Hebrews 8: Are You God’s People?
Verse of the Day: (V10) “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”
1. Priest (V1-6)
V1 “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”
When Jesus came and died on the cross, and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world, the new covenant of grace replaced the old covenant of law. Not that the old covenant was ineffective as the people during the old covenant could still be saved by faith in God. However, the new covenant is better, as Jesus became the ultimate gift and sacrifice for the sins of the whole world as compared to the many gifts and sacrifices that the high priests had to offer to God for the atonement of their own sins as well as the sins of the people. After Jesus’ resurrection, from the ultimate sacrifice, He became the High Priest who is now seated at the right hand of God, the Majesty, interceding for all our sins.
V3 “For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.”
2. Place (V7-9)
V7 “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.”
The people of Israel time and again failed to keep the first covenant because of unbelief. If they had kept the first covenant, there should be no place for the second, but they could not, and God gave them a better covenant by sending Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice.
V8 “For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:”
3. People (V10-13)
V11 “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”
Today, when we believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord, He shall forgive and forget our sins, and at the same time, the Holy Spirit shall indwell our minds and hearts, and guide us in God’s Word and prayer, as we become God’s people.
V12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am Your people because I believe in You by faith.
Hebrews 7: Do You Know The High Priest?
Verse of the Day: (V26) “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;”
1. Peace (V1-10)
V1 “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;”
King Melchisedec, also known as the King of peace and righteousness, was the type of Christ, who reigned during the time of Abraham. Abraham and all who lived during his reign had to give him a tenth of what they had for being their king who blessed them. However, Jesus Christ is even a better king than King Melchisedec, because He is the perfect King of kings who shall one day reign on the new earth with perfect peace forever.
V2 “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of Peace;”
2. Perfect (V11-21)
V16 “Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.”
The people of Israel could never keep God’s perfect law, because the law only pointed to their imperfection. This was why God sent His Son to die on the cross and shed His blood for the sins of the world. Whoever therefore repents his sins, and receives Jesus as his personal Saviour shall never perish in hell, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven.
V19 “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”
3. Priest (V22-28)
V25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice as He sacrificed Himself to atone for the sins of the whole world, and now freely offers salvation to everyone who believes in Him. Indeed, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, He is now seated at the right hand of God as the holy and harmless High Priest, daily interceding for us, and delivering us from all our troubles, because He was once a man like us, and He knew exactly all our weaknesses and failures.
V28 “For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I know You, my High Priest, my Saviour and my Lord.
Hebrews 6: Will You Strive For Perfection?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “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,”
1. Perfection (V1-8)
V4 “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,”
Today, just like the days of the apostles, there are Christians, including pastors and missionaries, who seemingly are doing great works for God but are actually serving themselves. Instead of striving for perfection in holiness, they are striving for their own success. However, at Judgment day, the holy God shall judge all Christians, and there shall be Christians who shall be ashamed because their works, like thorns and briers, shall be burnt, while there shall be Christians who shall be rewarded as God bless their works.
V8 “But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.”
2. Patience (V9-16)
V10 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Let us serve the Lord with faith and patience knowing that He sees our hearts and know all our works and labour of love as we keep winning souls, teaching His Word, helping the poor and those in needs, and praying and supporting local and foreign missionaries.
V12 “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
3. Promise (V17-20)
V17 “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:”
Indeed, the two immutable things of God are that He is truly God, and He never lies. Today, God promises you a fiery hell to shun, and a glorious heaven to gain, when you repent your sins, and believe and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Lord.
V18 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to strive for perfection in holiness as You are holy.
Hebrews 5: Are You Obedient?
Verse of the Day: (V8) “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”
1. Ordained (V1-5)
V1 “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:”
God called and ordained His high priests, namely, the tribe of Levi, to serve Him in His temple by offering gifts and sacrifices to Him to atone their own sins as well as the sins of the people. However, Jesus Christ was the perfect High Priest, when He offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, not for His own sins, but for the sins of the whole world.
V5 “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.”
2. Obedience (V6-10)
V7 “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;”
Why does God allow suffering? God allows suffering so that we learn obedience and trust in Him. For the unbelievers, it is a time when they can choose to repent of their sins, and believe and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. For the believers, it is a time when we learn obedience and trust in God as we know that only God can deliver us from our suffering. Even Jesus, the Son of God, cried out in pain to God, His Father, as He learned obedience when He suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the world.
V9 “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”
3. Oracles (V11-14)
V12 “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.”
It is sad that today, just like the days of the apostles, there are many Christians who are immature, and still need to be taught of God’s oracles or words, when they should be rooted and grounded in them, and teaching and guiding others to obey God and His Word.
V14 “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.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be obedient to You like Your Son Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4: Do You Believe In The Word Of God?
Verse of the Day: (V12) “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
1. The People Of God (V1-10)
V9 “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
God gives us perfect rest from all our worry and fears when we believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord. Let us therefore not worry or fear but fully rest and trust in God knowing that we are His precious people and children. Though we are on our way to eternal rest in heaven, yet we must now learn to really enjoy heaven on earth by casting all our worry and fears upon Jesus who truly loves and cares for us!
V10 “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”
2. The Word Of God (V11-13)
V11 “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
What does it mean to labour to enter into that rest? It means that we must labour to read, study, meditate and memorise God’s Word, so that we can fully rest in Him. God’s Word is living and powerful and it is a wonderful medicine to our weary souls for all seasons and situations. God knows everything about us, including the hidden secrets in our hearts, and His Word can convict our sins, comfort our sorrows and care for our souls, so that we may grow in His grace and knowledge, and finally enter into His perfect rest in heaven.
V13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
3. The Son Of God (V14-16)
V14 “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.”
Jesus knows all our sufferings and struggles because He too was once tempted and tested while He was on earth, yet He sinned not. Let us therefore go boldly to Jesus, who is now our great High Priest, seated at God’s right hand, interceding for us, as we pray to God in His name, and He shall help and deliver us by His amazing grace and everlasting mercy.
V16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe Your Word is living and powerful.
Hebrews 3: How Is Your Heart?
Verse of the Day: (V15) “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
1. Heavenly (V1-2)
V1 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”
Our calling is not an earthly calling, but a heavenly calling, in other words, it is not man, but God through Jesus Christ who calls us. Indeed, let us be like Moses who when he received the heavenly calling was faithful to God and his family until God called him home. However, Jesus Christ is the best example of faithfulness. Though Jesus was a man yet He overcame temptations, and was faithful to the end, even the death of the cross.
V2 “Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.”
2. House (V3-6)
V3 “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.”
Jesus was far greater than Moses because He was the Son of God who came to this earth not only to die on the cross and shed His blood for the sins of the whole world, but also to build and establish His house - the church - which shall be the shining light in this dark world and the rejoicing hope in this hopeless world to draw all man to His saving grace. Let us as a church be the shining light and rejoicing hope until the Lord’s glorious return.
V6 “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”
3. Heart (V7-19)
V19 “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
Let us not harden our hearts as in the days of the people of Israel when they hardened their hearts because of unbelief. As a result, God punished them and made them wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and many died, when they could have entered Kadesh-barnea, the Promised Land, in 11 days! Today, will you repent of your evil heart of unbelief, and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour? If you believe, Jesus shall give you a new heart, and you shall forever be with Him in the Promised Land in Heaven!
“There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.)” (Deuteronomy 1:2)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to believe in You with all my heart.
Hebrews 2: Do You See Jesus?
Verse of the Day: (V9) “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
1. See (V1-10)
V7 “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:”
Jesus obeyed God, His Father, and left the splendour of heaven to come to earth in the form of man (even lower than the angels who once worshipped Him) to suffer and die on the cross for the sins of man and tasted death for man. Whoever truly believes in Jesus though he shall physically die, yet by God’s grace, his soul shall live forever in heaven.
V10 “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
2. Sanctified (V11-15)
V11 “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
Jesus not only forgives the sins of those who believes and receives Him as their personal Saviour, but also sanctifies them to become His joint-heirs and brothers. Jesus also deliver His people from temptations and bless them with abundant life with Him forever.
V14 “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;”
3. Succour (V16-18)
V17 “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.”
After Jesus’ resurrection, He became the High Priest seated at God’s right hand interceding for all Christians who pray to God in His name. Indeed, Jesus shall help and deliver us from all the temptations because He went through them while He was on earth.
V18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I see Jesus and believe that He is truly Your Son.
Hebrews 1: Do You Believe In The Son Of God?
Verse of the Day: (V5) “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”
1. Son (V1-6)
V2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”
God, the Father, spoke highly of His Son, Jesus Christ, because Jesus obeyed Him. Jesus willingly left the splendour of heaven to be a humble man, and to live and then die on the cruel cross and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. On the third day Jesus victoriously arose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God interceding and helping those who truly believes in Him to do the perfect will of God!
V3 “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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
2. Spirits (V7-8)
V7 “And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
The Son is far greater than the angels as He is God Himself. The angels are only God’s creatures created as ministering spirits to serve God and fulfil His perfect plan. The Son indeed shall reign with God forever, while the angels shall only minister to God forever!
V8 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”
3. Salvation (V9-14)
V9 “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
God compares His Son as One who chooses to love righteousness and hates sins to that of His archangel Lucifer and the angels who chose to sin and rebel against Him, and became His enemies - the devil and the demons - seeking to destroy His plan. However God’s plan shall never be destroyed, as He sent His Son to die on the cross and redeem mankind from their sins, and whoever believes in Him become joint-heirs of His perfect salvation!
V14 “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?’
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe in Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1: Will You Forgive And Receive Others?
Verse of the Day: (V17) “If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.”
1. Receive (V1-17)
V1 “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,”
The epistle of Paul to Philemon was his personal letter to Philemon (his spiritual son and fellow worker) pleading on behalf of Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave. Onesimus escaped from Philemon, but he ended up in the same prison as Paul. In the prison, Paul shared the gospel of Christ to Onesimus, and Onesimus then repented his sins (especially his escape from Philemon), and believed and received Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. When Paul heard that Onesimus’ master was Philemon, he knew that it was God’s will for him to write to Philemon. Indeed, there is no accident in God’s vocabulary, as everything, including bad things, that happens to us is according to God’s perfect will.
V10 “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:”
2. Repay (V18-19)
V18 “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine own account;”
Paul truly loved Onesimus that he was willing to repay and compensate any loss of man-hours because of Onesimus’ escape from Philemon. Paul then reminded Philemon that he was the one who led him to the Lord and had taught him in God’s Word. Philemon’s heart must have been soften and touched by Paul’s love for him as well as Onesimus, as both were once strangers to Paul, yet he loved them because of God’s unconditional love.
V19 “I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.”
3. Refresh (V20-25)
V20 “Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.”
Paul pleaded with Philemon that his forgiveness of Onesimus would certainly refresh and encourage him to know that Philemon truly practiced what he had learned of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. In fact, Paul was confident that Philemon would not only forgive and receive Onesimus, but he would redeem the slavery of Onesimus, and treat him as his fellow brother, when he would return to him after his release from prison.
V21 “Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to forgive and receive others as You have forgiven me.
Titus 3: Are You Ready For Good Works?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,”
1. Works (V1-3)
V2 “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Though we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not of our good works, yet after we are saved, we must be ready to perform good works as evidence of our salvation. The good works are namely to obey the law of the land, and to be loving, humble and gentle.
V3 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”
2. Washing (V4-11)
V4 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,”
Indeed, God loved the world including you and me that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, from glorious heaven to this lowly earth so that He could live and subsequently died and shed His precious blood to wash away the sins of whoever believes in His name. Since we are washed by the precious blood of Christ, we should then live our lives in pursuit His holiness and righteousness, and in every good work.
V5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
3. Winter (V12-15)
V12 “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.”
Paul instructed Titus to meet him at Nicopolis before winter (as it was dangerous to travel during winter time) so that Paul could hand over his ministry to him, while Titus would then hand over his own ministry to Artemas. Paul also instructed Titus to take care of the preachers of God, the likes of Zena the lawyer and Apollos, and even other preachers of the gospel. Paul knew that his life was at stake, and he had chosen Titus as well as Timothy to succeed him. Paul was indeed a man who truly excelled in good works!
V13 “Bring Zena the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be always ready for good works.
