Archive for September 2023

Isaiah 65-66, Proverbs 31, Luke 24:45-53, Hebrews 13:9-25 Hebrews 13:9-25: As he comes to his conclusion, the author of Hebrews hits again all his main highlights of his message and wraps it all up in a closing prayer and benediction.   First, he reminds them that there is no need for them to have the sacrificial system of the…

Isaiah 62-64, Proverbs 30, Luke 24:36-44, Hebrews 13:1-8 Hebrews 13:1-8: Having made his case that the Hebrew Christians must stick with Christ – and not go back to the old covenant of the Old Testament – the author of the Book of Hebrews now concludes by applying all this to their communal life as Christians, especially as they…

Isaiah 59-61, Proverbs 29:15-27, Luke 24:28-35, Hebrews 12:14-29 Hebrews 12:14-29: The author of Hebrews has been urging his readers to continue following Christ because Christ is better (by far) than any of the Old Testament prophets and leaders – he is their fulfillment and the culmination of God’s work in the world.   But what does such faithfulness to…

Isaiah 56-58, Proverbs 29:1-14, Luke 24:13-27, Hebrews 12:1-13 Hebrews 12:1-13: In these famous words – worth studying and reflecting on over and over again – the author of Hebrews broadly is making two points. First, run with perseverance. Second, embrace discipline.   First, run with perseverance (verses 1-3). The author of Hebrews pictures the Christian life as a race. Imagine you are…

Isaiah 54-55, Proverbs 28:15-28, Luke 24:1-12, Hebrews 11:32-40 Hebrews 11:32-40: The roll call of faith now reaches its culmination. First, the author of Hebrews lists many other heroes of faith but only now by name. And then, second, he concludes with what we can learn from this famous catalogue of faithful men and women. The names that he…

Isaiah 51-53, Proverbs 28:1-14, Luke 23:50-56, Hebrews 11:17-31 Hebrews 11:17-31: The roll call of faith continues, and as it does, it answers many of the questions that people have about the hero figures of the Old Testament. Why was Abraham so blessed despite his failures? What about Moses and his murder? What about Rahab the prostitute? All these…

Isaiah 49-50, Proverbs 27:15-27, Luke 23:44-49, Hebrews 11:1-16 Hebrews 11:1-16: We come now to one of the most famous chapters in the Bible: the roll call of faith of Hebrews chapter 11. We have here a definition of faith, a list of examples of faith, and then a reflection on faith.   The definition of faith at the start…

Isaiah 46-48, Proverbs 27:1-14, Luke 23:38-43, Hebrews 10:19-39 Hebrews 10:19-39: This passage has three specific encouragements, and then a lengthy and awesome warning to motivate us to make the most of those three specific encouragements! The three specific encouragements are framed by “let us.” First: let us draw near to God. Because of what Christ has achieved, let us…

Isaiah 44-45, Proverbs 26:17-28, Luke 23:32-37, Hebrews 10:1-18 Hebrews 10:1-18: The author of Hebrews is continuing his argument that Christ’s sacrifice for sins is “once for all.” The law, the Old Testament covenant, was only a shadow of that which was to come. The reality is all found in Christ. Sacrifices in the Old Testament are merely an…

Isaiah 42-43, Proverbs 26:1-16, Luke 23:26-31, Hebrews 9:11-28 Hebrews 9:11-28: Now in this section the author of Hebrews outlines, at some length, not only the differences between the old covenant and the new covenant, but the great superiority of the new. It is here that Christ – fulfilling all that was promised in the Old Testament – sacrifices…