Hebrews 7
Abraham meets Melchisedekverses 1-3
For this Melchisedek – King of Salem – priest of the most high God
who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings
and blessed him
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all
first being by interpretation – King of righteousness
and after that also King of Salem
which is – King of peace
Without father – without mother – without descent
having neither beginning of days – nor end of life
BUT made like unto the Son of God abides a priest continually
Melchisedek considered great than Abrahamverses 4-7
Now consider how great this man was
to whom even the patriarch Abraham
gave the tenth of the spoils
AND verily they that are of the sons of Levi
who receive the office of the priesthood
have a commandment to take tithes of the people
according to the law – that is – of their brethren
though they come out of the loins of Abraham
but he whose descent is not counted from them received
tithes of Abraham – and blessed him that had the promises
AND without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better
Levitical priesthood compared to Melchisedekverses 8-11
AND here men that die receive tithes
but there he receives them – of whom it is witnessed that he lives
AND as I may so say – Levi also – who receives tithes
paid tithes in Abraham
FOR he was yet in the loins of his father
when Melchisedek met him
IF therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood
(for under it the people received the law)
WHAT further need was there that another priest should rise
after the order of Melchisedek
and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Change in the Law to the priesthood of Christverses 12-19
FOR the priesthood being changed
there is made of necessity a change also of the law
FOR HE of WHOM these things are spoken pertains to another tribe
of which no man gave attendance at the altar
FOR it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah
of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood
And it is yet far more evident
for that after the similitude of Melchisedek there arise
ANOTHER PRIEST – WHO is made
not after the law of a carnal commandment
but after the power of an endless life
FOR HE testifies
YOU are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek
FOR there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before
for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof
FOR the law made nothing perfect
but the bringing in of a BETTER HOPE did
by the which we draw nigh unto God
Better testament in Christverse 20-28
AND inasmuch as not without an oath HE was made priest
(for those priests were made without an oath
but HIM that said unto HIM
The Lord swore and will not repent
YOU are a priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedek)
BY so much was Jesus made a surety of a BETTER TESTAMENT
and they truly were many priests
because they were not suffered to continue by reason of
death but this MAN – BECAUSE HE continued ever
has an unchangeable priesthood
WHEREFORE HE is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come to God by HIM
seeing HE ever lives to make intercession for them
For such an HIGH PRIEST became us
WHO is holy – harmless – undefiled – separate from sinners
and made higher than the heavens
WHO needs not daily – as those high priests – to offer up sacrifice
first for his own sins – then for the people’s
for this HE did once – when HE offered up HIMSELF
For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity
but the word of the oath – which was since the law
makes the Son – WHO is consecrated for evermore
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abiding a priest continually. (871 “made like” [aphomoioo] means to copy, to produce a facsimile, render similar, resemble, to assimilate closely, be like or to compare)
DEVOTION: Here we find a priest who meets Abraham on his way back from a victory that only the LORD could have given him. Abraham gives him a tithe of all that he brought back from the battle.
This is the only meeting we have with this “man” in the Old Testament. He is again brought up in the New Testament by the author of the book of Hebrews.
It seems that the Holy Spirit gave him more information to work with regarding this “man” who met Abraham after the battle. HE was an individual who had no recorded birth or death. HE had no beginning of days or end of life recorded. HE was compared with Jesus Christ who was the ONLY Son of God.
The duration of HIS ministry was continual. It never ended. This is either an example of Jesus Christ or this was a THEOPHANY in the Old Testament of Jesus Christ coming to Abraham for a tithe.
Remember that a “theophany” is the visible appearing of deity in the Old Testament. It is thought that Jesus Christ was the one walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
If it is not a theophany then we find that this priest was helping the children understand their responsibility toward God. They were to give a tenth of all their income to support the ministry of the priests in the Promised Land. If they neglected the giving of the tithe the nation suffered in their relationship to God and to the people of the land.
Our responsibility today is to give a tenth to the local church we are a member of to support her ministry to the world. If a believer is not giving at least a tenth to the LORD he is robbing God and himself. God has promised to bless those who give willingly and cheerfully.
We would like individuals to give to this ministry through the local church or give us an offering over and above their tithe as a thank offering to the LORD that HE might continue to bless this ministry. It continues with the gifts of God’s people who appreciate what the LORD is doing through this ministry.
Giving of our money is hard. It is expected by the LORD that we give cheerfully to support HIS ministry on this earth. Each pay period a decision is made regarding our giving to the LORD. Blessing is promised to those who are faithful in this area of the Christian life.
CHALLENGE: Your giving is between you and the LORD. HE will bless those who are faithful.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law) what further need was there, that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron. (5050 “perfection” [teleiosis] means completion, fulfillment, the act of making something complete and without defect or blemish, or maturity)
DEVOTION: The author of Hebrews is asking an important question. If the Levitical priesthood was enough why would there be a need for another type of priesthood? The answer to the question is answered in this chapter.
The children of Levi had to offer a sacrifice for their own sin before they could offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people. The High Priest was also obligated to offer a sacrifice for his own sins before he could enter the Holy of Holies to offer a sacrifice for the people on the Day of Atonement.
The LORD had Abraham meet Melchisdec on purpose after winning the battle against those who took Lot and others. It was a type of priesthood that would come into play in the future through the ministry of Jesus Christ.
The key element here is the fact that God expected a tithe before the establishment of the Law under Moses. The tithe is not something new in the Law of Moses but had been expected throughout the existence of the human race in their relationship with God.
So many people fight giving money to God. They want to keep their money for themselves. This is also true of Christians. They sometimes think a pastor is just preaching on money to get a bigger paycheck.
This is not true of a Biblical pastor. He is preaching so that the people in the pew are not robbing God. He doesn’t want them to rob themselves of a blessing. He wants all believers in his church to be blessed of God. He has a desire for all believers to give to God as their thank offering to HIM for all the blessing they receive not only here but in eternity.
One problem that happens today is that some preachers will not bring up finances for this negative reason. This hurts the church and its people when it comes to reaching out to their world with the Gospel. No money means no ministry extension to the community.
Many churches are just hanging on by a thread because the people think that their giving doesn’t affect their blessing.
CHALLENGE: Those that have no desire to “thank” God for all HE has done for them might not have made a genuine commitment to the LORD. They don’t really trust the LORD to provide for all their needs.
: 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (5048 “perfect” [teleioo] means to complete, accomplish, fulfill, consecrate, finish, or to carry through completely)
DEVOTION: There is a transition made between the dispensation of the law and the dispensation of grace.
Under the dispensation of law, the priests were all from the tribe of Levi. The high priest was chosen from among the descendants of Aaron. They had to first offer sacrifices for their own sins before they could offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. The old covenant didn’t work because it was weak and unprofitable. The law made nothing perfect.
Therefore we needed a better hope. This better hope came through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Once HE has died on the cross for our sins we had a better high priest who made intercession for us before the Father in heaven.
Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi and therefore could not be a priest after the order of Aaron. So God established HIM under the order of Melchisedek. So HIS priesthood was unending. It was not only unending but it was unchangeable. This is the final priest that was going to be approved of God.
We are under the dispensation of grace or under the better testament. The law of Moses was to show us that we are sinners. It never completed anything. There was a void that needed to be filled. There was no complete sacrifice that could take away sins. The sacrifices could only cover sin until the complete sacrifice could be offered.
That sacrifice was the blood of Christ on the cross. HE was without sin. HE didn’t have to offer a sacrifice for HIS own personal sin because HE had none. HE was sinless. Only Christ could complete salvation.
The Old Testament saints looked forward through their sacrifices to Christ. We look back to Christ’s death on the cross for us. We are only complete in HIM. We have a better hope than those who lived under the law. We have the ability to get close to God through Christ. Are we getting as close as we should to HIM? Can that change?
CHALLENGE: Find a place where you can get alone and close to God on a regular basis. Thank Jesus during these times for cleansing you from all your sins.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. (1793 “make intercession” [entugchano] means 1 to light upon a person or a thing, fall in with, hit upon, a person or a thing. 2 to go to or meet a person, esp. for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication. 3 to pray, entreat. 4 make intercession for any one. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: How we love it when someone puts in a good word for us! It might be applying to a new job or it might be courting someone in order to get married. In each situation, we want to give a good report about someone so that they will experience the best.
God also wants us to converse with Him through prayer, and He has told us to bring our requests to Him (Philippians 4:6-7). We can also pray not only for our own needs, but also for the needs of others. God promises to answer our prayers when we come humbly before Him.
But how much more reassuring to know that Jesus, who is the Son of God, is also interceding with God the Father on our behalf. Through the Holy Spirit, there is a constant conversation going on in the Godhead about those of us who are believers (Romans 8:26). We do not understand how this could be so, but we believe that God understands our needs precisely because of these intercessions of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit.
The author of Hebrews shares this with these believers to encourage them in the midst of difficult circumstances. He contrasts the perfect priesthood of Jesus with the imperfect Levitical priesthood of Judaism, and demonstrates that Jesus is superior to the Old Testament priesthood. Since that is so, the purpose of the Old Testament priesthood was to make intercession for the supplicants who came to offer their offerings and sacrifices before the LORD, and based on this intercession, God would hear and intervene on behalf of those who came (2 Chronicles 7:14). However, now believers can know that God is actively involved in helping them, without going through a mediator such as a Levitical priest. God has, in essence, done away with the priestly system through Jesus!
CHALLENGE: Have you been taught that you have to go through someone else in order to reach out to God? Jesus has made it totally unnecessary to appeal to any authority (Mary, saints) other than Himself in our prayers and intercessions. Spend an extra amount of time today in conversing with Him through prayer, and thank Him for His intercession on your behalf! (MW)
: 28 For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law makes the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. (5048 “consecrated” [teleioo] means complete, perfect, finish, made genuine, succeed fully, or made genuine)
DEVOTION: Under the old system of the Law of Moses all those who served the LORD in the priesthood had weaknesses. They were sinners just like the rest of the people who were followers of the LORD.
They had to offer sin offerings to the LORD. They had to swear an oath to the LORD to serve HIM faithfully. Many of them failed as we read the Old Testament. They offered sacrifices while they were drunk. They offered strange fire before the LORD. They ate sacrifices that were supposed to be only offered to the LORD. They were men who sometimes didn’t take their responsibility seriously.
Now we have Jesus Christ who took HIS responsibility seriously. HE suffered for HIS faithfulness while on this earth. However, that is what HE was appointed to do and it did it.
At the present time HE is our advocate before the Father. HE earned that right because of HIS death on the cross. HE wants to let us know that we are not alone in our daily struggle. HE is there to speak to the Father on our behalf.
The old system didn’t work because the priests were sinful human beings. They could never match the ministry of Jesus Christ who was perfect.
CHALLENGE: The new system works. Meditate on the Word of God and learn the new system.
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)
Tenthverses 2, 4
Tithesverses 5, 6, 8, 9
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)
Attendance at the altarverse 13
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandmentverse 5
Lawverses 5, 11, 12, 16, 28
Law of carnal commandmentsverse 16
Disannulling of commandmentverse 18
Weakness and unprofitablemess
Law made nothing perfectverse 19
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1, 3, 19, 25
Most High Godverse 1
Draw nigh unto Godverse 19
Lordverse 21
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
King of righteousnessverse 2
King of Peace (Salem)verse 2
Son of Godverse 3
Another priestverses 11, 20
Order of Melchisedecverse 11
Another tribeverse 13
Lordverse 14
Tribe of Judahverse 14
Similitude of Melchisedecverse 15
Another priestverse 15
Power of endless lifeverse 16
Priest foreververse 17
Order of Melchisedecverses 17, 21
Better hopeverse 19
Without an oathverse 20
Priest foreververse 21
Jesusverse 22
Better testamentverse 22
Manverse 24
Continues foreververse 24
Unchangeable Priesthoodverse 24
Able to saveverse 25
Those who come to Godverse 25
Ever livesverse 25
Intercessionverse 25
High Priestverse 26
Holyverse 26
Harmlessverse 26
Undefiledverse 26
Separateverse 26
Made higher than the heavenverse 26
Once offered up HIMSELFverse 27
Sonverse 28
Consecrated for evermoreverse 28
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)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Weakness and unprofitablenessverse 18
Sinnersverse 26
Sins verse 27
Infirmityverse 28
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Blessedverses 1, 6, 7
Titheverses 2, 4-6, 8, 9
Righteousnessverse 2
Peaceverse 2
Promisesverse 6
Power of an endless lifeverse 16
Better hopeverse 19
Repentverse 21
Better testamentverse 22
Save to the uttermostverse 25
Come to Godverse 25
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Melchisedecverses 1-7, 15
King of Salem
Priest of the most high God
Blessed Abraham
King of righteousness
King of peace
Without father
Without mother
Without descent
Not having beginning of days
Not having end of life
Like the Son of God
Abiding a priest continually
Tenth of the spoils
Tithes of Abraham
Better
Abrahamverses 1, 2, 4-7, 9
Returning from slaughter of Kings
Gave Melchisdec a tenth
Patriarch
Loins of Abraham
Had promises
Less
Sons of Leviverses 5, 8-12, 16, 19, 23, 25, 28
Office of priesthood
Take tithes
Men who died received tithes
Paid tithes in Abraham
Office of the priesthood
Took tithes of the people
Paid tithes
Levitical priesthood
Order of Aaron
Change of law
Law of carnal commandments
Law makes nothing perfect
Not continue by reason of death
Offer up sacrifices for their own sins
High priests that have infirmity
Judahverse 4
Church (New Testament people of God)
Better hopeverse 19
Last Things (Future Events)
Endless lifeverse 16
Christ priest for eververses 17, 21
Deathverse 23
Consecrated for evermoreverse 28
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QUOTES regarding passage
19 The parenthesis underlines the defects of the law. The writer does not explain what he means by “made perfect” (see comments on 2:10), but clearly he has in mind something like “made fit for God.” The law did not give people complete and lasting access to the presence of God. It had its merits, but it did not satisfy their deep needs. For the writer’s use of “better,” see comments on 1:4; and for his use of “hope,” see comments on 3:6; 6:11. The thought of what is better is characteristic of Hebrews, and hope is central to the Christian way. Notice that the hope is said to be better than the regulation or commandment, not better than the hope associated with the commandment. Law and gospel stand in contrast. The gospel is “better” because it enables people to “draw near to God.” It was this that the old way could not bring about, but the new way can. (Morris, L. (1981). Hebrews. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 69). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Made nothing perfect (οὐδεν ἐτελειωσεν [ouden eteleiōsen]). Another parenthesis. First aorist active indicative of τελειοω [teleioō]. See verse 11. And yet law is necessary. A bringing in thereupon (ἐπεισαγωγη [epeisagōgē]). An old double compound (ἐπι [epi], additional, εἰσαγωγη [eisagōgē], bringing in from εἰσαγω [eisagō]). Here only in N. T. Used by Josephus (Ant. XI. 6, 2) for the introduction of a new wife in place of the repudiated one. Of a better hope (κρειττονος ἐλπιδος [kreittonos elpidos]). This better hope (6:18–20) does bring us near to God (ἐγγιζομεν τῳ θεῳ [eggizomen tōi theōi]) as we come close to God’s throne through Christ (4:16). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Heb 7:19). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
7:15–19. A further proof (and what we have said is even more clear) is found in the consideration that the new Priest has an indestructible (akatalytou) life. Psalm 110:4 was here quoted again to show that such an unending life is an inherent part of the order of Melchizedek. (The author probably had this text in mind when he made the statement about Melchizedek in Heb. 7:8.) Thus the new Priest does not hold His office on the basis of a regulation as to His ancestry. This rendering freely translates the original which is more nearly represented by the words “not after the Law of a carnal commandment.” The writer seems to mean that the Law which regulated the priestly institution and succession was “carnal” or “fleshly,” not in the sense of being evil, but in the sense that it pertained to people of flesh who died. But this former regulation has been replaced because of its inherent weakness and uselessness. What has replaced it is the new priesthood which constitutes a better hope … by which we draw near to God. Thus the writer established the point that the Law which made nothing perfect was replaced by a priestly institution which can accomplish its objectives in those who approach God through it. (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. 798). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Because, being imperfect, the priesthood and the Law could not continue forever (vv. 15–19). The word “another” in Hebrews 7:15 means “another of a different kind.” The levitical priests were made priests by the authority of a temporary and imperfect Law. Jesus Christ was made Priest by a declaration of God. Because the Law was “weak and useless” (Heb. 7:18, niv), it could not continue forever. But because Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, He lives by “the power of an endless life” (Heb. 7:16). What a contrast between the profitless Law and an endless life!
Since Jesus Christ is Priest forever, and since He has a nature to match that eternal priesthood, He can never be replaced. The annulling (Heb. 7:18, “disannulling”) of the Law meant the abolishing of the priesthood. But nobody can annul “the power of an endless life”! The logic holds: Jesus Christ is a Priest forever.
The writer kept in mind the temptation his readers were facing to go back into the old temple system. This is why he reminded them (Heb. 7:19) that Jesus Christ has accomplished what the Law could never accomplish: He brought in a better hope, and He enables us to draw near to God. To go back to Judaism would mean losing the enjoyment of their fellowship with God through Christ. The only hope Judaism had was the coming of Christ, and that blessing these believers already had. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 301). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
7:19 the Law made nothing perfect. See note on v. 11. The law saved no one (cf. Ro 3:19, 20); rather it cursed everyone (cf. Gal 3:10–13). a better hope. See notes on 3:6; 6:18. draw near to God. See Introduction: Historical and Theological Themes; see note on 4:16. This is the key phrase in this passage. Drawing near to God is the essence of Christianity as compared with the Levitical system, which kept people outside His presence. As believer priests, we are all to draw near to God—that is a characteristic of priesthood (cf. Ex 19:22; see notes on Mt 27:51). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Heb 7:19). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 19. For the law made nothing perfect, &c.] Or no man; neither any of the priests that offered sacrifices, nor any of the people for whom they were offered: it could not perfectly make atonement for sin; nor make men perfectly holy or righteous; it could neither justify nor sanctify; neither bring in a perfect righteousness, nor bring men to perfect holiness, and so to eternal life and salvation: but the bringing in of a better hope did; not the grace of hope; that is not something newly brought in, the saints under the Old Testament had it; nor is it better now than then, though it has greater advantages and more encouragement to the exercise of it: nor heaven and eternal glory, the thing hoped for; the saints under the legal dispensation hoped for this, as well as believers under the present dispensation; nor is what the latter hope for better than that the former did: nor is God the author and object of hope intended; the phrase of bringing in will not suit with him; besides, he is distinguished from it, in the next clause: to understand it of the Gospel, the means of hope, and of encouraging it, is no ill sense; that standing in direct contradistinction to the law: but the priesthood of Christ, of which the apostle is treating in the context, is generally understood, which is the ground of hope; for all promises respecting eternal life are confirmed by it, and all blessings connected with it procured; and it is better than the Aaronical priesthood, under the law; and a better ground of hope than the sacrifices of that law were: Christ himself may be designed, who is often called, hope, being the object, ground, and foundation of it; and is a better one than Moses, or his law, Aaron, or his priesthood; and it is by him men draw nigh to God; and the bringing in of him or his priesthood shews that Christ’s priesthood was not upon the foot of the law, and that he existed as a priest, before brought in, and as a better hope, though not so fully revealed; and it may have respect to his coining in the flesh, being sent, or brought in by his father: now the bringing in of him and his priesthood did make something perfect; it brought to perfection all the types, promises, and prophecies of the Old Testament, the whole law, moral and ceremonial; it brought in perfect atonement, reconciliation, pardon, righteousness, and redemption; it perfected the persons of all God’s elect; and perfectly provided for their holiness, peace, comfort, and eternal happiness: some read the words but it, the law, was the bringing in of a better hope; the law led unto, made way for, and introduced Christ, the better hope; and so the Arabic version, seeing it should be an entrance to a more noble hope; the Syriac version renders it, but in the room of it entered a hope more excellent than that; than the law: by the which we draw nigh unto God; the father, as the father of Christ, and of his people in him, and as the father of mercies, and the God of all grace; and this drawing nigh to him is to be understood not locally but spiritually; it includes the whole worship of God, but chiefly designs prayer: and ought to be done with a true heart, in opposition to hypocrisy; and in faith, in opposition to doubting; and with reverence and humility, in opposition to rashness; and with freedom, boldness, and thankfulness: and it is through Christ and his priesthood that souls have encouragement to draw nigh to God; for Christ has paid all their debts, satisfied law and justice, procured the pardon of their sins, atonement and reconciliation for them; he is the way of their access to God; he gives them audience and acceptance; he presents their prayers, and intercedes for them himself. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 418). 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!!)
The only NT instance is in Heb. 7:3, which says that Melchizedek “is like” the Son of God. The point may be that the Son of God is the prototype, or that the OT text is taken to be a messianic prophecy, i.e., a sign that points forward to Christ. (Kittel, Friedrich & Bromiley, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament)
Graceful Landings by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Book: Moments with You
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 1 CORINTHIANS 16:23
Far too frequently, we hear about the indiscretion of a public figure or religious leader being exposed in some kind of tabloid-style news flash. For a few days, the person’s name and all the titillating details are near the top of every news broadcast.
How should Christian parents handle these kinds of reports?
I ask this question because I fear that the way we discuss these things around the dinner table can have longer-lasting implications for our kids than we realize. When we rant about what these individuals have done, judging them with little grace or calling them names and considering them despicable, what does that say to our teenage sons and daughters about what they can expect if they ever need to come to us and confess some secret sin?
Whether we like to think it or not, our children all struggle with sinful desires. They are growing up in a world riddled with promiscuity, drugs, alcohol, pornography, gluttony and dozens of other addictions and seductions.
Even if they never act on all these temptations, their human desires cause them the same difficulties from day to day as ours do.
But if they know that your response to human guilt is abrupt and merciless, what will they likely say to themselves if they mess up badly in the future?
“I could never come clean with Mom and Dad. I could never be real with them about what I’m struggling with.”
Your children should know that if they ever fail morally, you will not intervene to spare them from the consequences. But they should also know that no matter how hard they fall, there is always grace in your household. They are always safe in your embrace. They can never slip so far away that your love won’t still be there to reach out to them and welcome them home.
DISCUSS
Use an example from the recent news to start a healthy discussion of man’s failures and God’s healing grace. Talk with your children about truth, consequences and God’s forgiveness.
PRAY
Pray that you and your family will be a safe harbor of forgiveness, grace and hope for those who fail.
“Keep a Christian from entering the church sanctuary and you have not in the least bit hindered his worship. We carry our sanctuary with us. We never leave it.” A.W. Tozer
Questions About Creation
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.” (Job 38:4)
In chapters 38–41 of Job is recorded a remarkable series of 77 questions about the creation—questions which God asked Job and his philosophizing friends and that they were utterly unable to answer. At the end of the searching examination, Job could only confess: “Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not” (Job 42:3). Modern evolutionists, despite all their arrogant pretensions, still are not able to answer them either, over 35 centuries later!
But there is one who can answer them, and His answers echo back from another ancient document, the marvelous eighth chapter of Proverbs. To God’s first question, “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth,” comes His answer: “When he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him” (Proverbs 8:29-30). The speaker here is the divine wisdom. He is the Word of God, the pre-incarnate Son of God, soon to become the Son of man. In this amazing chapter, He echoes an answer to the most searching of God’s inscrutable questions to Job and his friends:
“Who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth?” (Job 38:8). “He set a compass [literally ‘sphericity’] upon the face of the depth:…When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment” (Proverbs 8:27, 29). “Hast thou commanded the morning…and caused the dayspring to know his place?” (Job 38:12). “When he prepared the heavens, I was there” (Proverbs 8:27).
Our Savior was there! “For by him were all things created” (Colossians 1:16). One more question: “Have the gates of death been opened unto thee?” (Job 38:17). Yes, and they have not prevailed! “For whoso findeth me findeth life,…all they that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:35-36). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
God never places upon our shoulders the responsibilityfor growth; rather HE places upon our shoulders the responsibilty to remain faithful in the proclamation of the gospel. (pg, 74)
It is our responsibility to view every decision in the church through the lens of Scripture. (p 76) Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Power of Faith
“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
Believing faith should never be seen as the goal, only the beginning of wonderful growth in the “divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4-9).
Faith both preserves and protects us: Jesus boldly declared, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me hath [present tense] everlasting life, and shall not come [future imperative] into condemnation; but is passed [pluperfect or past perfect tense] from death unto life” (John 5:24). “For the Lord preserveth the faithful” (Psalm 31:23). That’s pretty clear. Either those words are accurate or they are untrue. There is no middle ground.
Faith is the “shield” against the enemy: Many of us have read about the great “armour of God” described in Ephesians 6. Of the seven “pieces” listed in those verses, we are told, “Above all [take] the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” And when we “resist the devil” (James 4:7), we are to do so “in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9).
Faith gives us power for effective prayer: The “faith as a grain of mustard seed” promise in Matthew 17:20 refers not to size or amount but to the quality. “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed…nothing shall be impossible unto you.” We might translate that as “If you have the same kind of faith as a mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible unto you.” The “ask…seek…find” promise of Matthew 7:7 depends on our confidence in our heavenly Father. And finally, “this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
THE CROSS AND OURSELVES
The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10
The first thing the cross does is to show us to ourselves. Of course, we always defend ourselves, do we not? It isn’t my fault, we say, it is his. If only he understood. Or take husbands and wives, when they separate from one another. You listen to the story of the husband: “This woman is impossible!” Then you listen to the woman: “This man of mine—I could not live with him. He is an impossible man!” It is always somebody else, is it not? We are never wrong—we are very wonderful. If only we could be understood. It is always somebody else, always that other person.
Do you know what the gospel does, what the cross does? It shows you to yourself. And nothing else in the whole world does that but the cross. There is nothing that will ever humble a man or a nation but the cross of Christ. The cross tells us the simple, plain truth about ourselves.
Think of it like this. Why did the Son of God ever come into this world? Why did He leave the courts of glory? Why was He born as a little babe? Why did He take unto Him human nature? There is only one answer. He came because man could not save himself. He said that. “The Son of man,” he says, “is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). And when I look at the cross and see Him dying there, what He tells me is this: You have nothing whereof to boast. The cross tells me that I am a complete failure, and that I am such a failure that He had to come from heaven not merely to teach and preach in this world, but to die on that cross. Nothing else could save us
A Thought to Ponder: And when I look at the cross and see Him dying there, what He tells me is this: You have nothing whereof to boast.
(From The Cross, pp. 143-144, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Jesus infuriates the religious leaders by claiming equality with God.
INSIGHT
Many people in this world-atheists, agnostics, and those in pseudo-Christian cults-say that Jesus was merely a man, not God. What’s more, these people say Jesus never claimed to be God. The Incarnation-the doctrine that Jesus was one person with two natures, one human, one divine-is an anti-biblical and absurd idea invented by the church in later centuries, these skeptics opine.
The gospel of John certainly dispels that notion. In chapter 8, John writes that the religious leaders of His day picked up stones to slay the Lord Jesus Christ because He made Himself equal with God. The Jewish leaders were men of Jesus’ time and culture. They understood Jesus’ meaning far better than 21st-century skeptics. And as far as they were concerned, Jesus was committing the blasphemy of claiming to be God-a capital offense.
Fear does not stop death. It stops life. And worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.
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