Y Not I

I love the Book of Hebrews. As a book written directly to Messianic Jews, the original Messianic Jews, I think it has a lot to say to Messianic Jews today, about our faith and about our practices. I think it is very obvious to anyone who has read the book that a key word is superior or better. It is a theme that runs throughout the book, from the Son being superior to angels and onto a superior priesthood and Temple.

It is also awesome to get the perspective of my wife and do Bible studies with her. She brings out some points that I would not normally think of and sometimes she has a way of cutting right to the heart of the matter. So, we have been going through the Book of Hebrews lately, although we started without this plan and read through Hebrews chapter 8 first, then after that wonderful study together, decided to restart from back in chapter 1. So what was interesting about chapter 8?

First of all the comparison here is a better covenant, one of which Yeshua is the High Priest of. In Hebrews 8:7-8 the words speak of the problem with the first covenant. The problem is not with the Law, but with the people (them), and then the reference is to Jeremiah 31:31-34, about the Law being written upon our hearts. Finally the chapter ends with a verse that is a difficult one for a Messianic believer, who feels there is validity to the Torah that remains even today. While many believers, especially in the more heavily Gentile churches feel that the Law is gone, with zero effect on the lives of a believer today, many Messianic see thing differently and see the Torah as something that God gave to the Jewish people as an everlasting covenant, yet verses like Hebrews 8:13 seems to be saying pretty clearly that the first covenant is obsolete. Is that what this verse is saying?

Well, my wife pointed out how verse 8 say the problem is with man and not with the Law and then the verses between 8 and 13 quotes Jeremiah and the Law being written upon our hearts, and thus maybe what is becoming obsolete is not the commands of the Law but man’s need to do them based upon one’s own effort as compared to letting the Spirit lead guide and help us to walk righteously.

I find this not only very insightful, but also very interesting. It does seem to me, rather than putting the Laws of God against the grace of God in this epic struggle, God never seems to criticize the commands but our ability to keep the command. Yeshua even in the Garden is amazed that His followers could not stay awake with Him and pray (Matthew 26:36-40). Paul is constantly talking about the weakness of the flesh (II Cor. 11:30, II Cor. 12:5, II Cor. 12:9). So, it does seem to make sense that it is the flesh that is becoming obsolete, our sinful flesh. After all are we not killing the old man (Ephesians 4:22-24)?