Hebrews 12:1-17

Dear RTB’ers,

Discipline. Worldly discipline, spiritual discipline. We’ve all been disciplined, somehow, somewhere. Where did you learn discipline? What is your own discipline like today? Your worldly discipline, your spiritual discipline?

I was looking back at my own discipline history. First, my worldly discipline – growing up at home; three years in the Army (especially Basic Training); a dozen years of academic studies; then 30+ years of the structured life of going to work every day. A lot of discipline training in each of those times in my life…

And spiritual discipline… I went to a (spiritual) conference when I was in my mid-30s where the speaker suggested that we commit ourselves to reading the Bible at least five minutes a day. I began doing that and realized that if I read more than five minutes – typically 15 to 20 minutes – that I could read through the entire Bible in one year’s time. So sometime in my late 30s was my first time in reading completely through the Bible. That conference and the discipline that I learned eventually led to our current RTB groups at St. Andrew’s.

John and I can attest to the discipline that is necessary for us to post RTB comments every morning (or occasionally later in the day). No doubt, there is personal spiritual gain for us in doing that, but our other hope in posting daily is that we can encourage the rest of you in your own spiritual discipline. Our hope is that you read the assigned passage every day (morning?) and consider the STS questions (and our posts), ideally even before you begin your daily chores. If you get behind, no problem, just catch up! And come join us this Sunday morning after coffee hour and tell us how RTB is working out for you.

Blessings!

Hebrews 11:23-40

Dear RTB’ers,

Hebrews 11 is universally known as the “Faith Chapter” or “Heroes of the Faith”. The New Testament (NT) author is writing about Old Testament (OT) “heroes”, people who sought the Lord and served Him, in spite of opposition from people around them. I am humbled when I think about our lives today and compare ourselves to what these folks went through. Just a couple of observations…

First, they had prophets and priests; we have Jesus and the gospel records. Those OT people had faithful prophets and priests who spoke what they had heard from the Lord, in spite of the opposition they faced. Conversely, the people were also led astray by false prophets and unfaithful priests who spoke words that they claimed came from God, but in fact did not. So, whom to follow? How would they know to which group God was speaking? My primary example here is Jeremiah and the unfaithful prophets and priests around him. I’m looking forward to reading of his life. The OT people stand in direct contrast to what we have today – Jesus’ life as recorded in the four gospels, plus 23 more books and letters witnessing to His death and resurrection; canonized saints whose examples we can follow; and the unfailing Holy Spirit who is there to guide us every step of the way. We have so much more!

Second, the Hebrews author tells us of the suffering that these OT people endured (vv. 33-38). Yes, we have incidents of people who suffer for their faith today, especially in the Arab world and in the Southern Hemisphere. We read about them and pray for them, but I doubt that we really feel their suffering. Maybe we need to be more challenged about our own faith!

Finally, the promise of a better life… These OT heroes looked forward to God honoring His promises, an expectation of a Messiah deliver – but they never saw those promises fulfilled: All these died in faith, without receiving the promises… And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised… (vv. 13a, 39) But we know how the story ends. We know the Messiah deliverer, Jesus. We know of His promise of eternal life. We know the Holy Spirit, come to live in our hearts and minds. We have that “better life” right now, in the here and now!

Reading and meditating on the whole of chapter 11 is humbling, to say the least. Paul’s letter to the Romans includes a simple little phrase directed to unbelievers, that …they are without excuse… (Romans 1:20b) What would Paul say if he were writing to us today?

Blessings!

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See also: December 27 (2023) / Hebrews 11-13

Hebrews 11:1-22

Dear RTB’ers,

The Hebrews writer uses fifteen of the forty verses in this chapter to talk about Abraham. No doubt, Abraham’s person/story is, in fact, a worthy statement of faith. Consider that:

1. he left his home as God directed, not knowing where he was going;
2. together with his wife, Sarah, he fathered a son, Isaac, in his old age; and
3. (to me the most powerful) he was willing to offer his son as a sacrifice simply because God told him to.

Beyond the simple mention of these three faith-statements, our writer adds two interesting “editorial” sentences. First, If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. (v. 15) This verse reflects back to a statement five verses earlier: For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. (v. 10) Abraham and his family and servants were living in tents (v. 9), no doubt wondering when and where they would settle down, but continuously moving forward, never looking back to return to Ur or Haran, from where he had come.

The second “editorial” comment is related to Abraham’s willing sacrifice of Isaac, He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead… (v. 19a) The author is delving into Abraham’s mind with this statement. I personally can’t imagine that Abraham had considered a “resurrection” of Isaac’s dead body. Sorry, I don’t have any other explanation for how Abraham believed that he would be the father of nations through Isaac if he sacrificed him. But it does seem like Abraham must have been silently praying one of our favorite phrases today, “God is God and I am not.” Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac – that’s faith!

Blessings!

Hebrews 10:19-39

Dear RTB’ers,

The writer of Hebrews spends a lot of words, and they are really good words, but the essence of what he is saying is captured in just a few verses:

…since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus… (v. 19b) And

…since we have a great priest over the house of God… (v. 21) Then

…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith… (v. 22)

These three partial verses bring us to the heart of our confession of faith, offering us strength for our earthly life and confidence in our heavenly hereafter. However,

…if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment… (v. 26-27b) Scary!! So, instead,

…let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together… (vv. 24-25b)

We, together with the Holy Spirit, are one another’s best defense against that horrible falling away!

Don’t get me wrong – the “in-between” words are good, they provide more substance to the main ideas presented in those partial verses. But I think it’s helpful to pull out the important material, then to re-read the entire reading with the material from those partial verses in mind. I hope that’s helpful

Blessings!

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See also: December 26 (2023) / Hebrews 7-10

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!