Letter to the Hebrews Volume 39

 Qualifications for Earthly Jewish High Priest Part 2

Hebrews 5:3-4 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. KJV

The writer goes on here now to finish out this point, purpose, and priority of God the Father to use men from among the Jewish people then in Israel and from among men now in the Body of Christ (who are also sinners and not divine beings, that is, angels or cherubims) to do His will then in the Nation Israel and now in the Church of Jesus Christ with these next words here in verse 3, "And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins." (Hebrews 5:3) (KJV). The little English phrase 'by reason hereof' is translated by the Greek word dia which is a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through, by, or via. In this case, the writer uses this phrase/Greek word to define why the high priest is to do what his office requires of him to do and that is because of his own sinfulness as a mortal man himself standing before a Holy God who cannot even look upon sin, as it is written, "Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?" (Habakkuk 1:12-13) (KJV). The little English phrase 'he ought' is translated by the Greek word opheileō meaning (as used here) (through the idea of accruing); to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively to be under obligation (ought, must, should); be bound, (indebted). The idea here is that the high priest was bound by duty (because of his own infirmity or sinfulness) to make sacrifices for the sins of the then Jewish people and for himself.

As it is written here, "And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you. And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded. Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself." (Leviticus 9:6-8) (KJV). See also Leviticus 9:9-24. It must be understood, that during that time the Jewish people (individually) could not approach God and only could do so by bringing their animal sacrifice to the high priest to absolve or free themselves of their sin. We will learn later on in this very same letter to the Hebrews that none of the many animal sacrifices made by the people at the Jewish Temple could ever absolve or free them from the guilt of their sin, for this was only possible after our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ died on the Cross and shed His Blood (the very Blood of God) for all the sins of all the people who would come to Him in repentance and faith. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of this verse, "Because he is a sinner; an imperfect man. 'As for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.' To make an expiation for sins. He needs the same atonement; he offers the sacrifice for himself which he does for others. The same thing is true of the ministers of religion now. They come before God feeling that they have need of the benefit of the same atonement which they preach to others; they plead the merits of the same blood for their own salvation which they show to be indispensable for the salvation of others."

The writer of Hebrews now declares that the earthly office of high priest was not formed by the Jewish or Hebrew people, but it was God who established this office and appointed Aaron (Moses' brother) as the high priest and all of his descendants or future generations to serve as high priest in Hebrew Nation, as it is written here in verse 4, "And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (Hebrews 5:4) (KJV). Aaron did not petetion Moses for this position, but God spoke to Moses and commanded Him to appoint Aaron to this office, as it is written here, "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office." (Exodux 28:1-3) (KJV). As this relates to the Body of Christ today or to the Church today, we can conclude the same to be true of the ministry today and that is that God is still calling out of His Body specific people to lead and teach His adopted son's and daughters from His Holy Word. As it is written here by the Apostle Paul, "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16) (KJV).  

There should be no man or woman who appoints themselves to do so without the clear, concrete, calling of Almighty God. Here is what Matthew had to say of this verse, "He must have both an internal and external call to his office: For no man taketh this honour to himself (Hebrews 5:4), that is, no man ought to do it, no man can do it legally; if any does it, he must be reckoned a usurper, and treated accordingly. Here observe, 1. The office of the priesthood was a very great honour. To be employed to stand between God and man, one while representing God and His will to men, at another time representing man and his case to God, and dealing between them about matters of the highest importance - entrusted on both sides with the honour of God and the happiness of man - must render the office very honourable. 2. The priesthood is an office and honour that no man ought to take to himself; if he does, he can expect no success in it, nor any reward for it, only from himself. He is an intruder who is not called of God, as was Aaron. Observe, (1.) God is the fountain of all honour, especially true spiritual honour. He is the fountain of true authority, whether He calls any to the priesthood in an extraordinary way, as He did Aaron, or in an ordinary way, as He called his successors. (2.) Those only can expect assistance from God, and acceptance with Him, and His presence and blessing on them and their administrations, that are called of God; others may expect a blast instead of a blessing."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 38

 Qualifications for Earthly Jewish High Priest Part 1

Hebrews 5:1-2 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. KJV

As we learned from the writer of Hebrews in the last study/commentary (Volume 37), our Great High Priest Jesus Christ is far above and greater than any of the earthly Jewish high priest of the past, present, or future. However, after detailing for us the majesty that is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, now the writer of Hebrews descibes to us how every earthly Jewish high priest was chosen by God and commissioned by God to offer gifts and sacrifices for the sins of the Jewish people and for his own sins. Here is what the writer of Hebrews declares of the earthly Jewish high priest then in verse 1, "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:" (Hebrews 5:1) (KJV). The high priest of that day in the Jewish Nation were (for all the other Jewish people) the preeminent authority in the Jewish Nation at that time and they represented God and they were the bridge in bringing God near to man and men near to God in that day. The little English phrase 'is ordained' is translated by the Greek word kathistēmi which figuratively means (as used here) to designate, constitute, convoy: - appoint. In other words, it was God who appointed the Jewish priest to serve the Jewish people as His representative to them. Also it was God who rejected those of the Levites, that is, the descendants of Aaron who did not adhere to the will of God as in the case of Nadab and Abihu (the sons of Aaron) who offered strange fire before the Lord in the House of the Lord, as it is written with these words, "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." (Leviticus 10:1-3)  (KJV).

The sacrifices offered before the Lord (by the earthly high priest) for the sins of the people and for his own sins was the blood of an animal and the gifts to the Lord were that of the people's harvest of wheat made into grain, see Leviticus Chapters 1-9. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of this verse, "Every one that was an high priest under the law was a man, and not an angel; and it was proper he should be so, that he might be a priest for men, have compassion on them, and offer for them; and he was among the number of common men, and was taken out from them, and chosen and separated from the rest of men, as Aaron and his sons were from the children of Israel, Exodus 28:1. And such an one is ordained for men; in their room and stead, and for their good; and above them, as the Word sometimes signifies; he was exalted unto, and invested with a superior office, to which he was ordained according to the law of a carnal commandment, by anointing with oil, and without an oath. In things in which God had to do with men; and so he presided over them in the name of God, and declared the will of God unto them, and blessed them; and in things in which men had to do with God; and so he appeared in their name, and represented their persons, and presented their sacrifices to God, as follows: freewill offerings, peace offerings, burnt offerings, sin and trespass offerings, all kind of sacrifice." The reason why God chooses men to represent Him among the people is that he may be just like unto them knowing the infirmity, that is, the weakness and  sinfulness of the human fallen nature and that he might show unto them the compassion of God who feels for every soul that is upon the earth struggling in these tents, houses, or bodies that we all live in.

Here is what the writer of Hebrews declares of the high priest role as a compassionate representative of God to the people, "Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity." (Hebrews 5:2) (KJV). The little English phrase that begins this verse 'who can' is translated by the Greek word dunamai which means to be able or possible: be of power. The little English phrase 'have compassion' is translated by the Greek word metriopatheō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) which means to be moderate in passion, that is, gentle (to treat indulgently): - have compassion. The English word 'ignorant' is translated by the Greek word agnoeō meaning not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); not to understand. The English phrase 'on them that are out of the way' is translated by the Greek word planaō meaning to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way. In other words, there are those who are living in error, that would be those caught in cults and isms or those who are atheist or agnostic or stoic or in the occult or spiritual or any of the many many false belief systems that have been designed by the devil to keep lost men and women from hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being converted or born again of incorruptable seed by the Word of God, remember the Apostle Paul told us that this is the devil's purpose in fostering, favoring, and furthering all of these false forms of spirituality, with these words, "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corithians 4:3-4) (KJV).

Those who are out of the way are those who have allowed their 'old nature' to become dominant in their lives and are not living by the 'new nature' and the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Apostle James meant when he wrote these words, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20) (KJV). The high priest of Israel or in our case today the minister of God in the Body of Christ is enabled by God to show such care, compassion, and concern because he too is subject to his own plague of sin, that is, his own annoying, continual, and chronic stain of sin in his own life. The little English phrase 'is compassed with' is translated by the Greek word perikeimai meaning to lie all around, that is, inclose, encircle, hamper (literally or figuratively): - be bound (compassed) with, hang about. God could have commanded angels to serve as high priest to the Jewish people (He did send angels to them on many occassions for various reasons and purposes), but He did not do so because He knew that the angels were not able to relate to the weakness of the human tent, house, or body in its physical frailty or in its moral failings, therefore, it always was the will of God to take from among the Jewish people a man to serve Him in the office of high priest, likewise, it is still the will of God to take out of the Body of Christ a man to serve Him among His adopted sons and daughters.

Note: This does not mean that God then and now is not calling women to minister to His Jewish people then and to His adopted sons and daughters now because He did and is doing so and will continue to do so to accomplish His will on the earth. In other words, angels would not be able to feel the anxiety or anxiousness we sinful human beings feel when we are assaulted by our lust for women or sinful anger or pride or hatred or any of the other sins that can arise out of our 'old nature' into the forefront, but a human high priest or minister who fights the same fights with and against sin as we do can be able to give a word from the Word of God to aid, attend, or assist in time of need. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of this verse, "The idea is that of 'sympathizing with.' The high priest is taken from among men, in order that he may have a fellow-feeling for those on whose behalf he officiates. Sensible of his own ignorance, he is able to sympathize with those who are ignorant; and compassed about with infirmity, he is able to succour those who have like infirmities.The erring, and the guilty. If he were taken from an order of beings superior to people, he would be less qualified to sympathize with those who felt that they were sinners, and who needed pardon. He is liable to err; He is subject to temptation; he must die, and appear before God - and encompassed with these infirmities, he is better qualified to minister in behalf of guilty and dying people. For the same reason it is, that the ministers of the Gospel are chosen from among people. They are of like passions with others. They are sinners; they are dying men. They can enter into the feelings of those who are conscious of guilt; they can sympathize with those who tremble in dread of death; they can partake of the emotions of those who expect soon to appear before God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 37

 Jesus Christ our Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. KJV

After the writer of Hebrews finishes detailing, delineating, and declaring to us the mighty Power that is inherent in the Word of God and the God of the Word our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, he wants to now urge us into a state of mind or a way of thinking that keeps this truth foremost in our thoughts with these words here in verse 14, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." (Hebrews 4:14) (KJV). The writer here was then making the point with these words to the then converted Jews that they and we now have a far more excellent High Priest than any or all of the former Jewish high priest who were all held is very high regard by the Jewish people in every generation. Jesus Christ is now the ultimate High Priest who supercedes any and all earthly priest then and now and for all time to come in the future. The little English phrase 'seeing then' (that begins this verse 14), is translated by the Greek word oun meaning (as used here adverbially) certainly. In other words, what we know about the Word of God and the God of the Word, that is, Jesus Christ our Great High Priest and the mighty power that is Jesus and His Word, then this truth and reality should cause the Jewish converts then and we converts now and all converts to Christ of every era and generation to hold fast to our profession of faith in Him always no matter our earthly circumstances. The little English phrase 'let us hold fast' is translated by the Greek word krateō meaning to use strength, that is, seize or retain (literally or figuratively): - keep, lay hold on. The little English phrase 'our profession' is translated by the Greek word homologia meaning simply acknowledgment.

In other words, we need to use strength that we receive from our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:10) and constantly lay hold on, seize and retain our recognition of the Blood of Jesus being the covering for all our sin and that He is the One True and Only God who is our God alone and our Great High Priest. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "A great High Priest, much greater than Aaron, or any of the priests of his order. The high priests under the law were accounted great and venerable person; but they were but faint types and shadows of Christ. The greatness of our High Priest is set forth, 1. By His having passed into the heavens. The high priest under the law, once a year, went out of the people's sight within the veil, into the holiest of all, where were the sacred signals of the presence of God; but Christ once for all has passed into the heavens, to take the government of all upon Him, to send the Spirit to prepare a place for His people, and to make intercession for them. Christ executed one part of His priesthood on earth, in dying for us; the other He executes in heaven, by pleading the cause, and presenting the offerings, of His people. 2. The greatness of Christ is set forth by His name, Jesus - a physician and a Saviour, and one of a divine nature, the Son of God by eternal generation; and therefore having divine perfection, able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him. He is not only a great, but a gracious High Priest, merciful, compassionate, and sympathizing with His people."

Next the writer of Hebrews expounds on the compassion of our Great High Priest to those of us who have humbled ourselves before His Cross in repentance and faith with these words, "For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) (KJV). The thought of the reality of our Lord Jesus Christ (who is God) so humbling Himself for our sake putting Himself into a human body just like ours should move us with such love and gratitude to do His will here on the earth. Knowing that He experienced the weakness of our human flesh, i.e. its getting tired, its hunger, its bodily functions of disposing of human waste, and all its other frailties is always mind boggling or blowing to me and shows His agape love for humanity that rebelled against Him in the Garden of Eden and continues to do so today and in every time in human history. The rather long English phrase 'be touched with the feeling of' is translated by one Greek word sumpatheō meaning to feel 'sympathy' with, that is, (by implication) to commiserate: - have compassion, be touched with a feeling of. The English word 'infirmities' is translated by the Greek word astheneia meaning feebleness (of body or mind); by implication malady; moral frailty: - disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness. The English word 'tempted' is translated by the Greek word peirazō meaning to test (objectively), that is, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: - assay, examine, go about, prove, try. The little English phrase 'yet without' is translated by the Greek word chōris meaning at a space, that is, separately or apart from (often as preposition): - beside, by itself, without.

In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ can understand the weakness of our physical human bodies and sympathize with our physical frailties because He Himself lived inside one of these bodies that He also Himself created. He has compassion for us as we sojourn down here for the time period He has alloted for us to do His will on the earth of getting the Gospel of His Grace to all Nations upon the earth (Matthew 28:19). He was also tested by Satan in every one of the areas of temptation to sin as we are, that being, (1) Pleasure; it is written, "And the devil said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God." (Luke 4:3-4) (KJV). (2) Power; it is written, "And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:5-8) (KJV). (3) Popularity; it is written, "And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season." (Luke 4:9-13) (KJV).

Yet despite all of Satan's temptation to our Lord Jesus, He was always and at all times without sin, that is, He never sinned in word, thought, or deed, for He is separate from sin or apart from it. Here again is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse 15, "Though He is so great, and so far above us, yet He is very kind, and tenderly concerned for us. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities in such a manner as none else can be; for He was Himself tried with all the afflictions and troubles that are incident to our nature in its fallen state: and this not only that He might be able to satisfy for us, but to sympathize with us. He is a sinless High Priest: He was in all things tempted as we are, yet without sin. He was tempted by Satan, but He came off without sin. We seldom meet with temptations but they give us some shock. We are apt to give back, though we do not yield; but our great High Priest came off clear in His encounter with the devil, who could neither find any sin in Him nor fix any stain upon Him. He was tried severely by the Father. It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; and yet He sinned not, either in thought, word, or deed. He had done no violence, neither was there any deceit in His mouth. He was holy, harmless, and undefiled."

Therefore, the writer of Hebrews wants to conclude this discourse with us comprehending all that we have in our Great High Priest Jesus Christ in order to motivate us to run to Him at all times and for all things and not withdraw from Him, even when we fail, but just the opposite run into His compassionate arms of grace, as it is written here, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) (KJV). When the writer here exhorts to come boldly, he means for us to come to Christ' Throne of Grace with confidence in His love and care for us and that we should come to Him honestly with what we have done wrong (for He already knows it) and we should come to Him in a direct manner not being afraid to detail to Him our displeasure of certain circumstances or our not understanding of things that have happened to us because of our stance for Him and the truth of the Gospel. We should never be afraid to tell our Lord Jesus Christ all that is in our inner man or inner woman that concerns or troubles us. For His mercy and grace is available to us at all times and in all places whenever we boldly go before His Throne of Grace seeking His help.

Here again is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse 16, "There is a Throne of Grace set up, a way of worship instituted, in which God may with honour meet poor sinners, and treat with them, and they may with hope draw nigh to Him, repenting and believing. God might have set up a tribunal of strict and inexorable justice, dispensing death, the wages of sin, to all who were convened before it; but He has chosen to set up a Throne of Grace. A Throne speaks authority, and bespeaks awe and reverence. A Throne of grace speaks great encouragement even to the chief of sinners. There grace reigns, and acts with sovereign freedom, power, and bounty. It is our duty and interest to be often found before this Throne of Grace, waiting on the Lord in all the duties of His worship, private and public. It is good for us to be there. Our business and errand at the Throne of Grace should be that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Mercy and grace are the things we want, mercy to pardon all our sins and grace to purify our souls. Besides the daily dependence we have upon God for present supplies, there are some seasons in which we shall most sensibly need the mercy and grace of God, and we should lay up prayers against such seasons - times of temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially a dying time: we should every day put up a petition for mercy in our last day. The Lord grant unto us that we may find mercy of the Lord at that day, 2 Timothy 1:18. In all our approaches to this Throne of Grace for mercy, we should come with a humble freedom and boldness, with a liberty of spirit and a liberty of speech; we should ask in faith, nothing doubting; we should come with a Spirit of adoption, as children to a reconciled God and Father. We are indeed to come with reverence and godly fear, but not with terror and amazement; not as if we were dragged before the tribunal of justice, but kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns, and loves to exert and exalt itself towards us. The office of Christ, as being our High Priest, and such a High Priest, should be the ground of our confidence in all our approaches to the Throne of Grace. Had we not a Mediator, we could have no boldness in coming to God; for we are guilty and polluted creatures. All we do is polluted; we cannot go into the presence of God alone; we must either go in the hand of a Mediator or our hearts and our hopes will fail us. We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus. He is our Advocate, and, while He pleads for His people, He pleads with the price in His hand, by which He purchased all that our souls want or can desire."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 36

 The Unique Mighty Power that is the Word of God Part 2

Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. KJV

The previous verse spoke primarily of the unequaled power that is the Word of God and next the author of Hebrews here finishes of his analysis of the Word of God by making manifest the mighty and awesome Power that is the One True God (our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ) who is the author of the Word of God with these words, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." (Hebrews 4:13) (KJV). There is absolutely no distinction, differentiation, or difference between the Word of God and the God of the Word, for we find this very fact affirmed for us by the author of the Gospel of John, that is, the Apostle John (one of the first 12 disciples) when he wrote these words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3) (KJV) and these words also from this very same Apostle, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) (KJV). The Word of God is God/Jesus Christ and therefore, the Word of God has the Power of God inherent in it and this is again why the Bible is a unique book or a stand alone book from any other books ever penned by any authors. Remember we said in the last study/commentary (Volume 35) that the Bible reads the reader and this is exactly what the writer of Hebrews is saying in this very verse.

The English phrase 'that is not manifest' is translated by the Greek word aphanēs (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning non apparent: - that is not manifest. The English phrase 'in his sight' is translated by the Greek word enōpion meaning in the face of (literally or figuratively): - before, in the presence or sight of. In other words, there is no creature (human animal or other animal) that is not clearly visible to Him always, at all times, and in all places (from the deep dark places underground to the thousands of miles down in the oceans to the highest heights in the skys). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of all creatures being made manifest unto Him, "God, from whom this word comes, and by whom it has all its efficacy, is infinitely wise. He well knew how to construct His word, so as to suit it to the state of all hearts; and He has given it that infinite fullness of meaning, so as to suit it to all cases. And so infinite is He in His knowledge, and so omnipresent is He, that the whole creation is constantly exposed to His view; nor is there a creature of the affections, mind, or imagination, that is not constantly under His eye. He marks every rising thought, every budding desire; and such as these are supposed to be the creatures to which the Apostle particularly refers, and which are called, in the preceding verse, the propensities and suggestions of the heart." When the author of Hebrews writes these words next 'all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do', he means to convey the previous point more strongly that all creatures created by the Creator God in His Creation are all open to His full view without and within every inner man and inner woman of those who love Him as well as those who oppose Him and of those who even do not believe He exist.

The English word 'opened' is translated by the Greek word trachēlizō (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning to seize by the throat or neck, that is, to expose the gullet of a victim for killing (generally to lay bare): - opened. In other words, just as an animal/deer is cut opened (after killing in hunting) and all of the inner parts are exposed to full view, so is it with every human animal with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, that is, all of our inner most thoughts and intentions and purposes and plans and desires are completely known to Him, for it is written here concerning this very issue with these words, "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever." (1 Chronicles 28:9) (KJV) and also with these words written here, "And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them." (Ezekiel 11:5) (KJV), and also with these words written here, "Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee." (Psalm 139:12) (KJV), and also with these words written here, "Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" (Proverbs 15:11) (KJV). Here is what Robertson's Word Pictures had to say of all things being naked and open unto Him, "God’s eyes see all the facts in our inmost hearts. There are no mental reservations from God." Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of this same thing, "But all this is true in its practical application to every man individually. The power of the Word of God to create distinct dispensations and yet maintain their fundamental unity, to distinguish between masses of men and yet cause all the separate threads of human history to converge and at last meet, is the same power which judges the inmost thoughts and inmost purposes of the heart. These it surveys with critical judgment. If its eye is keen, its range of vision is also wide. No created thing but is seen and manifest. The surface is bared, and the depth within is opened up before it. As the upturned neck of the sacrificial beast lay bare to the eye of God, so are we exposed to the eye of Him to Whom we have to give our account."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…