Oracles Committed To The Jews
Oracles Comitted To Whom?
Romans 3:1 says, “What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there in circumcision? Chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God”.
We can learn from these verses that the Jew and circumcision are tied together. Many times we read a scripture like this and human nature just assumes that this scripture is talking about a race of people, but is it? To understand what is being talked about, we need to go to God’s word and understand who the Jews were that were given the oracles of God. Genealogy doesn’t enter into these scriptures at all.
Galatians 3:28, “There is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ”. Verse 29, “ And if ye be Christ then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise”.
Abraham was ninety nine years old when this covenant was made to him. Gen. 17: 9, “ And God said unto Abram, thou shalt keep My covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee: every man child among you shall be circumcised”. Verse 12, 1st part of verse “And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you”.
The number eight in Biblical numerics is used to mean regeneration or resurrection, a new beginning. Circumcision is the removal of the flesh and a sign of the blood sacrifice that would be made by Jesus Christ. Rom. 8:10, “ And if Christ be in you, the body (flesh body) is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness”. Rom. 2:28, “ for he is not a Jew which is outwardly: neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh”. Vs. 29, “But he is a Jew which is one inwardly” and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God”.
Physical speaking, up until the new covenant, it was only a select few who were to plant seed. But now that circumcision is of the heart, it is as Peter says in the book of Acts 2: 17, “And it shall come to past in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams”. Acts: 21: 8-9, Philip the Evangelist, had four virgin daughters that did prophesy. The word Prophesy is 4395 in the Greek dictionary and means to speak under inspiration.
During Abraham’s day, circumcision was physical, outward,. It was the covenant God made with Abraham and his seed. Today we have a new covenant. Matt. 26:28, ’for this is the blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. No covenant could be made without the shedding of blood, (Ex. 14:8, Heb. 9:20) and no remission without it.( Lev. 17:11).
Fullfillment Of Jeremiah
Jer. 31:31, “Behold the days will come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah”; ( Abraham’s seed ). Vs. 33 “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel; after these days saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be my people”.
If Jesus Christ didn’t fulfill the prophesy of Jer. 31:31, when will it ever be fulfilled, or by what means will it ever be fulfilled? Jesus Christ brought about a better covenant, that of the spirit and not of the letter.
New Testament Example
Examine the experience of one of the earliest Christians of the New Testament church. Acts, 6:8, “ And Stephen full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people”. Note: many suppose that Stephen being one of the men named in Acts 6:3 was of the office of being a Deacon. This is not so. The Greek word diakamos ( deacon ) is not found in the book of Acts. The only requirement was that Stephen be of a good report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.( continue to read vs. 9 to 15 for story flow).
Acts, 7:1, “ Then said the High Priest, are these things so”? Stephen goes on to describe the way God was working with His people, starting with Abraham and continuing on to his present day. Vs. 38, “ This is he , (Moses) that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke with him in the Mount Sine, and with our fathers who received the lively oracles to give unto us”.
To whom does Stephen say the oracles of God were given? Last part of vs. 38, “ to the fathers and to us”. Who is us referring to? First part of Acts 6:5 explains, “ And the saying pleased the whole multitude and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”. These are the conditions and credentials that separate those that have the oracles of God and those that don’t. He was teaching and explaining scriptures to those that would hear.
Notice what the Apostle Paul tells us in Heb. 5: 12, “For when for the time you aught to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are such as have need of milk and not strong meat”. Vs. 13, “for everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe”. We can understand Stephen’s speech in chapter 7 is not one of milk. He knew what he was talking about and the religious leaders didn’t like it , so much so that they killed him.
These things were written for us to think about and understand what our heavenly Father would like us to learn. Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”. Vs. 8, “ Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to conform the promises made unto the fathers”.
Paul Had the Oracles of God
Thess.2:4, “ But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust of the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God which trieth our hearts”.
The Jews then are those that are of the heart (mind ), because of the knowledge and understanding that our Heavenly Father gives us through the studying of His word.
Peter adds in 1 Peter 4:10, “ As every man hath received the gift ( Holy Spirit ), even so minister the same to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”. Verse 11, “ If any man speak, let him speak as to the oracles of God. If any man minister, let him do it as the ability which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom praise and dominion forever and ever, Amen”.
In closing, we need to consider Rev. 2 and 3. These chapters tell of Christ addressing His seven churches. Five churches Christ corrects and tells them what they need to change. Two of His churches were in harmony and didn’t need any correction. Smyrna and Philadelphia. These two churches are the only ones mentioned who know and taught that there were those who claim to be Jews but were not. Does that mean that those that were born into the nation of Judah ( physically ) couldn’t have the oracles of God? Of course not.
Our heavenly Father is only talking about a changing of heart and mind. There is no one born of the flesh who has a head start. One doesn’t have to be
of a special heritage– doesn’t need exceptional intelligence – have a lot of money or be some ones church favorite and so on. God is completely fair with all His children. The key to it all is love. Let the Apostle John explain: John 4:19, “ We love Him because He first loved us”. When? He gave Himself as a living sacrifice for us. He became our Passover. You can’t buy, order or command love. It is not in some building or ceremony but comes from within
each individual and flows to our Father first and then out to others. This is the reason for the first commandment. God is not on some ego trip. He teaches us how to love in a grander way and at the same time solves problems in our lives and the lives of others when it is appropriate.
Hosea 6:6, “For I desire mercy (love) and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings”.
The men of God recorded for us the true oracles (teachings) of God and were used by God for our learning.