Hebrews, chapters 5 and 6

Last week we worked on chapters 4 and 5, and this Thursday we will work on chapters 5 and 6. Here are some questions to work with when reviewing this part of Hebrews:

1. How did Jesus become the source of salvation?
2. What was his specific path in life before he accomplished it, becoming the source of salvation?
3. The author describes Jesus very carefully and thoroughly as high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Can we be imitators of Jesus in this? Ought we to do so?
4. Are you mature and skilled in the word of righteousness?
5. Can you see the small creed, a mini-recitation of faith, at the start of chapter 6?
6. Was Father Abraham skilled and mature in the word of righteousness?
7. What exactly WAS the word of righteousness that Father Abraham encountered? Have you encountered anything like that?

That will be a good start in the process of diving into the Word, in Hebrews 6 today.

A set of questions, oriented toward one concept in Hebrews 4

The fourth chapter of Hebrews has a single concept at its center. Our questions, including two from last week, will grapple with that concept.

1. The author mentions the phrase "God's rest" in this chapter. What is the origin and meaning of that phrase?
2. Why does the author connect God's rest to the Exodus?
3. Our faith connects which sacrament(s) to the day God rested?
4. How does the Holy Spirit use the concept of time in this emphasized word, "today" in v. 7?
5. The author of Hebrews uses the Greek word σκληροs, skleros, in various places for the concept of hardness. What are the signs of a hardened heart?
6. What did Ezekiel prophesy about the treatment of hardened hearts?
7. Why does the text jump wildly from the concept of "entering his rest" in verse 11, to the completely different image of the double edged sword in verse 12?
8. Is there a connection between "entering into that rest" in v. 11 and "holding fast to our confession" in v. 14?

Let's think about these questions and be ready for the Holy Spirit to help us understand the perfect law of freedom tomorrow morning.

Comments concerning the house and falling away

We discussed the analogy of Jesus and Moses to builder and house, and how faith is the essence of being built up as part of God's household, living stones, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

In connection with the miracle of the Red Sea and the grumbling in the desert immediately after the Red Sea miracles, we discussed how it would be possible for us today to harden our hearts.

Here are some of the comments:

1. Ken: Life happens, although we discussed whether this is the same thing as hardening one's heart.
2. Len: When you avoid going to worship on Sunday, it is a way of pushing God away.
3. Joe:
   1. Exodus 31:12-18 makes clear how serious God considers the sabbath rest, which shows that it is God who makes us holy, a royal priesthood.
   2. Deceit of sin, like pornography, is how a man can harden his heart.

And this is where Ken pointed out that a man has got to know his limitations.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make our hearts true and not hardened, and help everyone in our parish, and in this world, as YOU break the hearts of stone.

Exam question 7, answers

Answers from the James final exam:

7. Make a judgement call: Which sacrament is tops for following James' admonition, to be a doer of the Word?

It was an interesting set of answers:

1. Baptism: one student made this his answer.
2. Eucharist: one student made this his answer.
3. Holy Orders: one student made this his answer.
4. Confession: →FIVE students made this their answer.

Each answer is kosher, but this last big answer, confession, is an intriguing answer, and a good answer, especially when considering the Lord's own prayer. Good.

Hebrews 3 questions

Here are some questions we will review today:

1. How accurate and proper is the comparison of Jesus and Moses to a builder of a house and the house itself?
2. Where else in scripture are we compared to a house?
3. The author mentions the phrase "God's rest" in this chapter. What is the origin and meaning of that phrase?
4. Why does the author connect God's rest to the Exodus?
5. Our faith connects which sacrament(s) to the day God rested?

OK, that will be a good start to challenge our brains this morning, and we can hope that, once our brains are challenged, some of that brainpower will get into our hearts!

Exam scores

I had to use x-ray vision to read the handwriting of some of those exams, but the scores are IN.

Thursday Morning Men's Bible Study earned an A+ on the James final exam. Nice work.

Hebrews, chapter 2 question

There is only one question to think over for tomorrow morning, and it relates to the very end of Hebrews, chapter 1, also:

1. How is it that Jesus makes death a footstool for himself?

That is plenty, all in one simple question.

We want to think and discuss that truth and see if it leads us by the perfect law of freedom to deeper faithfulness to the Lord.

Notes from Matthew 6, the Lord's Prayer

Whilst cleaning out some old boxes, I came across a few note cards with findings concerning the Lord's Prayer, way back when we studied Matthew's gospel together.

1. Sal: Forgive, and this also connects to perfect contrition.
2. German: Jesus' obedience in "thy kingdom come," plus German compared it to the Magnificat.
3. Bill: Forgiving sums up all the other parts of the Lord's Prayer.

Good work.

Questions concerning the perfect Law of freedom in the letter to the Hebrews

Our next section of the Bible is the letter to the Hebrews, starting on page 569. It is loaded with wisdom.

1. Read the opening two verses of chapter 1, "In times past, God spoke..." What parable in the Gospels compare to these two verses?
2. Now look at the first part of v. 3. Which Gospel begins with concepts like v. 3 of Hebrews?
3. In v. 4, there is mention of the name. Which letter of Paul has a beautiful passage about the name above all other names, to the glory of God the Father?

We are just getting started! It is going to be a big exciting job to look into this part of the perfect Law of freedom.

But to start the day, we will have a 15 minute final examination on James' letter to us. Bring a pen or pencil and be ready to think.

James 5 questions, true or false

Here are a medium difficulty questions to help you wade through the advanced concepts of James 5.

1. TRUE or FALSE: "James gives rich folks an easy ride, no problems."
2. TRUE or FALSE: "Sharp business practices are encouraged by James, especially saving money on wages."
3. TRUE or FALSE: "Jesus will overlook unfairness and will say, Tut, tut! to rapacious dealing when Judgement Day appears."
4. TRUE or FALSE: "Sins that cry out to God are no great matter, and the following passages of sacred scripture
   1. Genesis 4:10
      
   2. Genesis 18:20
      
   3. Genesis 19:13
      
   4. Exodus 3:7
      
   5. Exodus 20:22
      
   6. Deuteronomy 24:15
   7. Revelation 6:10
   can be safely ignored."
   
5. TRUE or FALSE: "Praying for a person in trouble is useless and James does not recommend this."

After we get the TRUE/FALSE answers sorted out on Thursday morning, we will discuss why the answers sort out the way they have.