Daily Writing

Monday, 22 April 2019

…lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.  Hebrews 12:16

The author continues now with examples of a person becoming defiled which was mentioned in the previous verse. He gives two examples, which are connected in one thought in this translation. It probably should separate them by saying, “lest there be any fornicator, or profane person like Esau.” Only the word “profane” should be tied to Esau, unless the author is tying Esau’s selling of his birthright in with the thought of selling himself off as if a prostitute. That would be highly unusual to speak of him in this way.

What seems more likely is that, as is consistent in the epistles, sexual immorality is being condemned. Such actions are not holy, and they bring defilement upon a person. Assuming it is a separate category, he then introduces the “profane person like Esau.”

Esau is frowned upon in Scripture, and his failings are noticeable even from a cursory read of the Bible. But even more, his descendants after him would continue to be a problem. This all started with Esau’s negative attitude about what is important. As the author says of him, “who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.”

The account is found in Genesis 25. He was hungry, and he gave up his honored birthright for a simple bowl of stew. This led to other problems in his life, but all of this was known in advance. When the twins were in their mother’s womb, she received a prophecy about the futures of these two sons –

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.” Genesis 23:23

This is how it came to be in the history of their descendants. But, of note, is the blessing pronounced upon Esau later –

“Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth,
And of the dew of heaven from above.
⁴⁰ By your sword you shall live,
And you shall serve your brother;
And it shall come to pass, when you become restless,
That you shall break his yoke from your neck.” Genesis 27:39, 40

Isaac prophesied that Esau would break Jacob’s yoke from his neck. What this means is rather involved. In short, the yoke of Jacob is the Law of Moses. Speaking of the descendants of Edom (who is Esau), known as the Idumeans in the New Testament times, we find in the writings of the Jewish Historian Josephus that about 129 BC John Hyrcanus –

“…subdued all the Idumeans; and permitted them to stay in that country, if they would circumcise their genitals, and make use of the laws of the Jews; and they were so desirous of living in the country of their forefathers, that they submitted to the use of circumcision, and of the rest of the Jewish ways of living; at which time therefore this befell them, that they were hereafter no other than Jews.”

In other words, the descendants of Esau were assimilated into Israel, and they came under the Law (the yoke) of Moses – which Jacob’s descendants were under. Eventually, these people (meaning the Jews who included the converted Idumeans) were exiled for having rejected Christ. However, at a point future to us now, they will cast off this yoke, come to Christ, and be saved.

Israel is back in the land, and the ancient prophecies of these two men and their descendants are ready to be fulfilled in their entirety.

Life application: What is of value to you? A person may be the manager of a large corporation and make millions of dollars a year, and another person from his school may be a blue-collar worker. When they get together from time to time, the millionaire may brag about his house, cars, and vacations. The blue-collar worker, however, brags about the Lord in his life. Which of the two is in the more favorable position? In the end, there is only one thing that truly matters. Why sell off that which is of the highest value for a bowl of soup? The things of this world will all perish. But Christ, and His love for those He has redeemed, will go on forever. Come to Christ and be granted the greatest Gift of all!

Lord, help us to learn from the lessons we read in the Bible. Help us to see the importance of a life which is dedicated to You, and then to hold fast to that, applying it to our lives and never deviating from Your precepts. Everything else is temporary and it will pass away. But Your word, O God, is eternal. May we hold fast to it now and forever. Amen.

Sunday, 21 April 2019

…looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; Hebrews 12:15

The author just admonished his readers to “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” The verb was active and imperative. He now continues with that by saying, “looking carefully.” It is a present participle, active. “You are to do this and continue doing it. Keep looking carefully!” And there is a reason for this. The reader is to continue observing the body “lest anyone fall short of the grace of God.”

The verb is, again, a present participle, active. It more rightly says, “lest anyone be falling short of the grace of God.” This isn’t speaking of someone who has become a believer and who has apostatized and thus lost his salvation. Rather, it is speaking of someone who has been saved and is in the continued process of not matching his life with the grace he has received.

In other words, it is someone who is failing to do what is said in the previous verse. He is not pursuing the peace or holiness to which he has been called. Nothing is said of losing his salvation. It is simply one failing to live up to that salvation. Those in the church should be looking carefully for such a failing “lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble.”

The verb here is, again, a present participle, active. A root is something out of sight. It is buried and not something we even think about. But with water and the right conditions, the germination process takes place, and the root begins to sprout. Likewise, within the church, there may be one who fails to pursue peace and holiness. The bad root begins to come alive and it perniciously begins to produce a bitter plant which causes trouble. From there, the result is obvious. The author says, “and by this many become defiled.”

It is exactly what Paul warns about in his epistles, and it is what is warned about by the other apostles as well. Paul gives the remedy for someone who springs up in this manner in 1 Corinthians 5, saying, “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

In that Chapter, Paul doesn’t question the person’s salvation. In fact, he argues for it. But he understood what having such a person remain among the congregation would do to the health of the body. The same idea is seen here. The author is looking out for the good of all by having all be on the lookout, at all times, for any action which would disturb the peace of the body, or which lacks holiness within the body.

Life application: Being around a bitter person is like putting a bitter herb in a pot of stew. Everything gets tainted. And so it is in church bodies, our families, and with our social contacts. When a bitter person is allowed to influence the party, the party is ruined. Isaiah actually marks bitterness in a person as one of the great sins of existence –

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

Just as a person who calls evil good, so is the person who takes what should be sweet (Christian fellowship for example) and makes it bitter. Be wary of your own heart and watch for bitterness in others lest it cause trouble and by it many become defiled.

Thank You Lord that the reminders in Your word are so helpful in our daily walk. Keep our thoughts attuned to Your grace and how we should live in response to it. Also, keep us from bitterness which defiles. May we be a pure and holy people, set apart for Your use. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Saturday, 20 April 2019

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14

The author has just finished the thought of having oneself strengthened in body, and set in their paths in order to meet a set purpose. That purpose was noted as being tied into the race set before us which was recorded in verse 12:1. On that race, and with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, the believer is admonished to “Pursue peace will all people.”

This thought is explained elsewhere in the epistles, such as Romans 14 –

“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Romans 14:19

Paul repeats and builds on that in 2 Timothy 2:22 as well. In this, the word “people” is inserted. It simply says, “Pursue peace with all.” In this, it is obvious that it is speaking not merely of persecutors, nor merely of those in the church who may be forming rival factions, but of all people in all contexts. For persecutors, it is to be as a witness to them. For believers, it is to be one of harmony within the body leading to contentment without strife. From there, the author says, “and holiness.”

The word signifies “the process of making or becoming holy, set apart, sanctification, holiness, consecration” (Strong’s). Some translations prefer the word “sanctification” here. That is probably the better idea. It is an active pursuit of sanctifying oneself in order to be holy. However, if one pursues holiness, it is because of the sanctification process. One looks to the work in getting to the goal, the other looks to the goal while understanding that a process is required in order to attain it.

With that understanding, he says that “without which no one will see the Lord.” Again, the same thought applies here. Without being sanctified as holy, no one will see the Lord, and so the translation could go either way. Sanctification is the process; holiness is the goal. We are to work to be set apart.

However, as noted elsewhere, the author is not saying that we must do the work in order to see the Lord. He is simply making a statement of fact. “Without holiness no person shall see the Lord.” This is why we are to sanctify ourselves in our lives. But this does not negate that we are already sanctified by Christ. There is a positional sanctification which took place when we received Jesus. That is what allows us to see the Lord. There is also a progressive sanctification which we should pursue in this life. In essence –

*We are sanctified and made holy through Christ. Therefore, let us live out our lives in sanctification leading to holiness for Christ.

Life application: The theme of God’s holiness is revealed throughout Scripture, but it is particularly highlighted in Leviticus, Isaiah, and Hebrews. Depending on the stem of the Hebrew word qadosh, the word “holy” will normally mean set apart or consecrated, or it will mean to show oneself sacred or majestic. What the author is telling us is that we are to be set apart from the stain of sin in the world. We are not to remove ourselves from the world as monks and other ascetics have done over the centuries. Jesus Himself – the Holy One incarnate – walked among us, ate with sinners, and never attempted to stay away from fallen man. Rather, He kept Himself set apart from what people did, not from the people. He lived at peace with those around Him and we should as well.

This does not in any way mean that we are to not call sin what it is. Jesus called out the hypocrites, the unrepentant, and the arrogant without hesitation. We should not feel any less angry at the sins of such people. Sin is an offense against God, and it should be considered offensive to us as well.

When we come to God through Christ, we are set apart because of our faith. In response to that gift, we should continue to make every effort to increase in holiness all our days. Remember these things as you go out into the world today. You are set apart. Live that way for the sake of the name of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, forgive me for often failing to be holy and set apart to You. Forgive me for not being angry at sin the way that I should be. Give me the ability to see sin as You see it so that I may never condone it. I know this will lead me to holiness and to a state which pleases You. This I ask in Your beautiful name. Amen.

Friday, 19 April 2019

…and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:13

The author continues with the thought of verse 12, which implored the reader to “strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” He now continues with, “and make straight paths for your feet.”

Here we have a proverb that was on the author’s mind. What he says here in the first clause is a close quote to the Greek translation of Proverbs 4:26, 27 –

“Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.”

The word translated as “path” is unique in Scripture, it is trochia, a noun signifying the track of a wheel. That, in turn, comes from, trochos, another noun signifying a wheel. A wheel is something that moves around a central axis, and thus one gets the sense of a “moral axis,” on which our lives turn. Thus, it is the way of life of a person. This is how James uses that word in James 3:6. This is certainly what is on the author’s mind. He is imploring the reader to be on a morally proper track. This is then united with the word orthos, or straight.

This word, orthos, is then being given as a metaphor for being morally right and virtuous. There is a reason for having such straight paths “for your feet,” which is “so that what is lame may not be dislocated.”

In this, the words, “for your feet,” indicate the walk of life. It is a common metaphor used by Paul. One can walk with God and in accord with His word, or one can walk contrary to Him and His word. But in being morally upright, the movement of the feet will “not be dislocated.” The Greek word for “dislocated” gives the sense of turning aside or wandering away from something. In this sense though, the connection to the body is that it not be put out of joint. If that should occur, then a person’s walk would be hindered. But the idea is of wholeness of body. This is then seen in the last words of the verse. Instead of being put out of joint, they will “rather be healed.”

With straight paths of moral uprightness, instead of being dislocated and falling apart, the person will come to a point of full restoration and spiritual health. The entire thought of verse 12 & 13 speaks of the physical condition of the man, but it points to moral truths –

strengthen the hands which hang down
[strengthen] the feeble knees
make straight paths for your feet
what is lame may not be dislocated
-but rather be healed.

This is all given, as noted in the commentary of verse 12, based on the idea of the race set before us noted in verse 1. In acting in a morally right way, and in keeping ourselves fit and ready for the race, we can then “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Life application: In regards to the proverb cited above, one sure way to cause worse injury to a wounded knee is to take a path that isn’t level or firm. And surely if you deviate from the path, your foot is bound to find even more trouble. On the same lines, is another proverb which teaches us to use discretion in order to not listen to misapplied wisdom –

“Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.” Proverbs 26:7

As you can see, the Bible is using physical troubles to make spiritual applications in our lives. By understanding these proverbs, we can look to, and understand, God’s wisdom. He created us, and He knows how the two applications – physical and spiritual – demonstrate His wisdom. He is familiar with every physical aspect of our makeup. And so, in making moral applications from our physical attributes, He is revealing how to be morally perfect, just as He is. This is in accord with how to be physically fit and ready for an earthly walk that is trouble-free.

Lord, as You created us, You can readily use examples we understand from our physical bodies to guide us to higher truths in our spiritual lives. Help us to understand such passages in Your word so that we too can have wisdom and insight into such things which You found important enough to include there. In this, we will be both physically sound and morally upright as we walk before You. Amen.

Thursday, 18 April 2019

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, Hebrews 12:12

The word, “Therefore,” is referring to the entire section concerning chastening. When one is chastened he will be bowed down in the shame of his chastening, weakened by the correction, and in need of restoration to a stronger state. This is the purpose of chastening. It is to bring the person to a desire to perform properly in the future. And so the author then says, “strengthen the hands which hang down.”

The word here is anorthoó. It is the third and final time it is seen in the Bible. The first time it was seen was in Luke 13:13 –

“And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.”

The word comes from two roots. The first is ana, which signifies “up.” The second word is orthoó. One can see a hint of the root for orthopedics or orthodontist. It signifies to straighten or correct. The hands which were limp or clenched in anguish are to be straightened out and prepared for work. They are to be strengthened to accomplish the tasks for which the chastening was intended. This will keep the individual from pursuing those things which his correction was to lead him from.

Next, the author says, “and the feeble knees.” After a person is bowed down from his chastening, he is to straighten up. The person is weakened by the correction, and now he is to strengthen himself. His knees are to be ready to support him once again for setting out on the proper path, and for the remainder of the race set before him. In other words, this verse takes the reader right back to verse 12:1 –

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

The chastening which comes from God is intended to bring a person to the place where this is possible.

Life application: The author may have had Ezekiel 7:17 on his mind when he wrote out the words of this verse in Hebrews –

“Every hand will be feeble,
And every knee will be as weak as water.” Ezekiel 7:17

The judgment and wrath of God were being poured out on the people because of their faithlessness and detestable practices. Because of this, there was no hope for strengthening, but rather the hands went limp and the knees weakened completely. On the contrary, the author of Hebrews is saying that rather than wrath and judgment, Christian believers merely face discipline. This discipline is to strengthen us rather than weaken us. If we simply pay attention to what God is trying to teach us, we will produce a harvest of righteousness and peace. And if we don’t, then we will inevitably face our own disaster and loss.

God gives us the choice to follow Him faithfully or to wander and stray. However, as has been noted many times thus far in Hebrews, one will never lose their salvation. The Christian is secure in that promise from God. But how sad many believers will be when they meet Christ face to face and realize the life they wasted in empty pursuit rather than living for Him. Determine today that you will spend your life and your efforts in bringing glory to Him.

Lord God, surely we all need to strengthen ourselves and get about Your business. Give us the ability and the desire to be faithful and honorable followers of Christ Jesus all the days of our lives. To Your glory alone we pray. Amen.