Tag: Hebrews

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The Terror of the Law- Hebrews 12:18-19

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

Hebrews 12:18-21

Explanation:

When the author says “ye” he is speaking to the original reader.  The context would tell us that these were jews who have been given evidence of what God has done both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, and have been given a defense of faith in what God has done.  He sets up a metaphor- a spiritual illustration of a truth from their history, by comparing two mountains.  The first one is Mount Sinai, and the second found in vers 22 is Mount Sion.  

In referring to Mount Sinai he told these readers that they are not come unto the mount.  How do we know that the mountain is Sinai?  He is quoting from and referring to Exodus 19.  This “mount that might be touched” is referring to Mount Sinai.  In Exodus 19 God gives specific instruction about what His people are not to do while He is giving Moses the law on the mountain.

10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

The author of Hebrews also says what happened there.  He describes it exactly the way that verses Exodus 19:16-19 described it.

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

Exodus 19:10-19

What happened in Exodus 19 and 20 is that God gave the law to His people.

1 And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Exodus 20:1-3

The author of Hebrews then is saying that these Hebrews are not left at the mount of Sinai.  They are not left where all they have is the law.  The difficulty with the law is that you cannot keep the law.  If you break any part of the law you’ve broken the whole thing. 

The law does bring terror, because there is a lack of ability to keep the law.

Application:

I do have a relationship with the law in that God does want me to keep it.  I don’t always keep it.  I mess up.  I am flawed.  I sin.  I need God’s grace to cover me because I mess up so badly.

I also know that I am loved despite my performance and that God is gracious to me. He has blessed me so much, and I owe him my life, my strength, and my all.

Response:

God thank you for today. I pray that you will help me to live for you well. Amen

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The End of Bitterness and No Repentance. Hebrews 12:16-17

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Highlight:

“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. (17) For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:16-17)

Explanation:

The fact that this is shown to be someone who is not a believer is found in verses 16-17. Look at the descriptive words:

  • Fornicator- Someone who sins sexually. This is an all inclusive word for any kind of sexual sin.
  • Profane person- The Greek word is Bebelos. It comes from the base of another word “belos” which means a threshold. The idea is “accessible (as by crossing a doorway); heathenish, wicked.” These are people who are accessible to every kind of thought or sin. They are not holy and set apart. They are available and common. They have no boundaries. 

Some of the characteristics of this kind of person:

  1. They live in the flesh. This kind of person acts in the flesh rather in discipline, and in the Spirit. 
  2. They live for the temporary. The example of Esau shows that he gave up his birthright, his spiritual and material blessing from his father, for just a bowl of dinner. He was thinking about his stomach rather than by faith.
  3. They live unrepentantly. These kinds of people refuse to see as God sees. They refuse repentance, turning from their mindset to God’s mindset about their behavior.
  4. They live inauthentically. Here it speaks of seeking repentance “carefully with tears”. He cared about the consequences, but it was no godly sorrow that lead to repentance. It was a sorrow that dealt with the inevitable consequences of living as a profane person. This kind of person may want you to think that they are genuinely repentant, but they are not.

Application:

The consequences of not genuinely pursuing peace and holiness in Christ is truly dangerous. It can lead to bitterness, heartache, and all of the consequences of what living in the flesh does to people. We must recognize true lack of repentance in our hearts, and pursue peace and holiness through Christ authentically.

Response:

  • Have I genuinely accepted Christ by repentance and faith?
  • Is there some bitterness in me for which I should repent?
  • Am I walking in the flesh or in the Spirit?
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Avoiding Bitterness. Hebrews 12:15

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Highlight:

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”

Hebrews 12:15

Explanation:

The idea here is an evangelistic one.  He is speaking to people who know about Christ, who have been convinced of Christ, but may have not trusted in Christ.  This is dealing with people who are in an apostate condition who get bitter in their state of unrepentance and become “defiled”.  This dangerous heart of unbelief is very dangerous.  Bitterness is a grave danger as well.  Here we find that it defiles.  It corrupts.  It kills.  Someone once said, “Bitterness is like swallowing poison and hoping someone else dies.”  It’s not good.

Application:

The opposite reaction was given to us in the previous verses.  Pursue…

  • Peace with all men
  • Holiness before God (Salvation and Sanctification)

Response:

Is there any “root of bitterness” in me toward anyone?

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The Pursuit of Peace and Holiness. Hebrews 12:14

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Highlight:

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”

Hebrews 12:14

Explanation:

We must remember that not all the people written to in the book of Hebrews were believers.  Some were Jews who were intellectually convinced but had not put their trust in Christ.  Pursuing holiness should mean to draw near to God with full faith (Hebrews 10:14, 22) and accepting Christ as Savior for covering our sin through his sacrifice.  What these people need is true faith in Christ to receive a holiness that is not their own, but once received is developed in them through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Application

“Follow peace with all men”- Another way of thinking about this verse is “pursue peace”.  When it is possible the path of peace is generally the right path.  Who am I on a course for possible unnecessary conflict with, and how can I avoid such conflict?

“And holiness”- Do I have the holiness of Christ through faith in Him, and forgiveness from the father based on His righteousness imputed to my account?  If I am saved, am I working with God to pursue actual holiness in my living?

Response:

Who do I need to talk to today to make sure I am pursuing peace?

Is there any gap in holy living in my life?