I have a Monthly Missalette for November 1976. On October 31, the reading is from Deuteronomy 6:2-6 where it mentions that "Moses calls for total love of God." The New Testament reading is from Hebrews 7:23-28 with the caption, "Jesus' love is perfected forever." There is no mention in the text of Jesus' love, but the comparison of the two texts proves my point. There was nothing wrong with the manner in which the Jews were commanded to love, but their prosperity was based on their keeping commandments.

Notice the contrast in Hebrews: "Under the old covenant . . ..but Jesus"

Priests were prevented by death from remaining in office ". . . but Jesus"

"Unlike the other high priests . . ."

"Offer sacrifices day after day . . . he did that once"

"High priests are weak . . . the Son, made perfect forever."

The New Testament truth is not being built on a Jewish foundation, it contrasts Judaism.

Judaism was correct in its day, but was not foundational to Christianity. It was a parenthesis placed in God's eternal economy to demonstrate God's working in an earthly sense so that heavenly realities might have something with which to be contrasted.. Christianity was to be new wine in new bottles. All vestiges of synagogue worship, which did appear in the Book of Acts (which was a transitional period) were done away with by the Pauline epistles, which are God's design for the local church.

Just briefly, note the contrast on Nov. 7 with 1 Kings 17:10-16 and Hebrews 9:24-28. The widow of Zarephath received temporal blessing; Christians receive spiritual blessings.

Israel was a natural people and never were given, as a nation, heavenly promises.

The Church is a heavenly people and are never guaranteed natural promises.

Bill

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