A Torah Verse By Verse Commentary Of Paul's Epistles by Re'tzon Ha'El - HTML preview

Chapter 6

V1-2 arche of the logos of Messiah is translated principles of the doctrine which is a bit of a hazy translation. Arche is the chief, beginnings, Logos is the word. It is better rendered the beginning i.e. chief of the word of Messiah to give it clarity in relation to the gospel, which obviates misunderstanding. The gospel which we have discovered in earlier chapters is the Torah which was preached in the wilderness wanderings, and fully elucidated by Yeshua the author of our salvation. The author turns his attention to the subject of teleiotes/moral and spiritual perfection. He does not intend to repeat the principles of the word/gospel of Messiah as the foundation has already been laid by the words of Messiah. These principles referred to of which he does not intend to repeat all over again are in the Old Testament and reinforced by Yeshua and are those relating to:

a. Repentance from dead works (Eze 18:21-22; Matt 4:17)

b. Faith toward Elohim (Hab 2:4; Mk 11:22)

c. didache/teaching of baptisms -note plural signifying both water and spiritual baptisms- Num 19:7-8; Num 11:25; Jn 3:5 d. Laying on of hands (Num 27:18;Mk 16:18) e. Resurrection of the dead (Isa 26:19: Matt  22:31-32) f. Eternal judgement (Dan 12:2; Jn 5:22)

V3 He sets the stage to teach about teleiotes/moral and spiritual perfection.

V4-6 Personally for me, amongst the most frightening verses of scripture cf Heb 3:11;Ps 95:11. As was promised the errant Israelites who saw the mighty workings of the Spirit of Elohim in Egypt (10 plagues) and the parting of the Red Sea and numerous miracles and wonders in the wilderness, us Christians who have experienced the new birth and power of the Holy Spirit who choose the same route of wilful transgressions, mocking the grievous suffering and death that our Saviour underwent for our redemption, face as damning an eternity as they. Cf 2 Pet 2:20-22

V7-8 An analogy is given for us who have known truth and are in the body of Messiah to bear good fruit i.e. make disciples of others and our deportment to be that of righteousness, lest we hazard facing extrication from the body of Messiah and face eternal damnation cf Jn 15:1-8; Matt 7:16-20. This recurring motif of good versus bad trees and good versus bad fruit culminating in eternal bliss versus eternal hellfire should sober us up into taking our Christian walk dead seriously.

V9 The audience thankfully had a good report of their good conduct which was not only devoid of apostasy, but also typified behaviour worthy of salvation, of which the author is about to divulge.

V10-11 kopos/grievous, sorrowful agape/brotherly love translated labour of love does not quite paint the poignant picture of the great pains mired by trials and tribulations, that this ecclesia endured in their endeavours to diakoneo/minister, serve the hagios/holy ones, saints. Being a Christian was a grievous label to carry in the first century with both Talmudic Judaizers and the Romans considering this way of life tantamount of heresy, worthy of death. Despite the danger, they were encouraged to not lose focus of the prized possession of salvation which awaited them in the afterlife of blazing glory.

V12 This display of experiential maturity which defined a Christian with meat as opposed to the nothros/slothful who were still nursing on milk, was advocated in order to render one worthy of inheriting the Abrahamic promises of eternal blessings and prosperity. Faith and patience are characteristic of those who exercise true possession of meat, as the walk is not easy cf Rom 5:1-4.

V13-14 Gen 22:16-18. It is an honour and greatest reassurance to have Elohim swear by Himself, as there is no higher authority to make an oath by. There is no greater guarantee in existence. Abraham’s promises are immutable, and by believing in his seed, Yeshua the Messiah, we being the body of that very precious seed, are heirs to these promises cf Gal 3:13-16. What blessing were we assured of through Abraham’s seed in Gen 22:18? Acts 3:25-26 gives us the answer.cf Ps 32:1,2. Rom 4:1-16 fully enunciates the blessing and the promise.

V15 Abraham displayed great patience, having endured the harrowing prospect of sacrificing his only son of promise, birthed at age 100, from whom the promised multitudinous blessed descendants were supposed to proceed. If a man was prepared to lose his son to inherit Elohim’s promises, how can we who suffer next to no tribulations in our purported Christian walks foolishly be expectant of eternal rewards. You reap what you sow Gal 6:7-9.

V16 We as men truly declare binding oaths kata/according to, by those who are meizon/elder, greater i.e. higher authorities, such oaths of which we tend to be convinced negate any hint of antilogia/contradiction, strife.

V17 Who are the heirs of the promise? Gal 3:28-29 defines this. Eph 3:4-6 further exposes the mystery of this promise which was hidden from the enemy till after the resurrection of Messiah 1 Cor 2:7-8. Also compare Eph 2:11-14,19. YHVH confirmed this by an oath to Abraham, whose oath is much stronger than that of man and has no contradiction whatsoever as His oaths are unchangeable.

V18 What are these 2 ametathetos/unchangeable, immutable things? The first is the promise made to Abraham and the second is the confirmation of this by an oath made unto Himself. Unlike pre-Yeshua’s advent whereby the Israelites sought refuge in 6 designated cities or the horns of the altar, we heirs of the promise have greater protection in the hope unto salvation and eternal life set before us cf Num 35:9-15; 1 Ki 1:50,2:28.

V19-20 the Greek word translated that within is esoteros which is better translated the inner space behind the veil i.e. the holy of holies. This gives us a clearer picture of Yeshua entering the most holy place for us. He is that hope that is greater than cities of refuge or horns of an altar and this hope lies in our kinsman redeemer and eternal high priest, Yeshua the messiah, who intercedes for us daily Rom 8:33-34. Note that Yeshua is the anchor of the soul, not the body nor the spirit. We are living souls that live in a perishable body of dust and are kept alive by the spirit of the breath of Elohim cf Gen 2:7.

Yeshua and Satan are battling for our souls, which are immortal. At death our bodies return to dust and are no longer of value to the soul whilst the spirit of the breath of life returns to YHVH Eccl 12:7. The souls of the unrighteous dead who belong to Satan’s kingdom are destined for the hell compartment of Hades, whereas the souls of the righteous dead, which used to be destined for Abraham’s bosom (which was a compartment of Hades, before Yeshua set them free after conquering death) are now in paradise awaiting their new bodies at the resurrection of the righteous, whose location is under the altar of Elohim. Proof in scripture lies in Lk 16:19-26; Eph 4:8; Rev 6:9-11; 7:13-15.