Jesus the Messiah - Alec Satin, Lutheran Librarian

 

Newsletter from The Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry

In This Issue

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (author's abridged version) by Alfred Edersheim TOHU-VA-VOHU: Without Form and Void by Alfred Edersheim The Squire of Zabuloe by Joseph Hocking The Columbus Theological Magazine Vol. 11, Matthias Loy, Editor The Historical Development of Objective Justification by Larry A. Darby

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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (author's abridged version) by Alfred Edersheim “It is a mistake to regard everything in Talmudic writings about ‘the Gentiles’ as presently applying to Christians… That ‘the heathens’ of those days and lands should have been suspected of almost any abomination, deemed capable of any treachery or cruelty towards Israel—no student of history can deem strange… “Secondly: We must remember the times, the education, and the general standpoint of that period as compared with our own. No one would measure the belief of Christians by certain statements in the Fathers, nor judge the moral principles of Roman Catholics by prurient quotations from the Casuists; nor yet estimate the Lutherans by the utterances and deeds of the early successors of Luther, nor Calvinists by the burning of Servetus. In all such cases the general standpoint of the times has to be first taken into account. And no educated Jew would share the follies and superstitions, nor yet sympathize with the suspicions or feelings towards even the most hostile and depraved heathens, that may be quoted from the Talmud.” - From the Preface. Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter knowledge needed. Book Contents About The Author Titlepage Preface Contents 1 The Annunciation Of John The Baptist, 2 The Annunciation Of Jesus The Messiah, And The Birth Of His Forerunner. 3 The Nativity Of Jesus The Messiah. 4 The Purification Of The Virgin And The Presentation In The Temple. 5 The Visit And Homage Of The Magi, And The Flight Into Egypt. 6 The Child-life In Nazareth. 7 In The House Of His Heavenly, And In The Home Of His Earthly Father—the Temple Of Jerusalem— The Retirement At Nazareth. 8 A Voice In The Wilderness. 9 The Baptism Of Jesus. 10 The Temptation Of Jesus. 11 The Deputation From Jerusalem—the Three Sects Of The Pharisees, Sadducees, And Essenes. 12 The Twofold Testimony Of John—the First Sabbath Of Jesus’ Ministry—the First Sunday—the First Disciples. 13 The Marriage-feast In Cana Of Galilee, 14 The Cleansing Of The Temple. 15 Jesus And Nicodemus. 16 In Judea And Through Samaria. 17 Jesus At The Well Of Sychar. 18 The Cure Of The ‘nobleman’s’ Son At Capernaum. 19 The Synagogue At Nazareth - Synagogue-worship And Arrangements. 20 The First Galilean Ministry. 21 At The ‘unknown’ Feast In Jerusalem, And By The Pool Of Bethesda. 22 The Final Call Of The First Disciples, And The Miraculous Draught Of Fishes. 23 A Sabbath In Capernaum. 24 Second Journey Through Galilee-——the Healing Of The Leper. 25 The Return To Capernaum—concerning The Forgiveness Of Sins—the Healing Of The Paralysed. 26 The Call Of Matthew—rabbinic Theology As Regards The Doctrine Of Forgiveness In Contrast To The Gospel Of Christ—-the Call Of The Twelve Apostles. 27 The Sermon On The Mount. 28 The Healing Of The Centurion’s Servant. 29 The Raising Of The Young Man Of Nain. 30 The Woman Which Was A Sinner. 31 The Ministering Women—the Return To Capernaum— Healing Of The Demonised Dumb——-pharisaic Charge Against Christ—the Visit Of Christ’s Mother And Brethren. 32 The Parables To The People By The Lake Of Galilee, And Those To The Disciples In Capernaum. 33 The Storm On The Lake Of Galilee. 34 At Gerasa—the Healing Of The Demonised, 35 The Healing Of The Woman—the Raising Of Jairus’ Daughter. 36 Second Visit To Nazareth—the Mission Of The Twelve. 37 The Baptists Last Testimony To Jesus, And His Beheading In Prison, 38 The Miraculous Feeding Of The Five Thousand, 39 The Night Of Miracles On The Lake Of Gennesaret. 40 Concerning ‘ Purification, ‘ Hand-washing,’ And ‘ Vows.’ 41 The Great Crisis In Popular Feeling——-christ The Bread Of Life—‘ Will Ye Also Go Away ?’ 42 Jesus And The Syro-phcenician Woman, 43 A Group Of Miracles Among A Semi-heathen Population, 44 The Two Sabbath-controversies—the Plucking Of The Ears Of Corn By The Disciples, And The Healing Of The Man With The Withered Hand. 45 The Feeding Of The Four Thousand—‘ The Sign From Heaven’ 46 The Great Confession The Great Commission 47 The Transfiguration. 48 The Morrow Of The Transfiguration. 49 The Last Events In Galilee:—the Tribute-money, The Displte By The Way And The Forbidding Of Him Who Could Not Follow With The Disciples. 50 The Journey To Jerusalem—first Incidents By The Way. 51 The Mission And Return Of The Seventy—the Home At Bethany. 52 At The Feast Of Tabernacles——first Discourse In The Temple. 53 ‘in The Last, The Great Day Of The Feast.’ 54 Teaching In The Temple On The Octave Of The Feast Of Tabernacles. 55 The Nealing Of The Man Born Blind. 56 The ‘good Shepherd’, 57 Discourse Concerning The Two Kingdoms, 58 The Morning-meal In The Piiarisee’s House. 59 To The Disciples—two Events And Their Moral. 60 At The Feast Of The Dedication Of The Temple, 61 The Second Series Of Parables—the Two Parables Of Him Who Is Neighbour To Us. 62 The Three Parables Of Warning: The Foolish Rich Man—the Barren Fig-tree—the Great Supper. 63 The Three Parables Of The Gospel: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Drachm, The Lost Son. 64 The Unjust Steward—dives And Lazarus. 65 The Three Last Parables Of The Perzan Series: The Unrighteous Judge—the Pharisee And The Publican —the Unmerciful Servant, 66 Christ’s Discourses In Perea-—close Of The Perzan Ministry. 67 The Death And The Raising Of Lazarus. 68 On The Journey To Jerusalem—healing Of Ten Lepers —on Divorce—the Blessing To Little Children, 69 The Last Incidents In Peraea—the Young Ruler Who Went Away Sorrowful—-prophecy Of Christ’s Passion —the Request Of Salome, And Of James And John. 70 In Jericho—a Guest With Zacchaeus—the Healing Of Blind Bartimhus—at Bethany, And In The House Of Simon The Leper. 71 The First Day In Passion-week-——-the Royal Entry Into Jerusalem. 72 The Second Day In Passion-week—the Barren Fig-tree —the Cleansing Of The Temple-——-the Hosanna Of The Children, 73 The Third Day In Passion-week—-the Question Of Christ’s Authority—the Question Of Tribute To Caesar—the Widow’s Farthing—the Greeks Who Sought To See Jesus. 74 The Third Day In Passion-week—the Sadducees And The Resurrection—the Scribe And The Great Commandment—question To The Phariseks, And Final Warning Against Them. 75 The Third Day In Passion-week—-the Last Series Of Parables: Of The Labourers In The Vineyard—of The Two Sons—of The Evil Husbandmen—of The Marriage Of The King’s Son And Of The Wedding Garment. 76 The Evening Of The Third Day In Passion-week —discourse To Thi Disciples Concerning The Last Things. 77 Evening Of The Third Day In Passion-week — Last Pararles: Of The Ten Virgins-—of The Talents— Of The Minas. 78 The Fourth Day In Passion-week—-the Betrayal— Judas : His Character, Apostasy, And End. 79 The Fifth Day In Passion-week—‘ Make Ready The Passover!’ 80 The Paschal Supper—The Institution Of The Lord’s Supper. 81 The Last Discourses Of Christ—-the Prayer Of Consecration. 82 Gethsemane. 83 Thursday Night—before Annas And Caiaphas— Peter And Jesus. 84 The Morning Of Good Friday. 85 ‘Crucified, Dead, And Buried.’ 86 On The Resurrection Of Christ From The Dead. 87 ‘On The Third Day He Rose Again From The Dead; He Ascended Into Heaven.’ Download the eBook (Optional) Care to encourage the Lutheran Librarian? Facsimile PDF (large file) This book is only available in PDF format. Publication Information Lutheran Library edition first published: 2023 Copyright: CC BY 4.0 Read more

Recent Books and Articles Published

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (author's abridged version) by Alfred Edersheim “It is a mistake to regard everything in Talmudic writings about ‘the Gentiles’ as presently applying to Christians… That ‘the heathens’ of those days and lands should have been suspected of almost any abomination, deemed capable of any treachery or cruelty towards Israel—no student of history can deem strange… “Secondly: We must remember the times, the education, and the general standpoint of that period as compared with our own. No one would measure the belief ... Read more TOHU-VA-VOHU: Without Form and Void by Alfred Edersheim Includes an account of Alfred Edersheim’s conversion from Judaism to Christianity. Book Contents About The Author Frontispiece Titlepage Preface Memoir Tohu-va-vohu Index Of Subjects Download the eBook (Optional) Care to encourage the Lutheran Librarian? Facsimile PDF (large file) This book is only available in PDF format. Publication Information Lutheran Library edition first published: 2023 Copyright: CC BY 4.0 Read more The Squire of Zabuloe by Joseph Hocking Joseph Hocking is the Lutheran Librarian’s favorite Christian novelist. Though mostly forgotten now, during his lifetime he was widely read and greatly beloved throughout the English speaking world. Most of his books deal in some way with the struggles and conflicts of living as a Christian in the modern world. The Lutheran Library is republishing many of Joseph Hocking’s novels. If you have any of Hocking’s 50 “lost” books, please contact us. Contents 1 His ... Read more The Columbus Theological Magazine Vol. 11, Matthias Loy, Editor Highlights of Vol. 11 include: “God’s Law And Man’s Sin” and “The Inspiration Of Holy Scripture” by Matthias Loy, “The Tendency Of The Calvinistic Doctrine Of Absolute Predestination To Vitiate Some Doctrines Of The Christian Religion”, and “Parallels Between St. Paul And Luther”. The Columbus Theological Magazine is one of the specially restored collections of the Lutheran Library. Currently available volumes Master index Contents of ... Read more The Historical Development of Objective Justification by Larry A. Darby Objective Justification is another name for the atonement, right? No. They are not the same. How did so-called “objective justification” arise in the Missouri Synod and WELS? How does it compare to the old teaching of justification? How has the teaching of objective justification changed among Lutherans since 1872? How does this teaching compare to Holy Scripture? Could the modern teaching of objective justification help explain why Lutheranism has grown spiritually ... Read more Caleb's Conquest by Joseph Hocking Joseph Hocking is the Lutheran Librarian’s favorite Christian novelist. Though mostly forgotten now, during his lifetime he was widely read and greatly beloved throughout the English speaking world. Most of his books deal in some way with the struggles and conflicts of living as a Christian in the modern world. The Lutheran Library is republishing many of Joseph Hocking’s novels. If you have any of Hocking’s 50 “lost” books, please contact us. Download the ... Read more The Evangelical Review Vol. 4, William M Reynolds, Editor This issue includes “Apostolic Fathers” by James Allen Brown, “The Lutheran Cultus” by Matthias Loy, “John Arndt” by John Gottlieb Morris, “The Bible is a Perfect Book” by Charles Porterfield Krauth, and others. The Evangelical Review was edited by William M Reynolds, Professor in Pennsylvania College and assisted by John G Morris, H I Schmidt, Charles W Schaeffer, and Emanuel Greenwald. Many faithful and prominent Lutheran scholars and ... Read more May God cause his face to shine upon you and bring you peace. From Your Lutheran Librarian editor@lutheranlibrary.org

Hebrews - Daily Verses - "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens..."

 

Hebrews 7 

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Explanation

This is the climax of the lengthy argument - If Melchisedec is the great high priest, greater than the Levites, Jesus is greatest of all. The Law established the priesthood, but the fulfillment of the Law is the Gospel, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some may find this verbose and annoying, but Hebrews points out that the Scriptures are completely unified in  harmony with the Holy Spirit. The Calvinists only see words piled together, which they sort and study, but they lack the all-important emphasis upon the Spirit never without the Word, the Word never without the Spirit.

Perhaps most of Protestantism is content to emphasize verses and passages, but the truth  comes from the perfection of this One, Singular Book of the Holy Spirit, united from beginning to end.

We are all beginners - the beginner sees the two perplexing references to Melchisidec in the Old Testament. Jesus, just before his trial and death, cites Psalm 110, and the picture is almost complete. When the Jewish Christians began to back away from Jesus' fulfilling the role of Melchisedec, Hebrews expanded upon it. This fleeting reference is no longer overlooked and displays how much can be found from reading carefully the entire Bible as one, unified truth.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 8 - "But You Will Find, That They Are Very Friendly Among Themselves And Call Each Other Brethren; But This Is Nothing But Poison And the Devil Within Them."

 

"In the first place you will certainly not find any true fruits of faith or works of love among them. But you will find, that they are very friendly among themselves and call each other brethren; but this is nothing but poison and the devil within them. For whatever does not belong to their faction they have no mercy, no patience or friendliness; but if they could, they would destroy them body and soul in an hour or a moment."

Click here for the complete ->Trinity 8, Third Sermon

25. Therefore learn well to be on your guard, and thoroughly examine all doctrines, whether they rightly teach and apply this chief and fundamental doctrine, that is, whether they preach Christ correctly and purely. For you will certainly find among all factions and sects, that they always either omit this article entirely, or bring something with it to which they lead the people as though that were particularly necessary to salvation. Thus our fanatics and image-breakers also at first drew the crowd with them by the pretense that nothing was more necessary than to break images. Whoever breaks an image or destroys a table does a good work, and proves that he is a Christian Soon the people as a mass rushed in crowds and all wanted to be Christians; just as though the Jews, Gentiles and Turks and the worst rogues could not do the same thing.

26. Such fanatics do not shake our confidence in works, but rather strengthen it and rest in them. Where there are true teachers their preaching agrees with faith. If it be in the proportion of faith, then Christ will not be neglected or divided, but will remain entire in his knowledge as he is. And although the devil pretends to preach Christ through his apostles, do not believe him, for he would entrap you with his cunning and deceive you. Indeed this is warning enough, but it is in vain for those who will not hear. Yet it assists those who are to be changed for the better.

Now follow the third test and way to know the spirits, which reads thus: “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

27. All our outward behavior and works are fruits. But in order to learn to know thoroughly the truly good works, one must have spiritual eyes. St. Paul mentions such works to the Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.” These are the true fruits of the Spirit. But the works of the flesh are: “fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revelings and such like.” Galatians 2:19-21.

28. When you carefully distinguish the works of the flesh from the works of the Spirit, you will not find in all the works of the false prophets a single spark of the Spirit. In the first place you will certainly not find any true fruits of faith or works of love among them. But you will find, that they are very friendly among themselves and call each other brethren; but this is nothing but poison and the devil within them. For whatever does not belong to their faction they have no mercy, no patience or friendliness; but if they could, they would destroy them body and soul in an hour or a moment. Flesh and blood do not see the fruits, hence in the meantime they of course wear their gray frocks, are a quiet order and observe the same customs and principles.

29. These are not works of love. On the contrary, works of love are those we do in behalf of the suffering and toward our enemies, also in showing mercy to sinners, in instructing and teaching the ignorant, and in serving the poor with our own body, goods and honor, as Christ relates in Matthew 25:25f. You will not find these works in any false prophet. He may indeed conduct himself like a Christian in his extraordinary behavior, like the bare-footed friars and Carthusians; but what benefit is that to me?

Likewise, what benefit is it to a neighbor that others destroy monasteries and pictures. This is only a show and appears as if it were something, but there is no benefit in it whatever. Love, however, requires works that are beneficial to your fellow men.

30. Again, you will further note how proud and impudent these spirits are, who only desire to be honored and worshipped; and are full of greed and know nothing of mercy. They not only refuse to give to anyone and to help the poor; but they also rejoice and are pleased to see that their neighbors do not prosper. If a person be found in disgrace they will not help with their own honor to rescue him from his disgrace; but plunge him still deeper into it and publish it abroad, sing a song about him and laugh at him in their glee. And when one falls into sin, their hearts have no sympathy for him; but they harden their hearts and are only tickled over their neighbor’s downfall and adorn themselves by it. And what more shall we say? These are rude, bitter hearts, full of poison, which have only a black, baneful tongue, and can hew everyone to pieces upon the slaughter block. They must turn men into demons, leave no one uncensored, judge, condemn and despise everyone, and regard everyone’s disgrace with scorn. Christ therefore says of them: “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit,” etc.

31. Here note, he says: “By their fruits ye shall know them.” He does not say: By their fruits they become good or evil. For when was there ever a pear tree made out of a pear; or a cherry tree out of a cherry? However, it is natural, that the tree bears the fruit, an apple tree bears apples, and so on. The tree of course is known by its fruits, but it is not made by its fruits.

Like Abraham when he offered his son Isaac was already God’s worshiper.

And yet God said to him, Genesis 22:12: “For now I know that thou fearest God.” He does not say: Now you have become godfearing. On the contrary, by your work it becomes known and public, that you fear God.

32. Hence these are two different things; to be or become something, and that something be known or be made public. There are many things that are known to God alone; but when he makes them manifest, they become known also to men. And Christ says, the fruits serve to the end, that by them men may know the tree whether it be good or evil, as Abraham was known by his works that he feared God, and was good and righteous.

Consequently, before the fruit becomes manifest it must grow out of the tree, that it may also thus become known what kind of a tree it is.

However, to make a thing known is quite different from the existence of the thing itself. Consequently, the work I do, does not serve to the end that I may become good and just before God, but it only makes known and manifests the treasure and the heart, in which it is concealed. For this treasure hidden in the heart, God does not desire to leave neglected, but to make it known.