Letter to the Hebrews Volume 119

 Faith is how We Believers Understand Part 1

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. KJV

We have just come out of a lengthy dialogue (over the last ten studies/commentaries) by the author of this letter to the Hebrews where he has warned them/us, exhorted them/us, and even reminded them/us of how important 'their/our faith' is now for living this sojourn here on the earth, that is, the faith just spoken of in Hebrews 10:39. Now the writer of Hebrews goes from declaring all of the above into defining what 'faith' actually means with these words, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) (KJV). Unlike the first disciples (who later became the Apostles of Christ) and all the other people who were alive on the earth in Jerusalem and some of the other surrounding cites during the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot see Him walking, talking, and living His earthly life down here before His death, buriel, and resurrection from the dead and ascension back to heaven. So, we must see Him and walk and talk with Him by 'faith' which comes by hearing what He speaks to us through His Word the Bible, as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) (KJV). The English word 'substance' in Hebrews 11:1 is translated by the Greek word hupostasis meaning (as used here) (figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or subjectively): - confidence, substance. The English phrase 'of things hoped for' is translated by the Greek word elpizō meaning to expect or confide: - trust. The English word 'evidence' is translated by the Greek word elegchos meaning  proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof. In other words, 'faith', that is, as the Apostle Peter declares of himself and all of us who believe with these words, "Simon Peter, a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:" (2 Peter 1:1) (KJV), is our concrete assurance or authority and our confident proof or evidence of the things promised by God revealed to us within His Word.

Here is what the JFB Commentary declares concerning Hebrews 11:1, "Description of the great things which faith (in its widest sense: not here restricted to faith in the Gospel sense) does for us. Not a full definition of faith in its whole nature, but a description of its great characteristics in relation to the subject of Paul’s exhortation here, namely, to perseverance. It substantiates promises of God which we hope for, as future in fulfillment, making them present realities to us. However, the Greek is translated in Hebrews 3:14, 'confidence'; and it also here may mean 'sure confidence.' So Alford translates. Thomas Magister supports English Version, 'The whole thing that follows is virtually contained in the first principle; now the first commencement of the things hoped for is in us through the assent of faith, which virtually contains all the things hoped for.' Compare Note, see on Hebrews 6:5, 'tasted ... powers of the world to come.' Through faith, the future object of Christian hope, in its beginning, is already present. True faith infers the reality of the objects believed in and hoped for (Hebrews 11:6). Hugo De St. Victor distinguished faith from hope. By faith alone we are sure of eternal things that they ARE: but by hope we are confident that WE SHALL HAVE them. All hope presupposes faith (Romans 8:25). Evidence — 'demonstration': convincing proof to the believer: the soul thereby seeing what the eye cannot see. Things not seen — the whole invisible and spiritual world: not things future and things pleasant, as the 'things hoped for,' but also the past and present, and those the reverse of pleasant. 'Eternal life is promised to us, but it is when we are dead: we are told of a blessed resurrection, but meanwhile we molder in the dust; we are declared to be justified, and sin dwells in us; we hear that we are blessed, meantime we are overwhelmed in endless miseries: we are promised abundance of all goods, but we still endure hunger and thirst; God declares He will immediately come to our help, but He seems deaf to our cries. What should we do if we had not faith and hope to lean on, and if our mind did not emerge amidst the darkness above the world by the shining of the Word and Spirit of God?' [Calvin]. Faith is an assent unto truths credible upon the testimony of God (not on the reasonableness of the thing revealed, though by this we may judge as to whether it be what it professes, a genuine revelation), delivered unto us in the writings of the Apostles and Prophets. Thus Christ's ascension is the cause, and His absence the crown, of our faith: because He ascended, we the more believe, and because we believe in Him who hath ascended, our faith is the more accepted [Bishop Pearson]. Faith believes what it sees not; for if thou seest there is no faith; the Lord has gone away so as not to be seen: He is hidden that He may be believed; the yearning desire by faith after Him who is unseen is the preparation of a heavenly mansion for us; when He shall be seen it shall be given to us as the reward of faith [Augustine]. As Revelation deals with spiritual and invisible things exclusively, faith is the faculty needed by us, since it is the evidence of things not seen. By faith we venture our eternal interests on the bare Word of God, and this is altogether reasonable."

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 118

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 10

Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

The writer of Hebrews now speaks words of encouragement to all of those Hebrew converts to Christ who were formidable, fearless, and faithful under the trouble that came to them because of their 'faith in Jesus Christ' with these words, "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39) (KJV). The writer (undoubtedly a Hebrew himself) includes himself in this stirring up of their faith unto the end. This verse too is one of the justifications used by many believers who again declare that Paul the Apostle must have been the writer of this letter or epistle to the Hebrews because of the many vile, vulger, and very violent physical attacks that he endured from his own Hebrew/Jewish people. Paul wrote to the Corithian Church a dissertation of the many acts of violence he endured simply for his 'faith in Jesus Christ' and within this lengthy discord of his sufferings he wrote these words, "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one." (2 Corinthians 11:24) (KJV). The instrument used to render these '40 stripes save one' was called a 'cat of nine tails' which was a whip with 9 seperate leather straps that had metal pellets within the leather, metal hooks (like a fishing hook), and even broken glass pieces and nails all with the desire and design to rip open the flesh with every lash received. Many who received such punishment died from such an assault. This is just one example of what many of those early Hebrew believers endured for their 'faith in Jesus Christ' and this type of physical persecution is what the devil used hoping that he would get them all to renounce their 'faith in Jesus Christ' and go back to the rites, rituals, and rules of the old Mosaic system that the Blood of Jesus Christ had now destroyed and done away with. The devil is not nor has he ever been the one against or attacking religion because he knows that it is not religion or spirituality that saves the souls of men and women, that is, keeps them out of hell, but only 'faith in Jesus Christ' does.

Therefore, the devil persecutes true believers in Jesus Christ and not those who are merely religious or spiritual (for they still belong to him). So, when we see here the writer of Hebrews declare these words in Hebrews 10:39, "But we are not', he means that we are not merely religious people or spiritual people, for we have encountered the One True God/Living God our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and in so doing we cannot nor could not draw back from Him. The English phrase 'of them who draw back' is translated by the Greek word hupostolē (used this one time only in  the New Testament) meaning shrinkage (timidity), that is, (by implication) apostasy (The state of having rejected your affiliation, religious beliefs, or principles (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes) renunciation: - to draw back or defection. The English word 'perdition' is translated by the Greek word apōleia meaning ruin, destruction, or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): damnation. In other words, just as the Apostle Peter declared when many early disciples drew back or walked away from the Lord Jesus when His teaching became very hard, as it is written, "Many of Jesus' disciples heard Him and said, 'This is too hard for anyone to understand.' Jesus knew that His disciples were grumbling. So He asked, 'Does this bother you? What if you should see the Son of Man go up to heaven where He came from? The Spirit is the One who gives life! Human strength can do nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are from that life-giving Spirit. But some of you refuse to have faith in Me.' Jesus said this, because from the beginning He knew who would have faith in Him. He also knew which one would betray Him. Then Jesus said, 'You cannot come to Me, unless the Father makes you want to come. That is why I have told these things to all of you.' Because of what Jesus said, many of His disciples turned their backs on Him and stopped following Him. Jesus then asked His twelve disciples if they were going to leave Him. Simon Peter answered, 'Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. We have faith in You, and we are sure that You are God's Holy One.'" (John 6:60-69) (CEV). However, it is those of us who are faithful believers till the end of our earthly lives who receive the 'crown of life', as it is written, "And unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (Revelation 2:8-11) (KJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 10:39, lives, walks, and stands; and with this is connected the salvation of the "There is a drawing back which is not unto perdition; persons may be attended with much unbelief, may be very cold and indifferent to Gospel ordinances, may fall into great sins, and may greatly backslide, and yet be recovered, as David, Peter, and others: and there is a drawing back to perdition; when Christ is rejected as the alone Saviour; when He is not held to as the head; when false doctrines and damnable heresies are given into; and when men draw back, and never return, nor are they, nor can they be returned, and their apostasy is total, and final: but true believers do not, and cannot draw back in this sense; because they are held fast in the arms, and with the cords of everlasting love, are chosen of God unto salvation, are given unto Christ, and secured in Him; they are redeemed and purchased by Him; they are united to Him, and built upon Him; they are interested in His prayers and preparations, and are His jewels, and His portion; they are regenerated, sanctified, inhabited, and sealed by the Spirit of God, and have the promises and power of God, on their side. But of them that believe to the saving of the soul; or 'of faith, to the salvation of the soul'; not of faith of miracles, nor of an historical faith; but of that faith, which is the faith of God's elect, is the gift of God, and the operation of His Spirit; by which a soul sees Christ, goes to Him, lays holds on Him, commits all to Him, and expects all from Him: this stands opposed to drawing back; for by faith a man soul, as opposed to perdition; not as though it is a cause of salvation, but as a means of God's appointing to receive the blessings of salvation, and which is entirely consistent with the grace of God; and since salvation and faith are inseparably connected together, so that he that has the one shall have the other, it follows, that true believers can never perish."

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 117

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 9

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. KJV

We found the author of Hebrews (in the last study/commentary) warning the Hebrew converts back then to be patient under their reproaches and afflictions that came to them from their very own Hebrew brethren and sisteren who had not received the gift of faith from our Lord Jesus Christ and were still beholden to the old Mosaic law and system of worship that God the Father had now discarded with the sending of the Messiah our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. No longer was being a Hebrew and following the Mosaic system the way to approach God the Father, but now faith in Jesus Christ is the only key that can and will unlock access to God the Father and justify, that is, to absolve the sinner from their sin before Him. With this being said, we find the writer of Hebrews now declaring these next words to the Hebrew converts then and we converts to Christ today and of every era and generation, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." (Hebrews 10:38) (KJV). The English word 'just' is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning (as used here) by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just, meet, righteous. The English word 'faith' is translated by the Greek word pistis meaning (as used here) persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself. The little English phrase 'draw back' is translated by the Greek word hupostellō meaning (as used here) to withhold under (out of sight), that is, (reflexively) to cower or shrink, (figuratively) to conceal (reserve): - draw (keep) back, shun, withdraw. The English phrase 'shall have no pleasure' is translated by the Greek word eudokeō meaning to think well of, that is, approve (an act); specifically to approbate or accept (a person or thing). In other words, the man or woman who hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is, the Gospel of Grace and believes unto salvation, that is, is born again by the Holy Spirit, then this person lives by the gift of faith he or she has received from God and trust in Christ alone and only for their salvation must continue in their lives to live by that faith as it is written by Paul the Apostle with these words, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2:6-10) (KJV). How did we receive the Lord Jesus Christ? Answer, by faith, therefore our response is to live by this faith we have received and have exercised and not by what we see going on around us with the theorizing and the philosophy of mere human undertsanding which is worthless and useless to humanity after time has been done away with. Faith in Christ is important for living now, but it is far more important for life in eternity because faith unites you to Christ forever just as no faith or unbelief disconnects you from Christ forever, meaning hell/lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15). The author of Hebrews here declares his disdain for those who shrink back during times of reproach, ridicule, and revilement because of the Name of Jesus Christ and he declares the person who does so unaccepatable to him.

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 10:38, "This is a part of the quotation from Habakkuk 2:3-4, which was probably commenced in the previous verse; see the passage fully explained in the notes on Romans 1:17. The meaning in the connection in which it stands here, in accordance with the sense in which it was used by Habakkuk, is, that the righteous should live by 'continued confidence' in God. They should pass their lives not in doubt, and fear, and trembling apprehension, but in the exercise of a calm trust in God. In this sense it accords with the scope of what the apostle is here saying. He is exhorting the Christians whom he addressed, to perseverance in their religion even in the midst of many persecutions. To encourage this he says, that it was a great principle that the just, that is, all the pious, ought to live in the constant exercise of 'faith in God.' They should not confide in their own merits, works, or strength. They should exercise constant reliance on their Maker, and he would keep them even unto eternal life. The sense is, that a persevering confidence or belief in the Lord will preserve us amidst all the trials and calamities to which we are exposed. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him - This also is a quotation from Habakkuk 2:4, but from the Septuagint, not from the Hebrew. Why the authors of the Septuagint thus translated the passage, it is impossible now to say. The Hebrew is rendered in the common version, 'Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him;' or more literally, 'Behold the scornful; his mind shall not be happy' (Stuart); or as Gesenius renders it, 'See, he whose soul is unbelieving shall, on this account, be unhappy.' The sentiment there is, that the scorner or unbeliever in that day would be unhappy, or would not prosper. The Apostle has retained the general sense of the passage, and the idea which he expresses is, that the unbeliever, or he who renounces his religion, will incur the divine displeasure. He will be a man exposed to the divine wrath; a man on whom God cannot look but with disapprobation. By this solemn consideration, therefore, the apostle urges on them the importance of perseverance, and the guilt and danger of apostasy from the Christian faith. If such a case should occur, no matter what might have been the former condition, and no matter what love or zeal might have been evinced, yet such an apostasy would expose the individual to the certain wrath of God. His former love could not save him, any more than the former obedience of the angels saved them from the horrors of eternal chains and darkness, or than the holiness in which Adam was created saved him and his posterity from the calamities which his apostasy incurred."

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 116

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 8

Hebrews 10:35-37 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. KJV Note:CEV=Contemporay English Version

The writer now encourages those Hebrew believers then and all of us who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ now and during every era and generation to not turn away from our boldness in Him because of reproaches and afflictions from the devil thnrough the human instruments in which he has control with these words in verse 35, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward." (Hebrews 10:35) (KJV). The English phrase 'cast not away' (that begins this verse) is translated by the Greek word apoballō which means to throw off; figuratively to lose: - cast away. The English word 'confidence' is translated by the Greek word parrhēsia which means (as used here) your assurance; your boldness in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. It was the objective of the devil during those early days of Christianity to stop its spread throughout the region and into the rest of the world by physically persecuting and afflicting the believers in our Lord Jesus Christ to spread fear among them in order to silence them. However, many of the early disciples of our Lord Jesus remembered His words to them before His death on the Cross such as, "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:26-28) (KJV) and also these words, "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name's sake, because they know not Him that sent Me." (John 15:20-21) (KJV). Here is what John Wesley said very simply of Hebrews 10:35, "Cast not away therefore this your confidence - Your faith and hope; which none can deprive you of but yourselves."

These words have been often times said, 'patience is a virtue', well in reality patience is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and is not a virtue that any human being can claim credit for having because our corrupt nature (that each human being receives from Adam) abhors patience and wants everything now. Today we see this played out every single day everywhere around the world. The writer of Hebrews, however, reminds the Hebrews Christians (back then) who were brought out of the Mosaic law and into the freedom of grace through faith in Jesus Christ that 'patience' is a must for them to be able to endure the reporaches and afflictions by having the reward of the presence and power of God resting upon them/us enabling them/us to endure and also encouraging them/us to remember their/our coming reward in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what the writer of Hebrews declares to them, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." (Hebrews 10:36) (KJV). This English word 'patience' (in this verse) is translated by the Greek word hupomonē meaning cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). We clearly see from the definition that this cannot be a human virtue, but instead it is a Divine virtue. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 10:36, "For ye have need of patience - They were then suffering, and in all trials we have need of patience. We have need of it because there is in us so much disposition to complain and repine; because our nature is liable to sink under sufferings; and because our trials are often protracted. All that Christians can do in such cases is to be patient - to lie calmly in the hands of God, and submit to His will day by day, and year by year; see James 1:3-4. That after ye have done the will of God - That is, in bearing trials, for the reference here is particularly to afflictions.Ye might receive the promise - The promised inheritance or reward - in heaven. It is implied here that this promise will not be received unless we are patient in our trials, and the prospect of this reward should encourage us to endure them."

The writer next encourages them into this exercise of patience by reminding them of our Lord Jesus' coming back to take up or to gather up all of His children either at the Rapture right before His 2nd Coming to the earth to put down all rebellion or at each believers death with these words, "For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." (Hebrews 10:37) (KJV). For these Hebrew believers back then, they were gathered unto our Lord Jesus Christ at their death, just as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words, "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:6-10) (KJV). We can see a detail, declaration, and description of this very thing being unfolded before our very own eyes as we listen to the words written for us by the disciple of Christ Luke in the book of Acts referring to the very first believer (Stephen) murdered, massacred, and martyred for his faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, as it is written, "When the council members heard Stephen's speech, they were angry and furious. But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, 'I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!' The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, 'Lord Jesus, please welcome me!' He knelt down and shouted, 'Lord, don't blame them for what they have done.' Then he died." (Acts 7:54-60) (CEV). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 10:37, "He will soon come to them at death, and put an end to all their sufferings, and give them a crown of life. He will soon come to judgment, and put an end to the sufferings of the whole Church (all His Mystical Body), and give them an ample and glorious reward in the most public manner. There is an appointed time for both, and beyond that time He will not tarry, Habakkuk 2:3. The Christian's present conflict may be sharp, but it will be soon over."
 
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 115

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 7

Hebrews 10:33-34 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. KJV Note: MKJV=Modern King James Version

The writer of Hebrews begins to describe in more specific detail the type of persecution some of the then Hebrews who were brought out of the Mosaic Hebrew/Jewish system of worship endured from their fellow countrymen with these next words here, "Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used." (Hebrews 10:33) (KJV). The lengthy English phrase 'whilst ye were made a gazingstock' is translated by the Greek word theatrizō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) it means to expose as a spectacle: - make a gazing stock. The English word 'reproaches' is translated by the Greek word oneidismos which means contumely, that is, rude expressions intended to offend or hurt: - insults, reproach. The English word 'afflictions' is translated by the Greek word thlipsis meaning pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. In other words, they were made like zoo animals who people would walk by to gaze at for fun or entertainment wondering what made them such odd human animals, that is, why would they no longer conform to the regular and widely practice of the Hebrew/Jewish Mosaic worship, that is, with its customs, celebrations, and cerimonies. The Apostle Paul wrote concerning himself in like manner to his fellow Christian brethren who had come to know our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ with these words, "For I think that God has set forth us last, the Apostles, as it were appointed to death; for we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men." (1 Corinthians 4:9) (MKJV). Even the Psalmist wrote in like manner concerning himself with these words of despair then words of confident expectation from God, "I am like a wonder to many, but You are my strong tower. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise, with Your honor all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails. For my enemies speak against me; and those who watch for my soul plot together, saying, God has forsaken him; pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him. O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste for my help. Let them be ashamed; let those who are enemies of my soul be consumed; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor, those who seek my hurt. But I will hope without ceasing, and I will add more in all Your praise." (Psalms 71:7-14) (MKJV).

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 10:33, "That is, your affliction consisted partly in this. The Greek is, 'this' - specifying one kind of affliction that they were called to endure. Whilst ye were made a gazing-stock - You were made a public spectacle, as if in a theater; you were held up to public view, or exposed to public scorn. When this was done, or in precisely what manner, we are not told. It was not an uncommon thing, however, for the early Christians to be held up to reproach and scorn, and probably this refers to some time when it was done by rulers or magistrates. It was a common custom among the Greeks and Romans to lead criminals, before they were put to death, through the theater, and thus to expose them to the insults and reproaches of the multitude. See the proofs of this adduced by Kuinoel on this passage. The 'language' here seems to have been taken from this custom, though there is no evidence that the Christians to whom Paul refers had been treated in this manner. By reproaches - Repreached as being the followers of Jesus of Nazareth; probably as weak and fanatical. And afflictions - Various 'sufferings' inflicted on them. They were not merely reviled in words, but they were made to endure positive sufferings of various kinds. And partly, while ye became companions of them that were so used - That is, even when they had not themselves been subjected to these trials, they had sympathized with those who were. They doubtless imparted to them of their property; sent to them relief, and identified themselves with them. It is not known to what particular occasion the Apostle here refers. In the next verse he mentions one instance in which they had done this, in aiding him when he was a prisoner."

The writer of Hebrews next cites the care, concern, and compassion shown unto himself by other followers of our Lord Jesus Christ when he was under the very persecution from the devil through the men that his demons lived in and worked through in order to revile, ridicule, and reproach him with these words, "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance." (Hebrews 10:34) (KJV). The English word 'compassion' is translated by the Greek word sumpatheō meaning to feel 'sympathy' with, that is, (by implication) to commiserate: - have compassion, be touched with a feeling of. When this writer of Hebrews here goes on to say, 'of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods', he means that he was placed in chains by either the Romans or other Hebrew/Jewish leaders trying to stop his spread of the Gospel message of salvation only in our Lord Jesus Christ. This part of this letter to the Hebrews is where many fellow believers declare the Apostle Paul as the writer of this letter or epistle. In my opinion, it could be Paul or it could be another one of the early Hebrew disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who cite Paul as the author refer to these passages of Scripture as their proof, "And when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews who were from Asia, having seen him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, Men, Israelites, help! This is the man who teaches all everywhere against the people and the Law and this place. And even he brought Greeks into the temple and has polluted this holy place. (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city before, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was moved, and the people ran together. And laying hands on Paul, they drew him outside of the temple. And immediately the doors were shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, the news came to the chiliarch of the cohort, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And seeing the chiliarch and the soldiers, they quit beating Paul. Then going near, the chiliarch laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains. And he demanded who he was and what he had done." (Acts 21:27-33) (MKJV). When the writer of Hebrews finishes out Hebrews 10:34 with these words, 'knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance', he speaks of the abundant and bountiful treasure each and every one of us who know and love our Lord Jesus Christ have waiting for us in heaven which no material thing here on this earth can come close to comparison. First of, the treasure of being in the loving presence of our Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins in our place snatching us from the pit of hell and the devil (Colossians 1:13-14) (face to face with Him) will itself be our enduring eternal treasure, however, just as the icing on the cake is not the main thing (the cake is), so will all the other treasures in the physical place of heaven be to each and every one of us who have received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of Hebrews 10:34, "The writer is speaking to Christian men who have endured a great fight of afflictions, and he says of them, 'Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, because you knew that you had this Better and enduring substance.' Joyfully! When you strike away the false props the strength of the real ones becomes more conspicuous. And many and many a time we may experience, unless we waste our discipline and our sorrows, that the surest way to become richer towards God is to lose the earthly stays and supports. But whether that be so or no, he who sits in the centre, and has the light round him, need not mind much what storms are raging without, and he whose inexpugnable fortress is within the depths of God may smile at all the hubbub and confusion down in the valley. If we possess this true treasure which lies at our doors, and may be had for the taking, we shall be like men in some strong fortress, with firm walls, abundant provisions, and a well in the courtyard, and we can laugh at besiegers 'His abiding place shall be the munitions of rooks; his bread shall be given him and his water shall be made sure.' We may be quiet and lofty, infinitely above the fear of chance and change, if we keep the firm hold which we may keep of the enduring riches which God brings with Him into our souls. Some of you may be in circumstances which make such thoughts as these specially applicable, either because dark days may be threatening, or because the sunshine of prosperity may be dazzling some eyes and making them lose sight of their true wealth. To the one class the thought of my text is gathered up in the warning, 'Charge them that they trust not in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God.' And, to the other class, the text should quicken and consolidate the resolve, 'What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee. Thou art the strength of my heart, and mine inheritance for ever.'"

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 114

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 6

Hebrews 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; KJV Note: MKJV=Modern King James Version

The warning to the then converted Hebrews that this writer of the epistle to the Hebrews declares is the same warning to those of us today and of every era and generation in the past, present, and the coming future (who will spend time in the Word of God) to heed or pay attention to the Voice of God speaking through this man He chose to write His Holy Word through. God the Father warned those (as we just learned in the previous studies/commentaries) who would misuse, misdirect, or mingle with other gods that there remains nothing but His fiery judgement for them. Now the writer of Hebrews wants to exhort, encourage, and embolden the then true Hebrew converts to Christ (we converts to Christ today and again from every era and generation) to remember our regeneration/new birth and steer clear of any representatives of the devil whom he would use to draw us away from the truth of the Word of God, as he writes now with these words, "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;" (Hebrews 10:32) (KJV). The English phrase 'call to remembrance' is translated by the Greek word anamimnēskō meaning to remind; reflexively to recollect: - call to mind. The English phrase 'after ye were illuminated' is translated by the Greek word phōtizō which means to shed rays, that is, to shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally or figuratively): - enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see. In other words, before our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ saved us we were completely blind spiritually to truth. The Holy Spirit immediately destroyed all our rationalizations of what we made to be truth that indeed we learned from God's Word were nothing but lies.

The big one for me was that fornication was not bad or evil and that it was my right as a man to have sex with as many women as I could (I still struggle at times with wanting to fulfill this). The writer of Hebrews is here exhorting us to return to our 'first love' that is our Lord Jesus Christ who saved us and opened our spiritual eyes to Him and His truth in the Bible, just as our Lord warned the Church @ Ephesus with these Words from our Lord documented for us by the Apostle John, "To the angel of the Church of Ephesus write: He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, says these things. I know your works and your labor and your patience, and how you cannot bear those who are evil. And you tried those pretending to be apostles, and are not, and have found them liars. And you have borne, and have patience, and for My Name's sake you have labored and have not fainted. But I have against you that you left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent. But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:1-7) (MKJV).

I never thought of this behavior as being evil or against the very God who created me until I was illuminated by God the Holy Spirit, as it written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (the devil), the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also had our way of life in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:1-10) (MKJV).

When the writer ends Hebrews 10:32 with these words, 'ye endured a great fight of afflictions', he is speaking of the persecutions that they received from other Hebrews who had not been yet illuminated by the Gospel of Christ and were still living under the Old Testament Mosaic laws and despised them because they had left that system for 'faith in Jesus Christ'. The English phrase 'ye endured' is translated by the Greek word hupomenō meaning figuratively to undergo, that is, bear trials. The little English phrase 'of afflictions' is translated by the Greek word pathēma which means something undergone, that is, hardship or pain; subjectively an emotion or influence: - affliction, suffering. In other words, these Hebrews in hearing the Gospel and being born again and illuminated by the Holy Spirit had undergone many trials, tribulations, and trouble that came from the devil through other Hebrews who were not born again, but still living in and under the religious Mosaic system which they never wanted to believe that Jehovah God had abandoned after sending His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 10:32, "It appears from this, and indeed from some parts of the Gospel history, that the first believers in Judea were greatly persecuted; our Lord's crucifixion, Stephen's martyrdom, the persecution that arose after the death of Stephen, Acts 8:1, Herod's persecution, Acts 12:1, in which James was killed, and the various persecutions of St. Paul, sufficiently show that this disposition was predominant among that bad people. A great combat or contention of sufferings. Here we have an allusion to the combats at the Grecian games, or to exhibitions of gladiators at the public spectacles; and an intimation how honorable it was to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, and to overcome through the Blood of the Lamb, and their own testimony."

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 113

 We 'the Just' Must Live by Faith Part 5

Hebrews 10:30-31 For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

The writer of Hebrews now goes back again once more into the chronicles of the earlier Hebrew people by quoting the words written by Moses documenting the Words of the Lord God (Deuteronomy 32:35) that He spoke against His own people who followed after foreign gods, as it is written, "For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people." (Hebrews 10:30) (KJV). As we wrote in the previous study/commentary of the retribution of God the Father, so now we see Him declare said retribution Himself with these words written in Hebrews 10:30. The English word 'Vengeance' is translated by the Greek word ekdikēsis meaning vindication, retribution: punishment. The English word 'recompense' is translated by the Greek word antapodidōmi which means to requite (good or evil): - recompense, render, repay. In other words, this is the only option left for God the Father for every soul who neglects so great a salvation that is found only in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, just as this same writer of Hebrews declared to us very early on in this letter to the Hebrews with these words, "We must give our full attention to what we were told, so that we won't drift away. The message spoken by angels proved to be true, and all who disobeyed or rejected it were punished as they deserved. So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? The Lord Himself was the first to tell about it, and people who heard the message proved to us that it was true. God Himself showed that His message was true by working all kinds of powerful miracles and wonders. He also gave His Holy Spirit to anyone He chose to." (Hebrews 2:1-4) (CEV). "God is the God of justice. He is patient, but He will punish." (Robertson's Word Pictures). The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God." (Hebrews 10:31) (KJV). Time for we human beings is critical, for we watch people lose their lives (here on the earth) through war, disease, famine, murder, old age, etc., however, with God (the creator of time) He dwells or lives in eternity (which is timeless, that is, endless) and to Him one day is like 1,000 years and 1,000 years like one day (2 Peter 3:8), therefore, when we see injustice go on for 20 or 30 or 40 years without any retribution, it is not ever going on without the sure and certain judgement of God coming to it. The man or woman (the soul) that has been moved by, motivated by, and made to tremble by the Gospel of Christ and has walked up to the door of salvation and instead of opening up his or her inner man or inner woman to the Lord Jesus Christ, as it is written, "Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together." (Revelation 3:20) (CEV), instead they have turned away and went after other gods, such as astrology, witchcraft, sorcery, spiritualism, evolution, and a myriad of other none gods or false gods; so they have nothing to look forward to but what was just declared earlier by this same writer of Hebrews in verse 27 with these words, "They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire." (Hebrews 10:27) (CEV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 10:31, "To fall into the Hands of God is to fall under His displeasure; and He who lives for ever can punish for ever. How dreadful to have the displeasure of an eternal, almighty Being to rest on the soul for ever! Apostates, and all the persecutors and enemies of God's cause and people, may expect the heaviest judgments of an incensed Deity: and these, not for a time, but through eternity."

Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of Hebrews 10:30, "All men admit in theory that a self-centred life is a blunder. Jesus Christ has all moralists and all thoughtful men wholly with Him when He says, 'He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life shall find it.' There is no such way of filling a soul with enlargement and blessedness and of evolving new powers and capacities as self-oblivion for some great cause, for some great love, for some great enthusiasm. Many a woman has found herself when she held her child in her arms, and in the self-oblivion which comes from maternal affections and cares has sprung into a loftier new life. Many a heart, of husband and wife, can set its seal to this truth, that the blessedness of love is that it decentralises the soul, and substitutes another aim for the wretched and narrow one that is involved in self-seeking. And even if we do not refer to these sacred heights of maternal or of wedded love, there are many other noble counterpoises to the do-grading influence of self-absorption, which all men recognise and some men practise. Whoever has once tasted the joy and rapture of flinging himself into some great enthusiasm, and has known how much fuller life is when so inspired than in its ordinary forms, needs no words to convince him that the secret of blessedness, elevation, and power, if it is to be put into one great word, must be put into this one, 'self-oblivion.' But whilst all these counterpoises to the love of self are, in their measure and degree, great and noble and blessed, not one of them, nor all of them put together, will so break the fetters from off a prisoned soul and let it out into the large place of utter and glad self-oblivion as the course which our text enjoins upon us when it says: If you wish to forget yourselves, to abandon and lose yourselves, fling yourselves into Christ's arms, and by faith yield your whole being, will, trust, purposes, aims, everything - yield them all to Him; and when you can say, 'We are not our own,' then first will you belong to yourselves and have won your own souls. There is nothing except that absolute departure from all reliance upon our own poor powers, and from all making of ourselves our centre and aim in life, which gives us true possession of ourselves. Nothing else is comparable to the talismanic power of trust in Jesus Christ. When thus we lose ourselves in Him we find ourselves, and find Him in ourselves. I believe that, at bottom, a life must either spin round on its own axis, self- centred and self-moved, or else it must be drawn by the mass and weight and mystical attractiveness of the great central sun, and swept clean out of its own little path to become a satellite round Him. Then only will it move in music and beauty, and flash back the lustre of an unfading light. Self or God, one or the other will be the centre of every human life."

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…