Hebrews 12:1

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 12:1 

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” – Hebrews 12:1 

Because of the word ‘therefore’ that begins this paragraph, this is referring back to a previous chapter, namely chapter 11. To start, both the Greeks and Latins used the term ‘cloud’ to speak of a great number of persons or things. Therefore, what is referred to here is a great number of people who have witnessed something. This does not necessarily mean they are witnessing something that is happening now. Here, this probably refers to what they have seen back in their time. And what did thy witness? True unadulterated faith in the one who was coming: the Messiah. And this was faith in something they never saw. “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:39-40. They may not have seen the coming Messiah, but they believed the promises of God delivered to them. One definition of witness is ‘knowledge’ from what you already experienced.

So, what did they witness? Here are a few of what is meant. With Moses we see, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin;  considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.” Hebrews 11:24-29.

Then with others, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mocking and scourging’s, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11:30-38. And as stated above, they did not receive what was promised, for what was promised was still in the future. In faith, they persevered because they had witnessed the power of God, if not the culmination of their faith.

In a courtroom, a witness may not necessarily be one who saw a particular action, but has seen an equivalent action before, and knows the inevitable outcome. This is what is meant here by witnesses. These men lived by faith in God, not wavering, and ultimately witnessing the faithfulness of God. And this is what we are to do. Knowing that God is faithful in whatever He says, we can be sure we have an incredible future ahead of us, if we remain strong. Many Christians are looked down upon, and many times hated because the life we live is counter to the life they live. And in some countries, the penalty for their belief is torture and death. And there is no evidence to say this will not happen here as well. Therefore, as the writer of Hebrews wrote regarding what we are to do, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1b-2. And if we do all we can to accomplish this, we will join our Savior in heaven and spend eternity in our glorious new Home with Him.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 10:23

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 10:23 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23    

This is such an important verse. We should never doubt what God has done for us through Christ. Looking back we read the following. “Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,” Hebrews 10:19-20. Under the Jewish Law in the Old Testament, there was an ordinance stating that no man should ever go into the holiest of all places in the temple, with the one exception of the high priest, and he but once a year on the Day of Atonement. and not without the blood of the sacrifice. If any man had attempted to enter there he must have died, as guilty of great presumption and of profane intrusion into the secret place of the Most High.

However, with the death of Christ on the cross we can now enter by a new and living way, that being through the veil, Christ’s flesh, signified by the tearing of the veil at the moment He died. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27:50-54. At no time prior to this did anyone but the High Priest, and then only once a year, was anyone allowed into the Holy of Holies; the inner sanctum of the Temple. But with His death, the veil is torn giving access to God the Father through Him. In a sense, the veil was symbolic of Christ Himself as the only way to the Father. “Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6. 

Now we see in the next couple of verses, “and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”. Hebrews 10:21-23. The Israelite could not pass through the veil that hid from public gaze the glory of the Shekinah, and Jesus Christ’s humanity was a veil that somewhat concealed the glory of His Deity. But the flesh of Christ having been crucified, the veil has been rent being His body, and now we may come right up to the throne of God without trembling. We may come even with holy boldness and familiarity and speak to God without alarm. Having such a privilege as this, let us not neglect it. It was denied to prophets and kings in the olden time; but now that it is given to us, let us avail ourselves of it.

We come before God with humility due to Christ’s sacrifice, not in our character. Therefore, we may come as perfect at all times, knowing that God sees no sin in us. In this sense, Christ has perfected forever every consecrated vessel of His mercy. Is this not a delightful thought: that when I come before the throne of God, I feel myself a sinner, but God does not look upon me as one? When I approach Him to offer my thanksgiving, I feel that I am unworthy in myself, but I am not unworthy in that official standing in which He has placed me. As a sanctified and perfected thing in Christ, I have the blood upon me; God regards me in my sacrifice, in my worship, and in myself as being perfect.

Take time to go before Him as often as possible. Because of what Christ did for us on the cross, we have access to God the Father, to fellowship with Him and to present our sins before Him in repentance. This was something no man had access to until the sacrifice from God of His son Jesus. And we can partake of this at any time. So, as the author of Hebrews said, draw near to God with a sincere heart in faith knowing that, as Christians, we are clean and thus have full access to Him. This is His promise and gift to us. Take advantage of it, for there is nothing better than coming before God and fellowshipping with Him.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 6:6

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 6:6 

“And then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” –  Hebrews 6:6  

The idea found in Hebrews 6:4-6 is one of the most difficult and controversial one to understand in all of scriptures. Lets look at verses 4-5. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come” Hebrews 6:4-5. This here speaks of ‘spiritual enlightenment’: understanding and acceptance of the truth. We know these are Christians for it states they are ‘partakers of the Holy Spirit’. They have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. These are not simply those who declare they are Christians when actually they have never given their lives to Christ. These are actual Christians.

Then, it is in our focus verse where the major difficulty comes. “and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” Hebrews 6:6. Many people see this as a losing of their salvation. But this is not what it is saying. They are not ‘losing’ their salvation, they are ‘leaving/walking away from their salvation. They are becoming ‘apostates’, which are those who abandon or renounce Christianity, and ultimately Christ Himself. Remember what John wrote. “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9. Unfortunately, as Christians we will sin from time to time. However, if we go before Him and ask Him for forgiveness, He will grant it to us. Therefore, this is not what the author was speaking of. Falling away refers not to sin in general, but to the specific sin of apostasy. By backing away from the faith, you essentially back away from what He did for you. Thus, the idea regarding be crucified again.

The next two verses give us an illustration using farmland. “For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. ” Hebrews 6:7-8. The rain that falls from heaven corresponds to the enlightening blessings of verses 4–5. If the seed of the word of God is truly present in the soil, the hearts of men and women, the rain causes fruitful crops to grow, fulfilling the blessing intended by God. But where the word of truth, though heard, has been rejected, the rain can only quicken that which is already in the soil, that being thorns and thistles. And continued rain will only make matters worse, not better. Such fruitless land will merit the ultimate cursing of God and be finally given over to burning.

Such a scenario parallels the condition Jesus describes of certain branches of the true vine which do not abide in him and are therefore cut off and gathered into the fire and burned. Jesus says essentially the same thing as written by John. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:1-6.

In closing, those who stay true to Christ and follow His ways are guaranteed eternal life with Him. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:24. However, there will be some who will reject the faith they had believed in. Their eternal future is not glorious. But will be eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Spend time in the scriptures, strengthen your faith through study and prayer. And also use this time as preparation to be ready to help and strengthen those who need assistance in keeping their faith. “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2. If you see someone drifting away, do what you can, in love, to draw them back to the truth. You will be blessing them, yourself, and ultimately God.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 5:14

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 5:14 

“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” – Hebrews 5:14    

Here, the writer of Hebrews wants to continue on the subject of Melchizedek and Christ, however, he does not see how, for it will be hard for him to explain due to their lack of understanding of his listeners. “Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” Hebrews 5:11.  It is important to see that the difficulty he was having was not due necessarily to his inability to explain it, but in the audiences ability to receive it. The phrase ‘dull of hearing’ is used to refer to ‘mental dullness. He was finding difficulty because the audience had become sluggish in their learning the things of God.

Then he explains what he meant. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” Hebrews 5:12. This and the following two verses contain imagery widely used in Greek literature, and especially in popular philosophy, for describing levels of education. Semantically it introduces a contrast between what the readers are and what they should be. Because they have been Christians long enough, they should by now be able to teach others. But in fact, they need to be taught. Teachers, as used here probably does not denote the office of teaching, as the word is sometimes used in the New Testament. The meaning here is that mature believers have the capacity to teach, even if they are not filling the office of teacher.

Then, moving on to the next verse, “For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” Hebrews 5:13. Anyone who can understand only the basic elements of Christian doctrine lives on milk and is inexperienced or unacquainted with the teaching about righteousness. When referring to training in righteousness, this probably alludes to the ethical dimensions of Scripture, taking righteousness here not in the forensic sense of justification but in the ethical sense of matters of right and wrong.” There is a phrase I like to use. “Do the do’s, and don’t do the don’ts”. In other words, learn what the do’s are and do them, and what the don’ts are and don’t do these things.  

Then we read in our focus verse. “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14. And this is how we can distinguish between the do’s and the don’ts. We need to know, understand, and practice our Christian life. We must grow in our faith from a new Christian who can only have milk, to become a mature believer who continues to grow in the fear and knowledge of the Lord. And as we learn and live it, we need to help others attain this level of growth. What we know and are sure of, we need to help others understand and be sure of as well. That is our calling. And we must never stop studying and learning more of our life in Christ. If we stop studying and learning, we will not understand fully this life, and may fall back to milk again.

I want to encourage everyone who is reading this to spend time learning and teaching others what this Christian life is truly about. As Paul said to Timothy, “Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.” 2 Timothy 2:14-17. Take time to read, study, and teach the truth of God’s word. It is the only way to do the work God has called us to do.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 5:10

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 5:10 

“Being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” –  Hebrews 5:10   

This section of Hebrews speaks of Christ as High Priest.  We start here in verse 1 where he speaks of the Jewish view. “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.” Hebrews:5:1-4. He starts out by showing that   men selected for this role were concerned with the descendants of Abraham. The High Priest was the supreme religious leader of the Israelites. He was to teach everyone regarding the Law and Jewish beliefs. But the most important duty of the high priest was to perform the service on the Day of Atonement. Only he was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place behind the veil to stand before God. Having made a sacrifice for himself and for the people, he then brought the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, God’s throne. He did this to make atonement for himself and the people for all their sins committed during the year just ended.

Then we read that Jesus is now our High Priest. “So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my Son, today I have begotten you; as he says also in another place, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:5-6. Christ is our High Priest.  And He was ordained by God from all eternity to stand as the representative of His people before the throne. And He was also the sacrifice as well. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6. And He fulfilled His role while here. “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, ” Hebrews 5:7-9. While He was here, He prayed greatly to God for us all, with tears and cries. He was very emotional in this because of the love He has for us. His Father brought Him here and He was obedient to Him through all His suffering. And because He was without sin He was able to be our salvation.

Now there is one more thing stated in Hebrews 5 that is important to note. “being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:10. What does this mean? This is an interesting question, and not easy to answer. Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness,” was a king of Salem/Jerusalem and priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek’s sudden appearance and disappearance in the book of Genesis is somewhat mysterious. Melchizedek and Abraham first met after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men, demonstrating friendship. He bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name of El Elyon (“God Most High”) and praised God for giving Abraham a victory in battle (See Genesis 14:17-24). Also, the phrase ‘after the order’ would normally indicate a succession of priests holding office. But there are no others mentioned in that order, which lends credence to the idea he and Christ may be one and the same. Speaking of Melchizedek, the writer of Hebrews states, “He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” Hebrews 7:3. So, are Melchizedek and Jesus the same person? A case can be made either way. At the very least, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, prefiguring the Lord’s ministry. But it is also possible that Abraham, after his weary battle, met and gave honor to the Lord Jesus Himself.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 4:14

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 4:14 

“Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” – Hebrews 4:14   

This verse speaks of the main focus of Christ’s coming. First, let’s go back to chapter 2. “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:17-18. It says here that we see that Jesus “became a merciful and faithful high priest.” And because of this He paid the penalty, thereby accomplishing what we could not do, being a propitiation for the sins of all mankind. In the Mosaic Law, the high priest would intercede on behalf of the people and was at least a symbolic head of the current priestly administration. The priest would bring sacrifices to God on behalf of the people of Israel and would do so repeatedly, as the law prescribed. While ordinarily the high priest would bring the sacrifice, Jesus Himself was the sacrifice. His personal sacrifice was an incredible act of mercy, and He could be the sacrifice because He had become like those for whom He was giving Himself up for.

Now to our focus verse. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Hebrews 4:14. The Jewish high priest went once a year into the most holy place in the temple, to offer the blood of the atonement. The author says that the Christian High Priest has gone into heaven. “For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrew 9:24. Instead of having to go once a year, Jesus once and for all went into the presence of God on our behalf. And because of this we can have complete confidence in our eternal future. “In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:17-20.

And because He was made like us, “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. He was made like us so He knows our temptations by a practical experience of them. And though He was without sin, yet the same sins that are put before us by Satan were also set before Him. Jesus is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He is not only touched with the feeling of the heroic endurance of the martyrs, but he sympathizes with everyone. “Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41.

And because of all this, “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. We have a Friend at court; our Bridegroom is on the throne. He who reigns in heaven loves us better than we love ourselves. Come, then, why should we hesitate, why should we delay our approach to His throne of mercy? What is it that we want at this moment? Let us ask for it. If it is a time of need, then we see clearly from this verse that it is a time when we are encouraged to pray. “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 3:14

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 3:14 

“For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” – Hebrews 3:14   

Here, the writer of Hebrews is going to use an idea found in Psalms, where it is written, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.” Psalm 95:6-9.  This verse makes sense when you know what Meribah and Massah mean.  Meribah is the Hebrew word for ‘strife’ or ‘contention’, while Massah is the Hebrew word for ‘trial’ or ‘temptation’.

And in Exodus, we see where these words were original used. “Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said to them, Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD? But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst? So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me. Then the LORD said to Moses, Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.  Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight elders of Israel. And he named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” Exodus 17:1-7. Note in verse 7 that Moses changed their names with words describing the attitudes of the Israelites.

Now, nearly 3,500 years ago, the Lord delivered His people from Egyptian bondage as described in Exodus, chapters 1–12. They were to take possession of the land God had promised their forefathers, a land “flowing with milk and honey”. Prior to entry, however, they became convinced they could not oust the current inhabitants of the land, even though God told them they could. Their lack of belief in God’s word and promises brought forth the wrath of God. He cursed them with forty years of wilderness wandering until the unbelieving generation died off and never stepping foot in the Promised Land. 

The people whom Hebrews was written for was the Jewish Christians, therefore they would understand what the author meant. Back when they were rescued from Egypt and were heading to the Promised Land, they did not trust or believe God when He told them they would enter the land flowing with milk and honey. Only two did, Joshua and Caleb. The author was using this as an example to the Jewish Christians. Remember our focus verse. “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Hebrews 3:14.

The problem was that the Jews, other than the two mentioned above, would not believe God when He told them His promises to them. God had promised them victory. The land He commanded them to go in and take was already theirs; they simply had to trust and obey, but this they did not do. God will never lead us where His grace cannot provide for us or His power cannot protect us. Indeed, the Israelites had seen the powerful hand of God at work during the plagues and miracles of the Exodus. Yet, like many people, they walked by sight and not by faith, and their unbelief displeased God. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11:6. Their failure to believe in God’s word kept them from entering the Promised Land. This truth has never changed. He told them they had the promises of God if they continued to believe and remained firm to the end. He told them, “For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.” Hebrews 3:16-4:1.  And one more thing, this does not simply apply to Jewish Christians, but to every Christian.

This is what the author wanted his audience to remember and never forget. Stay firm and do not harden your heart against God.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 3:1

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 3:1

“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,” – Hebrews 3:1   

As Moses especially was the prophet by whom, as seen in Hebrews 1:1, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,” being the mediator of the law, the writer of Hebrews deems it necessary now to show that, great as Moses was, the Son of God is greater. He first notes the feature of resemblance between Moses and Christ, in order to conciliate the Hebrew Christians whom He is addressing, and who still entertained a very high opinion of Moses. “who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.” Hebrews 3:2. Jesus was faithful as was Moses was, so in this way they are alike. We see here what God spoke about Moses. “And he said, Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” Numbers 12:5-8. We see here difference of degree God saw between Moses and His other prophets.  As we can see here, God held Moses more highly than any of the others. And lastly here, the phrase “He is faithful in all my house” refers to Israel, and with Jesus, the Church.

Now, in verse two we see a comparison of equality in their faithfulness, in verse 3 we see Jesus seen as greater than Moses. “For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)” Hebrews 3:3-4. The thought may well be, that Moses, as servant, is only a member or a part of the house of which Christ is the founder. Remember, Moses did not create Israel, God did. Moses was put over them to guide them where they were to go.

Then in the next two verses, the writer sums up his thoughts. “Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” Hebrews 3:5-6. This, I believe, helped the Hebrew Christians understand why Christ is worthy of more glory then Moses, and of everyone for that matter. They always held Moses up as someone who deserved great acknowledgement. But what the writer was helping them understand was that ultimately, it is God who built the house, not Moses. And just as Moses was a servant, we are as well.

And Paul lays out our role as Christians, where he wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. The Church belongs to God, and we are a part of that house, and servants, meant to go out and fill the house with as many believers as possible. For we are His ambassadors, to go out and spread the word and living the lives God desires all to live.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 2:17

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 2:17

“Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” – Hebrews 2:17  

This is a very interesting section in Hebrews, for it speaks of why the salvation of man was accomplished as it was.  Starting in verse 14 we read. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,” Hebrews 2:14. Because mankind were fleshly beings with blood, He also needed to spend this time with the same limitations. Remember, there was only one way to pay the penalty for our sins. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23. However, it must be a perfect sacrifice, not from us who are imperfect. “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:17-19. This is why it was essential that a perfect person had to die. No one can pay for their sins, for they are not perfect. In essence, once you sin you can never pay the penalty for that sin.

It even becomes more powerful in the next verse. As a continuation of the previous verse, “and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” Hebrews 2:15. Christ delivered us who were destined for eternal misery and torment, with no possible deliverance. Paul put it this way. “For as by a man came death, by a man has also come the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:21-23. Now it is important that we do not see this as a ransom, as some think. Theologian David L. Allen puts it this way. “The ransom theory of the atonement claims that the death of Jesus somehow paid a ransom to the devil. But, as Oden rightly noted, this theory is contrary to Hebrews 2:14–15 where the author explicitly stated that the death of Christ was a triumph over the devil, not a ransom paid to him.”

Now, coming to our focus verse, “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17. In order for Him to have paid the penalty for us, He had to be made like us. I like the wording here “in every respect”. There was absolutely no difference in how we were and how Jesus was. And this indicates that the likeness is not a superficial one. It will later be qualified only on the matter of Christ’s sinlessness. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. The purpose served by this likening explains to some extent the nature and end of the Son’s perfecting. The incarnation and suffering of Christ took place so that he might be a High Priest characterized by mercy and fidelity.

And this is why man’s salvation was done in this way, why it was necessary for Christ to come here and die. He was the only one who could die for all in order to save all if they turn to Him. We could not even die for our own sin, so He died for them all. This is love in it’s true form. And this is the love God has for us. 

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Hebrews 2:5

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Hebrews 2:5

“For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.” Hebrews 2:5.  

In order to help understand this verse, we must first go back to Chapter 1 for a moment. There we read the following. “But to which of the angels has He ever said, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet? ” Hebrews 1:13. The answer to the rhetorical question is ‘None’. No angel has ever been addressed this way because no angel has ever deserved such acclamation and exaltation. Then in the next verse we see what they are. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14. God never subjected the world to them. On the contrary, they are sent out by God to minister for Him to those who are to inherit salvation. In essence, all the angels, even those of the highest order, are employed by their Creator to serve those who believe in Christ Jesus. This clarifies that He did not subject the world to them, even though many Jews believed this to be the case.

Therefore, the question remains, who did He subject it to? This is answered in what follows. He starts off by saying, “For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.” Hebrews 2:5. He makes it clear that it was not angels.  Then, “It has been testified somewhere, What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?” Hebrews 2:6. The testifier alluded to is David, and the somewhere is Psalm 8. What David is saying is that man, from the time of Adam till then was sinful, therefore he questions why is God at all concerned with him.

But then David continued, “You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” Hebrews 2:7-8. The word “man” here is the Greek word Anthropos, designating a human being, male or female. This does not refer to anyone in particular, but to mankind as a whole. And the word “son” is the Greek word uihos denoting the offspring of men.

Now, we will see who He subjected it to. “You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:7-9. David here is referring to the coming Messiah, and the writer of Hebrews confirms this by stating Him to be Jesus. As a man, you made Him a little lower than angelic beings and put everything under subjection to Him.

Now, notice verse 8. “At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” This is not found in Psalm 8. The reason being that Hebrews is referring to something that has already happened, whereas Psalm 8 is a prophetic statement yet to be fulfilled. The writer is saying all things are subject to Him, but in this sinful world we do not see it, YET. However, he continues, “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9. We may not see it completely fulfilled; however everything is under subjection to Him, and we shall at some time, in the near future, see Him in His full glory.

We are living in a fallen world, and it may not look like things will ever be good again. However, we must always understand that Jesus is in full control, and He will come back to make things as they were always intended to be.  Brothers and sisters, keep strong and do not forget that our situation is temporal, and that infinity will be glorious.  And in remaining strong, spread the news to all the world, especially where you are now, the truth of Christ. It is our calling during this time, therefore, let us fulfill this calling with everything we are.     

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.