S – During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. ⁸ Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

Hebrews 5:7–8 CSB

O – Commentary:

The whole experience just referred to was a form of education for Jesus before He served His suffering people. His unique relation to God notwithstanding (He was a Son), He had to experience the true meaning of obedience in terms of the suffering it entailed. Having done so, He was thereby made perfect for the role He would play as His people’s Captain and High Priest. That there is an element of mystery in all this need not be denied, but it is no greater than that found in Luke’s words: “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). In a real sense not fully comprehensible, the Incarnation gave the already infinitely wise and perfect Son of God the experiential acquisition of knowledge about the human condition. Suffering thus became a reality that He tasted and from it He can sympathize deeply with His followers.

 Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 792.

A – “Experience obedience in the terms of the suffering it entailed.”  Wow! God allowed Jesus to go through all human suffering to test his obedience in the journey of the cross.  That is the ultimate test.  God is growing us in our test and trials.  It is not easy at all. Yet, Jesus is our example to look to in these moments.  He trusted, believed and acted in obedience.  In the end, God and Jesus won.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God.  We submit ourselves to you today.  Your purposes and ways are high above anything we can think or imagine.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us in our thoughts, words and actions.  We surrender our will to your purposes to be accomplished.  We set our faith in your victory today.

S – For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house. ⁴ Now every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God.

Hebrews 3:3–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

Comparison (synkrisis) was central to much ancient argumentation; comparing one favorably with another who was already honorable would increase one’s honor further. In many Jewish traditions Moses was the greatest person in history, and in others he was certainly one of the greatest (i.e., next to Abraham). Jewish and Christian writers used the argument that the builder was greater than what was made (v. 3) to note that the Creator was greater than his creation (as in v. 4). This writer identifies Jesus as the Creator.

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 644.

A – Moses was a tremendous leader but he still was not Jesus, God in the form of a human man.  No matter how great the leader is, they will bow their knee to God.  It is a great reminder that we should honor God anyone else and not put a person on a pedestal above Him.  We can respect and honor someone but not where they replace the one who created all.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Creator of all things.  We honor and reverence you above all people and things.  Thank you for the vastness of your character and love.  Yet, you still know us intimately.

S – For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father

 Hebrews 2:10–11 CSB

 O – On the cross, Jesus was the pioneer to our salvation by actually going through the suffering one would experience due to sin.  It also demonstrates that humans have God as our Heavenly Father.

A – This is a humbling thing to read.  God deemed it appropriate that he would allow his own son and persona be crucified for the sins of others.  He choose himself to be the sacrifice even though he had no sin.  Why?  Relationship – all humans, including Jesus, would have a recognize God as their Father and there would be relationship.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one Father of all.  Thank you for the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross so we could know you.  It was a great price paid for our sins.  We love you and desire to know you more today.

S – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

Hebrews 1:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

The word translated radiates, found only here in the NT, includes an idea of intense brightness. God’s own glory is the glorious manifestation of his presence (Exod 16:7; 33:18; Isa 40:5). The Son’s glory is an expression of God’s glory—the Son of God manifests the person and presence of God (Luke 9:32; John 1:14; 2:11; 17:5; Rom 8:17).

• The term translated expresses, used only here in the NT, was used of a distinguishing mark imprinted on an object such as a coin. The Son gives a clear picture of the very character of God (John 1:18; Phil 2:6; Col 1:15).

• the mighty power of his command (literally his powerful word): God’s word is the powerful, dynamic force that created and governs the world (11:3; Ps 33:6–11). Elsewhere the Son is called “the Word of God” (Rev 19:13; see also John 1:1–18).

• cleansed us from our sins: See 9:11–10:18.

• he sat down: This clause is an allusion to Ps 110:1 (see also 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2), which foretold the exaltation of Christ after his suffering (see Matt 22:44; Acts 2:33; 1 Cor 15:25).

The right hand of God indicates high honor, rank, and position (see Ps 16:11; 45:4, 9; 80:17; 1 Kgs 2:19).

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 1:3.

A – Hebrews gives the unity and distinction of God the Father and God the Son.  Both roles are central to our faith.  God is the one true God and Jesus is God in the form of a man and our savior.  When you add the Holy Spirit, the expression of who God is in the trinity is complete.  We as believes have access to all three versions of God’s character.

R- Heavenly Father, you are Three in One.  Thank you for the diverse expressions of your character and love.  We surrender our will to our Heavenly Father.  We are grateful for the sacrifice that the Son of God made in payment for our sins.  And, we invite your Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us today.

S -Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

Philemon 1:11 CSB

O – Commentary:

Onesimus means “useful.” • hasn’t been of much use (literally useless) … very useful: This might be a play on words (cp. v 20). Onesimus was now serving others and proclaiming the Good News. At last he had become what his name means.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Phm 11.

A – God didn’t give up on Onesimus and we should not either.  The concept of “hope” can feel like a naive approach to some.  Hope allows us to believe the best in people and situation.  When it is paired with healthy boundaries, it allows for great opportunity while maintaining strong conviction.

R – Heavenly Father, you are love.  Thank you for not giving up on us before or now.  We know that we are going to sin and make mistakes.  Your faith and hope in us is amazing.  Help us to express this to others in the same heart and love you extend to us.

S – But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. 

Titus 3:9 CSB

O – Commentary:

This seems to primarily reference the problems the false teachers were causing. Titus is instructed to oppose these false teachers but should not allow for their controversies to dictate his agenda. This also seems to be a broad reference to controversies that are unprofitable in terms of the gospel reaching more people 

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Tt 3:9.

A – Paul recognizes the power of the “distraction.”  We need to be aware of the things that pull us away from the central part of our relationship with God.  The message of God’s love and desire for relationship is core to our daily walk and purpose.  It isn’t good when other tangents take us away from that.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Alpha and Omega.  We invite your Holy Spirit to empower us today to stay centered in our relationship with you.  Help us to recognize whatever pulls away from knowing you intimately.  

S – Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance

Titus 2:2 CSB

O – Commentary:

Paul addressed several groups, the first being the older men. Titus was to teach them to manifest the characteristics of maturity. Older men are to be temperate (nēphalious; cf. 1 Tim. 3:2), worthy of respect (semnous, “serious-minded,” i.e., not clowns), and self-controlled (sōphronas, cf. 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8; 2:4). These marks of maturity should be complemented by marks of godliness, the three central Christian virtues of faith … love, and endurance (hypomonē). This last one may seem to have replaced the familiar virtue “hope” in the trio, but the two are closely aligned (cf. Rom. 5:4; 15:4, 1 Thes. 1:3), especially for those who have lived long lives.

 A. Duane Litfin, “Titus,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 764.

A – As an “older” man, this verse zeroes in on my walk with God.  While each of these are foundational, it doesn’t make them easy to achieve.  Yet, the longer you walk with God they do become part of your character and it does become easier to model these behaviors and attitudes.  Tbe behaviors become “normal” but the virtues are continually tested.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  I am grateful for our journey and all of the character and virtues you have poured into me.  I want to continue to grow in all of them.  Give me strength and courage to pursue all of these with an open heart and a desire for greater intimacy with you.

S – As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, ⁸ but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, ⁹ holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it. 

Titus 1:7–9 CSB

O – Commentary:

 Not only must an overseer meet moral and spiritual standards in his personal life, but he must also be a reliable man of the Word. (15) He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught. This last clause, “as it has been taught,” actually comes first in the Greek, for emphasis. According to Paul, an elder is a conservator of the truth, one who must understand it, hold it fast; (16) encourage others by teaching it; and (17) refute those who oppose it. To be qualified as an elder a man must be a capable handler of the truth (cf. comments on 1 Tim. 3:2).

 A. Duane Litfin, “Titus,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 762–763.

A – An overseer of the church must be the conduit of truth.  No one will ever be perfect in their moral and spiritual standard because they are human.  Yet, they hold it at a high level.  The must protect and elevate the truth of God for other to grow in their relationship with God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy, holy, holy.  Empower all of us today to walk at the level of purity in our relationship with you.  Others are looking at us to lead in our relationship with Christ.  Give us the strength and discipline to walk in a way worthy of your calling.

S – But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

2 Timothy 4:5 CSB

O – Commentary:

Again Paul used the strong contrast But you … (cf. 3:10, 14). Timothy must remain cool-headed in the face of difficulties. He must be ready to endure hardship (cf. 2:3) as the pressure mounted. He must do the work of an evangelist, proclaiming the gospel at every opportunity. (There is no reason to assume, as some suggest, that Timothy was without the gift of evangelism). In every way, Paul wrote, fulfill your ministry (diakonian, the word for voluntary “service” from which comes “deacon”).

 A. Duane Litfin, “2 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 758.

A – Hardship is a part of walking with God. The enemy will do whatever he can to dissolve our love for God.  He is a liar, accuser and he wants to rob, kill and destroy us.  Plus, life is hard and has challenges.  Knowing that God is present in all of this is tough to understand at times.  “But for you” reminds us that our relationship with God is personal and we have a choice.  We need to choose faith and trust in God in the midst of all of this.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the One, true God.  Life is hard right now and we invite you into every situation we are facing.  We put our faith and trust in you.

“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

O – This list gives us a practical ability to identify things that are not of God. It also lets us know they will reflect a version of God but not God himself.

A – it is imperative for us to know God, his word and truth. Then, we will know the true identity and power of God. People have been trying to show their version of God since the earliest times. We cannot worship a counterfeit.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship. Help us to know the real you. We choose you over anything else that tries to reflect you. We want you!