Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire

We are called to live in faith and focus on Jesus and persevere like running in a race. To do this, we must also put away "sin which so easily ensnares us". We are to remember what our Lord endured, so that we would not be tired and discouraged when there is opposition to our faith life. We are also reminded that God disciplines us like a father should discipline his children. It is God's love for us that He needs to discipline us. He would not discipline us if we do not belong to Him.

We are also called to live in peace with each other and holiness. Otherwise we cannot experience the presence of God. There should be no root of bitterness because this can lead to defiling ourselves with even more sins. Finally, we are reminded that God is a consuming fire. So we are to exercise grace in all we do and serve God with reverence and godly fear.







Hebrews 12
The Race of Faith

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”[a]
7 If[b] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Renew Your Spiritual Vitality

12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

The Glorious Company

18 For you have not come to the mountain that[c] may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness[d] and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned[e] or shot with an arrow.”[f] 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”[g])

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake[h] not only the earth, but also heaven.”[i] 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may[j] serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people

This chapter starts by summarizing that Jesus is the ultimate High Priest. He is in heaven now to serve as a priest which would be more effective than if He served here. With Jesus, there is also the New Covenant which is better than the Old. The Old Covenant established since Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, had the Levitical priesthood and various rituals of offerings and sacrifices. However, that system was external and cannot cause people to change their hearts. The New Covenant established by Jesus is one that puts God's Laws in the hearts and minds of His people. The believers would not need to instruct each other because all will "Know the Lord" from their hearts.



Hebrews 8
The New Priestly Service

1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a] 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

A New Covenant

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds[b] I will remember no more.”[c]

13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men

Believers are encouraged to pray for all men, evidence that God is all inclusive and desires that everyone knows about the truth of Christ. Specifically we are also called to pray for our leaders, for the practical purpose that good leadership will ensure a peaceful society so that believers can promote living godly lives. History have shown that leaders who are hostile to faith in God naturally results in persecution of believers.

Paul encourages the male gender especially to pray outwardly with lifted hands. He also suggests the female gender to dress appropriately to be consistent with their professed faith. A somewhat more controversial discussion seem to indicate that Paul was teaching that women should not be teaching nor placed in authority over men. Certainly there have been women leaders and teachers in the very early church but it is not clear if Paul viewed this as an exception to the rule. Also it is interesting to note that Paul mentioned it was Eve who was deceived, not Adam.




1 Timothy 2
Pray for All Men

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ[a] and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Men and Women in the Church

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise

Paul's rebuke of the Galatians become more direct and harsher, since they were starting to believe in salvation by works rather than faith. Paul brings Abraham as an example whose faith God credited as righteousness. Also he said that the true sons of Abraham are those with faith. He mentions that it was God's plan to justify the Gentiles by faith later, and God showed this to Abraham in advance by example.

To live under the Law is to be curse because the Scripture clearly lays down the curses for violation of every aspect of the Law and everyone has violated at least some parts of the Law. God knows that people cannot be justified by Law, only by faith can they be justified, hence Jesus became the curse under the Law for our sins, in order to redeem us.

God explains that the covenant promise God made to Abraham including the promised seed which is the Messiah, is not under the Law. If it is under the Law, then it is not a promise. Paul explains that the Law is not against the promise by faith. Instead the Law has a role to teach people about that we really need to be justified by faith, and so it is really pointing to Christ. Paul encourages us that we are sons of God only by faith in Jesus and we are thus Abraham's seed and heirs to the promise God made to Abraham.





Galatians 3
Justification by Faith


3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth,[a] before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you[b] as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[c] 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”[d] 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The Law Brings a Curse

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”[e] 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”[f] 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”[g]

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”[h]), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Changeless Promise

15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,”[i] who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ,[j] that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Purpose of the Law

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Elihu begins to speak

Elihu makes his first main appearance in this part of Scripture. Elihu is younger than the other 3 of Job's friends, that is why he kept quiet until now. Elihu must have been a thinking man as well as a man who know about God somewhat - as he was quite frustrated by the responses of Job's friends and Job himself. So chapter 32 is all about Elihu explaining how he is just busting to speak.

Elihu first repeats to Job that Job was claiming that he is righteous but faced calamities from God. So Elihu tries to teach Job wisdom. Like Job, Elihu assumes it is the hand of God that caused the hardship for Job. So by logical (although incorrect) reasoning, if the punishment is from God, then it must be Job who is unrighteous.

One more interesting about the passages below is in Job 33:23-28, which appears to speak of the future Christ who came to pay the ransom for our sins,
v26 "He restores to man His righteousness", and v28 "He will redeem his[b] soul from going down to the Pit".


Job 32

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

 1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.[a] 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
      “I am young in years, and you are very old;
      Therefore I was afraid,
      And dared not declare my opinion to you.
 7 I said, ‘Age[b] should speak,
      And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
 8 But there is a spirit in man,
      And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
 9 Great men[c] are not always wise,
      Nor do the aged always understand justice.
 10 “ Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
      I also will declare my opinion.’
 11 Indeed I waited for your words,
      I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
 12 I paid close attention to you;
      And surely not one of you convinced Job,
      Or answered his words—
 13 Lest you say,
      ‘We have found wisdom’;
      God will vanquish him, not man.
 14 Now he has not directed his words against me;
      So I will not answer him with your words.
 15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
      Words escape them.
 16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
      Because they stood still and answered no more.
 17 I also will answer my part,
      I too will declare my opinion.
 18 For I am full of words;
      The spirit within me compels me.
 19 Indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent;
      It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
 20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
      I must open my lips and answer.
 21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
      Nor let me flatter any man.
 22 For I do not know how to flatter,
      Else my Maker would soon take me away.


Job 33

Elihu Contradicts Job

 1 “But please, Job, hear my speech,      And listen to all my words.
 2 Now, I open my mouth;      My tongue speaks in my mouth.
 3 My words come from my upright heart;      My lips utter pure knowledge.
 4 The Spirit of God has made me,      And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
 5 If you can answer me,      Set your words in order before me;       Take your stand.
 6 Truly I am as your spokesman[a] before God;      I also have been formed out of clay.
 7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you,      Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
 8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,      And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
 9 ‘I am pure, without transgression;      I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
 10 Yet He finds occasions against me,      He counts me as His enemy;
 11 He puts my feet in the stocks,      He watches all my paths.’
 12 “Look, in this you are not righteous.      I will answer you,       For God is greater than man.
 13 Why do you contend with Him?      For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
 14 For God may speak in one way, or in another,      Yet man does not perceive it.
 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,      When deep sleep falls upon men,       While slumbering on their beds,
 16 Then He opens the ears of men,      And seals their instruction.
 17 In order to turn man from his deed,      And conceal pride from man,
 18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,      And his life from perishing by the sword.
 19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,      And with strong pain in many of his bones,
 20 So that his life abhors bread,      And his soul succulent food.
 21 His flesh wastes away from sight,      And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
 22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,      And his life to the executioners.
 23 “If there is a messenger for him,      A mediator, one among a thousand,       To show man His uprightness,
 24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,      ‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit;       I have found a ransom’;
 25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,      He shall return to the days of his youth.
 26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,      He shall see His face with joy,       For He restores to man His righteousness.
 27 Then he looks at men and says,      ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,       And it did not profit me.’
 28 He will redeem his[b] soul from going down to the Pit,      And his[c] life shall see the light.
 29 “ Behold, God works all these things,      Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
 30 To bring back his soul from the Pit,      That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
 31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me;      Hold your peace, and I will speak.
 32 If you have anything to say, answer me;      Speak, for I desire to justify you.
 33 If not, listen to me;      Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”