The Jews' Epistle

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 4:3-6 . . Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So
I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work
has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken
about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all
his work." And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my
rest." It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had
[good news] preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.

Seeing as how God has never yet picked up where He left off on the sixth day, then
I think it safe to assume that had Moses' people gone into the promised land when
he and God wanted them to, then their occupation of that land would've been
permanent, i.e. never would they be evicted from it and never would a foreign
power take control of it.

● Heb 4:7-9 . .Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long
time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his
voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, God would
not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for
the people of God;

That particular sabbath rest is relative to the seventh day of the creation story.
Well; for sure the Jews' history has well-proven that Joshua didn't lead them into
the promised land under circumstances similar to God's perpetual rest. They've
been invaded, conquered, and displaced on more than one occasion. The land itself
has undergone cycles of drought and famine. And even today, much of Israel is
unproductive badlands. In other words: that area is in need of some serious
restoration in order to make it bountiful once again. And the people need relief from
the constant fear of war and economic disaster.

● Heb 4:10-11 . . for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work,
just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so
that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Well; the Jews of today are very busy doing their level best to restore Israel to its
former glory, but thus far their efforts haven't produced results anywhere near
equal to what God has in mind for them because it's their own work instead of His.

The smart Jews are joining up with Y'shua because they sincerely believe his
administration will succeed where others have failed. The Old Testament tells of a
future theocratic kingdom in Israel wherein a tremendous amount of peace and
prosperity will be established.

● Heb 4:12-13 . . For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and
marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is
hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of
him to whom we must give account.

I think we're being told that the word of God is not only very thorough, but also
very serious about what it says. And that the Jews would be mistaken to assume
it's just more of the same idle rhetoric to which they're accustomed that has no
honest intention of fulfillment.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 4:14-16 . .Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we
profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--
yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with frankness, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

For going on 2,000 years now the Jews haven't had a high priest on earth to
represent them before God-- and the so-called Wailing Wall is a very poor
substitute. However; there is one in Heaven standing by --so to speak --to hear
their prayers and speak for them directly to God.

Now the thing is: the Jews' high priest in Heaven despises rote. So they would be
wise to put their prayer books away in storage and voice their concerns from the
heart with free, candid, forthright, and sincere expression because frankness
stresses lack of shyness or secretiveness or of evasiveness from considerations of
tact or expedience; ergo: frankness implies transparency, i.e. unbridled freedom of
speech and the liberty to speak your mind without fear of ridicule, shame, disgrace,
retribution, or retaliation, viz: with Messiah on the job, the Jews may speak to
Heaven just as we'd speak with their wives and/or their best friends, like this:

"Come now, let us argue this out-- says The Lord. No matter how deep the stain of
your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if
you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool." (Isa 1:18)

That promise is just as good today as it was back in Isaiah's day due to Messiah's
unselfish handling of his countrymen's sins.

"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are
healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
and The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isa 53:5-6)

● Heb 5:1 . . Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to
represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

The high priest's function is primarily to represent mankind's best interests in
matters related to God, especially in the arena of reconciliation. And he must be a
human being. No angels are allowed to hold that job because they cannot relate to
human beings any more than human beings can relate to an oak tree or a
dandelion.

● Heb 5:2-3 . . He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going
astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer
sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

The Aaronic priesthood is/was staffed by mortal flesh and blood men who struggled
with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune the same as everybody else. That
helped to make them approachable instead of untouchable, i.e. they could "feel"
their fellow Jews, so to speak.
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 5:4 . . No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just
as Aaron was.

That is extremely important to note. The office of high priest isn't a career choice.
It's a closely regulated appointment personally supervised by Almighty God himself.
This is one of His pet projects and heaven forbid that any man should pursue a
personal ambition to become a high priest merely because he decides to go for it.
The office of high priest is staffed by draftees, not by volunteers. The candidate
must be recruited-- handpicked by the Almighty Himself.

● Heb 5:5-6 . . So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a
high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your
Father." And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of
Melchizedek.

The Greek word translated "order" pertains to succession, but not particularly by
means of genealogy, i.e. the position isn't inherited from father to son.

For example; the covenant that Moses' people agreed upon with God specifies that
Israel's high priests have to be one of Aaron's biological descendants; no
exceptions.

"You shall make Aaron and his sons responsible for observing their priestly duties;
and any outsider who encroaches shall be put to death." (Num 3:10)

Not so with Melchizedek. He was a nondescript Gentile from the land of Canaan,
viz: his position was neither tribal nor was it inherited.

● Heb 5:7-8 . . During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and
petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and
he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he
learned obedience from what he suffered.

Although Jesus is a son by birth-- i.e. his filial relationship to God is intrinsic rather
than either bestowed or granted --his position as a son in the priesthood was a gift.
In other words; priests are sons of God in a different way than a son of God via
posterity. (e.g. Psalm 82)

The wording of the passage suggests Jesus was disobedient until such a time as he
learned to be obedient. That's a bit misleading since the Bible clearly says he never
disobeyed God (John 8:29, Heb 4:15, Heb 7:26-28, 1Pet 2:22). No; what God's son
learned, from first-hand experience, is what everybody else has known all along
even from the days of Adam-- it is very difficult to be faithful to God as a human
being.

That's what makes God's son such a good high priest. He didn't live a sheltered life
up in heaven's gardens, nor come down here as an angel-- aloof, insulated, and
indifferent to the plight of mortals. No, he came down here, not only among the
Jews, but as one of the Jews, and got a good taste of the world from his personal
experiences as a Jewish man.

● Heb 5:9 . . and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for
all who obey him. . .

Wasn't Jesus perfect already? Yes, his piety was flawless; but he wasn't perfectly
suitable for the position of a high priest without he first went around the block a
time or two, so to speak.

● Heb 5:10 . . Called of God an high priest; after the order of Melchizedek.

The Greek word translated "called" pertains to addressing folk. In this case,
addressing them in a manner that includes their title in an official capacity, e.g.
judge, counselor, president, senator, chief, district attorney, principal, etc. In other
words "high priest" is Jesus' official God-given title in his capacity as mediator
between God and Man.

* We must never forget that Jesus is a high priest similar to Melchizedek so as not
to make the mistake of thinking he's picking up where Aaron left off. In point of
fact, Aaron's line still has quite a bit of time left on its clock. (Jer 33:17-18, Mal
3:2-4)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 5:11 . . of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have
become dull of hearing

Though the author of the letter to Hebrews was no doubt duty-bound and inspired
by God to write it, I can sense reluctance in his tone-- not because his audience
lacked enough IQ to keep up. No, nothing like that. The Greek word for "dull"
primarily means sluggish, i.e. lazy, slow, and/or indifferent, i.e. a lack of interest.
In other words, he knew that the recipients of his letter would likely be bored to
tears by this discussion of their Messiah's priesthood relative to Melchizedek's, and
would resist making an honest effort to understand it.

● Heb 5:12a . . In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.

Less than 10% of the world's Jews today are Orthodox. The overwhelming majority
are secular, even in the country of Israel. That is tragic indeed. The Jews were
given the privilege of sacred guardians of the knowledge of God, and of being the
source of that knowledge to the Gentiles. But of late, Gentiles are actually doing a
much better job of disseminating that knowledge than Jews.

The author's Jewish audience actually had a very poor grasp of their own
Scriptures-- a.k.a. the Tanakh --if any grasp at all. They were old enough that they
should have been capable of teaching Gentiles but couldn't pull it off because they
just didn't know the Tanakh well enough themselves to do it. That condition
persists, so that this letter to the Hebrews is just as pertinent now as when the
author penned it.

● Heb 5:12b . .You need milk, not solid food!

Nobody starts out in life with tee-bone steaks and corn on the cob. It's a pretty
level playing field in that respect. Little children, the baby ones, don't have teeth,
so their diets consist mainly of liquid and/or mushy foods. But toothless babies are
not the end-all. It's a totally abnormal child who stays an infant and never grows
up.

● Heb 5:13-14 . . Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted
with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by
constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

In this case, distinguishing good from evil doesn't concern moral issues. No, it's the
experience we gain as growing children to know which foods are good for us and
which are not so good; e.g. adults are fully aware that it's not wise to attempt to
live on a diet consisting of only Doritos and French Fries. That could lead to serious
deficiencies; and put one's health at risk.

If kids were left to themselves, no doubt many of them would live on Animal
Crackers, Pop Corn, and Gummy Bears; and think nothing of it; plus kids don't read
labels. They only care how good something tastes rather than its ingredients.

The author's Jewish audience was just like kids in respect to knowing what foods
are good for them and what foods are not so good for them. Thus, their knowledge
of the Scriptures was so poor and inadequate as to be stunting their spiritual
growth like a malnourished child; and rendering them unable and/or unwilling to
work at understanding concepts appropriate for their age.

● Heb 6:1-2 . .Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go
on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to
death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the
resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

The author's audience was no doubt already familiar with the basics; so any more
talk about that would just be re-inventing the wheel, so to speak, and serve no
useful purpose.

● Heb 6:3 . . And God permitting, we will do so.

Progress from this point on depends upon "God permitting" and with Jews; this
can't be taken for granted; for example:

"Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: You have seen all that The Lord did
before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his
land; the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders.
Yet to this day The Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor
ears to hear." (Deut 29:2-4)
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[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 6:4-6 . . For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who
have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted
the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall
away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying
the Son of God afresh and subjecting him to public disgrace.

We know that with God nothing is impossible. So, I think we have to acquiesce that
the impossibility spoken of here is so because God has made it His mission in life,
so to speak, to assure that folks blessed with the level of advantages spoken of are
never to be given an opportunity to reconsider-- ever!

● Heb 6:7-8a . . Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a
crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land
that produces thorns and thistles is worthless

Perfectly good soil goes to waste no matter how much it's irrigated when farmers
fail to cultivate and seed it with useful crops like cereals, vegetables, and hays.
Noxious weeds and plants will soon take it over. That's just the course of nature;
and the will of God.

"Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the
days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you" (Gen 3:17-18)

Jews are potentially good soil; but if not careful, can become wild soil (Jer 4:3-4);
and the knowledge of God will fail to produced something useful in them. (cf. (Matt
13:3-9)

● Heb 6:8b . . and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Nothing grown on cursed soil is kept; it's all to be incinerated like so much yard
debris, i.e. a total loss. Instead of growing a field of dreams, that soil has grown a
field of disappointments. Jews in that condition are in very real danger of becoming
scorched earth.

● Heb 6:9 . . Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of
better things in your case-- things that accompany salvation.

The Greek word translated "salvation" basically means rescue and/or safety.
Salvation then, by definition, applies to an emergency requiring assistance.

A savior then, can be defined as one who rescues. We've all seen examples--
lifeguards, firemen, cops, emergency medical services, Coast Guard units, snow
patrols, and mountaineering teams. Rescue workers typically save people in
distress who are facing imminent death and/or grave danger and utterly helpless to
do anything about it.

There were saviors (a.k.a. deliverers) in the Old Testament that rescued the Jews
from a variety of dire straits (Neh 9:27) but Jesus Christ's ordeal on the cross is the
ultimate lifeline, so to speak, that God is all set to throw to anyone and everyone
for whom destiny in Hell is a foregone conclusion if only they have the good sense
to plead guilty and throw themselves on the mercy of the court by a simple, naive
prayer something like this one:

"God, I know I'm a sinner. I would like to take advantage of your son's death."

Does Jesus' Father honor those kinds of prayers? Well if His son's story of the tax
collector at Luke 18:9-14, and the account of the malefactor crucified along with
Jesus at Luke 23:38-43 are truthful indicators; then I can honestly, and confidently,
attest that He does, and He will.

NOTE: Just about everybody who's ever heard anything about Christianity is aware
that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world, but what is often unknown is that it
was personal; as Isaiah 53:6 says: The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall
on him.

In other words: the iniquity of each of us fell on him, i.e. any name we might pull
out of a hat-- including our own name --that one name is an individual for whom
Christ endured the cross; there are no exceptions.

"better things" likely refers to performance, viz: reacting to the knowledge of God
in ways that He can approve; thus avoiding the production of noxious weeds which
are subsequently put to the torch rather than harvested for food.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 6:10 . . God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have
shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.

In some cities, many of the Jews in local synagogues were very hostile towards
Jesus and his Jewish followers-- far from inclined to be hospitable-- even actively
seeking their apprehension and execution.

The recipients of this letter to Hebrews were apparently very tolerant, and quite
accommodating. Maybe they didn't buy into Jesus themselves, but that wasn't
enough to make them cruel with their fellow Jews who did. God took notice of that;
and their kindness influenced His own attitude towards them.

● Heb 6:11-12 . .We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end,
in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to
imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

That word "lazy" is actually from the very same Greek word that was used back in
5:11 for "dull of hearing" (indifferent).

● Heb 6:13-15 . .When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one
greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you
and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received
what was promised.

The above incident took place in the 22nd chapter of Genesis wherein an event
called The Akedah (a.k.a. the offering of Isaac) took place.

Now, exactly who those "many descendants" would be is somewhat of a mystery
because it was thru Isaac that Abraham's holy progeny was produced. That being
the case, then Abraham never actually saw those many descendants in his lifetime;
and I really don't think he expected to.

However, that didn't prevent Abraham from resting assured that he would get those
descendants; which is a pretty good illustration of hope-- best defined not as
crossing one's fingers, rather, as anticipation, i.e. a looking forward to something
pleasant that you are confident is coming your way.

For example: the Bible speaks of resurrection. (Dan 12:2, Rom 8:23-25) I rest
assured that day is coming. I look forward to that day, and fully expect it.

* No doubt by now, quite a percentage of Abraham's many descendants have
joined him in the afterlife. So he may not have seen them during his lifetime, but
he's sure enough seeing them now.

● Heb 6:16 . . Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath
confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

I wouldn't recommend doing business like that in America unless the oath was
notarized and signed. At least with an official oath, and a notarized signature, you
can hold people accountable for what they say.

Anyway, God's oath, witnessed by Abraham and his son Isaac, was recorded and
today is on public display in the 22nd chapter of Genesis for all the world to review;
and reads like this:

"The angel of The Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said: I
swear by myself-- declares The Lord --that because you have done this and have
not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.
Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through
your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

"All nations on earth" consists of a worldwide aggregate of both Jews and Gentiles.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 6:17-18 . . Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

The oath wasn't only for Abraham's sake, but also all nations on earth that would be blessed thru his offspring. They all, both Jew and Gentile alike, can rest assured that the oath will be, and is being, fully implemented.

● Heb 6:19-20 . .We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Aaron's official garments included two onyx stones, one on each shoulder engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; six tribes on each stone (Ex 28:9-12). Those stones, in essence, were the people of Israel. So, in effect then, Aaron's constituents came inside the holy place with him every time he went beyond the curtain.

In that vein, the Jews and Gentiles blessed by God's oath are represented before Him in the person of Messiah; who is currently seated at God's right hand whereas Moses' people, in the person of Aaron, weren't permitted to sit down. They were allowed beyond the curtain for no longer than his priesthood's rituals required.

The difference in quality between Messiah's Melchizedekian priesthood, and Aaron's Levitical priesthood, is really significant. The one allows its constituents only a brief moment with God, whereas the other takes them into association with Him permanently.

Most Christians readily attest that Jesus (a.k.a. Y'shua) is both God and Man, but typically without knowing why he's God, nor knowing how he obtained divine status. Well; the thing is; Jesus could not be a high priest seated at the right hand of God in Heaven without divinity; so that had to be addressed.

● Heb 7:1-3 . .This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. . . .Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

The reference is to Gen 14:1-20 where Abraham fielded an army to rescue his nephew Lot from a foreign invader named Chedorlaomer. You would think that the author's Jewish friends would already know all about that particular event in their history. But we need to keep in mind that the recipients of this letter were lax in their study of the Scriptures (Heb 5:10-14). Even today, a number of Jews, even pious Jews, are familiar with the Talmud, Halacha, Midrash, Mishna, and some other writings, but not too familiar with the Tanach.

From a certain point of view, Mel is a self-existent eternal being, viz: there's no record of his birth and there's no record of his death; indicating that priests patterned after Melchizedek have to be men who were never born, and who have yet to die.

Jesus is often claimed to be a self-existent eternal being right from his mother's womb, but no, he wasn't. From the information we have to work with; Jesus was a normal Jewish man whose blood was David's and Abraham's, i.e. Jesus wasn't some sort of divine hominid; instead, he was a typical h.sapiens-- the Bible has his genealogy, plus a record of his birth, and a record of his death. However; Jesus is no longer reckoned a mere mortal in Heaven due to a very strange administrative procedure.

As compensation for his exceptional service to both God and fellow men; Isa 52:13 and Phil 2:6-11 reveal that God bestowed upon Jesus Christ the name that is above every name that can be named either in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth. That name is Jehovah, a.k.a. Yahweh. (Isa 42:8)

So; Jesus is now officially authorized to be respected, to be identified, to be spoken of, to be spoken to, and to speak for himself, by the name of God, i.e. The Almighty. (Ps 45:1-7, Rev 1:8)

Ergo: as far as the Bible is concerned, Jesus is a self-existent eternal being because his identity by the name of God affords him all the attributes of God: the whole ball of wax, so to speak.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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OBJECTION: The Bible says God doesn't share His divinity. (Isa 42:8)

REPLY: That passage speaks of pagans and their religions: it doesn't preclude the
possibility of God sharing divinity with His only begotten son within the walls of His
own home.

Bottom line: Jesus easily qualifies for the position of a high priest seated at the
right hand of God in Heaven because as Jehovah he had neither father nor mother,
nor is there a record of his birth or of his death.

Messiah's path to divinity may seem a tad ridiculous-- maybe even fraudulent --but
it's the path chosen for him so we have to work with it.

OBJECTION: Your explanation can't possibly be right; not when Deut 6:4 says;
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, The Lord is one." You Christians have two acting
as Jehovah, whereas the Law allows for only one.

REPLY: Jesus' identity as Jehovah is an administrative credential which can be
roughly compared to the purpose of the signature ring that Pharaoh lent Joseph.
(Gen 41:39-44)

* Jesus' credential was promised to his ancestor Zerubbabel by Haggai 2:21-23
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 7:4-7 . . Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him
a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become
priests to collect a tenth from the people-- that is, their brothers --even though
their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his
descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had
the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.

Mel was not only a priest but also a king. (Heb 7:2) Abraham was neither. So, this
man Melchizedek, because of his royalty and the manner of his priesthood, was
higher in rank, and closer to God, than Abraham. And he outranked everyone
descending from Abraham; which would've ultimately impacted Messiah were he a
nondescript Jewish man.

● Heb 7:8 . . In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the
other case, by him who is declared to be living.

Within the allegory, Melchizedek outlived both Levi and Aaron, and continues to
outlive all of Aaron's sons too because Melchizedek is reckoned-- from a certain
perspective --to still be alive. According to Moses' Law, Aaron and his sons lose
their jobs the instant they die. Their office then passes down to another of Aaron's
male descendants. But death can't bump a Melchizedekian priest from office
because the position isn't transferable upon death for the very simple reason that,
within the allegory, Melchizedekian priests are eternal beings, i.e. they always
were, they always are, and they always shall be.

● Heb 7:9-10 . . One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the
tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in
the body of his ancestor.

Now if true that Levi paid Mel a tithe thru Abraham, then it must be true that Levi
was also blessed by Mel thru Abraham when he said: "Blessed be Abram of God
Most High, creator of heaven and earth." And by extension, everyone descending
from Abraham was blessed.

The language and grammar of some of the passages coming up are tricky, and if
one isn't careful; they can be led to conclude Moses' law has been revised to
accommodate a priest from the tribe of Judah; but where the author of the letter to
Hebrews says that a change in the priesthood requires a change in Moses' law; he
assumes his Jewish audience has enough yeshiva under their belts to be well aware
that changes to the priesthood will never happen because the successful
administration of Moses' law depends upon it. (cf. Jer 33:17-22)

● Heb 7:11a . . The law was given to the people on the basis of the Levitical
priesthood,

Moses' law would be an impractical code to live by in a theocratic kingdom without
a priesthood to keep the peace between God and His people.

When Moses came down from the mount with the first set of stone tables, a
priesthood wasn't in the law then. God later revised the law to include a priesthood
after the people broke it. In fact, when Moses saw what the people had been up to
while he was away, he smashed the first tables and didn't bring them into camp
because there were no provisions in the law at that time for someone to stand
between violators and God to protect them from retribution.

So Moses destroyed the original law and threw it away; and I hardly blame him. He
couldn't possibly obligate his people to the law in its original form. Those first
tables, if permitted to enter the camp, would have endangered his people beyond
measure. Moses destroyed the first form of the law out of concern for his people's
safety.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 7:11b . . If perfection could've been attained through the Levitical
priesthood, why was there still need for another priest to come-- one in the order of
Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

Aaron's priesthood, although a vital necessity for sinners under the jurisdiction of
Moses' Law, has its limits.

For one thing: Aaronic priests cannot represent their constituents in the very
presence of God. In point of fact, Aaron himself couldn't stay in the holy place on
earth for any longer than his rituals required let alone be allowed for any length of
time in Heaven's holy place.

But the thing is: it isn't within the scope of Aaron's office to obtain absolution for
the people. The best those priests can do is a stay of execution, i.e. a reprieve.

● Heb 7:12-14 . . For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be
a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,
and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord
descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

There's no way that Moses' Law can be changed now. That is just out of the
question. Therefore, no one from the tribe of Judah, nor any other tribe for that
matter, can serve in the Temple as a high priest. So Messiah's priesthood has to be
one that serves in a another Temple. It is in fact a whole different arrangement
altogether, separate from Moses' Law; just as Melchizedek's was.

● Heb 7:15-17 . . And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like
Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation
as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is
declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

Aaron's descendents become priests much too easily. The position falls into their
laps by heritage, and other than a physical examination (Lev 21:17-23) they don't
even have to take a test and qualify for it. But still, any man serving in the Aaronic
priesthood has to be one of Aaron's male descendants. That is an inflexible rule.

However, the primary qualification for Melchizedek's particular kind of priesthood is
not a man's biological ancestry, rather that the man chosen for it has to be
immortal because the wording of Psalm 110:4 states that the benefactor of that
promise is to be a priest forever. So any man subject to old age and death is
automatically disqualified.

● Heb 7:18 . .The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless

Aaron's priesthood isn't entirely useless, but it's ineffective for obtaining absolution
- in that respect its utility is severely limited.

● Heb 7:19a . . for the law made nothing perfect,

Exoneration is God's ideal for Man. Unfortunately, Moses' covenant has no dynamic
for that. All it does is specify codes of religious and civil conduct, and criminal
justice; while lacking a means for expunging the sinner's criminal history so that on
the books it appears they have never been anything but 100% innocent.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 7:19b-22 . . and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath. Others became priests without any oath, but he
became a priest with an oath when God said to him; "The Lord has sworn and will
not change his mind: You are a priest forever." Because of this oath, Jesus has
become the sponsor of a better covenant.

Aaron's priesthood can be superseded because it wasn't meant to be supreme
whereas Melchizedek's is meant to be superior to Aaron's. (Heb 7:4-10)

● Heb 7:23-25 . . Now there have been many of those priests, since death
prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a
permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save those who come to God through
him from start to finish, because he always lives to intercede for them.

The situation is such now that the only way to put a stop to Jesus' pathway to God
is to put a stop to Jesus; but seeing as how he's immortal, any endeavor to take
him down would likely not succeed.

● Heb 7:26 . . Such a high priest meets our need-- one who is holy, blameless,
pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Though Christ is a man, his elegance resembles that of a divine being rather than
human; yet retains his humanness so he can be a high priest because they have to
be selected from among men rather than the gods.

* It's sometimes alleged that Christ is a demigod, i.e. half human and half divine.
Well; we can't accept that proposal because our understanding is that Christ is
100% human and 100% divine. In words: he isn't half and half, rather; he's one
and one. This is of course impossible, but it's Christianity so we have to accept it
while keeping in mind that our faith is anchored in supernatural realities rather than
logical realities.

● Heb 7:27 . . Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day
after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for
their sins once for all when he offered himself.

The sacrifices required by Moses' law cover the people's sins up to that point, but
from thence they began accumulating new sins that require sacrificing all over
again. In other words: with Christ, the people can never commit a sin for which he
didn't already give his life.

● Heb 7:28 . . For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the
oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect
forever.

Within the confines of Moses' law, the high priest isn't a mere convenience, he's an
essential; which means that should the high priest fall out of sorts with God, and/or
become lax in the performance of his duties, then his parishioners would experience
an interruption in services, i.e. a disconnect in their association with God.

Jesus will never let his people down due to his own personal fails. Were that not
true, then God would've skipped over him when searching for someone to serve
humanity in accord with Melchizedek's example. And best of all, Jesus is
permanent. (Ps 110:4)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 8:1-2 . . Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a
high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in
the heavens, a minister in the sanctuary, and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord
pitched, not man.

The Greek word translated "tabernacle" refers to tents, which are hasty shelters
made of fabric rather than permanent structures made of sturdy materials like
wood, stone, and brick.

A Greek word for temple is nowhere to be found in the letter to Hebrews, viz: these
passages are keeping us pinned in the covenant that Moses' people agreed upon
with God per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In point of fact, God
didn't want a temple up until the time that David got the bright idea to build one
+/- 400 years after Mt. Sinai.

● 2Sam 7:5-7 . . Go and tell my servant David; This is what The Lord says. Are you
the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I
brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to
place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did
I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel:
Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

The right hand of God is significantly more important than his left. For example
Jacob laid his right hand upon Ephraim; thus designating him as Joseph's firstborn
instead of Manasseh whose birthright it was by primogeniture. (Gen 48:13-19) So;
what's that tell us about Jesus? Well it tells me that Jesus is in a position
designating him as God's firstborn son, i.e. The Almighty's next of kin and heir
apparent. For example Psalm 110:1 which says:

"The Lord said unto my lord: Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies
your footstool."

NOTE: The birthright of the son born first isn't inalienable; rather, quite transferable
to a younger member of the family, e.g. Esau to Jacob (Gen 25:23) Rueben to
Joseph (1Chrn 5:1) Mannasah to Ephraim (Gen 48:13-19) and David to Christ (Ps
101:1 cf. Matt 22:42-45)
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 8:3 . . Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so
it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.

The Aaronic priests are models of the heavenly priesthood. So it only stands to
reason that if gifts and sacrifices are made by the earthly priesthood, then
something has to be offered by the heavenly priesthood too. After all, the primary
function of a priesthood is reconciliation-- to protect its constituents from
retribution, and to soothe irritations that exist between a righteous God and a
rather unrighteous human race.

● Heb 8:4-5 . . If [Jesus] were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are
already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. They serve at a sanctuary
that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned
when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything
according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

The letter to Hebrews was apparently written sometime before 70 AD, which is
when Titus the Roman destroyed the Temple because the author spoke of it as still
fully functioning.

Think about this for a second: Jesus is a priest in the highest possible priesthood
office there is. But if he were on the earth, he would not be permitted to officiate
because his priesthood has no jurisdiction down here. The earth is Aaron's
jurisdiction.

Locale dictates the performance of Jesus' duties just as locale dictates the
performance of Aaron's. His boys had to work in a sanctuary housed in a temple on
Earth; and Jesus has to work in sanctuary housed in a tabernacle out of country up
in Heaven. They, and he, when away from their posts, are technically off duty; like
a waitress who's gone home for the day.

* So where does that leave Mormon men who claim membership in the priesthood
order of Melchizedek? If you are reading this, and are an advanced Mormon; I
mean you no harm and I certainly mean you no insult. I'm sure you are just as
conscientious about your religion as everyone else is about theirs. But if Jesus
cannot officiate as a priest in the order of Melchizedek down here on earth, then
neither can any of yours.

The earth is still the domain of Aaron and his sons in spite of Jesus' intrinsically
superior priesthood. And one day, in Messiah's very kingdom itself, Aaron's family,
and the Levites, will once again be at their posts discharging their official duties in a
brand new Temple at Jerusalem. (Ex 40:12-13 & Jer 33:17-22)

● Heb 8:6 . . But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the
covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on
better promises.

The covenant that Moses' people agreed upon with God is an outstanding religious
and civil code; but it not only lacks provisions to atone for willful sins and capital
crimes, but it also sorely lacks provisions to cure the sinner's inclination to sin.
Moses' covenant merely punishes sinners; it doesn't reconstruct them in any way.
But Jesus' ministry does just that. We know from the wording of the new covenant
that the new heart and the new spirit, promised in it, work to generate improved
attitudes within the sinner-- attitudes inclined to listen to God coupled with a good
natured willingness to comply.

The newer covenant works very well to the Jews' advantage; namely: it has the
potential to remove the sinful urges resident in human nature. Not just to atone for
them-- but to surgically remove them so that they never cause problems again.

Moses' law demands a self-performed, inward circumcision.

● Deut 10:16 . . Cut away, therefore, the thickening about your hearts and stiffen
your necks no more.

However, Moses promised that God would one day perform the operation Himself.

● Deut 30:4-6 . . Even if your outcasts are at the ends of the world, from there the
Lord your God will gather you, from there He will fetch you. And the Lord your God
will bring you to the land that your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and
He will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your fathers. Then the
Lord your God will open up your heart and the hearts of your offspring to love the
Lord your God with all your heart and soul, in order that you may live.
_

 

[Studyman]

Actually it's a common misconception that the New Testament letters were addressed to Gentiles. An examination of the language used very clearly shows that they are addressing believers of a Jewish origin (but include those Gentiles who had come to believe). Even the Book of Romans, which you would assume would be to Gentiles, is very clearly talking to Jewish believers.

It seems prudent to acknowledge that God's People had been led astray by Priests who had "corrupted the Covenant of Levi". These "shepherds" who were supposed to feed the flock, chose instead to feed and empower themselves at the Flocks expense. I understand this because of what is written. They had created a lucrative religious business which included the building of manmade shrines of worship and selling salvation through sacrificial "works of the Law".

Jer. 50: 6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

And again;

Jer. 23: 16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.

17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

These deceptive voices are first exposed in Eve's Time when she is convinced by "another voice", one that also quoted "some" of God's words, that God lied to her about the consequence of disrespect and dishonor towards God.

So it makes perfect sense that the Messiah would come to the Preachers first, like the Prophets before Him were sent. "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Paul too, said this very thing in obedience to the Vision he is said to have received.

Acts 26: 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Notice the message is the same. But like Jesus and the Prophets before Him, he came to the Jews first.

[Romans 2:14-23 ESV]

Paul is contrasting the Gentiles who live according to the Law of God in ignorance with those Jewish believers who were still incorrectly living as slaves to the law.

No, this is simply untrue. The Pharisees were not living "as slaves to the Law of God". I personally get so tired of hearing this popular but untrue doctrine. They "Taught for doctrines the commandments of men, not God". Jesus said of them "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition". Moses gave them God's Law, but they didn't keep it. They despised God's Judgments, walked not in the Commandments of God and polluted His Sabbaths. And then brought their sacrifices to be Justified by "works of the Law". Isaiah tells us this exact same thing.

Is. 1: 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the *** his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Yet, they brought their sacrifices "according to the Law", to justify them. Truly they sought Righteousness, "by the Law", and not repentance, which is what the LAW commanded.

10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

Why??? Because a man is not Justified by these sacrificial "works of the Law"!!! The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. Hear what the Law says.

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

Paul describes this world's religious men. "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Zacharias, Simeon, Anna, the wise men, they were slaves/servants to God's Righteousness. Paul was a servant to God's Righteousness. The members of the Body of Christ in Paul's Time were servants of God's Law. Consider Paul's Words here.

Rom. 6: 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

The Pharisees were not "Servants of God's Law". Zacharias, Simeon, Paul, Peter, Caleb, Joshua, Danial, Meshak, these members of the Body of Christ became servants to God's Law. The Pharisees were servants of their own adopted religion which rejected God's Law.

That is the truth of Scriptures.

 

[EclipseEventSigns]

It seems prudent to acknowledge that God's People had been led astray by Priests who had "corrupted the Covenant of Levi". These "shepherds" who were supposed to feed the flock, chose instead to feed and empower themselves at the Flocks expense. I understand this because of what is written. They had created a lucrative religious business which included the building of manmade shrines of worship and selling salvation through sacrificial "works of the Law".

Jer. 50: 6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

And again;

Jer. 23: 16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.

17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

These deceptive voices are first exposed in Eve's Time when she is convinced by "another voice", one that also quoted "some" of God's words, that God lied to her about the consequence of disrespect and dishonor towards God.

So it makes perfect sense that the Messiah would come to the Preachers first, like the Prophets before Him were sent. "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Paul too, said this very thing in obedience to the Vision he is said to have received.

Acts 26: 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Notice the message is the same. But like Jesus and the Prophets before Him, he came to the Jews first.


No, this is simply untrue. The Pharisees were not living "as slaves to the Law of God". I personally get so tired of hearing this popular but untrue doctrine. They "Taught for doctrines the commandments of men, not God". Jesus said of them "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition". Moses gave them God's Law, but they didn't keep it. They despised God's Judgments, walked not in the Commandments of God and polluted His Sabbaths. And then brought their sacrifices to be Justified by "works of the Law". Isaiah tells us this exact same thing.

Is. 1: 2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the *** his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Yet, they brought their sacrifices "according to the Law", to justify them. Truly they sought Righteousness, "by the Law", and not repentance, which is what the LAW commanded.

10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

Why??? Because a man is not Justified by these sacrificial "works of the Law"!!! The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. Hear what the Law says.

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

Paul describes this world's religious men. "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Zacharias, Simeon, Anna, the wise men, they were slaves/servants to God's Righteousness. Paul was a servant to God's Righteousness. The members of the Body of Christ in Paul's Time were servants of God's Law. Consider Paul's Words here.

Rom. 6: 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

The Pharisees were not "Servants of God's Law". Zacharias, Simeon, Paul, Peter, Caleb, Joshua, Danial, Meshak, these members of the Body of Christ became servants to God's Law. The Pharisees were servants of their own adopted religion which rejected God's Law.

That is the truth of Scriptures.

You should actually READ and UNDERSTAND the post you are replying to. I do not say anything like what you are writing about.

 

[Studyman]

You should actually READ and UNDERSTAND the post you are replying to. I do not say anything like what you are writing about.

I was addressing your words. "Actually it's a common misconception that the New Testament letters were addressed to Gentiles."

I was pointing out the Scriptures which explain why God sent the Prophets, and then His Own Son to the Jews. It was through their leadership and false teaching that led people astray, (according to Scriptures) and the reason why the Name of God was Blasphemed among the Gentiles in the first place. It was only right to reason with them in the Scriptures first, to turn them to repentance.

Obedient Jews already knew the Christ, and were waiting for His Return, as the Scriptures show through Zacharias, Simeon, Anna and the Wise Men. Jesus said HE didn't come for them. "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

A disobedient Jew is a Gentile, "Inwardly", according to Paul. So it would be accurate to say that the New Testament Letters were written for the "children of Disobedience". And the message to the "children of disobedience" is the same regardless of the DNA a person is born with.

Acts 26: 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

I certainly read your post and responded to it. If I misunderstood your words, I am sorry.

 

[Studyman]

You should actually READ and UNDERSTAND the post you are replying to. I do not say anything like what you are writing about.

Again, I was responding to your words. "Paul is contrasting the Gentiles who live according to the Law of God in ignorance with those Jewish believers who were still incorrectly living as slaves to the law.

I hear this philosophy being promoted by this world's religions all the time. "the Pharisees were trying to earn salvation by keeping God's Law". Or as you put it, the Pharisees were "living as slaves to the Law".

Although widely taught and believed by many, this teaching is simply untrue. The Pharisees were "children of the devil" and they were slaves to it, snared to do its will, and its lusts, not God's.

I'm pretty sure I understood your statement, given it is a philosophy that is widely taught and believed on. And posted in the hopes that you might reconsider the message it furthers.

But if I didn't read it right, and you were saying something else, I am sorry.

 

[Complete]

Can you point me to a verse in the N.T. where it says " the bride of Christ is Israel " ?

Thanks !

Hi @civic, (reply#8)

Although I am not entirely in agreement with @jeremiah1five in reply#7: The wording in Revelation 21:9 in reference to the bride is important to remember I believe, for it is, 'The bride, the Lamb's wife.' Every word, I am sure you will agree, is chosen by God carefully, and is there for a reason. I also believe that those who comprise this company, 'the Bride', are called out from among Israel, as those listed in Hebrews 11, who look for a city, like Abraham, whose Builder and Maker is God.

 

[Studyman]

Hi @civic, (reply#8)

Although I am not entirely in agreement with @jeremiah1five in reply#7: The wording in Revelation 21:9 in reference to the bride is important to remember I believe, for it is, 'The bride, the Lamb's wife.' Every word, I am sure you will agree, is chosen by God carefully, and is there for a reason. I also believe that those who comprise this company, 'the Bride', are called out from among Israel, as those listed in Hebrews 11, who look for a city, like Abraham, whose Builder and Maker is God.

So you believe then that Caleb, Joshua, Gideon, David, Meshack, Daniel, Rahab, Sampson, Samual, Zacharias, Simeon, the Wise men, Anna, and Every Example of faith in the Bible, are also part of the Body of Christ, the "Bride"? I agree. I think these "ARE" Israel, which is an Israelite of the heart, not outwardly.

 

[EclipseEventSigns]

Again, I was responding to your words. "Paul is contrasting the Gentiles who live according to the Law of God in ignorance with those Jewish believers who were still incorrectly living as slaves to the law.

I hear this philosophy being promoted by this world's religions all the time. "the Pharisees were trying to earn salvation by keeping God's Law". Or as you put it, the Pharisees were "living as slaves to the Law".

Although widely taught and believed by many, this teaching is simply untrue. The Pharisees were "children of the devil" and they were slaves to it, snared to do its will, and its lusts, not God's.

I'm pretty sure I understood your statement, given it is a philosophy that is widely taught and believed on. And posted in the hopes that you might reconsider the message it furthers.

But if I didn't read it right, and you were saying something else, I am sorry.

Again, you are responding to something you are misreading. The actual point is who were the actual documents of the New Testament addressed to? If you look at the introductions and the content, the majority were to Jewish believers in Messiah Jesus. Not Gentiles. That is the point of what was being discussed.