Outline of Hebrews
THE HOSTILE FRIENDS
Scripture reading: Hebrews 2:17, 18
"RECONCILIATION" (is being discussed here)
The word originally meant "to change": Shape; Color; Appearance; Attitudes – To barter
NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES:
Acts 16:14 – changed customs
Romans 1:22, 23 – changed glory of God
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 – change to immortality
Galatians 4:20 – change tone of voice
Hebrews 1:12 – change a garment
LITERALLY MEANT TO CHANGE MONEY FROM ONE CURRENCY TO ANOTHER
1. In Matthew 21:12,13 we read of "money-changers" in the temple. Every year each Jew paid an annual temple tax of half a shekel (about 1/6). One month before Passover small tents were set up all over the country where they paid these taxes. However, after a certain date these were dismantled and the tax could only be paid at the temple, hence the money changers at the temple. Pilgrims who paid their tax at the temple had to change the type of money they had into the money currency of Israel. This was the task of the money-changers. The process of changing one currency into another was known as "reconciliation." Unfortunately, the money-changers exploited pilgrims, charging as much as half a day's wages (4d) to change the money.
2. They also "cornered the market" for selling animals for sacrifice. It is known that one could buy a pair of doves for 9d, in the market, yet they charged 15+- in the temple. They did this with the connivance of the temple guards who were equally corrupt. The guards had to pass all animals to be offered as "unclean" or otherwise. They would deem an animal to buy from the expensive merchants inside. Then the guards would pass their sacrifice as "clean" and would share the loot with the merchants. No wonder Jesus was angry and accused them of making "My Father’s house a den of thieves;" over-turned their tables and drove them out.
3. Leviticus 12 tells of the ceremony and offerings to be made for the purification of a woman after the birth of a child. Verse 6 says that the offering is to consist of a lamb and a dove. But verse 8 shows that is she is poor, then two doves would suffice. In Luke 2:21-24 we read of Joseph and Mary making this offering for the birth of Jesus and it is note-worthy that they could only provide two doves, which tells us that the parents of Jesus were poor.
ENMITY TO FRIENDSHIP
"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom. 5:10)
Here is the most dramatic reconciliation or change: from enemies of God to friends of God
Important: Note that man is always reconciled to God; never God to man (read 2 Cor. 5:18-20) This is because reconciliation requires "change" and God cannot change. He is "the same yesterday, today and forever," But man can and must change! The love of God is constant and is always there for man to acquire.
How change? In the whole man. Romans 6:1-4 speaks of "newness of life"
Read Colossians 3:8-14
"Put off" –The old man and his deeds: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, lies (also read 1 Pet. 2:1-3 and Gal. 5:19-21)
"Put on" – The new man: mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, forbearance, forgiveness, love (the bond of perfectness; also read Gal. 5:22, 23)
IN ONE BODY
Those who are reconciled are in one body (Eph. 2:14-16)
The body is the church (Eph. 1:22, 23)
Ephesians 4:4 says, "There is one body," therefore one church
All the reconciled are in the one body and the one body is composed of all the reconciled (Col. 1:20, 21)
THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH IS THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Cor. 5:17-19)
