Haustafel is a German word for household. This short series focuses on texts in Scripture that specify responsibilities and actions of individuals in the home.

At the opening of this letter, Paul declares his authority in writing it. Then he immediately declares his astonishment at finding out that the Galatian churches were betraying God the Father who called them to salvation through Jesus. The Galatian churches were wrongly influenced by the false teaching Judaizers and in the process of switching back to the old Jewish ceremonial and Old Covenant practices. This lays the foundation for the rest of the letter.

Hard-hitting introduction into texts of scripture that teach us details of how we are to live according to the vocations (callings) in which God places us.

Known in German as the "haustafeln" (household) texts.

Refreshing, so important, and so out-of-step with what the world and even most of the modern Christian church embraces!

This beautiful poem/hymn, written in the 4th century by St. Ephrem the Syrian, is the subject of this lesson. It contains 16 stanzas of conversation between Satan and one that personifies Death. This form of poetry is in the Syriac Tradition.

A PDF of this poem/hymn attached for your reference.

Keeping people from apostatizing is the goal of the entire Hebrew epistle. Chapter 12 reinforces this goal, specifically exhorting the believing people to hold firm to the promises of God, even having not yet received His promises. Christians are called to be faithful to the end, running the race set before us with endurance, following in the path of Christ, and sharing in His suffering and shame. These sufferings and trials cannot be compared to the glory which we will receive. Knowing that Christ endured it, gives us encouragement.

God has promised eternal salvation to all who steadfastly confess Christ. Our scripture today exhorts all Christians to patiently navigate through their many sorrows, as we respond to God's call for us to do His will. He equips us with His Word and Holy Spirit to endure and hold to the faith in this life. Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Abraham are given. Take away verse: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." - Hebrews 10:31.

The author of Hebrews continues to make the point that Christ is superior to the old Jewish practices of the Law and Sacrificial system. Christ makes perfect what these old practices could not. The "treadmill" of sacrifices has been removed by Christ. Baptism saves only because it connects us with Christ. Outside of Christ there is no salvation. Jesus has come to perfectly fulfill the will of God that the Law required. Through Christ we can draw near to God because our sins have been forgiven. Christ fulfills the perfect will of the Father for us. Join us for this clear discussion as to why the New Covenant instituted by Christ is superior to the Old Covenant.