Hebrews 12:18-29 Dear RTB’ers, For a better understanding, we need to read Hebrews as if we are 1st-century Jewish Christians, especially those 1st-century Jewish Christians who might be considering going back to their old ways. That seems to be the group to whom the author is writing. Consider: For you have not come to …[Mount …
Category Archives: RTB 2025 – Search the Scriptures, Part 2
February 6 / Hebrews 12:1-17
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 …
February 5 / Hebrews 11:23-40
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 …
February 4 / Hebrews 11:1-22
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: Beyond the simple mention of these three faith-statements, our writer adds two interesting “editorial” sentences. First, If they had been thinking …
February 3 / Hebrews 10:19-39
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 …
February 2 / Hebrews 10:1-18
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. …
February 1 / Hebrews 9:15-28
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 …
February 2025 Readings
Date Readings Verses 01-Feb Hebrews 9:15-28 14 02-Feb Hebrews 10:1-18 18 03-Feb Hebrews 10:19-39 21 04-Feb Hebrews 11:1-22 22 05-Feb Hebrews 11:23-40 18 06-Feb Hebrews 12:1-17 17 07-Feb Hebrews 12:18-29 12 08-Feb Hebrews 13:1-8 8 09-Feb Hebrews 13:9-25 17 10-Feb Hebrews Review 11-Feb Numbers 1-2 88 12-Feb Numbers 3-4 100 13-Feb Numbers 5:1-6:21 52 14-Feb …
January 31 / Hebrews 9:1-15
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 …
January 30 / Hebrews 8
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 …