Both initially rejected ( Acts 7:20-44, Romans 9:32) Both threatened to be killed as babies ( Exodus 1-2, Matthew 2:16).Moses giving manna in the desert ( Exodus 16), Jesus being the bread of heaven ( John 6:3). Moses lifting up the serpent in the desert ( Numbers 21:4-9), Jesus being lifted up on the cross ( John 3:14).Moses was seen as a "type" or "preview" of Christ in the Old Testament, and New Testament writers often pointed this out. The authors of the gospels mention Moses over 80 times, more than any other figure in the Old Testament. This would be very meaningful to Jewish Christians. In chapter three and part of chapter four, the author compares Christ to Moses. He was, however, considered the greatest of Jewish leaders and a source of authority. Moses did disobey God, and like the generation that left Egypt with him, did not enter the Promised Land but only saw it from afar before he died. In the desert they became a new and structured society through Moses' leadership. During these four decades, however, God through His servant Moses, gave the Jewish people their laws (Ten Commandments), place of worship (Tabernacle), manner of worship (sacrificial system), as well as their religious leaders (priests and Levites) and social customs (food restrictions, festivals, marriage and legal systems). The Lord performed great miracles through Moses and his brother, Aaron, in order to free the people from Egyptian slavery, but their lack of faith and disobedience changed a journey that would have only required several months into a 40 year wandering in the wilderness. God called him at 80 years of age to return to Egypt and lead the Jewish people out of Egypt to a land originally promised to their ancestor, Abraham. He escaped and lived as a shepherd in the desert for an additional 40 years. He was educated at the Egyptian court, but at age 40 tried to lead the Jewish people in a revolt, killing an Egyptian in the process. He was raised by an Egyptian princess who found him hidden in a basket by his mother in an attempt to save his life during a persecution of male children by the Egyptians against the Jewish people. Moses was born during the Jewish bondage in Egypt in approximately 1500 BC. Once he has done this, the author will go on to compare Jesus to one of the most prestigious Jewish leaders in their history: Moses. In successive chapters, the author demonstrates how Christ is superior to the Jewish prophets as well as the angels who the Jews held in high esteem as spiritual beings. The author encourages them to be faithful by arguing that Christianity is superior to Judaism and is, in fact, the fulfillment of the Jewish religion. This epistle was written to certain Christian Jews who, because of persecution, were considering a return to their former religion.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |