Letter to the Hebrews Volume 48

 The Danger of Not Advancing in the Faith Part 3

Hebrews 6:3-4 And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, KJV

The reality of leaving the elementary principles of our faith in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and growing up into spiritual maturity doesn't just depend on each of us, but it depends on us cooperating with the Holy Spirit of God (not continually grieving Him) and the Grace of God that comes to us through Him as the writer of Hebrews declares in the next verse with these words, "And this will we do, if God permit." (Hebrews 6:3) (KJV). It is only because God the Father permits or allows the willing son or daughter to grow up into spiritual maturity that actual spiritual maturity (for any believer) happens or takes place. We see then this explanation further discussed by the author of Hebrews in the next few verses, for in them we will find that some believers never grow up out of spiritual immaturity, but instead remain 'babes in Christ' their entire sojourn or pilgrimage on the earth. Why is this true? The writer of Hebrews begins his answer to verse 3 with the next words here in verse 4, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost," (Hebrews 6:4) (KJV). The English word 'For' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word gar which is a primary particle; properly assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles). In other words, the reason for the argument, analysis, or analytic reasoning given in the next couple of verses is in response to what the writer has previously written above, which is, If God permits spiritual growth or spiritual maturity. God the Father permits growth for those sons and daughters who want and desire growth and He allows those who persist in rebellion, sin, and disobedience to remain babes spiritually. The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian Church with this same or similar point made as to the rewards of the believers, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:13-17) (KJV).

The question then is what is impossible for God? The obvious answer of course is nothing, therefore, the impossibility doesn't dwell  with God but with the rebellious son or daughter of God and that is because The Holy Spirit is not a force or a wind that is inanimate, that is, non-living, but instead He is a Person and the third (3) Person of the GodHead and He can also be grieved by us as it is written here, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30) (KJV). What happens when we grieve God the Holy Spirit? He does not leave us, but instead He stops working through us and His Power that can and could flow through us does not any longer until we genuinely turn from our sin and rebellion, that is, repent and walk or live in newness of life, as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:3-7) (KJV). In other words, when we live our lives as being dead to sin, then God the Holy Spirit can teach us His Word and we can grow spiritually, however, when we allow our 'old man' or 'old woman' to rein and rule, then we cannot hear what God the Holy Spirit wants to teach us and we remain stagnant, that is, not growing or changing; without force or vitality or power. Here is what Vincent's Word Pictures had to say of Hebrews 6:3, "An ominous hint is conveyed that the spiritual dullness of the readers may prevent the writer from developing his theme and them from receiving his higher instruction. The issue is dependent on the power which God may impart to His teaching, but His efforts may be thwarted by the impossibility of repentance on their part. No such impossibility is imposed by God, but it may reside in a moral condition which precludes the efficient action of the agencies which work for repentance, so that God cannot permit the desired consequence to follow the Word of Teaching."

Here is what Vincent's Word Pictures had to say of Hebrews 6:4, "It is impossible to dilute this word into difficult. Those who were once enlightened Rendered 'once for all enlightened' is frequent in the Epistle. Indicating that the enlightenment ought to have sufficed to prevent them from falling away; not that it does not admit of repetition. Enlightened, through the revelation of God in Christ, the true light, and through the power of the Spirit. Usually to teach or instruct; see Psalm 119:130; 2 Kings 12:2; 2 Kings 17:27. Compare in the New Testament  John 1:9; Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 10:32. Erasmus gives the correct explanation: 'Who once for all have left the darkness of their former life, having been enlightened by the Gospel teaching.' There is no ground for explaining the word here of baptism, although the fathers from the time of Justin Martyr used phōtizō in that sense, and this usage continued down to the Reformation. Tasted of the heavenly gift: The meaning is, have consciously partaken of. Compare 1 Peter 2:3, and eateth, John 6:56. The heavenly gift is the Holy Spirit. It is true that this is distinctly specified in the next clause, but the two clauses belong together. Partakers of the Holy Ghost: 'Heavenly gift' emphasizes the heavenly quality of the gift. The Holy Ghost is the gift itself which possesses the heavenly quality." Note: "The author of Hebrews from Hebrews 5:11-6:12 is giving a warning to the then Hebrew converts and to we converts today and of every era and generation to not live in open rebellion to God the Father so that spiritual growth can take place in every believers life, because it is only the believers disobedience that causes non-growth. This part of Hebrews is not teaching that any true born again believer in our Lord Jesus Christ can lose their salvation, for no earthly baby born into any family can ever be separated from that family blood line, likewise, no true son or daughter of God the Father (by spiritual birth) can ever be separated from His spiritual blood line. Remember above what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers in Ephesians 4:30, the word of emphasis in that verse is 'sealed', that is, established irrevocably, secured and determined."

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 47

 The Danger of Not Advancing in the Faith Part 2

Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. KJV

The writer of Hebrews in the next verse continues on with his list of what the elementary elements of our faith in Jesus Christ are as he declares with these words, "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:2) (KJV). The beginning principles of Christianity are those listed in verse 1 of this Chapter and these listed for us here in verse 2 and the writer of Hebrews is doing this to stir them, that is, the Hebrew converts to Christ at that time in History to growing up into complete spiritual maturity and not continuing to remain babes, as the Apostle Paul declared many of the Corinthian Church to be as we documented in Volume 45 with the verses from 1 Coritnthians 3:1-7. This too also is what the writer wants for we Christians today and of every era and generation. The English phrase 'of the doctrine' is translated by the Greek word didachē which means instruction (the act or the matter): - doctrine, hath been taught. The English phrase 'of baptisms' is translated by the Greek word baptismos which means ablution, that is, the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels (ceremonially): Christian baptism. So here, the writer of Hebrews wants the then Hebrew or Jewish converts to understand and recognize that Christian water baptism (although it does not save any sinner) is not at all to be connected with, confused with, or compared with the ritual washing of cups or other vessels used by the Hebrew or Jewish high priest before the death burial and resurrection of our Great High Priest our Lord Jesus Christ. Somehow many of the Hebrew converts were still confused about what Christian baptism truly was done for and thought of it as equal to or the same as the ablution done in the Jewish Temple for so many centuries. Note: 'Christian baptism is simply an identification with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and it is symbolic of each one of us (who have been born again by Him) going down under the water (dying to our old life) and coming up out of the water to our new resurrection life in Christ.' Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of baptism, "The doctrine of baptism, that is, of being baptized by a minister of Christ with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the initiating sign or seal of the covenant of grace, strongly engaging the person so baptized to get acquainted with the new covenant, to adhere to it, and prepare to renew it at the table of the Lord and sincerely to regulate himself according to it, relying upon the truth and faithfulness of God for the blessings contained in it. And the doctrine of an inward baptism, that of the Spirit sprinkling the Blood of Christ upon the soul, for justification, and the graces of the Spirit for sanctification. This ordinance of baptism is a foundation to be rightly laid, and daily remembered, but not repeated."

When the writer of Hebrews speaks next of 'the laying on of hands', it was done for the purpose of ordination of a man into the Service of our Lord Jesus Christ as was done when the seven (7) men were chosen by the Apostles to serve, as it is written, "And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the Apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them." (Acts 6:5-6) (KJV). Also it was done when men were selected and sent out for a special task or work of Lord in another place, as were Paul and Barnabas, as it is written, "Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." (Acts 13:1-3) (KJV). Also it was done by the Apostles then to bestow the Holy Spirit upon a new believer in Christ Jesus (perhaps as an outward testimony of the authenticity of their conversion and inner man or woman new birth to the remaining unbelievers around them), as it is written, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19:1-7) (KJV).  

When the writer of Hebrews declares 'and the resurrection of the dead' and 'of eternal judgement', he is saying that every person that has died throughout human History will have their bodies raised up by God and reunited with their souls for everlasting joy in heaven with Christ for we believers, as it is written, "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." (Revelation 21:3-7) (KJV) and also this, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9) (KJV). But it shall be everlasting woe, suffering, affliction, and misery in the lake of fire for all those who rejected, refused, and resisted the Gospel of Grace or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is written, "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15) (KJV) and also this verse, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8) (KJV).

Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of Hebrews 6:2, "Wherefore--that is, inasmuch as solid food is for full-grown men--'let us have done with the elementary doctrines, and permit ourselves to be borne strongly onwards towards full growth of spiritual character.' The Apostle has just said that his readers needed some one to teach them the rudiments. We should have expected him, therefore, to take it in hand. But he reminds them that the defect lies deeper than intellectual error. The remedy is not mere teaching, but spiritual growth. Apart from moral progress there can be no revelation of new truths. Ever-recurring efforts to lay the foundation of individual piety will result only in an apprehension of what we may designate personal and subjective doctrines. The Apostle particularises. Repentance towards God and faith in God are the initial graces. For without sorrow for sin and trust in God's mercy God's revelation of Himself in His Son will not be deemed worthy of all acceptation. If this is so, the doctrines suitable to the initial stage of the Christian life will be--(1) the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, and (2) the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. Repentance and faith accept the Gospel of forgiveness, which is symbolised in baptism, and of absolution, symbolised in the laying on of hands. Again, repentance and faith realise the future life and the final award; the beginning of piety reaching forth a hand, as runners do, as if to grasp the furthest goal before it touches the intermediate points. Yet every intermediate truth, when apprehended, throws new light on the soul's eschatology (the branch of theology that is concerned with such final things as death and Last Judgment; Heaven and Hell; the ultimate destiny of humankind). In like manner civilization began with contemplation of the stars, long before it descended to chemical analysis, but at last it applies its chemistry to make discoveries in the stars. This, then, is the initial stage in the Christian character,--repentance and faith; and these are the initial doctrines, baptism, absolution, resurrection, and judgment. How may they be described? They all centre in the individual believer. They have all to do with the fact of his sin. One question, and one only, presses for an answer. It is, 'What must I do to be saved?' One result, and one only, flows from the salvation obtained. It is the final acquittal of the sinner at the last day. God is known only as the merciful Saviour and the Holy Judge. The whole of the believer's personal existence hovers in mid-air between two points: repentance at some moment in the past and judgment at the end of the world. Works are 'dead,' and the reason why is that they have no saving power. There is here no thought of life as a complete thing or as a series of possibilities that ever spring into actuality, no thought of the individual as being part of a greater whole. The Church exists for the sake of the believer, not the believer for the sake of the Church. Even Christ Himself is nothing more to him than his Saviour, Who by an atoning death paid his debt. The Apostle would rise to higher truths concerning Christ in the power of His heavenly life. This is the truth which the story of Melchizedek will teach to such as are sufficiently advanced in spirituality to understand its meaning."

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 46

 The Danger of Not Advancing in the Faith Part 1

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, KJV

The writer of Hebrews wants to be an instrument (in the then Hebrew converts and indeed all converts to Christ now and in every era and generation) of their/our moving forward or progressing in our knowledge of our Great High Priest Jesus Christ and to leave the elementary or foundational principles of faith in Jesus Christ moving onward and upward into complete and full spiritual maturity, as it is written here, "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God," (Hebrews 6:1) (KJV). When the writer declares here, 'leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ', he means that those Hebrew converts then and all we converts now and of all time should move on into the deeper spiritual truths concerning our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and not continue to dwell for long periods of time on these principles listed below in this verse. The English word 'perfection' is translated by the Greek word teleiotēs meaning the state of completeness or maturity (mentally or morally); perfectness. It simply means to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) by way of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God into complete spiritual maturity being always able to distinguish good from evil and also those who are teaching false doctrine. Note: It does not mean perfection to the point that a child of God is without any sin while down here in this tent, house, or body of ours as we sojourn on the earth heading to our heavenly home.

As we stated above, the writer of Hebrews details a list of the elementary elements of our faith in Jesus Christ or another way of putting it would be the beginning principles of Christianity. First is 'repentance from dead works', and the English word 'repentance' is translated by the Greek word metanoia which means (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another's] decision): - repentance; literally a change of mind. In other words, when any sinner comes to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, he or she is moved in their inner man or inner woman by the declaration of the Gospel of Christ in the Power of the Holy Spirit to change their mind about themselves, their sin, and desire to receive forgiveness of their sin from Christ Jesus our Lord and so the new birth takes place in the inner man or inner woman (John 3:8). Once the child is born then he or she lives the rest of their lives as a pilgrim on the earth in repentance and confession of sin to our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is written, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (Jesus) a liar, and His (Jesus) Word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10) (KJV).

When the writer says here 'from dead works', he meant those religious ceremonial works done by the Jews or Hebrews then at the time which could never cleanse their conscience from the guilt of sin nor could they ever get close to God. Today those 'dead works' would be the rituals or rites or regiments (i.e. like the lighting of candles or inscents and the wearing of certain clothing during a Church service and many other things that are not bad, however, they have no power to render grace to any person or to get any person closer to God) done in some places that have been done for so many years, yet they are not works of faith, but instead man-made works. When the writer of Hebrews here declares 'of faith towards God', he means simply that repentance from sin and dead works of rituals and religion leads to faith to God, for repentance and faith toward God were the very first elements or principles taught by the Apostles when they were sent out after the day of Pentecost, as it is written here these words from the Apostle Peter, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:38-39) (KJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "We have here the Apostle's advice to the Hebrews - that they would grow up from a state of childhood to the fullness of the stature of the new man in Christ. He declares his readiness to assist them all he could in their spiritual progress; and, for their greater encouragement, he puts himself with them: Let us go on. Here observe, In order to their growth, Christians must leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ. How must they leave them? They must not lose them, they must not despise them, they must not forget them. They must lay them up in their hearts, and lay them as the foundation of all their profession and expectation; but they must not rest and stay in them, they must not be always laying the foundation, they must go on, and build upon it. There must be a superstructure; for the foundation is laid on purpose to support the building. Here it may be enquired, Why did the Apostle resolve to set strong meat before the Hebrews, when he knew they were but babes? Answer. 1. Though some of them were but weak, yet others of them had gained more strength; and they must be provided for suitably. And, as those who are grown Christians must be willing to hear the plainest truths preached for the sake of the weak, so the weak must be willing to hear the more difficult and mysterious truths preached for the sake of those who are strong. 2. He hoped they would be growing in their spiritual strength and stature, and so be able to digest stronger meat."

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 45

 Spiritual Immaturity Part 3

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

In this natural world, babies are not expected to understand the things that make this world function or operate, yet babies are a cherished and relished part of this world adored and loved all around the world. However, as a baby grows up into adolescents and teenagers, they are expected to begin to be  knowledgable of things that are required in understanding how the world works. Then by the time the baby has passed through the teenage years into adulthood, he or she must know and understand the key elements of the world in order to become a full grown functional member of society. Likewise, in the spiritual realm, the writer of Hebrews now wants those Hebrew Christians back then (also it is for all Christians now and at all times) to excersise their/our  new man or new woman that they/we are when we were born again of incorruptable seed by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23) in yielding to God the Holy Spirit that we may allow Him to alluminate truth to us from the Word of God which will grow us up spiritually, as he declares with these words, "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14) (KJV). The English phrase 'strong meat' used by the writer here in the beginning of this verse has no actual reference to physical food, but it is a comparison of food or meat to the Word of God, that is, the writer here is declaring the Word of God to be the spiritual nourishment, nutriment, and nutrition required for every 'babe in Christ' to grow up into full spiritual maturity, just as physical food is needed to sustain someones body in the natural realm, so is the Word of God needed to sustain the child of God spiritually.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corithian Church (in his 1st letter) declaring to them that they were such babies in our Lord Jesus Christ that he could not speak to them as full grown spiritual adults 'in Christ', as it is written here, "My friends, you are acting like the people of this world. That's why I could not speak to you as spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned. So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk. You could not take solid food, and you still cannot, because you are not yet spiritual. You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world. Some of you say that you follow me, and others claim to follow Apollos. Isn't that how ordinary people behave? Apollos and I are merely servants who helped you to have faith. It was the Lord who made it all happen. I planted the seeds, Apollos watered them, but God made them sprout and grow. What matters isn't those who planted or watered, but God who made the plants grow." (1 Corinthians 3:1-7) (CEV). The English phrase 'to them that are of full age' is translated by the Greek word teleios meaning complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); completeness. It simply makes a comparison of the full grown adult man or woman in the natural realm to be the same of the full grown mature man or woman in the spiritual realm as a member of the Body of Jesus Christ (the Church). The English phrase 'even those who by reason of' is translated by the Greek word dia which is a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal or occasional). The English word 'use' is translated by the Greek word hexis (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning habit, that is, (by implication) practice: - use.

In other words, the man or woman in the Body of Christ (the Church) who makes feeding on the Word of God a process, a pattern, or his/her practice doing so habitually will over time grow up into spiritual maturity and what follows next is the critical reason why the babe in Christ must make it his or her practice, priority, and purpose because if not then they/we will be subject to what the Apostle Paul details here with these words to the Ephesian believers, "Christ chose some of us to be Apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, so that His people would learn to serve and His body would grow strong. This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like Him. We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place." (Ephesians 4:11-14) (CEV). In this last part of Hebrews 4:14, the writer here states the reason why it is so vital for every child of God to grow up into spiritual maturity and that is to be able to recognize good vs evil. The English phrase 'their senses' is translated by the Greek word aisthētērion (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning properly an organ of perception, that is, (figuratively) judgment: - senses. The English word 'exercised' is translated by the Greek word gumnazō which means to train (figuratively): - exercise. The English word 'discern' is translated by the Greek word diakrisis meaning judicial estimation: - discerning, disputation. The babe in Christ (as Paul declared to the Ephesian believers above) is much more easily deceived by evil masquerading itself to be good, whereas, the mature believer is much more able to distinguish between the two. This is exactly what happened to the Corinthian Church and it caused the Apostle Paul much anguish over them.

First, this is what he said to them concerning them, "Please put up with a little of my foolishness. I am as concerned about you as God is. You were like a virgin bride I had chosen only for Christ. But now I fear that you will be tricked, just as Eve was tricked by that lying snake. I am afraid that you might stop thinking about Christ in an honest and sincere way. We told you about Jesus, and you received the Holy Spirit and accepted our message. But you let some people tell you about another Jesus. Now you are ready to receive another spirit and accept a different message. I think I am as good as any of those super apostles. I may not speak as well as they do, but I know as much. And this has already been made perfectly clear to you." (2 Corinthians 11:1-6) (CEV). It may be a shock to many to learn from the Word of God that the enemy (Satan) is capable of transforming himself into an angel of light in order to deceive many into thinking what he is declaring through these false teachers, (i.e. all those who declare a properity gospel and many others like Mormanism), are actually a part of 'The Church', when they are ministers of Satan pretending to belong to the One True God Jesus Christ, so the Apostle Paul declared these words next to the Corinthian Church who were being deceived by these false apostles, "As surely as I speak the truth about Christ, no one in Achaia can stop me from bragging about this. And it isn't because I don't love you. God Himself knows how much I do love you. I plan to go on doing just what I have always done. Then those people won't be able to brag about doing the same things we are doing. Anyway, they are no more than false apostles and dishonest workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ. And it is no wonder. Even Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light. So why does it seem strange for Satan's servants to pretend to do what is right? Someday they will get exactly what they deserve." (2 Coritnhians 11:10-15) (CEV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse 14 of Hebrews, "The deeper mysteries of religion belong to those that are of a higher class in the school of Christ, who have learned the first principles and well improved them; so that by reason of use they have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil, duty and sin, truth and error. Observe, (1.) There have been always in the Christian state children, young men, and fathers. (2.) Every true Christian, having received a principle of spiritual life from God, stands in need of nourishment to preserve that life. (3.) The Word of God is food and nourishment to the life of grace: As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby. (4.) It is the wisdom of ministers rightly to divide the Word of Truth, and to give to every one his portion - milk to babes, and strong meat to those of full age. (5.) There are spiritual senses as well as those that are natural. There is a spiritual eye, a spiritual appetite, a spiritual taste; the soul has its sensations as well as the body; these are much depraved and lost by sin, but they are recovered by grace. (6.) It is by use and exercise that these senses are improved, made more quick and strong to taste the sweetness of what is good and true, and the bitterness of what is false and evil. Not only reason and faith, but spiritual sense, will teach men to distinguish between what is pleasing and what is provoking to God, between what is helpful and what is hurtful to our own souls."   

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 44

 Spiritual Immaturity Part 2

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. KJV

For a baby in the natural realm milk is a must have and without milk the baby would not develop properly physically or mentally, however, as we declared in Volume 43, this is needed as the main source of nourishment, nutriment, and nutrition only for a period of time (foreordained by our Creator God for the proper growth of the body & mind) then the baby must begin to consume solid food in order to progress, preserve, and perpetuate the continued growth and development of the body and mind into adolescents and then onto adulthood. It was the Apostle Peter who wrote these words to the children of the Living God, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:1-5) (KJV).  Therefore, we now find the writer of Hebrews continuing his assertion, analysis, and assessment of this truth that likewise spiritual growth must also progress from childhood into adulthood or he or she will remain an infant spiritually, as he declares these words in verse 13, "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5:13) (KJV).

The English word 'useth' is translated by the Greek word metechō meaning (as used here) to share or participate; by implication belong to, be partaker, take part, use, or to take as his/her portion. The English word 'unskilled' used here is translated by the Greek word apeiros (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning inexperienced, that is, ignorant. In other words, the Christian man or woman who never goes beyond the 'milk' of the Word of God will impede, that is, be a hindrance or obstacle to their own spiritual growth and maturity. They also, if they make only the 'milk' of the Word of God their portion or part or parcel then they will never come to know the deeper alluminations from the Word of God that God the Holy Spirit wants to open up to their understanding. The Word of Righteousness is the Gospel of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and it is the entire Scripture that speaks of Him from Genesis to Revelation. It is also Christ instruction to His adopted sons and daughters through the letters of the Apostle Paul and the other New Testament writers describing, declaring, and detailing to us what our conduct should be if we truly love Him and desire to please Him, as it is written, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:15-21) (KJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 5:13, "And sits down contented with the first principles of the Gospel, such as are easily taken in and digested; or makes use of the ceremonial law, as a schoolmaster to teach him the Gospel: the Gospel, which is a doctrine of righteousness; not of works of righteousness done by men, and of justification by them, or of a man's own righteousness; but of the pure, perfect, and everlasting righteousness of Christ: and it is called so, because it is the means of stripping a man of his own righteousness; and of revealing the righteousness of Christ unto him; and of working faith in him to lay hold upon it; and of discovering the agreement there is between the righteousness of Christ, and the justice of God; and of teaching men to live soberly, righteously, and godly: and such are unskilful in it, who either have no knowledge of the doctrine of justification; of the matter of it, Christ's righteousness; of the form of it, by imputation; and of the date of it, before faith: or have a very confused notion of it, joining their own works with Christ's righteousness, for justification, as many judaizing professors did; or who, if they have a notional knowledge of it, have no practical concern in it; do not believe with the heart unto righteousness; have not the experience, sweetness, and power of this doctrine upon them; and do not live lives agreeable to it. This word is used sometimes by way of commendation, and is expressive of some good characters of the saints; such as harmlessness and inoffensiveness, humility, and meekness, a desire after the sincere milk of the word, freedom from rancour and malice, hypocrisy and guile; but here it is used by way of reproach, and denotes levity and inconstancy, ignorance and non-proficiency, want of digestion of strong meat, and incapacity to take care of themselves, as standing in need of tutors and governors."

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 43

 Spiritual Immaturity Part 1

Hebrews 5:11-12 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. KJV Note: CEV = Contemporary English Version

The writer of Hebrews here takes a turn away from the subject of our Great High Priest Jesus Christ to admonishing, cautioning, and warning those Hebrew Christians then (and all Christians now and from every era and generation) of their spiritual immaturity and their lack of spiritual discernment. The writer in verse 11 here in Hebrews Chapter 5 begins his disgust of their spiritual condition with these words, "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing." (Hebrews 5:11) (KJV). The many things he wants to declare to them is that concerning our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and the deep spiritual understanding of His High Priesthood, but because of their immaturity spiritually he cannot do so for it would not be comprehended by them in all its glory. Here, from the end of Chapter 5 to the end of Chapter 6, the writer is attempting to ignite their spiritual pilot light in their inner man and inner woman before he returns to the discussion of Jesus Christ our High Priest as he does in Chapter 7. He warns them that their hearing has become dulled, that meaning their spiritual discernment or understanding.

The English word 'dull' he uses here in this verse is translated by the Greek word nōthros meaning that they have become sluggish, that is, (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid: - dull, slothful spiritually (this word is used only one other place in the New Testament). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "He assigns the reason why he did not say all those things concerning Christ, our Melchizedek, that he had to say, and what it was that made it so difficult for him to utter them, namely, the dulness of the Hebrews to whom he wrote: You are dull of hearing. There is a difficulty in the things themselves, and there may be a weakness in the ministers of the Gospel to speak clearly about these things; but generally the fault is in the hearers. Dull hearers make the preaching of the Gospel a difficult thing, and even many who have some faith are but dull hearers, dull of understanding and slow to believe; the understanding is weak, and does not apprehend these spiritual things; the memory is weak, and does not retain them. He insists upon the faultiness of this infirmity of theirs. It was not a mere natural infirmity, but it was a sinful infirmity, and more in them than others, by reason of the singular advantages they had enjoyed for improving in the knowledge of Christ."

The writer of Hebrews now begins to express his specific concern about their spiritual immaturity making a comparison of them being like a new born baby in the physical realm who can only drink his/her Mother's breast milk but not solid food yet because of their not being physically grown up yet enough, here is how he phrases his concern, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." (Hebrews 5:12) (KJV). The particular Hebrew converts the writer is referring to hear is unknown and likewise the time since their conversion to Christ is also unknown, but whatever their length of time being a Christian, the author is completely disappointed in their spiritual growth or lack thereof in their case. Just like an infant when newly born in the physical realm does not stay the same size and weight after 6 months or 1 year or 5 years or 15 years or 25 years, but they grow up physically in size and stature. So is the writer of Hebrews here making the same analysis to a newly born again son or daughter of Jesus Christ, they should grow up spiritually, just as the Apostle Peter warned them and us in his second epistle or letter with these words, "My friends, while you are waiting, you should make certain that the Lord finds you pure, spotless, and living at peace. Don't forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom that God had given him. Paul talks about these same things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand. Some ignorant and unsteady people even destroy themselves by twisting what he said. They do the same thing with other Scriptures too. My dear friends, you have been warned ahead of time! So don't let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance. Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen." (2 Peter 3:14-18) (CEV).

The milk of the Word of God is for the new born again babe of Jesus Christ to begin their spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2), but just as the new born baby in the natural grows stronger, and then he/she needs solid food to propel their growth onward and upward, so does the newly born again son or daughter of Jesus Christ need to move up from the elementary things of the faith (as we will see expressed by this same writer of Hebrews in just a few more verses at the beginning of Chapter 6 where he continues this admonishment) into the deeper spiritual understanding of Christ Jesus our Lord, for we can learn more about Him, but we will never learn all the things concerning Him and His greatness, but now and even throughout eternity in heaven we will be continually learning more and more about His graciousness, goodness, and greatness. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "What proficiency might have been reasonably expected from these Hebrews - that they might have been so well instructed in the doctrine of the Gospel as to have been teachers of others. Hence learn, (1.) God takes notice of the time and helps we have for gaining scripture-knowledge. (2.) From those to whom much is given much is expected. (3.) Those who have a good understanding in the Gospel should be teachers of others, if not in a public, yet in a private station. (4.) None should take upon them to be teachers of others, but those who have made a good improvement in spiritual knowledge themselves. 2. Observe the sad disappointment of those just expectations: You have need that one should teach you again, etc. Here note, (1.) In the oracles of God there are some first principles, plain to be understood and necessary to be learned. (2.) There are also deep and sublime mysteries, which those should search into who have learned the first principles, that so they may stand complete in the whole will of God. (3.) Some persons, instead of going forward in Christian knowledge, forget the very first principles that they had learned long ago; and indeed those that are not improving under the means of grace will be losing. (4.) It is a sin and shame for persons that are men for their age and standing in the Church to be children and babes in understanding."

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 42

 Jesus Christ our High Priest Forever Part 3

Hebrews 5:8-10 Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. KJV

Our Lord Jesus Christ, up until He was born in a manger in Bethlehem, had no physical form justs as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. However, immediately after His earthly birth by Mary His form as God was forever altered because of His very own willingness to identify Himself or to be like His brethren whom He would save eternally from sin and death. With that in mind, we find the writer of Hebrews saying something that appears at a first superficial glance to be irreverent or even blasphemous to say of the Son of God, as it is written here in verse 8, "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;" (Hebrews 5:8) (KJV). The area of apparent blasphemy in this verse is obviously to speak of the Son of God having 'yet learned' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word manthanō meaning to learn in any way; to understand. The English word 'obedience' is translated by the Greek word hupakoē meaning attentive hearkening, that is, (by implication) compliance or submission. Already we are alarmed by the words of learning and obedience attached to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, for being Omniscient, that is, infinitely wise or all-knowing would immediately cast doubt or suspicion on the idea that He learned anything. However, we know that there is no error in the Word of God and that our Lord Jesus Christ (being God in human flesh) did not have to learn obedience, as it is written of Him with His own words documented by the Apostle John, "And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him." (John 8:29) (KJV). Here is what Vincent's Word Studies had to say about our Lord Jesus 'learning obedience', "Jesus did not have to learn to obey; but He required the special discipline of a severe human experience as a training for His office as a High Priest who could be touched with the feeling of human infirmities. He did not need to be disciplined out of any inclination to disobedience; but, as Alford puts it, 'the special course of submission by which He became perfected as our High Priest was gone through in time, and was a matter of acquirement and practice.' This is no more strange than His growth in wisdom, Luke 2:52. Growth in experience was an essential part of His humanity."

Next the writer of Hebrews expresses, expounds, and explains the most important reason why every human being needs a Savior from sin, death, and hell with these next words in verses 9 & 10, "And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:9-10) (KJV). The first man Adam was created by God to love, serve, and worship Him (God), but Adam was created with free will, meaning he could choose to believe God and obey God always or in the way things actually happened, he could at some point choose to rebel and disobey God, as he did with his wife Eve (Genesis 3:1-24). The Bible does not give us a timetable as to how long Adam and Eve lived peacefully, perfectly, and prosperously in the Garden of Eden before their rebellion, but I submit to you that it was perhaps centuries or even millenniums. Nevertheless, they finally yielded and in so doing cursed themselves and all their future human seed with being born with a sinful nature in the inner man or inner woman. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ who never had a physical form as God, as it is written, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) (KJV), came into the world being born into the world through a virgin Mary (as His Mother) and God the Holy Spirit impregnating her with the seed of God, as it is written, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:18-23) (KJV). Note: "If asked how old He were when He walked on the earth, the Lord Jesus could say to the people that on my Mother's side I'm 33 years old, but on my Father's side I'm older than my Mother." Jesus was fully man and fully God at the same time. The way He was made perfect was being a man He did the whole or complete will of God during His time on the earth never having ever sinned (not even once) in word, thought, or deed and this made Him alone the acceptable sacrifice for humanities sin (that is an offence to God). Therefore, all who come to Him are made perfect in the site of God the Father, for we are seen not for the sinners we are but for the sacrifice for our sin we have accpeted and that being Jesus Christ. We are perfect in the site of God the Father because He (Christ) is perfect and He covers our sins continually with His Blood.

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Christ being the author of our eternal salvation after the order of Melchizedek , "In His obedience, through sufferings; having completed His obedience, gone through His sufferings, and finished His sacrifice, and being perfectly glorified in heaven: He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; the salvation Christ is the author of is 'eternal'; it was resolved upon from eternity, and contrived in it; it was secured in the everlasting covenant, in which not only a Saviour was provided, but blessings both of grace and glory: and it is to eternity; and stands distinguished from a temporal salvation, and is opposed to eternal damnation; it is the salvation of the soul, which is immortal; and it takes in both grace and glory, which are of a durable nature; and the continuance of it is owing to the abiding and lasting virtue of Christ's person, blood, and righteousness: and Christ is the cause or author of this salvation, by His obedience and sufferings; by obeying the precept, and bearing the penalty of the law; by the price of His blood, and by the power of His arm; by His death and by His life; by His sacrifice on the Cross, and by His intercession in heaven; by bestowing grace here, and glory hereafter: this shows that salvation is done, and that Christ is the sole author of it, and that all the glory of it should be given to Him; and those to whom He is the author of salvation, are such as hearken to the voice of His Gospel, and obey Him in His ordinances. Christ is not the author of salvation to all men; all men do not obey Him; all those whom Christ saves, He brings them to an obedience to Himself; for His obedience for them does not exempt them from obedience to Him, though their obedience is no cause of their salvation; Christ Himself is the alone author of that. There is a resemblance between Melchizedek and Christ; many things that are said of the one, agree with the other: there is a likeness in Melchizedek to Christ; in his person, and what is said of him, that he was without father and mother; and in his office as a priest, and in the manner of his installment into it; and in the antiquity, dignity, and perpetuity of it: and this is repeated for the further confirmation of Christ's priesthood, and is a conclusion of the truth of it from sufficient evidence: this does not so much design the constitution of Christ as priest, nor the call of Him to that office, as the denomination or surnaming of Him a priest of Melchizedek's order, because of the agreement between them; and contains a reason of Christ's being the author of eternal salvation, because He is a priest for ever; and prevents any objections against Christ's priesthood, and opens a way to discourse more largely concerning it."

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 41

 Jesus Christ our High Priest Forever Part 2

Hebrews 5:7 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; KJV

The writer of Hebrews now goes on to declare, detail, and describe how the sufferings (for our sins) of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ were not out of His supposed weakness (as many a non-believer would acclaim), but instead it was His very own prescribed, prerequisite, or preparatory mission in order that He would be able to much more sympathize with our physical frailty and the weakness of our human flesh, as it is here written, "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;" (Hebrews 5:7) (KJV). It behooved Him that He would become just like His brethren you and I who have become a part of His Mystical Body (the Church) here and now upon the earth, for we have already read this same writers declaration of this fact earlier on in this same letter with these words, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy Him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:14-18) (KJV).

The whole purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ becoming a Man here on the earth, with the same flesh and blood as we have was twofold: (1) The dominion over the earth (which was given to the first man Adam by God) was lost by the first man Adam's disobedience to God (given over to Satan) and it had to be regained back by another Man (Jesus Christ) who was obedient to God the Father's will for man on the earth, even unto death on the Cross to pay man's sin debt to God, as it is written here by the Apostle Paul, "Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus Christ) shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-19) (KJV). (2) In order for God to be more able to sympathize with the weakness and frailty of the human flesh, but at the same time suffer the physical frailty of the human flesh, then He (God the Son, Jesus Christ) would be a merciful and faithful High Priest unto us because of His passion in the Garden of GETHSEMANE. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ lived as Man on the earth vailing His Glory as God and living as any saved man would live by the Power of the Holy Spirit, for this is the way our Lord Jesus Christ defeated Satan in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13) and this is why He was is prayer constantly throughout His time in the flesh to God the Father, including in the Garden of Gethsemane.

When the writer of Hebrews declares these words in verse 7, 'He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death', it is here the writer describes the trepidation, that is, the feeling of dread that came over our Lord Jesus Christ that the very hour of His receiving all of the sin of the world upon Him was at hand. The reality of having to come in contact with sin upon Him made Him feel 'very heavy' or 'on the verge of dispair' as the Apostle Matthew wrote. The Gospel writer John Mark gave the same words, but also added to them that He began to be 'sore amazed' or 'to be appalled' or 'He began to be out of Himself'. Then Luke writes that His prayers of strong crying and tears began to put Him in 'agony'. Finally, the very words of our Lord Himself were these, 'My soul is encompassed with sorrow almost up to the point of death'. The angst, anxiety, and agony was also do to the reality sinking in that for the very first and only time God the Father would be separated from God the Son because He (God the Son) had the worlds sin upon Him and we find our Lord Jesus crying out from the Cross with these words as written by the Apostle Matthew, "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) (KJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of verse 7, "He took to Him flesh, and for some days tabernacled therein; He became a mortal man, and reckoned His life by days, herein setting us an example how we should reckon ours. Were we to reckon our lives by days, it would be a means to quicken us to do the work of every day in its day. Christ, in the days of His flesh, subjected Himself to death; He hungered, He was a tempted, bleeding, dying Jesus! His Body is now in heaven, but it is a spiritual glorious body. God the Father was able to save Him from death. He could have prevented His dying, but He would not; for then the great design of His wisdom and grace must have been defeated. What would have become of us if God had saved Christ from dying? The Jews reproachfully said, Let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him, Matthew 27:43. But it was in kindness to us that the Father would not suffer that bitter cup to pass away from Him; for then we must have drunk the dregs of it, and been miserable for ever. Christ, in the days of His flesh, offered up prayers and supplications to His Father, as an earnest of His intercession in heaven. A great many instances we have of Christ's praying. This refers to His prayer in His agony (Matthew 26:39, and Matthew 27:46), and to that before His agony (John 17) which He put up for His disciples, and all who should believe on His name. The prayers and supplications that Christ offered up were joined with strong cries and tears, herein setting us an example not only to pray, but to be fervent and importunate in prayer. How many dry prayers, how few wet ones, do we offer up to God! Christ was heard in that He feared. How? Why He was answered by present supports in and under His agonies, and in being carried well through death, and delivered from it by a glorious resurrection: He was heard in that He feared. He had an awful sense of the wrath of God, of the weight of sin. His human nature was ready to sink under the heavy load, and would have sunk, had He been quite forsaken in point of help and comfort from God; but He was heard in this, He was supported under the agonies of death. He was carried through death; and there is no real deliverance from death but to be carried well through it. We may have many recoveries from sickness, but we are never saved from death till we are carried well through it. And those that are thus saved from death will be fully delivered at last by a glorious resurrection, of which the resurrection of Christ was the earnest and first-fruits."
 
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 40

 Jesus Christ our High Priest Forever Part 1

Hebrews 5:5-6 So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee. As He saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. KJV

In like manner as the earthly Jewish high priest, our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ who is from everlasting to everlasting did not make Himself High Priest forever to the Jewish Nation and to all of us in His Mystical Body the Church here and now on the earth, as it is written here in verse 5, "So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest; but He that said unto Him, Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee." (Hebrews 5:5) (KJV). But just as the earthly high priest was appointed by God the Father, so did our Lord Jesus Christ (even though being God, that is, the second member of the Trinity) humbled and submitted Himself to God the Father's will to make Him or ordain Him as High Priest to the Jewish Nation then and to the Church forever, as it is written here by this same writer of Hebrews in Chapter 10, "Wherefore when He (God the Son, Christ) cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou (God the Father) wouldest not, but a body hast Thou (God the Father) prepared Me (God the Son, Christ): In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God. Above when He said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the Right hand of God the Father; (Hebrews 10:5-12) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "The man Jesus Christ, was also appointed by God to this most awful yet glorious office, of being the High Priest of the whole human race. The Jewish high priest represented this by the sacrifices of beasts which he offered; the Christian High Priest must offer His own life: Jesus Christ did so; and, rising from the dead, He ascended to heaven, and there ever appeareth in the presence of God for us. Thus He has reassumed the sacerdotal, that is, Priestly office; and because He never dies, He can never have a successor. He can have no vicars, either in heaven or upon earth; those who pretend to be such are impostors, and are worthy neither of respect nor credit. And thus it appears that God can have no high priest but His Son; and to that office none can now pretend without blasphemy, for the Son of God is still the High Priest in His temple."

So as to have no misunderstanding or twisting of his words here, the writer of Hebrews goes on to offer up the reality that our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the Patriarch of the Hebrew Nation Abram (latter God changed his name to Abraham), as it is written here in verse 6, "As He saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 5:6) (KJV). It was written in the Book of Genesis of this Man Melchizedek (who appeared to Abram after his victorious battle to free Lot from captivity) these words, "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the Priest of the Most High God." (Genesis 14:18) (KJV). Also it was King David who wrote prophetically of our Lord Jesus Christ being God the Father's High Priest with these words, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My Right Hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the head." (Psalms 110:1-7) (KJV). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse 6, "God the Father appointed Him a Priest of a higher order than that of Aaron. The priesthood of Aaron was to be but temporary; the priesthood of Christ was to be perpetual: the priesthood of Aaron was to be successive, descending from the fathers to the children; the Priesthood of Christ, after the order of Melchizedek, was to be personal, and the High Priest immortal as to His office, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, as it is more largely described in the seventh chapter, and will be opened there. Christ is here preferred to Aaron in the holiness of His person. Other priests were to offer up sacrifices, as for the sins of others, so for themselves, Hebrews 5:3. But Christ needed not to offer for sins for Himself, for He had done no violence, neither was there any deceit in His mouth, Isaiah 53:9. And such a high priest became us."

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 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…