Hebrews 8:1-6 The second “priest” in the following verse is Jesus: For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. (v. 3) It struck me that the writer was distinguishing between gifts and sacrifices – clear distinctions exist in Leviticus. …
Author Archives: Fred
November 23 / Hebrews 7:23-28
Hebrews 7:23-38 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. (v. 27) Credit to my Study Bible for a really simple, totally obvious, but fully meaningful observation: …
November 22 / Hebrews 7:11-22
Hebrews 7:11-22 Early on in 2019 we read the following passage: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17) In today’s reading a simple verse puts an exclamation mark on that statement. In the past I …
November 21 / Hebrews 7:1-10
Hebrews 7:1-10 Four days ago I made the following comments regarding Melchizedek and his relationship to Jesus: “One might argue that there are four references forward to Jesus. (1) Melchizedek was a king; Jesus is King of Heaven and Earth; (2) Melchizedek was a priest; much of what we are currently reading in Hebrews explains …
November 20 / Hebrews 6:13-20
Hebrews 6:13-20 …so that by two unchangeable things… (v.18a) The two unchangeable things are God’s promise to Abraham (God cannot lie) and the oath that He swore in vv. 13-14, For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely I …
November 19 / Hebrews 6:9-12
Hebrews 6:9-12 What does God see when He looks down on His children? So many people think that God is out to get them, waiting for them to make a bad move. Others see Him as a loving God, loving His children completely in spite of their many failings. Look at today’s verse 10: For …
November 18 / Hebrews 6:1-8
Hebrews 6:1-8 In today’s first three verses the author of Hebrews mentions six “elementary” items and suggests that we move on to more meaty topics. But each of those six items has been researched and discussed by countless Biblical scholars from the 1st century until today. So maybe those items are not so “elementary”! Another …
November 17 / Hebrews 5:8-14
Hebrews 5:8-14 Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. (v. 8) Most fathers would not willingly allow their children to go through suffering, especially physical pain, but God the Father not only permitted, but even sent His son to the cross. That was a measure of the extent to which …
November 16 / Hebrews 5:1-7
Hebrews 5:1-7 The author of Hebrews clearly did not have Annas and Caiaphas in mind when he wrote the following words: And no one takes this honor [the high priesthood] for himself, but only when called by God… (v. 4) In Jesus’ time the office of the high priest had become highly politicized. Annas and …
November 15 / Hebrews 4:11-16
Hebrews 4:11-16 As we read Peter’s letters, we found him very different from Paul. Now as we read Hebrews, I find this writer different from both Peter and Paul. In particular, verse 14 threw me for a loop: Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son …