Not only is Jesus the better covenant and the High priest implementing it, but Hebrews 8:6 goes on to tell us that this covenant “was established on better promises.” The Old laid out through Moses at God’s command was faulty because while giving the standard to live by it did not provide the means to […]
Hebrews 7:11 now turns our attention to comparing Jesus with the Levitical priesthood who officiated the Mosaic covenant with verse 22 saying “by so much more Jesus has become a surety (pledge or guarantee) of a better covenant.” We are specifically speaking of the sacrifices, offerings, ceremonies and ritual celebrations added under the Mosaic covenant […]
Hebrews 13:15 is our final stop on our “let us” tour through Hebrews, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God…” Webster says sacrifice is “a giving up, destroying, Etc. of one thing for the sake of another of higher value.” A true sacrifice is costly; in 2 Samuel 24:24 […]
Jesus, Himself being the living manifestation of the word of God, John 1:1, said “The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life”, John 6:63. Today we are looking at the characteristics and life giving power of the word of God which is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged […]
A vine without branches does not produce fruit; neither does a branch produce a harvest without a vine! This is the backdrop Jesus used in John 15:1-8 to teach His disciples about their relationship with Him. In verses 5, 8 He makes it very clear, “I am the vine, you are the branches…By this My […]
Isaiah prophesied over Israel of a time when they would be in captivity in a foreign, pagan land and they would feel dejected and forsaken. In 40:27 they seem to be in that place feeling that God no longer saw them and no longer answered their prayers. But in chapter 41:13 God gives this assurance […]
The final word of Psalm 23 is “Forever”, just one word but it is not isolated from the rest of what has just been said, his confidence is that he “will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” This confidence instills Hope, Assurance, Peace, and rejoicing! Forever from the Hebrew focuses on a length […]
Psalm 23:5 continues “My cup runs over.” When a cup runs over it has been filled to the brim, and receiving more than it needs, or can hold, the excess flows over the side and covers the area around it. As we sit at God’s banquet table it is His plan, desire, and provision for […]
“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” Psalm 23:4. The rod and staff were the symbol of a shepherd; while the staff may have been used by the shepherd in walking, or as something to lean on, the obvious message here is their function in caring for the flock, and by their use the […]
“He restores my soul” verse 3; when a sheep would fall sick, break a leg, or face some other calamity, the shepherd would be there to treat, dress the wound, and nurture that sheep back to health. God our “good shepherd” is the greatest restorer ever! From the moment our relationship with Him was broken […]