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 God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do. The author of Hebrews says that God is watching our every action, smiling when He sees our good works. But is He keeping an accounting? Does He chalk up one more in our “good column”? What about our “bad column”? Doesn’t that get wiped clean each time we seek His forgiveness? If that bad column gets wiped clean, does the good one also get wiped clean? Does He start our accounting all over, yet one more time? Or do our good works build up jewels in our heavenly crown, forever immovable?

We’ve heard countless times that we can’t work our way to heaven, that Jesus’ death and resurrection has done it all for us and that we need only accept His forgiveness of our sins, for which He has already paid. So what is the purpose of our “good works”? Though I may be theologically inept, I see three values in our good works. First and foremost, I would maintain that our good works are “for show” for everyone else. Non-believers and marginal believers see our good works and ascribe some merit to Christianity. The short form of this argument is the quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.” Second, I think our doing good works is for our internal well-being. We feel good when we’ve done something good, even though occasionally we may have done that good thing grudgingly. This argument can easily get twisted – we’re not lauding ourselves, but we are, in fact, better people as a result of having done good works. Finally, I do think that God looks down and smiles at our good works. I think there is a “Well done, good and faithful servant” commendation on God’s lips when He sees us serving Him.

My thoughts… I do wish we could be together to better hash these things out!!

Slava Bohu!

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 1^st century until today. So maybe those items are not so “elementary”!

Another “once saved, always saved” item: For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. (vv. 4-6) My Study Bible suggested three explanations for these three verses, but those authors had one-sentence comments on the first two explanations and clearly favored the third, that these “Christians” had never really, truly been born again. It’s a standard argument that allows “once saved, always saved” proponents to continue that premise. NOTE: I do not disagree with that premise – I join them in asking, “Were they really born again?”

Slava Bohu!

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 He loved us, His creation.

Verse 10 mentions Melchizedek. We first see him mentioned in Genesis 14:18-20, And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 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 Jesus’ high priesthood; (3) Melchizedek brought bread and wine; Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion when He offered bread and wine at the Last Supper; and (4) Abraham paid a tithe of his goods to Melchizedek (see also Hebrews 7:4); we pay tithes to Jesus’ church. Even with all that, Melchizedek remains a mystery, researched extensively throughout history.

Slava Bohu!

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 Caiaphas were both from the sect of the Sadducees, who were quite far off the mark set by Aaron in the book of Exodus. They surely took the honor for themselves; it’s also questionable whether or not they were called by God. To that point, however, yesterday’s Lexington Herald-Leader had an article by one of their weekly authors, Paul Prather, a minister, in which he was opining as to whether our U.S. presidents are selected in accordance with God’s will, as is suggested in Paul’s letter to the Romans, verse 13:1, Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Paul Prather’s article had to do with strong evangelical support for President Trump – their strong support for him in 2016 and their disappointment at the 2020 election outcome. While he was not suggesting that evangelicals thought Biden’s election was the work of the devil, he did make the point that if Trump had been God’s choice in 2016, then Biden must have been God’s choice in 2020 and Obama must have been God’s choice in 2008 and 2012. Likewise, if Biden’s election was counter to God’s will in 2020, then Trump’s election in 2016 might also have been counter to God’s will. My bottom line – how different our world would be if we would all be doing that for which we are called by God!!

Slava Bohu!

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 of God, let us hold fast our confession. I was wondering, where does that come from? The author first compared Jesus with angels, then with Moses, and now he is headed to an extended discussion comparing Jesus with the Old Testament high priests. But his transition in verse 14 seemed to come out of nowhere. Then I looked back earlier in the letter: Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. (vv. 3:1-2) In today’s verse 14 the author is referring back to the beginning of the previous chapter where he introduces Jesus as the high priest of our confession. That is, the entire discussion of chapters 3 and 4 has been a “Moses and resting” interlude between introducing Jesus as our high priest and then comparing Him to the Old Testament high priests.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (v. 12a) The use of “the word” in Christian circles can be quite confusing. Jesus is referred to as “the Word” in the first 18 verses of John’s gospel, so He is often referred to as “the Word”. I’ve seen people hold up the Bible and claim it as “the word”, as in “Did you bring your copy of the word with you?”. I’ve heard preachers ask, “Does anyone have a word from the Lord?”, yet another application. Initially it sounds like the writer of Hebrews means the spoken word – the Gospel, the good news, the salvation message – which is, in fact, able to pierce one’s heart at the deepest level. But then the next verse says And no creature is hidden from His sight… (v. 13a), clearly implying Jesus as “the Word”. So, substituting, “…Jesus is living and active, … discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”? I don’t have any problem with that statement! That’s the work of His Holy Spirit!

Slava Bohu!

Hebrews 4:1-10

I really love yesterday’s reading and today’s reading, sections on God’s rest for his people. Yesterday I commented on our Sabbath rest, that Carol and I have actively resisted working at our money jobs on Sundays. We also try not to even do house chores on Sunday. And I remember that my father might have hay cut or crops to get in – even if Sunday was clear and sunny with rain called for Monday he would not do the farm work on Sunday. He set a good example for me, as we should set for our own children.

But frankly, I don’t think the writer of Hebrews is talking about a once-a-week rest. I think his “rest”, even his “Sabbath rest” in verse 9 is referring to a greater rest for the people of God. And I truly feel like I am living in that rest. All the worries and concerns in the world today are just that – in the world. But we are living “outside the world” – in the world but not of the world.

The word “rest” occurs ten times in today’s reading, including verse 11a, which is one of my all-time favorites: Let us therefore strive to enter that rest… Just as this “rest” in chapters 3 and 4 is a gift, not a requirement, so also verse 11 is an encouragement, not a command – and I like encouragement! Let us strive to enter…!!! Glory!!

Slava Bohu!

Hebrews 3:12-19

I started graduate school at the University of Maryland in January 1979. UMD is inside the Washington, DC beltway and I knew of an “alternative” socially-conscious church in DC known as Sojourners Fellowship. Very shortly I started attending there. One Sunday after a couple of visits a young lady said that a number of them were going out for lunch, would I like to go along? I declined, explaining that I was a graduate student and that I needed my Sunday afternoon and evening to prepare for the week ahead. She replied that God had given us a Sabbath rest and that I should take advantage of that. I said thank you, no, but I’ll think about it.

So I went home and when I picked up my Bible for my day’s reading the passage covered Hebrews 3-4. I was stunned to learn that this “rest” was a gift, not as a requirement – and I enjoyed receiving gifts! So prior to the next Sunday’s service I got all my week’s prep work done on Saturday and went to church at Sojourners. Sadly, that same young lady was not in attendance and no one asked me to lunch. So I took the day off and explored DC for the first time – the White House, Congress, the Lincoln Memorial – the whole works! Then I drove back home and continued my “rest” into the evening. Come Monday morning I was ready for the week ahead. And from that weekend forward, I never did any Sunday school work, not even grading exams, unless my classroom students or my fellow graduate students leaned heavily on me to work with them. And that pattern has continued for Carol and me to this very day. I am so thankful for that young lady and for the discipline that I had even back then to be reading Scripture every day. GLORY to God!!

As for today’s reading, my Study Bible pointed to the three questions in verses 16, 17, and 18, and to the answers to those questions. Those who were denied God’s rest were rebellious (v. 16), sinful (v. 17), and disobedient (v. 18). So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (v. 19) Folks, let’s believe – and rest!! GLORY!

Slava Bohu!

Hebrews 3:1-11

Psalm 95 (Ps 95:7-11 in today’s reading) touches a soft heart for Carol and me. We met at a Bible Study hosted by a graduate student couple at the University of Maryland. The leader of the Study was teaching on the book of Exodus. He was also a gifted song-writer and singer and he had composed a song using Psalm 95 as the base. So anytime we see or read Psalm 95 we have fond memories.

After being compared to angels in the first two chapters, here in Chapter 3 Jesus is compared to Moses and rises above Moses in glory and honor with two comparisons. First, Jesus is the builder of the “house” and Moses is only a part of the house and …the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (v. 3b) Second, Moses was a servant (v. 5), but Jesus is a Son. (v. 6)

Finally, an encouraging word: And we are His house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (v. 6b) We are up there with Moses, part of the “house” that Jesus is building. Nice!

Slava Bohu!

Hebrews 2:14-18

For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. (v. 18) This is such an encouraging verse. Often we think of Jesus’ three temptations in the wilderness as relating to areas where we might be tempted – money, power, food, etc. However, Jesus was also tempted at Gethsemane and probably on numerous other occasions that are not documented. So He’s got us covered. And now seems like a good time to recall every Christian’s “temptation verse”: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (I Corinthians 10:13)

Something struck me that I had never thought of before. Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden and we (mankind, in general) have all followed suit. Lucifer also sinned – and other angels with him? – and they were cast out from Heaven. However, Jesus came to Earth to rescue mankind, but did not do anything to rescue the fallen angels. That makes His salvation act even more special, that he left Heaven, skipped right over the angels, and came to Earth for us. We are blessed!!

Slava Bohu!

Hebrews 2:9-13

Splitting these verses for our reading list is difficult. My reading schedule had us ending with verse 8 yesterday and beginning with verse 9 today. We could just as easily have had the split between 9 and 10. So the best that we can do is read ahead a verse or two on “Day 1” if our Bible does not show a natural break and then go back a verse or two on “Day 2”. Just that…

So, today, another clarification – pronouns again…! For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source… (vv. 10-11a) I have cited the ESV translation which does not capitalize deific pronouns. But for these verses that would still be confusing. So I am rewriting those verses adding parenthetical names where pronouns are used: For it was fitting that He (God the Father), for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons (us) to glory, should make the founder(Jesus) of their (our) salvation perfect through suffering. For he (Jesus) who sanctifies and those who are sanctified (us) all have one source (God the Father)… Helpful?

Slava Bohu!