AS FOR Us. All these examples of faith in chapter 11 are a large crowd of witnesses! LET US RID OURSELVES. The symbolism is from the Games. Runners practiced with weights on their feet. For the race, these are removed. To win the Christian race, we must get rid of worldly hopes and fears, obligation... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS. His example is much greater than any or all of the others!!! On whom our FAITH DEPENDS. He is both the _source_ and the _Pioneer!_ He has _broken trail_ for us by going on ahead of us. See Colossians 1:18. BECAUSE OF THE JOY. The joy of being the Pioneer who destroys the pow... [ Continue Reading ]
THINK. If you feel discouraged, think about what he went through!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN YOUR STRUGGLE. "You have not been asked to do what Christ did!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN? "You know, if you will remember, that sufferings are evidences of God's love for you!" The quotation is Proverbs 3:11-12 Septuagint. WHEN THE LORD. "Do not think it just as accidental act of blind fate (as the Gentiles do)." DISCOURAGED. "This is not God's wrath for your sin! See... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE. "Instead of being expressions of his anger, punishments (chastisements) are proof of his love!" PUNISHES. _MacKnight_ says: "This scripture, by showing God's Providence to be just and righteous, dispels the gloom which the misery and suffering which are part of life, may bring on us. We are... [ Continue Reading ]
ENDURE WHAT YOU SUFFER. "This is an expression of your Father's love!" THAT GOD IS TREATING YOU. "He is giving you his blessing by causing you to grow spiritually!" WHO WAS NOT PUNISHED by his father, who wanted to correct his faults and develop his character?... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YOU ARE NOT. "The fathers of bastards have no concern about the health, welfare, and education of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE CASE OF. "They punished us for our faults and we respected them." HOW MUCH MORE. "Our spiritual Father uses more love and gentleness than our human fathers, and he will not give us more than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13)_."_... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD DOES IT. "We must be holy to live with him in Eternity!... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE TIME. "It makes us sad, because of the pain it brings." LATER, HOWEVER. "Those who have been disciplined, trained, matured, prepared by such punishment reap the peaceful reward!" Compare Psalms 119:67; Psalms 119:71; Psalms 119:75; Job 42:2-3; Romans 8:28; Romans 8:37. [For many years I have... [ Continue Reading ]
LIFT UP YOUR LIMP HANDS. "Push ahead with all your strength!" Compare Job 4:1-6.... [ Continue Reading ]
TRY TO BE AT PEACE. "You must make an effort to be at peace with the Gentiles as well as the Jews, and even with your enemies!" TRY TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE. "You must make a positive effort to live pure and holy, so that you will be acceptable to God!" These people were contentious, and when one sinned... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT NO ONE TURNS BACK. The symbolism is a sheep who strays from the flock and has to be brought back. Christians are to work together to keep each other "headed in the right direction." LIKE A BITTER PLANT. This refers to one of their fellow Christians who might poison the group with such things as... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE ESAU. He is a _bad example_ of the _bitter plant._ He thought so little of his rights as the older son, that he literally _gave them away_ for a single meal. Immorality is always a danger, and many, like Esau, will be tempted to give away their future for a moment's pleasure.... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTERWARD, YOU KNOW. We can never _un-do_ an act! Esau could nor change what he had done, not could his father remove the blessing which he had already given Jacob. Compare Revelation 22:11_ and_ notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU HAVE NOT COME. "So that you will understand why you must not throw away your rights as Abraham's descendants (Galatians 3:18), I want you to see the difference between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion." The point is to show that the blessings and obligations of the New Covenant are much better than th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE PEOPLE HEARD. This shows the terrifying character of the revelation on which the Age of Moses was based. See Exodus 20:18-19.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE. This command added to their terror!... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT MOSES SAID. Deuteronomy 9:19. Even Moses himself was terrified by all this!!! The comparison makes us think of Elijah (1 Kings 19:11-12).... [ Continue Reading ]
TO MOUNT ZION. Zion is the symbol of the _kingdom of heaven._ See Psalms 2:6; Joel 2:32; Isaiah 1:27. The heavenly Jerusalem. See Revelation 21:2-3 and notes. Angels. Angels were part of the terror at Sinai. Here they are part of joy and praise! Compare Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 5:11-12.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF GOD'S OLDEST SONS. [The NIV adopts the general view of Theophylact, while the TEV follows Alford, Delitzsch, et. al.] PROTOTOKON is plural = _oldest sons._ Among the Jews, the oldest son got the largest share of the inheritance. In Christ's church, every man (and woman) is an "oldest son!" Their... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU HAVE COME TO JESUS, rather than to Moses. WHO ARRANGED. By his death (Hebrews 9:15-17). TO THE SPRINKLED BLOOD. See notes on Hebrews 9:5; Hebrews 9:13. THAN ABEL'S BLOOD. His blood called for revenge (Genesis 4:10); Christ's blood pleads mercy for us!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT REFUSE TO HEAR. See Hebrews 12:19; Hebrews 3:16-19. IF WE TURN AWAY by refusing to hear God's own Son!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS VOICE. See Hebrews 12:18-19. Compare Exodus 19:18. BUT NOW. The quotation is Haggai 2:6. Many apply this to the Second Coming, but I think _MacKnight_ is right in understanding _the earth_ to be pagan idolatry, etc., and _heaven_ to be the Mosaic worship and the Jewish state. See Matthew 24:29-3... [ Continue Reading ]
ONCE MORE. _MacKnight_ says: "That the Jewish worship, and the heathen idolatry, and the powers which supported these forms of worship, are the things foretold here to be shaken, and that they are to be removed, is evident from God himself, who thus explains the shaking of the heavens and the earth... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE WE RECEIVE A KINGDOM. This is the language of Daniel 7:18. Christ's church = the Kingdom of heaven = the Kingdom of God. See notes on Matthew 16:18-19; Matthew 19:28; Matthew 26:64; Luke 12:32; Luke 22:69; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:6. In a way. See... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OUR GOD. Deuteronomy 4:24. Love must be our motivation, not fear of punishment (1 John 4:18). But all who refuse to worship God in a way that pleases Him, have reason to be afraid. This must be balanced against fear of persecution. But Christ is the EVIDENCE that God loves us (John 3:16)!!!... [ Continue Reading ]