Better than Angels: Hebrews Chapter 1

“Listen up: this is better” -- A study on the Bible book of Hebrews

A 13-week series given in 2020

bob@jewsforjesus.org.au

Lesson One:  Better Than Angels

(To watch this on YouTube as given 31 July 2020, click here:  https://youtu.be/CBjhu-e38ns  ) 

Introduction to the Series

 

Welcome to a new series, to a new book, to a new chapter in our relationship together. I’ll explain that in a couple minutes, but let me say that at the outset, I’m delighted to share this letter to Messianic Jews in the Bible. It really is the only book of the Bible which states clearly that it has Jewish believers in Jesus as the primary audience. So, for our purposes, starting now in August 2020, and beyond, we people who hear the word ‘messianic’ and apply it to ourselves, this is a key book to learn, to read, to mark, to inwardly digest, and to take on board. We will read one chapter at a time as is my custom, and I encourage you to read ahead and to have your Bible with you as we teach this each Friday morning Sydney time. 

When I say we are entering a new chapter in the relationship, let me explain where we are going in this. I have four other members of our team who have been working for Jews for Jesus here in Sydney for a good long while. Each has a unique role and none of them has been known as the Bible teacher; that’s been part of my role. And this is where things start to change. I’m going to continue teaching this Friday morning lesson. During the next 7 days, for one hour at select times on Zoom, and when we are able, in person, each of the other four: Rebekah Bronn, James Howse, Craig Myers, and James White, will be conducting a class of practicality, a discussion of the themes and topics that we bring up on Friday morning. 

We are not worried about titling this afterglow session. We are working hard to make these D-Groups into a place of safe conversation, of shared experience, of life together. Those of you on the Zoom call know that we often get into deep considerations and both theological and sociological topics after the lecture part of our time on Fridays. Each of these one-hour sessions will have a similarity to that but will be more than a Question and Answer session. Trust me—it will be worth your time. We will announce the times as we set them this week, and over time, these might move a bit. We want to accommodate each of our partners and students and friends in this ongoing ministry. And in the long run, some of you will probably be leading such a D-Group where you live and work, and this will only expand. But for now, we will have only four such groups in the week after each Friday session. Write me if you are confused or if you’d like to participate. 

Now, back to lesson one from the Book of Hebrews, the book we call “The Better Book” and the series we title, “Listen up: this is better.” Today’s lesson we will call “Better than Angels”

Introduction to Lesson One

Comparison in shopping is a standard appeal by marketers in our world, and maybe since time immemorial. Coles advertises ‘down down’ as a steady theme of telling you and convincing you that their grocery products are better because they are cheaper both than what they were last time you checked and then their competitors. I know some people who won’t even walk into a shop unless there is a sale, or they are sure they can get a deal. 

I grew up in the US and I often hear Americans visiting here who would opine by saying a phrase like this, “Oh, this (village/building/shopping mall/ game) reminds me of (another place/another building/a similar something). I don’t think this is a universal reality, but it’s certainly endemic to American cultures to compare with regularity. 

We’re going to see comparisons often in this Bible book, and we’re going to be hearing one clearly shown to be better than the other. Not the best of at least three, but simply the dualistic contrast of two items. Hence, half my title to this series, “This is better.”

The other half of the title to this series is “Listen up.” It’s a call from someone who knows, to another who should know and make a quick decision to focus. You hear this kind of command in battle if you watch any of those war movies where the sergeant or captain calls his forces to attention and then gives major instructions before D-Day or the Battle of Bull Run or the attack at Gallipoli. “Listen up” is a more modern sound than the Hebrew ‘shema!’ but means the same to me. Let me explain.

If you know the Shema (Deut. 6.4ff) you will know it’s a call to listen, or as we usually translate, “Hear o Israel!” Throughout this letter to Messianic Jews, the call to listen up will be stated again and again. William Lane says, “The central theme of Hebrews is the importance of listening to the voice of God in Scripture and in the act of Christian preaching. The opening lines of the homily focus attention upon the God who speaks. The characterization of God as the one who intervened in Israel’s history through the spoken word serves to introduce the characterization of the Son as the one through whom God has spoken the ultimate word (1:1–2a). That theme is sustained with variations throughout the homily (2:1–4; 3:7b–4:13; 5:11; 10:23, 35–39; 11:11). It is recapitulated in a climactic warning, “Be careful that you do not disregard the one who is speaking” (12:25a). The redemptive accomplishment and transcendent dignity of the Son through whom God has spoken the final word demonstrates that it will be catastrophic to ignore the word of salvation delivered through the Son (2:1–4).”

We will oft return to this major theme along with the comparison of the dualities that the author gives us.

Who wrote this letter?

Speaking of authorship, it’s fascinating that no one knows who really wrote this book. It certainly has overtones of apostolic authority, but no recognizable indicators of it being from Paul or James or Peter. Early on the book got its title in the canon, because it didn’t have a title in the original manuscript.

Was Paul the author? History alludes to Pauline relationship but not to his authoring the book. (See Karen Jobes here: https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/who-wrote-the-book-of-hebrews) Some identifiers are there which sound similar to Paul, but the language is highly distinct from Paul’s language and there is no self-identification as is his custom. Also, chapter 2.3 shows the author as having learned from others whereas Paul regularly emphasized his receiving the information directly from God. 

So, we conclude that whoever wrote this book, it was acknowledged from the early days to be apostolic in its teaching and authority. It could be from Apollos or Aquila and Priscilla, but no matter. Here’s how I handle much of Bible information which is beyond me. Some other fairly intelligent and wise people selected this and deselected other items and what we have in our hands as the Bible is trustworthy. Why? Because God knows how to safeguard both his purposes and his self-description. If I wrote a book and didn’t have the final say in its content, you would wonder about the information. I believe God has preserved his word for all time, yes, even using human penmanship and flawed human authors. (2 Chr. 10.15, Ps. 147.15, Lam. 2.17, Titus 1.3)

The purpose of this book

I see warnings being issued again and again in this book, perhaps more than most others in the Scripture. At least six are key and substantial. With that in mind, what is the purpose of the writing of this letter? As a Jew myself, and one who regularly hears from other messianic Jews, I’m convinced that one of our major issues with which we deal, both early on in our walk with the Lord and even to the end, is our connection to the Jewish religion and our people. I’ve been involved with the beginnings of the UMJC in the US (October 1980) and for over four decades with the organization Jews for Jesus. CMJ is the Anglican Jewish outreach which is over 200 years old, and I wasn’t with them in 1809 when it began, but I was on their US Board when I lived overseas. The LCJE is an overarching fellowship of brothers and sisters who care about the evangelism and development of Jewish people and I’ve been involved with that network since 1983, so I have a track record. My relationship with all those only strengthens my conviction that one of the main concerns Jewish people have both in coming to faith and in walking this out is ‘how related should I be to the historic Jewish community?” and corollary ideas of “What will my rabbi think?” or “Should I attend synagogue?” and such. It’s seriously an issue both of identity and practice, but primarily identity. We’ll come back to that over the next 13 weeks with frequency.

So, for me, when I consider the purpose of the writing of this book, it’s to highlight the betterness of Yeshua, so that my focus, so that our focus is on the person of the Messiah, his life, death and resurrection, Matthew Henry said, “the blessed lines of both Testaments meet in Him; and how they both agree and sweetly unite in Jesus Christ, is the chief object of the epistle to the Hebrews to discover.”

Let’s dig into the text:

Verse 1: poly, poly. In Swahili, poli poli means “slowly slowly” and was the phrase I heard throughout the 6-day march up to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro 8 years ago, as my wife and I climbed that October. But in Greek "poly" has to do with “many” and this letter to Messianic Jews begins with this word as prefix two times. 

1)   Polumeros (many times)

2)   Polutropos (many ways) 

From the plural, the prophets, the ancient times and ways, came one, the object of the Father’s concern and love, (verse 2) the Son, who now is the unique spokesman for the Father. This is the fastest zoom lens you have ever seen.  Imagine a screen of colours and designs, almost chaotic and random, now zooming in on one colour, on one design, and that design becomes the Son of God, Yeshua. He’s the focus now of the introductory remarks, and as you can imagine, he’s the focus of the entire letter. 

Who is Yeshua? (7 things)

And we will see 7 things right away. 7 things that characterize our Righteous One, Yeshua. First, he is the heir of all things. That sounds like Daniel chapter 7. There we read, “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” (13-14)

Yeshua is the Son of Man to whom all dominion and glory is presented. He is the heir of all things. His kingdom will not pass away. Hallelujah!

Second, in verse 2, “through whom he made the world.” Check out Proverbs 8 and Colossians 1 and see the Royal Messiah, not as a created being, but rather as Creator, Sustainer and the glue which holds the world together. Creators can do that. 

Third, in verse 3, “radiance of his glory” again hearkening to Colossians 1 and Daniel 7. It’s also a Zohar phrase (which the author of Zohar picked up later).  Fourth, the “exact representation” of his nature. The Greek word is “character” meaning like a template or cut out, a stencil. You want to know what God is like, see Yeshua. 

The story is told of a young child drawing with crayons feverishly. His father comes by and asks, “Barry, what are you drawing?” The young lad answers, “I’m drawing God.”  The father replies with “Son, no one knows what God looks like.” Barry answers, “In a minute they will.”

But of course, the author of Hebrews says it’s Yeshua. Do you want to know what God would be like when you are worried about Covid-19? Look at Yeshua. Want to know if God cares about you in your hunger or disease? Look at Yeshua and how he dealt with people. This phrase “exact representation” contrasts the bitheistic idea of a contrast between the God of the OT vs the God of the NT. 

Fifth, in verse 3, he “upholds all things by the word of his power.” That’s the Lord who sustains us. Do you know the sustain pedal on a piano? That’s the one that keeps the notes going, long after you have lifted your fingers off the keys. God upholds not only the geography of the world, but also us in person. And then not only us, but all things by his word. We will not be shaken.

Sixth, it says, “When he finished making purification.” This is a picture of the Tabernacle and then Temple, about the sacrifice of animals and the blood atonement they made. Purification mattered to the Jewish people then, and in a few weeks, when we observe Yom Kippur in September, we will again ponder purification from sin. Here the author says Yeshua purified us (of course by dying for us on the cross) then 7^th, Yeshua sat down. He will make that point more precisely in a subsequent chapter and we will address it more fully then. But know the 7^thchapter of Daniel is again in view with the throne of the Son of Man next to the Ancient of Days. 

Verse 4. As a result of these 7 things, and certainly this enthronement of the Son of Man, the first formal comparison is announced. Yeshua is better than angels. 

Yeshua is better than angels: 7 Older Testament citations

In verse 5, to which of the angels did God say, “you are my son.” (Here the author quotes Psalm 2, the first of 7 Older Testament citations in this chapter). The rhetorical question is clear. The son is greater than angels. Lane says, “fully verified only in the Son who entered into his glory by way of sacrifice; nothing similar can be or ever will be affirmed of the angels.”

Then the battery of quotes includes 2 Samuel 7.14 which obviously is about Solomon and David, but the Jewish people of the day considered both that verse as well as Psalm 2 to be messianic. It was about Sonship, which is a major theme in this book, and dare I say, in the whole Newer Testament.  

Verse 6: An unusual quote is found. I say it’s unusual in that most of us couldn’t find this on Google as a direct quote from the Older Testament. That’s because the author is quoting the Septuagint. It’s a citation of Deuteronomy 32.43. And an exact quote from that translation of the OT from 200+ years before Yeshua. It’s said of the Firstborn (not first in terms of chronology, but rather First in terms of authority) of humanity, not of the angels. 

Verse 7. Angels are ministers of flames of fire. They are ministers, servants, and not the Son.

Verse 8-9. This is Psalm 45.6-7 This is about the king’s marriage, but the Psalmist is writing prophetically about the Son of God. There’s the throne again, the forever throne, and the deity of the Son of God. God, thy God, has anointed God, the Son, the messiah (anointed). How wondrous is that!

Verse 10. Psalm 102.25-27. Again, the permanence of the Eternal One. This from Lane, “The attribute of permanence in the Creator corresponds to the durability of his throne and serves to reinforce the contrast between the mutability of the angels and the stable, abiding character of the Son.”

Verse 13. Psalm 110 is quoted and will be referenced again and again in this book. Even Yeshua quoted this (Matthew 22) Sit here until. Was that spoken to an angel? No, the author says. The royal son is co-equal to the Father. Thrones of permanence compared to angels which are impermanent. Do you see this?

Yeshua is better. He is longer-lasting. He is given a throne. He has a station and a title that is better than angels. 

Look, every Shabbat in Jewish homes worldwide, at least since the 17^thCentury, we chant to the angels, inviting them to attend to us. Shalom Aleichem is sung to angels who accompany the father back from synagogue. The story is Talmudic (BT Shabbat 119b) that two angels are with the returnee. If all at home is well prepared for Shabbat, the “good” angel declares, “So may it be for next Shabbat also!” and the “bad” angel must answer, “Amen!” If the home is not prepared for Shabbat, the roles of the angels are reversed, although the angelic remarks remain the same. So the story goes.

The point of today’s lesson is to remind us of two things: 1) to listen up, that God is speaking, even to us in 21^st Century Covid-time, and 2) that Yeshua is better than angels since his station as Son of God is higher, his throne is established and permanent (angels do not have permanence), and angels have to keep working whereas Yeshua has finished his industrious work of ‘ministry.’ He finished all that on the cross and the escape from the empty tomb. 

Is the direction of your life more Yeshua-focused as a result of this study? That’s the point. 

If you aren’t yet a believer, please consider him today and yield your life, surrender the direction of your life to him. We’ll talk more about that each week. Write me directly if you’d like to discuss this further.

Thanks for joining us for lesson one of 13. We will be unpacking much more of this in the D-Groups over the weeks, to question and wonder together what else the author is saying, and we will share with each other in real ways our own struggles with this information and our journey together. 

Shabbat shalom.

 

 

Actual text:

Heb. 1:1    God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. ³ And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

 

Heb. 1:5    For to which of the angels did He ever say, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”? 

And again, “I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME”? And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.” And of the angels, He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.”

⁸  But of the Son, He says, “YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM ⁹  “YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.”

¹⁰  And, “YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING, LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; ¹¹  THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT,¹²  AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP; LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED. BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END.”

¹³  But to which of the angels has He ever said, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET”? ¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

 

Bibliography

 

Ladd, George E., A Theology of the New Testament, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1974. (Pages 571 – 587)

 

Lane, William L, Word Biblical Commentary Series, Hebrews.

Lesson Seventeen: The Symphony concludes (Romans 16)

Book of Romans: A Bible study series in 17 parts

[To watch this on YouTube as it was given live on Zoom, click https://youtu.be/nArzgCptmKk].  [The whole biblical text and the bibliography Bob used are at the end of this blog]

Introduction

We’ve done it; we have reached the last chapter in our book. It’s as if we were in an Olympic racetrack, and are at the 100 metres to go mark, and the finish line is in view. We used other imagery during our discussions since March. Musically, we are in the last 32 bars of the great symphony of Rabbi Saul, as he penned this seminal musical score to a group of people who had never heard him in person. His themes were clear and oft repeated. The symphony needs one more final crescendo to finish well. And today, we make this happen.

I hope you have learned some things in our studies. The purposes of Gentiles viz a viz the Jewish people. The inability of Jewish people, or anyone for that matter, to get right with God and to make it to heaven by trying really hard, by impressing their deity with good efforts, the role of personal faith in the God who has done all for us in the death and resurrection of Messiah… it’s all there. Salvation is ours by faith, simple belief in the activity of our God. We are called to serve God and to serve each other. Each theme brought in one by one and rehearsed over the entire symphony. 

Today’s lesson is a fascinating ending, with the apostle’s care for individuals and small gatherings shown again and again. He also reminds everyone to serve. He has one final warning as is often his manner, then he as usual ends with the timpani and the cymbals crashing one final Hallelujah of praise to the God who makes known what’s needful. Those then are my outline points today and we will unpack this one section at a time.

1.              Giving encouragement to others

Paul writes the Romans about individuals. This is striking, as we have heard the most glorious of musical sounds coming from the apostle, some of my favourite Bible passages ever throughout this book. I promised you this list a few weeks ago and now you get to hear them at once. These are the overarching words of the themes of this book and should remind you again and again of what Paul is saying. 

1.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

3.23. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

5.1 Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

5.8 God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.

6.23 The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

8.1.  There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Messiah Yeshua

8.18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.

8. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, .39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

10.1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.

11:15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 

14.17. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And those are only my favourites today. Ask me next week and I might have another dozen to which I will turn and return for strength and hope. And isn’t that what he said last week, “For ^whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (15.4)

So, his own themes of faith and the power of the resurrection should give us strength, as it has given the people he now lists one by one by one in this opening section of this final chapter. He lists 27 individuals he personally knows about. Remember, he’s never met most of them. He wants his own greetings to go to these people. They are noticed and they deserve apostolic mention. Think about that. If your rabbi or pastor told the head of your ‘denomination’ who lives in Africa or the UK about you, and the leader then writes a letter, explaining the Gospel, faith, the way to be made right with God… and he mentions you. How would that make you feel?

Listen to these folks who are listed. It’s like a service roster, of people who have and are making a difference in Rome. Priscilla and Aquilla, a famous couple, Mary, Junia, Amplias, Herodion, Rufus and so many others. One is the mother of one listed. So there are 27 to be specific. My guess is these are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of the gratitude list of the apostle. 

When you stop and make a gratitude list, things and people and events and circumstances of life for which you are grateful, wait, have you ever done that? NO, you say? OK, please make a note of that just now, and before you finish this book and say you have completed the lessons, make a list of things and people and … for which you are grateful. And when you do, don’t you remember others later? And other situations for which you are still grateful? That’s the idea of being grateful. It’s a good habit with perpetual considerations. 

Did you make that note to yourself? Write a gratitude list. W-r-i-t-e… yes, good.

But this isn’t all Paul wrote personally about. He also lists 9 (including himself) who send greetings to the church there. Timothy and Tertius (who was the scribe of Paul’s letter) along with Jason and Sosipater. 9 in total. These believers wanted to be remembered to the believers in Rome. 

I think about this messaging service. Some of you I’ve known for years and others are fairly new to our life together. Sometimes people ask you, knowing you are going to see a mutual friend, “Please send so-and-so my regards, will you?” And you always agree. But I recommend you say something like, “Please hand write a note and I’ll pass it on to so-and-so.” Otherwise, I might forget. Paul had notes about all these 27 people. He was an amazing man who cared about the huge theological issues and who remembered people and the five households or brethren with fellowships, or Discipleship groups or connect groups in their homes. Some call these home churches and in this coronavirus lockdown season, we have seen how those are to work. No matter how you see these fellowships, like havurot, Paul knew where some of these cells operated and commended them as good places to attend and grow. He never saw a place for lonely and isolated believers. Nor should I. Nor should you.

The first to commend was Phoebe, the carrier of this important document. She was off to this village, one of the ports for Corinth. Her titles include sister, servant, saint, helper. Pretty strong language especially for those who insist that Paul was a sexist and saw no place for women in the community of faith. They certainly have that wrong!

Next is Priscilla and her husband Aquila. Again, a woman listed first. Paul had met these two in Corinth (Acts 18.2) after they returned from Italy. They billeted Paul (Acts 18.3) then traveled with him to Ephesus and stayed there. (Acts 18.18-19) Paul mentioned them in two other letters (1 cor. 16.19, 2 Tim. 4.19) but by the time of the writing of this letter to the Romans they had returned to Rome. Their ministry was long-lasting and the relationship they had with Paul was evident. 

Paul mentions the chavurah in their home. This makes sense in light of their character and servant-ministry. 

Next is Epaenetus who is the first new believer, what he titled, “First fruits” to Messiah. Some of you are newish believers, and this is awesome. May you be first among many in your family and in your neighbourhood.  Paul uses the adjective ‘beloved’ for several people, which like every Academy Awards show reminds me never to highlight one or two, when there are many others who are equally deserving.  Still Paul did that, and he’s welcomed to do so, not only to the first new believer, but also Ampliatus (.8), Stachys (v.9) and Persis (v. 12). 

Mary, another woman joins the list (v. 6) and is highly commended. I’m highlighting this gender issue as so many make Paul into some kind of genderist. He certainly was not!

Jewish believers (kinsmen) are listed, but not all the Jews are so called. Andronicus and Junias (v. 7) as were Herodion (v. 11), Lucius, Jason and Sosipater (v. 21) Priscilla and Aquila were also Jews, but Paul doesn’t say so. Those in verse 7 were also ‘among the apostles.’ There are actually 25 people who are so titled in the NT, but that’s for another episode.

Ampliatus is ‘in the Lord.’ How wonderful to know certain people who represent so well. Stop for a moment and insert the name of someone you would put in that category. Someone who is ever faithful or ever joyful. Someone who makes clear that they love Yeshua. Then, one day, be that person to others.

Urbanus is a Roman and a fellow worker, but not ‘my’ fellow worker, so it’s likely he’s a leader in the church in Rome.

I love the descriptive phrase for Appeles. He’s called “approved in Christ” That same word ‘approved’ is used by Paul in 1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Cor. 10:18; 13:7; 2 Tim. 2:15, and by James in 1:12. I’m not sure exactly what Paul meant by this phrase here,  but whatever it fully means, it certainly is a commendation.  I’d love to be so identified. One who is tried and true. Tested and passed the test. Not a failure. Someone you can trust. 

He remembers the household, that is the chavurah at Aristobulus. Fascinating, the cell group, the fellowship that gathers on Thursday at 7 in your place…the apostle would have heard about that. Don’t be so impressed by the large churches or the greatest number of attendees at your shul. God is looking after the 27 individuals and the 5 havurot, too. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matt. 5.45)

Note the phrases “in the Lord” or “In Messiah” The apostle is reminding people that their unity is not political nor that they barrack for the same footy club, but their unity and their roles together, their life together is in Yeshua. HE is the peace. Micah said this. (5.5) Paul echoed this in Ephesians, He Himself is “our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (2.14) and again with “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4.3), until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Messiah.” (Eph. 4.13), and finally with “put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Col. 3.14)

Yesterday Patty, my wife and I were in Port Macquarie, about 4 hours from Sydney, and walked near Lighthouse Beach. On the fence of a lookout over the ocean we saw a graffiti writing “COVID-19 is a scamdemic” which is just what some folks are saying, but what caught my eye were the Jewish stars with the sentence. Horrible. The author was saying that the Jews were responsible for the pandemic and the lies that it even exists. In these days of strident conversations about elections and candidates, about what lives really matter, and conspiracy theories about COVID-19, it’s good to remember that Yeshua is our peace and our connection. Without him, and outside him, we are going to be fractured. The Body to work together has to be one, and that means united as we learned in chapter 14. And we repeat the triad here,

In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity.

Mark Ross of Ligonier Ministries wrote about this triad here (https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/essentials-unity-non-essentials-liberty-all-things/)

The actual sentence came from Rupertus Meldenius of Germany.

The phrase occurs in a tract on Christian unity written (circa 1627) during the Thirty Years War (1618–1648), a bloody time in European history in which religious tensions played a significant role. Might it serve us well as a motto for every church and for every denomination today?

“In Messiah” is a phrase that Paul uses at least 90 times in his letters and another 45 times he uses the phrase “in the Lord.” 10 of those alone references are here in Romans 16. It’s Paul’s call to unity and I will let that be my call to us today as well. 

Dunn says, “Tryphaena is well attested as a name in inscriptions, including the name of a Jewess; and Tryphosa is also found in both Greek and Latin inscriptions” Tryphaena and Tryphosa may well have been twins, at least sisters, as their names are together and their names mean “dainty’ and ‘delicate.’ 

Persis, who has labored much in the Lord.” Persis seems to have been a popular name for female slaves.

Each of these 27 individuals has a story or lots of stories and those stories made their way to Paul and he highlighted the people and their individual service for God. Some people are well known as servants in your sphere of influence. May you be among those who do so today and this weekend.

He ends this opening section of the final movement of our symphony with greet everyone! No one should be left out. That’s what often happens at the Oscars, isn’t it? Thanks to my manager, and my director, the cast, the crew, and EVERY ONE who made me the recipient of this Academy award. Here Paul is caught up in highlighting individuals and then shouts greet everyone… love one another!

Verses 17-20 is our 2^nd section today.

2.     One final warning

Paul then urges the Roman believers, the Greek word is parakaleu, like the one called alongside to help, like a comforter or lawyer, his final urge is lawyer-like. Please, he says, watch out. People are coming who want to dismantle all these good folks I’ve just listed have done in your community. Building a reputation is hard, destroying it is easy. So be on guard. And isn’t that what Yeshua taught? When he was asked by his students what would be the signs of his return, he cautioned them, “

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (Matt 24.4-8)

Yeshua’s warning bell was ‘watch out for false folks who will come with conspiracies and relentless sounds of alarm.’ 

Paul follows suit here as he warns the Romans to stay faithful, and to keep an eye on the flock. People will come with dissensions and hindrances. The word for hindrance is ‘scandalon’ which we have already seen in Romans and in the words of Yeshua. A stumbling block. An offence. Something to trip you up. Not anything to kill you, but a distraction to keep you away from the real issue.

I often think of Curly, from the movie franchise with Billy Crystal called “City Slickers.” There the lead character, the cowboy played by Jack Palance informs the city dwelling Crystal that the “secret to life is…just one thing.” What is it? Curly says, “that’s what you’ve got to figure out.” Paul says here in Romans 16 that these folks want to distract you, to thwart you, and he identifies THEM as Satan. We would say they are influenced by Satan and that The God of Peace will crush that activity, and we will win over the liars and the false brothers, under our feet, soon. Keep to the one thing, like Curly said, which is exalting Yeshua and making His name known, staying away from sin and sins, loving one another. 

Side issues should stay outside; let love of the brothers be genuine. Or as Paul says, “to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.” (16.19)

Our final section today is 21 to the end

3.     Praise to the God who makes known

Finally, Paul joins with others in the extension of greetings. He lists 8 others along with himself who send these pages. It’s like the cover letter of a document submitted to the government or the academy. Who actually is writing this note? The cover letter explains. And here Paul wraps up his farewells with some serious final assignment and praise. He says “Amen” twice in this chapter, and 6 times in the entire letter. He gets caught up in praise to the Lord and when you ponder all God has done and will do, what else can you do? Sing his praises!

Paul lists Timothy and Lucius, Jason and Sosipater (Acts 20.4), Tertius (who actually scribed Paul’s thoughts, he was the stenographer), Gaius who hosted Paul and runs a chavurah, Erastus, who is prominent in government and Quartus. Each gets honorable mention of being in community there and somehow in relation with the community in Rome. They are all traveling along with Paul to deliver the collection of the Macedonians to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. I like how Paul includes his companions. I think you will like what we are going to do beginning next week with the studies as we multiply their effect here in New South Wales and even to include you if you’d like. More on that later.

In verse 25, Paul sends the final notes of the symphony to the believers in Rome. John Wesley says, “The last words of this epistle exactly answer the first, chapter 1:1-15, in particular, concerning the power of God, the gospel, Jesus the Messiah, the scriptures, the obedience of faith, and all nations.” Paul reminds them to keep their eyes on the Lord, who will

Establish you. The Greek word can be used to translate ‘set your face’ or ‘to be solid’ even ‘to settle in the comfort of bedding.’ It’s the opposite of the tricksters who want to stumble you. It’s the stable ending of the believer. The believer has found ‘the one thing’ and is rooted there.

According to my Gospel. The information I’ve supplied in the previous 15 chapters are real and faithful and to be believed. Don’t be led astray by the Satan-inspired others.

And the preaching of Yeshua the Messiah. He is our unity. He is our peace. He is our life. Not endless superstitions and clever but wrong genealogies… listen to Him. Isn’t that what the Father said on the Mount of Transfiguration?

According to the revealed mystery. Messiah died for you. Rose from the dead for you. The creation groans until he returns. Eternity is found in the Eternal One, Yeshua.

According to the Scriptures of the Prophets. The Word of God has the answers for each of us. Trust them. 

According to the commandment of God. Don’t be distracted with lesser things. Listen to God and what he says in these days.

Made known to all nations. The reality of Gentiles believing and being part of the community of faith should not be missed. Jesus is for everyone!

To obedience of faith. Faith is the way to God. Faith is the way to be right with God. Obedience to rules is not the point; obey by believing or as Yeshua taught in John 6.29 

“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

No wonder Paul ends with timpani and the cymbals crashing with 

“to the only wise God, through Jesus the messiah, be the glory forever. Amen.” Join the chorus

God wants us to love and represent him in this dark and darkening world. Amen? May God receive all the glory.

Dear friends on YouTube and Facebook and on this zoom call, if you are not yet a believer in Yeshua, I urge you today, call on him while he is near. We Jewish people should know our Torah, and if you also know yourself, you know you need help, you’ve been stumbling, you need salvation, you need a Saviour. Joel the prophet said, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be rescued, will be saved.

If you want, you can pray a prayer with me just now to solidify your choice. Something like this, “Father in Yeshua’s name, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending Yeshua to save me from myself, from my selfishness, from my despair and the harm I cause so many. Thank you for making me right with God by your sacrifice. I receive Yeshua (Jesus) as my saviour and the lover of my soul. He frees me to love others. I repent of my sins and ask for God’s forgiveness. I receive the free gift of God, eternal life in Messiah Jesus our Lord. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, will you let us know via the messages or write me directly. I would appreciate that. And if you did pray that prayer, then welcome to the family!

NEXT WEEK we will begin a new book study… on the Book of Hebrews, the only book of the Bible which states clearly that it has Jewish believers in Jesus as the primary audience. And we will unpack it over 13 weeks, here on Zoom and later published on YouTube and Facebook. If you join us live, you will have a chance to chat with all the others also on the call. And we anticipate a new Discipleship Group which will continue the conversations of the Zoom call. Those D-Groups will continue during the week after the Friday morning lesson.

I end these 17 lessons today with the words of Paul in his closing and I want each of you to take these words on board. Know how much I appreciate each one of you on Facebook, on this Zoom call, on YouTube, and even my brother across the table from me here in his home in Nelson Bay, let Yeshua give you that same encouragement today and throughout your days.

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Yeshua the Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;  to the only wise God, through Yeshua the Messiah, be the glory forever. Amen.

Shabbat shalom!

The actual text:

Rom. 16:1   I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; ² that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. Rom. 16:3   Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; ⁵ also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. ⁶ Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. ⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker ^ain Christ, and Stachys my beloved. ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. ¹² Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. ¹³ Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. ¹⁵ Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. ¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Rom. 16:17   Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned and turn away from them. ¹⁸ For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. ¹⁹ For the report of your obedience has reached to all, therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Rom. 16:21   Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. Rom. 16:22   I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Rom. 16:23   Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother. ²⁴ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Rom. 16:25   Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, ²⁶ but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; ²⁷ to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

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Bibliography

Briscoe, Stuart. The Communicator’s Commentary (Romans), Word Books, Waco Texas.1982.

Dunn, James D.G., Word Biblical Commentary, Romans, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1988.

Flynn, Leslie, What the Church Owes the Jew, Magnus Press, 1998.

Murray, John, The Epistle to the Romans, New International Commentary on the New Testament, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1965.

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Wright, Tom, Paul for Everyone, SPCK, Westminster John Knox Press, London, 2004