2 Corinthians 6 -- The Story of Hanukkah

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1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

This is the story of Hanukkah. They were greatly outnumbered, had no chance of winning, but God heard them and helped them.

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. This is what started it all. Antiochus and his soldiers were requiring Jews to sacrifice pigs and eat them. That is a stumbling block to the Jews. 4 Rather, as servants of God Mattathias was a priest to God and his sons stood up against the soldiers. we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God;with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.

The “rebellion” lasted for 3 years. Paul is comparing the hardships of the Maccabeans to the hardships in the New Testament ministry. You could also compare these to the tribulation which will have a 3 year period in there when the two witnesses (the two lampstands) testify.

 

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13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Fair exchange? This is the deal of the ages! Take a stand for the Lord in this age prior to the tribulation and you could be raptured before it and avoid it. You have a choice, three years of great tribulation, or a lifetime of the tribulation we see with those who take a stand for the Lord.

14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

This is what the entire festival of Hanukkah commemorates and why it is a festival of “rededication”. The Syrian Greeks were trying to force the Jews to be yoked together with unbelievers.

15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

We see this same battle today. In our public schools the unbelievers and the wicked realized immediately there was no fellowship and so they worked to get rid of prayer and the Bible. They then attacked the pledge of allegiance for saying “one nation under God” and they attacked the celebration of religious holidays. They then pushed on attacking marriage and even sexual identity. Abortion became a major issue, handing out birth control to kids without the parents knowledge, and repudiating the Christian heritage of this country followed.

16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.

As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Amen. This is our goal. This is the destination of our Christian journey.