the brethren, teach His Word as it is written regardless of whether or not it pleases men! In other words, they teach not for covetous reasons, neither for money nor for self glory but to the glory of God and of His Christ in bringing their brothers and sisters back home to Father's house.
If you do His will, doing the work which is laid before us, entertaining them by teaching them in His Word as it is written, then there is nothing and no one to fear for He has promised to be with you until the end. Do you believe His promises? Do you trust and have faith in Him to be true to His Word?Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
You entertain them and fully immerse (baptize) whosoever will in His Word, whereby they become sealed in their minds with His truth.Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
The duty of God's elect is the same now as it shall be in the Millennium, which is to "teach His people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean (Ezekiel 44:23)". And they do it with confidence and with boldness (frankness), with godly fear and reverence... not fearing what man might do unto them.[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
That is the type of assuredness that a man or woman possesses who has his or her faith founded upon the Rock, which is the faith of substance Paul described in chapter 11. They fear not those who can harm only the flesh for they love and revere their Father who has ALL power in both heaven and earth. Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."Hebrews 13:6
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
The connection with the next verse shows us that Paul is not talking here about present day teachers who walk in the flesh at this time. He will address them later on in verse 17. What he is telling us here is to remember, to be mindful of, those men and women of faith who have led you and spoken unto you the pure Word of God. That would be Moses and David and all the prophets and the disciples too! You stick with the those men of faith and follow in their footsteps, considering the victory they all obtained in Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of their faith. Remember that Paul took the entire 11th chapter of this Book of Hebrews to remind us of many of them and show us the "end of their conversation (i.e. conduct)"! So "follow" their examples of faith, i.e. mimos which means to "mimic" or "imitate" them, and you will NEVER go wrong. That's right! We have their testimonies that they all trusted and believed in the promises of God, that He was faithful to His Word and you know what? He is just as faithful today as He was yesterday to them, and He will be just as faithful when tomorrow comes no matter what may befall us in these last days.Hebrews 13:7
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
That same Rock that was with our forefathers in the wilderness is with us today! 1 Cor. 10:4 "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." And He is with you now and He will be with you 'till the end of this age if you do His will and keep His Word.[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
So be "Rock solid" and do not be shaken by men's words with their fancy talk and their fairy tale traditions of apples and snakes and Ishtar bunnies, etc. Study God's Word and don't be like a weed shaken in the wind and carried about with divers and strange doctrines, lest others see your unbelief and follow after you as you race down the wrong path.
[9] Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Do you understand why Jesus Christ was slain on the cross outside the city gate, away from the temple?
You "see", you are complete in Jesus Christ (Col. 2:10) who did away with all the shadows, the earthly tabernacle and all the meat (animal) sacrifices and all other religious ceremonies, etc., etc. So grow and mature in the Word of God and be ESTABLISHED by His grace, His Spirit, for it is by that Word that you are strengthened, remember? The vain (empty) traditions of men and being busy bodies will not profit you one iota! Read again in Mat. 7:21-23 what churchianity will get you... the door to the wedding feast slammed in your face. Then read what follows concerning those who are wise and built their houses upon the Rock, i.e. who established their faith in His Word.Ephes. 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
What Paul is doing here is drawing a comparison of the Old Covenant and the earthly tabernacle where priests made sacrifices and the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies, etc., to the New Covenant where there are no earthly priests who mediate between you and God. 1 Tim. 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." If you do not think that many churches do not want you to fully understand that verse, then you need to obtain a copy of the "Letter to the Reader" which the translators of the King James Bible wrote to you, the English reader. The fact that the churches and publishers have succeeded in having it removed from the pages of the Bibles you purchase today ought to be sufficient evidence to cause to you ask some questions and seek some answers.Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Here is an excerpt from that "Letter to the Reader*" which used to appear in all 1611 King James Bibles:
"Now the Church of Rome would seem at the length to bear a motherly affection towards her children, and to allow them the Scriptures in their mother tongue: but indeed it is a gift, not deserving to be called a gift, an unprofitable gift: [Sophecles] they must first get a License in writing before they may use them, and to get that, they must approve themselves to their Confessor, that is, to be such as are, if not frozen in the dregs, yet soured with the leaven of their superstition. Howbeit, it seemed too much to Clement the Eighth that there should be any License granted to have them in the vulgar tongue, and therefore he overruleth and frustrateth the grant of Pius the Fourth. [See the observation (set forth by Clemen. His authority) upon the 4. rule of Pius the 4. his making in the index, lib. prohib. pag. 15. ver. 5.] So much are they afraid of the light of the Scripture, (Lucifugae Scripturarum, as Tertulian speaketh) that they will not trust the people with it, no not as it is set forth by their own sworn men, no not with the License of their own Bishops and Inquisitors. Yea, so unwilling they are to communicate the Scriptures to the people's understanding in any sort, that they are not ashamed to confess, that we forced them to translate it into English against their wills. This seemeth to argue a bad cause, or a bad conscience, or both. Sure we are, that it is not he that hath good gold, that is afraid to bring it to the touchstone, but he that hath the counterfeit; [Tertul. de resur. carnis.] neither is it the true man that shunneth the light, but the malefactor, lest his deeds should be reproved [John 3:20]: neither is it the plain dealing Merchant that is unwilling to have the weights, or the meteyard brought in place, but he that useth deceit. But we will let them alone for this fault, and return to translation."
See: Letter To The Reader-of the 1611 King James Version of the BIBLE Click to open
John’s AWS Note
to all Christians: If you think this
letter to reader of the 1611 King James version of the Bible only applies to
the Catholic Church, you are greatly mistaken. We here at the American Wisdom are Protestants
and let me tell you; most Protestant churches that I’ve ever attended avoid rightly
dividing any Biblical topic, that they
deem too controversial which might reduce attendance and therefore the size of
the offering left in the felt lined plate. I have never heard a sermon preached
on the 1st earth age; see 2 Peter 3:5-6. Jeremiah 4:23-26, And Genesis
1:1-2. Therefore I have never heard a sermon preached on why we, the created
children of God (we angels) are waiting our turn to be born of water, from the
womb of a flesh and blood woman. OH you didn’t know that we are the angels in heaven?
See Revelation 22:8-9. I have also never
heard a sermon preached on who Cain’s father really was. See John 8:44 and 1
John 3:12; therefore we aren’t taught who the Kenites are or where the tares of
Matthew 13:36-43 came from. Of course they can’t explain the “Parable of the
Tares” because it disproves their rapture of the church theory which they do teach although it is found nowhere in scripture.
I could go on and on naming Biblical
Truths that they don’t teach.
The sacrificial animals (beasts) were slain outside the camp, away from the temple, just as Jesus Christ was slain on the cross outside the city gate, away from the temple. In other words, there is no altar in the church . The true church, the true temple, is the many membered body of Christ. Are you part of that temple? Did you know that the brothers and sisters who overcome in this final generation will be made pillars in that temple? Rev. 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."[11] For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
The blood of Christ was not sprinkled inside the earthly tabernacle, was it? And did He not suffer outside the gate of the city?[12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
We expect persecution outside the camp, but nevertheless we will gladly bear His reproach in pleasing our Father, holding fast to His Word and doing His will.[13] Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
We seek the same city our father Abraham sought, the heavenly city of Jerusalem.[14] For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
It is your love for your Father, which you do show by serving Him acceptably, by keeping His Word and bearing fruit among the brethren, that pleases Him. He does not want nor need your "sacrifices" of material things, etc. He wants you to love Him and walk in His ways. Hosea 6:6 "For I desired mercy [love] and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."[15] By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
The fruit of our lips is what grows as a result of the seeds we plant with them. So don't forget to fellowship, be hospitable, and communicate the Word of God to others and bring forth fruit. It pleases your Father very much!
Plant seeds and be hospitable to those who need strengthening, entertaining whosoever will with the Word of God. Also, be supportive of good teachers who labor in the Word and teach His truth as it is written, chapter by chapter and line by line.[16] But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
[17] Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
We are one body serving Christ in these last days and we must all "run the race which is set before us" helping to lift up and strengthen each other along the way. "Obey" doesn't mean to believe or follow every word of some man or woman. God forbid we should believe someone, even a good teacher, without first checking him or her out in the Word of God. Rather give assurance to, be agreeable with, by helping and being supportive of each other as well as those who lead (teach) others in the Word of God by rightly dividing the Word of truth. We all have responsibilities and gifts and duties but teachers are foremost accountable to God for what they teach and those teachers who mislead His children down the wrong path after the traditions of men and false doctrines and cause them to stumble and fall when the flood of lies and deception sweep the world during the reign of the Instead-of-Jesus shall pay dearly. Just wait until they hear His thundering voice. May God have mercy on those who lead His children astray.May God have mercy on those who lead His children astray.
Again, the point is, we are all of one body so when we help each other and support good works and good teachers who bring forth the truth of His Word, thereby declaring His righteousness, we also help ourselves and others who are brought in by all sharing in the same reward. To "watch out for your soul" means they help "keep souls awake" so they do not fall asleep and slumber.
Paul said "pray for us" meaning himself and others who know they a have a good conscience in teaching the truth of God's Word, even in teaching that those who follow after shadows (according to the old way) and the traditions men, do so in vain![18] Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
This is an example of brotherly love, of brother helping brother. As one of the brethren, Paul asked them to pray for him that he might be restored to them sooner, to continue the work of God. Then he closed with a prayer for them, which is for you also in these last days, that through the grace of God made possible by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, you might also be able to "run the race set before you", to do the "good and acceptable work" of the churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna, that it may be pleasing in His sight. What a beautiful and touching prayer this is indeed which shows the deep abiding love Paul had for Christ and the brethren.[19] But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
[20] Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
[21]Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Again, if your goal as a son or daughter is to glorify God by serving Him "acceptably", doing the "work" according to His will by loving our brothers and sisters, then whatsoever you ask in Christ's name to further that work, He will see to it that you have it, i.e. that you have a part in His plan. May God grant you all you need in fulfilling your destiny.John 14:12-14
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.[13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Again, the condition (IF) means you ask "in His name", for His name's sake in bringing forth the glory of the Father in Christ. In other words, do you "see" that you are really asking Him for the sake of your brethren, not for yourself? Jesus Christ works in these last days by and through those who have the faith that pleases Him, i.e. who love and serve Him according to His will! What a privilege and honor it is to serve Him acceptably, for a crown awaits those who "endure" and give testimony in declaring His righteousness, by "calling upon His name (authority)" and asking for those things to accomplish the work according to His will. Acts 2:21 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Here are Paul's final words of exhortation to the brethren, the brothers and sisters, the sons and daughters of this final generation:
One more time! If you are one of God's elect then you are of part of that church of brotherly love, Philadelphia! So pay real close attention to what Paul has written in this great Book of Hebrews to those who are spiritually rich in God's Word and understand the labor which is yet to be done. God has given us all a part helping set at liberty all those who are in bonds that one day soon we may all join together with Christ as one big happy reunited family! What a glorious reunion that will be!Hebrew 13:22
And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
[23] Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.[24] Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
[25] Grace be with you all. Amen
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to understand it, the highest of all goals.
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