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NASB | Hebrews 11:40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 11:40 because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us. |
Subject: Superior Hope |
Bible Note: EdB, (Continued from previous post. Please read everything in context ...) To understand what the law is, how to live up to it, what the laws are, how to remember them, and how to keep the law in general, let us look at Christ's definitions of the law. [Matthew 7:12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.] In this passage, he is saying plainly that the Golden Rule is the point of the Law and the Prophets. Love your neighbor as yourself is what it means. [Matthew 22:36-40 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And He said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.] In this passage, Jesus states clearly and indisputably that the Law and the Prophets are all derived from, have their roots in, or are directly related to: Love God, and Love your neighbor. A thing that is dependent upon something else is [contingent upon that thing, subordinate to that thing, and unable to exist or function satisfactorily without the aid or use of that thing. 'The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'] Based upon these two definitions given by Jesus himself, the Law and the Prophets cannot exist or function without love. They have no application in the absense of love (contingent). They are subordinate to love (Belong to an inferior class, subject to the authority or control of the greater). And do to others as you would have them do to you summarizes them. Jesus then states later [John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.] Then again [John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.] and yet again [John 15:17 This I command you, that you love one another.]. Jesus is trying to make a point here. There are no riddles or parables, no hidden meanings ... He is giving them a command, and as though they might forget it, he says it two more times to drive the point home. So in other words, Jesus is saying that if you do to others as you would have them do to you, you are keeping the law, because this is what the law was designed to accomplish. Now, what about the teachings of the Apostles? Did they adhere to the same principle Jesus taught? Again, he taught that love is where the law comes from, love is the master the law serves, love is the contingency upon which it has its existence, and love is the summarization of the law, then gave them the new commandment to love one another. Is love really enough to keep the law? Let's look at some of the epistles. [Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.] Let us see also [James 2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighor as yourself," you are doing well.] [1st John 2:10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.] [Galatians 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."] Fulfill: 1. To bring into actuality; to effect. 2. To carry out. 3. To measure up to; satisfy. 4. To go to the end of; finish or complete. Continued ... |