Sunday, August 26, 2012

On 9-2-12, Hebrews 10:19-31 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Faith Calls for Perseverance.

Faith Calls for Perseverance
Hebrews 10:19-31
International Sunday School Lesson
September 2, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough


This passage of scripture is a perfect example that clearly demonstrates that the Bible is the word of God.
For me personally I feel that as I write this lesson that this particular passage has “followed me around” for months.  It warned me when I needed warning and it encouraged me when I needed that too.  I found that I used it to demonstrate an End Times example and I used it as a reminder of our role as a church towards each other.  Now here today I find it the scripture for our lesson.
Have you ever noticed those days of worship when the songs selected, the prayers offered up and the sermon all were in sync and no one had gotten together to make it happen?  Don’t ignore those moments for the Holy Spirit is telling everyone in attendance something and it isn’t the same thing for all.  Again just as God can do with His word as we see today!
For me this time around it motivates me to ask the question if any of you had a hard week?  Maybe you have had a hard month and for some I know it is even longer.  Quite often the times are so difficult that we become overwhelmed and withdraw.  Some stop attending church and still others though they are there, they have withdrawn.
It is the seemingly growing tough times that always make me think of when things will grow the worst and that is as we near the End.  And there are two places that leap to my mind that deal with the End of Times where these types of cares of the world are a sign of this time.  The first of course were Christ’s own words found in Matthew, Mark and Luke when the disciples asked Him when the end would happen.  Jesus goes to great length in His answer and near the conclusion in Luke 21 He warns at verse 34, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”
Cares, worries, anxieties of life they are certainly out there.  Just a few examples could be:  the skyrocketing cost of living, diminishing returns on investments, violent changes in our climate, pervasive sicknesses, declining moral fiber in our society right down to within many of our families. 
According to 2nd Corinthians 12, very much was revealed to the Apostle Paul and he was only allowed to share some of it.  But he knew that this withdrawing and pessimism would occur when things got rough.  He said in today’s Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
We need each other to spur one another on.  You may look at your neighbor or your neighbor might look at you and think that all is right in the world when in fact it is chaos.
Though Paul was talking of Idol Feasts versus the Lord Supper what he said in 1 Corinthians 10 still pertains.
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?  Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
As you participate in sharing in the blood and body of Christ don’t assume that you know all the cares of those that make up the body of which you are a part and for those who are worn down don’t keep it to yourself.  Seek and give encouragement to those around you so that these burdens do not hinder you from giving God the glory.


For Discussion:

1.     Discuss those that leave the church because of what they have experienced but think that they are still worshiping God.
2.     Because our first verse begins with therefore, you must look at what preceded verse 19.
3.     Discuss how those who take confidence from verses 19-23 can then be equipped to do the encouraging as written in verses 24 and 25.
4.     Discuss the warning within verses 26-31 tactfully.
5.     The verses just mentioned cannot be considered without verses 32-39 that conclude the chapter.
6.     Who do you know who has stopped attending church?
7.     Who do you suspect may still be attending church but have withdrawn?
8.     Discuss ways that your church could get those within your midst who are feeling overwhelmed but for one reason or another haven’t brought it to anyone there’s attention.
9.     I suggest that one way is to get them into the closer knit environment of your Sunday School.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


9-9-12:    Faith Gives Assurance aka Faith is Assurance Hebrews 11:1-6; Psalm 46 or Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11
9-16-12:  Faith Empowers Endurance aka Faith is Endurance Hebrews 12:1-11
9-23-12:  Faith Inspires Gratitude Hebrews 12:18-29
9-30-12:  Faith Instills Love aka Faith Requires Mutual Love Hebrews 13:1-3, 6; 1 Corinthians 13 or Hebrews 13:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13



Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved






Sunday, August 19, 2012

On 8-26-12, Ezekiel 34:23-31 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as God Promised to be with Us.

God Promised to be with Us
Ezekiel 34:23-31
International Sunday School Lesson
August 26, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough




Despite today’s title the scripture we have for Sunday isn’t about a promise made to us per say but rather to Israel.  Yes, you and I can grow in our faith when we read any of Ezekiel but he was speaking for his people, the people of Israel.

Ezekiel had been exiled along with many of his countrymen several years before receiving his call from God to be a prophet.  In that calling he is told, “Son of man. I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against Me to this very day.” Ezekiel 2:3 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from Me.” Ezekiel 3:17

Ezekiel told his fellow Israelites in exile what was going to befall their countrymen still in Jerusalem and their beloved temple.  Ezekiel known as a priest (1:3) to the people had now become a prophet to the people.  A prophet who’s prophecies no doubt were not believed until with their very same ears the people of Israel in exile hear the news that, “The city has fallen!Ezekiel 33:21a

Now after nearly eight years of chastisement the people of Israel heard in today’s scripture words of hope for a future.  In that future they would not have the type of leader that had been characterized as the shepherds who had not tended to them (Ezekiel 34:1-22) but a shepherd like David.  This shepherd is the Branch from the root of Jesse, Jesus Christ.

It seems sad that these people in exile who were alive to see the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecies of bad news would not get to see the fulfillment of this “covenant of peace”.  But we can know that because of the veracity of Ezekiel this prophecy of his would have given them hope.  One cannot help but think of all the generations who longed for it just as Christians who read of Christ’s return have for generations longed for that.  And unbeknownst to the Jews they are in essence one and the same thing.

But though Christians have survived persecution and grown in number through the millennia the Jews would have to face so much more persecution even to today from almost all nations.  We know from the scriptures that this persecution will continue until it climaxes at the end when Jesus comes and saves the remnant.

In reading today’s scripture if you are anything like me you wonder if the image that is portrayed is anything near literal.  That is the problem with this type of scripture one can’t know where the figurative ends and the literal begins. 

We know that the people were not literally sheep as described earlier in this 34th chapter but we get the idea that is being presented.  I would like the idea of there still being the deserts and the forests as mentioned in verse 25 and the fields of verse 29.

But what we can see with certainty is satisfying to know that with confidence the people of Israel will one day no longer be persecuted.  That their enemies will be destroyed when they come against Jerusalem for the last time and like Paul the scales will finally fall from their eyes as we read, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.Zechariah 12:10


In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” Isaiah 29:18  “For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol.  Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.” Hosea 3:4-5 

For Discussion:

1.      One of my favorite things about God and the scriptures comes from Isaiah 46:10a, “I make known the end from the beginning” Read Deuteronomy 4:30-31 to see what He revealed.
2.      Do you pray for Israel?  Do you pray for Jerusalem?  Discuss why we should.
3.      Read Ezekiel 37:24-28.
4.      Look up scriptures and have them available that deal with the Messianic and line of David such as those found in Psalm 89.
5.      Discuss how literally the entire world is against Israel but how literally despite the figurative language used it is clear that there will be in the future no danger left for Israel.
6.      Read John 10:1-18 where Jesus describes Himself as the good shepherd.
7.      If you want to explore the figurative possibilities of this genre discuss an alternative to the literal in verse 25.
8.      Hosea 2:18 interestingly talks of a covenant with animals concerning Israel.


Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


9-2-12:    Faith Calls for Perseverance Hebrews 10:19-31
9-9-12:    Faith Gives Assurance aka Faith is Assurance Hebrews 11:1-6; Psalm 46 or Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11
9-16-12:  Faith Empowers Endurance aka Faith is Endurance Hebrews 12:1-11
9-23-12:  Faith Inspires Gratitude Hebrews 12:18-29








Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved



Sunday, August 12, 2012

On 8-19-12, Jeremiah 23:1-6; 33:14-18 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as God Promised a Righteous Branch.

God Promised a Righteous Branch
Jeremiah 23:1-6; 33:14-18
International Sunday School Lesson
August 19, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough





I think that there is a tendency by some Christians to take on a holier than thou attitude when it comes to the Jewish people.  They think that the Jews just don’t get it; they think that Christians have replaced Israel as God’s chosen people.  But this replacement theology couldn’t be further from the truth and one would have to ignore the scriptures in order to create this belief.

Israel was and remains the chosen people. This people served as representative examples of all of us before they were chosen, at the moment of their choosing and afterwards.  Also, as a manner of speaking, since we the church arrived, Israel has continued as an illustration of all those who remain outside the church but one day all those of Israel who remain will be saved.

Today’s scripture may be a prophecy within a prophecy and cover a time while they were in exile as some will say but with the Branch, meaning Christ, in sight, I will concentrate on their final return to God in the Last Days when Jesus returns.

Isaiah 4:2-6

“In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.”

Of course I could not consider today’s scripture without also considering the one from Isaiah above.  Don’t you long for them to not have to be the survivors as mentioned in verse 2?  I know that the Apostle Paul longed for this as he also referenced the remnant that remains by quoting Isaiah 10 in Romans 9 and we see the depths from which this desire boiled up as he begins chapter 10 of Romans.

Romans 10:1

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”

Paul goes on to painfully explain to us what happened to them but that despite their obstinacy all Israel was not to be replaced and forgotten or forever to be excluded. 

Romans 11:1a

“I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!”

Romans 11:11a

“Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!”


We will not continue to quote the entirety of what Paul said but if anyone could come away with the idea that Israel was permanently lost and replaced they would have to be under a strong delusion if they cannot read clearly that they are not!  In fact Paul words it this way:

“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved.”  Romans 11:25-26a

What about all the centuries of teaching that some have proffered that the church replaced the Jews?  Clearly Paul, who was a Jew and who wrote much of our New Testament did not teach this, nor did the earliest church which was begun by Jews.  Eventually, however as the church grew the percentage of Jews diminished and this teaching started to emerge.

What resulted was even hatred, in fact let’s give it a name in anti-Semitism that grew from within the church by those who had forgotten the words of Jesus when He spoke to the Samaritan woman in John 4 and said that, “salvation is from the Jews.”

Those that have taught that these scriptures in the Bible are in fact references to the church instead of the Jews have forgotten a tricky little fact especially if the scripture is prophecy.  And that is sometimes the words of God are not understood until after the fact and there can be more than one meaning.  If there was a replacement, it is that the church had replaced the Pharisees and teachers of the law and that in fact they now had the responsibility to both Jew and Gentile.  Those that now lead should have been very afraid therefore to read the words from our first two verses from today, “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD.  Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done.”  Jeremiah 23:1-2a


For Discussion:

1.      Note that the restoration in today’s scripture might have been fulfilled in part by the return from Babylon, but again we are seeing permanency with the Branch and 23:3 says they are being gathered from all countries.
2.      It isn’t hard to find resources such as certain study Bibles that will apply their comments toward the aforementioned verse to the church instead of to Israel.
3.      Replacement Theology is known by this and other names.  There are various views regarding this and it is well worth your effort to spend time in research.
4.      The name given Jesus today of the Branch should motivate you to continue the look we started in Romans 11 and read about the grafting in of branches.
5.      Discuss the damage that was done with regard to proselytizing Jews over the last 2,000 years due to anti-Semitism in the church.
6.      Read Isaiah 11.
7.      Discuss the importance of Jerusalem to God and with that in mind, 33:16 from today’s lesson.
8.      In today’s 33:16 Jesus is called “The Lord our Righteousness”.  Have you ever tried to ascertain how many names are given to Him in the Bible?
9.      Discuss 33:18 in light of Jesus.
10.  God will not break His word with regard to Israel:

Jeremiah 33:24-26

“Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The LORD has rejected the two kingdoms he chose’? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation. This is what the LORD says: ‘If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed laws of heaven and earth, then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.’”



Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


8-26-12:  God Promised to Be with Us Ezekiel 34:23-31
9-2-12:    Faith Calls for Perseverance Hebrews 10:19-31
9-9-12:    Faith Gives Assurance aka Faith is Assurance Hebrews 11:1-6; Psalm 46 or Hebrews 11:1-3, 6; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11
9-16-12:  Faith Empowers Endurance aka Faith is Endurance Hebrews 12:1-11



Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

Sunday, August 5, 2012

On 8-12-12, Isaiah 9:2-7 or Isaiah 9:1-7 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as God Promised a Righteous Lord.

God Promised a Righteous Lord
Isaiah 9:2-7 or Isaiah 9:1-7
International Sunday School Lesson
August 12, 2012



Commentary
By
Jed Greenough



Samuel was a righteous man but he appointed his sons to be judges and they were not.  David was a man after God’s own heart but he often fell on the pathway to righteousness.  Despite having the wisdom of God available to us satan seeks to enable us to create division and fail.  God knows that we need judges and leaders in order to keep us from falling apart.

These are just some of the lesson points we have covered in the last few weeks as we have considered justice but with the coming Messiah shown by today’s scripture we know that He will fulfill all our needs including peace, justice and righteousness.  If you haven’t read the scripture for today’s lesson please do so before proceeding.

The world has been a land of darkness, the valley of the shadow of death since the fall of man.  Men have often struggled to create a better place out from under the oppression that the darkness causes.  We have seen it most recently in places like Egypt, Libya and Syria, but no matter the result of the battle and no matter who ends up in charge the shadow remains.

But for those of us who are His we have seen the light mentioned in verse 2 of Christ’s light and we are no longer “dwellers in a land of death-shade” as Young’s Literal Translation puts it.  “Death-shade”, “deep darkness”, “dark land”, “death’s shadow”, these are all the dwelling place of those who are not His and those who have died denying Him.

In verse 3 we see the great joy we all feel for having this light shining upon us but with all those remain in the darkness our joy must be tempered because as it says in verse 4 their yoke still burdens them and the bar and rod remain across their shoulders.  We must love them if we are in the light.  According to 1 John 2:10 if we love our brothers and sisters we are in the light and there is nothing to make us stumble.  But according to the verse that precedes it if we hate them we are still in the darkness ourselves.

Therefore our goal should be that they join us in the light.  1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  And when I read that I don’t just read it “from all sin” but also purifies us all from sin. 

John wrote these words because of the fellowship that he and the other apostles had and he wrote the words of that book to make their joy complete that the readers would join them in that fellowship.  Just as I mention our joy should be tempered in regard to today’s verse 3 John’s joy was tempered until the fullness of all that were Christ’s came in.

Remember, it isn’t until that time that we will see the fulfillment of the concluding verses from today.  It isn’t until that time that all that have accepted him will we be permanently free from “death’s shadow”, then and only then will all that remain who are his be able to enjoy His government that will have no end.





For Discussion:

1.      If you are not actively sharing the gospel to free your brother or sister from death’s shadow, aren’t you still in the darkness yourself?
2.      Discuss 1 John 1:5’s “God is light”.
3.      In verse 3 the joy of those in the light is described “as people rejoice in the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.”  Although we understand these words they are easier to understand if you lived at that time.  Choose words for today that might better convey the idea and share them.
4.      Point out those who best display this joy and discuss how we might become more like them.
5.      For me what I most see in verse 4 and 5 is the defeat of eternal death’s grip upon us.  Discuss what most comes to your mind.
6.      http://youtu.be/MS3vpAWW2Zc this is a link to Handel’s Messiah: For Unto Us a Child is Born that I enjoyed while working on this lesson.  Bring your favorite version on your laptop for your class to enjoy.
7.      Discuss the Jewish people view of this scripture in light of the fact that no earthly king or kingdom ever could fulfill it.
8.      Do not miss the fulfilled prophecy that was revealed when Jesus began his ministry seen in verse 1.

Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries


8-19-12:  God Promised a Righteous Branch Jeremiah 23:1-6; 33:14-18
8-26-12:  God Promised to Be with Us Ezekiel 34:23-31





Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved