Daily Meditations

Hebrews 10:19 Confidence to enter the Most Holy Place This verse has been, and always will be, an outrage so far as orthodox Judaism is concerned! The Most Holy Place was, of course, the innermost chamber of the Tabernacle / Temple. This was holy ground like no other, it was the place where the glory of God was contained, it was so holy and sacred that it was “off limits” for all ordinary people, even the priesthood. The highest honour amongst the ancient Jews was the role of High Priest and this man alone could enter the Most Holy Place but only once per year. His role, on what was called the Day of Atonement, was to make reparation, with blood, for the sins of the people and, as we know, only their unintentional sins. This ceremony was watched by the gathered crowds and the entire priesthood; they waited with bated breath to see if the anointed Priest would emerge unscathed from his meeting with the Lord God. Once the day and its ceremonies were completed, no one was allowed access t...

Hebrews 10:18 Sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. It seems that the author of this amazing Epistle has already made his point, we understand that the sacrificial system with its laws and rituals is now ended, there is no further requirement for a Temple or a priesthood.  But, just in case this truth has not yet sunk in, it must be repeated one more time! Firstly, because when God repeats His Word over and over again, we can be sure that it is of the utmost importance. Secondly, because human beings, and the Jews are a case in point, are stubborn, unwilling creatures who take a long time to embrace change! Why, even now most of the Jewish race rejects the idea of one of their own being Messiah, they are still awaiting Him, furthermore, there are plans afoot to restore the Temple and the sacred rituals in preparation for His coming! Even some Christians get excited by this possibility and are blinded to the fact that such plans are an abomination to the Lord God who has al...

Hebrews 10:17 Remembered no more! In ancient times it was not uncommon for men to join the schools of the prophets, as with King Saul, or to devote oneself to holy service at the feet of a priest, as with Samuel and Eli. Indeed, to be considered as a man or woman of God, as with Deborah, we would have to show exceptional devotion and live lives that were separate from the common people. We would be studious in our attention to the Law and learn from it that we might begin to discern the mind and heart of God. This way of life has overflowed into the journey of the various holy orders, and it is also adopted by Judaism where young men devote their lives to studying the Torah and Mishnah etc. We might even include the various Bible Schools and Theological Colleges which provide the means for men and women to enter church ministries today. In other words, we can be forgiven for thinking that to be used by the Lord in modern ministries we have to be special, to live lives of a higher order...

Hebrews 10:16 The role of prophets In Old Testament times, when the Lord God spoke and wished to make His purposes clear, He chose individuals and gave them His words. Prophets, seers, priests and national leaders all heard that voice and carefully recorded the words they were given so that these precious truths could be passed on. Such men and women were highly venerated and were elevated amongst the people as those who had become God’s mouthpieces. In this way we have the Scriptures, or what we call the Old Testament, and we too respect and admire the men and women who had such a close affinity with the Lord. But, in this verse, quoted from Jeremiah 31:33, the Lord gives prior warning that a day will come when the roles of individual prophets etc will come to an end, instead He will “ put His laws in men’s hearts and write them on their minds.”  This is talking, of course, about the coming of the Holy Spirit when it will not be necessary for individuals to hear and then carefully...

Hebrews 10:15 The Holy Spirit testifies Let us be absolutely clear here, whilst the Holy Spirit was not given to the church until Pentecost, in ancient times He was still a massive influence on God’s people and on individuals, especially those who were called to lead or to speak with the voice of the Lord. The truth is, we either follow the Spirit of truth and righteousness, or we obey the spirit of lies and deceit. It has ever been so. For instance, Peter writes,  “You must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  2 Peter 1:20-21. Paul’s famous quote to Timothy encompasses the Old Testament, for the New had still not been written, when he writes , “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant ...