The Walk Per Day

WebersHome · Sep 3, 2017

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347) 1Tim 6:20a . .Turn away from impious chatter

This probably refers to sophistry, which Webster's defines as the use of reasoning or arguments that sound correct but are actually false and/or subtly deceptive.

This isn't the first time that Paul warned about unholy rhetoric. The same alert was sounded at Eph 4:11-14 where Paul describes people whose line of bull sounds very convincing but is nevertheless quite unreliable.

348) 1Tim 6:20b . . and the opposition of science-- falsely so-called.

Galileo believed that science and religion are allies rather than enemies-- two different languages telling the same story. But the category of "science - falsely so-called" is not the kind of science Galileo was talking about. Theoretical physics, theoretical cosmology, theoretical chemistry, theoretical anthropology, conjecture, and speculation etc; are entertaining, but not yet proven to be true and reliable. People throw that kind of science up to Christians all the time as if it's been tested and proven when it's anything but.

Another thing to take into consideration is that scientific results are provisional; viz: susceptible to being overturned by some future experiment or observation.

"Scientists rarely proclaim an absolute truth or an absolute certainty. Uncertainty is inevitable at the frontiers of knowledge."
Joel Achenbach, National Geographic Magazine, March 2015

349) 2Tim 1:8a . .Do not be ashamed of our Master's testimony

Everything the Lord ever taught is "testimony" that is; all of his teachings, preaching, comments, remarks, and lectures can be used as evidence either by the defense to get people into Heaven, or by the prosecution to put people behind the bars of Hell.

● John 12:48 . . He who rejects me, and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him: the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

How is it that Jesus' words are evidence? Answer: Because he never spoke for himself; no, he was an ambassador who spoke for a superior.

● John 8:26 . . He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him.

● John 8:28 . . I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught me.

● John 12:49 . . I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

● John 14:24 . .The word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.

Timothy was ordained a minister by the laying on of Paul's own hands (2Tim 1:6). At that moment, Timothy became an ambassador for Christ. So then, he became responsible to speak for Christ just as Christ was responsible to speak for God.

● 1Pet 4:11 . . If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God

If a speaker cannot speak as God and for God; then it would be wise if that speaker didn't speak at all.

● Jas 3:1 . . Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

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WebersHome · Sep 4, 2017

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350) 2Tim 1:8b . . Join with me in suffering for the Gospel

Suffering for the Gospel doesn't necessarily include martyrdom. The more common forms of suffering are privation, humiliation, threats, hunger, loss of friends and family, ostracizing, ridicule, mockery, harsh criticism, judgmental remarks, insults, intimidation, name calling, demeaning comments, ugly insinuations, slander, teasing, harassment, bullying, unfairness, prejudice, intolerance, disassociation, and betrayal; in other words, the kinds of stuff that really get you right down in the gut.

Suffering because of the Gospel is, believe it or not, a sacred gratuity.

● Php 1:29 . . For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

● John 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.

NOTE: The Devil and his invisible minions are always at work secretly pushing the buttons of people all around pastors; and the very ones pastors really have to look out for are the people under their noses running their own churches.

An Evangelical Lutheran Church minister named Rev John H. Beck conducted a three-year study of church conflict; and his findings are not comforting. According to an article in the Aug 24, 2009 edition of the Oregonian in Portland OR: the issues that cause congregational conflict are typically (1) a pastor and his staff not getting along, (2) a board wanting to take a different direction, and (3) two strong-willed people getting into it and others in the congregation taking sides.

What's going on there? Well, that's not too hard to figure out is it? The Devil is pushing the buttons in those churches while the Lord is outside the building banging on the door trying to get somebody's attention to let him in.

351) 2Tim 1:13 . . Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me.

The koiné Greek word for "hold fast" is echo (ekh'-o) which means: to clutch, cling, or adhere to.

The word for "pattern" is hupotuposis (hoop-ot-oop'-o-sis) which means: a sketch; viz: a blueprint and/or a schematic diagram.

When Noah was commissioned to build the ark, he wasn't left with no clue as to what it was supposed to look like. God gave him a design to work with. And when Moses was tasked to fabricate articles of worship for the Tabernacle, he too was given designs; in other words, Moses and Noah both made everything according to God-given specifications; viz: Christianity is a God-given religion; He has not left its design to human imagination.

Putting this in construction-speak: if the blueprint calls for welding, and the builder substitutes bolting, he'll have to do it over. If the blueprints call for oak panels, and the builder substitutes pine, he'll have to do it over; and do it right the next time or be rejected again. Practically nothing is manufactured without first planning it out on a drawing. Sometimes drawings are created on the fly. I've had plans handed to me that were nothing in the world but a free-hand sketch on a piece of scrap paper; while others were gorgeous, finely-detailed computer-assisted drawings. Either way, CAD or free-hand, I was expected to follow specifications to the letter and not take it upon myself to revise the engineers' instructions without their consent.

What this boils down to is: modern churches have been handed down from Paul a God-given pattern for their operations. When they depart from His pattern, then they are no longer following Christ; rather, they are attempting to lead him.

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WebersHome · Sep 5, 2017

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352) 2Tim 1:14 . . With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us; carefully guard what has been entrusted to you.

This probably refers to congregations whose spiritual welfare is the responsibility of church officers. The officers found in dereliction of duty are known as non vigilant watchdogs and self-seeking, incompetent shepherds; for example:

"Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain. (Isa 56:10-11)

353) 2Tim 2:2 . . And the things you have heard me say (in the presence of many witnesses) entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

Paul's instructions were given to Timothy "in the presence of many witnesses" indicating that his instructions were never intended to be privileged information for the eyes-only of an elite category of super saints. The things he taught were transferred publicly rather than deep inside a secret chamber whose access was restricted to a special clique.

I also suspect that Paul sand-bagged Timothy. By instructing him in the hearing of witnesses, Timothy could never fall back on the tiresome old excuse of saying "I didn't know I was supposed to do that." Well, witnesses would certainly testify that he did know what he was supposed to do because they themselves heard Paul instruct him with their own ears.

It's a wise church that fully understands a pastor's duties, attitudes, and responsibilities just in case a time comes when they need to hold his feet to the fire; especially a complacent pastor. If a church doesn't know what a pastor's duties, attitudes, and responsibilities are, then there's no way they can know whether or not they're getting their money's worth. In my opinion, an ignorant church is a private pond stocked with hatchery fish.

Paul's directive in this matter was also a practical consideration as nobody resides forever on this earthen globe. Pastors die; that's just a fact of life. And they also get diseases like dementia, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. It's a wise pastor busy training his replacements so that all his knowledge and experience isn't lost to future church generations. Abraham was commended for this very thing.

● Gen 18:18-20 . . For I have chosen Abraham, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yhvh.

A good example of the result of neglecting to train reliable men in "all the things you have heard me say" is the church of Laodicea described in Rev 3:14-20.

According to Col 2:1-2 and Col 4:13-16; the Laodicean Christians were at one time solid believers. But between the time of Paul's writing his letter to the Colossians, and John writing the 3rd chapter of Revelation, the congregation meeting in Nymphas' home somehow went dead. It was still Christian in name, yes; but it no longer followed Christ.

The Laodicean church had all the trappings of a Christian church; except for one salient feature: the Christ of Christianity wasn't even a member let alone the captain of its industry. It was literally a christless Christian church. He's depicted outside the building banging on the door trying to get somebody's attention to let him in. Not a single member of that church was one of his believing followers, not one; no, not even the senior pastor.

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WebersHome · Sep 6, 2017

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354) 2Tim 2:3-7 . . Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-- he wants to please his commanding officer.

Combat soldiers are focused. They have but one solitary goal, and that's to accomplish their mission while doing their level best to stay alive. Soldiers dodging bullets, ducking shrapnel, and looking for trip wires, IED's, booby traps, and snipers, are not distracted by Wall Street, the real estate market, universal health care and/or President Trump's conservative policies.

I truly believe that if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr had stayed in the pulpit and complied with Paul's directives as per the epistles of 1&2 Timothy instead of getting involved in the civil rights movement, he could have served Christ another thirty-five years instead of getting himself shot to death as a political activist when he was only 39 years old.

Was Dr. King a martyr? Well, if he was, it certainly wasn't for Christ. No, it was for his political agenda. Dr. King marginalized his pastoral responsibilities as per the epistles of 1&2 Timothy. He put duty to the color of his skin first, and duty to Christ second. That was a very bad move for a Christian pastor.

355) 2Tim 2:8 . . Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel

It may seem preposterous, beyond belief, and even impossible to comprehend; but there are literally millions of people wearing the Christian label who refuse to believe that Christ was a bona fide human being. They'll readily mouth that he was fully God and fully Man; but in reality they only believe he was fully God; in other words: a divine being only, rather than an amalgam of human and divine. Well, according to 2Tim 2:8 Christ does not wish to be remembered as a divine being.

On numerous occasions, Christ identified himself as "son of man" which literally means "son of Adam". That title was neither new nor unique in his day. God addressed the prophet Ezekiel as "son of man" on at least 93 occasions, and Daniel at least once. In every case, the Hebrew word for man is 'adam (aw-dawm') which is the proper name of the human race God created in the beginning. (Gen 1:26-27, Gen 3:9, Gen 5:2)

You would think that Christ's humanness would be a given in Christian circles; but no, it isn't. To this very day, people passing themselves off as his believing followers, and as beneficiaries of his crucifixion, still challenge his humanness. They're okay with him being God's progeny-- but David's progeny? No; that they won't allow.

● Rom 1:3-4 . . who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh

Disbelief in Christ's humanness is due to the success of satanic influences.

● 1John 4:2-4 . . By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

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WebersHome · Sep 7, 2017

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356) 2Tim 2:14 . . Command them in God's name to stop quarrelling over trifles.

In a Sean Connery movie titled "The Name Of The Rose" church dignitaries assembled a meeting of the minds to reach a resolution on a theological question which was: Did the Christ own the clothes that he wore or not?

Well, needless to say, the discussion turned into bickering wherein nothing was resolved. Tempers flared, shouting ensued, feelings were hurt, and people were alienated over the issue-- a rather trifling issue; which is precisely what it means to fiddle while Rome burns down around you. Christians are often embroiled in arguments over things that in the grand scheme of things have almost zero importance while all around them are weightier issues needing attention.

It's interesting that Paul didn't want Timothy's flock instructed to avoid quarrelling over trifles but to stop quarrelling. I can't help but wonder how many Christians think to seek absolution for the sin of quarrelling over trifles when they go to confession.

NOTE: Ecclesiastic heads are empowered to speak as God and for God; i.e. God's messengers; so identified in the first three chapters of Revelation. That's a heavy responsibility; with likely heavy consequences for abuse.

357) 2Tim 2:15 . . Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Some folks construe rightly dividing the truth as instructions to keep the Old Testament completely separate from the New. But that's not even close to what Paul is instructing.

Paul was a blue collar tradesman: he fabricated portable shelters for a living (Acts 18:3). The koiné Greek word for "rightly dividing" is orthotomeo (or-thot-om-eh'-o) which means: to make a straight cut-- as opposed to a crooked cut --or a cut that misses the line and yields a piece of material that's either too long, too short, or the wrong contour; thus resulting in a tent whose pieces won't join properly when it comes time to sew them together. The results? A distorted tent and a black mark for the craftsman.

The intent is not one of severing the Bible in half and treating each as a separate book; but to be accurate in the whole's interpretations and applications so that it all fits together perfectly from first to last, like a well made armoire instead of a hastily constructed rabbit hutch.

358) 2Tim 2:16 . . Avoid worldly, empty chatter; for it will lead to further impiety.

What he's talking about there are bull sessions wherein people discussing the Bible haven't a clue what they're talking about; and their perpetual deliberations-- consisting of sophistry, conjecture, theory, and personal opinions --never get to the bottom of anything.

Some years ago I was invited to a home Bible study. Before considering his invitation; I asked the man if his group was led by a competent Bible teacher. He said "No; we don't have a teacher. The group teaches itself. In other words: we speak as the Spirit leads us to speak."

They say iron sharpeneth iron. But that doesn't work when both irons are soft. That's why files are hardened and tempered. Well; that man's group lacked a file, so to speak; so I declined.

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WebersHome · Sep 8, 2017

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359) 2Tim 2:19 . . Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.

The wickedness he's talking about in this particular instance regards quarrelling over trifles, unskilled use of the Bible; and sophistry, conjecture, speculation, theories, false science, and lines of bull that sound very convincing but are nevertheless quite untrustworthy.

360) 2Tim 2:22 . . Flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Hippies tried to obtain love and peace but failed because they could obtain neither except by means of promiscuity and mood-enhancing drugs like marijuana and LSD.

A "pure" heart is one that's unadulterated, in other words, it's not an amalgam of good and bad; viz: it's a heart that's whole-heartedly devoted to pleasing God rather than half-hearted.

Righteousness, Love, Peace, and Purity are all blessing-worthy attributes.

● Matt 5:6 . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

● Matt 5:7 . . Blessed are the compassionate

● Matt 5:8 . . Blessed are the pure in heart

● Matt 5:9 . . Blessed are the peaceable

According to the Lord's testimony as an expert witness in all matters pertaining to the hereafter, people whose personalities fail to exemplify those four beatitudes will neither see God, nor obtain sympathy from God, nor obtain a place around the table in God's home.

361) 2Tim 2:23 . . But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce debating.

The Lord doesn't forbid all speculation; only the kind that that's foolish and ignorant.

The koiné Greek word for "foolish" is moros (mo-ros') which means, essentially: unwise.

The koiné word for "ignorant" is apaideutos (ap-ah'-ee-dyoo-tos) which means: uneducated.

I seriously doubt that 2Tim 2:23 is addressing one's IQ, but rather, the propensity of some to shoot from the lip without really knowing what they're talking about. That's not a smart thing to do when one is supposed to be representing a master who says of himself "I am the truth". Well, ignorant speculation isn't truth, no, it's one's own personal opinion; and typically a subjective opinion based upon incomplete information.

362) 2Tim 2:24a . . And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome

Quarrelling is just the opposite of peacemaking. Sometimes it's best to follow Han Solo's advice and "let the Wookie win one". In other words; when one is wise; two are happy. Be the wise one and pick your fights carefully. Don't expend your energies on discussions that never seem to get to the bottom of anything. There's always going to be that one individual who will disagree with everything you say simply because they love to argue. I call them the "yes, but" people. Those kind refuse to believe that anybody really knows the truth; least of all you.

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WebersHome · Sep 9, 2017

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363) 2Tim 2:24b-26 . . The Lord's servant must . . be kind to all, apt to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them a change of heart leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

The all in "be kind to all" really should be taken to mean all in Christian congregations rather than all in the world. The reason being, according to Eph 4:11-16, Christ doesn't dispense his teachers for the world's benefit, rather, for his body's benefit.

For that reason; Christ's teachers need to treat the people in church who oppose them as they would patients in a mental hospital who lack the faculties to know what they're doing and/or to think for themselves; hence the instructions to be kind, gentle, and patient.

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WebersHome · Sep 10, 2017

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364) 2Tim 3:12-15 . .You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The "sacred writings" upon which Timothy cut his teeth are of course the Old Testament's collection; which Paul affirms is useful to Christians.

● Rom 15:4 . .Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction that we, through patience and the encouragement of the scriptures, might have hope.

NOTE: The Greek word for "hope" in that passage is elpis (el-pece') which means: to anticipate (usually with pleasure and confidence). In other words: elpis hope doesn't entail crossing your fingers and praying for the best while in the back of your mind dreading the worst. No; elpis hope entails having something to look forward to with the full, unreserved, expectation of obtaining it.

365) 2Tim 4:1-2 . . I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus-- who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom --preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Preaching and teaching are areas where pastors must take the reins. They can't wait until their boards take a vote on it. No, the pastor's vote is the only one that counts because left to themselves, congregations (and boards) are just like any other flock of dim-witted sheep: they're prone to wander.

● 2Tim 4:3-4 . . For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears rubbed, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to fiction.

Once somebody adopts an error for themselves as the God's truth, they like to hear it reinforced, over and over again so they feel good about themselves rather than feeling like a fool for thinking a certain way.

That mindset is very difficult to correct. So, like it's said; the best remedy is prevention; hence the instruction to "preach the word' lest by preaching something else a pastor's congregation gets their heads full of wrong ideas, and from then on they tune out everything that opposes those ideas and/or fails to reinforce them.

366) 2Tim 4:5a . . Be discreet

Webster's defines "discreet" as: using good judgment, caution, and prudence.

Human nature can be so inconsistent. Though most adults have fairly good judgment, they oftentimes do things that are contrary to their better judgment and make foolish choices (especially on Black Friday) because they don't always use their heads but instead yield to their feelings; and everybody knows that one's feelings, by and large, are mostly incoherent.

367) 2Tim 4:5b . . endure hardship

Some of the aspects of hardship are adversity, mischance, misfortune; danger, hazard, peril; affliction, trial, tribulation; drudgery, toil, travail; discomfort, and distress. Feelings of isolation and loneliness are a part of that too. Nobody really cares to sympathize with somebody when they're at the top of the food chain. Pastors comfort others, but who comforts the pastors? Hardly anybody; though maybe his wife; if she's the type.

The lives of Christ's pastors are not supposed to be a piece of cake. If they're doing their jobs in a way that pleases the Lord, pastors will have some struggles. Hardship comes with the turf; it's a given when Christ's pastors serve him faithfully and effectively.

The reason being that a pastor is essentially a shepherd. Well; according to Jacob, that job was a rough career path back in the day.

● Gen 31:40 . .Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.

Part of the reason that tending sheep was rough in Jacob's day is because a shepherd was essentially a security guard, constantly keeping an eye out for rustlers and predators. That part alone was a 24-7 task; not to mention monitoring the herd so none of them wandered off; as sheep are prone to do. It's no wonder Jacob lost a lot of sleep outside in the fields; and when you throw in exposure to the elements; a shepherd's life was really not one to be desired.

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WebersHome · Sep 11, 2017

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368) 2Tim 4:5c . . do the work of an evangelist

The koiné Greek word for "evangelist" is euaggelistes (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace') which means: a preacher of the gospel.

Here in America, we typically think of evangelists as guys like Billy Graham and Louis Palau. But according to Paul, pastors are supposed to be evangelists within the walls of their own churches rather than on the road.

My ex-Catholic wife begged and cajoled her Catholic father to accompany her to a Baptist church back in the 1970's before we met. On that particular Sunday, of all days, the pastor spoke about money; especially giving it to support his church and its programs. My father-in-law was disgusted, and commented afterwards: Baptists are no different than Catholics; all they care about is money. He never went back. Had that pastor spoken about Christ instead of money, my father-in-law might have returned.

Services are the best venue for in-church evangelism because the public is more likely to visit those than Sunday school.

Paul described pastoral evangelism as: fulfilling their ministry. (2Tim 4:5)

369) Titus 2:2 . . Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

The koiné Greek word for "older men" is presbutes (pres-boo'-tace) which means: an old man. Presbutes is different than presbuteros, which refers to church officers; e.g. deacons (1Tim 5:17).

I used to get my watches serviced by an aging repairman at a local mall until the day finally came when I could no longer tolerate his manners. He was around seventy-five years old, cantankerous as can be, and perpetually cross. I often felt like asking him if he ever gave any thought to his future. You know, heaven is a place of peace. A hateful man like that repairman would not only never fit in there, but it wouldn't be fair to the others to permit him in their world.

"Cantankerous" can be defined as: habitually ill-humored, irritable, disagreeable, bearish, cankered, cranky, cross-grained, dour, morose, sour; crabby, cross, crusty, huffy, petulant, prickly, snappish; dyspeptic, ill-conditioned, thin-skinned, complaining, and ill-natured.

A Christian man in old age really ought to be a sweet, mellow guy: a pal and a big brother for the younger ones rather than somebody they'd prefer do the world a favor by stepping in front of a bus.

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WebersHome · Sep 13, 2017

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370) Titus 2:3-5 . . The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becomes holiness: not traducers, not given to much wine, teachers of right; that they may train the young women to be sensible, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, and subordinate to their own husbands; that the word of God not be dishonored.

Traducers are particularly ugly human beings; especially the kind that misrepresent their own friends and say things about them that their friends would never approve; thus needlessly disparaging their friends' reputations save for the pure pleasure of gossip. Traducers aren't regular gossips, no, they're malicious gossips. Webster's defines malice as : a deep-seated, often unexplainable desire to see another suffer. In other words, traducers like to hurt people for no good reason other than that it feels good. One could hardly characterize malicious gossips as either good or discreet.

Too many women in America have been trained for marriage by feminism. Far from teaching younger women to respect their husbands, feminism teaches the younger women to stand up to their husbands; and rather than be keepers at home, feminism has them out seeking means to compete with men and break the so-called glass ceiling; and rather than love their children, feminism has them dominating their offspring in a home-life society structured on divisions of labor, command and control, tyranny, and regimentation. Those behaviors certainly can never be categorized as honoring the word of God.

The biggest road block to feminism-trained women becoming true disciples is the Lord's gender. You see, at the heart of women's hostility towards men is the drive to be independent of males. Yet the very lord and master of Christianity, the supreme male in the universe; demands death to a woman's self interests, and submission to His monarchy.

● Luke 14:26 . . If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children brothers and sisters-- yes, more than your own life. And you cannot be my disciple if you do take up your own cross and follow me.

In the Lord's era, crosses were for executions. So when he told his disciples to "take up their own cross" it meant stifling their own way; viz: it was a call to abandon self interests, and comply with their Master's wishes.

● Rom 12:1-2 . .Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect will.

That mandate runs 180° counter to modern feminism's self-aggrandizing attitude that homemaking is oppressive and demeaning to women, and that respect for one's husband is somehow abusive; which is obviously an attitude that vilifies the word of God instead of honoring it.

Christian marriage and motherhood are not for militant females; no, marriage and motherhood are for grown-up, mature, emotionally stable women; and I'm not talking about years of life; no, even some 35 and 40 year-old women often fall short of being grown-up. Their association with men is on no higher a level now than when they were the 17 year-old, self absorbed brats they were in high school. Christian women like that seriously need to read, and heed, the guidance offered in the three books recommended below.

For Women Only
By Shaunti Feldhahn
ISBN 1-59052-317-2

The Proper Care And Feeding Of Husbands
By Dr. Laura Schlessinger
ISBN 0-06-052061-2

What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us
By Danielle Crittenden
ISBN 0-684-83219-4
ISBN 0-684-85959-9 (paper back)

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WebersHome · Sep 14, 2017

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371) Titus 2:6 . . Similarly, encourage the young men to be sensible.

Just in case the young women were feeling a bit persecuted; Paul switches over to the guys and urges them to be just as sensible as the girls; in other words: to love their wives, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, and good; that the word of God not be dishonored.

Chastity is getting to be almost non-existent in America as more and more male celebrities engage in extra-marital affairs. Not all that long ago Governor Kitzhaber here in the state of Oregon was shacking up with a woman right in broad daylight in the governor's mansion and cared not what anybody thought about it. President Clinton messed around with women while he was in office, and former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer was discovered to be seeing expensive escorts which eventuated in his resignation. So Christians really can't depend upon America's leaders to set the example for young men.

Paul urged Titus to "encourage" the young men in his church to be sensible; which is quite a bit different than hounding them or getting on their backs. There's an awful lot of young men out there today with metal pinned in their faces and tattoos on their necks, taking ecstasy, smoking pot, joining gangs, using meth, shoplifting, and missing school because the adults in their lives refuse to let them grow up at their own pace.

Many years ago, before I was even interested in having a family of my own, there was a cartoon in the newspaper comics called Rick-O-Shay. Rick was sheriff in a small town out in the olde west. Well, he had a son that was a bit immature and Rick was concerned the boy was never going to amount to anything and he didn't know what to do about it. So, while he was complaining about his son to his good friend Hipshot Percussion (a local gunfighter) Hipshot interrupted and gave Rick some very good words of wisdom. He said (in so many words): Instead of frettin' about turning your son into someone you can admire, why not instead try and find out who he is and go with that?

Relentless criticism and ridicule, unreasonable expectations, zero sympathy, and disapproving everything they think, say, or do are the surest ways I know to ruin a young man's attitude and drive him far, far from home and God; hence the below:

372) Titus 2:7-8 . . In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that those who oppose us may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say.

Young men today desperately need morally sound role models because you can't just disapprove their life-style and not show them an alternative; and the best way to do that is by your own example; viz: instead of preaching to youngsters with words; preach to them with your conduct.

373) Titus 2:9-10a . . Bond slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering;

A bond slave is someone who has sold themselves into slavery for any number of reasons. But the one aspect I would like to dwell on is pilfering because this is a serious problem for employers here in the USA.

The koiné Greek word for "pilfering" is nosphizomai (nos-fid'-zom-ahee) which means to squirrel something aside for one's self: viz: embezzle; which Webster's defines as: to appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use.

Embezzling isn't limited to strictly stealing money; no, it's also the misuse of an employer's property such as company cars, office materials and office equipment, and/or shop materials and shop equipment; including water and electricity.

My last job before retiring was as a civilian employee for the US Army Corps of Engineers in the Portland Oregon district. It was a violation of Federal law for us to even take anything out of a dumpster, or use a battery charger to jump-start our cars, or even to so much as pump up a low tire on our cars with the air produced by a government air compressor. We were definitely not supposed to use the government's computers for surfing the web or composing personal e-mails.

Everything on the facility where I worked was US Government property, including the trash, and could not be used in an unofficial capacity without first obtaining special permission. Violators were subject to prosecution for Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.

Unofficial use of office computers alone is costing employers multiplied thousands of hours of wages and benefits paid to employees who are online during the work day for personal reasons. The most outrageous case I heard of at work was a lady downtown in the district office who was caught conducting her Mary K cosmetics business via a US Government computer; and on official time no less.

Those are things from which Christ's believing followers are ordered to cease and desist.

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WebersHome · Sep 15, 2017

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374) Titus 2:10b . . but showing all good faith that they may adorn the doctrine of God our savior in every respect.

The koiné Greek word for "adorn" is kosmeo (kos-meh'-o) which means: to put in proper order; viz: decorate

When women buy a pretty new dress, they usually get things to go with it; things we call accessories; like a purse, shoes, stockings, necklace, earrings, and/or a watch and a bracelet. In the old days, women usually bought some gloves to go with their new dress too-- thus they create an "ensemble" which gives them a complete look rather than an unfinished look as if they just threw the dress on to work around the house or run down to a nearby convenience store.

Well, a Christian who's a Christian in label only is like a pretty dress without accessories. In point of fact, they are quite basic: just a house-dress Christian. In other words; faith without piety is like leaving the house for work in the morning half dressed.

375) Titus 2:15 . . These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

I'm pretty sure this doesn't mean that pastors should speak with a bullying, imperialistic, intimidating tone of voice. Pastors, after all, are supposed to be shepherds rather than a bull o' the woods bossing a logging crew; so to speak.

The koiné Greek word for "disregard" is periphroneo (per-ee-fron-eh'-o) which basically means to depreciate; viz: to consider superfluous, expendable, and/or nonessential.

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WebersHome · Sep 16, 2017

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376) Titus 3:1 . . Remind your people to submit to the government and its officials. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.

Seeing as how we're talking about the law of the land-- viz: civil ordinances --what might be some examples? Well; I should think that things like J-walking, illegal U-turns, feeding parking meters, drifting through stop signs without coming to a complete halt, exceeding the speed limit, impeding traffic by driving too slow and refusing to pull over, double parking, failure to yield the right of way, unsafe lane changes, parking in a red zone, road rage, horn blowing, littering, trespassing, fishing without a license, keeping illegal size fish, keeping too many fish, feeding city-park ducks where it's prohibited, setting off fireworks where they're prohibited, dumping radiator coolant into a storm drain, ignoring State water regulations, removing a swallow's nest that has eggs in it, killing a protected species, etc.

If there is one kind of person that God has always despised all the way through the Bible it's a scofflaw. In point of fact, according to the covenant that Yhvh's people agreed upon with God; scofflaws merit neither forgiveness nor atonement; that's how serious it is.

● Num 15:30-31 . .The person, be he citizen or stranger, who acts defiantly reviles the Lord; that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has spurned the word of the Lord and violated His commandment, that person shall be cut off-- he bears his guilt.

377) Titus 3:2 . . malign no one, be non-contentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

The koiné Greek word for "malign" is blasphemeo (blas-fay-meh'-o) which means: to vilify

Webster's defines vilify as: to lower in estimation or importance, and/or to utter abusive statements against

Vilification is a clear violation of Php 2:3, which reads: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Should I consider Bernard "Bernie" Madoff as better than myself? (chuckle) No. It isn't vilification to say the man is a crumb when he's been clearly proven to be one. That's neither malignant nor malevolent. What we're talking about here are innocent victims of mean-spirited, unwarranted vilification rather than those fully deserving of it. And besides, pastors need to be careful what they say about people because sometimes it seems the walls themselves have ears.

● Ecc 10:20 . . Curse not the king, even in your thought; curse not the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.

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WebersHome · Sep 17, 2017

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378) Titus 3:8 . .This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds.

To "speak confidently" implies speaking with an assertive, "no buts" attitude; viz: the things a preacher teaches his congregation should not be open to debate and/or perpetual bull sessions that never get to the bottom of anything.

The koiné Greek word for "deeds" is very common throughout the New Testament; more often translated "works" than deeds. We're not talking about Boy Scout kinds of deeds but just simply the spiritual morality of one's day to day conduct; viz: a life that pleases God instead of one that irritates Him to no end.

● Eph 4:30 . . Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

379) Titus 3:9 . . Shun foolish controversies, and genealogies, and strife, and disputes about the Law; for they are unprofitable and worthless.

The "law" in question is the covenant that Yhvh's people agreed upon with God in the Old Testament. Disputes generally revolve around its interpretation and its correct application. Yhvh stipulated the formation of a panel of lawyers to interpret the law for those among His people who lacked the wherewithal to do it for themselves (Deut 17:8-13). But since Christians are outside the covenant's jurisdiction, then they can get by without those lawyers to interpret it for them; and besides; when you consider there are nine Justices on the US Supreme Court who seldom agree unanimously on anything, how much chance do you reckon a panel of seventy has of reaching a consensus?

One of the "foolish controversies and genealogies" I would highly recommend that believers avoid is Rome's roster of so-called apostolic successors. Don't even go there. It's unprofitable, futile, and pointless to strive over something like that. Pick your battles, and make sure your conflicts accomplish something truly useful for Christ. The Vatican has much bigger problems within its walls and its dogmas than that one.

380) Titus 3:10-11 . . A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

The koiné Greek word for "heretic" is hairetikos (hahee-ret-ee-kos') which means: a schismatic; which is someone in your very own church who causes dissent, rebellion, division, discord, and disharmony.

Heretics are not outsiders; no, a true heretic goes to the same church you go to and professes to believe and practice the very same religion that you profess to believe and practice; viz: for Catholics, a heretic would be a professing Catholic who openly disagrees with Rome, and attempts to persuade other Catholics to join their cause in opposing Vatican Council II in order to reform the Church.

Webster's defines a heretic as: 1) a dissenter from established church dogma; especially one who disavows a revealed truth, and 2) one who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine; viz: a nonconformist.

I am an ex-Catholics and I oppose Rome. However, I don't fit the definition of a heretic. I'm what's known in Christian circles as an apostate; viz: a defector; which Webster's defines as a person who forsakes one's cause, party, or nation for another often because of a change in ideology. Heretics don't usually defect; but remain inside to foster insurrection: to undermine hierarchy, to bring about reform, to weaken, and to cause division. Every church has its fair share of heretics and they can be very disruptive in a Sunday school class.

The koiné Greek word for "reject" is (par-ahee-teh'-om-ahee) which means: to beg off; viz: deprecate, decline, and shun. In other words, don't give heretics the time of day, nor be seen with them attending church.

Some religions, e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses, practice total shunning; viz: not only in church, but outside too; even in homes and families. That's pretty extreme and I really don't think Paul means we should go that far with it.

381) Titus 3:14 . . And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

The pronoun "ours" obviously excludes the heretics. They don't need to maintain good works since they're essentially tares rather than wheat and nothing they do in Christ's name is merit-worthy.

● Matt 7:22-23 . . Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them : I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity.

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WebersHome · Sep 18, 2017

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382) Titus 3:15 . . Greet them that love us in the faith.

Heretics are of course excluded from the group that Paul labeled "them that love us in the faith". It would be a sin to require believers to say hello to them for Paul; since his orders are to shun heretics. He he didn't want to know them anymore. They were not his favorite kinds of Christians.

You know what that says to me? It says to me that heretics are even less acceptable than a stranger because Christ instructed his disciples to greet strangers.

● Matt 5:47 . . And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the publicans do so?

So heresy is pretty serious.

383) Philemon

In the little communiqué to his friend Philemon, Paul went to bat for a runaway slave named Onesimus. By all rights, Philemon could legally, under Roman law, put Onesimus to death; but as Onesimus' fellow believer, and his sibling around the table in God's home, Philemon was bound by a higher sense of duty and association.

Onesimus ran away prior to his conversion to Christianity. Had he been a Christian, he would have been mindful of Eph 6:5-8, Col 3:22-25, 1Tim 6:1- 2, and Titus 2:9-10a and not run away.

Now that Onesimus was a fellow believer, Philemon was obligated to comply with Eph 6:9a, and Col 4:1.

You know, I keep using words like "obligated" but though that word is appropriate, it shouldn't have to be emphasized because Christianity is supposed to be a religion of devotion rather than obligation to duty.

● Gal 5:13 . . By love serve one another.

Israel's covenanted law requires people to love others as themselves; but Jesus commands believers to love their fellow believers with the same degree of love with which he himself loves them.

● John 15:12 . . My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

That being the case, it must have been very easy for Philemon to let bygones be bygones and welcome Onesimus back into his home.

When Onesimus became Philemon's fellow believer, the nature of their association took on a whole other dimension; viz: every one of the commands that I've posted up till now, in regards to believers associating with one another, came into play at the moment of Onesimus' conversion.

He and Philemon would never again relate to one another the same as before Onesimus' conversion. Where once Onesimus and Philemon were merely fellow men; in Christ they became siblings, and both will one day sit side by side, shoulder to shoulder as equals around the table in God's home.

● Phm 1:15-16 . . For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; not now as a slave, but above a slave, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

As a conscientious Christian, Onesimus no doubt became a real asset because it wouldn't be necessary for Philemon to ever again beat an honest day's work out of him.

● 1Tim 6:1-2 . . All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them.

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WebersHome · Sep 19, 2017

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384) Heb 2:1-4 . .We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

That commandment is unusual in the New Testament in that it wasn't written to Christians, but rather, to potential Christians; in particular, potential Jewish Christians.

When studying a difficult epistle like Hebrews, it's extremely important, for a sensible understanding of the letter, to first determine who wrote it, and to whom the author mailed it.

The author, unknown either by name or gender; was obviously a Jew because he's identified by the use of the pronouns "our" and "us" since it was to the Jews' forefathers that the prophets spoke.

Next, it's important to determine the target audience. Few people write letters and send them nowhere unless they're maybe a little touched in the head. So this letter was intended to communicate with somebody. According to Heb 13:22. the audience wasn't to just one recipient; but to a plurality identified as "brothers".

Just exactly how many are indicated by "brothers" is impossible to determine. The recipients may have been even as few as two. A plausible scenario is that the author, in his activities as an evangelist, traveled to various places throughout the Roman empire, and would eventually end up in a local Jewish synagogue. Jesus did it that way in Israel (Matt 4:23, Matt 9:35, Luke 4:16) and Paul did it that way later. (Acts 15:21, Acts 17:1-4)

Usually a number of Jews in those synagogues (whom the Jewish author calls brothers) would take an interest in the Gospel and want to know more. I believe this epistle was sent to an unspecified group of those kinds of Jews. Where were they located? Nobody knows. The only thing about the location that's known for sure is that it wasn't Italy. (Heb 13:24)

Moving through the letter, I believe at least three categories of Jews are addressed.

Chapters 1 thru 4:13 address nondescript Jews.

Chapters 4:14 and thru to 10:39, address a special group of Jews that I've labeled teetering Jews. Those were Jews who heard the Gospel, and interested in finding out more, but not quite convinced yet to follow Jesus whole-heartedly, and were in very real danger of turning completely away from the Gospel and permanently clinging to Judaism.

Chapter 11, and thru to the end of the epistle, addressed Jews who were past teetering: they made a solid commitment, and were ready to begin living a serious, Christ-following way of life.

My divisions of the epistle are no doubt amateurish and rough hewn, but they do serve to help put the contents in some sort of useful perspective.

Getting back to Heb 2:1-4, I don't think the words "drift away" imply that people get saved and then later lose their salvation. No; it's more like a curious crowd that gathers around a soap box speaker, and little by little, man by man, boredom sets in-- the audience begins dispersing and people move on to find something else to do. That would be akin to attending a Billy Graham crusade for its entertainment, and a month later totally forgetting everything he talked about.

Were you to ask an evangelistic associations like Jews For Jesus; they would tell you it takes a lot of hard, dedicated, persistent effort to convert Jews to Christianity; hard effort with lots of prayer and follow-up because Jews have a very strong tendency to drift away from Christ and cling to their ancestral religion.

385) Heb 3:1 . .Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and High Priest whom we acknowledge: Christ Jesus

The "holy brethren" are Yhvh's people as per Deut 14:2 and Ps 135:4; and the "holy calling" very likely refers to the nation that God promised to make of Abraham as per Gen 12:1-2, Gen 13:14-16, and Gen 22:16-18.

The pronoun "we" in the phrase "whom we acknowledge" doesn't apply to just any Jew who happens to be looking in: only the Christian Jews with whom the author was then associated.

The koiné Greek word for "consider" is katanoeo (kat-an-o-eh'-o) which means: to observe fully; viz: to study; to examine.

You know, giving Christ a cursory glance leads nowhere. His purpose and his mission are just too complicated for that sort of half-hearted approach. Giving the Bible's Christ a brief once-over is just about as wise as investing in stocks without knowing some details about the company behind them; but that is just how modern Jews typically view Christ-- He's not Moses is he? No? End of discussion!

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WebersHome · Sep 21, 2017

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386) Heb 3:7-11 . . So, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried Me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said: Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways. So I declared on oath in My anger; they shall never enter My rest.

That's a quote from Psalm 95; which pertains to the people of Israel whom Yhvh rescued from Egyptian slavery. No doubt there are lots of modern Jews who would say: Had I been out there with Moses in the desert, I would have obeyed God and entered the promised land when Yhvh said to the first time. Sure, sure, it's easy to be obedient in hindsight sans the added handicap of peer pressure. But where's the average Jew today? The majority are hiloni (secular). And if you were to take a poll of the more than twelve million Jews resident on today's Earth, how many would you find who have ever even one time read Psalm 95?

In point of fact, the generation that followed Joshua into Canaan didn't get rest; no, they got warfare; years of it. And instead of obtaining a permanent state of peace and prosperity, they wound up getting oppression, slavery, poverty, environmental disasters, plagues, defeat, and dispersal.

● Heb 4:8-9 . . For if Joshua had given them rest, then would not Psalm 95 afterward have spoken of a different day. There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.

I'm going to deliberately misquote that last sentence like this: There is another rest for the people of God. No, it doesn't say "another" rest; it's the same rest, the one they failed to obtain the first time; viz: it's been on hold all these many long years; and observers only need look at the state of that country today to easily perceive that Yhvh's people have yet to obtain rest of any kind: either politically, environmentally, or economically.

387) Heb 3:12-13 . . Take heed, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But implore one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

That's a call to theocratic unity; Jewish theocratic unity. But good luck getting the Jews to rally around Yhvh. Oh well, the author was duty-bound to try; as all the prophets before him in the past were duty-bound to try; usually to no avail.

● Heb 3:16-19 . .Who were they who heard and rebelled? Was it not all those whom Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was Yhvh angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So then, we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Belief is not only consent to a statement's truthfulness. No, Bible belief contains the element of trust; the absence of which led to the Jews' downfall in the Sinai. God told them to attack Palestine, but they didn't believe they were strong enough to do it. Well, that part was true; they weren't. However, Yhvh promised to be on their side. That part was true too, and had they been as convinced of that second part as strongly as they were the first, they would have been okay. But alas, they failed to rely upon Yhvh as a man of His word; and subsequently, they missed out on their one and only opportunity to enter an era of peace, prosperity, and providence.

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WebersHome · Sep 22, 2017

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388) Heb 4:1-2 . .Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had the gospel preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith in those who heard.

When reading the Bible; it's always important to pay close attention to language, grammar, and syntax. In this passage we're looking at, the pronouns us, you, we, they, and those don't refer to Gentiles; no, not at all. They refer to the author's fellow Jewish countrymen. This is, after all, a letter to Hebrews, not to the world.

The "gospel" spoken of in this instance is a concise version of the message with which most Christians are familiar, and its focus was mainly upon the kingdom of God rather than the grace of God. (e.g. Matt 4:23, Mark 1:14-15). The Jews' homeland would've been the center of the kingdom of God back then just as it will be in the future. In other words: the kingdom of God has been offered to the Jews at least twice already-- once by Moses and once by Jesus --and will be offered to them yet a third time in the future. But I rather suspect that next time the Jews won't have a say in the matter.

Jews are now in an era sometimes called the church age; which is an open-season opportunity for them to at least enroll in the kingdom as its future citizens.

● Heb 4:6-7 . . It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later He spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."

389) Heb 4:11 . . Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disbelief.

The "fall" in that instance refers to the Jews' failure to enter the kingdom's land when they were given the opportunity; which was indeed a very brief open season.

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WebersHome · Sep 23, 2017

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390) Heb 4:14 . . Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us cling to what we acknowledge

Prior to Christ, the closest proximity that Yhvh's people had to God was their Aaonic priest. But even he was earth-bound and his own closest proximity to the actual person of God was the holy place in either the tabernacle or the Temple.

One of the advantages of Christ's priesthood is his immortality; in other words: the Lord continues as a priest forever because he rose from the dead impervious to death. Aaron and his sons were not so lucky.

● Rom 6:9 . . knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

● Heb 7:23-25 . . Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But he, because he continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

391) Heb 4:15-16 . . For 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. 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.

One of the advantages of worship via a human priest is his ability to intuitively sympathize with human weaknesses. That is something that angels simply cannot do because they are a different species of life. They may empathize, but can never truly sympathize.

Webster's defines empathy as: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner.

In other words: Christ experienced human weaknesses and therefore understands human weaknesses.

● Heb 5:1-3 . . Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.

Another aspect of worship via a human priest is temptation. Christ was fully tempted (Heb 4:15). Worship did not come easy for Jesus as some have been led to believe. That poor guy suffered just as much, if not more, temptation in his life as anybody else-- real trials; not just symbolic trials.

● Heb 5:7-8 . . Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered

It's not that Jesus was at one time disobedient. What he learned was just how difficult it is to be faithful to God when everything is working against you.

There's an old Native American prayer that goes something like this: Great Spirit, help me never to judge another until I have walked in his moccasins.

Well, the Bible's Jesus walked in our moccasins and he knows by personal experience just exactly how it feels. He's not just some indifferent, court appointed lawyer; no, nothing like that: Jesus is genuinely kin to his fellow men; therefore they can approach the throne of grace with confidence because it truly is a throne of grace rather than a throne of criminal justice.

Christ's constituents don't approach the throne as fugitives; no, we approach it as worn-out travelers in need of a place to stay for the night. We're like the man set upon by thieves, and Jesus is like the Samaritan who got him back on his feet. Christ doesn't pass us by on the other side of the road; no, he goes out his way to be helpful. That's really good to know.

The koiné Greek word for "confidence" in Heb 4:16 is parrhesia (par-rhay-see'-ah) which means: all out-spokenness; viz: frankness, bluntness. Since Jesus is a man who's been around the block a few times; there is no need to be reticent with him. It's okay to speak our minds-- be frank, be candid --just as we would speak with beer buddies and/or yoga pals. That is a huge improvement over stuffing pieces of paper in the stone chinks of the so-called Wailing Wall.

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WebersHome · Sep 24, 2017

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392) Heb 6:1-3 . .Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

A large section of Hebrews talks about a man named Melchizedek: a priest of the Most High God who lived in Abraham's day. Mel is not a popular topic on internet Christian forums; which is really a shame because his priesthood, and its constituents, are above The Commandments and thoroughly immune to prosecution for breaking them.

Discussions of Melchizedek are pretty much limited to the acumen of mature believers; primarily because the average Jew is spiritually-challenged. Another large section of the letter to Hebrews talks about the new covenant, but that also is too advanced for the spiritual acumen of the average Jew.

Yhvh's people were spiritually-challenged when they came out of Egypt.

● Deut 29:2-5 . . And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them; You have seen all that Yhvh did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land; the great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders. Yet to this day Yhvh has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.

The condition persisted to Isaiah's day,

● Isa 6:9-10 . . And Yhvh said; Go, and tell this people: Keep on listening, but do not perceive; keep on looking, but do not understand. Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and come back to Me and be healed.

Continued in Ezekiel's day,

● Ezk 12:1-2 . .Then the word of Yhvh came to me saying; Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

Was chronic in Christ's day,

● John 12:39-40 . . For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says: He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor repent --and I would heal them.

And still a problem in Paul's day too.

● 2Cor 3:12-16 . . Since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull; for to this day the same veil remains when Torah is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to The Lord, the veil is taken away.

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