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Matthew and Hebrews

9/7/2023

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9/7/23
Scholarly Observations

Hasitschka, Martin. "Chapter Five: Matthew and Hebrews." in Sim, David C., and Repschinski, Boris (editors). Matthew and His Christian Contemporaries. London: T&T Clark, 2008, 87-103.

Hasitschka places Hebrews as written probably between 80 and 90, likely in Rome (Hasitschka 2008, 87). Jesus, the High Priest, has come before the presence of God as the final sacrifice. Hebrews and Matthew are both decidedly rooted in the Hebrew scriptures. Hasitschka evaluates common elements in Matthew and Hebrews, then specifically reviews the concept of sacrifice in the two texts.

Both Matthew and Hebrews use the Old Testament extensively, often specifically quoting the Septuagint (Hasitschka 2008, 88). There is a strong concept of Jesus, the son of Abraham, rescuing the children of Abraham. Jesus receives the adoration which we would expect to be reserved for God. He is presented clearly as the Son of God in both texts. Matthew and Hebrews speak freely of the Law, referring to the commands of God (Hasitschka 2008, 89). They also emphasize the importance of mercy and peace, which are greater than ritual laws. Both texts look forward to an eternity, the end of the world, in hope. Jesus is pictured in prayer (Hasitschka 2008, 90), as the one who is reconciling God and man through a covenant.

Hasitschka next considers forgiveness of sins as presented in Matthew. Jesus' name is a reference to Jehovah's salvation (Hasitschka 2008, 91). He proceeds to live a life which specifically fulfills prophecies pertaining to salvation. Jesus is presented not only as the one who lives such a life as to be able to forgive sins, but he models and encourages a willingness to forgive sins (Hasitschka 2008, 92). Forgiveness is part and parcel of Jesus' mission. This forgiveness extends to the work of Jesus in the Last Supper (Hasitschka 2008, 93). In Matthew, all the disciples are to drink, and the cup is specifically Jesus' blood for their forgiveness. Jesus is also presented, in Matthew 20:28, as a "ransom" who gives up his life for others (Hasitschka 2008, 94). Jesus' blood is understood as a sacrifice which can bring forgiveness (Hasitschka 2008, 95-96). Matthew shows a strong connection between Jesus' blood in the Last Supper and an eschatological fulfillment (Hasitschka 2008, 96). There will be peace in the future kingdom when Jesus again drinks wine.

Hebrews also treats cleansing of sin as a central topic. Though little is said about Jesus' earthly work, what there is centers on salvation from sin (Hasitschka 2008, 97). Jesus' death is seen as a fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, as he has made purification then sits down at the right hand of the Father (Hasitschka 2008, 98). In Hebrews this is seen as the work of the High Priest, who brings an offering. However, unlike the Old Testament High Priest, Jesus can enter into the holy place and make an offering of his own blood, the blood of the covenant (Hasitschka 2008, 99). By its nature, a covenant requires blood, which serves to purify things. In Hebrews, blood is also used to gain access to God, to purify consciences, and to make a new covenant (Hasitschka 2008, 100-101).

Hasitschka concludes that in both Matthew and Hebrews the work of Jesus is all about forgiveness of sins (Hasitschka 2008, 102). The forgiveness, which is tied up with a covenant and blood, strikingly occurs in these terms only in Matthew and Hebrews. Jesus' purpose is to fulfill salvation by his blood (Hasitschka 2008, 103)

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Hebrews 10:4-10 - Lectionary for the Anunciation of Our Lord

3/10/2021

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3/10/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

When we consider our Epistle reading from Hebrews 10:4-10, it's easy to focus on the nature of the atonement. Why would the animal sacrifices not be adequate? Were people really atoned for under the Old Covenant? What is pleasing to God?

I'll let everyone else fight with those issues this time. I've done it before and will surely do it again. Today, though, we focus on verse nine. Jesus has come to do the Father's will. He, the perfect man, is uniquely qualified to die in place of you and me. Perfect man, but without sin, he can replace us.

What is the Father's will? This will that God the Son agrees with and considers it a pleasure to accomplish? God's will is that you and I should be forgiven - completely and forever - by his grace. Jesus has come to do God's will and rescue humanity from the curse of sin. We no longer need a constant stream of sacrificial animals. It is the pleasure of the immortal God to lose his very life and impart that life to all who believe.

We, trusting in his mercy, have been sanctified. We are presented holy and blameless to God, by his mercy. We no longer need to fear or try to work out our salvation. He has done it all.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 2:14-18 - Lectionary for the Presentation of Our Lord

2/10/2021

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2/10/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

Jesus is the high priest of the Christian faith. So we are told in Hebrews 2:14-18. Why is it significant that Jesus is called the high priest? It's critcally important particularly because the high priest is the one who makes sacrifice for himself and for his people. He is, first and foremost, one of the people.

Jesus, as the high priest, is absolutely human, though without sin. He has no need to make sacrifice for his sin, but goes directly to making sacrifice for our sin. And it's what we need. Since we bear sin, both our own and that of our ancestors brought to us through the fallen human nature, we need someone else to approach the holy God on our behalf with an offering.

We need that person to be one of us. It won't do to send someone without an intimate knowledge of our frail humanity to stand before God. We need someone who is human. Entirely human. 

There have been plenty of movements within Christianity over the generations which have tried to defend the deity of Christ, and which have done so to the extent that they deny his true humanity. We, with the author of Hebrews, must remember that Jesus is really, truly human. There's nothing non-human about him. In his life, in his death, in his burial, and in his resurrection, he is entirely human, like us, except that he has no sin.

This allows him to stand as our representative, the one who can bear our sin for us. 

For Jesus to bear our sin he must be sinless himself. Otherwise, he dies for his own sin, not for ours. This he has accomplished by being truly God. But if he isn't human, he can't die for us either. So he must be also truly man.

What kind of a Lord is this Christ? He is the one we can't entirely understand. He is also the one we do entirely need. So we accept the fact that this truly divine, truly human, person has humbled himself to submit to the penalties of sin which we deserve, so we can receive his resurrection by grace through faith.

Jesus is for you.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 9:11-15 - Lectionary for Lent 5

3/25/2020

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3/25/20
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

There is a new covenant. It is in effect, through Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection. This is the message of Hebrews 9:11-15. It is difficult to mistake. There is a new covenant and it is one which is clearly and specifically of eternal effect (v. 15). 

We are used to thinking in terms which are a little simplistic, that God’s decrees are all essentially the same in all their important elements. By this line of reasoning, we conclude that all God’s decrees are going to be eternal and unchanging. Yet this doesn’t work. It is clear that it doesn’t work that way. God makes a promise to Israel that if they obey His commands He will bless them. They disobey. He chastises them and then blesses them anyway. He establishes David with an eternal kingdom and a throne in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is quite safe for many years. Eventually the Babylonians sack Jerusalem. Christians then argue that Jesus, the promised child of Abraham and of David, takes up his throne at Jerusalem, though it is a cross-shaped throne just outside the city. 

In fact, God’s decrees are not always eternal. But here we are told that the covenant is one that won’t pass away. It secures eternal redemption v. 12). Christ’s offering of himself does free us from the bondage of earthly covenants, ushering in his new covenant. 

What hope can we gain from this idea? Perhaps you haven’t noticed it, but our world has a tendency to fall apart. Yes, I know, often things go along quite well. At other times we are confronted with weakness. There’s sickness, poverty, hunger, and strife all around us. We can and do make some significant strides to reduce the effects of this fallen state, but it keeps on showing us we live in a fallen world. There’s no ending it, at least not by means available to us.

Our passage from Hebrews shows us that salvation is of the Lord, not of our own devices. We don’t look to actions we can do or a covenant we could initiate in order to purify our world. We don’t try to create a clear conscience by our own good deeds. We look to the Lord and His good deeds. He is the one who can purify our consciences so we can stand before God unafraid.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 4:14-16 - Lectionary for Lent 1

2/26/2020

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2/26/20
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.

The job of a priest is to make offerings on behalf of God’s people. If we think carefully about the different offerings specified in the Old Testament, the worshiper doesn’t actually make the offering. He turns the offering over to the priest, who makes the offering on his behalf. God appointed the priesthood for that specific purpose, to demonstrate something. We can’t make adequate offering for ourselves. The only person who does make offering for himself is the high priest, and he is helped by others. We approach God in thanksgiving or in petition for forgiveness only with help.

The New Testament describes Jesus as our high priest. He is the one who makes perfect sacrifice on our behalf, by giving himself, both perfect man and perfect God. He has dealt with all the weaknesses that we have, but has done it without sin. Because he is truly human he is able to die as a human. Because he is unmarked by sin he is able to be the substitute for humans who have sin. We approach God through Jesus, God the Son.

The author of Hebrews points out that this news should give us great peace and comfort. We are able to approach God’s seat of mercy without fear, without shame, without any sort of doubt. He is able to cleanse us and, through Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, has done so. Our righteousness is nothing that we have in ourselves. Just as the preist in the Old Testament makes the offering to take away our sin, so Jesus makes the offering to take our sin from us and bear it himself. 

What need to we have? They have all been met in Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Let us then rejoice and trust in God who has had mercy upon us.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 13:1-17 - Lectionary for Pentecost 12C

8/28/2019

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8/28/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

A few years ago it was common to say that if you didn’t post a social media status about your workout, you didn’t exercise. There might even be a little truth to that. I, for example, have never posted a status from a gymnasium, except when I have been there for a purpose other than exercise. My physique may reflect it.

In Hebrews 13, the first five verses speak of caring for strangers and the poor, showing hospitality, caring for people who are imprisoned, guarding against sexual immorality, and being content. That’s a really big order! If we are busy about those matters we probably won’t have much time to get into any sort of trouble. It’s the kind of thing that should characterize the Christian life.

Uh-oh. This is beginning to look like a post that will lead to laying a guilt trip onto people who haven’t loved their neighbor like “this unbelievably spiritual and creative persyn who actually lives out their faith!” Let the wise reader understand the words in quotation marks. I’m not going to go there. You know why? It’s because the vast majority of Christians through a tremendous portion of history have poured out their lives, caring for strangers, feeding and clothing the hungry and poor, welcoming people into their homes, visiting those who are sick and in prison, living a healthy life within the bounds of marriage, and doing it all with remarkably little care about riches, honor, or social and political power! Have you not heard of them? In fact, you probably haven’t heard of the individuals, but you may know some of the institutions. This is by design.

Consider the charity hospital. Reflect on the orphanage that takes in troubled and sick children knowing that they may never be adopted. Think about the plague hospitals of bygone eras and in the developing world. We hear of organizations that gather just a few thousand dollars to build a school in the developing world. Do we ever think about the people who go and teach there for virtually no money, sometimes also not having adequate food out of concern for the students? What of the charitable legal defense fund which has top-notch lawyers who are working for a fraction of their value in the general market? What about the charitable program which seeks out safe water sources for villages using engineering techniques that would otherwise cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? We almost never hear of the people who are doing the work. Have no doubt. They are there, laboring away in obscurity, many of them motivated by the love of Christ for those in need. They wouldn’t post a self-glorifying status because they are too busy helping their neighbors. They have busied themselves with showing brotherly love. It’s what the world needs.

My prayer in writing this meditation on Hebrews 13 is that some of my readers, including myself, will find themselves more motivated to serve, less motivated to draw attention to themselves. May the Lord have mercy on us.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 12:4-29 - Lectionary for Pentecost 11C

8/21/2019

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8/21/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

God treats his people as sons. Hebrews 12:5 tells us that very clearly. And the author explains that sons receive discipline from their fathers. The discipline given out by the loving and holy God is the topic of the whole passage.

We fall into a trap when speaking of discipline. We think of it as the equivalent of punishment. “Academic discipline” involves revoking class credit, causing failure of a course, expulsion, or censure. Yet that is not the way the Bible normally uses the concept of discipline. It’s the root of what we would call “discipleship.” By discipline, God means the whole process of being taught to walk through life the way God in Christ intends us to walk. The music teacher disciplines the student by assigning specific exercises to practice. The math teacher disciplines the student by giving exercises that reinforce the concepts that need to be strengthened. The coach disciplines the athletes by having them run back and forth, up and down, jump over things, throw and catch things, and get knocked over. The master painter disciplines students by having them mix the color exactly and apply it with precision. The parent disciplines children by teaching them how we act and think in our family.

Back to our passage? What does the Word of God say? The Hebrews have not yet struggled against sin to the point of having their blood shed in the battle. They flinch in the face of danger. They have not learned to live a fearless life in Christ. Yet God is treating his people as sons, who receive the discipline of a father, learning to act and think like their father. The father’s discipline is given to them very clearly in Christ, God the Son, who faced disbelief, sin, and even death for the sake of those who would otherwise have no hope. Are the Hebrew Christians learning to live as Christ? Are they ready to face even death to tell of the riches of Christ’s forgiving love? Apparently some are not.

We, likewise, are unlikely to find ourselves ready for that test. Of course we hope we are, but we also hope we will never be tested in that manner. Do we believe that Christ gives life in exchange for death? Do we believe that we can walk by faith through this earthly life? Do we believe that God’s purpose is worked out in our everyday activities and that his love for our neighbor is to shine through us? Are we willing to lay down our lives for our families? God is the one treating us as sons, teaching us to live as he lives in the world, doing all of this and more. Our confidence is that in the person and work of Jesus for us, someone has gone before us. We can walk as he walked, depending on the grace of the Father, and knowing that Jesus himself has faced death and conquered it on ourbehalf. We can trust in his righteousness and forgiving grace.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 11:17-12:3 - Lectionary for Pentecost 10C

8/14/2019

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8/14/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Epistle reading this week continues the “heroes of the faith” section of Scripture from Hebrews 11. I observe today that it is awfully easy to misplace the point of this passage. When we read about people who do good works, who are very faithful, or who have opportunity to exercise gifts which we know come from God, our first reaction is to try to emulate them. Don’t you wish you could be like Abraham? Would you “dare to be a Daniel”? These are people, according to the text, of whom the world is not worthy. We want to imitate them, and that is good.

Though good, it is not the point of the text. The author of Hebrews tells us all this so we will look to Jesus. He tells us this because all the faithfulness of all these heroes was nothing if it didn’t bind them to Christ. God’s Word calls us to the completion of the faith, found in Jesus’ perfect life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised coming on our behalf, taking away our sin, presenting us faultless before God’s throne. Though the people described in Hebrews 11 are notable, though we should emulate them, they were not complete. The completion is found in Christ, toward whom all the lives of those who came before him point us.

In the end, Jesus is the one who endured suffering, shame, pain, and death on our behalf, as a sinless and innocent victim, the only one who could be our substitute. He is the one in whom we trust. He has purchased our salvation. It is to him that we look, he is the culmination of all history. 

The conclusion? In Hebrews 12:3 we are told not to grow weary or fainthearted. The Lord of all has called us to look to him. He is our salvation.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 11:1-16 - Lectionary for Pentecost 9C

8/7/2019

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8/7/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Epistle for this week, from Hebrews 11, speaks to the importance of faith. Some would call the chapter a “heroes of the faith” list. There is certainly inspiration to be found in the list of famous people who trusted God. However, there’s even more to be grasped as we consider the nature of faith. The author of Hebrews describes it as a certainty, not a blind hope and trust, but as an eyes-wide-open step on solid ground under the noonday light. 

This Christian version of hope and faith is decidedly different from any of our cultural substitutes. Even within Christianity we have sometimes sadly persuaded ourselves that faith in Christ is somehow vague and uncertain. When visiting the sick or elderly, rather than a confession such as, “I know that Christ my savior has redeemed me and will keep me even through death” we hear something like, “I hope Jesus is my savior, I’ve always tried to be a good person.” The first is a biblical hope. The last is the hope in one’s own ability to be pleasing to God by good works. The first is certain, the second leads certainly to destruction.

How does the Christian live in light of this passage? It is a bold and confident life. Christ has redeemed me from the curse of sin. I have nothing to fear in eternity. In this life I face various trials, but I am convinced that Christ my savior has faced all the same kinds of temptations. There’s no room for fear. Illness, poverty, persecution, loss of earthly security, none of it finally matters. Christ has redeemed me and there is no fear in this life. There may be discomfort, even pain. But none of it is going to last forever. My hope is not in this world. It is in Christ. I can walk as confidently in him now as I will in my eternal home. What he says is all right. He has proven his authority by his resurrection. He has promised to be with his people. There’s no fear.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 3:1-6 - Lectionary for Transfiguration C

2/27/2019

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2/27/19
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Hebrews 3:1-6 reminds God’s people to remember Jesus. This should be a surprising statement. Then again, when we consider much of modern American Christianity, Jesus is pretty hard to find. I’m constantly seeing articles about how to make Christianity relevant to our larger culture. Sadly, these methods rarely seem to focus on discovering Him in Scripture, considering His claims, reviewing how He fulfilled many detailed prophecies, or gathering together purposely around Word and Sacrament. Want to be more relevant? Talk about social issues in church. Want to be more welcoming? Don’t throw anything difficult at people. Want to be more inclusive? Try purposely celebrating people’s different cultural, sexual, or religious backgrounds. Anything but Christ crucified for sinners, and every last human being bound by sin, needing rescue by Jesus’ death in our place.

It’s time to get back to the Scripture. In Hebrews 1-2, Jesus is described as the great and mighty Lord of all, spoken of in advance throughout the Bible. He is the one irreplaceable in all our theology and, therefore, in all our life. We neglect him at our great peril. Remember Jesus, the apostle and high priest. He is the one sent from above (apostle) to work forgiveness and reconciliation with God (priest). He was faithful in all that he came to do. He deserves all our honor and respect.

Maybe this makes us uncomfortable. We are used to being the center of our universe, or at least being encouraged and rewarded when we decide to do what’s right in caring for others. We like that role. But it isn’t the one the Bible gives us. If all our service to others, all our care, all our concern is driven by our own concept of what the world is like, we have forgotten what it means to be Christian. Above all, to be Christian is to remember Christ, who has redeemed the world and uses us as his instruments to call others to his grace. If we want to call ourselves Christian, let us remember Christ.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 10:5-10 - Lectionary for Advent 4C

12/19/2018

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12/19/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Epistle reading from Hebrews chapter ten serves as a commentary on Psalm 40:6-8, where the Lord is said not to desire sacrifices, but to delight in the one who has come to do his will.  What is God’s will? What is God’s desire? He wants to gather his people in a body which does his will. The problem is that we, in our nature, even at the best of times, aren’t that interested in doing God’s will wholeheartedly, especially without getting something for ourselves out of the deal.

The idea of sacrifice is central to this passage, as it is central to the entire Bible. In a nutshell, as God has designed it, sin requires death. It is, thankfully, possible that there can be a death of a substitute. That isn’t too comforting to the substitute. However, to take care of sin entirely, the substitute must be perfect. We’re not going to find a perfect person.  Or are we? Here in Hebrews, the sacrifice of animals is taken away and replaced by the death of Christ (v. 10). He is the perfect one, being God the Son. He is also born with a human, though not sinful, nature. The implication here is tremendous. It is through the death of Jesus on behalf of all sinful humanity, that all sinners can die at the same time. As people believe that Jesus has given himself for them, his death is applied to them. This is the second sacrifice of Hebrews 10:10. It’s effective. It’s the one that is pleasing to God, because it allows him to gather his people into that body that does God’s will.

During this season of Advent, may we have grace to see that through the coming of Christ we too can be partakers of eternal life. We too can be pleasing to God by faith in Jesus. That’s what Christianity is all about. Reconciliation.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 10:11-25 - Lectionary for Pentecost 26B

11/14/2018

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11/14/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Epistle this week, from Hebrews 10:11-25, takes us in a direction that makes many uncomfortable. Because Jesus has given himself as the truly adequate sacrifice for sin, there’s no need to make any more offerings for sin (v. 18). For this reason, we are bold to approch the Lord, not on our own recognizance, but through Jesus. Why would this make us uncomfortable? There are two basic ways it can be a problem. Having a certain forgiveness we may neglect to live a holy life. With freedom to approach the Lord, we may neglect the need for Jesus as a mediator.

What of the constant demands of Scripture that Christ’s people must live a holy life? Doesn’t that negate the statements that our sin is completely taken care of? not at all. Why would we live a life of good works? Simply because they are good works. God has created some things so that they work toward the good of the world, of society, of our neighbor. We live those out because they are good, they are pleasing to God, and they are of great assistance to our neighbor. While we confess of ourselves that we have failed to do good in ways that would be pleaseing to God, at the same time we realize that those works are the fruit of salvation, not the cause of salvation. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. We don’t earn or maintain that salvation by any of our works. We simply live a life of good works because they are pleasing to God.

What of the neglect of Jesus as mediator? People in pop Christianity seem obsessed with seeing the Lord face to face, receiving directly from God, having no mediator, just going into the bare presence of God. This is not a biblical good. When we approach God without a mediator, we are confronting a consuming fire. If we were to see God in His glory without a mediator like Jesus, we would be consumed, or at least so terrified and grief-stricken at our own unrighteousness we could live no more. Why do we want to approach God without a mediator? Why are we not content to find God where He has promised to be in His mercy, through the Word which creates faith in us, through the Sacraments which are enactments of His Word.  

Jesus is the mediator. He is the one who has made an approach to God for us, through His blood. He is the one who makes us able to see God in his mercy and grace. Thanks be to the Lord. We are made partakers of His glory so we can live a life which is compatible with his promises and his way of blessing the world.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 9:24-28 - Lectionary for Pentecost 25B

11/7/2018

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11/7/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

The heart of our Episthe this week, from Hebrews 9:24-28, is that Jesus is the one special high priest who makes an offering good forever. All else points to Jesus as the reality. This takes us who have always lived around materialism some effort to deal with.

We are used to having a sharp distinction between what we think is real and what is abstract. Please read that last sentence again. Now let’s unpack it a little bit. We will easily admit the reality of some abstract things. Just because they are immaterial doesn’t make them unreal. A memory, the concept of intelligence, love, courage, and loyalty are all things we quickly admit are not only real, but good.

What about that concept of good? We may be more troubled by it. Is it real? Is it imaginary? How do we define it? Likewise we have trouble with admitting a firm identification of evil, sin, cowardice, and the like. This becomes a problem when we try to identify what good Jesus is. We want to substitute easy alternatives for some of those more abstract things Jesus takes care of. Sin, shame, guilt, and fear are presented as problems, real problems, in the Bible. Jesus’ death as our substitute is presented as the solution. He took our sin upon himself and made it die when he died.

It would be so easy to create substitutes which we think of as real. But this is not the way God did it. The visible temple points to the invisible gathering of Christians in every age. The preached Word of God points to the invisible confidence we have. The visible elements of Christian worship point to the now invisible Jesus, who depart frm earth afte his resurrection. The pastor’s words are powerful only as they are used to do the work of Jesus’ words.

Jesus is the real one, and He has accomplished all that is needed to rescue from sin and death. This is ultimate reality.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 9:11-22 - Lectionary for Pentecost 24B

10/31/2018

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10/31/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

God’s ways are not our ways. This is made crystal clear to us when we consider God’s commands regarding sin and redemption. While we might be quite satisfied asking that people do what they can in their desire for reform and holiness, God requires perfection. While we like to decide what sins are serious and what could be overlooked, God says that all human sin condemns. While we might devise intricate and visible means of atoning for our own sin, God has something quite different in mind.

God has clearly revealed that sin, all sin, is deadly. He requires a perfect sacrifice to atone for sin. In the simplest terms, we can die of our sins and the sin which is common to humans. Otherwise, we can recognize that someone else, someone perfect, has died in our place. Nothing we could do, nothing we would ever devise, will bring help for sin.

Our Epistle from Hebrews 9:11-22 shows that Jesus, the perfect high priest, is the one able to atone by his perfect death for all the sin humans have ever or ever will commit. He is the one without sin who could offer himself up once for all (v. 12). This work cleanses our conscience (v. 14). This negates the elaborate schemes we could devise, what the author calls “dead works” (v. 14). Jesus accomplished this redemption by dying in the place of his people. This death is the work of both a sacrifice and a priest. The forgiveness is accomplished through shedding blood (v. 22) done by Jesus.

What does this men for us? It means that all our plans for holy living, all our attempts at reform, all the pledges we make to bargain with God, all are meaningless. The Christian walk is one of faithful reception, accepting that Jsus is the redeemer he promised to be.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 7:23-28 - Lectionary for Pentecost 23B

10/24/2018

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10/24/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

October is sometimes designated as “Pastor Appreciation Month.” It’s good to take some time and recognize these often unsung heroes. I say this not because I am a pastor. In fact, it normally makes me uncomfortable when I receive recognition. I’d rather work quietly in the background, be cared for, and not have a lot of fanfare. But the fact is, pastors have a difficult calling. They are working, day by day, as representatives of Jesus. They are stand-ins, if you will, for Jesus, the perfect priest described in Hebrews 7:23-28.

What kind of a priest is Jesus? He’s the one we really need. He does his priestly work forever, as the risen Lord. He is always praying for the people who come to God. He is holy, innocent, without sin himsef, unhurt by the sin of others, and exalted, raised up above even the heavens (v. 26). He never needs forgiveness for himself (v. 27). What’s more, he obtained forgiveness for our sins once and it is effective forever. Unlike our efforts to purge sins, his will never stop working. This is truly a different kind of priest.

As a pastor, my job includes delivering the words of promise that Jesus made. My job is to pray for people and remind all who believe that Jesus is also praing for them. My job is to show Jesus as the one who is holy and undefiled. My job is to point past my weakness and failings to Jesus’ perfection. He is the true priest.

Does your pastor point you to Jesus? Then he is a good pastor, worthy of thanks and praise. But let’s make sure he points to Jesus, not to himself.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 4:1-16 - Lectionary for Pentecost 22B

10/17/2018

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10/17/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Epistle this week, Hebrews 4:1-16, continues in the theme of warnings. What of those people who have heard the Gospel and have not believed?

God’s Word is powerful. Verses 12-13 proclaim the power of God working through the Word. So why does it not save all who hear? Those who harden their hearts (v. 7) rather than believing (v. 3) will not enter the rest of God. Those who treat God’s words of grace and salvation as if they are cursing and condemnation do not receive grace. God’s Word, which can penetrate our hearts and minds, delivers judgment against those who have rejected the Gospel.

The conclusion of our passage? We find it in verses 14-16. Since Jesus understands our weakness and gives us powerful words of life, we should hold fast to those words, finding God’s grace. It is exactly what we need.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 3:12-19 - Lectionary for Pentecost 21B

10/10/2018

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10/10/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our reading in Hebrews 3 this week warns us against having an unbelieving heart. Most Christians would like to agree wholeheartedly, then to add that they are glad they don’t have that fight. After all, they are Christians.

There’s a reason that God warns against unbelief. There’s a reason that we find this particular warning in a text written to people who are identified as Christians who have all the benefits of a Hebrew background. They have known all their lives that God calls them heirs of His promise. So why the warning against unbelief? These people should have confidence.

What do we see in the real world? The people with reason for confidence are exactly those whose faith can be shaken. They know their identity. They know the history. They know God doesn’t change. And they find within themselves a hard heart, like those who rebelled against God in the Exodus. When we start deciding we know best and God’s Word doesn’t matter so much, we are doomed to failure. Like the Israelites, we cannot expect to enter into rest.

Despite these strict words, I’d like to show how this passage brings hope. God would not warn his people against unbelief if He hadn’t made his gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation available in Word and Sacrament. Are you afraid you will have an unbelieving heart? It is a valid fear. So turn to God’s Word. Surround yourself with believers who will encourage you. Believe and live.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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Hebrews 2:1-13 - Lectionary for Pentecost 20B

10/3/2018

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10/3/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Hebrews chapter two reminds us that the greatness of our salvation is the motivation to give our attention to the teaching of Scripture. In some ways the passage may seem threatening. The message is binding and there are penalties for those who disobey. It would be easy to get the message that we’d better get with the program or God will come down and smite us.

We are all tuned in to the idea that our obedience to God’s Law will rescue us. And there is a sense in which we really do need to work, and work hard, at faithfulness to God. But our motiviation is quite different from the motivation our Lord  gives. The author of Hebrews turns our attention to Psalm 8, where we see that God has visited humanity out of His loving care. He has worked salvation for humanity through a man, Jesus, to whom all is subject. It is Jesus’ perfect obedience to God’s Law which has been applied to all who trust him as the savior.

Does this mean that our obedience doesn’t matter? That isn’t quite the best way to discuss it. Our obedience matters, but simply because it reflects God’s goodness and the positive ways He has made the world to work. Our obedience is good for us and our neighbor. But it is Christ’s obedience which saves us. This is how he presents himself wih all the people God gave him.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews

7/26/2018

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Thursdays are for the New Testament
7/26/18
Carson, D.A., and Douglas Moo An Introduction to the New Testament - Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. "New Testament Letters" Carson & Moo pp. 331-353
“Hebrews” Carson & Moo pp. 596-618

Hebrews, though on the surface it might appear to be a rather general epistle, seems directed to specific readers dealing with specific problems. The absence of a typical salutation and writer’s name draws attention to the anonymity, yet the familiarity of address suggests that the specific audience who received the letter knew the author. The richness of rhetorical devices has led many to believe the letter is a homily which was adapted into a letter. The theme? Jesus, God’s Son, the supreme master of all. The earliest Christian tradition, particularly in the East, held to Pauline authorship, and the West generally embraced that tradition in the fourth century. However, Hebrews has many features which suggest an author other than Paul. In the time of the Reformation scholars started focusing on those factors and suggesting other authors. Carson and Moo weigh some of the suggestions and finally assert that we do not know who wrote the book.

In the absence of an author, the date, provenance, and destination are difficult to assess. The author does confirm not being an eyewitness of Jesus, which suggests a second generation. The author also writes as if the ceremonies around the temple in Jerusalem are perfectly operational, which suggests a date before about 66. We have no significant information about where the letter was written. While people have suggested numerous destinations, all we really know is that it was addressed to a place where there were many Jewish converts to Christ. Carson and Moo suggest Rome as a likely destination. Yet there are many unknowns.

The text of Hebrews is well established. It seems to be accepted as canonical earlier in the East than in the West, where it was not recognized as part of the canon until at least near the end of the second century.

Major topics of study in Hebrews recently have been the high Christology, the way the author uses the Old Testament, the treatment of the sabbath, and the nature of a covenant. Hebrews also sheds light on the way first century Christians interpreted Scripture. This all combines to make the letter a very fruitful ground for study.

​
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Hebrews 5:1-10 - Lectionary for Lent 5B

3/14/2018

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3/14/18
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our passage this week from Hebrews 5:1-10 is a very full reading. It talks about many different concepts. At the center of the passage we find that Jesus is the high priest appointed by God for us.

I’d like to make a few observations about the work of a priest. In general, priests in a wide variety of religions have two jobs. They almost always offer some sort of sacrifice to a deity. This offering is normally intended to please the deity or at least ward off anger, thus providing some safe access to the deity, or at least to life in this world, for the worshiper.

The Bible describes priests from the early days of Israel’s history. In the opening parts of the Bible, the head of a household seems to serve as the priest. That’s the person who we find making offerings. At a point a bit later, the leader of a larger group of people ends up making offerings and, still later, the work of the priesthood is assigned to the descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses.

These priests received their appointment because of their lineage. Because they were descendants of Aaron, they were priests.  What is special about Jesus is that he was not a descendant of Aaron. He was appointed as a priest by God, not by law.  The author of Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus’ appointment is from God, not of any human lineage or merit, but because of his position as God the Son.

What did Jesus do as a priest? Hebrews 5:1 speaks of the work of the priest to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. In Israel people would sometimes bring offerings indicating their willingness to be in fellowship with God and His people. These were received and distributed as appropriate by the priests. Some of the offerings were grain offerings, of which a portion might be burned as an offering and the rest eaten. The priest was at the center of this work. Without the work of the priest, the worshiper would not be able to approach God in accord with the Law of Moses.

The other job of the priest is to offer sacrifices. This is the means appointed by God to work forgiveness of sins. Since all humans are shown as guilty of sin, everyone needs to make the offerings appointed by God. Without the work of the priest, nobody can be released from sin.

What’s so significant about Jesus’ work in this? When Jesus offers a gift, he offers himself as the redeemer of the world. When Jesus offers a sacrifice for sin, he offers himself as the perfect man, an adequate sacrifice for the sin of the world. Jesus serves both as the priest and as the offering. This is the great good news of the entire book of Hebrews, and especially this chapter. Jesus has given himself for your sin and mine. He is the perfect priest.


If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 1:1-6 - Lectionary for Christmas Day

12/21/2016

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12/21/16
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our Epistle for Christmas day we read about Jesus, the very special one, God the Son. Hebrews chapter one calls him the way that God has revealed himself in these last days, one who has surpassed all the angels.

In Greek, more than in English, adjectives of “greatness” tend to show certain types of greatness. Here Jesus is presented as being of greater value and authority than anyone else. He is the one who is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise.

How do we receive this Jesus? Do we think of him as part of the created order or as the one through whom all things are created? Do we think of him as someone who would like to see everything put in order but may be frustrated? Do we see him as he is, the one who who did put everything in order and will restore that order when he comes again?

As we remember the first coming of Jesus, born and laid in a manger, may we also recall that he is the one whose authority is far above all principalities, all powers, and the angels in heaven. This is the kind of Lord who is recognized at Christmas.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Hebrews 13:1-17 - Pentecost 15 C

8/26/2016

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Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our New Testament passage for this week is from Hebrews 13:1-17. Like many other passages in the New Testament we can look for some sort of overall orderly pattern. In this case, the concepts seem to point toward a climax in verses 15-17. Let’s see how it works.

Verse 1 begins a lengthy list of commands. I’ll lay them out in brief.
v. 1 Brotherly love is to continue.
v. 2 Show hospitality.
v. 3 Remember prisoners.
   Remember those mistreated.
v. 4 Honor marriage.
v. 5 Be content - Jesus’ promise is that he will not leave us.
v. 6      Related to the contentment issue - have confidence in the Lord’s presence.
v. 7 Remember your leaders.

In verse 8 there seems to be a change of topic. Maybe it’s a justification for the commands we have just seen. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (ESV). Then there’s another command which seems built on the whole idea of Jesus as the present leader.

v. 9 “Do not be led away” (ESV).

The author goes on to remind the reader that a Christian is well provided for by God. He has God’s very presence in Christ with him all the time. At this point the focus shifts to the work of Jesus.

v. 10 We have an altar - the altar of priests before God, standing as mediators between man and God.
v. 11 There’s a comparison between the holy place (the altar) and an unholy place.
   In the sacrificial system, the sacrificial bodies are disposed of outside the camp. The blood, presented on the altar, is holy.

How does this all tie together?
v. 12 Jesus suffered outside the camp.

So we then find a conclusion.
v. 13 Therefore, we go to Jesus outside the camp. We bear his reproach.

v. 14 has a justification for all of these actions. “We seek the city that is to come” (ESV).

How does that happen?
v. 15 We give praise to God.
v. 16 We do good and share.

This conclusion brings additional force to the commands in verses 1-7. Those commands are not in any way something we do to earn God’s favor. They are something we do because we are living out the future right now. Jesus has prepared an eternal city which is full of good for His people. The Christian life simply brings those future blessings into this day and time.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

​
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