Saturday, July 8, 2023

Luke 1:1-10, July 8, 2023

 

 Book of Luke 1:1-10                                                   July 8, 2023

General Background of the writer, Luke 

Who was Luke.  He was a Gentile, Greek, Missionary, an artist, painter, a Doctor and a Historian and a disciple of Apostle Paul. 

Colossians 4:11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me. 

Luke was the beloved physician or doctor.  Luke used more medical terms than Hippocrates, the father of medicine. He was probably a physician in Troas.  He accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journey.  Luke is named only three times in the New Testament. 

Look in the Book of Acts. how many times “we” is used, since Luke wrote the book of Acts.  Many times.  He apparently joined Paul in Acts (“we” passages), indicating that he was the person, We. 

Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician {or Doctor} and Demas greet you. .

 

Philemon 1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

 

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

 

Luke was chosen by the Holy Spirit to write some of the Holy Scriptures.  Luke’s Greek is the highest form of Greek; The best of any New Testament writer.  His writings are regarded as one of the finest pieces of historical writing in ancient literature.  

 

Luke’s gospel is the most complete historical narrative.  Book of Luke to me is like short snap shots of what happens.  Research, like a term paper. He collected information from all the Believers he could, then put them in order, as a historian.  Luke lived in the city of Antioch in Ancient Syria.

 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are “Synoptic Gospels” because the three books detail many of the same experiences, often in the same sequence. The Synoptics highlight Jesus’ Galilean ministry while John’s gospel highlights Jesus’ Judean ministry.

 

Historians say regarding Luke as highly accurate, description of towns, cities, and islands, as well as correctly naming various officials titles.

 

Luke gives us many features omitted by Matthew and Mark:

 

·      The account of the virgin birth

·      20 miracles, 6 of which are in no other Gospel

·      23 parables, 18 of which are nowhere else

·      Other details of the resurrection.

 

Dedication to Theophilus

 

As a side, The first four verses of Luke’s gospel are one sentence in the original Greek, classical style. The rest of the gospel, Luke did not use the language of scholars but of the common person.

 

Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

 

Luke makes it clear that he was not the first to write a narrative of the ministry of Jesus. The sources for these narratives were eyewitnesses who delivered their testimony to the church.

 

Theophilus is a believer. Other gospels / writings are in circulation. Luke’s gospel is early. Luke identifies himself as a believer. 

 

Luke 1:2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,

 

These verses suggest that Luke was not an eyewitness to the events of Jesus’ ministry, but that he had access to statements of those who were.

 

They were eyewitnesses, in contrast to Luke.  Luke says he was not an eye-witness of what happen, wrote down other people account and was not a minister of the word from the beginning.

 

Acts 1:22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

 

Luke uses “us” saying he is a Christian who believes in our Lord Jesus.  He as a companion of Apostle Paul.  To me, Luke writings are many biographies, who he interviewed in his research, from many eyewitnesses, put together for the Gospel of Luke.

 

Interesting, Luke is unique is the only New Testament writer who was a Gentile, wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts.

 

Luke explains the reason for the writing of his Gospel.

 

Luke 1:3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,

 

Luke is writing as an investigator, not an eyewitness.  He demonstrates diligence and thoroughness throughout his writings.  Luke is a skilled historian.  Luke covers from John the Baptist to Jesus ascension. 

 

This verse represents characteristics that describe Luke work in this verse. 

 

1.  Luke investigated his topic and he did it with care.

2.  He did not claim to know everything about Jesus, but what he described was studied and treated accurately. of all things:

3.  The third characteristic of Luke’s work was its thoroughness. from the very first:

4.  The fourth characteristic of Luke was his interest in even the earliest events tied to Jesus’ life. an orderly account:  Receive from Mary, Jesus mother

 

Who is Theophilus?  “Theophilus” = “lover of God,” most excellent”: probably a Roman government official of some kind, was a common name during the first century.

 

He was probably the direct recipient of Luke’s gospel and Acts, who then gave it wide circulation in the early church and for Apostle Paul appeal of his trail in Rome.  He had some instruction about Jesus.

 

Luke 1:4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.    {orally instructed by the Apostles or preachers of the gospel.}

 

Luke and Acts (“Luke Volume 2”) may have been the trial documentation for Apostle Paul.  Roman law required historical background of a case to precede appeal to Caesar. Such an undertaking was expensive and Theophilus may have been Paul’s sponsor.

 

Two observations about Luke’s writings: 1) Uprisings were the fault of Paul’s Jewish adversaries and 2) Centurions are always portrayed as good guys.

 

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

 

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

 

Elizabeth was of the priestly family.  John by lineage, was one who was to become a priest. His parents lived when Herod the Great ruled as king of Judea (from 37 to 4 B.C.).

 

The priesthood of Israel was separated into twenty-four divisions, of which the family of Abijah was one.

 

Course of Abijah: Zacharias was of the 8th of 24 “courses” (divisions or classes) of priests, drawn up in David’s time. 

 

1 Chronicles 24:10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

 

Each course took charge of the temple worship in succession, for a week at the time, twice a year, beginning on a Sabbath. The heads of these twenty-four courses are "the chief priests" so often spoken of in the New Testament.  All serve during the spring and fall feast days.

Zacharias was in the Temple serving his 8th course of Abijah in the month of June/July. And when you follow the timeline from there on it puts Jesus’s birth in the month of September/October.  Fall Feast time.

Luke 1:6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly.

 

Zacharias = “God Remembers.” Elisabeth = “His oath.” The two are one flesh: “God remembers His oath.”  Priest and his wife were recognized by God as believers. They walked faithfully with God and kept His law.

 

Deuteronomy 6:24-25 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.  (25)  Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.'

 

This verse does not indicate they were sinlessness.  What about Cornelius. 

 

Acts 10:22  And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you."

 

What about Noah

 

Genesis 6:9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

 

Luke 1:7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

 

Barrenness was a shame in the Jewish culture. That it was an embarrassment to Elisabeth is evident in v. 25. God allowed several Old Testament women to experience barrenness; the mothers of Isaac, Samson, and Samuel.  What did Samson, Samuel, John have in common.

 

Old or advanced in life, so as to render the prospect of having children hopeless.

 

Luke 1:8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

 

One of perhaps 18-20 thousand priests who served in a year. Offering the incense was something a priest could do only once in his career. It was a great moment for Zacharias, all the more so because of the plan God had for him and his family.  The most memorable day in his and her life.

 

Before God; in the temple, where was the symbol of the divine presence, before the altar of the Lord; that Zechariah offered incense in the most Holy Place. 

 

Luke 1:9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

 

Zacharias was chosen by lot to be the priest who offered incense. God is over the casting of the lot.

 

Esther 3:7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

 

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

 

In the service of the sanctuary nothing was left to accident or to human arrangement. The lot determined who was to perform each separate portion of the sacred service, and especially who was each morning and evening to burn incense before the Lord.

 

Burned on the altar of incense in the Holy Place morning and evening. To burn the incense was an office held so honorable, since it brought the offering priest nearer the divine presence in the Holy of Holies than any other priestly act, and carried with it the richest blessing from on high.

 

The part assigned to each priest in his week of service was decided by lot. Three priests were employed at the offering of incense.

 

1. to remove the ashes {sweep / cleanse the altar} of the former service;

2. to bring in and place on the golden altar the pan filled with hot burning coals taken from the altar of burnt offering; and

3. to sprinkle the incense on the hot coals; and, while the smoke of it ascended, to make intercession {prayer} for the people {morning and evening}. 

 

This was the most distinguished part of the service, and this was what fell to the lot of Zacharias at this time. Burn incense Before the Golden Altar of incense stood before the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies {Lord Jesus throne}.  Next to the Holy of Holies.

 

The top of the altar was square—one cubit per side—and the whole altar was two cubits high. A cubit was about twenty inches, or just under two feet. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had four “horns,” one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard.

 

In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayers of God’s people, Israel and Saints. David prayed,

 

Psalms 141:2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

 

Revelation 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

 

Exodus 30:1 "You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood.

 

Exodus 30:2-3 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high; its horns of one piece with it.  (3)  Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.

 

Exodus 30:6 And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.   {before the throne}

 

Exodus 30:7 "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.

 

Exodus 30:8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

 

Exodus 30:9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it.

 

Remember, priest did and they died. Important for one life.

 

Leviticus 10:1-2 Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.  (2)  Fire came out from before the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.

 

Exodus 30:10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD."

 

The altar of incense was called “most holy to the Lord  Why, prayers

 

What is the incense made or composed of, to qualified to be used on the Golden Altar.

 

Exodus 30:34 And the LORD said to Moses: "Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each.

 

The directions for making the incense are precise. The resulting mixture was a lavish, expensive, precious commodity.  

 

sweet spices: From an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma: - sweet (spice).

 

stacte: a drop; specifically, an aromatic gum (probably stacte): - drop, stacte.  Stacte is simply the sap that drips from the tapping of the wood of the balsam tree" 

 

onycha: a scale or shell, that is, found in the Red Sea, mussel: - resemble a fingernailPrepared from certain vegetable resins or seashell parts.

 

galbanum: an odorous gum (as if fatty): - Persian plant species grown in northern Iran.

 

sweet spices

 

From an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma: - sweet (spice).

 

pure frankincense נָfrom its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke: - (frank-) incense. A resin of a certain tree.

 

Exodus 30:35 You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.

 

The priest beat, compound, and mix several ingredients together.  Salt of Sodom put into the mixture.

 

Exodus 30:36 And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.

 

Mix together the better, and be easier spread upon the coals, and the smoke thereof go up the sooner

 

Exodus 30:37 But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD.

 

For their own use, for the scenting of their rooms, or to snuff up, or smell to,

Women like to use scent in their homes.

 

Exodus 30:38 Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people."

 

We are not to make this same ingredients for our own use, as a side, Jews said if someone does and sell to the congregation, that is OK, regardless what the Scriptures says.

 

Luke 1:10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

 

Zacharias was tending the Golden Altar (the Altar of Incense), which is associated with the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies, one time a year, on the Day of Atonement. The Golden Altar was just outside the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.

 

The Altar of Incense represents the prayers of the nation: Outside, the people were praying while inside Zacharias offered incense at the altar. The Ark was not in the Temple in those days, but the altar Zacharias tended is believed to be the original Golden Altar.

 

At that particular moment Zacharias was the focal point of the entire Jewish nation in prayer.  The hour of incense came twice a day, at 9 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. Probably the afternoon offering is in view here.  The men and women in separate courts, but the altar visible to all.

 

Praying without. The incense itself was a symbol of prayer, and when offered by the priest a bell was rung as a signal to the people in the courts without, who all engaged in prayer in deep silence.

 

Revelation 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.   {notice golden?}

 

Finally, remember what the Lord Jesus said about the Temple

 

Matthew 21:13 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'" 

 

General Background of the writer, Luke

 

Who was Luke.  He was a Gentile, Greek, Missionary, an artist, painter, a Doctor and a Historian and a disciple of Apostle Paul.

 

Colossians 4:11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

 

Luke was the beloved physician or doctor.  Luke used more medical terms than Hippocrates, the father of medicine. He was probably a physician in Troas.  He accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journey.  Luke is named only three times in the New Testament.

 

Look in the Book of Acts. how many times “we” is used, since Luke wrote the book of Acts.  Many times.  He apparently joined Paul in Acts (“we” passages), indicating that he was the person, We.

 

Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician {or Doctor} and Demas greet you. .

 

Philemon 1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

 

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

 

Luke was chosen by the Holy Spirit to write some of the Holy Scriptures.  Luke’s Greek is the highest form of Greek; The best of any New Testament writer.  His writings are regarded as one of the finest pieces of historical writing in ancient literature.  

 

Luke’s gospel is the most complete historical narrative.  Book of Luke to me is like short snap shots of what happens.  Research, like a term paper. He collected information from all the Believers he could, then put them in order, as a historian.  Luke lived in the city of Antioch in Ancient Syria.

 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are “Synoptic Gospels” because the three books detail many of the same experiences, often in the same sequence. The Synoptics highlight Jesus’ Galilean ministry while John’s gospel highlights Jesus’ Judean ministry.

 

Historians say regarding Luke as highly accurate, description of towns, cities, and islands, as well as correctly naming various officials titles.

 

Luke gives us many features omitted by Matthew and Mark:

 

·      The account of the virgin birth

·      20 miracles, 6 of which are in no other Gospel

·      23 parables, 18 of which are nowhere else

·      Other details of the resurrection.

 

Dedication to Theophilus

 

As a side, The first four verses of Luke’s gospel are one sentence in the original Greek, classical style. The rest of the gospel, Luke did not use the language of scholars but of the common person.

 

Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

 

Luke makes it clear that he was not the first to write a narrative of the ministry of Jesus. The sources for these narratives were eyewitnesses who delivered their testimony to the church.

 

Theophilus is a believer. Other gospels / writings are in circulation. Luke’s gospel is early. Luke identifies himself as a believer. 

 

Luke 1:2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,

 

These verses suggest that Luke was not an eyewitness to the events of Jesus’ ministry, but that he had access to statements of those who were.

 

They were eyewitnesses, in contrast to Luke.  Luke says he was not an eye-witness of what happen, wrote down other people account and was not a minister of the word from the beginning.

 

Acts 1:22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

 

Luke uses “us” saying he is a Christian who believes in our Lord Jesus.  He as a companion of Apostle Paul.  To me, Luke writings are many biographies, who he interviewed in his research, from many eyewitnesses, put together for the Gospel of Luke.

 

Interesting, Luke is unique is the only New Testament writer who was a Gentile, wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts.

 

Luke explains the reason for the writing of his Gospel.

 

Luke 1:3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,

 

Luke is writing as an investigator, not an eyewitness.  He demonstrates diligence and thoroughness throughout his writings.  Luke is a skilled historian.  Luke covers from John the Baptist to Jesus ascension. 

This verse represents characteristics that describe Luke work in this verse. 

 

1.  Luke investigated his topic and he did it with care.

2.  He did not claim to know everything about Jesus, but what he described was studied and treated accurately. of all things:

3.  The third characteristic of Luke’s work was its thoroughness. from the very first:

4.  The fourth characteristic of Luke was his interest in even the earliest events tied to Jesus’ life. an orderly account:  Receive from Mary, Jesus mother

 

Who is Theophilus?  “Theophilus” = “lover of God,” most excellent”: probably a Roman government official of some kind, was a common name during the first century.

 

He was probably the direct recipient of Luke’s gospel and Acts, who then gave it wide circulation in the early church and for Apostle Paul appeal of his trail in Rome.  He had some instruction about Jesus.

 

Luke 1:4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.    {orally instructed by the Apostles or preachers of the gospel.}

 

Luke and Acts (“Luke Volume 2”) may have been the trial documentation for Apostle Paul.  Roman law required historical background of a case to precede appeal to Caesar. Such an undertaking was expensive and Theophilus may have been Paul’s sponsor.

 

Two observations about Luke’s writings: 1) Uprisings were the fault of Paul’s Jewish adversaries and 2) Centurions are always portrayed as good guys.

 

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

 

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

 

Elizabeth was of the priestly family.  John by lineage, was one who was to become a priest. His parents lived when Herod the Great ruled as king of Judea (from 37 to 4 B.C.).

 

The priesthood of Israel was separated into twenty-four divisions, of which the family of Abijah was one.

 

Course of Abijah: Zacharias was of the 8th of 24 “courses” (divisions or classes) of priests, drawn up in David’s time. 

 

1 Chronicles 24:10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

 

Each course took charge of the temple worship in succession, for a week at the time, twice a year, beginning on a Sabbath. The heads of these twenty-four courses are "the chief priests" so often spoken of in the New Testament.  All serve during the spring and fall feast days.

Zacharias was in the Temple serving his 8th course of Abijah in the month of June/July. And when you follow the timeline from there on it puts Jesus’s birth in the month of September/October.  Fall Feast time.

Luke 1:6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly.

 

Zacharias = “God Remembers.” Elisabeth = “His oath.” The two are one flesh: “God remembers His oath.”  Priest and his wife were recognized by God as believers. They walked faithfully with God and kept His law.

 

Deuteronomy 6:24-25 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.  (25)  Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us.'

 

This verse does not indicate they were sinlessness.  What about Cornelius. 

 

Acts 10:22  And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you."

 

What about Noah

 

Genesis 6:9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

 

Luke 1:7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

 

Barrenness was a shame in the Jewish culture. That it was an embarrassment to Elisabeth is evident in v. 25. God allowed several Old Testament women to experience barrenness; the mothers of Isaac, Samson, and Samuel.  What did Samson, Samuel, John have in common.

 

Old or advanced in life, so as to render the prospect of having children hopeless.

 

Luke 1:8 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

 

One of perhaps 18-20 thousand priests who served in a year. Offering the incense was something a priest could do only once in his career. It was a great moment for Zacharias, all the more so because of the plan God had for him and his family.  The most memorable day in his and her life.

 

Before God; in the temple, where was the symbol of the divine presence, before the altar of the Lord; that Zechariah offered incense in the most Holy Place. 

 

Luke 1:9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

 

Zacharias was chosen by lot to be the priest who offered incense. God is over the casting of the lot.

 

Esther 3:7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

 

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

 

In the service of the sanctuary nothing was left to accident or to human arrangement. The lot determined who was to perform each separate portion of the sacred service, and especially who was each morning and evening to burn incense before the Lord.

 

Burned on the altar of incense in the Holy Place morning and evening. To burn the incense was an office held so honorable, since it brought the offering priest nearer the divine presence in the Holy of Holies than any other priestly act, and carried with it the richest blessing from on high.

 

The part assigned to each priest in his week of service was decided by lot. Three priests were employed at the offering of incense.

 

1. to remove the ashes {sweep / cleanse the altar} of the former service;

2. to bring in and place on the golden altar the pan filled with hot burning coals taken from the altar of burnt offering; and

3. to sprinkle the incense on the hot coals; and, while the smoke of it ascended, to make intercession {prayer} for the people {morning and evening}.

 

This was the most distinguished part of the service, and this was what fell to the lot of Zacharias at this time. Burn incense Before the Golden Altar of incense stood before the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies {Lord Jesus throne}.  Next to the Holy of Holies.

 

The top of the altar was square—one cubit per side—and the whole altar was two cubits high. A cubit was about twenty inches, or just under two feet. The altar of incense was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. It had four “horns,” one at each corner, similar to the altar of sacrifice in the courtyard.

 

In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayers of God’s people, Israel and Saints. David prayed,

 

Psalms 141:2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

 

Revelation 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

 

Exodus 30:1 "You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood.

 

Exodus 30:2-3 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high; its horns of one piece with it.  (3)  Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it.

 

Exodus 30:6 And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.   {before the throne} 

Exodus 30:7 "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.

 

Exodus 30:8 And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

 

Exodus 30:9 Do not offer on this altar any other incense or any burnt offering or grain offering, and do not pour a drink offering on it.

 

Remember, priest did and they died. Important for one life.

 

Leviticus 10:1-2 Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.  (2)  Fire came out from before the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.

 

Exodus 30:10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the LORD."

 

The altar of incense was called “most holy to the Lord  Why, prayers

 

What is the incense made or composed of, to qualified to be used on the Golden Altar.

 

Exodus 30:34 And the LORD said to Moses: "Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each.

 

The directions for making the incense are precise. The resulting mixture was a lavish, expensive, precious commodity.  

 

sweet spices: From an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma: - sweet (spice).

 

stacte: a drop; specifically, an aromatic gum (probably stacte): - drop, stacte.  Stacte is simply the sap that drips from the tapping of the wood of the balsam tree" 

 

onycha: a scale or shell, that is, found in the Red Sea, mussel: - resemble a fingernail.  Prepared from certain vegetable resins or seashell parts.

 

galbanum: an odorous gum (as if fatty): - Persian plant species grown in northern Iran.

 

sweet spices

 

From an unused root meaning to smell sweet; an aroma: - sweet (spice).

 

pure frankincense נָfrom its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke: - (frank-) incense. A resin of a certain tree.

 

Exodus 30:35 You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.

 

The priest beat, compound, and mix several ingredients together.  Salt of Sodom put into the mixture.

 

Exodus 30:36 And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.

 

Mix together the better, and be easier spread upon the coals, and the smoke thereof go up the sooner

 

Exodus 30:37 But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD.

 

For their own use, for the scenting of their rooms, or to snuff up, or smell to,

Women like to use scent in their homes.

 

Exodus 30:38 Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people."

 

We are not to make this same ingredients for our own use, as a side, Jews said if someone does and sell to the congregation, that is OK, regardless what the Scriptures says.

 

Luke 1:10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

 

Zacharias was tending the Golden Altar (the Altar of Incense), which is associated with the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies, one time a year, on the Day of Atonement. The Golden Altar was just outside the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.

 

The Altar of Incense represents the prayers of the nation: Outside, the people were praying while inside Zacharias offered incense at the altar. The Ark was not in the Temple in those days, but the altar Zacharias tended is believed to be the original Golden Altar.

 

At that particular moment Zacharias was the focal point of the entire Jewish nation in prayer.  The hour of incense came twice a day, at 9 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. Probably the afternoon offering is in view here.  The men and women in separate courts, but the altar visible to all.

 

Praying without. The incense itself was a symbol of prayer, and when offered by the priest a bell was rung as a signal to the people in the courts without, who all engaged in prayer in deep silence.

 

Revelation 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.   {notice golden?}

 

Finally, remember what the Lord Jesus said about the Temple

 

Matthew 21:13 "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, June 10, 2023

Human Nature – What is it?

 

Human Nature – What is it?                              January 10, 2023

 

We hear so much today about human nature.  Human nature produces war, violence, crime, immorality in our society today.  Let’s take some time to really look at it and try to understand what we mean by Human Nature.

 

Human Nature means:  the general characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humankind, regarded as shared by all humans:

 

We know all these scriptures we are going to cover, but maybe not in this way.

 

Jeremiah tells us this about human nature:

 

Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than anything. It is incurable—who can know it?

 

Jeremiah just said the evil in our society can be blamed on the deceitful, wicked heart, human nature in people.

 

This raises some questions, where did it come from, did Jesus create it in man.  No one can really explains it.  So, let start at the beginning. 

 

We know Satan and the demons are evil, so where did Satan evil nature come from.  We know Satan sin.

 

Paul tells us the Lord Jesus creates all things.

 

Ephesians 3:9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

 

Paul said a Mystery

 

Prophet Ezekiel tells us:

 

Ezekiel 28:14-15 "You {Lucifer} were the anointed cherub; having been set in place on the holy mountain of God, you walked in the midst of fiery stones.  (15)  You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created until wickedness was discovered in you.

 

Jesus created a perfect, beautiful archangel, Lucifer perfect, taught by Jesus and found no sin in Lucifer.  How did Lucifer sin, rebelled, and become the evil one, against God.  Lucifer had free moral agency, he could decide if he will follow God or not and His character was not set at this time.                    But why and what happened to Lucifer.

 

Ezekiel 28:16-17 Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.  (17)  Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So, I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.  {Isaiah 14:12}

 

Lucifer did not decide to follow God, his character was set and could not repent.  Lucifer then worked to deceive the angels he ruled over on this earth and led 1/3 in a rebellion against God and his laws.  So, Lucifer became Satan, he acquired his evil, sinful nature when he sin.

 

Any questions about this.

 

So, how did people have this evil human nature.  We are told on the sixth day of creation, God created man, in the very likeness, image or character of Himself.

 

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, to be like us. Let them be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, the livestock, everything that crawls on the earth, and over the earth itself!"  (27)  So, God created mankind in his own image; in his own image God created them; he created them male and female.

 

We know that God does not have an evil nature, then we know people were not created with an evil nature.   Does this make sense. 

Genesis 1:28 God blessed these humans by saying to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it! Be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, and every living thing that crawls on the earth!"

 

We know when God blessed them, He certainly did not bless them by placing an evil, satanic nature in them.

 

Genesis 1:31 Now God saw all that he had made, and indeed, it was very good! The twilight and the dawn were the sixth day.

 

So, we find what God has made, is always very good and absolutely no rebellion in them.  God gives the free moral agency, free choice in what they do and taught His Way of Life.

 

God planted a garden in Eden, with 2 trees in the garden, the Tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

 

Genesis 2:8-9 The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east, where he placed the man whom he had formed.  (9)  The LORD God caused every tree that is both beautiful and suitable for food to spring up out of the ground. The tree of life was also in the middle of the garden, along with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

Adam and Eve were not created in a state of sinfulness, but not yet complete, incomplete spiritually.   They only had the spirit in man – mind power to think and reason like God.

 

Zechariah 12:1 A declaration: a message from the LORD to Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who frames the spirit of man within himself, declares,

 

Job 32:8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

 

We find this spirit in man gives people understanding.

 

Genesis 2:7 So the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground, breathed life into his lungs, and the man became a living being.

 

We know Man needs the Holy Spirit to be complete and he was freely offered to Adam with the Tree of Life they could eat from.

 

1 Corinthians 2:10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

 

God reveals spiritual knowledge through the Holy Spirit, Notice the difference between God’s Spirit and the human spirit:

 

1 Corinthians 2:11 For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

 

People has the ability to think and reason; to make choices. God designed it that way.

 

God had to know that the likelihood was very high for mankind to be deceived by Satan after Satan was trained by God Himself and Satan sinned.

 

Revelation 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast; all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

 

After man’s sin, the Tree of Life or the Holy Spirit was cut off from man, The man with just the human spirit alone to decide for himself what is right and wrong.

 

And that is where Satan enters the picture. For it is through this same human spirit that Satan deceived Eve and Adam went along in the Garden of Eden

 

How did Adam and Eve acquire Human Nature.  Remember, they were created perfect, yet incomplete spiritually, only having the spirit in man.

God told Adam, not Eve, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, caused death. 

 

Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;  (17)  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

 

Satan’s goal was to get Adam and Eve to believe that all God had taught them was a lie

 

Genesis 3:4-5 "You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman.  (5)  "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

 

But according to Satan, God was lying.  Eve believed Satan was right and that God was a liar. Adam followed along in choosing rebellion.

 

Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

 

Genesis 3:7 As a result, they both understood what they had done, and they became aware that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

 

Because of their free choice to make, the spirit of rebellion had entered into their minds or heart.  There was a Mind Change right then.

 

But Adam and Eve received their evil nature DIRECTLY FROM SATAN.

 

We know Satan deceives and sways mankind through communication, transmitted invisibly through the air.

 

Ephesians 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world {Satan} and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit {Satan spirit of rebellion} who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

 

Is this the way Satan got to Eve; through her human spirit.

They both acquired this evil, sinful human nature directly from Satan himself

 

What we call Human Nature is actually Satan Nature, attitude.  Children are not born with this evil nature.  They do not have Satan nature, but as they start to grow, they become like their parents. 

 

Mankind takes on Satan nature, by broadcasting it, surcharging the air with it all over the world today.

 

Revelation 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

 

The whole world is deceived.  The very fact that the world are deceived means they do not know it.  Do we believe this

 

2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

 

The world didn’t inherit an evil nature. It was caused by Satan. He gets to the world people through the human spirit or spirit in man.

 

Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

 

Romans 8:8-9 Indeed, those who are under the control of human nature cannot please God.  (9)  You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God's Spirit lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah, he does not belong to him.   {strong words, think about}

 

Satan’s nature in non-believers and that we are not born with it, we can clearly understand why man is wicked and hostile toward God: because SATAN hates God.  {nature good and bad}

 

When a person repents, baptize and receives the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit combines with the spirit in man and we become a new creation.  They are now called Saints.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and; look. all things have become new!

 

Maybe these verses might have a little more meaning

 

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, I tell you with certainty, unless a person is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

 

Baptism and laying on of hands to receive the Power of the Holy Spirit 

 

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

 

Born of the flesh, have human nature in them,

born of the Spirit, have Holy Spirit living in them.

 

John 3:7-8 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'  (8)  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

 

Adam limited his power and ability to do good to the level of his human spirit.

 

There is good as well as evil in human nature Because of the tree, good and bad.  Good is a spiritual attribute, not a physical or material action.

 

Had Adam taken of the tree of life, the Holy Spirit of God would have entered him and joined with his spirit, uniting him with God as a son of God. 

Human nature wants to be good, but there are many who are good, very good people, with the human spirit.  But they do not have the Holy Spirit yet.

 

The Church of God started out with people who wanted to be part of God’s Work, in changing hearts, changing human nature, preparing for Jesus’s coming to change and save the world.  But Satan is still at work.

 

John 6:66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.   {interesting Scripture number, related to words?}

 

We know, even at the end time, many will fall away.  This is sad.

 

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.        

 

{This is happening today, the hate, elites have towards Christians. }

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  {2nd time}

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

In 2021, of the entire US population of 332 million, about 63% claim they are Christians {210 million}.  Protestant – 42%; Roman Catholics – 21%; others – 4%.

 

·      As a year 2020, of 7.7 billion people, 2.4 say they are part of Christianity, with 1.3 billion Catholics.

·      Silent Generation {1928-45} Christian 84%. Non-Christian faith 4%, unaffiliated 10%,

 

·      Baby Boomers {1946-64} Christian 76%. Non-Christian faith 6%, unaffiliated 17%,

·      Generation X {1965-80} Christian 67%. Non-Christian faith 6%, unaffiliated 25%,

·      Millennials {1981-96} Christian 49%. Non-Christian faith 9%, unaffiliated 40%,

·      Generation Z {1996-2012} White Christians - 38, 46 none, 32 Black Christians, 47 are none.

·      Generation A {2013-today} 

 

Means the US decline of Christianity continues at Rapid Pace {Pew Research}            2023 numbers are even worse.

 

We know in the future, Satan will be removed from being in charge of the earth, what will be left without Satan nature and influence.  Future children of the Father receiving the Holy Spirit living peacefully among others, future Saints.  

 

Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.

 

If we would remember that the One who lives in us is God’s own Spirit, we would be much more selective about what we think, read, watch, say, and do. Note that Paul acknowledges that evil thoughts and actions are temptations even for those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Can we still today with the Holy Spirit in us be affected by Satan nature and his spirit?

 

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred.  (32)  And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in the Messiah.

 

The old life comes from a hostile heart of bitterness, seeks its own way, speaks evil and wishes evil on others. How do we put away all bitterness? By letting God fill our hearts with His perfect love.

 

The new life is tenderhearted, shows itself in acts of kindness, and is ready to forgive wrongs suffered from others.

 

Always remember these words from the Apostle Paul, the Gospel, summary

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  (2)  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  (3)  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  (4)  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

 

Amen