Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Hebrews 4 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God 4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,  “So I declared on oath in my anger,  ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b] The observance of the/ Sabbath day was at the center of Jewish life. Honoring the Sabbath and keeping it holy is the 4th commandment.  The Sabbath taught the Israelites to rest from work and set aside time to worship God. By not working, they were putting their trust in God to provide for them.  But the writer also refers to the rest the Israelites never entered because of their unfaithfulness. They never entered the rest of t...

Hebrews 3   Enduring Word Commentary Jesus Greater Than Moses 3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. For the Jewish people the two greatest figures in their history were Abraham and Moses. The writer of Hebrews contrasts the ministry of Jesus with Moses. Moses was faithful to God to deliver the Ten Comma...

Hebrews 2 - NIV  Enduring Word Commentary Warning to Pay Attention 2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. When the writer says the message spoken through the angels, he is referring to the words given to Moses in the wilderness or the Pentetuech,, which is the first five books of the Old Testament. The writer warns the Jewish Christians of drifting from the truth of God's Word, which is an issue in our society as well. Paul says in Romans 12:2,  "Don't be conformed to this world but be transformed b...

Today we start the book of Hebrews. It is a very interesting book as it teaches how the Jewish faith is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Here is a link to read an overview of Hebrews. It would be worth it for you to read before we begin our journey through Hebrews. Introduction to Hebrews Insight for Living Hebrews 1 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary God’s Final Word: His Son 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. The writer to the letter of Hebrews begins by showing the superiori...

Philemon - NIV Philemon Introduction - Insight for Living Enduring Word Commentary 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,  To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:  3 Grace and peace to you[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This short letter from Paul differs from his more doctrinal letters like Romans and Galatians. Paul says he is a " prisoner of Christ Jesus ", which will have meaning because in this letter Paul is asking Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus. The term "prisoner" is a word similar in nature to "slave" in the bible.  But in this letter, as in previous ones, Paul is a prisoner in Rome.  Paul converted Philemon when he was in Ephesus, but Philemon's home was the city of Colossae. Philemon was wealthy enough to own a slave, but also his home served as a house church. It wasn't ...

Titus 3 Enduring Word Commentary Saved in Order to Do Good 3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. Paul again reiterates that Christians are to be subject to the governing authorities. All authorities have been appointed by God to exercise rule and order in the temporal realm. In our day it is often called, " the rule of law ".  Paul says in Romans 13 that if a Christian disobeys a law they deserve to be punished like anyone else. Elsewhere Paul calls it the " power of the sword" . While the authorities in govern the secular world (government, police, teachers, ...), the church has authority in the spiritualrealm to announce the forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name. Luther called it the " power of the keys ".  The way a Christian behaves in the world affects the witness he or she can have....