First, Hebrews 7:26 says describes Jesus as “separated from sinners.” How is it that when he was on earth he was described as a “friend of publicans and sinners” (Matt 11:19)? Could it be that our definition of “separated” is messed up? I realize that in Hebrews 7, the author is talking primarily about his current state after ascending into heaven, but I would put forth that he’s not more holy now than he was when he was on earth…
Second, I read the beginning of Hebrews 6 with fresh eyes this morning. It’s one of those passages I always wished just wasn’t in the Bible, but it hit me a little differently today. I’m curious what others think of this reading:
- 5:11, 6:1-3 – I want to teach you more deeply if God permits, but you’ve become hard of hearing.
- 6:4-6 – Once you’ve experienced God, if you then harden your heart there’s nothing I can say or do that will bring you back to repentance. So it wouldn’t do any good to try to teach you more if your heart is not in a place of repentance. Because of the illustration he uses next, the “impossible” here reminds me of what Jesus said about the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17ff – “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
- 6:7-8 – He compares a person to a field. Elsewhere people are compared to trees and branches, in which case burning is pretty much the end. But for a field, burning is a new beginning. “Field-burning each year after harvest controls weeds, removes leftover grass straw, and destroys diseases.” He says the land is near to being cursed, but what will happen is the farmer will have to step in to make it useful again. So as a shout-out to 7th grade standardized testing: burning is to fields as pruning is to trees.
Could it be that in context he’s saying: “teaching causes growth in the soft-hearted. It doesn’t create soft-heartedness.” So it’s more a warning of discipline than damnation. That makes more sense to me in harmony with the rest of the Bible. The last thing I would ever want to do is limit God to my understanding of the Bible, or explain away what God intended to be an intense warning. But I also think sometimes angry preachers miss the heart of God (and thus miss the point) in texts like this.
What do you think?
Divorce 1Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3“What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’a 7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,b 8and the two will become one flesh.’c So they are no longer two, but one. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” 10When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” The Little Children and Jesus 13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. The Rich Young Man 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’d” 20“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it ise to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Jesus Again Predicts His Death 32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” The Request of James and John 35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight 46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Footnotes: a 6 Gen. 1:27 b 7 Some early manuscripts do not have and be united to his wife. c 8 Gen. 2:24 d 19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20 e 24 Some manuscripts is for those who trust in riches << Mark 10 >>
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