Today's Devotions

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Showcase: Assorted Treats

  • Why We Need the Puritans by JI Packer +

    1 Horse Racing is said to be the sport of kings. The sport of slinging mud has, however, a wider Read More
  • May 9 Devotional: Valley of Vision (Puritans) +

    Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Read More
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Don  Carsonhttp://www.biblestudytools.com/rsv/2-kings/21.html

http://www.biblestudytools.com/rsv/hebrews/3.html

http://www.biblestudytools.com/rsv/hosea/14.html

http://www.biblestudytools.com/rsv/psalms/139.html

2 Kings 21; Hebrews 3; Hosea 14; Psalm 139

MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED that a suitable summary of the theme of Hebrews is "Jesus is better."

In chapters 1–2 he is better than the angels; in chapter 3 he is better than Moses. In Hebrews 4, the rest he offers is better than the rest provided by the Promised Land. In chapters 5 and 7 his high priesthood is better than the Levitical priesthood; in chapter 8, the new covenant over which he presides is better than the old covenant. In chapters 9–10, he officiates over a better sanctuary than the tabernacle, exercises a better ministry, and offers a better sacrifice. In short, "Jesus is better." The message is designed to strengthen the hearts and minds of Jewish Christians who, though they have willingly suffered for Christ in the past, at this point are tempted to return to the Jewish rites and practices they inherited. The writer of Hebrews is afraid that they are abandoning exclusive confidence in Christ, somehow succumbing to the temptation to think that, although Jesus Christ is all right, one may gain a bit more substance, or spirituality, or historical depth, or acceptance among the kinfolk—whatever—thereby sliding toward an implicit denial that "Jesus is better."

None of this means the old covenant was bad; it simply means it was not ultimate. Thus in the brief comparison of Moses and Jesus in Hebrews 3:1–6, Moses, we are told, "was faithful in all God's house" (Heb. 3:2); he "was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future" (Heb. 3:5). There is not a word of reproach.

But Jesus is better. It helps to understand that in both Hebrew and Greek house can mean "household." Like Moses, the author of Hebrews avers, Jesus "was faithful to the one who appointed him" (Heb. 3:2). Nevertheless, "Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses." Why? Because "the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself" (Heb. 3:3). That seems to suggest that Jesus' role with respect to God's "house" or "household" is radically different from that of Moses. Moses was faithful as a servant within the household, and his most important role was testifying to what was to come. Jesus is faithful as "a son over God's house" (Heb. 3:6)—and that household is the community of believers (Heb. 3:6). Moses appears as one servant within the household, looking to the future; Jesus appears as God's Son over the household, building that household (Heb. 3:3) and proving to be the very substance of that to which Moses was pointing in the future.

However important the comparisons between the two men, the differences are the more striking.


http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/loveofgod/2013/11/08/2-kings-21-hebrews-3-hosea-14-psalm-139/

 

Reflections to Consider

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Publications

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Music

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Audio & Video

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Favorites

  • Process +

      The finished diamond is one of the most beautiful and desirable gems. Read More
  • Not a Conscientious Objector +

    As we abide in him and he abides in us, we are receiving his life rather than creating our own Read More
  • Falling in Love With God +

    “falling in love with God,” as Boa’s subtitle for the facet explains. In this approach we attempt to enter into Read More
  • God's Dimension +

    We experience a great sense of the wonder, boldness, and overwhelming awe of God through our relationship with the Holy Read More
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Hidden Blessings

  • Praise as Warfare by Sylvia Gunter +

    Praise is adoration of God for who He is, His person, His character, His names. It is loving God because Read More
  • Followers First by Steve Tamayo, Chatham Community Church +

    What does it mean to be a Christian? Read More
  • Dallas Willard on Spiritual Formation +

    What does it mean to be a disciple, to follow the disciplines necessary to serve Jesus with our whole heart? Read More
  • Cultivating joy to proclaim the gospel +

    And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15 Read More
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