Hebrews 10:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,

The author of Hebrews sums up the past few chapters perfectly, in just a few verses:

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (v. 4)

And … we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (v. 10)

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God… (v. 12)

Where there is forgiveness of these [their sins and their lawless deeds], there is no longer any offering for sin. (vv. 17b-18)

The author of Hebrews sums up the past few chapters perfectly, in just a few verses.

Blessings!

Hebrews 9:15-28

Dear RTB’ers,

The writer of Hebrews has major focus on covenants in this chapter. The word “covenant” is mentioned seven times in this chapter (four times in today’s reading), with “will” mentioned twice more. It is worth our looking more seriously at that “new” covenant: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34) God’s law – Jesus’ words and life testimony – is written on our hearts. We all know Him and our sins are forgiven.

Most of us have probably written our wills and made our children aware that they exist (whether they have actually seen our wills or not). Although our wills are written, they do not go into effect until we die. While we are alive we can divide (gift) our resources as we wish, but only when we die will our remaining resources be allocated according to our wishes. So it is with God’s “will” for us, His “New Covenant”. But the death to confirm that new will has already occurred – Jesus’ death (and His attendant Resurrection) – so His New Covenant is already in effect. He has given us the Holy Spirit as His seal of that Covenant: In Him you also … were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit… (Ephesians 1:13a) We are to live in that new life, not just wait for Heaven when we die. His New Covenant is already active; we need to embrace it!

Why do I capitalize “New Covenant”? During my second born-again year, a dear friend of mine moved to the town where I was living and started attending New Covenant Fellowship. I went along to check out his church and became an active member – and later “best man” at his wedding to a woman he had met at that church. So New Covenant is quite meaningful to me!

Blessings!

Hebrews 9:1-15

Dear RTB’ers,

A couple of partial sentences struck me today:

But when Christ appeared… (v. 11a) The author suddenly switches away from details about tent and temple worship. Something really new is coming in the next few sentences! A dramatic transition…!!

For if the blood of goats and bulls…, …how much more will the blood of Christ… (vv. 13a, 14a) Again, with two half-sentences the author compares one blood with another. …how much more…!!

It’s hard for us 21^st-century believers to really understand the impact these early disciples must have felt as Jesus is doing away with temple worship and replacing it with His own teachings and His own sacrificial offering. And how very hard it must have been for faithful Jews to abandon their old ways to serve this new “sacrificial system” – Jesus’ shed blood for all humanity for all time. …how much more…!

Blessings!

Hebrews 8

Dear RTB’ers,

My reflection today is the same reflection I had a few years back – I understand the Levitical priests offering “gifts and sacrifices”, and I understand Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. But what was his gift? In 2020 I replied, “I would suggest that His very life on earth was His gift to us. His ministry, His teachings, His example… Through His life He has taught us everything we really need to know. That’s His gift!!” One year later, reflecting on the same passage and the same question I ended up with a different conclusion. I saw His Ascension and His seat at His Father’s right hand and His continuing intercession as His gift to us. What about the rest of you? With Jesus as our new High Priest, what is/was His gift to us? Or does the New Covenant discard that Old Testament command for “gifts and sacrifices”?

Also, back in 2021 I was considering some comparisons between the “old ways” and the “New Way”:

Moses & the High Priests	Jesus
Tabernacle/tent	Heaven
Old Covenant	New Covenant
Animal sacrifices	Jesus’ human death
Gifts and Sacrifices	Crucifixion and Ascension
Annual atonement	Once, for all time
Succession of High Priests	Jesus, forever
Tribe of Levi	Tribe of Judah

Closing with “I’m sure there are more comparisons we could make, but these stand out. We are so blessed to be living on this side of the Cross”.

Blessings!

Hebrews 7:15-28

Dear RTB’ers,

STS asks an interesting question on differences between the Levitical and Melchizedek priesthoods – on qualification, on permanence and in efficacy. First, on qualification – to become a Levitical priest a person had to be born in a direct line from Aaron, from the tribe of Levi; Jesus, however, came from the tribe of Judah, “unqualified” for the Levitical priesthood. On permanence – Levitical priests died and new priests were named; Jesus, however, died and rose again and lives forever, permanently! As to efficacy, Aaronic priests could only offer up animals to set aside their own sins and the sins of the Israelite people; Jesus, however, offered up Himself, one Man, sinless, for all of humankind. Jesus’ Messianic priesthood far exceeds the Aaronic priests!

The writer has his quotes from Psalm 110:4 out of order. The quote in verse 21 actually precedes the quote in verse 17, so Psalm 110:4 actually reads, The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110 was quite well known in Jesus’ time. From an online source, “Many but not all Jews in Jesus’ day regarded Psalm 110 as messianic. [and] The New Testament authors quote Psalm 110 more than any other chapter in the Old Testament.”

STS also notes, “…in Jesus we have a perfect High Priest [Who] perfectly meets the sinner’s need.” One other difference between the Levitical priests and Jesus, the Melchizedek priest – the Israelites honored their high priest, but did not bow before him. With Jesus, however, “Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Philippians 2:10-11, edited according to a song that we sing) Glory!

Blessings!

Hebrews 7:1-14

Dear RTB’ers,

Melchizedek is certainly an intriguing figure. As we read today, he was both a king (v. 2b) and a priest (…of the Most High God…, v.7a), …without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life… (v. 3a). No father or mother or children mentioned, no beginning and no end. Abraham – when he was “Abram” – met him (Genesis 14:18) and Melchizedek brought him bread and wine; and Abram paid him a tithe (a tenth) of all his goods (Genesis 14:20b). For the author of Hebrews (and many scholars) he prefigures Jesus in all these things, …another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek… (v. 11b). He just shows up…!! An intriguing figure…!

Blessings!

Hebrews 6:9-20

Dear RTB’ers,

We often remind ourselves that we are never working our way to Heaven, that Jesus has done all the work and we simply have to accept His salvation. But, ?strangely? it is ?expected? that we will work, that we will serve Him and His church in various ministries. Today’s tenth verse offers a comforting assurance of God’s love for our “work”: 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. (v. 10) I won’t go into it, but I think I learned “work for the church” from my dad. His work was more physical, while the work that I have done has always been more mental. No doubt, the church has needs for both skill sets. On the physical side, witness Jonathan’s (and others’) work on the rebuilding of our church after the storm damage in the recent past.

So, an immediate need, more mental than physical. We heard yesterday from Father Ben that our Vestry search committee is still looking for people to step up into Vestry service. I would seriously encourage some of you to consider that. Approximately a dozen or so of our current RTB’ers have served this church in that capacity in the past. They could speak to you of relatively low time commitments needed for your service. Please consider yourself for that work, …the love that you [might show] for His name in serving the saints …!

Blessings!

Hebrews 5:11-6:8

Dear RTB’ers,

Two distinct topics covered in today’s reading – spiritual maturity (chapter 5) and falling away (chapter 6). The second topic is a bit scary: 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. (Heb. 6:4-6a) I hope and trust that we RTB’ers don’t fall into this category, and I pray that earlier RTB’ers are still on the path of serving God. It’s a good topic, but not for today.

I am more interested in the “spiritual maturity” topic, especially a particular one-half verse: For though by this time you ought to be teachers… (Heb. 5:12a) The question that popped up to me was, “How many of you are teachers?” Let me back off from “teachers” a bit and suggest “mentors” (although not disallowing teaching). Many of us are older and have raised children and grandchildren and poured our lives into them. But beyond that, how many of us have served the Lord by teaching or mentoring His people? There are abundant blessings in store for us when we do what we can to raise up other (younger) Christians. Frankly, I didn’t really learn Economics until I started teaching it. Likewise, I really began to know the Bible when I joined and then started leading Bible groups. I would strongly recommend that each of us find a teaching or mentoring opportunity. You will bless your student’s or mentee’s life – and your own! … by this time you ought to be teachers…! Yes / No? Thoughts?

Blessings!

Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Dear RTB’ers,

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (v. 4:15) This verse offers comfort to us when we consider Jesus’ humanity up against our own humanity. If, in His humanity He was able to resist the devil’s temptations in the wilderness, then we can use His example as strength in our own temptation battles. When I read this verse I often connect it with a verse from Paul in one of his letters to the Corinthians: 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 Cor. 10:13) With every temptation that we face, God provides a …way of escape… for us, a way out. Often, to me, that “way out” is “just say no” – to hunger, to fear, to a need for power or money. But Jesus didn’t “just say no”. He responded to each of the devil’s temptations with Scripture verses. So Jesus’ example then gives us two ways out – Scripture and God’s Holy Spirit strength with our own “just say no” response. [He]…has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Thank you, Jesus!