Understanding God’s Word Ministry

Hebrews 9
Hebrews 9:16–25 (AV 2005)
THE NEW COVENANT
16 For where a Testament is (Covenant), there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (This refers to the death of Christ, Who was charged to make a New Covenant on the part of man.)17 For a Testament is of force after men are dead (this tells us in no uncertain terms that the death of Christ on the Cross was a legal matter): otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. (This simply means it is not valid until the individual to whom the Will belongs dies, as is the case of any Testament or Will.)18 Whereupon neither the First Testament (Old Covenant) was dedicated without blood (but it was only the blood of animals).19 For when Moses had spoken every Precept to all the people according to the Law (this was referred to as the “Law of Moses”), he took the blood of calves and of goats (proclaims the seal of the Old Covenant, which was “shed blood”; of course, it was a Type of the Shed Blood of Christ), with water (as the blood witnessed to the nature of His Atoning Death [Jn. 19:34], the water witnessed to His full and proper humanity [Jn. 19:34]), and scarlet wool (wool is normally white, which symbolizes the Righteousness of Christ; however, it was dyed red, which portrayed the fact that it took the Blood of Christ to make this Righteousness available to man), and hyssop (a bushy plant, which typified His Death on the Cross as a man; in Egypt the blood was applied to the doorpost with hyssop [Ex. 12:22]), and sprinkled both the Book, and all the people (referred to the Book of Leviticus, with the Tribe of Levi Ordained for Tabernacle Service, pertaining to the people; the sprinkling of the blood was the ratification of the Covenant, and symbolized the Blood of Christ which would ultimately be shed and applied by Faith to the hearts and lives of believing sinners [the blood was mixed with water]),20 Saying, This is the Blood of the Testament (presents that which made the Old Covenant valid) which God has enjoined upon you. (This presents the fact that everything in the First Covenant, exactly as in the New Covenant, is all of God and not at all of man.)21 Moreover he sprinkled with Blood both the Tabernacle, and all the Vessels of the Ministry. (This particular Verse portrays the awfulness of sin, and that it has contaminated everything on this Earth.)22 And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood (some few things were purged with water, but almost all with blood); and without shedding of blood is no remission. (The shed Blood of Christ on the Cross is the only solution for the sins, the ills, and the problems of this world. The problem of the world, and of the Church as well, is that it has ever sought to substitute something else. But let all know, it is alone the Cross! the Cross! the Cross!)23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the Heavens should be purified with these (everything that pertained to the Tabernacle and all of its Sacred Vessels was a copy of that which was in Heaven; inasmuch as the Vessels and the Tabernacle were touched by men, they had to be purified by Blood, i.e., “animal blood”); but the Heavenly things themselves with better Sacrifices than these. (If man were to enter Heaven, the abode of God, there would have to be a better Sacrifice than that of animal blood.)24 For Christ is not entered into the Holy Places made with hands (Christ did not enter the earthly Tabernacle or Temple, regarding the offering up of His Precious Blood on the Mercy Seat), which are the figures of the true (presents the fact that these “figures” were only temporary); but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the Presence of God for us (presents the purpose and reason for the Cross; all of it was done “for us”):25 Nor yet that He should offer Himself often (refers to the fact that the one Sacrifice of Christ, which was the Offering of Himself on the Cross, was eternally sufficient for the cleansing from all sin—past, present, and future; It will never need to be repeated), as the High Priest enters into the Holy Place every year with blood of others (refers to the High Priest of Israel of Old, who went into the Holy of Holies once a year on the Great Day of Atonement, carrying animal blood);
 
~JSM

Philippians 3
FALSE TEACHERS
FINALLY, my Brethren, rejoice in the Lord (as long as they keep their eyes on Christ and the Cross, they can keep rejoicing). To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (This presents the Apostle now turning his attention to the Judaizers, who might at any time turn their attention toward Philippi.)2 Beware of dogs (the Apostle is addressing the Judaizers, who were Jews from Jerusalem that claimed Christ, but insisted on Believers keeping the Law as well; all of this was diametrically opposed to Paul’s Gospel of Grace, in which the Law of Moses had no part; as well, by the use of the word “dogs,” the Apostle was using the worst slur), beware of evil workers (they denigrated the Cross), beware of the concision. (This presents a Greek word Paul uses as a play upon the Greek word “Circumcision,” which was at the heart of the Law Gospel of the Judaizers.)3 For we are the Circumcision (refers to the true Circumcision, which is that of the heart), which worship God in the Spirit (would have been better translated, “which worship by the Spirit of God”), and rejoice in Christ Jesus (refers not only to Who Christ is, but what He has done for us at the Cross), and have no confidence in the flesh (in things other than the Cross, which alone is the guarantee of Salvation and Victory).4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh (refers to human attainments). If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more (the Apostle knows what he’s talking about regarding Judaism):
PAUL
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel (he was a pure-blooded Jew), of the Tribe of Benjamin (Benjamin was the only Tribe that stayed with Judah at the time of the division of the nation), an Hebrew of the Hebrews (goes all the way back to Abraham); as touching the Law, a Pharisee (in fact, Paul had been the hope of the Pharisees, touted to take the place of Gamaliel);6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the Church (he thought he was doing God a service); touching the Righteousness which is in the Law, blameless. (He thought he was earning merit with God by persecuting the Church.)7 But what things were gain to me (Paul was speaking of his privileges as a Jew), those I counted loss for Christ. (All must be given up for Christ, and Christ is worth all we give up, and a thousand times more.)8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord (the knowledge of the Lord Jesus which Paul gained through the experience of intimate companionship and communion with Him): for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things (“For Whose sake I have been caused to forfeit”), and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ (next to Christ, everything else is nothing),9 And be found in Him (to be united with Christ by a living Faith, which has as its Object the Cross of Christ), not having my own Righteousness (“not having any Righteousness which can be called my own”), which is of the Law (pertains to Law-keeping; he was done with that), but that which is through the Faith of Christ (what He did at the Cross), the Righteousness which is of God by Faith (a spotless Righteousness made possible by the Cross, and imputed by God to all who exhibit Faith in Christ and the Cross):10 That I may know Him (referring to what Christ did at the Cross), and the power of His Resurrection (refers to being raised with Him in “Newness of Life” [Rom. 6:3–5]), and the fellowship of His sufferings (regarding our Trust and Faith placed in what He did for us at the Cross), being made conformable unto His death (to conform to what He did for us at the Cross, understanding that this is the only means of Salvation and Sanctification);11 If by any means I might attain unto the Resurrection of the dead. (This does not refer to the coming Resurrection, but rather the Believing sinner being baptized into the death of Christ [refers to the Crucifixion], and raised in “Newness of Life,” which gives victory over all sin [Rom. 6:3–5, 11, 14].)
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 2076). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Hebrews 9
the Mercy Seat):8 The Holy Spirit this signifying (the Holy Spirit was both the Divine Author of the Levitical system of worship, and its Interpreter), that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest (proclaims the fact [and by the Holy Spirit, at that] that access to God was blocked while the Law was enforced, except in the most limited way), while as the First Tabernacle was yet standing (show the limitations of the Levitical system):9 Which was a figure for the time then present (refers to the Tabernacle being a representation of Heavenly realities), in which were offered both Gifts and Sacrifices, that could not make him who did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience (portrays the weakness of the First Covenant, in that it was based on animal blood, which was insufficient; in other words, the conscience of the Jew was still heavy with realization that sin had only been covered, not taken away; only the Cross could take away sin [Jn. 1:29]);10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal Ordinances (refers to the entirety of the Levitical system, which could only present types and shadows), imposed on them until the time of Reformation. (The Cross, to which all of this pointed, would address all of this once and for all.)11 But Christ being come (the little word “but” is the pivot upon which all the arguments swing) an High Priest (presented by the Apostle to show how marvelously the one Offering of our Lord Jesus Christ transcends all the types and shadows of the old) of good things to come (should have been translated, “of the good things realized”), by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle (presents Christ Himself as the more perfect Tabernacle), not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building (Christ is not a flimsy structure like the Tabernacle of old);12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves (proclaims by the fact of the continued need of more Sacrifices that it was not properly effected), but by His Own Blood (presents the price paid) He entered in once into the Holy Place (presents Christ doing what no other Priest had ever done; He offered a Sacrifice that was complete, which means it would never have to be repeated; thereby, the Heavenly Tabernacle was opened to Him; and if opened to Him, it was opened to us as well), having obtained Eternal Redemption for us. (This proclaims what was accomplished by the giving of Himself on the Cross.)13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats (presents Paul turning again to the Levitical Sacrifices as an example), and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, Sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh (in these animal Sacrifices, Paul proclaims the effect of an external purification, a cleansing from ritual defilement, but that was as far as it went; as should be obvious, animal Sacrifices could not take away sins):14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ (while the Sacrifice of animals could cleanse from ceremonial defilement, only the Blood of Christ could cleanse from actual sin; so that throws out every proposed solution other than the Cross), Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God (in this phrase, we learn Christ did not die until the Holy Spirit told Him to die; in fact, no man took His Life from Him; He laid it down freely [Jn. 10:17–18]; as well, the fact that Jesus “offered Himself without spot to God” shoots down the unscriptural Doctrine that “Jesus died Spiritually” on the Cross; had He died Spiritually, meaning He became a sinner on the Cross, He could not have offered Himself without spot to God, as should be obvious; God could only accept a perfect Sacrifice; when He died on the Cross, He took upon Himself the sin penalty of the human race, which was physical death; inasmuch as His Offering of Himself was Perfect, God accepted it as payment in full for all sin—past, present, and future, at least for those who will believe [Jn. 3:16]), purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? (“Dead works” are anything other than simple Faith in the Cross of Christ, i.e., “the Blood of Christ.”)
 The Expositor’s Study Bible (pp. 2131–2132). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Hebrews 9

Hebrews
CHAPTER 9(A.D. 64)
CONTRAST
THEN verily the First Covenant (is meant to describe the Tabernacle in which the Service of God was celebrated under the former dispensation, and to show it had a reference to what was future) had also Ordinances of Divine Service (Ordinances adapted for Divine Service), and a worldly Sanctuary. (The word “worldly” is used here as a contrast to the Heavenly world.)2 For there was a Tabernacle made (refers to what Moses had made in the wilderness, which pattern was given to him by God); the first, wherein was the Candlestick (Golden Lampstand), and the table, and the shewbread (refers to the “first room,” which was the Holy Place where the Sacred Vessels were situated); which is called the Sanctuary. (This should have been translated, “which is called the Holy Place.” The name “Sanctuary” was commonly given to the whole edifice.)3 And after the Second Veil (pertains to the Veil which separated the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies), the Tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all (refers to the Holy of Holies, which contained the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat);4 Which had the Golden Censer (should have been translated, “the Golden Incense Altar,” which sat immediately in front of the Veil in the Holy Place), and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid round about with gold (presents the most Glorious and Mysterious Vessel of the Tabernacle), wherein was the Golden Pot that had Manna (presents that which was a Type of Christ as the Bread of Life [Jn. 6:32–33, 35]), and Aaron’s rod that budded (represents Christ Alone as Saviour, and proof that God would raise Him from the dead), and the Tables of the Covenant (the two stone Tables containing the Ten Commandments, five to each Table);5 And over it (the Ark of the Covenant) the Cherubims of Glory (Living Creatures) shadowing the Mercyseat (they looked down upon the Mercyseat); of which we cannot now speak particularly (cannot go into great detail).6 Now when these things were thus ordained (refers to the fact that all of this was of God, and every part and parcel of the Tabernacle in some way pointed to Christ), the Priests went always into the First Tabernacle (into the first of the two rooms of the Tabernacle called the “Holy Place”), accomplishing the Service of God. (This refers to the daily, even constant, rituals that had to be carried out.)7 But into the second (the second room of the Tabernacle called the “Holy of Holies,” where the Ark of the Covenant was) went the High Priest alone once every year (pertained to the Great Day of Atonement [Lev. 16:14; 23:27]), not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people (presents him going in twice on this particular day, each time taking the blood of the Sacrificial animal which had been killed—once for himself, and once for the people—with the blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat):8 The Holy Spirit this signifying (the Holy Spirit was both the Divine Author of the Levitical system of worship, and its Interpreter), that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest (proclaims the fact [and by the Holy Spirit, at that] that access to God was blocked while the Law was enforced, except in the most limited way), while as the First Tabernacle was yet standing (show the limitations of the Levitical system):9 Which was a figure for the time then present (refers to the Tabernacle being a representation of Heavenly realities), in which were offered both Gifts and Sacrifices, that could not make him who did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience (portrays the weakness of the First Covenant, in that it was based on animal blood, which was insufficient; in other words, the conscience of the Jew was still heavy with realization that sin had only been covered, not taken away; only the Cross could take away sin [Jn. 1:29]);
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (pp. 2130–2131). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Hebrews 8 and 9
 
10 For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel (refers as stated to the “New Covenant”) after those days (refers to the Old Covenant having run its course, which it did at the time of the Cross), saith the Lord; I will put My Laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts (proclaims in abbreviated detail the glorious fact of what the New Covenant would do because the sin debt was paid by Christ on the Cross, which made it possible for the Holy Spirit to abide forever in the hearts and lives of Believers [Jn. 14:16–17]): and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people (refers to relationship under the New Covenant that was not possible under the Old Covenant [Zech. 8:8]):11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord (refers to the complicated process of the Old Covenant): for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. (This presents the fact that the Holy Spirit will teach every Believer, as He does, and which Jesus also said would be [Jn. 16:13–15]).12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness (the Cross made this possible), and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Due to the Cross, sins and iniquities no longer exist, at least for those who trust Christ.)13 In that He said (Jer. 31:31), A New Covenant (all in Christ and what He did at the Cross), He (God) has made the first old (it was designed to be temporary). Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away. (Since the Cross, which introduced the New Covenant, there is no more need for the Old, which is vastly inferior.)
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 2130). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.
 

A New Covenant Hebrews 8
(Jer 31:31–34 )
TOOLS
 Heb 8:7
¶
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
TOOLS
 Heb 8:8
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
TOOLS
 Heb 8:9
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
TOOLS
 Heb 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
TOOLS
 Heb 8:11
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
TOOLS
 Heb 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
TOOLS
 Heb 8:13
¶
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

 
CHAPTER 8(A.D. 64)
HIGH PRIEST
NOW of the things which we have spoken this is the sum (refers to what Paul will now give as it regards the meaning of all this): We have such an High Priest, Who is set on the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens (the very fact that Christ is now seated in the Heavens at the Right Hand of God proves His Work is a Finished Work);2 A Minister of the Sanctuary (as Paul uses the word “Minister,” it speaks both of Priestly service to God and of service to man), and of the True Tabernacle (the true dwelling place of God, which is in the Heavens), which the Lord pitched, and not man. (This refers to the fact that Moses pitched the earthly Tabernacle, but God formed the True Tabernacle.)3 For every High Priest is ordained to offer Gifts and Sacrifices (portrays the High Priests of old serving as mediators between God and men): wherefore it is of necessity that this Man (Christ Jesus) have somewhat also to offer. (A Priest must have a Sacrifice to offer. Christ offered Himself. This was His one great and all embracing Sacrifice, satisfying all the Types of the Old Covenant and abolishing all its Offerings for sin.)4 For if He (the Lord Jesus) were on Earth, He should not be a Priest (refers to the fact that He was not of the Levitical Order, and due to His Sacrifice of Himself, no more earthly Priests are now needed, which, as should be obvious, completely abrogates the Catholic Priesthood), seeing that there are Priests who offer Gifts according to the Law (due to His Eternal Priesthood, and the Offering of Himself in Sacrifice, the Law is done):5 Who (the Levitical Priesthood) serve unto the example and shadow of Heavenly things (refers to a suggestive replica, which, in fact, had no substance within itself), as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the Tabernacle (proclaims the fact that this was but a poor replica of the reality Who is Christ): for, See, said He (Ex. 25:40; Num. 8:4), that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the Mount (meaning the Tabernacle on Earth was merely a replica of something far better in the Heavens).
MEDIATOR
6 But now (since the Cross) has He (the Lord Jesus) obtained a more excellent Ministry (the New Covenant in Jesus’ Blood is superior, and takes the place of the Old Covenant in animal blood), by how much also He is the Mediator of a Better Covenant (proclaims the fact that Christ officiates between God and man according to the arrangements of the New Covenant), which was established upon better Promises. (This presents the New Covenant, explicitly based on the cleansing and forgiveness of all sin, which the Old Covenant could not do.)7 For if that first Covenant had been faultless (proclaims the fact that the First Covenant was definitely not faultless; as stated, it was based on animal blood, which was vastly inferior to the Precious Blood of Christ), then should no place have been sought for the Second (proclaims the necessity of the New Covenant).8 For finding fault with them (the First Covenant was actually designed to glaringly portray the fault of the people, which it successfully did), He said (Jer. 31:31), Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah (that New Covenant was in Christ and what He did at the Cross; regrettably, Israel rejected Him):9 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers (refers to the Law of Moses, which was given some fifty days after Israel was delivered from Egypt) in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt (speaks to the immaturity of Israel at that time; consequently, she was treated as a minor); because they continued not in My Covenant (Israel was not true to the Covenant regarding the Old Law), and I regarded them not, says the Lord. (Israel rejected God’s First Covenant, so God rejected them.)10 For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel (refers as stated to the “New Covenant”) after those days (refers to the Old Covenant having run its course, which it did at the time of the Cross), saith the Lord; I will put My Laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts (proclaims in abbreviated detail the glorious fact of what the New Covenant would do because the sin debt was paid by Christ on the Cross, which made it possible for the Holy Spirit to abide forever in the hearts and lives of Believers [Jn. 14:16–17]): and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people (refers to relationship under the New Covenant that was not possible under the Old Covenant [Zech. 8:8]):
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (pp. 2129–2130). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Romans 5
8 But God Commendeth His Love toward us (Christ dying for the ungodly is a proof of Love immeasurable), in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Jesus died for those who bitterly hate Him).9 Much more then (if Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, how much more will He do for us now that we are Redeemed and, thereby, reconciled to Him!), being now Justified by His Blood (we are justified now, and the Blood of Christ stands as the guarantee for that Justification), we shall be saved from wrath through Him (the Wrath of God, which is always manifested against sin).10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of His Son (the only way we could be reconciled; this Verse shoots down the “Jesus died spiritually doctrine”), much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (does not speak of His Perfect Life, but rather the pouring out of His Life’s Blood at Calvary).11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (we are to boast of our Reconciliation to God, for it is a true confidence [1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17]), by Whom we have now received the Atonement (Reconciliation).
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 1977). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Romans 5
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
THEREFORE being Justified by Faith (this is the only way one can be justified; refers to Faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross), we have peace with God (justifying peace) through our Lord Jesus Christ (what He did at the Cross):2 By Whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace (we have access to the Goodness of God by Faith in Christ) wherein we stand (wherein alone we can stand), and rejoice in hope (a hope that is guaranteed) of the Glory of God (our Faith in Christ always brings Glory to God; anything else brings glory to self, which God can never accept).3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also (in the fact that tribulations do not hurt us): knowing that tribulation works patience (points to the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to Faith, even by the greatest trials and sufferings);4 And patience, experience (points to an end result); and experience, hope (presents the natural product of an approved experience).5 And hope makes not ashamed (in effect, tells us that this is not a false hope); because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts (God’s Love brings all of this about) by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us (all of this is wholly a work of the Holy Spirit).
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 1976). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.