Hebrews 1
Relationship of Jesus Christ to us and our worldverses 1-4
God – WHO at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in
time past to the fathers by the prophets
has in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son
WHOM HE has appointed heir of all things
by WHOM also HE made the worlds
WHO being the brightness of HIS glory – and express image of HIS person
and upholding all things by the word of HIS power
when HE had by HIMSELF purged our sins
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high
Being made so much better than the angels
as HE has by inheritance obtained a
more excellent name than they
Relationship of Jesus Christ to Father and angelsverses 5-9
FOR to which of the angels said HE at any time
You are MY Son – this day have I begotten you?
AND again – I will be to HIM a Father
and HE shall be to ME a Son?
AND again – when HE brings in the first-begotten into the world
HE says – And let all the angels of God worship HIM
AND of the angels HE says
WHO makes HIS angels spirits
and HIS ministers a flame of fire
BUT to the Son HE says
YOUR throne – O God – is for ever and ever
a scepter of righteousness
is the scepter of YOUR kingdom
YOU have loved righteousness – and hated iniquity
THEREFORE God – even YOUR God
has anointed YOU with the oil of gladness
above YOUR fellows
Jesus Christ as Creator of the Worldverses 10-14
And YOU – Lord – in the beginning has
laid the foundation of the earth
and the heavens are the works of YOUR hands
They shall perish – BUT YOU remain
and they all shall wax old as does a garment
And as a vesture shalt YOU fold them up
and they shall be changed
BUT YOU are the same
and YOUR years shall not fail
BUT to which of the angels said HE at any time
Sit on MY right hand
until I make your enemies thy footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits
sent forth to minister for them who shall be
heirs of salvation?
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 Who being the brightness of HIS glory, and the express IMAGE of HIS person, and upholding all things by the word of HIS power, when HE had by HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (5481 “the express image” [character] means representation, an exact copy or reproduction, exact likeness, full expression, or facsimile)
DEVOTION: Our understanding of the Godhead is very limited. We can’t think God’s thought. We will never fully understand God. If we could fully understand God HE would not be God.
Jesus Christ came to this earth to show us a little of God’s glory through HIS teachings and works. HE came in the form of a human to sacrifice HIS life for us. HE still had the character of Godhead. HE still spoke for the Godhead. HE is the one who sustains our world even to this day. HE keeps the seasons. HE keeps the earth rotating around the sun. HE gives us each breath we take.
Now we understand a little of what HE is doing right now. HE also came to die on the cross to cleanse us of our sins. Once HE fulfilled HIS responsibility as our Savior HE sat down on the right hand of God.
Do we understand this? NO!! Are we to believe it? YES!! HE is in heaven waiting for just the right time to return to this earth to claim HIS earthly throne. We don’t know the time but we are to be watchful for HIS coming. We are to be active until HE comes. There is no sitting around waiting.
Our sins are forgiven and we need to share this truth with those around us. We are not perfect but we have repented and accepted Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. HE came at an appointed time. HE came at just the right time.
CHALLENGE: Jesus Christ radiates the glory of God in our world. We need to manifest this glory to others through our witness for Jesus.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 And again, when HE brings in the first begotten into the world, HE said, And let all the angels of God worship HIM. (4416 “firstbegotten” [prototokos] means first born, or existing before all creation)
DEVOTION: This message of the author of the book of Hebrews is presenting a truth that all need to hear. It is a message of the Holy Spirit to those who are believers. They are to realize their responsibility to the Jesus Christ.
God the Father has identified Jesus Christ as HIS Son. HE was sent to the world as a baby to die on the cross for our sins. This Father/Son relationship is expressed but not explained. Two equal uncreated beings that have been around forever. They were not created but existed in eternity past and will exist in eternity future.
We have a beginning and an end. We were born on a certain date and will die on a certain date. We are not in control of either. God is in control of both. That explains in part HIS relationship to us as human beings.
Next HE explains HIS relationship with the created beings called angels. They exist. They have a responsibility. One of the responsibilities is explained at the end of this chapter but here we find that the angels are commanded by God the Father to worship God the Son.
Angels ministered to Jesus after the temptation of Satan. Angels could have come if Jesus asked for them in the Garden. They were at HIS beck and call. They are servants with more power at present than we could even wish to have to fight our battles with the world, flesh and devil.
However, Christ is much better than the angels. We are heirs of salvation that they are to minister to throughout our life as believers. They have an assignment to worship Jesus Christ and through HIM they have to minister to us.
There are angels all around us. Some of them are good angels and some of them are bad angels. We have nothing to fear from either group.
CHALLENGE: Jesus Christ is giving us strength to fight the battles we need to win in our daily service to HIM. HE can send an angel to open the cell for one of HIS servants at any time.
: 10 And You, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands. (2311 “foundation” [themelioo] means to make stable, establish, to lay a base for, or settle)
DEVOTION: Three verses in this short chapter establish that Jesus Christ was the Creator of the World. We find in the Old Testament the first verse of the Bible stating that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The Hebrew word for “God” is Elohim. It is a plural form of the word with a singular verb. It is stating that God plural created the world with a singular verb ending.
What does that mean? It means that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit created the world. They are one God in three persons. They each have their individual responsibility. They were all involved in creation.
Here we have the emphasis on God the Son being the one who was there in the beginning. HE was not an add-on to God. HE was not created by God the Father. HE was equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Our world was created by the “works of HIS hands.”
In verse three of this chapter HE is the one who upholds all things by the word of HIS power. Jesus Christ is the one who is holding all things together. HE is the one who is in control of our world. HE is going to reign on this earth at the appointed time of the Father.
The Bible continually states that this world was created by God. Each person of the Godhead was involved in the creation. All three persons are equal and are still working today in our world.
It is stated that HE is presently sitting down at the right hand of the Father. HE is coming to reign. We need to be ready. We need to be giving HIM honor now!
CHALLENGE: There has to be a decision made between the earth evolving or being created by God. The Bible doesn’t give any middle ground.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 12 And as a vesture shalt you fold them up, and they shall be changed: but you are the same, and your years shall not fail. (1587 “fail” [ekleipo] means 1 fail. 1a to leave out, omit, pass by. 1b to leave, quit. 2 to fail. 2a to leave off, cease, stop. 2b of the failing or eclipse of the light of the sun and the moon. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Nothing like the smell of a new car (or so they say)! You buy something new, and you are so happy with it for a period of time. Then it breaks down. You notice noises in the car you haven’t heard before. It is a reminder that we are all moving toward our final demise. Even our bodies break down as we get older.
Not so with the LORD. He is the creator of the universe, and has been present since before the universe was created. One of the things we have difficulty understanding and explaining is how God could exist before time did, since He also was the inventor of time. But the truth is that God exists outside of our time-space dimension, and it is for this reason that we can say that God exists for all eternity.
So the author of Hebrews points out that even this world that we live on is destined for destruction. There will come a day when things as we see them will exist no more. Peter makes the same point in 2 Peter 2. Yet, even though this is so, God will still exist. His plan will last forever. That is what makes it possible for Jesus to promise His children eternal life. This promise also means that God will never change (He is immutable), because He will never need to change. Again, the author of Hebrews is making the observation that Jesus, as God, is also eternal and immutable.
This is a great comfort and hope for you, His child. His promises in Scripture will all be fulfilled. He is the one Father to whom His children can come who will never fail them. His love for us is constant. There will also come a day when there will be no more death, decay, or sin. God does not desire that we have a better earth here, but that we have an eternity of blessedness in His presence.
CHALLENGE: Have you been reluctant to bring something to God because you were afraid that it had already gone too far for Him to intervene? If so, realize that He is the eternally sovereign King who can handle all that this earth throws at us. (MW)
: 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (1248 “minister” [diakonia] means attendance, aid, engaged in holy service, beneficent, service, or relief)
DEVOTION: In this letter to a Hebrew congregation the author is concerning about angel worship. It seems that some were teaching that angels were worth worshiping. This is a false teaching. Throughout this chapter questions are asked concerning what God had said to angels as compared to what HE has said concerning HIS Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The comparison is made with Christ being called HIS Son. He is the one who the Father speaks through in the latter days. HE is the brightness of the Father’s glory. HE is the express image of the Father. HE is the creator of the world. HE has a more excellent name than ANY angel. HE is going to reign in a future kingdom. HE is going to sit down at the right hand of the Father.
One of the teachings of the Word of God is that God created angels first and then humans. Angels never become humans, although they might look like humans at times in Scripture. Human never become angels, although some will spend eternity in heaven with them. Many programs on television give us a different picture of the life of angels and the place where Satan is presently. We need to trust the Word of God for the truth about angels.
Angels are not equal with God but are only servants of God. Those who didn’t follow Satan in his rebellion against God are still serving God. One of the services of these angels is to pay attention to what is happening in each Christian’s life.
We are the heirs of salvation. We are the only group that can be heirs of salvation. We need help daily because the battle is daily. We need to realize that God NEVER leaves us or forsakes us during our lifetime here on this earth. That should be an encouragement to us. We do have a guardian angel. The angels report to God on a regular basis.
CHALLENGE: Remember to study what the Bible says about angels not what our society might believe regarding them.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God spoke in time past and divers mannersverse 1
Psalm 2:7verse 5
Psalm 104:4verse 7
Psalm 45:6, 7verse 8
Isaiah 61:1verse 9
Psalms 102:25verse 10
Isaiah 34:4; 51:6verse 11
Psalms 110:1verse 13
Daniel 3:28; 7:10; 10:11verse 14
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1, 6, 8, 9
Son appointed heirverses 2, 5
Majesty on highverse 3
Fatherverse 5
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Sonverses 2, 5, 8
Heirverse 2
Creatorverses 2, 3, 10
Brightness of God’s gloryverse 3
Express image of God’s personverse 3
Upholding all thingsverse 3
Word of HIS powerverse 3
Purged believers sinsverse 3
Sat down at right hand of Fatherverses 3, 13
Much better than angelsverse 4
More excellent name than angelsverse 4
Begotten of Fatherverse 5
Firstbegotten into the worldverse 6
Receives worship from angelsverse 6
Given throneverse 8
Called Godverse 8
Anointedverse 9
Sceptre of righteousnessverse 8
Sceptre of kingdomverse 8
Loved righteousnessverse 9
Hated iniquityverse 9
Anointed with oil of gladnessverse 9
Lordverse 10
Remains the sameverses 11, 12
Years shall not failverse 12
Sit at right handverse 13
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angelsverses 4-7, 13
Angels of God worship Christverse 6
Ministering spiritsverses 7, 14
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Worldverse 6
Enemiesverse 13
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sinsverse 3
Iniquityverse 9
Enemiesverse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Righteousnessverses 8, 9
Heirs of salvationverse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Fathersverse 1
Prophetsverse 1
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Last daysverse 2
Christ’s throne forever and eververse 8
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
Hath anointed thee (ἐχρισεν σε [echrisen se]). First aorist active indicative of χριω [chriō], to anoint, from which verb the verbal Χριστος [Christos] (Anointed One) comes. See Christ’s use of ἐχρισεν [echrisen] in Luke 4:18 from Isa. 66:1. With the oil of gladness (ἐλαιον ἀγαλλιασεως [elaion agalliaseōs]). Accusative case with ἐχρισεν [echrisen] (second accusative besides σε [se]). Perhaps the festive anointing on occasions of joy (12:2). See Luke 1:44. Fellows (μετοχους [metochous]). Old word from μετεχω [metechō], partners, sharers, in N. T. only in Hebrews save Luke 5:7. Note παρα [para] with accusative here, beside, beyond, above (by comparison, extending beyond). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Heb 1:9). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
1:7–9. In a pair of contrasting quotations, the author juxtaposed the servanthood of the angels (v. 7) and the eternal dominion of the Son (vv. 8–9). It is possible that, in line with one strand of Jewish thought about angels (cf. 2 Esdras 8:21–22), the writer understood the statement of Psalm 104:4 (quoted in Heb. 1:7) as suggesting that angels often blended their mutable natures with winds or fire as they performed the tasks God gave them. But in contrast with this mutability, the Son’s throne is eternal and immutable (v. 8).
The quotation found in verses 8–9 is derived from Psalm 45:6–7 which describes the final triumph of God’s messianic King. The writer extended this citation further than the previous ones, no doubt because the statements of the psalmist served well to highlight truths on which the author of Hebrews desired to elaborate. The King the psalmist described had loved righteousness and hated wickedness. This points to the holiness and obedience of Christ while He was on earth, to which reference will be repeatedly made later (cf. Heb. 3:1–2; 5:7–8; 7:26; 9:14). And though this King thus deservedly enjoys a superlative joy, still He has companions in that joy. The reference to “companions” is likewise a significant theme for the writer. The same word metochoi (“companions or sharers”) is employed in 3:1, 14 of Christians (it is also used in 12:8). Since the King has attained His joy and dominion through a life of steadfast righteousness, it might be concluded that His companions will share His experience by that same means. This inference will later become quite clear (cf. 12:28). (Hodges, Z. C. (1985). Hebrews. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 782). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
He is God enthroned and anointed (vv. 8–9). In some false cults this quotation from Psalm 45:6–7 is translated, “Thy divine throne,” because cultists dislike this strong affirmation that Jesus Christ is God. But the translation must stand: “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.” Angels minister before the throne; they do not sit on the throne. One of the main teachings of Psalm 110 is that Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed (Messiah, Christ), is now enthroned in glory. Jesus Himself referred to this important psalm (Mark 12:35–37; 14:62), and Peter used it on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:34–36). Our Lord has not yet entered into His earthly kingdom, but He has been enthroned in glory (Eph. 1:20).
When Christ ascended and entered the heavenly glory, He was anointed for His heavenly ministry with “the oil of gladness” (Heb. 1:9). This probably refers to Psalm 16:11, which Peter referred to at Pentecost: “Thou shalt make Me full of joy with Thy countenance” (Acts 2:28). What a joyful scene that must have been! Psalm 45 is a wedding psalm, and our Lord today is the heavenly Bridegroom who experiences “the joy that was set before Him” (Heb. 12:2). Angels praise Him, but they cannot share that position or that joy. Our Lord’s throne is forever, which means He is eternal God. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 281–282). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
1:9 companions. The term is used only in Hebrews (3:1, 14; 6:4; 12:8) and in Lk 5:7, where it is rendered as “partners.”. In this occurrence, it might refer to angels or to other men who were similarly anointed for their offices: the OT prophets, priests, and kings. If the “OIL OF GLADNESS” here is the same as “oil of gladness” referred to in Is 61:3, the reference would clearly be to those who had mourned in Zion but who would one day be clothed with praise and called “oaks of righteousness”—references to men, not angels. No matter how noble such men were, Christ is superior. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Heb 1:9). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
9. Thou hast loved righteousness. Thou hast been obedient to the law of God, or holy and upright. Nothing can be more truly adapted to express the character of any one than this is to describe the Lord Jesus, who was “holy, harmless, undefiled,” who “did no sin, and in whose mouth no guile was found;” but it is with difficulty that this can be applied to Solomon. Assuredly, for a considerable part of his life, this declaration could not well be appropriate to him; and it seems to me that it is not to be regarded as descriptive of him at all. It is language prompted by the warm and pious imagination of the Psalmist describing the future Messiah—and, as applied to him, is true to the letter.
Therefore God, even thy God The word even inserted here by the translators, weakens the force of the expression. This might be translated, “O God, thy God hath anointed thee.” So it is rendered by Doddridge, Clarke, Stuart, and others. The Greek will bear this construction, as well the Hebrew in Ps. 45:7. In the margin in the Psalm it is rendered “O God.” This is the most natural construction, as it accords with what is just said before. “Thy throne, O God, is for ever. Thou art just and holy, therefore, O God, thy God hath anointed thee,” &c. It is not material, however, which construction is adopted.
Hath anointed thee. Anciently kings and priests were consecrated to their office by pouring oil on their heads; see Lev. 8:12; Num. 3:3; 1 Sam. 10:1; 2 Sam. 2:7; Ps. 2:2; Isa. 61:1; Acts 4:27; 10:38; Note, Matt. 1:1. The expression “to anoint,” therefore, comes to mean to consecrate to office, or to set apart to some public work. This is evidently the meaning in the Psalm, where the whole language refers to the appointment of the personage there referred to to the kingly office.
The oil of gladness. This probably means the perfumed oil that was poured on the head, attended with many expressions of joy and rejoicing. The inauguration of the Messiah as king would be an occasion of rejoicing and triumph. Thousands would exult at it—as in the coronation of a king; and thousands would be made glad by such a consecration to the office of Messiah.
Above thy fellows. Above thine associates; that is, above all who sustain the kingly office. He would be more exalted than all other kings. Doddridge supposes that it refers to angels, who might have been associated with the Messiah in the government of the world. But the more natural construction is to suppose that it refers to kings, and to mean that he was the most exalted of all. (Barnes, A. (1884–1885). Notes on the New Testament: Hebrews. (R. Frew, Ed.) (pp. 39–40). London: Blackie & Son.)
Ver. 9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, &c.] Christ loves righteous persons and righteous works, faithfulness and integrity, and a just administration of government, everything that is holy, just, and good; which has appeared in the whole course of his life on earth, in working out a righteousness for his people, and in encouraging righteousness in them, which he leads them in the way of; and his love of justice will still more appear at the last day, when he will judge the world in righteousness, and give the crown of righteousness to proper persons: and he hates iniquity; or unrighteousness, as the Alexandrian copy and another read; as being contrary to his nature, both as God and man, and to the righteous law of God; which has appeared by his inveighing against it, and dehorting from it; by his severity exercised towards delinquents; by his suffering for it, and abolishing of it; and by chastising his own people on account of it; and his abhorrence of it will still more appear at the day of judgment, when all workers of iniquity, professors and profane, will be bid to depart from him; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows: the anointer is the God of Christ; that is, God the father, who is the God of Christ, as man; and is so called, because he prepared and formed the human nature of Christ, and supported it under all its sufferings, and has glorified it; and as such Christ prayed unto him, believed in him, loved him, and obeyed him: the anointed is the son of God, the son spoken to, and is called God in the preceding verse; though he is not anointed as God, but as Mediator, to be prophet, and priest, and King: what he is anointed with is not material oil, but spiritual, the Holy Ghost, as it is explained in Acts 10:38 called the oil of gladness, in allusion to the use of oil at feasts and weddings, for the delight and refreshment of the guests; and because of the spiritual effects of joy and gladness, both on Christ, as man, and on his people. Now Christ was anointed as Mediator from all eternity; that is, he was invested with his office as such; and at his conception and birth he was filled with the Holy Ghost; who also descended on him at his baptism, after which he went about doing good, and healing diseases; but here it seems to refer to the time of his ascension, when he was declared to be Lord and Christ, the anointed one; and received gifts for men, the fulness of the spirit without measure, and with which he was anointed above his fellows; by whom are meant, not the angels, nor the kings and princes of the earth; but the saints, who are so called, because they are of the same nature, and are of the same family, and are partakers of the same spirit, and grace; and having received the unction from him, are also kings, priests, and prophets, and will be companions with him to all eternity. Now the reason of his being anointed, or exalted, and made Lord and Christ, is, because he loves righteousness; see Phil. 2:7, 8 or rather, because he is anointed with the Holy Spirit without measure, therefore he loves righteousness; for the words may be rendered, thou lovest righteousness—because God, thy God, hath anointed thee. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 378). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
In Jewish society the rights and responsibilities of being a firstborn son resulted in considerable prestige and status. The firstborn son, for example, received twice as much in inheritance as any other offspring. (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 116). New York: United Bible Societies.)
The five passages in the NT relating to Christ may be set forth chronologically thus: (a) Col. 1:15, where His eternal relationship with the Father is in view, and the clause means both that He was the “Firstborn” before all creation and that He Himself produced creation (the genitive case being objective, as v. 16 makes clear); (b) Col. 1:18 and Rev. 1:5, in reference to His resurrection; (c) Rom. 8:29, His position in relationship to the church; (d) Heb. 1:6, rv, His second advent (the rv “when He again bringeth in,” puts “again” in the right place, the contrast to His first advent, at His birth, being implied); cf. Ps. 89:27. The word is used in the plural, in Heb. 11:28, of the firstborn sons in the families of the Egyptians, and in 12:23, of the members of the Church. (Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 241). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.)
But its [Bethlehem] lowliness makes it more suitable as the birthplace of Him who, though he was rich, for our sakes became poor. And all about it seems to suit him too. It is “the house of bread,” fit dwelling for him who is “the bread of God.” Its old name was Ephratah, “the fruitful,” as if pointing to the fruitful one. At its gate is the well of David; and not far off are the pools of Solomon, which pour their water into Jerusalem, telling us of the living water, and the river whose streams make glad the city of our God. The gardens of Solomon are also hard by, speaking to us not only of “the garden of the Lord,” and the second Adam, and the tree of life, but giving us the earthly scenes (which are the patterns of the heavenly) which the “Song of songs” describes. (Song of Sol. 2:12, 13.) (Bonar, H. (1863). Family Sermons (p. 2). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
It teaches us God’s thoughts of peace; for incarnation means this at least, that God’s desire is to bless us, not to curse; to save, not to destroy. He seeks reconciliation with us; nay, he has brought about the reconciliation. He has not merely made proposals of peace, and sent them to us by the hand of an ambassador; but he has himself come to us bearing his own message, and presenting himself to us, in our nature, as his own ambassador. Incarnation is not, indeed, the whole, but it is much. It is the voice of love, the message of peace. God himself is both the speaker and the maker of peace.
The message that comes to us from Bethlehem is a very decided one. It is not a finished one; it was only finished at the cross; but, so far as it goes, it is quite explicit; quite unambiguous. It means love, peace, pardon, eternal life. The lesson taught us at Bethlehem is the lesson of grace; the grace of God, the grace of the Father and of the Son. We may learn much, indeed, as to the way of life, from Bethlehem. It must not, indeed, stand alone; you must associate it with Jerusalem; you must bring the cradle and the cross together. But still it teaches us the first part of the great lesson of peace. It says, though not so fully as Golgotha, God is love. The beginning is not the end, but still it is the beginning. The dawn is not the noon, but still it is the dawn. Bethlehem is not Jerusalem, but still it is Bethlehem. And the Prince of peace is there. The God of salvation is there. The manifested life is there. (Bonar, H. (1863). Family Sermons (pp. 7–8). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
Would you learn to be self-denied? Go to Bethlehem. See the Word made flesh. He “pleased not himself.” Where shall we find such self-denial as at the cradle and the cross? Where shall we read a lesson of self-sacrifice, such as we have in him who made himself of no reputation; who chose not Jerusalem, but Bethlehem, for his birthplace; not a palace nor a temple, but a stable for his first earthly home? Shall we not be followers of his lowly love? Shall we not deny self? Shall we not stoop for others as he has stooped for us? (Bonar, H. (1863). Family Sermons (pp. 9–10). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
Jesus shares the Passover meal with His disciples.
INSIGHT
At the beginning of human history, the first people disobeyed God. That fateful choice proved spiritually fatal-for Adam, Eve, and all their descendants.
Since the fall, we have all imitated our first parents. We have tried to usurp God’s right to control His creation. We have demanded the right to control our own destinies, our own moral judgments, our own decisions.
Even those who actually walked with Jesus fell prey to this proud way of thinking. During the Last Supper, which you might think would be one of the most spiritually intimate moments in the disciples’ experience, an argument broke out about who was the greatest among them. Jesus replied that the greatest among them must be a servant to all.
Beware when you find yourself striving for preeminence. Instead, your quest must be servanthood. (Quiet Walk)
WHY DID THE CROSS HAPPEN?
…brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep…Isaiah 53:7
Why is the Son of God there on the cross? The first thing the Scriptures say is that it is not merely the action of men. Oh, but, you say, it is men who are hammering in those nails. I agree, but that would be the remark of a very superficial observer. What made the men do it? Is there nothing behind them? You see, the whole trouble in the world today is that we are all looking at everything superficially. We choose some activity, then we set up a royal commission to look into it, and we have a little superficial reporting. It makes no difference, nothing is any different, because we are superficial in our diagnosis—we are not able to see the depths of things beneath the surface. It is the same here. Why do I say that it was not merely the action of men? Why am I saying that it was not merely an accident? My answer is, of course, that it was something that had been prophesied.
Take the passage in Isaiah 53, an exact prophecy of what happened on the cross. Again, read the 22nd Psalm. That is another perfect prophecy of the death of our Lord upon the cross. It is prophesied many times in the Old Testament. Indeed, you will see it if you go back to books like Leviticus and other books of the law that people say they find utterly boring and beyond their understanding. If you only know how to read them, you will find that they are all pointing to the cross.
Or go back to Exodus and the story of the exodus of the children of Israel from the captivity of Egypt. Why did they have to kill that lamb, the paschal lamb as we call it, at night and put its blood on the doorposts and the lintels? It is a prophecy of this. Everything in the Passover story points to this event.
A Thought to Ponder: Everything in the Passover story points to the cross.
(From The Cross, pp. 65-66, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Prosperity Versus Contentment
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)
In this day of Madison Avenue sales pressures and an ever-increasing array of technological gadgets and creature comforts, the Christian virtue of contentment is a rare commodity. There is even a widespread error among born-again Christians that material prosperity is a token of spirituality and divine approval on an affluent lifestyle.
Instead of a blessing, however, such affluence (if it comes) should be regarded as a testing, for Jesus said: “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48).
Paul was perhaps the most faithful and fruitful Christian who ever lived, yet he died penniless in a Roman dungeon. His own testimony concerning material possessions and standards of living was this: “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:11-12).
In the context of our key verse above, the apostle Paul has actually been warning young pastor Timothy against the influence of those who suppose, among other things, “that gain is godliness,” and who think that their material prosperity is proof of their spiritual prosperity. “From such” says Paul, “withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:5). Material gain in no way either produces or denotes godliness; rather, godliness itself is the gain, if accompanied by contentment in Christ (otherwise, of course, it is not true godliness)! Even the most impoverished believer can acquire riches in heaven, where it really counts. In the meantime: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
The diligence with which we keep watch over our own spiritual health stems from our awareness that we are prone to wander and that every individual, no matter how spiritually mature, is one moment away from straying off the path of godliness.
(p. 69, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.