Saturday, September 3, 2016

Psalm 119:1-16 KJV -- Aleph & Beth


The Book of Psalms is the hymnbook of the children of Israel. This particular Psalm is an “acrostic” or an elaborate word structure in the Hebrew language intended as a hymn to the Word of God and the blessedness of obeying it. 

Believer’s Bible Commentary (BBC): Concerning the 119th Psalm, C. S. Lewis said: The poem is not, and does not pretend to be, a sudden outpouring of the heart like, say Psalm 18. It is a pattern, a thing done like embroidery, stitch by stitch, through long, quiet hours, for love of the subject and for the delight in leisurely, disciplined craftsmanship.

Define: Psalms --  (Hebrew: תְּהִלִּים or תהילים Tehillim) meaning "Praises" – poems, hymns, or songs praising God

BBC: This has been called the golden alphabet of the Bible. The reason is that it is divided into twenty-two sections, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each section has eight verses and every verse in a section begins with the corresponding Hebrew letter. Thus in the Hebrew, every verse in the first section begins with Aleph; in the second section every verse begins with Beth; and so on.

What It Says:

Psa 119:1  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psa 119:3  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psa 119:4  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Psa 119:5  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psa 119:7  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:8  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Psa 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psa 119:10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:13  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psa 119:14  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Psa 119:15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psa 119:16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.


What It Means:


Psa 119:1  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

There are two “characters” in this Psalm: God is the first one, and the second is the psalmist who represents all sincere believers. This is a prayer of praise to God for His word and His law. It is also an expression of our need for His help to walk with Him. We, and all NT believers need His Spirit to be with us, so that we may walk undefiled in His way.

Define: Blessed -- H835, אשׁר, 'esher, eh'-sher, From H833; happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!: - blessed, happy. (content, pleased, glad, joyful, fortunate, favorable, delighted, cheerful)

Define: Undefiled – untarnished, pure, unblemished, clean, spotless, shining, unsullied, faultless, immaculate

Those who keep themselves pure (undefiled) are blessed “in the way,” or, as they walk along the journey of life.

Define: Way – road, avenue, lane, street, path, track, route, direction,

In what do they walk? The law of the Lord.

God has given us guidelines, commands, and promises that show us “the way” to walk with Him. “Walk in the law of the LORD” means those who are directed by their desire to love and obey God. David called this “the way of life” as opposed to “the way of death” which is the road that sinners are walking. This is the same law that God promised to write on our hearts and minds, which was accomplished by Jesus Christ when He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the believers who loved and followed Him.

Heb_8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Act 2:2-4  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Joh_6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.


The Bible in Basic English translates the line we are examining like this: Happy are they who are without sin in their ways, walking in the law of the Lord.” In the New Testament “walking in the law of the Lord” is the same as “walking in the Spirit.”

Joh 7:37-39  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 

Jesus says here: “If any man thirst (desire), let him come unto me, and drink (take Him in).” How can “drinking Jesus in” be accomplished on the man’s part? We drink or take in Jesus through reading and studying the Word of God in the Bible in faith. Then Jesus says: “He that believeth on me… out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Then it is explained that he was speaking of the Spirit of God which would soon be received by the believers (See above Act 2:2-4 ). “As the scripture has said.” It is the scripture that foretold the Spirit of God would give us new life in Christ. It is by the word of God or scripture that we know all of these things, but it is by the flow of living water, the Holy Spirit, that we understand, believe, and live by them.

Joh_3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Since we see that Jesus previously spoke of the Spirit using the word “water” we can explain what is said here using His interpretation. He used the metaphor of “born of water” to mean “born again.”  He then clarified his use of the word “water” by saying “and of the Spirit” so that he is not talking about two different things, but is clarifying one with the other. The word “and” here, could have been translated correctly with the word “even” so that it would then read: Except a man be born of water, even of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. To be born of the Spirit or, to be born again, means to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit – what many people call being saved.

Then, once Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected and had sent the Holy Spirit to be in the hearts of the believers this is how this subject matter was spoken of:

Rom_8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Gal_5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 


Gal_5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.


If we live in the Spirit – if we have received eternal life in the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ -- let us ALSO walk in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Walking one step at a time, every step in the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Rom_8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

And there is the confirmation: When we walk in the Spirit, we are fulfilling the righteousness of the law of God.

Psa 119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Whose testimonies are being spoken of? God's

Whose heart is being spoken of? Believer's

Define: Testimony – declaration, statement, announcement, assertion, speech, pronouncement, avowal, affirmation

Define: Seek – search for, strive for, ask for, head towards, try to find, hunt for, inquire about, request, get, take, obtain

What it means to “seek God”is to always keep our minds and our hearts and intentions focused on God and praising Him. We are to "court" him, like we would court a sweet heart.

With what are we to seek God? The whole heart.

God has given us his testimonies of Who He is, what He has done, what He expects from us, and what He will do in response to us. He has given us laws and promises to help and guide us to Himself. Since He is “The Infinite” speaking to “the finite” we see only glimpses of Him in His word. When we are “in the spirit” God reveals himself to us in amounts we can comprehend, but God sees everything. To “keep his testimonies” means to learn and then incorporate God’s word into our lives. Keep means to hold on to and to obey. Making following God’s word a habit speaks of a life spent learning what God has said, seeking Him in our daily lives, and keeping God’s Word alive inside ourselves through obedience, faith, and love for God. While this is an obligation it is also our delight.

Joh_14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

In Psa 119:2 which is the verse we are examining, it says that the obedient person is “blessed” or “happy.” We are to seek God with the whole entire heart and soul because that is what He seeks us with: His entire heart and soul!

Jer 32:41  Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.


Single minded loyalty from Him -- and to Him. Giving your whole heart to God will keep you from sinning. There is “single minded” and then there is the “unstable mind” that tries to follow two ways or to serve two masters (double minded).

Luk_16:13  "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." 

Jas_1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Mar_12:33  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.


The life after conversion that is governed by a single-minded whole-hearted love for the Lord is called a Life of Faith.

Who do you know who lives/lived like this? Mother Theresa, Billy Graham, Paul, Jesus

Those people whom we know have lived a life dedicated to God, such as Mother Theresa, or Billy Graham, or Paul, or David did not just start off knowing God. They were just like us: ignorant of Him. They had to be taught. They had to learn. They first studied His word and drank in Jesus. Then they did what the Psalmist has described in the verses we’ve been looking at. They prayed and sought to know God in both spirit and in truth. They looked for Him every day in their lives. They dedicated their lives to God in the way that He laid out before them in the law which He wrote on their hearts and in their minds by His Holy Spirit.

It is WHAT THEY DID with the Word of God and the knowledge of God that changed their hearts and lives. They lived with faith in God. The perfection of God was awesome to them. The holiness of God was on their minds. The nearness of God was real to them. They depended on God’s faithfulness; and His love was real to them, in them, and around them. They knew their home was in heaven with the Holy God and Jesus Christ, His Holy Son, and that was where they were headed. They walked His path on the way to heaven and God.

Psa 119:3  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

What does it mean to “do no iniquity?” It means to do no sin.

What does it mean to “walk in his ways?” It means to obey him.

BBC: The surest way to abstain from evil is to be completely occupied with doing good.

Psa 119:4  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

What has God commanded us to do? Keep His precepts diligently.

What are precepts? Guiding principles, rules, or instructions for good moral behavior

Define: Diligently – industriously, meticulously, conscientiously, thoroughly, attentively, carefully

Define: Keep – continue, persist in, persevere with, maintain, cling to, honor, fulfill, carry out, comply with, obey

God has commanded us to obey his laws conscientiously and thoroughly. We must aim our minds toward obedience in the heart. Some interpret the word “sin” as “missing the mark” – meaning we took bad aim and did not meet the goal of obedience. We all do it from time to time. As true believers we take our sins to our High Priest and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, for repentance and reconciliation.

Psa 119:5  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

What desire do you see being expressed here? The desire to be obedient.

Whose “statutes” is he talking about? God's statutes or laws

Whose “ways” is he talking about? His own ways.

Define: Directed – governed, ruled by, managed, regulated, heading for, bound for, going to, aimed at, intended for

What is being expressed here is the desire to have the personal inner power, or self control, to keep God’s laws. “That my ways were directed” – always heading in the direction of keeping God’s statutes. Always governed by conscientious will to keep God’s statutes.

BBC: The psalmist now moves from what is true in general to what he wants to be true in his own life. In moving insensibly (effortlessly) from precept to prayer, he acknowledges that the desire as well as the power to be steadfast in obedience must come ultimately from God.

Eph_3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

He is comparing his own ways with the statutes of God and desires that they be balanced equally with each other – or match each other. This is the thing that all true believers desire: that there would be no gap between what they believe and what they do, in their own lives.

From where/whom do we get our “directions for living?” God's word in the Bible.

If we keep God’s precepts (concepts, ideas, principles), our ways will be directed, and we shall end up keeping His statutes (decrees, laws, word).

Psa 37:23-25  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

The steps of a good man are set in order, directed by the LORD. Just as the Lord establishes us in every good word and work, He is putting order in our steps. Notice the colon after the word “LORD:” – this means that the Lord delights in the ways of the good man who is walking as the Lord directs him. The Lord delights in a good man, and a good man delights himself in the Lord and in His word. Even if that man were to stumble or fall, the Lord will uphold him and help Him to get back into the right steps.

2Co 4:6-10  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Then the psalmist continues with his witness of what he has seen of the Lord in his own life: whether old or young, the righteous are not forsaken and their children have provision for life. The good man is ever merciful and lends to others what the Lord has given to him. Even his seed is blessed as he has been blessed.

Psa 119:6  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

In verse 5 the psalmist shared his desire to be obedient and in verse 6 he tells us the desirable results of obedience.

Define: Ashamed – embarrassed, regretful, feeling guilty, feeling shame, mortified, humiliated, reluctant, uncomfortable

What keeps us from being ashamed? Respecting God's word.

Define: Respect – value, reverence, esteem, have a high opinion of, look up to, admire (Antonym: disregard)

What would cause us shame? Disobedience which is sin.

Psa_31:17  Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

Rom_10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Psa_25:20  O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

Psa 119:7  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.


We will praise God with what?  Uprightness of heart.

Define: Uprightness – decency, honesty, respectability, morality, honorableness, honor, worthiness, moral uprightness

To praise God with uprightness of heart means: expressing sincere admiration for him, with thankful, loyal, and faithful hearts. Uprightness of heart is the opposite of being ashamed.

Psa_95:6  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

When shall we praise and worship? (Psa 119:7) When I have learned Thy righteous judgments.

This is like saying “hindsight is 20/20”. When all things are done we shall end up seeing the righteous judgments of God for ourselves and praising Him. Even when we do not know the specific outcome we remain steadfast in the Lord with an upright heart full of praise for Him because we trust in His righteousness and power to make all things good.

Joh_4:23-24  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Our worship must come not only from the Spirit of God in our hearts (in spirit), but in knowledge of the truth. “In truth” also means “in actuality” or by the deeds in our lives rather than by only the words we speak. To worship God in spirit and in truth means to worship him in the heart and live by His laws which we demonstrate by our good deeds.

Mat 12:35  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Psa 119:8  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.


What does the psalmist promise to do? Keep God's statutes.

What does he seek from God?  That God will not abandon him.

What do you think might prompt statements like this?  The realization of who we are. The understanding that we are weak but God is Almighty.

This is the prayer of repentance and desire for new life in Christ. These statements come from a realization of our own powerlessness. Repentance means a change of heart toward God -- the desire to keep God’s statutes where there may have been failure in the past. He also gives the reason for repentance which is the desire to remain close to the Lord. Since the Lord is Holy, he only draws near to the Holy. He has provided the way for us to “achieve” holiness through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Gal_2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Did you notice that he says in Gal 2:20: “I live by the faith of  the Son of God”? He did not say “faith in,” he said “faith of.” The faith that Jesus, the Son of God, had in His Father is what has given us new life. He accomplished His mission by His faith in God. It is His faith that has saved us and accomplished all the works He set out to do!! We put our faith in His faith and live in Him. Amen!! We also can say: “I will keep thy statues: O forsake me not utterly” – and He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. Amen!!

Heb_13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Psa 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Define: Wherewithal – necessary means, ability, resources, money, finances, funds

First the psalmist asks a question, then he gives the answer.

What is the question? With what resources shall a young man cleanse his way?

What is the answer? By paying attention to obey God's word.

With what resources shall a young woman cleanse her way? What source of supply is needed in order to keep God’s statutes? The answer is by taking heed, paying attention to, keeping their life in harmony or accord with God’s word – and ultimately with God, Himself. Jesus Christ is the resource that cleanses our way when we take heed to Him according to His word.

Psa 119:10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

First the psalmist testifies of what he has done, and then he asks God for something he needs.

What does he testify: I have sincerely sought to know, You, Dear Father.

What does he request: Do not let me wander away from keeping they commandments.

With his testimony of faith and his plea for help he shows his dependence upon the power and the love of God. It is God who directs our paths so it seems only right that we need to ask Him to keep us on the path. It is not good for us to wander from His path.

Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

How do you hide God’s word in your heart? Read and study the Bible. Pray for God to open your understanding of what you are reading in the Bible. Ponder and seek to understand and then begin to live by God's word.

Why does he want to do that? So he won't sin against God, through ignorance.

Notice that “wandering from thy commandments” is the same as sinning.

It requires study of the word of God to position it in your heart. It requires knowing the word of God to keep it steadfastly in your heart. It requires acceptance and faith in the truth of the word of God to hide it deep inside your heart. It requires being born of the Spirit who teaches and reminds us to obey God’s word which keeps us from sinning.

Jas 1:21-22  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Notice that Jas 1:21-22 says that if you know the word but do not do it, you are deceived.

Define: Deceived – fooled, mislead, tricked, taken in, betrayed, lied to, swindled, conned, misinformed, cheated, hoodwinked, duped, deluded

Who has tricked or fooled you? You own selves.

If you are a hearer of the word and not a doer of it, you have deceived your own self. You have pulled the wool over your own eyes!!

Psa 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

What does the psalmist say to praise the Lord? O LORD, thou art happy!! Thou art the source of joy! Blessed art thou, O LORD!!

What does he request of the Lord? Teach me thy statutes!!

Joh_14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Luk_12:12  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Joh_14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.


By faith in Jesus Christ we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost who teaches and reveals to us ALL things about the Father and the Son. Then later on when we need that information, He brings all things to our remembrance. We know the “whatsoever I have said unto you” by the record of His spoken word which is written in the Bible. You can only “remember” what has first been placed into your memory. Once the Word of God has been hidden in your own heart, it is the Holy Spirit who brings it all to mind. He teaches us so that as we read we understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. He reveals the meaning to us. Then He brings the word up into our memory to speak to us once more when it is needed. Notice that all this happens after we have opened ourselves up to God, Himself, and to His word. When we seek Him wholeheartedly, He has promised that we shall find Him.

Jer_29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Joel_2:12-13  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.


God sees our repentance as a turning back to Him and seeking for Him – with the whole heart.

Psa 119:13  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.


What have my lips declared? All the judgments of thy mouth.

Define: Judgments – rulings, decisions, findings, verdicts, sentences, conclusions, results, opinions, views, feelings, thoughts, way of thinking, reasoning, belief, assessment, wisdom, discrimination, intelligence

How do we know these judgments of God? We find them in His word.

How do we declare them?  We share them with others. We share "What God has done for me."

Psa 119:14  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

In what two things has the psalmist rejoiced?  1. The way of thy testimonies, 2. all riches He gave me

He rejoices in “the way” – the path that has been laid out – by the testimonies of the Lord. He has rejoiced in the commands, the promises, and the path that has been ordained for him by the Word of God just as much as he rejoiced in God's blessings. 

Joh_15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Eph_2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.


He has rejoiced in the way of the testimonies of the Lord just as much as in all the riches that the Lord has given Him. This is the attitude of gratitude that we must also share – for the word of God and for the blessings of God that have been shed upon us.

Psa 119:15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Now the psalmist shares his plans for the future.

What two things is he planning to do? 1. He is going to ponder or meditate in God's precepts which are found in His word, and 2. He plans to respect God's ways of doing things.

Define: Meditate – contemplate, ponder, think about, consider, deliberate, turn over in your mind, mull over, reflect upon

Define: Precepts – a rule, instruction, or principle that guides ones’ actions, especially that guides moral behavior

Define: Ways – habits, conduct, customs, behavior, traditions

Not only is he planning to “meditate in thy precepts” which means not only to read them but to study and ponder them (search the scriptures for the full meaning of God’s word and understanding). But he is also planning on having respect unto His ways. He has already made the decision to live by and to obey the word of God. Have we made the same plans for our lives? Are we planning to meditate on God’s word, and to value and respect God’s ways?

Psa 119:16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

What else is he planning to do? 1. Delight himself in God's statues and laws, and 2. Remember God's word.

He is also planning on finding pleasure in God’s word and “not forgetting” what God has said. This is not going to be merely a duty he takes on but a way of engaging and rejoicing in God. Reading and doing God’s word is going to be “his pleasure and delight.” Have we made the same plans for our lives? Are we planning to delight in God’s word, and to remember and practice God’s ways?

Define: Delight – enjoyment, take pleasure in, happiness, joy, gladness, satisfaction, appreciate, revel in, relish, enjoy, savor, bask in, (Antonym: displeasure, dislike)

Define: Statutes – decree, act, law, ruling, edict, bill, order

Define: Remember (not forget) – keep in mind, bear in mind, retain information, memorize, learn by heart, commit to memory, consider, take into account, recall, think of, recollect, hark back to, reminisce, summon up, bring to mind.

Define: Word – utterance, sound, statement, expression, speech, remark, declaration, written word

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary: To original corruption all have added actual sin. The ruin of the young is either living by no rule at all, or choosing false rules: let them walk by Scripture rules. To doubt of our own wisdom and strength, and to depend upon God, proves the purpose of holiness is sincere. God's word is treasure worth laying up, and there is no laying it up safe but in our hearts, that we may oppose God's precepts (place God’s precepts in opposition) to the dominion of sin, his promises to its allurements, and his threatenings to its violence. Let this be our plea with Him to teach us his statutes, that, being partakers of his holiness, we may also partake of his blessedness. And those whose hearts are fed with the bread of life, should with their lips feed many. In the way of God's commandments there is the unsearchable riches of Christ. But we do not meditate on God's precepts to good purpose, unless our good thoughts produce good works. I will not only think of thy statutes, but do them with delight. And it will be well to try the sincerity of our obedience by tracing the spring of it; the reality of our love by cheerfulness in appointed duties.

1Ki_18:36  And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

Joh_17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.


Psa_119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Read our study verses again:

Psa 119:1  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Psa 119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psa 119:3  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Psa 119:4  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
Psa 119:5  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psa 119:7  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:8  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Psa 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psa 119:10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:13  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psa 119:14  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Psa 119:15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psa 119:16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. 


Thursday, April 14, 2016

To The Saints


This morning I read a sermon that was preached more than a hundred years ago and it gave me a sense of awe and brought me to relief and weeping for the love of God for me -- for us all. I am sharing it here so you, too, can experience this message today. May you be blessed and reminded of what it means to be a saint of Jesus Christ. If you are depressed or have forgotten who you are, you will be reminded. May you be filled with the goodness and the newness of Christ once again. God is so awesome!!!

It was written by G. Campbell Morgan, and is part of "The Westminster Pulpit" series which was originally printed in 1906.

Enjoy!!

Saints.

To the saints.... As becometh saints. 

Eph_1:1; Eph_5:3


It would appear as though this were an unwarrantable wresting of texts from their context, yet it is not really so. I grant at once that nothing of the teaching of this letter can be gained from these isolated quotations; but if I may take it for granted that we are familiar with the whole letter as to its contention and intention, then I say that these phrases indicate its practical values.

In this epistle Paul reaches the climax of his great system of teaching. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that in this epistle, taken together with the Colossian epistle, he reaches that climax. In Colossians he deals with the glories of Christ as at the disposal of the Church, so that the supreme sentences are, "In Him dwelleth all the fulness," and "In Him ye are made full."

In this letter he deals with the glories of the Church as realized through her relationship to Christ Who is the Head. In some senses it is one of the simplest, while in others it is one of the sublimest, of the apostolic writings. It is simple in its method. Paul first describes the Church as to its nature, as to its calling: in three chapters, as we have divided the epistle, dealing with predestination, edification, vocation.

Then he turns to the application of this great calling of the Church to her present life with the words, "I therefore... beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called"; and in the second three chapters he shows the walk that is worthy, as to the Church itself, as to individual and social conduct, and as to united conflict. There is no letter more sublime in its teaching. In its earlier chapters the apostle reveals—not in detail, but with sufficient clearness to leave an impression forever upon the mind of the student—that the ultimate vocation of the Church belongs to the ages to come. In the second part of the letter he shows what that means for the present life, how it is to affect all relationships; personal character and conduct; home relationships, husbands and wives, children and parents; household responsibilities, masters and servants. In brief, he first floods the soul with the vision of the heavenly calling, and then flashes that selfsame light upon personal conduct.

From this epistle, then, believing that the general conception of it is upon the mind of the Bible student, I take these two phrases. He is writing "to the saints"; and the great burden of his letter as to present, personal, and practical application is that they should live "as becometh saints."

Our theme, then, is saintship. Let us say at once that we are still suffering from mistaken ideas of what saintship really is. We are by no means free from the false interpretations of what we now sometimes speak of as the dark ages. We are still held in bondage to a far greater extent than we recognize by mediæval thinking concerning saintship. This you will discover, not so much by the art, or poetry, or Christian literature of the present day, as by the common converse of Christian people whenever they approach the subject of saintship.

In the past saintship was misinterpreted in art, in poetry, in Christian literature of all kinds. The conception of a saint was that of a person separated from the ordinary and everyday life of his own age by some geographical, external, material separation. The idea of saintship was that of a vocation granted to a few rather than that of the calling of all who indeed belong to Jesus Christ. Of course, the simplest way to illustrate this is to ask you to think of the art of the past, and you will find in all the representations of saintship indications of this false conception. The saints that we see in pictures of the great masters are men separated from their fellow men by the very garments they wore. Raphael paints Galilean fishermen in ecclesiastical robes such as they never wore: and the great artists all suggested a holy sanctity by things added to the personality that are by no means connected with human nature.

The monastic idea was false. It was based upon an excellent intention born of the passion of man for fellowship with God in seclusion and quiet, born of a strong desire to enter a life of separation; but it is utterly false in its philosophy. In the moment when you separate a man from the actual and everyday affairs of this life, you cut the nerve of his praying, and remove all the friction which is necessary to the perfecting of his saintship. Christianity is not an exotic, it is a hardy perennial.

The symbolic language of Canticles, whatever it may have meant in its first intention, teaches this exquisitely: "As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters." The lily of the Lord prospers in the soil which produces thorns. It is a hardy plant, not an exotic. You do not make a saint of a man the moment you take him away from the friction of the world; you put him in awful peril of losing the last trace of sanctity.

The moment you take a man or a woman away from close contact with the sorrow and agony of human life you cut the nerve of prayer. If I am to pray for the world I must live in it and know it. If I am to be one of the saints of God, I must be a saint in the midst of all the ordinary and everyday life of the age.

Sometimes we make use of the phrase "counsel of perfection." I wonder how many people know the history of that phrase. We say of something that is proposed to be done: it is an admirable proposition, but it is not practicable; it is a "counsel of perfection." That phrase has come to us from the Roman Church, in which "counsels of perfection" are instructions for such as devote themselves to the holy and saintly life. "Counsels of perfection," according to that Church, are rules which cannot be obeyed by those who remain in the ordinary life of the world, but only by those who come into holiness by separation from such life. All this is contrary to the New Testament ideal of saintship.

Let me put that again in a simple way. If you cannot be a saint in the house of business where you are, you will never be a saint when you enter the Salvation Army. If you cannot be a saint in your own home, you cannot be a saint in this pulpit.

That we are still suffering from these ideas of saintship is evidenced by the converse of saints today concerning saintship. A Christian man says: "I do not profess to be a saint," yet he is a church member, a church officer, sometimes a minister. What does he mean? If not a saint, then not a Christian. If a Christian, then a saint. The fact is that in his mind there still exists a false conception of what saintship really is. Sometimes, moreover, in saying this there is an indication of a contempt for the saint. It is not merely that the speaker does not consider himself a saint; there is a quiet undercurrent of satisfaction in his heart that he is not one. That also is born of this false conception of saintship.

Because the conception is false, the protest is a healthy one. If saintship consists in absolute abstention from the ordinary affairs of everyday life, then it becomes unmanly and anemic, thin, mean, and there is no robust man or woman in the world who ought not to hold it in superlative contempt. That, however, is not the saintship of the New Testament.

Let me ask you first, then, to remember, gathering up the teaching of the New Testament, that a saint is one who is united with the life of Christ. In the first chapter of this letter, following the words, "To the saints," is a qualifying, illuminative phrase, "the faithful in Christ Jesus." That does not mean such as are faithful, in the sense of fidelity, but those who live upon the principle of faith. These are saints. Every Christian is a saint. The moment in which a man, or woman, or little child hands over the life to Christ is the moment in which saintship begins.

I am not denying for a single moment that there may be very great distance between the fact of saintship and the realization of its ultimate perfection of experience; that there may be, as some of our fathers would have put it, a distinction between our standing and our state, between what we are in the economy of God, by the provision of His grace as to resource, and what we are in the actual experience of our lives. This is taught with equal clearness in the New Testament. That is the burden of this letter. It is as though the apostle had said, I am writing to saints, to those men and women in Ephesus, or other churches, who belong to Christ. What have I to say to them? Realize your resources. You are Christians; be Christians. You are saints; live "as becometh saints." That is the burden of the letter.

Let us inquire a little more in detail what this letter teaches concerning the nature of saintship. I am not going to stay to read these three first chapters to you, though that would be a profitable exercise; neither am I going to stay now to turn to them; but I am proposing to remind you that Paul teaches us in the course of these first three chapters three great things concerning our relationship to God. They are illustrations of one great truth, and when we understand them we shall know what saintship really is; and we shall be able to understand the meaning of the Apostle's charge that we live "as becometh saints."

In the first chapter he prays for these Ephesian Christians that they may know what is "God's inheritance in the saints." A little further on, in the second chapter, he declares to them that they are "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them." Yet a little further on in the same chapter he declares that the saints are being built together for a "habitation of God in the Spirit." Take from these quotations the descriptive phrases and leave all the setting: Inheritance of God, Workmanship of God, Habitation of God.

In these three phrases we have the revelation of the Apostle's conception of the position of every Christian man and woman.

First, the saint is the inheritance of God, His property. Second, the saint is the workmanship of God, one upon whom He is working toward an end. Finally, the saint is the habitation of God, His home. This is not a low ideal of saintship; that would be impossible in the light of New Testament teaching.


It would be well for us if, instead of listening to another voice, we would utter to ourselves in quietness these truths, making them our own, declaring them, affirming them. If I do that, I do it that you may follow and do it for yourselves. Forgive me, therefore, if I use the first person. I am God's property. I am God's workmanship. I am God's home.

I am God's property, absolutely His. I am that by creation. I had lost the sense of that relationship, but now I am His by redemption, by all His infinite work in me, whereby sin is put away as to its guilt, is being dealt with as to its power, and ultimately will be put away as to its presence. Whatever that personal pronoun stands for, all that is indicated by that simple yet terrible formula, "I," belongs to Him. I am not my own, I am His.

Speak, if you will, of spirit, of soul, of body; of the essential spirit, of the body through which the spirit acts, of the mind which is consciousness, either spiritual or fleshly, according to the yielding of my will—I am His. I belong to Him. Speak, if you will, in the terms of that analysis of personality, emotion, intellect, will, all belongs to Him. For the moment I am not discussing the question whether God has possession or not. I am discussing the question of His absolute proprietorship. As a saint I belong to Him. I may be using these hands contrary to His will; I may be using these feet to take me some journey which is out of the way of His appointment; I may be robbing Him, but I belong to Him. The sin of the prodigal son in the far country was that he wasted his father's substance in riotous living. I belong to God. That is the first fact of saintship. I would to God I might almost cease speaking, and that that first fact might take possession of the heart of every professing Christian. I am His, not my own, but His.

I take a step further. I am His workmanship. If I simply speak of the fact that the saint is the property of God I recognize the imperfection of God's property. The saint is not an absolutely perfect being who can make no advance. The saint as the property of God may be most imperfect, but, being His, I am His workmanship, and that means that He will take the imperfect thing and make it perfect. Not in a moment, not by some mechanical readjustment of things, so that the imperfect is immediately made perfect, but by processes; by teaching, pain, discipline, affliction, baptisms, fire; by crushing, breaking, making, God will perfect. The first thing is that I am His. The second thing is that I am His workmanship. I never can read that word "workmanship" myself, and I daresay it is so with many of you, without the Greek word of which it is a translation singing itself into my heart, poema, which does not mean rhyming merely, but a thing of beauty, the thought of God revealed in concrete form that others may see it. I never can read the word "workmanship" without the familiar figure of the Old and New Testaments coming to mind, that of the potter and the clay. There is no finer figure to teach the meaning of this truth than that. We are always in danger of spoiling the figure by looking too long at the clay, and at the wheel, and not sufficiently at the potter; yet we must see the clay and the wheel. The clay is the potter's property, that is our first point. It is that when it is still an inert mass, without fashion, or form of beauty; nothing in it attractive. That is the first fact of saintship: without form or comeliness, without beauty, I am His.

Now watch the potter. He takes the clay and puts it on the wheel. The process is very old, but watch it. What is the potter doing? His own foot is turning the wheel. His own hands are upon the clay. What is happening? In the mind of the potter there is a vision of a vessel for use and for beauty. I cannot see what is in the mind of the potter. I do not know the thing he is thinking. I am not familiar with it. Watch, his hands are upon the clay. It is plastic to his touch, and as the wheel revolves the thought that is in the mind of the potter is being revealed in the clay. He is translating his thought of beauty into an appearance of loveliness. "We are His workmanship." As clay in the hands of the Potter, so am I. Unlovely and useless is the clay until the Potter lay His hands upon it, yet what marvelous material it is for the Potter to use. God's hand is upon the saint, molding, making, perfecting something of beauty for all the coming ages. I am His workmanship as well as His property.

I go one step further, to this last thing the apostle says. The saint is the habitation of God. The figure changes, yet becomes more full of beauty, more full of life. The habitation of God, the home of God. There is a great difference between home and any other dwelling-place. Someone says, the heart has many a dwelling-place, but only once a home. I think there is truth in it. Most of you have a home. Some of you are not at home just now. You are in hotels. No one will ever hear you speak of the hotel as home. What is the difference? Who can answer? No man yet has ever spelled "home." No man yet has ever sung "home." Home is a sigh, a sob, laughter and rapture. Home cannot be defined, but I will tell you what it is. It is the place where you are "at home." I do not mind your smile. I can do no better than that. I know what it means and you know what it means. It is the place where you never need to keep up appearances—unless you have visitors. It is the place where you are supremely conscious that you have right of way, not the right of dogmatic authority, but the right of love. Every door swings open to you. Every picture indicates your welcome. The flowers that are placed by your side breathe an atmosphere of love that makes home. You are the home of God, the place into which He comes and rests, the place where there is no chamber locked against Him. You are the home of God.

That is saintship. His property, poor, worthless, lacking in beauty, but His. And the comfort of it, "His workmanship," feeling the pressure of His hand until I am in agony sometimes, yet knowing the Potter. It is not the principle that helps me. It is the Potter Who helps me. If you emphasize only the principle I am afraid. If you tell me only of the sovereignty of God, I am overwhelmed, but when I know the Potter I know that His crushing hand is crushing only to create. I love that one touch in the old prophetic story about the potter. If he break the vessel he will make it again. If the vessel be marred the potter will make it again. I am His workmanship. That is the second fact. Finally, I am His habitation. He has purchased me for a residence.

It seems to me that I might read the second phrase now almost without a word. "As becometh saints." The only interpretation of its meaning that is sufficient is that of going over these facts again in order to make the simplest application of them.

I am His property. How shall I live as becomes that fact? By seeing to it that all this is His, that of what belongs to Him I am not robbing Him. God may be robbed in many ways. I am not going to deal with the more objectionable and flagrant ways of doing so. The awful possibility of prostituting some power of the life which belongs to God to base uses is admitted. There are other and subtler methods. Some trembling soul who wants to live as becomes a saint may, by taking some weakness in the life and endeavoring to make it strong without His strength, rob Him. You say, I am not worthy to offer myself to Him. But you are His already. But there is this weakness, you say, this infirmity! Do not forget that a great many of the hymns we are singing in evangelistic meetings are for the saint as well as for the sinner:—

Just as I am—though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.

He wants you as you are. That is the glory of saintship as revealed here. Counsels of perfection, not in order that you may become a saint, but perfect counsels because you are a saint. To walk as becomes a saint is to recognize that every fiber of the physical life, every movement of the mental life, every power of complex personality is His, and to hand over to Him His property. That is the first law of walking as becomes a saint. The application is more personal and pertinent as we get further on.

Let us take the next. "We are His workmanship." We may learn as much by the disparity as by the similarity in the use of all figures. We speak of the potter and the clay, of the fact that the clay has to be plastic in the hand of the potter; but there is the disparity, and it is at the point of the disparity that our difficulty exists. The clay has no will or wish or desire of its own, but we have will and wish and desire. That disparity reveals the very crux of the condition of saintship. The true attitude is that of yielding the will, the wish, the desire, to the mastery and compulsion of God's will, God's wish, God's desire. To me the profoundest thing in life is submission to the will of God. It is the last thing. It is the rock foundation. It will be the final thing, the capstone with glory gleaming on it. To be in His will, willingly in His will, "as becometh saints." A man ought to speak in the presence of that thought with great tenderness and great delicacy. I do not know that I have learned it. I want to learn it, always to recognize the truth so sublimely sung by Tennyson. How glibly we sing it and recite it, yet what an infinitely beautiful unfolding of the Christian philosophy there is in it:

Our wills are ours, we know not how:
Our wills are ours, to make them Thine.

That is the highest function of will, to will to do His will, God's will, so that I am to say, "Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on": so that I am to say, Where He wills, what He wills, how He wills, when He wills; whether London, America, China, India, or Heaven, does not matter; whether to preach or be silent, to do more or to do less, does not matter; what He wills! Oh, soul of mine, see the vision and pray for strength to answer it. There is no man or woman of us here, comrades in the Christian life, who does not know that that is life, the clay willingly answering the pressure of the Potter. Be in His will. At the front? Yes, if He puts you there, with no mock modesty. At the back? Yes, surely, if He puts you there, with no repining. In His will. "As becometh saints."

Finally, the home of God. Have I any chamber in this habitation locked against Him. You and I must answer that alone. I hate confessions in crowds. I am not going to make any. Is there some compartment, some chamber in your life to which you never admit God? You have given Him right of way over three-quarters of the home, but there is a part locked away from Him. You do not want Him there. You are glad to be here this morning, for you are laying open to Him the sides of your nature where He is welcome, but there is half an hour tomorrow when you would rather not have Him with you or in you. That is not walking as becomes saintship. Have you ever noticed how many days it took them to carry out the things that defiled it when they were cleansing the temple in the olden days of Hezekiah? Make application of the spiritual meaning to yourselves. How many things there are in His temples that dishonor Him. How many rooms of these homes we will not have Him in because we are ashamed. Shall we not open all the doors this morning? Hand over the keys to Him? Yes, if He comes in He will change the setting of things in that room! But He will add to the beauty! He will sweep the pictures from the walls. But He will hang finer ones there. He will burn those books upon the shelves. But He will give you other literature and better! Give Him right of way—forgive the familiarity of it. Make God at home in your life! This is what He seeks.

"The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." "For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God." It is a great prophetic word. The principle applies to this moment. London is groaning. New York is groaning. Paris is groaning. Centers of light and fashion and beauty, all are groaning, believe me, this morning. All the things we can hear, and the things that defy our hearing but which are there, the sob, and sigh, and wail of oppressed humanity. What are they waiting for? For you to be a saint and to live as becomes a saint. For me to have done with small thinking about saintship. For us, the property of God, to be at the disposal of God, the workmanship of God to be yielded wholly to God, the home of God to allow Him to possess every chamber.

When He so possesses His own there will be the salt that is aseptic, purifying all the life of the city and the nation; there will be light set upon a hill, illuminating vast expanses, and making all the details of domestic life beautiful, as a lampstand in the home. The world is waiting to see the saints of God, and God is waiting for His own. May God help us His saints, to live "as becometh saints."


Sunday, March 13, 2016

Hebrews 13:13-25

Go Forth Unto Jesus

What it says:

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Heb 13:18  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Heb 13:19  But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Heb 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Heb 13:23  Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Heb 13:24  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Heb 13:25  Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy. 


What it means:

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.


(CEV)  That's why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace.


To go without, or outside, of the camp means to leave behind the old covenant, the old ways, the old city, and the old system and go forward unto Jesus Christ and the new covenant, and the eternal life that He mediated for us by His own blood. If what He did was a disgrace, then let us share in the same disgrace as He did, for we know it is not disgrace but the true grace of God unto the whole world. If He was reproached for God’s grace, then let us be reproached also, in His name, for God’s grace. Let us be built up and established in God’s grace!!

Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.


(ERV)  Here on earth we don't have a city that lasts forever. But we are waiting for the city that we will have in the future.

Why should we cling to the old Jerusalem that is perishing? The word “Jerusalem” stands for the city and especially for the temple which was the concrete earthly symbol of the old covenant.

We know that the temple no longer stands in Jerusalem, for God allowed the Romans to destroy it in the year 70 A.D., but Jesus stands forever in heaven at God’s eternal right hand. By Jesus Christ, we seek the new city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, with its immense crowd of angels and just men made perfect.

Define: Seek – search for, look for, try to find, hunt for, seek out, ask for, inquire about, request, get, take, obtain

We are looking for, asking for, and requesting to be part of God’s city each day by our faithfulness to Jesus.

This also calls forth another idea: that of being near to God. We can only draw near to God because He has already, in Jesus Christ, drawn near to us. We are not speaking of earthly space and time, but of His Heavenly Holy Spirit. Think about the sun. We may know its position in the sky simply by looking at our watches or knowing the time of day. At noon we know the sun is high in the sky and shining bright. The sun always shines bright, wherever it is in our sky. But sometimes when we poke our head out the door at noon, what we see are clouds and rain so we cannot actually see the sun. We know the sun is above the clouds, intellectually, but we do not feel its presence in our hearts. We look at those clouds and wonder if we shall ever see the sun again. We know we will in our minds, but at the moment it does not feel so in our hearts because we lack the manifest presence of the sun. We cannot, at the moment, actually see the sun in the sky, because it is hidden behind those dark clouds.

There is a skill that we need to cultivate: that of trusting in the very Presence of God no matter what we see when we poke our heads out the door.

Define: Manifest –  obvious, evident, clear, visible, discernible, observable, display, reveal, exhibit  (Antonym: obscure, hide)

Define: Presence – attendance, being there, company, being, life, reality

What is the antonym to “presence?” (Antonym: absence)

Psa 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.


The manifest presence means an experience of being in the actual presence of the Spirit of God. David said that being in the presence of God brought fullness of joy to his heart. He started this verse with the words, “Thou wilt show me the path of life” meaning the path that leads to life and not to death. David discovered that when he walked on the path of life, and remembered to put God in front of his face, in the forefront of his mind, and when he was obedient, that God was also at his right hand. Meaning that God gave him favor and blessings. Things happened around David that did not happen anywhere else because God was “with him.” David trusted in God’s ever present help being right next to him. He then discovered his own courage. He could not be moved or shaken. Nothing bothered him when his faith and trust was completely in God and he was walking with Him daily.

Psa 16:8  I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Psa_31:24  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.


By faith and trust we may rejoice in the light of the sun even on a cold and cloudy day. Have you known people who like rainy days? Maybe you are one of them. They have learned to see and to feel the beauty of the rain and deeper colors of the trees and foliage around them. They are not gloomy, they rejoice and love the peace they find in the cold and rain and darkness. It gives them satisfaction and real pleasure to see days like that because they see it differently in their hearts. That is what walking with Jesus can be like to those who are willing to cultivate the skill of seeing Him before their face and in their hearts all the time. It is the manifest Presence of God that warms our hearts. God is already everywhere present. We cannot be far from Him, but we can feel like we are not near to Him.

A.W. Tozer, “God’s Immanence” from “The Attributes of God” Vol I: “Have you any tears for that distance that you feel between you and God that you know isn’t there, yet feel is there? You are not diminishing in any way the things God has already done in your life. You’re grateful and thankful for every blessing, for justification, for the good grace of God on your life. But you can’t escape that sense of remoteness, and many a day is a heavy one because God seems far from you. You know He isn’t, but you feel He is. He can’t show His face.”

What causes this sense of being far from God? Usually it is the clouds and rain of sin and selfishness that we have allowed to get between our hearts and God’s Presence. God does not manifest His Presence when the people have turned their backs to Him. God inhabits the praises of His people. When we feel that we are not near to God but desire to be near because we miss Him, we need to reach out through our clouds and rain to Him. We need to repent of not being holy in the Presence of our Holy God. God has, in Jesus Christ, given us the great privilege of being able to approach the Throne of Grace whenever we are in need. No matter what the need.

Heb_4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We need to place God on His throne in the kingdom of our hearts. If you are yearning for the Presence of God, go to Him and ask Him to guide you. Seek Him. Ask Him for what you need and then begin to praise Him, and love Him, and feel Him in your heart. Practice doing the things you know He wants you to do.

Where is the kingdom of God?

Luk 17:20-21  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The kingdom of God is within you. “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.” It is not found in any particular place on earth, except in your very own heart. There are no Polaroids or digital files containing a picture of the kingdom of God because His kingdom exists in your heart. That is why our heart is our gauge of how near or far we are from Him. That is why our conscience being clear, allows us the opportunity of seeing Him before us. That is why sin, removes us from His Holy Presence. That is why God looks at our hearts to know who we are. That is also how we know Him: by looking at His heart.

1Jn_4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Eph 2:4-7  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Psa_86:12  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.


God is always there. God is always faithful. He never leaves us. He never leaves us high and dry. What must you do to trust in the Great God of Heaven every single day? What will it take for you to draw near to God?

Isa 57:13c-15  But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain. And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way." For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

God revives us. He revives the spirit of the lowly. He revives the heart of the contrite when we come to Him, when we seek His Presence – when we live in His peace and His holiness.

Act 3:19-22  Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.

God sends times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord – to those repentant souls who are truly seeking Him.

Jas_4:8  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.


Let us not cling to the clouds and rain but to the Son of God who has shined forth into humanity and eternally reconciled us with the Great God of Heaven. Practice the Presence of God in your own life. Become skilled in a new thing. Cling to the goodness and love of God for you by loving Him. Praise Him and thank Him and walk with Him.

Mic_6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

This is what Jesus said about the Presence of His Father:

Joh 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Jesus said “the Father hath not left me alone” BECAUSE “I do always those things that please him.” How blessed to know that the Father is “with you” – wherever you go, all the time – Amen! Obedience clears our path to God.

Num 6:24  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

What sacrifice are we to offer to God?  The sacrifice of praise to God.

How often? Continually.

Psa 107:8-9  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Psa 140:12-13  I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Rev 11:17  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.


Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

(YLT)  and of doing good, and of fellowship, be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well-pleased.

(CEV)  But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.


Sometimes the best explanation of archaic terms and phrases is simply a modern translation. In this verse our author has added a couple more sacrifices that are just as well pleasing to God as praising and giving thanks.

With what other sacrifices from us, is God well pleased?  To do good, and to communicate.

We are to do good (and not evil), fellowship with other Christians, be not forgetful to help others when they are in need of help, and to share of our possessions with them that have lost their goods -- as we praise the Lord. It is once more, for the last and final time, emphasized that good works are to follow our faith into action. It is also pointed out that doing these things pleases God.

Heb_11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 


Since we know that doing the aforementioned things (doing good, fellowshipping, remembering, helping, sharing) pleases God, and that it is impossible to please Him without faith, these thing must be the living demonstration of our faith in the Living God.  Amen

Jas_2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:

Who are we to obey?  Them that have the rule over you.

What does it mean to submit yourself?  To serve and to obey.

Our author is now guiding them and us to submit to our local church leaders and be good servants to them who do so much good for the local congregation. He is not usurping their authority but encouraging and supporting it.

for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account,


What do our local leaders do?  They watch over our own souls, so they may give an accounting.

The local pastors, elders, and leaders who are watching out for your souls have been given charge over you and they must give an account to the rest of the church and to Jesus, Himself, not only for themselves, but for you also.

that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.


What report is preferable for you? A joyful report of us.

What is unprofitable for you?  One that give them grief to deliver.

Bless them that they may give their account with joy, not with grief over you – for you will not profit from the grief of those who rule over you. There is benefit to you from the joy you cause them.

Heb 13:18  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

(ESV)  Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

 (GNB)  Keep on praying for us. We are sure we have a clear conscience, because we want to do the right thing at all times
.

Here our author, most likely Paul, the Apostle, asks for the congregation to “pray for us” meaning him and his companions as they continue to preach and teach the gospel of grace and Jesus Christ while in their own set of  circumstances.

Being willing to live honestly… Desiring to do the right thing at all times…. Gives one a good conscience. We receive the blessing of a clear conscience from the atonement of Jesus Christ. Then as we continue to live as God desires for us to live we can hang on to that continued good conscience. We also need to pray for our leaders and for the missionaries and missions that God lays on our hearts.

Heb 13:19  But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Paul confesses that he is asking for their prayers personally. He prefers their prayers for Him. He wants to be restored (returned) to them more quickly. He longs for home, but for now, he must remain in his chains. He is not asking us to pray for their good conscience, because they already possess that. He is asking them to pray that He may be restored to them as quickly as possible. Each of us has the right to ask for prayers for our own personal wants and desires. It behooves us to be willing to respond to the requests for prayer from fellow Christians because prayer makes a difference not only in their lives, but in our own.

Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace,


Our God is the God of what? He is the God of peace.

that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

What did our God of peace do? Brought our Lord Jesus alive again, from the dead.

What is Lord Jesus called? That great shepherd of the sheep.

How did he become this? Through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

Our author describes the God of Peace as the One who brought Jesus back from the dead and gave Him, and us, new life in Him. He is the great shepherd (protector, provider, and lover) of the sheep (us). The resurrection of the Son, the protection and restoration of the sheep, took place through the blood of the everlasting covenant which was shed by Jesus Christ.

Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will,


In what does God make us perfect? In every good work.

What are we doing in every good work? We are doing God's will.

It is the God of Peace who makes you perfect in Christ, that in every good work you do, you are doing God’s will. We know that “perfect” means the same as consecrated, complete or whole, so we are made complete when we are doing the good works of God. Yet, we cannot take credit for this. It is Jesus Christ who made us whole and perfect before God.

to do his will, working in you

Doing God’s will, does a work in you, too. Just as Paul said their consciences were clear because they were willing to do the work of God, when we, also, do the work of God we keep our consciences clear. We must not think that we are the source, though, because it is the Spirit of the Lord, working in us that gives us peace of mind and prompts us to the works He wants us to do.

that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;

Our obedience is well pleasing to God. All that we do through and for Jesus Christ is pleasing unto God. Through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, God is doing a work in you that is well pleasing in God’s own sight.

Php_1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We can only do what we do to serve God through or because of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. Let us praise Jesus and honor Him forever and ever Amen.

Heb 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

Paul is pleading with the brethren that they “suffer the word of exhortation.” To suffer is to endure with patience, and a word of exhortation is meant to lift you up and bless you, as well as warn you of the potholes and forks in the road of which we must be careful.

BBC: The writer now urges his readers to heed the exhortation of his Letter, that is, to abandon ritualistic religion and cleave to Christ with true purpose of heart.

He speaks of his Epistle as a brief one, and it is, considering how much more he could have said about the Levitical system and how it finds its fulfillment in Christ.

Heb 13:23  Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty;


So glad to announce that Timothy has been set free from jail.

with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

I hope to come to see you shortly with Timothy, my friend and son in the Lord. That is, if he arrives in time.

Heb 13:24  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints.

Salute or greet – with holy hugs and kisses – all the local pastors and leaders who rule over and take care of you. Salute “all the saints” – we are to greet one another with honor and love, also.

They of Italy salute you.

This could mean the men from Italy who are imprisoned with him, or the folks from Italy where he is living.

Heb 13:25  Grace be with you all. Amen.

What a blessing: “Grace be with you all.” God’s grace living and growing within you and being with all of you. Our hearts are founded or established in God’s grace!! We live by His grace!

Col_3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.

This controversial line appears in one form or another on some of the old manuscripts but not all of them. It seems to contradict the line about Timothy not yet being present. But, if we think about it, perhaps he arrived just in time to finish up the letter, and perhaps deliver it to its intended audience. It may mean that Timothy showed up in time to help make copies, too. There is no way of knowing, but I did not want to arbitrarily leave it out.

Reading our verses once more:

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Heb 13:18  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Heb 13:19  But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Heb 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Heb 13:23  Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Heb 13:24  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Heb 13:25  Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.


BBC: … THE MESSAGE OF HEBREWS FOR TODAY

Does the Epistle to the Hebrews have a message for us in the twentieth century?

Although Judaism is not the dominant religion today that it was in the early days of the church, yet the legalistic spirit has permeated Christendom. In his well-known booklet, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, Dr. C. I. Scofield writes:

It may be safely said that the Judaizing of the Church has done more to hinder her progress, pervert her mission, and destroy her spiritually, than all other causes combined. Instead of pursuing her appointed path of separation from the world and following the Lord in her heavenly calling, she has used Jewish Scriptures to justify herself in lowering her purpose to the civilization of the world, the acquisition of wealth, the use of an imposing ritual, the erection of magnificent churches ... and the division of an equal brotherhood into “clergy” and “laity.”

The Letter calls on us to separate ourselves from all religious systems in which Christ is not honored as the only Lord and Savior and in which His work is not recognized as the once-for-all offering for sin.

Hebrews teaches us that the types and shadows of the OT system found their fulfillment in our Lord. He is our great High Priest. He is our Sacrifice. He is our Altar. He serves in the heavenly sanctuary and His priesthood will never end.

It teaches that all believers are priests, and that they have instant access into the presence of God by faith at any time. They offer the sacrifices of their person, their praise, and their possessions.

David Baron writes:

To adopt the model of the Levitical priesthood in the Christian Church, which ritualism endeavors to do, is nothing else but an attempt, with unholy hands, to sew together again the veil which the blessed, reconciled God had Himself rent in twain; and like saying, “stand aside, come not nigh to God” to those who are “made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

The book of Hebrews teaches us that we have a better covenant, a better Mediator, a better hope, better promises, a better homeland, a better priesthood, and better possessions—better than the best that Judaism could offer. It assures us that we have eternal redemption, eternal salvation, an eternal covenant, and an eternal inheritance.

It warns solemnly against the sin of apostasy. If a person professes to be a Christian, associates with a Christian church, then turns away from Christ and joins those who are enemies of the Lord, it is impossible for such a one to be renewed to repentance.

The Epistle to the Hebrews encourages true Christians to walk by faith and not by sight because this is the life that pleases Christ. It also encourages us to bear up steadfastly under sufferings, trials, and persecutions in order that we might receive the promised reward.

Hebrews teaches that because of their many privileges, Christians have a very special responsibility. The superiorities of Christ make them the most highly favored people in the world. If such privileges are neglected, they will suffer loss accordingly at the Judgment Seat of Christ. More is expected of them than of those who lived under the law; and more will be required in a coming day.

“Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb_13:13).


Suggestion: Aside from reading both volumes of  “The Attributes of God” by A.W. Tozer, which I highly recommend, you might also wish to read: “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the art of "practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end." He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our soul. We must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence. For nearly 300 years this unparalleled classic has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day.



Monday, February 15, 2016

Hebrews 13:1-15

The Sacrifice of Praise to God


What it says:

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.
Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Heb 13:3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.


What it means:

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.

Believer’s Bible Commentary: The practical section of Hebrews continues with (five) exhortations concerning graces that should be developed. First is love of the brethren. There should be a sense of family relationship toward all true Christians and a recognition of this kinship by loving words and acts.

Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

I. BROTHERLY LOVE: What is being described is not “love thy enemy” nor “love” in general, but “brotherly love.” The kind of love we show to one another as Christians.

In Rom 12:10 what are we told to “be?” Kindly affectionate to one another.

Define: Kindly – friendly and generous by nature, sympathetic and kind, pleasant, mild, or comfortable, gently, compassionately, sympathetically, benevolently, thoughtfully, helpfully (Antonym: cruelly)

Define: Affectionate – loving, demonstrative, warm, friendly, kind, (Antonym: cold)

How do we honor each other? by giving preference to one another.

Define: Preference – favorite, first choice, partiality, fondness, liking, (Antonym: indifference)

What is the antonym to preference? Indifference.

Let us not be indifferent to our fellow Christians. In view of the fact that outside the brotherhood they were being persecuted, it seems only natural that they are to create a refuge for one another and treat each other with love and honor. In other places in scripture we are told not to be partial but that is when someone was excluding someone else from the brotherhood because of how they looked or dressed. That kind of partiality is still a sin, because we know that God loves everyone. We are to, in honor, give preference to a Christian brother or sister. Yes, we should be partial to them and affectionate and kind in all matters and never indifferent. We are to be a refuge for each other.

Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

What are we not to forget to do?  Entertain strangers.

II. HOSPITALITY: He is still talking about fellow Christians, even the ones who are strangers to us. We are to remember to entertain or host other Christians in their missionary travels and needs.

for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Whom might we be entertaining unawares? Angels.

BBC: This of course looks back to Abraham's experience with three men who were actually angelic beings (Gen 18:1-15). Even if we never have real angels in our homes, we may have men and women whose very presence is a benediction (blessing) and whose godly influence on our family may have results that reach on into eternity.


Heb 13:3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them;

How are we to remember them that are in bonds? As if we were bound with them.

III. CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY:

BBC: The third exhortation concerns care for imprisoned believers. This almost certainly means those who were jailed because of their testimony for Christ. They would need food, warm clothing, reading matter, and encouragement. The temptation would be for other believers to shield themselves from association with prisoners and thus from the danger of guilt by association. They should remember that in visiting prisoners, they were visiting Christ.

We do not often have the opportunity to visit a person who has been jailed for being a Christian but we, perhaps, know of them in other places around the world. We may apply this exhortation by praying for the persecuted church. If we have an opportunity to ease the burden of a Christian brother or sister we must be sure to act on it. He actually says that we are to remember those Christians who are in chains for the name of Christ, as if we were chained with them. Put yourself in their shoes and love them and understand them and provide for them that cannot provide for themselves.

and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Define: Adversity – misfortune, hardship, suffering, adverse happening, extremely unfavorable experience or event, difficulty, danger, harsh conditions, hard times (Antonym: privilege)

How are we to respond to those in trouble?  As if we were in the same circumstances.

He adds the phrase “in the body” so that we are to be looking to their physical needs and compassionate towards their circumstances – but our faith is to remain joyfully in the Lord as we support and exhort them to the same praise.

BBC: Compassion should also be shown for the mistreated; again this doubtless means persecuted Christians. The readers should resist any tendency to shield themselves from the danger that such compassion might involve. For ourselves, we can broaden the application of the verse to include sympathy for all suffering saints. We should remember that we are in the body also and therefore subject to similar afflictions.

When it comes to persecution, remember that it could just as easily be you who is persecuted. If they are kept from earning a living, because of the name of Christ, then help them. Provide what you can as if you yourself, who are also in the body of Christ, were being forced into bad circumstances. Have compassion for them.

Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled:

IV. PURITY and CHASTITY:

What is honorable? Marriage.

“In all” means in all circumstances, whether you are married to another Christian or not, the office of marriage, itself, is honorable. For married folks to indulge in the pleasures of the bed is no sin (the bed undefiled).

but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

But…. there are those who are not married who indulge.

Define: Whoremongers – sexually indiscriminate men (or women) who especially frequent prostitutes and practice infidelity as a habit; those who “sleep around.” (Monger, meaning: peddler, dealer, trader, salesman – similar to “rumormonger” or “fishmonger”)

Define: Adulterers – a married person having sex with someone other than their marriage partner, unfaithful, disloyal, betrayers, cheater, charlatan, rogue; in the Bible it also means idol worshipers,

What will God do to them? Judge.

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness;


V. CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT:

Define: Conversation -- G391ἀναστροφή, anastrophē, an-as-trof-ay', behavior: - conversation.  – performance, actions, deeds, activities, manners, conduct, life style

Define: Covetousness – greed, greediness, materialism, acquisitiveness, avariciousness, gluttony, hoarding (Antonym: generosity)

We are not to be greedy in our behavior, but to be generous and kind.

Wuest Word Studies: The word "conversation" today is limited in its meaning to converse between two or more persons. In 1611 A.D., when the Authorized Version was translated, it meant what the Greek word means, "manner of life, behavior." The words "without covetousness" are the translation of aphilarguros, made up of phileo "to be fond of," arguros "silver," and Alpha prefixed, the total word meaning "without fondness for silver." The exhortation is against covetousness in the form of love of money.

and be content with such things as ye have:

Define: Content – happy, satisfied, pleased, comfortable, at ease, gratified

What are we to be content with? Such things as ye have.

This does not mean we are not to have goals. It means that we are not to complain about our present circumstances. We know from previous lessons that to complain about our lives is to complain about God, which is sin. If we are not to complain we must learn to be content as Paul was:

Php_4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

WWS: The word "content" is the translation of a Greek word used by the Stoic school of philosophy which taught that man should be sufficient to himself for all things. It means "to be independent of external circumstances." It speaks of self-sufficiency and competency. But Paul’s self-sufficiency was not of the Stoic kind. It was Christ-sufficiency. Paul’s independence was not Stoic independence, but dependence upon Christ. He found his sufficiency in Christ. He was independent of circumstances because he was dependent upon Christ. …

1Ti_6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.


Paul and his companions were traveling missionaries. They roamed far from their homes so each day they sought shelter and food and sometimes they did not have shelter so it was good to be content with food and the clothes on their backs. They were happy to be teaching Christ to the world. They also sometimes sojourned with other Christians for a period of time but they had learned to be content -- for the joy that was set before them.

Wuest Word Studies: Paul was self-sufficient because he was Christ-dependent. The word "content," therefore, in our Hebrew passage means more than "satisfied." It refers to the ability of the Christian dependent upon the Holy Spirit, to be independent of outward circumstances. The words "such things as ye have" are the translation of tois parousia, literally, "the things which are at present around one," namely, one’s circumstances.

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Who will God never leave? Thee. Me.

Whom will He never forsake? Thee. Me.

Mat_28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Deu_31:8  And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.


Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,

What may we say? The Lort is my helper.

How may we say it? Boldly!

Define: Helper – succorer, the one who provides help, or relief, comfort, and aid; assistant, aide, collaborator

and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

What else may we say? I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

What would a person have to have in order to say these two lines boldly and sincerely? Faith in Jesus.

The person who says this would have to have read the line before it which says : "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. "

When we recall that the words we are to boldly say are fully based on God’s previous promise then we will have the strength and fortitude to actually walk ahead into uncertain circumstances with our faith in God strong and intact!! The person who says this has real living faith in Jesus Christ.

WWS: The word (forsake) in its (Greek) totality means "to abandon, desert, leave in straits, leave helpless, leave destitute, leave in the lurch, let one down." There are three negatives before this word, making the promise one of triple assurance. It is, "I will not, I will not, I will not let thee down, leave thee in the lurch, leave thee destitute, leave thee in straits and helpless, abandon thee." All of which means that our God will come to our rescue when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances.

Psa_121:1-2  …I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

Mat 5:11-12  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.


Define: Persecution – to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute: - ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute (-ion), press toward. -- harassment, maltreatment, bullying, singling out, hounding, harrying, discrimination, stalking – all because we believe in Jesus Christ.

We need to remember also that we are talking about being treated unkindly because we believe in Christ. If someone is having a bad day and treats us poorly or rudely because of it, that is not the same thing. That is not persecution. If someone simply contradicts something we’ve said, that is not persecution.

The people he was writing to were being persecuted harshly. Our persecution does not usually come in such harsh physical packages as theirs did. In fact, ours may not even look like “persecution,” it might look more like prejudice or someone having a “bad opinion” of us or disagreement with us because we are Christians.

We often fear what we call “confrontation” -- or other situations in which we feel uncomfortable. We sometimes need to take a step back and ask ourselves “What is it that I really fear?” Do I fear looking bad in front of others? Do I fear that I am not up to the task at hand? Do I need some more preparation? Do I need to put my trust in the Holy Spirit who will guide me and bring to mind everything He has taught me? There is no need to fear, for the Lord has already promised: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1Pe_4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.


Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

There are three instructions given in this verse:

1.    Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God

Adam Clarks’s Commentary on the Bible: Remember your guides, των ἡγουμενων, who have spoken unto you the doctrine of God.

There is true purity of doctrine that was taught by the Apostles who had lived with and known Jesus Christ in their own personal lives. The people this letter was written to had been taught by those who walked with Christ. We, of course, do not have that privilege, but we do have their writings from which we can glean and gather all that we need to know about Jesus. Our gospel is Christ. Our doctrine is Christ.

Rom_1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom_15:19  Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

1Co_1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1Co_1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.


2.    Whose faith follow

We are to follow the faith of the Apostles. They are our leaders and guides. We must choose to follow present day leaders who truly teach the Bible and what it teaches. The only tradition we follow is the tradition of Christ. The love of Christ. The power of Christ. The grace of Christ. Our faith behavior should be patterned after their faith behavior towards Jesus Christ.

3.    Considering the end of their conversation

ACCB: “The issue of whose course of life most carefully consider.” They lived to … do good; they were faithful to their God and his cause; they suffered persecution; and for the testimony of Jesus died a violent death. God never left them; no, he never forsook them; so that they were happy in their afflictions, and glorious in their death. Carefully consider this; act as they did; keep the faith, and God will keep you.

We are to consider the goal of their behavior which was based on the following statement that shows that Jesus Christ is God:

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Jesus Christ is the same when? At all times! Yesterday. Today. And forever.

The reason for the Apostles persistent faith is that Jesus Christ, being God, does not change. He is as steadfast today as He was 2,000 years ago. He will be the same forever -- so we can be steadfast in Him. We live by the gospel of Christ, alone.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.

To be “carried about” means to drift along with the changing tides of false teachings.

Define: Diverse – (divers) varied, miscellaneous, assorted, various, sundry, different, unlike, distinct, opposite

Define: Strange – odd, bizarre, eccentric, peculiar, unexpected or extraordinary, unfamiliar, complicated, exotic, unusual

Define: Doctrine – rule or principle, the body of ideas taught to people as truthful or correct, policy, principle, set of guidelines, canon, creed, code of belief, system of belief

Any doctrine that does not glorify Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the glorious grace of God the Father is a strange doctrine. Any doctrine that differs from what the Bible teaches is a diverse and foreign doctrine.

For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;

Define: Established – start or set up something that is meant to continue or be permanent, place something permanently, confirm the truth of something, to become generally accepted or recognized, to cause to grow stronger and successfully in a new place. Set up, found, institute, start, create, begin, launch,

What is to be established? The heart.

With what is the heart to be established? With grace.

What is a heart established with grace called? A good thing!

There has been a contrast made between “carried about” and “established.” There is also a contrast between “strange doctrines” and “grace.” Do you see that being carried about or floating in a whirlpool of strange doctrines distracts us, and others, from Jesus Christ and God’s grace? We must make sure our hearts are established and stabilized with grace. It is God’s power and grace that saves us and keeps us. The heart must be founded on Jesus Christ and growing in God’s eternal grace. Jesus Christ and grace alone.

Eph_2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

The heart is not to be established with what? Meats. (Material/physical things and rituals.)

What has being occupied with meats done for them? Not profited them.

Rom_14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

He has reduced the entire old Levitical system down to the word “meats” which no longer profits those who are still practicing the old ways. The OT system of sacrifices has been entirely replaced by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ – so the author is reminding the new believers that there is no profit in going back to the old outdated system, especially when grace and freedom have been placed in front of them! Which would you rather have: meats or grace?

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

What do we have? An altar.

Who has no right to eat at our altar? Them which serve the tabernacle/temple.

They are occupied with their “meats” and serve in the tabernacle but they have no right to eat at the altar of grace which we have, for they have rejected it.

BBC: Let us not miss the triumph of the words, “We have an altar.” They are the Christian's confident answer to the repeated taunts of the Judaizers. Our altar is Christ, and therefore it includes all the blessings that are found in Him. Those who are connected with the Levitical system have no right to partake of the better things of Christianity. They must first repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as only Lord and Savior

Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

What happened to the blood of the animal sacrifices? It was brought into the sanctuary.

What happened to the bodies of the animal sacrifices? They were burned without (outside) the camp.

The animals were sacrificed and their blood was brought into the sanctuary by the high priest to make the sin offering, but their bodies – all the rest of the animal – was burned outside the camp -- and later outside Jerusalem.

Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

With what did Jesus sanctify the people? His own blood.

Where did he suffer?  Outside the gate of the city.

By sacrificing his own blood Jesus sanctified and set apart to God, those who believe in Him. He suffered outside the gate of the city, just as all previous sacrifices for sin had done but Jesus changed life and history by His sacrifice.

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp,

Define: Go forth -- G1831 ἐξέρχομαι, exerchomai, ex-er'-khom-ahee, … to issue (literally or figuratively): - come-(forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.

Who are we going forth unto? Jesus (him outside the camp)

Our author is again showing us the better thing for us to do. We must abandon the old camp and leave the old city behind. Give up the former refuge that is no longer safe, and go forth unto Jesus. This is his way of saying we need to leave the Levitical system with it priests and daily sacrifices behind. We have a new altar in Jesus Christ who has entered heaven and sits on the right hand of God as our High Priest. We modern day Christians have different things, places, and former refuges that we must leave behind in order for us to forge ahead in Jesus.

What kinds of things do modern or gentile Christians leave behind in order to go forth unto Jesus? Old ways, sin, erroneous beliefs, false teaching, evolution, etc.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: Believers should seek to have their hearts established in simple dependence on free grace, by the Holy Spirit, which would comfort their hearts, and render them proof against delusion. Christ is both our Altar and our Sacrifice; he sanctifies the gift. The Lord's supper is the feast of the gospel passover. Having showed that keeping to the Levitical law would, according to its own rules, keep men from the Christian altar, the apostle adds, Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp; go forth from the ceremonial law, from sin, from the world, and from ourselves. Living by faith in Christ, set apart to God through his blood, let us willingly separate from this evil world. Sin, sinners, nor death, will not suffer us to continue long here; therefore let us go forth now by faith and seek in Christ the rest and peace which this world cannot afford us.


bearing his reproach.

What are we to bear?  His repraoch.

Remember the words “the reproach of Christ?” Remember the phrase “the recompence of the reward?”

Heb_11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

What is the reproach of Christ? The attack, shame, blame, of the cross.

The reproach of Christ is the anger, the criticism, the blame that he bore from the sinners who placed Him on the cross. In the previous lesson we looked at why he did this: for the joy that was set before Him.

He saw the end (resurrection and new life) from the beginning – which is “the recompense of the reward” – “the joy that was set before him.” Jesus was given a Name which is above all Names because of His obedience to God. At the same time we were given new life in Christ -- eternal life in heaven – and… His same reproach here on Earth.

What did Moses have unto “the recompense of the reward?” Respect.

We show our respect for Jesus’ reproach and sacrifice and also His resurrection and our baptism of new life – when we bear his reproach, as He did, with humility and grace. We bear his reproach (meaning the same one) because we belong to Him. He is our Redeemer and Savior. He ushered in the age of grace. He is the Son of God and our High Priest.

Joh 15:20-21  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.


Our author is telling his Hebrew believers that we must, once and for all, leave the old world of sin behind and pursue our new lives of freedom and love in Christ! In so doing we may also incur the wrath, misunderstanding, and mistreatment of worldly men who do not know God or Jesus Christ, His Son.

Summarized Bible: Our Lord Jesus was the perfect anti-type of the sin offering, being offered “without the gate,” a striking illustration of His humiliation as a sin bearer. The believer is therefore exhorted to go forth from the ceremonial law, from sin, from the world, and identify himself with Christ, being willing to bear His reproach in gratitude for the salvation He has provided.


Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

What do we have here on Earth? No continuing city.

What do we seek? One to come.

A continuing city is a permanent everlasting city. We have no permanent place of safety here on Earth. Jesus has made a place for us in Heaven! We seek the continuing city to come! We seek the New Jerusalem where Jesus is!!

Heb 13:15  By him

By Jesus Christ.

Act_4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

This is astounding to me. We have been given a name which saves us. Jesus gave His life and His name to us. To be called a Christian is a privilege and an honor. We sometimes forget that, based on the opposition to His name that we are all familiar with in our culture. When we count our blessings, let us remember the name of Jesus Christ and give thanks continually that we may freely claim His name as our own. Let us strive to live lives worthy of His name.

Php 2:10-11  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,

Define: Offer – present, put forward, submit, extend, volunteer, give

What kind of sacrifice are we to offer? Praise.

Define: Praise – honor, pay tribute to, go into raptures over, admire, commend, extol

To whom do we offer praise? To God.

How often? Continually.

The sacrifice that Jesus, the Son of God made is the one that God accepted -- and then He recompensed all of us with new life in Him. Jesus offered. God the Father accepted and raised Him from the dead. We benefited. We have much to be thankful for!!

Col 1:12-13  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Vincent’s Word Studies: The sacrifice of thanksgiving is to take the place of the animal sacrifice. ….The Rabbins had a saying, “in the future time all sacrifices shall cease; but praises shall not cease.” Philo says: “They offer the best sacrifice who glorify with hymns the savior and benefactor, God.”

Eph 5:17-21  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

“That is” means what follows is a description of what was previously said. What was previously said was: “let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually.”

What comes after the “that is?” The fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

What is “the fruit of our lips?” The words we speak and sing.

Conclusion: to praise God, means to thank Him. “The fruit of our lips” – the things that we say and sing to God in gratitude and appreciation. We give all credit to the God who rescued us. And what wonderful things we have to say concerning our God – giving thanks, merit, and acknowledgment to His name forever.

Col_2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Rev_7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.


Read our verses again:

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.
Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Heb 13:3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.