Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Where it says, "let your conversation," it's literally a statement, the manner of life. The manner of life is without covetousness;
Whether you apply it to the track star, or to walking with Christ, it's all the same. The manner of life of the believer is without covetousness, which literally means without a love for money. The love for money is not even part of the Christian life.
And be content, literally, while being content, and there's actually two different directions here, staying away from covetousness, while at the same time being content with such things as you have: for he has said, a quote from Deuteronomy 31:6, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. This quote is from Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:6 and Joshua 1:5.
I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. This quote actually has 5 negatives in it. Number one, I will never leave thee. The word never represents two negatives. When a writer in Greek uses two negatives, he's talking about an impossibility. I will never, it will be impossible for me to leave you. Nor forsake you. The word forsake comes with three negatives. Now the word leave means to leave upon someone else's request. And the word forsake means to leave upon his own prompting.
So, here's what it is saying:
I will never leave you if you ask or tell me to. Nor will I ever, ever, forsake you. I will never leave you. Now that's quite a promise! Because after you're saved, and there are some who have been there, and they say Lord, why don't you just leave me alone, let me just go. But the Lord says I will never leave you, even if you tell me or ask me to. Nor will I ever, ever, leave you based on my own decision.
Concerning the provision, and this is a statement of fact. Remember the word "be" in italics is the word "is." Grace is with you all. Amen. Grace has the definite article. He's talking about "the" grace of God is with you all. And then he says amen.
This is all I have for Hebrews. I know some of it was long, especially the sections on faith, but I hope you enjoyed Hebrews. Next, I will be starting the book of James. It is only five chapters long but as you know it is jammed packed with great teaching, like faith without works is dead.
In James, we can study what that means, what it means to be double minded, and how we are to endure hardships, because through it, God develops our faith. These things have a lot to do with the book of Hebrews. It's a continuing of the same subjects, just a little more in-depth.
Hebrews 13:21 - Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Now may the God of peace that raised Jesus from the dead, who is the great shepherd of the sheep, make you perfect in every good work to do his will. Well, wouldn't you know it, the word perfect doesn't mean perfect. In fact, it's used in Ephesians Chapter 4, and we saw it in the beginning of Hebrews Chapter 11. It's the word KATARTIDZO which means to mend, to put your life together.
In the gospel of Mark, it was used when Jesus came along the seashore and found the disciples mending their nets. It's the same word used here. So, his wish, his desire is that the God of peace would mend them, put their lives together in every good work.
Now literally, it doesn't mean that He perfects us for good work, but we are perfected in the good work. While we are involved in our walk with the Lord, running the race, through it He restores us and mends us. May He make you perfect, mended, in every good work. And its purpose clause is to do His will.
Concerning pleasing: He who is working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight. So, God is working. That's the good work through which I am restored and mended, and He's doing that which is well pleasing in His sight. I might not understand it, but He's doing whatever it takes to mend me. And this is all through Jesus Christ;
Concerning praise: To whom, and notice the word "be" in our English bible is in italics. It should be "is." To whom is glory for ever and ever, concerning Jesus Christ, Amen.
Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
The term giving thanks, giving is a Present Participle, confessing praise and thanks to His name. God says I don't want animal sacrifices. I want the sacrifice of praise and thanks. And again, that's not something to be practiced. He's after our heart, that no matter what is going on, we praise Him and thank Him because we know it's from Him. If we complain and murmur, then we are complaining against God!
Hebrews 13:18 - Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
He says Pray for us. That's a Present Imperative. Imperative is a command. Continue to pray for us.
The reason: For we trust we have a good conscience, and this is based on the fact that we have a clear good conscience before God, therefore pray for us in all things willing to live honestly.
Hebrews 13:20 - Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Now may the God of peace, because the main verb is not until we get down to Verse 21. And it's an Optative mood which means it's a wish. So, we could put the word may in here. Now may the God of peace, concerning prayer, power, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus. He's the God of peace, and He raised up Jesus from the dead.
Concerning His position: That great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. All of these scripture references in the Old Testament, as well as in the New Testament, say that Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep: Psalm 23, Isaiah 63:11, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:23, John 10:11, 1 Peter 2:25, and 1 Peter 5:4.
I look at the expression of faith in the believers that have come before us to see if it's the same one in me, or whether I got caught up in a deceitful spirit and false doctrine. The power of positive thinking is the opposite faith of anybody in the scripture. I look at their expression, and then I look at the expression on my life to find out if it's the same faith.
So, we're to compare the expression of faith in our life with the expression of faith of those that came before us. That's all capsulated in the word follow! But it doesn't mean to copy, and it doesn't mean to imitate by seeing how they do it and in my human, I practice doing it the same way they do it. That's not what it means. It's another important word in the Greek language that we've misunderstood. We think it means personal performance.
He's talking about those who came before us, not the people who are teaching you the word today, but those who came before, who spoke to you the word of God, past tense. That's what they did in Acts Chapter 2 when the church first started, they fellowshipped in the doctrine of the apostles and prophets.
That's what we do. We remember those who rule over us who have spoken the word of God to us, and whose faith we are to follow, considering the end of their lifestyle. Look how they ended up!
Hebrews 13:10 - We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
The word serve is a Present Participle, which are serving the tabernacle. Interesting, the same people who are serving in the tabernacle have no right to partake of the altar of the believer. You can't go in both directions!
Hebrews 13:7 - Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken. There it is, "who have spoken in the past," unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, or lifestyle.
The word follow is the same one that Paul used in 1 Corinthians 11:1, be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. The word follow does not mean to copy. Nor does it mean to imitate. It is the word for mime. That's different. In Greek literature, someone who was a mime was someone who came out on stage, and sometimes it would be one person playing all the parts, just changing masks. And they would live out the play or the message by their expressions and movements without speaking.
So, what Paul in 1 Corinthians, and what the writer of Hebrews is saying is, the faith that was in those who were before you that ministered the word of God to you, mimic their faith. Now what that means is, have the same expression of faith in your life as was in their life.
Now if you didn't catch it, this is very, very beautiful. You compare! If some people were to compare the faith that they're following today with the faith that's in the scriptures, or even back in Chapter 11 with those people, they find out that it is two different kinds of faith.
Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Where it says, "let your conversation," it's literally a statement, the manner of life. The manner of life is without covetousness;
Whether you apply it to the track star, or to walking with Christ, it's all the same. The manner of life of the believer is without covetousness, which literally means without a love for money. The love for money is not even part of the Christian life.
And be content, literally, while being content, and there's actually two different directions here, staying away from covetousness, while at the same time being content with such things as you have: for he has said, a quote from Deuteronomy 31:6, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. This quote is from Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:6 and Joshua 1:5.
I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. This quote actually has 5 negatives in it. Number one, I will never leave thee. The word never represents two negatives. When a writer in Greek uses two negatives, he's talking about an impossibility. I will never, it will be impossible for me to leave you. Nor forsake you. The word forsake comes with three negatives. Now the word leave means to leave upon someone else's request. And the word forsake means to leave upon his own prompting.
So, here's what it is saying:
I will never leave you if you ask or tell me to. Nor will I ever, ever, forsake you. I will never leave you. Now that's quite a promise! Because after you're saved, and there are some who have been there, and they say Lord, why don't you just leave me alone, let me just go. But the Lord says I will never leave you, even if you tell me or ask me to. Nor will I ever, ever, leave you based on my own decision.
Hebrews 13:25 - Grace be with you all. Amen.
Concerning the provision, and this is a statement of fact. Remember the word "be" in italics is the word "is." Grace is with you all. Amen. Grace has the definite article. He's talking about "the" grace of God is with you all. And then he says amen.
This is all I have for Hebrews. I know some of it was long, especially the sections on faith, but I hope you enjoyed Hebrews. Next, I will be starting the book of James. It is only five chapters long but as you know it is jammed packed with great teaching, like faith without works is dead.
In James, we can study what that means, what it means to be double minded, and how we are to endure hardships, because through it, God develops our faith. These things have a lot to do with the book of Hebrews. It's a continuing of the same subjects, just a little more in-depth.
Blessings to you all in Christ!
God bless you.
Hebrews 13:21 - Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Now may the God of peace that raised Jesus from the dead, who is the great shepherd of the sheep, make you perfect in every good work to do his will. Well, wouldn't you know it, the word perfect doesn't mean perfect. In fact, it's used in Ephesians Chapter 4, and we saw it in the beginning of Hebrews Chapter 11. It's the word KATARTIDZO which means to mend, to put your life together.
In the gospel of Mark, it was used when Jesus came along the seashore and found the disciples mending their nets. It's the same word used here. So, his wish, his desire is that the God of peace would mend them, put their lives together in every good work.
Now literally, it doesn't mean that He perfects us for good work, but we are perfected in the good work. While we are involved in our walk with the Lord, running the race, through it He restores us and mends us. May He make you perfect, mended, in every good work. And its purpose clause is to do His will.
Concerning pleasing: He who is working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight. So, God is working. That's the good work through which I am restored and mended, and He's doing that which is well pleasing in His sight. I might not understand it, but He's doing whatever it takes to mend me. And this is all through Jesus Christ;
Concerning praise: To whom, and notice the word "be" in our English bible is in italics. It should be "is." To whom is glory for ever and ever, concerning Jesus Christ, Amen.
Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
The term giving thanks, giving is a Present Participle, confessing praise and thanks to His name. God says I don't want animal sacrifices. I want the sacrifice of praise and thanks. And again, that's not something to be practiced. He's after our heart, that no matter what is going on, we praise Him and thank Him because we know it's from Him. If we complain and murmur, then we are complaining against God!
Hebrews 13:18 - Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
He says Pray for us. That's a Present Imperative. Imperative is a command. Continue to pray for us.
The reason: For we trust we have a good conscience, and this is based on the fact that we have a clear good conscience before God, therefore pray for us in all things willing to live honestly.
Hebrews 13:20 - Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Now may the God of peace, because the main verb is not until we get down to Verse 21. And it's an Optative mood which means it's a wish. So, we could put the word may in here. Now may the God of peace, concerning prayer, power, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus. He's the God of peace, and He raised up Jesus from the dead.
Concerning His position: That great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant. All of these scripture references in the Old Testament, as well as in the New Testament, say that Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep: Psalm 23, Isaiah 63:11, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:23, John 10:11, 1 Peter 2:25, and 1 Peter 5:4.
All of this was to lead up to the verb.
Hebrews 13:7 Continued:
I look at the expression of faith in the believers that have come before us to see if it's the same one in me, or whether I got caught up in a deceitful spirit and false doctrine. The power of positive thinking is the opposite faith of anybody in the scripture. I look at their expression, and then I look at the expression on my life to find out if it's the same faith.
So, we're to compare the expression of faith in our life with the expression of faith of those that came before us. That's all capsulated in the word follow! But it doesn't mean to copy, and it doesn't mean to imitate by seeing how they do it and in my human, I practice doing it the same way they do it. That's not what it means. It's another important word in the Greek language that we've misunderstood. We think it means personal performance.
He's talking about those who came before us, not the people who are teaching you the word today, but those who came before, who spoke to you the word of God, past tense. That's what they did in Acts Chapter 2 when the church first started, they fellowshipped in the doctrine of the apostles and prophets.
That's what we do. We remember those who rule over us who have spoken the word of God to us, and whose faith we are to follow, considering the end of their lifestyle. Look how they ended up!
Hebrews 13:10 - We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
The word serve is a Present Participle, which are serving the tabernacle. Interesting, the same people who are serving in the tabernacle have no right to partake of the altar of the believer. You can't go in both directions!
Hebrews 13:7 - Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken. There it is, "who have spoken in the past," unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, or lifestyle.
The word follow is the same one that Paul used in 1 Corinthians 11:1, be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. The word follow does not mean to copy. Nor does it mean to imitate. It is the word for mime. That's different. In Greek literature, someone who was a mime was someone who came out on stage, and sometimes it would be one person playing all the parts, just changing masks. And they would live out the play or the message by their expressions and movements without speaking.
So, what Paul in 1 Corinthians, and what the writer of Hebrews is saying is, the faith that was in those who were before you that ministered the word of God to you, mimic their faith. Now what that means is, have the same expression of faith in your life as was in their life.
Now if you didn't catch it, this is very, very beautiful. You compare! If some people were to compare the faith that they're following today with the faith that's in the scriptures, or even back in Chapter 11 with those people, they find out that it is two different kinds of faith.
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