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 …
Category Archives: RTB 2020 – Epistles
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 …
November 14 / Hebrews 4:1-10
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 …
November 13 / Hebrews 3:12-19
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 …