The Jews' Epistle

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 8:7-8a . . For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no
place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people,

This is pretty much the crux of the weakness in the covenant that Moses' people
agreed upon with God per Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. According to Rom
7:12 the Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good; so there is
nothing wrong with the covenant in that respect. The weakness in it has always
human nature. (cf. Rom 7:10-23)

● Heb 8:8b-9 . . So He said: The time is coming-- declares The Lord --when I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will
not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the
hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my
covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.

The new covenant is very brief in comparison to the length of the first covenant
because there are no rules and regulations governing a priesthood, no extensive
sacrificial system, and no code of civil conduct including retributions for non
compliance. Nor does the new covenant give God cause to turn away from His
people.

● Heb 8:10-12 . .This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that
time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their
hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach
his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all
know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."

* That passage quotes Jer 31:31-34

● Heb 8:13 . .When God speaks of a new covenant, it means He has made the first
one obsolete. It is now out of date and ready to be put aside.

Although Moses' covenant is obsolete, it's not out of business just yet. Millions of
Jews are still under its jurisdiction because that is their covenant by default (Deut
29:10-15) The first covenant still has teeth. According to Ezek 20:33-38 numbers
of the Diaspora will be granted/denied entry into Messiah's kingdom on the basis of
their compliance with the first covenant.

Now, whereas the first covenant is involuntary, the new is just the opposite. No one
is born into it like they are the first covenant. Jews wishing to enroll in the new
covenant have to step up for it, and if they don't, they'll remain stuck in the first;
which is a very dangerous position to be in because that covenant doesn't allow
God to forget sins; viz: sins stay on the books; even sins that God has forgiven.

"Then The Lord passed by in front of Moses and proclaimed: The Lord, The Lord
God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness
and truth; who keeps loving-kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity,
transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished: visiting
the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and
fourth generations." (Ex 34:6-7)

When you think about it, a new covenant was pretty much inevitable because God
didn't find fault with the old covenant, rather, He found fault with His people, viz:
it's the Jews' overall human nature that makes the first covenant impractical.

But also; the first covenant contains no provisions for regenerating the Jews and
making them a better person, viz: the first covenant is a rigid code that makes
exacting demands upon them while having no promise of renovating the core of
their being. Their improvement can be forged only within the terms and conditions
of the new covenant.

NOTE: It's not uncommon to encounter Christians claiming that it is impossible to
keep the law of Moses. Well; that's just not true. For example: Josiah was able to
keep it (2Kgs 23:25) Zacharias and his wife were able to keep it (Luke 1:5-6) and
Paul the apostle was able to keep it. (Phil 3:6) But those people kept the law by
means of will power. It is God desire that folks keep the law because it is in their
nature to do so.
_

 

[Complete]

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.

I stand by what I wrote in reply#38, which you have misrepresented in your response (above).

 

[Complete]

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.

Hello @Studyman,

Only God knows who will be part of that company. Those listed in Hebrews 11 are listed as being men and women of faith: who like Abraham, in Heb. 11:10 ,'... looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.' of whom it is said in Hebrews 11:16:-

'But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
for He hath prepared for them a city. '
(Heb. 11:16)

'And there came unto me one of the seven angels
which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues,
and talked with me, saying, Come hither,
I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.'
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain,
and shewed me that great city,
the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,'
(Rev 21:9)

* The church which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all, of Ephesians 1:22-23, is a separate company.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris


.

 

[Studyman]

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.

If you were to read my post, you will see that I also addressed the reason why God sent the Prophets, and then His Son and His Apostles to the Jews first. I reject outright the popular religious philosophy that any of the Holy Scriptures, Old or New Testament, were only addressed to the Jews. God's Word was always for the homeborn and the stranger who sojourns with them. Or as Isaiah teaches "anyone" "that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;"

If satan rules the preachers who are running the temple of God, the first step would be to warn those who place their trust in the Preachers. So of coarse, Jesus came to Jerusalem first.

Paul is explaining to the Faithful in Rome, both Jew and Gentile, why they can't trust the mainstream preachers of that time. What happened to them that caused their fall. And how wrong they were do reject God's Laws regarding the Gentile who turns to God. Not just for the Jews, but also the Gentile which didn't "Have the LAW", taught to them from their youth, but were still part of "them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality".

I don't think it benefits me to ignore what had already taken place in Acts, and I'm quite sure Paul didn't either when he wrote his letter to the Faithful in Rome.

Acts 13: 42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

They didn't "have the Law of God" like the Jews did. But they desired to find it, and God directed them where to hear it through His Apostles.

Acts 15: 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. All behaviors taught against by God's Law. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

The Apostles were simply following the spoken direction of the Lord's Christ.

Matt. 23: 1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, (No doubt there were Gentile servants in the crowd) 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

So I understand your statement ""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." perfectly because I have fought against this philosophy for 30 years.

The Gentiles Paul speaks to are those Gentiles who have "Turned to God". We have their history in Acts. They were not "Ignorant" of God's Laws, they were just not raised in them. I know these Gentiles "Repented, Turned to God, and brought forth works worthy of repentance, because that is what Paul teaches both Jew and Gentile. (Acts 26:19,20) Feel free to read this for yourself.

I know they were not like other Gentiles because of Paul's teaching also.

Eph. 4: 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

All this to say, that I know full well what your statement represented as I have dealt with the same philosophy many times for many years. What I was hoping to do, was spark some interest in testing the spirit of this popular religious philosophy, which promotes that ignorant Gentiles had God's Law written on their heart, and the Pharisees were Slaves to God's Law. I am happy to discuss its merits that I think go hand in hand with the teaching that Paul's Letter to the Romans was only addressed to the Jews. Another popular doctrine of this world.

But If you only want to continue to promote the idea that I'm not capable or smart enough to understand what you post, you are free to do that as well. I am not offended at all.

In either case, thank you for the opportunity to raise the issue, someone reading might consider.

Again, Thank you.

 

[Studyman]

Hello @Studyman,

Only God knows who will be part of that company. Those listed in Hebrews 11 are listed as being men and women of faith: who like Abraham, in Heb. 11:10 ,'... looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.' of whom it is said in Hebrews 11:16:-

'But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
for He hath prepared for them a city. '
(Heb. 11:16)

'And there came unto me one of the seven angels
which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues,
and talked with me, saying, Come hither,
I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.'
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain,
and shewed me that great city,
the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,'
(Rev 21:9)

* The church which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all, of Ephesians 1:22-23, is a separate company.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

Thanks for explaining your belief. So then, Abraham and the Faithful in Heb.11, are "not" members of the "one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all"?

I'm sorry I misunderstood you at first.

 

[Complete]

Thanks for explaining your belief. So then, Abraham and the Faithful in Heb.11, are "not" members of the "one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all"?

I'm sorry I misunderstood you at first.

'Endeavouring to keep
the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
'There is
.. one body, and
.... one Spirit, even as ye are called in
...... one hope of your calling;
........ One Lord,
.......... one faith,
............ one baptism,
.............. One God and Father of all,
Who is above all,
and through all,
and in you all.
(Eph 4:3-6)

Hello @Studyman,

I understand why you are referring me to Ephesians 4, and the Unity of the Spirit expressed there. The teaching of the prison epistles of Paul, (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon) are the expression of the revelation of God given to Paul at the end of the Acts period, during his imprisonment as, 'The Lord's Prisoner', and concerns this period of time following that revelation, and those being called out during this period.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[EclipseEventSigns]

If you were to read my post, you will see that I also addressed the reason why God sent the Prophets, and then His Son and His Apostles to the Jews first. I reject outright the popular religious philosophy that any of the Holy Scriptures, Old or New Testament, were only addressed to the Jews. God's Word was always for the homeborn and the stranger who sojourns with them. Or as Isaiah teaches "anyone" "that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;"

If satan rules the preachers who are running the temple of God, the first step would be to warn those who place their trust in the Preachers. So of coarse, Jesus came to Jerusalem first.

Paul is explaining to the Faithful in Rome, both Jew and Gentile, why they can't trust the mainstream preachers of that time. What happened to them that caused their fall. And how wrong they were do reject God's Laws regarding the Gentile who turns to God. Not just for the Jews, but also the Gentile which didn't "Have the LAW", taught to them from their youth, but were still part of "them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality".

I don't think it benefits me to ignore what had already taken place in Acts, and I'm quite sure Paul didn't either when he wrote his letter to the Faithful in Rome.

Acts 13: 42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

They didn't "have the Law of God" like the Jews did. But they desired to find it, and God directed them where to hear it through His Apostles.

Acts 15: 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. All behaviors taught against by God's Law. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

The Apostles were simply following the spoken direction of the Lord's Christ.

Matt. 23: 1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, (No doubt there were Gentile servants in the crowd) 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

So I understand your statement ""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." perfectly because I have fought against this philosophy for 30 years.

The Gentiles Paul speaks to are those Gentiles who have "Turned to God". We have their history in Acts. They were not "Ignorant" of God's Laws, they were just not raised in them. I know these Gentiles "Repented, Turned to God, and brought forth works worthy of repentance, because that is what Paul teaches both Jew and Gentile. (Acts 26:19,20) Feel free to read this for yourself.

I know they were not like other Gentiles because of Paul's teaching also.

Eph. 4: 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

All this to say, that I know full well what your statement represented as I have dealt with the same philosophy many times for many years. What I was hoping to do, was spark some interest in testing the spirit of this popular religious philosophy, which promotes that ignorant Gentiles had God's Law written on their heart, and the Pharisees were Slaves to God's Law. I am happy to discuss its merits that I think go hand in hand with the teaching that Paul's Letter to the Romans was only addressed to the Jews. Another popular doctrine of this world.

But If you only want to continue to promote the idea that I'm not capable or smart enough to understand what you post, you are free to do that as well. I am not offended at all.

In either case, thank you for the opportunity to raise the issue, someone reading might consider.

Again, Thank you.

Again. Not even the topic.

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 9:1a . . Now the first covenant had regulations for worship

Old covenant Judaism isn't just a code of rules comprising the so-called ten
commandments and kosher diet. No, it includes a very large body of rules
regulating worship too. So that old covenant Judaism is a two-part way of life-- a
civil part and a religious part. When Jews leave out one of those parts, they're not
practicing genuine old covenant Judaism, but rather, concise version.

● Heb 9:1b-5 . . and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first
room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the
Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, Above
the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But
we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

All those sacred items he listed were part of a portable, temporary place of worship
that could be dismantled in no time at all to be carried around on the march. The
atonement cover was nothing more than the lid of the ark, which was a pretty
simple wooden box overlaid with gold. All those sacred items have some pretty
important applications; but the author didn't want to focus upon those items in this
particular letter-- apparently having, at least in his estimation, much bigger fish to
fry.

● Heb 9:6-7 . .When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered
regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest
entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which
he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Don't miss that word "ignorance" because absolutely none of the old covenant's
rituals sufficed to atone for conscious sins. (We'll say more about that in the 10th
chapter)

The tribe of Levi was designated by God for priestly duties. But of those, only Aaron
or one of his male descendants are permitted to hold the office of high priest. And
that is only one at a time. Aaron's male descendants each in turn hold the job until
they can't do it anymore, and then another one takes his place at it. The high priest
is the only one permitted to perform the atonement ritual within the innermost holy
place; none of the regular priests are allowed in there.

The specific liturgy to which the author refers is Yom Kippur; the great annual day
of atonement. Many of its details are explained in the 16th chapter of Leviticus.

Now the thing we're going to discover is that the high priest's ritual within the
innermost holy place serves to sanitize the people but is inadequate to obtain
exoneration, i.e. the people's guilt remains on the books and once a year they are
officially reminded of that fact.

Now really: that fact should be self evident because the earthly sanctuary is merely
a characterization of Heaven's sanctuary; and the high priest's ritual within the
earthly sanctuary is a characterization too; and in point of fact: the Aaronic high
priest himself is a characterization.

● Heb 9:8 . .The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy
Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

That verse is the very first mention of God's spirit in the letter to Hebrews, and
makes it clear that His spirit is the custodian of divine revelation; rather than a
special religion or any one particular religious denomination.

For liturgical purposes, the tabernacle's holy place is where God comes down to
meet with the people. But they themselves are never allowed inside because of
their intrinsic unworthiness to associate in person with God. So they meet with God
by proxy via the high priest-- who doesn't dare even himself to enter without some
means to sanitize his presence because he too is a sinner even as his constituents.

The whole affair is play-acting of course. Not even the high priest is actually in the
presence of the real person of the Supreme Being back in that gloomy little room
because He Himself resides in a holy place in the tabernacle in Heaven which, up till
Jesus' crucifixion, had been impossible for Man to access.
_

 

[Studyman]

'Endeavouring to keep
the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
'There is
.. one body, and
.... one Spirit, even as ye are called in
...... one hope of your calling;
........ One Lord,
.......... one faith,
............ one baptism,
.............. One God and Father of all,
Who is above all,
and through all,
and in you all.
(Eph 4:3-6)

Hello @Studyman,

I understand why you are referring me to Ephesians 4, and the Unity of the Spirit expressed there. The teaching of the prison epistles of Paul, (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon) are the expression of the revelation of God given to Paul at the end of the Acts period, during his imprisonment as, 'The Lord's Prisoner', and concerns this period of time following that revelation, and those being called out during this period.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

I'm not sure where you get your "Prison Epistles" doctrine from. Paul, and the Body of Christ he instructed, were all "Servants of God's Righteousness" or "Servants of the Christ, the Rock of Israel". Paul and the Body of Christ, including Abraham and Zacharias and Anna, were all purchased with a price, a price paid "From the Foundation of the world". And while the details of this "mystery" were not given to the "Sons of men" in other ages, it was most certainly understood by the "Generation of the Righteous" whose "refuge is the Lord", as the words of Zacharias, Simeon and Anna in Luke 1&2 show us. These Faithful members of God's Church knew the Christ, even before HE was born. While the mainstream preachers of that time did not. This stuff is important, but pretty much ignored by this world's religions.

It is true this Truth of God, was not known to the Pharisees, or their stubborn and stiff-necked fathers throughout history, as Stephen points out. Therefore Paul didn't know it, being deceived into adopting the religions of the world he was born into. The Spirit of God revealed these truths to him later. Truths Zacharias, the Wise men and Simeon knew when Paul was still persecuting the Church of God.

They knew because they were part of the.. one body, and.... one Spirit, even as ye are called in...... one hope of your calling;........ One Lord,.......... one faith,............ one baptism,.............. One God and Father of all,

The Jesus of the bible said Abraham saw this as well and was glad.

Gen. 22: 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

So I understand how popular the religious philosophies and religious traditions of this world's many differing religious sects and businesses are. And I have experienced firsthand the influence they exert on the occupants of this world, as the Jesus of the Bible Himself warns about.

So I post to warn those who call Jesus their Lord, to "Take Heed", especially of the "many" who come in His Name, that they are not deceived by them to believe things about God and His Salvation that are not true. And instead of adopting one of the many religions of this world God placed us in to direct our feet and promote doctrines, we place our trust in the Holy Scriptures, "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness".

Jesus and Paul were telling the folks of their time the same exact thing. And the mainstream preachers of their time didn't like it. They don't like it much today either.

 

[Complete]

Subject Heading, 'The Jews Epistle'

Hello @Studyman,

Responding to your post would completely derail this thread. The subject of the prison epistles, and their message will require another thread.

The prison epistles are those written by Paul, from his imprisonment in Rome. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus & Philemon.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 9:9-10 . .This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and
sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people
who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and ritual
washing-- external regulations that are in effect only until their limitations can be
corrected.

The original sacrificial system was effective-- to a point --for addressing the
peoples' sins, and for sanitizing their bodies, but totally ineffective for addressing
the people themselves, viz: their persons, the core of their being.

When Adam tasted the forbidden fruit, his perception of decency underwent a
radical change. Whereas before he was comfortable seen undressed; afterwards he
was uncomfortable seen naked even by his wife.

The thing is: Adam's moral compass went awry, i.e. his conscience became
humanistic.

"And The Lord God said: The man has now become like one of us, knowing good
and evil." Gen 3:22)

In other words: Adam began looking to his own intuition for moral direction instead
of looking to his maker, viz: Adam became a tin God.

Point being: none of the Levitical system's rituals address the corruption inherent
within the human conscience that came about by means of the forbidden fruit
incident.

● Heb 9:11-12a . .When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are
already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not
man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of
the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his
own blood,

There are some who feel that the new covenant hasn't been activated yet; that it
won't be activated till sometime in the future. But the writer said Christ came as a
high priest of the good things that are "already here".

The holy place in the earthly tabernacle became polluted by the presence of a
human being-- no doubt at least in part because of Man's inherently corrupt
conscience --so Aaron had to sanitized the earthly tabernacle's holy place with
blood during the course of his duties in the ritual of Yom Kippur.

The first covenant's tabernacle is a characterization of the temple in Heaven;
therefore the Most Holy Place itself had to be purified with blood so Jesus could
enter it. But the blood of a brute beast isn't near valuable enough for that purpose
because the temple in Heaven is far more sacred than the first covenant's;
requiring that the holy place above be purified with better blood than that of an
animal. Well the best blood is that of a human being because Man was created in
the image of God; whereas animals weren't.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 9:12b . . having obtained eternal redemption.

The Greek word translated redemption basically pertains to the action of paying a
ransom to liberate someone from captivity, consequence, or obligation.

Jesus' blood is of such a high value that God's son needed to offer himself as a
ransom for his constituents only just the one time. So for the people of God who
are under the new covenant, there is no annual day of atonement because Jesus'
blood was sufficient to clear the way for the them to associate with God
permanently instead of just once a year in the person of their high priest.

● Heb 9:13-14 . .The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on
those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to
death, so that we may serve the living God!

The Greek word translated "consciences" basically pertains to mental activity
especially as it pertains to moral perception. So we're not talking about outwardly
sinful behavior here. (cf. Rom 2:16 and Heb 4:12)

● Heb 9:15 . . For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those
who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-- now that he has died
as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Absolution for Old Testament sins is mentioned in Rom 3:25 and also at Isa 53:6.
For example: David orchestrated what amounted to a premeditated murder in his
affair with Uriah's wife Bathsheba. Normally that's an unpardonable sin, yet God put
it away even though the first covenant doesn't allow forgiveness for deliberate
violations. (Num 12:28-31)

The eternal inheritance, often mentioned in the Hebrews letter, refers to the pact
God made with Abraham, and to the promises God made to David, regarding
possession and occupancy of the land of Palestine, e.g. Gen 15:7-17, Gen 17:7-8,
1Chron 16:15-18, and 2Sam 7:10 which says:

"I will establish a home for my people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they
shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Evil men shall not oppress them any
more as in the past, ever since I appointed chieftains over my people Israel. I will
give them safety from all your enemies."

The realization of that promise would be impossible unless a means were provided
to prevent the first covenant's stipulated consequences from forcing the Jews'
eviction from their land.

The first covenant allows God to forgive, but not to forget, viz: forgiveness per the
first covenant amounts to little more than a reprieve: defined as a temporary
suspension of the execution of a sentence; especially of death.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 9:16-18 . . In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the on
who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes
effect while the one who made it is living. This is why even the first covenant was
not put into effect without blood.

The interesting thing about the first covenant is that it doesn't appear written like a
will. It's more like a contract; and this is probably the first time in the whole Bible
where Moses' Covenant is revealed to be a will rather than a contract. And oddly,
the will was activated not with the death of someone intelligent, but of beasts. (Ex
24:5-8)

But how can Moses' covenant be the will and testament of illiterate animals who
don't have a clue? Well, that is even more evidence that Moses' Covenant was
never intended to be the final option.

● Heb 9:19-22 . .When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all
the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and
branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, "This is the
blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." In the same way,
he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its
ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,
and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

● Heb 9:23 . . It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be
purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better
sacrifices than these.

It would be insulting indeed to put the heavenly tabernacle on the same level as
the earthly one because God Himself in person inhabits the one in heaven. If the
true tabernacle is immeasurably holier than its copy on the ground, then it has to
require something of much higher value than a critter's blood to dedicate it and
keep it sanitized.

● Heb 9:24-26 . . For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a
copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's
presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the
high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.
Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.
But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by
the sacrifice of himself.

If Jesus was going to offer himself for sin only that one time, rather than year by
year, then his death had to cover everything the first time from first to last.

In contrast, Yom Kippur never gets out ahead of the people's sins; it's always
catching up instead of getting out ahead; whereas Christ's crucifixion not only
caught up with his people's sins (e.g. David) but also anticipated the sins that the
Jews are presently committing and have yet to commit.

● Heb 9:27 . . Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment

Now, the proper judgment for Adam's sin is just simply for everybody to get old
and die. But what about a proper judgment for his posterity's sins? Those have to
be brought up for judgment too and that is where Isa 53:4-8 becomes so
important.

● Heb 9:28 . . so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people;
and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those
who are waiting for him.

Jews back in Jesus' day were anticipating Messiah to restore Israel's strength, and
to begin liberating them from foreign domination. Many of them were not expecting
him to be put to death by a foreign power so it's not difficult to understand why a
large percentage of the Jews back then didn't accept Jesus' claims.

These days a number of Jews are better informed, and they rest assured that Jesus
will return, set up the kingdom, and finally get around to the salvation that their
ancestors expected of him the first time.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 10:1 . .The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-- not the
realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated
endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

A shadow doesn't offer much detail-- just a silhouette, i.e. a dark shape of
something without telling too much about its structure, it's texture, its color, or its
dimensions. Shadows aren't reflections, rather, they're just a trace of things much
more complex in their true form.

The entire Aaronic priesthood, and its Qorbanot system, is a figure of speech-- a
sort of metaphor, and as such can never effectively remove the real guilt of real
sin, nor give worshippers a person-to-person audience with the real God.

And a big problem with the Law is that it gives Jews absolutely nothing good to look
forward to; just an uneasy dread of retribution because the Aaronic system lacks a
means of making Jews permanently, and irrevocably, reconciled to God, i.e. Aaron's
priesthood cannot assure his people's safety.

● Heb 10:2 . . If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the
worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt
guilty for their sins.

It's very difficult to stifle the guilt associated with one's sins; so it's likely that the
felt guilt in that passage pertains to the dread of retribution, i.e. the anxiety that
fugitives experience when they're running from the law and knowing full well that
they deserve to be apprehended and punished.

● Heb 10:3-4 . . But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is
impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

In other words: Yom Kippur isn't a sort of New Year's celebration wherein folks are
encouraged to forget the past and look forward to the future. No, the ritual's
purpose is to remind the people that their past will one day confront them-- which
helps to explain why no one is allowed to be cheerful on that day. (Lev 23:27-29)

In contrast; the terms of the new covenant allows sinners to put it all behind them.

"For I will forgive their iniquities, and remember their sins no more." (Jer 31:34b)

● Heb 10:5-6 . .Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and
offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings
and sin offerings you were not satisfied.

The New Testament's version of Psalm 40 doesn't exactly match its counterpart in
modern Tanakhs-- but follows a minor variation of the Septuagint.

Unfortunately, the Hebrew texts that were used to create the Septuagint no longer
exist. The oldest Hebrew bible in existence today is relatively recent--
approximately the ninth century AD, and itself is not a copy of the originals, but of
a formal rabbinical revision of the Hebrew bible that was made sometime in the
second century AD. So it's hard to know for certain what Psalm 40:7-8 is really
supposed to say. A footnote in the 1985 JPS Tanakh says that the exact meaning of
the Hebrew is uncertain.

● Heb 10:7 . .Then I said, 'Here I am-- it is written about me in the scroll-- I have
come to do your will, O God.

Precisely which scroll referenced is unclear. Most synagogues have at least a Torah
scroll; but one in Jesus' home town of Nazareth had an Isaiah scroll too. A passage
Jesus chose to read was audibly fulfilled that very day; viz: he actually quoted his
own future testimony recorded approximately 700 years before he arrived. (Luke
4:16-21)

Anyway; 10:7 is probably looking at words that were predicted to be spoken, and
were in fact eventually spoken in real time as a current event.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 10:8 . . First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin
offerings you did not desire, nor were you satisfied with them" (although the law
required them to be made).

Aaron's system wasn't a Jewish invention. It was God-given; and God demanded it
to be practiced. But even though the sacrifices were mandated by God, He was
never really content with them at all; nor did He even want them in the first place.
(Jer 7:21-26)

● Heb 10:9-10 . .Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets
aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy
through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

"the first" refers to Moses' covenant. That covenant didn't really go away when God
established the second one. It's still very much in force for those who choose to
remain under its jurisdiction. But God isn't happy with that covenant because it's
much too easy for the Jews to dishonor their commitments; and it forces God to
punish them, which is something He doesn't really enjoy doing. (Ex 18:30-32)

"once for all" means that redeemed Jews of every era have been permanently
reconciled to God by a singular, one-time sacrifice; in contrast to the many, many
offerings required by Moses' Law on Yom Kippur that can neither permanently
reconcile the Jews to God, nor even atone for all categories of sin.

● Heb 10:11-14 . . Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious
duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away
sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his
footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are
being made holy.

Please don't miss that phrase: "by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those
who are being made holy." Jesus' death completely atoned for every sin that
beneficiaries of the new covenant are ever going to commit for the rest of their
lives. If that were not true, then it would be necessary for him to die over and over
again for each new sin-- just like the Levitical priests offering the same sacrifices
year after year. But that is not going to happen because Jesus only offered himself
just that once; and it was good enough.

● Heb 10:15-18 . .The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This
is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my
laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins
and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven,
there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

In criminal justice systems, there's an item of record called an indictment; roughly
defined as a formal written statement framed by a prosecuting authority and found
by a jury (such as a grand jury) charging a person with an offense. The indictment
process is a common feature under the terms and conditions of the first covenant
because it doesn't allow God to forget. (Ex 34:6-7 & Nahum 1:3)

In other words; Yom Kippur, though a day of cleansing, is also a day for the Jews to
remember that the full satisfaction of justice for their sins is pending, hanging over
their heads like a guillotine.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 10:19a . .Therefore, brothers,

This letter is addressed to Hebrews; so "brothers" indicates the author was
addressing Jews-- and identifying himself as a Jew --in that verse.

● Heb 10:19b-20 . . since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the
blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is,
his body,

It's a "living" way because it's perpetual; i.e. having no defined limits.

● Heb 10:21-22a . . and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us
draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience

The Greek word translated "sincere" basically means truthful, i.e. the you that you
really are plus the way that you really are both in your thoughts and in your
feelings.

A guilty conscience is a deceitful conscience; and its deceit may, or may not, be
readily apparent to its host.

"The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how
bad it is? But I know! I, The Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.
(Jer 17:9-10)

● Heb 10:22b . . and having our bodies washed with pure water.

That likely pertains to a peculiar kind of hygiene, e.g. John 15:3 which says:

"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

The sprinkling of the conscience, and the washing of the body, are one-time
incidents never to be repeated; in contrast to the first covenant's requirement to
bathe and sprinkle the people over and over again ad infinitum.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 10:23a . . Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,

The Jews have been promised a theocratic kingdom headed by a man who will
liberate them from foreign domination and from fear of war, plus allow them to own
private property, and ensure them plenty of peace, prosperity, justice, health, and
long life: none of which the people of God have thus far managed to secure
permanently but expect to under Messiah's administration.

● Heb 10:23b . . . for He who promised is faithful.

In other words: they mustn't lose confidence that the kingdom is coming because
there remains a rest for the people of God that they would've obtained already had
Moses' people entered the land of milk and honey when God wanted them to.

● Heb 10:24 . . And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love
and good deeds.

Man is a species of life that is quite naturally, and comfortably, inclined to provoke
and annoy each other and bring out the worst in their fellow men. It is Christ's
expectations that his own make an effort to do just the opposite; viz: bring out the
best in each other.

Good deeds speaks of one's actions, i.e. their conduct. For example: courtesy,
scruples, honesty, charity, kindness, tolerance, non violence, tact, deference,
generosity, graciousness, law abiding, an honest day's work for an honest day's
pay, helpful, modesty, sincere promises, decency, loyalty, manners, benevolent,
compliant with superiors, self controlled, speech that's treads lightly on peoples
nerves, patient, and calm, etc.

● Heb 10:25 . . Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.

I'm pretty sure that pertains to synagogues, i.e. houses of worship where pious
Jews meet once a week, usually on Saturdays; which for them is the routine
Sabbath. The percentage of Jews attending synagogue on a regular basis is quite a
bit less than those who don't.

Synagogues also serve as yeshivas-- the equivalent of catechism --where Jews
study a variety of sacred literature; most especially the Tanach, wherein are located
the God-given prophecies relative to the approaching theocratic kingdom. It would
be a very good use of their study time for poorly trained Jews to review those
prophecies and also to become associated with other Jews who believe in them.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
Throughout the first ten chapters of the letter to Hebrews, the Jewish author
steadily builds a case for the unquestionable superiority of the new covenant,
coupled with Jesus' Melchizedek-style priesthood and his personal sacrifice. This
next reference to Moses' Law is the coup de grâce that drives in the final coffin nail
on Jews who are relying upon the first covenant to earn themselves a share in
Abraham's promises.

● Heb 10:26-27 . . If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the
knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of
judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

It should go without saying that in a letter written to the author's fellow Jews, a
"knowledge of the truth" would imply instruction in Moses' Law, which was
considered truth for a good many years before the New Testament came along.

It's very easy, for Gentiles untrained in Old Testament Jewish law, to err by
assuming the author meant there is no forgiveness of any kind for premeditated
sins. But that's a limitation of the old covenant which doesn't apply to the new.
(Acts 13:38-40)

There are many crimes for which Moses Law permits neither ransom nor pardon;
but the author didn't name those because not everybody commits them. However,
everybody does eventually commit the kind of sin that he did name: premeditated
sins. The Levitical system has absolutely no atonements in its catalogue for sins in
that category.

● Num 15:30-31 . . But the person, be he citizen or stranger, who acts defiantly
reviles the Lord; that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he
has spurned the word of the Lord and violated His commandment, that person shall
be cut off-- he bears his guilt.

Also:

● Deut 27:26 . . Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by
carrying them out.

David committed premeditated adultery and murder, knowing full well that the law
of Moses stipulates the death penalty for both offenses (Ex 21:12-14, Lev 20:10).
If, as some insist, there is no forgiveness of any kind for deliberate sin, then David
would've been permanently cut off from God. But we know he wasn't because his
actions with Bathsheba and her husband were passed over, so to speak. (2Sam
12:13)

If there were no absolution whatsoever for intentional sins-- either under the old or
the new covenant --then just what advantage (if any) would Christianity have over
Judaism, and what advantage would the new covenant have over the old one if
neither Christianity nor Judaism offered absolution for intentional sins? There would
be no advantage whatsoever; and the Gospel wouldn't be good news, but rather,
bad news-- in point of fact, Christianity would be so redundant as to not even be
worth the bother.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

.
● Heb 10:28-29 . . Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on
the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a
man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who
has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and
who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

The Greek word translated "sanctify" simply means to set something aside
specifically for God's use; viz: to consecrate. The life's blood of a beast sanctified
Aaron for priesthood duty under the terms and conditions of the first covenant (Lev
8:22-24). In contrast, Jesus was consecrated with his own life's blood.

Some feel that a Christian who sins willfully is trampling God's son under foot and
treating his blood as an unholy thing. No. That verse does not target Christians. It
targets Jews who hear the gospel and snort at it. Num 12:28-31 isn't a Christian
law; it's a Jewish law.

Hebrews 10:29 depicts a sin against love; a sin against the spirit of charity, against
kindness and good will-- a sin, not just against the milk of human kindness, but
against the milk of Divine kindness.

God subjected His own next of kin-- His one and only begotten son --to brutality,
beatings, whipping, ostracizing, indignity, humiliation, insults, and painful, lingering
death in order to ransom Jesus' countrymen from the wrath of God. Jews who blow
off that degree of kindness and generosity not only deserve to go to Hell, but Hell is
actually too good for them.

Today, God is offering Abraham's posterity a totally free, no strings attached,
redemption package for no other reason than that He is kind hearted and unselfish.
He has proven good intentions by the humiliation of His heir apparent for an
historically unthankful, stiff-necked people.

The average Jew today isn't declining Jesus because they aren't convinced. No,
they're declining him because they're obstinate. Thus, no matter how much
evidence you might produce, nor how reasonable your argument, nor how often
you threaten them, nor how severely you might punish them-- even to the extreme
of another terrible Holocaust --they won't give in.

It is an unthinkable slap in the face to demean, and to disregard, such a heroic act
of charity and good will. And if Jews were punished for violating Moses' laws, and
for ignoring the voices of their prophets; shouldn't something much worse be done
to them for snorting at the suffering of Almighty God's very heir apparent?

● Heb 10:30a . . For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"

Of all the peoples on this planet, Jews should know better than anyone that
Abraham's God is no one to trifle with.

● Heb 10:30b . . and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

There is a day coming when every Jew, from every corner of the globe, will be
rounded up and taken to one place for a special evaluation. The outcome of that
evaluation will determine which of the living Diaspora will be allowed to share in
Abraham's blessings. (Ezk 20:33-44)

● Heb 10:31 . . It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
_

 

[Olde Tymer]

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● Heb 10:32-36 . . Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,
when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes
you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side
by side with those who were so treated.

. . .You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of
your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting
possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You
need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive
what he has promised.

As it has been for many centuries; it is still very, very difficult for modern Jews to
be faithful, especially in Islamic countries. But think about it-- is there any earthly
persecution and/or hardship that can honestly compare to the permanent loss of a
share in Abraham's blessings?

● Heb 10:38-39 . . Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my
soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto
perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

"the just shall live by faith" is an excerpt from Habakkuk 2:4 whereby the Jews
were encouraged to retain their confidence in God even when their situation
appears hopeless for now. This world is passing; and all its brutish governments are
passing with it.

● Habakkuk 3:16-19 . .When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the
voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might
rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them
with his troops.

. . . Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the
labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut
off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in The
Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will
make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
_