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!

Hebrews 3:7-4:13

Dear RTB’ers,

I was happy yesterday to see three comments from the rest of you on the daily verses – good comments all!

I’m confused by the “rest” to which the writer of Hebrews is referring. The word “rest” occurs twice in chapter 3 and ten times in our chapter 4 verses. In chapter 3 the “rest” seems to apply to the Israelites who failed to enter the Promised Land because of their disobedience: And with whom was He provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? (vv. 3:17-18) But even those who entered Canaan had to do a lot of fighting before they got their rest. Still this chapter 3 “rest” (to me) seems to apply to the Promised Land. Then the first verse in chapter 4 reverses my presumption: Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands… (v. 4:4a) If “…His rest still stands…”, then “His rest” cannot be the Promised Land. Then we are left with two choices for His rest – our weekly Sabbath rest or our eternal rest with Him. I cannot argue exclusively for one or the other, although the Sabbath rest is clearly mentioned in Heb. 4:8 and amplified in Heb. 4:9a, Let us therefore strive to enter that rest … Yes, with the information in these verses I’ll go with “His rest” being our weekly Sabbath rest.

Whatever is true, in 1979 it was these words in chapters 3 and 4 and an incident at a church in Washington, DC, that led me to accepting God’s Sabbath rest as a gift in my life, even though as a graduate student my pattern had been for serious Sunday evening study in preparation for the week ahead. From that incident in 1979 forward, I have seldom done any meaningful work on Sundays. Looking on it as a gift instead of a command changed my life-habit – maybe yours too?

Blessings!

Hebrews 3:1-6

Dear RTB’ers,

Only six verses, one tenth of some of our Leviticus readings!

“House” is mentioned seven times in today’s reading, with five different modifiers: God’s, a, the, every, and His. Verse 6b tells us that we are that house, “His house”. Moses relates to “God’s house” while Jesus relates to “His house” – in both cases God’s chosen people. Both Moses and Jesus were faithful in their houses (vv. 5-6), but, Moses was a servant in that house (v. 5) while Jesus was a Son (v. 6), and a son is certainly greater than a servant. Verse 6 is the key line in our reading today: And we are His house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. What does it take for us to …hold fast…?

As to question #1, what can Christ do for us and what does He demand from us as our Apostle and as our High Priest? Your replies…??

Blessings!

Hebrews 2

Dear RTB’ers,

Why need we pay closer attention…? Sins under the Law, as delivered by angels, were justly punished. Now we have a greater salvation in Jesus, with Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Jesus and witnessed by (1) His close associates during His earthly life, (2) signs and miracles; and (3) His gift of the Holy Spirit. If sins under the Law were justly punished, how much more serious might be our neglecting Jesus’ offer of salvation? How might we be neglecting Him?

Blessings!

Hebrews 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Welcome to Hebrews! Yeah, I know – it’s nice to be out of Leviticus!! Agreed!!

Question #1: List statements about Christ in verses 2-3. For the third time in a week or so my Study Bible has answered this question for me – with additional commentary much better than I could answer it. See imbedded below and attached.

Blessings!

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See also: December 25 (2023) / Hebrews 1-6

Leviticus 27

Dear RTB’ers,

Question: What can and can not be redeemed? For me this is a difficult chapter to understand. Presumably a person is making an offering to the Lord. One of my online references says that when someone makes an offering to the Lord, the Lord immediately accepts it. Then if that person changes his mind, he can buy it back (redeem it) according to the valuation set by God in verses 2-8 or by the priest in the rest of the chapter. However, there are certain offerings that can not be redeemed? The first is an animal that has been offered as a sacrifice (v. 10). The second is a field that has been sold to another man (v. 20). Finally, more confusing, the ?annual? tithe to the Levites of grain or fruit can be redeemed, but the tithe of an animal (the tenth animal) can not be redeemed (vv. 30-33).

So people can be redeemed (vv. 2-8), but animals and land cannot. Why not? Because they have been set aside as an offering to the Lord or to the Levites for their service…? I’m leaving it confused. Anyone out there got a better reply?

As to the question regarding verse 29 – Saul did not totally destroy the Amalekites (I Samuel 15:1-9) and was rejected as king by God. And Jesus was not redeemed – He was put to death.

A very confusing chapter! And that’s how we leave Leviticus!

Blessings!

Leviticus 26

Dear RTB’ers,

Question on spiritual blessings to obedient Christians… First, His blessings for the Israelites: Rains in their season (v. 4); peace in the land (v. 6); make you fruitful and multiply you (v. 9); make My dwelling among you and walk among you and be your God (vv. 11-12); and [broken the yoke and] make you walk erect. All of these blessings for the Israelites are also available to us, but with some caveats. Rain comes and the land produces, but we also have droughts and weather- and pest-related destructions. We have peace, mostly, in the most Christian lands – North and South America, Western and Central Europe, large parts of Africa – but we also see riots and discord between various factions and Islamic terrorism in Africa. We have been fruitful, both in numbers and in wealth, although our nation appears to be in the throes of spiritual decline. We are not enslaved, except to the evil in which we habitually engage. And finally, most importantly, God HAS made His dwelling among us, in the person of His Holy Spirit. He IS our God and Lord, to the extent that we seek Him. Yes, we are blessed with those Israelite blessings!

Blessings!

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See also: February 6 (2023) / Leviticus 25:35-27:34