Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Hebrews 4:14–5:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ¹ For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. ³ Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. ⁴ And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. ⁵ So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” ⁶ As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; ⁷ who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, ⁸ though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, ¹⁰ called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” ¹¹ of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Considering Christ, our great High Priest, “let us hold fast our confession” (2:14). This is the opening encouragement of our text. The basis for this encouragement is then given: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” The result of this is further encouragement: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” This “letter of encouragement” has one encouragement after another for us, all based in Christ—who He is and what He does for us.

However, this letter also contains a warning. The warning is that when we must listen properly to the message of Christ, lest, by being “dull of hearing,” we fail to grow spiritually in Him. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God.” Through neglect of the Word, we can become complacent, and then not grow in the Word as we should. Instead, we are to heed this warning to give proper attention to the Word and follow the admonition to grow spiritually in it, moving from spiritual milk to solid food. “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” This spiritual maturity and accompanying ability are becoming increasingly rare in our culture, and, therefore, are all the more valuable. Our great High Priest calls us to Himself, encourages us in His Word, and nurtures us toward maturity in that same Word.

Let us pray: O God, who for Your glory and the salvation of the human race willed to establish Christ as the eternal High Priest, grant that the people He has gained for You by His blood, through their participation in faith, may experience the power of his cross and resurrection; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hebrews 2:5–3:6 (NKJV)

⁵ For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. ⁶ But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? ⁷ You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. ⁸ You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. ⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. ¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” ¹³ And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.” ¹⁴ Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. ¹⁶ For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. ¹ Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, ² who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. ³ For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. ⁵ And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, ⁶ but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Our lesson today explains how Christ, being both God and man, fulfilled the purposes of God: “Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” So, by becoming a man, Jesus both identified with humanity and then delivered humanity. Jesus Christ has delivered us from the grip of sin, Satan, and death—He has delivered us from them all!

Today in our lesson, the writer to the Hebrews explains how the very Son of God came that we might become the very children of God. Christ did that by giving Himself for us upon the cross. As St. Paul writes in his first letter to Timothy, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men” (2:5-6). It cost Christ dearly to save and deliver us humans from our sin. And He did so out of love. St. John, in his first letter, says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him” (4:9).

This lesson today calls us to listen to all the ways that God is speaking to us through His Word. In one verse after another, we are reminded of all the things that God has given us in Christ, including our final glory with Him.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, in Your tender love towards humanity You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take on Himself our flesh and to suffer death on the cross. Grant that we may follow the example of His patience and humility, and also be made partakers of His resurrection; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hebrews 1:1–14 (NKJV)

¹ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. ⁵ For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? ⁶ But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” ⁷ And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” ⁸ But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” ¹⁰ And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. ¹¹ They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; ¹² Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.” ¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? ¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.”

The book of Hebrews is one of the general epistles, along with James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, and Jude. Hebrews was received by the Church as apostolic, that is, part of the apostles’ teaching, but it is not certain which apostle is the human author. Most scholars suggest that it was Barnabas, the “son of encouragement,” who is now writing this “letter of encouragement.” Some scholars suggest that it was Apollos, whom Luther favors. Another suggestion, which does have historical precedence, is that the writer was Paul, although most scholars today dismiss this as less likely. Regardless, the writing was received by the Church as being in line with the teaching of the apostles of our Lord and received as Holy Scripture, God’s Word to God’s people.

The opening verses (1-2) show that the message of the Gospel is in line with the Old Testament prophecies, but at the same time is distinct from them, which anticipates the division of the Christian Bible into Old Testament and New Testament. Not only is the more recent message and revelation of God through His Son superior to the older messages, but the Son Himself is superior to other messengers or “angels,” which are the same words both in Hebrew and in Greek. The writer will go on to show other ways that Christ is superior, and superior to others, like Moses. Nevertheless, already it is clear that Jesus is not simply someone you ask into your life to be an assistant to help you make your life better. Instead, He is someone that you bow before, worship, and submit to as Lord.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the clearest image of the Father and seated at His right hand as Lord of all and my Lord; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Philemon 1–25 (NKJV)

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, ² to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, ⁵ hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, ⁶ that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. ⁷ For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. ⁸ Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, ⁹ yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ—¹⁰ I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, ¹¹ who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. ¹² I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, ¹³ whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. ¹⁵ For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. ¹⁷ If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. ¹⁸ But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. ²¹ Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. ²² But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. ²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, ²⁴ as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. ²⁵ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

“The Lord works in mysterious ways.” A similar saying that is in the Bible is this: “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33). Consider how God works in this story with Paul and Philemon. Paul is in prison in Rome, and Philemon is a Christian in Colossae. In prison with Paul are Epaphras and Onesimus, who are also from Colossae. Onesimus is a captured run-away slave, Paul has converted him, and now Onesimus is about to be returned to his owner… guess who? Philemon. So Paul makes an appeal on behalf of his new “son in the faith” Onesimus to fellow Christian, Philemon.

What kind of appeal should that be? Paul could simply say, “Slavery is wrong. Therefore, release Onesimus from slavery when he is returned to you.” We know he said elsewhere to Christians who were slaves not to let it bother them, but if they could gain their freedom, do so (1 Cor 7:21). So, rather than condone slavery, Paul shows that it is obviously something to be avoided, if possible. However, instead of immediately overthrowing cultures, institutions, and practices, Christianity addresses people directly, and those people then address these other things. Thus, wherever Christianity has permeated a culture sufficiently, slavery is seen to be wrong and eradicated. More mysterious ways of the Lord in play here.

So, yes, Paul could have easily made this letter to Philemon a simple command. Instead, he makes a masterful appeal, hoping that Philemon will see the proper path himself and voluntarily do what is right. Again, the emphasis is on instilling godly character rather than forcing certain outcomes. Bottom line: God cares more about our character than about our circumstances.

Let us pray: O almighty God, grant that we may know Your Son, Jesus Christ, as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, that following in His steps, we may steadfastly walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Titus 3:8–15 (NKJV)

⁸ This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. ⁹ But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. ¹² When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. ¹³ Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. ¹⁴ And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. ¹⁵ All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

These are the parting words in a pastoral letter, in that it is the Apostle Paul’s instructions to help Pastor Titus in his pastoral duties.

For example, Paul instructs Titus to avoid “strivings about the law.” As with every time Paul mentions the Law, we must here distinguish between these three: we Christians are free from the condemnation of the Law in general, and we are free from the ceremonial Law (which Paul refers to here), but we are not free from the moral Law (which is evident from Paul’s admonition in v. 8 to “maintain good works.”)

There in v. 8, Paul instructs Titus, saying, “I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.” This shows that even though we Christians are free from the Law’s condemnation and from Jewish ceremonial Law, we are not free from the moral Law, which is God’s eternal will for His people.

One final instruction to look at is this: “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” This might seem like a quick version of the Matt. 18 procedure for church discipline, but this is actually how the pastor must deal with false teachers in the midst of the flock—it has to be done quickly and decisively. Heresies are self-chosen, and therefore they are self-condemning. So, if the pastor tries to correct someone who is teaching falsely to the flock, and this teacher does not stop after the second warning, then he is simply removed. This is necessary to safeguard the flock from false teaching that could lead people away from Christ. This is how the shepherd rightly protects God’s sheep.

Let us pray: O Lord, great Shepherd of the sheep, we thank You for Your under-shepherds who provide spiritual care and protection for us, Your flock; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.