Consider Him: A Study of Hebrews 1-13

Consider Him A study of HEBREWS 1 - 13

Written by Tom Kelby Original illustrations, layout and design by Mark Yaeger

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Copyright© 2005 by Hands to the Plow, Inc. Published by Hands to the Plow, Inc. P.O. Box 567 • Webster, WI 54893 715-349-7185 First printing, 2005 ISBN: 1-930914-06-7 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. Unless otherwise indicated, “Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of The Zondervan Corporation.” The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked “Amplified” are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright© 1965, 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright© 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked “Phillips” are from The New Testament in Modern English Translated by J.B. Phillips, © J.B. Phillips 1958

I dedicate this book to my wife, Sarah Anne Kelby – a true lover of God and reflector of his glory. The paths you walk are marked with ever increasing beauty and grace. I love you. - TK

I dedicate this book to my friend, Tom Ahrendt. Thank you for introducing me to Jesus. You were a great friend growing up and you are an encouragement, as a brother, now. Thank you. - MY

ABOUT THE COVER There has been a long standing discussion concerning the book of Hebrews. Who actually penned it and who was the initial audience? Although it seems that we may never know, we do know the theme of this epistle – Jesus. The writer clearly explains the superiority of Jesus Christ and the new and completely sufficient covenant from God. The writer was trying to convince his Jewish audience that they must not abandon Christ and fall back into Judaism. When we first began to conceptualize the cover we had already determined that the overall design was going to mimic the Romans study, which had been previously produced. We wanted the cover to tell part of the story behind the scene. The main issue was the composition of the illustration. I first tried to envision who the initial recipients of this letter might have been. How did they react to this letter? Were they all in agreement? Did they experience feelings of resentment or maybe feelings of conviction? I imagined that the letter may have first been delivered to one of the writer’s trusted friends – a church father among the Hebrew Christians. He could have been the first to fully grasp the exhortation plainly spelled out. He then gathered together a small group of the church elders to reveal this written plea. This is purely subjective, but I could see how the elders might have reacted quite differently to the contents. One man (seated with hand on his head) may have been completely convicted as the words spilled out. This man definitely knew the truth and that he had strayed from it. This letter was his call to turn his eyes back upon Jesus and to keep them there. That most definitely meant a change in his life forever. Another (standing at the right) may have been somewhat stoic. He may have desired the security and comfort of the old ways of Judaism and felt a great deal of bitterness towards the author. And still another (looking out the window in the back) may have been more concerned with his safety. Following Christ has always been a dangerous undertaking. That was certainly the case during this time period. Judaism, while offering no spiritual life, at least offered a respite from persecution. The price of choosing to focus all his attention on Christ was, for this man, too great a price to pay. I wonder, given their circumstances, how I may have initially reacted? The back cover illustration is a depiction of what the letter may have looked like when it was first delivered to the Hebrews. I owe a great deal of thanks to my friend, John Guist. He enlisted the help of three other men from Victory Vineyard Church in Burnsville, Minnesota to accomplish a photo study for the finished artwork. John also used his discerning eye for detail to help bring the overall feel of the composition to life. Thanks, brother. As always, all glory to God.

Thank you Father,

PREFACE I shall not forget my first sight of Mont Blanc, towering up beyond the Chamonix Valley, king among Alpine giants, crowned with a sun-transfigured majesty. One may well feel a similar, reverential wonder with this transcendent “Epistle to the Hebrews” opening up to view. It is one of the greatest two theological treatises in the New Testament.1 With these words, J. Sidlow Baxter introduces his study of the book of Hebrews. Christians throughout history would attest, along with Baxter, that the book of Hebrews is exceptional. Like the book of Romans, the other great theological work Baxter is referring to, Hebrews is a towering giant among the New Testament books, opening breathtaking new vistas to the reader. It is almost as if, upon climbing this “king among Alpine giants”, we are able to see the surrounding mountains of Scripture much more clearly. There is much that is not known about the actual writing of the book of Hebrews. We may surmise a great deal, but that is a far different thing than knowing. For instance, in spite of the seemingly conclusive title you will find in the King James Version of the Bible, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews,” the authorship is very much unknown. There are many good theories, some of which we will discuss in the introduction, but no proof. Information about the recipients is equally unknown. The original recipients were obviously Jewish. But who were they and where did they live? Scholars have wrestled over these questions for centuries. What is known about this book is its theme. Of the 66 books in the Bible, none, save the gospels, focuses on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ as unblinkingly as the book of Hebrews. The writer seldom focuses attention elsewhere. Indeed, even the church itself, the theme of so many New Testament letters, is rarely seen here. This book is very weighty (not at all meaning that it is beyond the reach of the ordinary Christian). It is weighty in the sense that it is dense. Each chapter is like a very wet sponge. Throughout these next weeks we will be wringing these chapters out together. My prayer is that what we have squeezed out of the letter will, at the same time, be absorbed into our lives. I would encourage you to make the very most out of these next weeks. Feast on these chapters, not as an end in themselves, but as revealers of the Lord Jesus. After all, it is not a book we are called to know and to love. We are called into a relationship with a person! Let us go then to the mountain of Hebrews, and find and worship our Lord together!

Tom Kelby February 16, 2004

1

J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book, Volume Six (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975), p. 259.

INTRODUCTION Before we begin looking at the book itself, let us briefly consider five questions: 1. Who wrote the letter? 2. To whom was the letter written? 3. When was the letter written? 4. Why was the letter written? 5. How does the letter fit into the New Testament? The answers to some of these questions will likely prove unsatisfactory, but will at least give us a good starting place for our work.

1. WHO WROTE THE LETTER? The book of Hebrews stands alone in the New Testament as the only book without sufficient evidence to name the author with some degree of certainty. It was certainly not intended to be anonymous. The original recipients clearly knew who the author was. However it is anonymous to us today. This anonymity, however, in no way takes away from the authority of the letter. Hebrews was, like the other 65 books in the Bible, “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). The early Christian scholars did not allow its anonymity to debar it from canonicity; they recognised in it, as we ourselves do, the imprimatur of unique and authoritative inspiration. None the less, there is an intriguing halo continually clinging about this question as to who wrote it; and someone is sure to ask us, “What do you think about it? Was Paul the author? Or did someone else write it?”2 If you are reading a King James Bible, please notice the title of this book, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.” This title, however, does not prove that Paul was the author of this great book. The title was not in the original manuscript. In fact, in my Thompson Chain Reference Bible I find this somewhat amusing note right next to the title endorsing Pauline authorship: “Authorship uncertain, commonly attributed to Paul.” Did Paul write this letter? Many respected scholars would say yes. Warren Wiersbe neatly summarizes the arguments favoring Pauline authorship: The writer is obviously a Jew. 1:2, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, etc. He also identifies himself with Timothy. The writer has been in prison. 10:34, 13:19. The matter seems to be settled by 2 Peter 3:15-18 where Peter clearly states that Paul had written to the same people Peter wrote to, the Jews of the dispersion. (1 Peter 1:1, 2 Peter 3:1) Furthermore, Peter calls Paul’s letter Scripture. Now if Paul wrote an inspired letter to the Jews scattered abroad and that letter has been lost, then a part of God’s inspired eternal word has been destroyed and this is impossible. The only writing in Scripture that is addressed to Jews and is not credited to another author is Hebrews. Conclusion – Paul must have written Hebrews. Those who argue that the style and vocabulary are not typical of Paul must bear in mind that writers are free to adapt their style and vocabulary to their readers and topics.3 Some would argue that Paul originally wrote the epistle in the Hebrew language, but another writer, most likely Luke, translated it into Greek. This might explain the book’s Pauline thinking but non-Pauline writing style. This is the view advanced by Ray Stedman in his book on the book of Hebrews titled, What More Can God Say?. It is my own conviction that the apostle Paul wrote it in Hebrew while he was in prison those two years in Caesarea, after his visit to Jerusalem; that it was translated by Luke into Greek; and that Luke’s Greek translation is the copy that has come down to us today.4 For as many arguments for Pauline authorship of Hebrews, there are at least as many against. The most significant of these arguments is undoubtedly style. The Greek used in the book of Hebrews is more polished and refined than that found in any of Paul’s recognized epistles. Origen, the third century Bible scholar, noted the difference.

2

J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book, Volume Six (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975), p. 274.

3

Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Victor Cook Communications, 1992), pp. 674-675.

4

Ray C. Stedman, What More Can God Say? (Glendale, CA: Regal Books, 1974), p. 3.

The style of the Epistle with the title, “To The Hebrews,” has not that vulgarity of diction which belongs to the apostle [Paul], who confesses that he is but common in speech, that is, in his phraseology. But that this epistle is more pure Greek in the composition of phrases, every one will confess who is able to discern the difference of style.5 The writer of Hebrews generally refers to the Lord in the singular – (Christ; Jesus; the Son), while Paul preferred using compound titles when talking about the Lord – (Christ Jesus). Those who argue against Pauline authorship would also point out the fact that Paul begins each of his epistles with his name. The writer of Hebrews did not include his name or any sort of greeting. In addition, Paul commonly used both the Hebrew text and the Septuagint when quoting from the Old Testament. The writer of Hebrews quotes exclusively from the Septuagint, which was a Greek translation of the Old Testament. Some have suggested that this possibly indicates that the author did not know Hebrew. I am not convinced that this is so. I believe the writer used the Septuagint because it was the translation the Holy Spirit chose for this letter. Some would also argue that the book of Hebrews focuses on Christ’s present priestly ministry, but Paul’s writings have very little to say about the present work of Christ. Therefore, according to many, the writing must not be his. My personal belief is that this is not a convincing argument against Pauline authorship. Paul’s letters were written, typically, to address the issues in a specific city or region. The mere fact that Paul did not present these truths in another epistle does not prove anything. Paul wasn’t limited in this thinking. He definitely knew the truths presented in these chapters. None of these arguments conclusively prove that Paul did not write Hebrews. But, at least to many, they do cast enough doubt on Pauline authorship as to leave the question unanswered. But if Paul didn’t write the book of Hebrews, who did? The list of those proposed as possible authors is long, including Philip, Apollos, Barnabas, Silas, Aquila and Priscilla (or just Priscilla), or Clement of Rome. While each name is intriguing, proof is lacking. There is simply no conclusive evidence about the identity of the author. It will likely remain a mystery until we one day see our Lord face to face. The fact that we do not know the author does not mean that we do not know about the author. We can learn a great deal about the author from the letter itself. First, the author was a man. This is indicated by the “masculine participle die-goumenon (“to tell”) used of the author in 11:32”.6 This would eliminate Priscilla as a possible candidate. Second, the author was a Jew. In Hebrews 1:1 the author identifies himself with the ancient Jews, stating, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets …”. The phrase “our fathers” indicates that the author’s ancestors were Jewish. In addition to this, the writer was very familiar with the Jewish sacrificial system, which would, again, point toward Jewish authorship. Third, this wasn’t an anonymous letter. Hebrews was written by a known leader to a specific group of Christians. They knew who wrote the letter. In chapter 13, the author asks for prayer that he might be “restored to you the sooner” (verse 19). Most likely this means that the author was in prison. The author indicates that he knew Timothy (verse 23), and deemed it important to tell these Christians that Timothy had been released from prison. Fourth, the writer was not an eyewitness of Christ’s earthly ministry. [H]ow shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard … Hebrews 2:3 ESV Notice, the author indicates that he heard the message from others who themselves heard the Lord’s own words. This fact may speak against Pauline authorship of the text, for Paul consistently stated that he had seen and spoken with the Lord.

2. TO WHOM WAS THE LETTER WRITTEN? Bible scholars agree that the letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians. This is evident from the repeated references to the Jewish temple and sacrificial system and the author’s reference to “our fathers” in verse one. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets ... Hebrews 1:1 ESV

5

The New Testament and Wycliffe Bible Commentary (New York: The Iverson Associates, 1971), p. 899.

6

Leon Morris, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981), p. 7.

In context, the phrase “our fathers” refers to the fathers of the Jewish people. Obviously the author would not have used this phrasing if he were speaking to Gentiles. But while it is evident that the book was written to Hebrew Christians, it is not known exactly who these Jewish Christians were. Did they live in Jerusalem, as many scholars would argue, or perhaps in Rome, as perhaps more scholars might believe?

3. WHEN WAS THE LETTER WRITTEN? The letter must have been written prior to 70 AD (the year of the temple’s destruction by the Romans), because the author makes repeated references to the temple and the work currently going on there. If the temple had already been destroyed, the author would have been forced to refer to the temple, the priesthood and the sacrifices in the past tense, rather than in the present.

4. WHY WAS THE LETTER WRITTEN? While nothing is conclusively known about the physical conditions of the recipients, much is known about their spiritual condition. Spiritually, they had “feeble arms and weak knees” (Hebrews 12:12). In other words, they were in grave spiritual trouble. Like a ship with a large hole in the hull through which water is pouring and which is about to sink to the bottom, the Hebrew Christians were listing to one side and were about to sink back into the cold waters of Judaism. I imagine the author wrote this letter in great haste. It was not meant to be an interesting book for the Hebrew Christians to read. It was the patch for their spiritual hulls. I’m sure the letter arrived just in time. The author doesn’t overwhelm the Hebrew Christians with “kind” words. He is addressing people in trouble, and this is a warning cry, not an invitation to tea. The letter’s focus on the superiority of Jesus and on the perfection of his work indicates that the recipients were wavering in their convictions about our Lord and the salvation he purchased for all men by his death, burial and resurrection. These Christians, like so many today, had let go of their firm belief in the finished work of Christ and were, through carelessness, drifting away. Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1 ESV Persecution only increased this exodus from simple trust in Christ alone. For these first century Hebrew Christians, the persecution was from fellow Jews. The pressure these Christians faced was to return to the law and the sacrificial system. Today, the persecution comes from different sources, but the result is the same – weak Christians being blown and tossed by the winds. The writer of Hebrews was addressing Christians who should have been far better acquainted with their Lord. They should have known the truths of Scripture. They should have been leading others to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. They should have been making disciples in obedience to our Lord’s command. Sadly, this was not the case. About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14 ESV Spiritual infancy is not a bad thing for those who are truly newly born in Christ. However, healthy babies grow. If they do not, something is wrong. And this is one of the great problems in the church today. Babies are not growing. The knowledge of Christ Jesus that we need for conversion does not suffice for growth, for progress, for sanctification, for maturity.7 Perpetual spiritual infancy has been a problem from the time of the first Christians to today. Beliefs are not held strongly enough to enable the Christian to resist the outside pressures that pull away from Christ.

7

Andrew Murray, The Holiest of All (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1996), p. vi.

Jesus knew we would have a tendency toward spiritual infancy, and he did something about this great need. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV Jesus purposely placed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in the body of Christ to address the very issue the Hebrew Christians were dealing with. The goal of our faith is not merely that we “go to heaven.” We are to grow into “mature manhood.” The purpose of this study is no different than the purpose of the book of Hebrews: to ground us in our faith and move us on to maturity. In other words: that we might know Jesus.

5. HOW DOES THE LETTER FIT INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT? J. Sidlow Baxter, in his expansive work, Explore the Book in One Volume, comments on the overall structure of the New Testament, specifically, those books following Acts. Notice the significance he places on the placement of the book of Hebrews within the New Testament. We have now left the Gospels and the Acts, and are at the Epistles. There are twenty-two of these, if we include the Book of Revelation as an epistle (which it really is, according to the opening verses); and they break up into three groups. First there are the nine Christian Church Epistles (Romans to 2 Thessalonians). Next there are the four Pastoral and Personal Epistles (1 Timothy to Philemon). Finally, there are the nine Hebrew Christian Epistles (Hebrews to Revelation). There are noteworthy correspondences between the two ninefold groups, as we have pointed out earlier in this course of studies. Each group begins with a great doctrinal treatise – in the one case Romans, in the other case Hebrews. Each ends with an “apocalypse” or unveiling of the future in relation to the return of our Lord Jesus – in the one case Thessalonians, in the other case the Book of the Revelation. All the nine “Church” epistles, as the name implies, are written to Christian churches. Not one of the nine “Hebrew Christian” epistles is written to a church. Those nine are Christian epistles, but their aspect and atmosphere are peculiarly Hebrew.8 This is a book like none other. Originally written to the Hebrew Christians in the first century, it has blessed, encouraged and strengthened every believer who has ever opened its pages with a hungry heart. May the same be true for us. With that said, let’s move on to Hebrews 1. Great revelation awaits us there!

8 J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book – Six Volumes in One: Volume Six (Grand Rapids, MI: Zonervan Publishing House, 1975), p. 55.

HOW TO USE THIS STUDY There are four parts to this twelve-week study: Scripture reading, study questions to answer, study notes to read, and a weekly journal to record insights the Holy Spirit has taught you. All four are important. You will not get nearly as much out of this study if you skip any of the four. Also, do the lessons in order. The writer builds on his arguments in each chapter. We need to follow the process the writer follows, for we will miss basic truths that are foundational to our understanding if we jump ahead. Here’s how I would recommend using this book: On day one of each week, read the appropriate chapter(s) of Hebrews we have printed in the book. We have printed the actual chapters in this study book for three main reasons. First, we believe you will be able to more freely write notes and questions in the margins, which is something you may not be comfortable doing in your “everyday” Bible. Second, most Bibles break down the chapters for the reader, even titling the different sections. We have printed the chapters without these breaks as it is important that you dissect the chapter for yourself. Finally, many Bibles include study notes. These are helpful, but they can keep you from “wrestling” with the passage yourself. Read the chapter(s) slowly. Once you have read through the chapter, read it through a second time. God has a great deal he would like to show you in his word. As you read, ask the Lord for wisdom. Why is this chapter significant? What is the truth the writer is trying to get across in this chapter? How do the thoughts in this chapter relate to those in the chapters before it? We have printed the chapters with enough spacing so that you have the room necessary to write your thoughts and questions regarding the chapter, however, do no writing your first time through the chapter. Simply read the chapter slowly. Your second read-through of the chapter should be different. This time, pay close attention to the themes the writer is developing. Circle repeated words or phrases. Underline major themes. Break the chapter down into smaller sections and title these sections. Write down other verses that relate to truths the writer is teaching in this chapter. Avoid the use of a Bible commentary or the notes in a study Bible at this point. Do the work yourself. The Lord will give you wisdom. On days two through five, answer the study questions. The questions will often bring you to other passages that will further illuminate the verses you are studying. On day six, read the study notes. These notes will give you my perspective on the chapter. Oftentimes in the notes you will find verses referred to, but not printed. These verses are important. Please take the time to look these verses up. It will help you in your overall understanding of Scripture. Finally, after you’ve read the notes, write down any truths the Holy Spirit has taught you over the previous week. You will find an additional section for notes in the back of this book.

Week One HEBREWS 1

WEEK One HEBREWS 1

DAY ONE Read Hebrews 1 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 1 1In

the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father” ? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ? 6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.” 8But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” 10He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” 13To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” ? 14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 1:1-4 Using these verses, describe the Son as completely as possible. Who is he? (You will find at least nine truths about the Son listed here.) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

12

How does Colossians 1:15-20 describe the Son? What similarities do you find between these two passages? Any differences?

WEEK ONe HEBREWS 1

How do these truths add to or change your understanding of who the Son is?

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 1:4-14 Throughout the chapter the Son is compared with the angels. How is the Son different from the angels? How is he superior to the angels?

What is the angels’ opinion of the Son? How do they regard him? How do they regard themselves in comparison to the Son? Luke 1:26-33

Luke 2:8-14

Revelation 5:11-12

Revelation 19:9-10

Revelation 22:8-9

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WEEK One

The apostle Paul mentions an unusual fact about the saints’ relations with the angels in the future. What is it? 1 Corinthians 6:3

HEBREWS 1

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 1:5-14 In verses five through 14 the author quotes God himself seven different times. In these verses how does God describe the Son?

What are the titles he uses for the Son?

How would you answer someone who said that the Bible never teaches that Jesus is God? Use the following verses, along with the verses in Hebrews 1, to formulate your answer. Hebrews 1 (multiple verses)

Matthew 1:20-23

John 1:1,18

John 8:48-59 (see Exodus 3:13-14 in connection with this passage)

John 10:30

John 14:6-10

Romans 9:5

14

Philippians 2:5-6

WEEK ONe HEBREWS 1

Why is this truth significant?

Why might Satan hate this truth?

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 1 The author, in this chapter, does not use the name “Jesus” when referring to Jesus. Why do you think the author uses the names and titles he uses in this chapter instead of “Jesus”?

How do the titles he uses for Jesus add to your understanding of who he is?

What verse was especially meaningful to you in this lesson and why?

DAY SIX Read the study notes.

HEBREWS 1 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. John 1:10 If you have ever known someone for a time before you realized who he or she really was – perhaps a person you thought of as “an ordinary neighbor” before someone told you that this person was a famous war hero, sports hero or the inventor of some famous machine or product – you have something of an idea of how the Hebrew Christians felt about Jesus. They knew him, but at the same time, they did not know him.

15

WEEK One HEBREWS 1

Their lack of knowledge of the Son of God had led to a lack of interest in the Son of God that led to drifting away from the Son of God. The remedy to this problem is simple. The Hebrew Christians’ attention must be turned toward the Son. They must see him as he is. That is why, from the very first sentence, the author focuses all his attention on convincing his readers of the absolute supremacy of God’s Son. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2 The author begins by noting the great difference between “the past” and “these last days”. The past is the time before Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. At that point, everything changed. Jesus ushered in a new age described by the author as “these last days”. One difference between these two time periods is how God has spoken. In the past, God spoke through the prophets “at many times and in various ways”. Notice, God spoke to the forefathers through the prophets. The prophets’ words were not their own. They spoke God’s words. But what did God speak to the prophets about? He primarily spoke to them about Jesus. Jesus is the central theme of prophecy.1 “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10 Why would God speak to the prophets about Jesus? Because God loves people and wants to have a relationship with them (John 3:16). However, no one can come to God except through Jesus (John 14:6). This is why God spoke to the prophets; that the people might be drawn to Jesus and, through Jesus, come to himself. But this testimony about Jesus from the lips and pens of the prophets was not enough. For as much as the prophets knew about God’s Son, there was much they did not know. The Old Testament had been given in pieces. To Noah was revealed the quarter of the world from which Messiah would come. To Micah, the town where He would be born. To Daniel, the time of His birth. To Malachi, the forerunner who would come before Him. To Jonah, His resurrection was typified. Every one of those pieces of revelation was true and accurate; and each one related to the others in some way or another. And each one in some way or another pointed to the Messiah, the Christ. But only in Jesus Christ Himself was everything brought together and made whole. In Him the revelation was full and complete.2 Like John the Baptist, the prophets came “to testify concerning that light” (John 1:7), however, they were not the light themselves. That is why, “in these last days”, God has spoken to us by the Son. He is the “true light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9). Jesus so perfectly brings forth God’s truth, he is called “the Word” (John 1:1). Jesus is God’s last Word to mankind. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 But the Son is far more than just God’s chosen spokesman for these last days. In the next three verses, the author goes on to list eight additional truths about the Son. This is not an academic study of the Son. A proper understanding of these truths was essential for the Hebrew Christians to live victorious lives. We are no different from the Hebrews. A proper understanding of these truths is absolutely essential for the Christian today to live a victorious life.

TRUTH #1 THE SON HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY GOD AS HEIR OF ALL THINGS.

1

2

Jesus himself said that the Scriptures testified about him. See Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44-47; John 5:39. John MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Hebrews (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1983), pp. 6-7.

16

… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things … Hebrews 1:2 Jesus is not God the Father’s firstborn in the sense that God birthed him. The Son is eternal. He is his “firstborn” in the sense that he is God the Father’s heir, with all the rights and privileges of a firstborn son. He is the heir of all God possesses, which is everything. It is his. The prophet Daniel saw a vision of Jesus coming into his inheritance.

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

WEEK ONe HEBREWS 1

As heir, Jesus has been given “authority, glory and sovereign power”. Jesus said this in Matthew 28:18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me”. This authority is total and it is permanent. As Daniel notes in verse 14, his dominion “will not pass away”. Dominion is, among other things, the “Power to direct, control, use and dispose of at pleasure”.3 How did Jesus attain this position as heir? According to verse two God appointed him heir. This truth echoes throughout the Bible. “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” 1 Corinthians 15:27 ESV The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. John 3:35 ESV “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” Psalm 2:8-9 “All that belongs to the Father is mine …” John 16:15 Perhaps you haven’t seen the Son as heir. You have seen him as Savior, which he is, but have not recognized him as heir. As heir, Jesus has a right to every last inch of ground on this planet for it is his possession. He has a right to every last person on this planet, for they are his. No man may keep him from his inheritance. No government may shut him out. The one who owned nothing while he was on earth has been given full and rightful ownership of everything, and he will soon take full possession and control of everything, for it is rightfully his.4 What a glorious day that will be!

TRUTH #2 THE UNIVERSE WAS MADE BY GOD THROUGH THE SON. Jesus is far more than just the heir. As the eternal Son, he played a central role in the creation of the inheritance itself. … and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:2 This verse sheds light on Genesis 1. When God created the universe, he didn’t act alone. He created the universe through the Son.5 This same truth appears throughout the Bible. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own,6 and his own people did not receive him. John 1:10-11 ESV …yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:6 Thus far, we have seen the Son as heir and as the one whom God created everything through. Both of these truths are summarized in Colossians 1:15-16. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16 ESV Notice, everything was created not only through him, but also for him. Why was the universe created? It was created for Jesus! As the one whom everything was created through, he is the first. As heir, he is the last. He is before all things and he is behind all things. He takes precedence in everything. Notice how God himself describes Jesus in Hebrews 1:10 -12.

3

Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.

4

As Christians, we are co-heirs with Christ. We are partakers in his inheritance! See Romans 8:17.

5

Through is a most significant word. It is repeatedly used in connection with our Lord Jesus Christ (see John 10:9; John 14:6; Romans 5; Ephesians 2:18).

6

The note on John 1:11 in the English Standard Version Bible indicates that the literal Greek reads that he came “to his own things.” When Jesus came to earth, he was coming to, as the note in the ESV goes on to say, “his own domain, or to his own people.” Again, we see that he is both heir and creator. English Standard Version Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2001).

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“In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” Jesus summarizes this truth about himself in the book of Revelation. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13

TRUTH #3 THE SON IS THE RADIANCE OF GOD’S GLORY. This next verse takes us into the very person of the Son. This is who he is. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory … Hebrews 1:3 A distinction is made here between God’s glory, which is his goodness – his very essence,7 and the radiance of God’s glory. The distinction may be compared to the difference between the sun and the sun’s light, or between a diamond and the diamond’s sparkle. They are different, yet they are impossible to separate. God’s glory is perfectly expressed through the Son. He is the radiance of God. We will see this truth lived out for us when one day, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we inhabit the New Jerusalem. Carefully read the following verses to see how the city receives its light. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. Revelation 21:23-24 The Father gives the New Jerusalem light, but the Lamb, that is, Jesus, is the lamp. The light comes through the lamp. In other words, God’s light is always expressed through Jesus. Just as the rays of the sun light and warm the earth, so Jesus Christ is the glorious light of God shining into the hearts of men. Just as the sun was never without and cannot be separated from its brightness, so God was never without and cannot be separated from the glory of Christ. Never was God without Him or He without God, and never in any way can He be separated from God. Yet the brightness of the sun is not the sun. Neither is Christ God in that sense. He is fully and absolutely God, yet is a distinct Person.8 Jesus is the radiance of God’s light. If the world is to receive God’s light, it must also receive Jesus, for God’s light can only be seen in him. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

TRUTH #4 THE SON IS THE EXACT IMPRINT OF GOD’S NATURE. The Son is so like the Father he is described as the exact imprint of his nature. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:3 ESV While the Father and Son are different, at the same time, there is no difference between the two. When you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father. Jesus’ disciples greatly desired to see the Father. What they didn’t know was that they had already seen the Father – in Jesus. Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:9 7

See Exodus 33:18 – Exodus 34:8 for an excellent passage on God’s glory.

8

John MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Hebrews (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1983), p. 15.

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Do you want to know what the Father is like? Look at Jesus and you will have found your answer. Whatever Jesus did in the gospels, God the Father was also doing. Whatever Jesus said, God the Father was also saying. Jesus is the exact imprint of his nature. Those who know Jesus also know the Father.

TRUTH #5 THE SON UPHOLDS THE UNIVERSE BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER. Nothing would exist without the Son. Everything was created through him. More than that, nothing would continue without the Son. He sustains all things by his powerful word.

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He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:3 ESV What is the “word of his power”? It is the word he applies to anything. For instance, in the beginning, the Son spoke a word regarding the light. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3 That word was enough to bring light into existence and to keep it in existence. Until the moment comes when the Son changes his word regarding the light, light will continue to shine. His powerful word is sustaining the light. Do you recognize the power Jesus holds? The entire universe is literally hanging on his every word.

TRUTH #6 THE SON SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDED PURIFICATION FOR SINS. Fortunately for mankind, the one with this incredible power, the Son, is no tyrant, for he is deeply in love with his Father and deeply in love with mankind. That is why he came to earth. That is why he died on the cross. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 The Son died so that you might live. His death on the cross speaks of humility, but it also speaks of great power. For what other man could, by his death, purchase life for untold millions? Jesus provided purification for sins. The fact that he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high indicates that he was successful in this task. There is power in the blood of Jesus!

TRUTH #7 THE SON IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY IN HEAVEN. By his deeds, we know the Son holds a power that is beyond compare. We also know it by his position - he is seated at the right hand of the “Majesty in heaven”. This is the seat of power. He took this position “after he had provided purification for sins”. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 Was the Son somehow inferior before this time? No. But there came a moment in time when he physically took his seat next to his Father in heaven. His work was done. He had humbled himself during his life here on earth, but his humiliation is now history. Christ is, at this very moment, seated at the right hand of God the Father. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

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TRUTH #8 WHEN THE SON SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY IN HEAVEN HE BECAME AS MUCH SUPERIOR TO THE ANGELS AS THE NAME HE HAS INHERITED IS SUPERIOR TO THEIRS. The Son has always been superior to the angels, of course, yet, when he was living on earth as a man, he was, for a few brief years, made lower than the angels. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 However, after “he had provided purification for sins”, Christ’s humiliation ended forever. When Christ sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven he became “as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” (verse 4). Notice, the Son is superior to the angels in two ways: 1. He is superior in person. 2. The name he inherited is superior. Why does the writer turn to the subject of angels at this point? It appears that he is attempting to prove the clear superiority of the Son over all those whom the readers would hold in high honor, even, perhaps, higher honor than the Lord Jesus. He has already proved the superiority of the Son over the prophets (verses 1-2). He now turns to the superiority of the Son over the angels. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? Hebrews 1:5 Did God ever say to an angel, “You are my Son” (verse 5)? No, he did not. Angels are servants (verse 7), but nowhere are they called God’s Son. The Son and the angels are incomparable. The Son is so vastly superior to the angels that God commands the angels to worship him. And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:6

9

See Exodus 20:3-6.

10 John 12:41 reads, “Isaiah … saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.” Exactly what Isaiah saw in regard to Jesus’ glory is recorded in Isaiah 6:1-5. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Isaiah called Jesus “Lord” in verse one. The seraphs called him “LORD Almighty” in verse three. Isaiah called him “the King, the LORD Almighty” in verse five. When “LORD” appears in the Old Testament spelled out with all capital letters, it refers to “Yahweh”. According to Isaiah, “Yahweh” and “Jesus” are one and the same!

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For those who wonder whether Jesus is God, this verse provides the answer. God the Father commands the angels to worship the Son. According to the first and second of the Ten Commandments,9 worship is reserved for God alone, yet here we find God himself commanding his angels to worship the Son. Angels, while remarkably powerful, are still nothing more than God’s servants. They are not God’s heir, not the radiance of his glory, and not worthy of worship. Indeed, when the Apostle John attempted to worship an angel (see Revelation 19:10 and 22:8-9), he was stopped and told to worship God. Jesus, on the other hand, never stopped anyone from worshiping himself (see John 9:38). God is infinite in knowledge. His understanding of the Son is unlimited. What does he say about his Son? The next six verses are God’s own words about the Son. But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Hebrews 1:8-9 ESV These verses, which were written by “the Sons of Korah”, may be found in Psalm 45:6-7. The words are a maskil, which is probably a song of some sort. This is God’s song of praise about Jesus! Notice the name God gives to the Son in this song. God calls him “God” (verse 8)! The Son is God himself! His throne will last forever and ever.10 This is good news for all his subjects, for unlike the dictators on earth who reign by unrighteousness, “uprightness” is the scepter of Jesus’ kingdom. His rule is noted for its righteousness. Jesus loved righteousness and hated wickedness, and because of this hatred of evil and love of the right, God anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness.

If you have ever wondered what Jesus is like, you now know. He is supernaturally glad. It is a dominant characteristic of his. Does this thought ever cross your mind? Do you ever imagine Jesus with a smile on his face? Or is he eternally upset at you, forever wishing you were somehow “better”? Make no mistake about it, he hates wickedness, but this is not what his subjects will notice as the predominant characteristic when they see him. We will see his gladness. He will be known for it.

WEEK ONe HEBREWS 1

Before we move on to verses ten through 12, read verse nine again, for in it we learn a secret about the trinity. “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” ESV Notice the phrase “God, your God”. Jesus is God: that fact is unmistakably clear. In these verses, God himself calls Jesus God. But here we learn that God the Father is the God of Jesus. How can this be? I cannot pretend to understand all the mysteries of the Trinity, yet it is clear that Jesus is God, God the Father is God and the Holy Spirit is God. As God, Jesus is not less than the Father in character, that is to say, in his essential makeup. Jesus is God. As God, there can be none superior. The same may be said for the Holy Spirit. Yet, in terms of function, place and job description, God the Father is greater than all. 1 Corinthians 15 provides a picture of how Jesus, even though he is God, willingly submits himself to God the Father. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Undoubtedly, we will know and understand far more about this when we are with the Lord himself. Today I see “but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully” (1 Corinthians 13:12). It is enough to know that Jesus is God, yet even he, as he made so clear while he was on this earth, is subject to God the Father. In verses ten through 12 we find God speaking more truth about the Son. “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” This quotation, taken from Psalm 102:25-27, provides more insight into the truth about the Son. Notice, God calls the Son, “Lord” (verse 10). He is more than the Son. He is the Lord. As Lord, he “laid the foundations of the earth” (verse 10). As Lord, he will roll up the heavens and the earth at the end of this age. The earth and heavens will change, but he never will. He is the same, and his years will never end. The Lord Jesus has scores of enemies. Many hate him. But these enemies are powerless to stand against him. All his enemies will become a footstool for his feet. To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Hebrews 1:13 Jesus came in humility at his first coming. He will not do so again. At his second coming he will be “revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). All his enemies will become his footstool. But what about his followers; what will we do at his coming? On that day he will “be marveled at among all those who have believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10). If we will marvel on that day, we should marvel on this day. This is why the author has focused all

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this attention on Jesus. A lack of wonder at the person of the Lord Jesus leads to drifting away from the Lord Jesus. We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 What place have you given Jesus? What position does he hold in your heart and mind? Is he merely your Savior? If so, you have not given him his rightful place. He is Savior, but he is much, much more than that. He is Son, he is heir, all things were created through him, he is the radiance of God’s glory, he is the exact imprint of God’s being, he upholds the universe by the word of his power, he is the purifier of sins, he is seated at the right hand of God, he is the victor over all his enemies, he is God, he is Lord, he is glad, and he is forever. I fear that we, like the Hebrew Christians, have drifted away from these truths. We have concentrated so heavily on Jesus as our Savior that we have neglected many other aspects of who he is. This lack of honor leads to a lack of faith. When Jesus ministered in his hometown of Nazareth, the people did not honor him. They did not recognize him for who he truly was. All they saw was the carpenter, the son of Joseph and Mary. Their lack of honor led to a lack of faith, which severely restricted the good work Jesus would have done in that place. Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:4-6 We must find our fascination in the Lord Jesus and give him the honor he deserves. Those who honor the Lord will be honored by the Lord11 and will receive from his hand. Those who lightly esteem the Lord will walk in perpetual defeat. I pray that today you will give the Lord Jesus all the honor he deserves, for he alone is worthy. “He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

11 See 1 Samuel 2:30.

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Week Two HEBREWS 2

WEEK two

DAY ONE

HEBREWS 2

Read Hebrews 2 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 2 1We

must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. 5It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 7You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8and put everything under his feet?” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.” 13And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” 14Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 2:1-4 According to verse one, there is a danger in not paying careful attention to “what we have heard”. What is this danger?

24

Basing your answer on Hebrews chapter one, what is it that we must pay more careful attention to?

WEEK two HEBREWS 2

How can you practically do this in your own life?

Those ignoring the angel’s messages received their “just punishment” (verse 2). Basing your answer on verses two and three, what response should the Christian expect from God when he or she ignores the “great salvation” found only in Jesus? See also Hebrews 12:5-11

Verses three and four list several different ways the salvation found in the Lord Jesus was made known. What are they?

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 2:5-9 According to verses seven through nine, Jesus was made “a little lower than the angels”. When did this happen?

Do you think the angels ever regarded Jesus as lower than themselves? See also Luke 1:26-38 and Luke 2:8-15

When was Jesus crowned with glory and honor? See also Acts 2:22-36, Acts 5:30-32 and Ephesians 1:19-23

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WEEK two HEBREWS 2

God put everything under the feet of Jesus (verse eight). There is not one thing that is not subject to him. Where does the church fit into this equation? Are we, too, under his feet? What is our relation to Christ and his authority? Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 2:6-7

In verse eight we read “at present we do not see everything subject to him”. When will we see everything subject to Jesus? 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 2:10-13 Verse ten indicates that God brought “many sons to glory”. What is a person’s relationship to God’s glory both before they know Christ and after? Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

(Personal) If you are a Christian, are you reflecting God’s glory in ever increasing measure (2 Corinthians 3:18)? Why or why not.

In verses ten through 13 the author describes the Christian with a variety of different titles or descriptions. What are they?

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 2:14-18 Why did Jesus have to come to earth as a man?

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In verse 17 we read that Jesus became a “merciful and faithful high priest”. Use the following verses to describe Jesus’ high priestly ministry.

WEEK two

Hebrews 4:14-15

HEBREWS 2

Hebrews 5:5-6

Hebrews 7:26-28

Hebrews 8:1-6

Hebrews 9:11-12

What was the benefit of Jesus’ suffering?

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter 2.

Hebrews 2 A WARNING - HEBREWS 2:1-4 A canoeist paddling upstream in a river has a much more difficult task than a canoeist paddling downstream. The one paddling upstream is permitted no rest. For the moment he stops paddling he drifts downstream, further away from his goal. The one paddling downstream has no such problem. He can rest or paddle. Either way, the canoe will travel in the desired direction. Spiritually speaking, the Hebrew Christians were supposed to be paddling upstream, against the spiritually dead current of the world. However, their paddles were not in the water. They were not fighting the current and moving toward their goal. They were resting with their paddles across their knees, and they were drifting with the spiritual current of the world, away from their goal and away from their Lord.1 Like a man standing on the shore shouting instructions to those in the river, the author warns the Hebrews that they are rapidly drifting downstream and in danger of crashing on the rocks. We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 Through carelessness, laziness and passivity, the Hebrew Christians had lost their focus on and fascination with the Son of God. They had looked away from him for too long, and his glory was no longer burned in their minds. In fact, his glory was slowly being replaced by inferior substitutes, such as angels.

1

This resting I am discussing here is different than the “rest” we are to enter into as God’s child and Christ’s brothers and sisters, which is covered in Hebrews 3 and 4.

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The author uses their attraction to angels to his own advantage in verses two and three. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? Hebrews 2:2-3 God has seen fit to use angels as his messengers throughout history. For instance, angels were instrumental in the giving of the law. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. Galatians 3:192 The angels’ words, because God originally gave them and they were therefore his words, were to be obeyed. Those who did not obey the angels’ words, as recorded in the law, were to be killed. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Hebrews 10:28 Now, if those who disobeyed the angels’ words received their “just punishment”, how much more will those who ignore the Son receive their just punishment? Ignoring Christ is ignoring the only escape offered. But this is precisely what the Hebrew Christians were in danger of doing! The Hebrew Christians were in great danger. They were about to crash on the rocks of judgment. “Wake up,” the author seems to be saying. “You listened with great attention to the law given by means of angels. You were dreadfully afraid of the judgment you would receive for ignoring their words, and rightly so. Why, then, are you ignoring the Son and the great salvation found only in him?” Why is it that Christians forget the greatness of the salvation found only in Jesus? Why do we ignore him? We certainly don’t have any reasonable excuse for doing so. We, like the Hebrew Christians, have been reminded of this truth by many different people. This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. Hebrews 2:3 Of course, Jesus himself announced, in many different ways, the greatness of this salvation. The claims he made about himself greatly shocked those who heard him. In fact, they often wanted to kill him because of the “audacity” of what he said. How, then, can we treat his words with indifference? But Jesus wasn’t alone in confirming the greatness of the salvation found in him. The people who heard Jesus confirmed the greatness of this salvation. As witnesses of Jesus and of the salvation found only in him, they passed this truth on to others. Each apostle took his role as a witness to his resurrection very seriously. Each one had seen all that he had done, “from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up” (Acts 1:22) and passed these truths on to those who would listen. In addition to the testimonies of Jesus and the apostles, God himself testified to the greatness of the salvation found only in Jesus. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:4 Every time we see a sign, wonder, miracle or gift of the Holy Spirit in operation it is God’s testimony of Jesus. God is pointing to his Son! This is exactly what happened when the crippled beggar was healed at the temple. Peter and John were the instruments God worked through, but God wasn’t pointing to Peter and John. He was pointing to Jesus. While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. Acts 3:11-13

2

See also Acts 7:38 and 53 and Deuteronomy 33:2 in regard to the angels’ involvement in the giving of the law.

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How could the Hebrew Christians ignore the Son? When we consider the number of ways his greatness had been testified to, it is hard to explain. They knew Jesus’ words. He had testified about himself. They had heard from those who themselves had heard Jesus. They testified about him. And they saw it demonstrated every time they saw God’s hand at work or a gift of the Holy

Spirit in operation. However, it is just as difficult to explain how we can ignore the Son. That’s why this letter was written. It’s a call back to the Son.

WEEK two

THE HUMILITY AND HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS - HEBREWS 2:5-18

HEBREWS 2

The first chapter focused on the glory of the Lord Jesus and his divine attributes. The next 13 verses take the reader in the opposite direction, focusing on the humble position Jesus took when he came to earth as a man. The author starts by looking at man in general and the position he is in when compared with angels. It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. Hebrews 2:5-8 The quote in verses six through eight is from Psalm 8:4-6. I don’t know the circumstances surrounding the writing of this Psalm, but I imagine that King David was outside, perhaps standing on a balcony in his palace, staring at the stars. As he stared, his thoughts took him from this world to the moon, to the stars, and to the Maker of all of them, the Lord himself, and his thoughts overwhelmed him. Why would God lavish all this attention on man? Why would God make the world to come subject to man? “What is man, that you are mindful of him, the son of man, that you care for him?” Considering the size of the universe, it is absolutely amazing that God even considers man at all. If you could somehow put 1.2 million earths inside the sun, you would have room left for 4.3 million moons. The sun is 865,000 miles in diameter and is 93 million miles from the earth. Our next nearest star, Alpha Centauri, is 5 times larger than our sun. The moon is only 211,463 miles away, and you could walk to it in 27 years. A ray of light travels at 186 thousand miles per second, so a beam of light would reach the moon in only 1 ½ seconds. If we could travel at that speed, it would take 2 minutes and 18 seconds to reach Venus, 4 ½ minutes to reach Mercury, 1 hour and 11 seconds to reach Saturn, and so on. To reach Pluto, 2.7 billion miles from earth, would take nearly 4 hours. Having gone that far, we would still be well inside our own solar system. The North Star is 400 trillion miles away, but is still nearby in relation even to known space. The star Betelgeuse is 880 quadrillion miles (880 followed by fifteen zeroes) from us. It has a diameter of 250 million miles, which is greater than that of the earth’s orbit.3 Why did the Lord Jesus make this universe? The surprising answer is that he made it all for the earth. And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the fourth day. Genesis 1:14-19 The universe was made for the earth. Now that we’ve answered that question, let’s pursue the next logical question. Why did God make the earth? The answer, we learn from Genesis One, is that he made it for man. God’s greatest creation is man. In all the vast expanses of the universe, we are the only creation made in God’s own image. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,

3

John MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Hebrews (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1983), pp. 14-15.

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WEEK two HEBREWS 2

and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seedbearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day. Genesis 1:26-31 Man was created to rule and reign. Today, we do not see man in the lofty position God planned for him. But that day will come. Creation is eagerly waiting for that day. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21 But while we do not see man in the place that God ultimately has for him, we do see Jesus in that place. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 For approximately 33 years, Jesus was made lower than the angels. He humbled himself by willingly taking on human flesh. The apostle Paul, in a beautiful passage that may have been an early church hymn or creed, reminded the church in Philippi of these same truths about our Lord. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 The Son became a man so that he might free men from the power of death and bring us to God. The belief that the Son of God literally came to earth as a man is absolutely critical to salvation. In fact, according to the apostle John, if one believes that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh, it is proof that he is not from God, but is under the control of the spirit of the antichrist. Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3 Jesus was born of a virgin, lived (approximately) 33 sinless years on earth, suffered, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. By the grace of God, Jesus tasted death for everyone (verse 9). He died so that you might live. As Jesus said in John 11:25 and 26, “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” D.L. Moody, the 19th century evangelist, understood this well. Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody, of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now, I shall have gone up higher, that is all; out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal – a body that death cannot touch; that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned

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like unto His glorious body. I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit will live forever.4

WEEK two HEBREWS 2

Eternal life is far more than just living forever. It is God’s life in you. God’s intent was that Jesus would bring man to the spot he has fallen so far short of – glory. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” Hebrews 2:10-13 Notice the words used in these verses to describe the Christian – “son”, “holy”, “family”, “brothers”. These are not cheap titles conferred on just anyone. God is truth. He will never speak something about you that is not true. These titles are conferred on Christians because they are true of Christians. God calls you a son because that is what you are. He calls you holy, because that is what you are. God calls you family because that is what you are. Jesus calls you brother because that is what you are. So many Christians do not know these truths. They know that Jesus died for them, but they do not know that they are holy. Holy means set apart. If you know Jesus Christ, you have been set apart from wickedness and all that defiles and you have been set apart to goodness. You have been made pure and spotless. This truth echoes throughout the New Testament. You are not “worthless” (Romans 3:12). Your heart is not “deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). You are not a sinner, although, even as a Christian, you will sin. You were all these things, but the moment you made Jesus your Lord, everything changed. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation … Colossians 1:21-22 Jesus has made every Christian holy. If you are a Christian, say it aloud, for it is the truth. “Because of the blood of Jesus, I am holy. I am no longer a sinner. I am a saint. Jesus is not ashamed to call me his brother. I am in the same family as Christ. I am a son of God.” God’s desire is not that you live the rest of your life under guilt and condemnation. His desire is that you would walk and live in freedom, enjoying the “rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29) that is the rightful property of all those who come to Jesus. Jesus came as a man because the ones he desires to help are men. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:14-18 Why did Jesus share in our humanity? It was certainly not because he needed to become a man. He shared in our humanity because we needed him to become a man. Since death entered through a man, namely Adam, life, also, could only enter through a man. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 1 Corinthians 15:21 Adam brought sin and spiritual death to all mankind (Romans 5:12). All have sinned, but in a deeper sense, all are sinners. It is our very nature. It was passed on to us from Adam. The only hope for man would be if God sent another Adam whom we could choose to relate to. He did this

4

William R. Moody, The Life of Dwight L. Moody by His Son (New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1900), introduction.

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WEEK two HEBREWS 2

when he sent Jesus. This is why 1 Corinthians 15:45 refers to Jesus as the last Adam. In Jesus, God was starting a new race. Just as the first Adam’s nature passed on to all who would follow him, so Jesus’ nature passes on to all who would follow him. Jesus shared in our flesh and blood so that by his death he might destroy the devil. This was prophesied in Genesis 3. God told the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). As promised, Jesus has crushed the head of the devil, freeing us from the bondage we have lived under. God’s desire is that you might be free. He brings no one into bondage. He is the releaser from bondage. Jesus came that he might “proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1). He sets people free. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 Satan brings people into bondage. Jesus unlocks the chains and sets them free to live life. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 Jesus did not give up his life for the angels. He gave up his life for “Abraham’s descendents”. Spiritually speaking, who are Abraham’s descendents? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 4. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring – not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God … Romans 4:16-17 If you are a Christian, you are Abraham’s descendent. And according to verse 16 of Hebrews two, Jesus’ help is reserved for Abraham’s descendents. Jesus could not provide help for us if he couldn’t “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15). But he can sympathize with our weaknesses. He experienced everything we experience except sin. It is easy to over-spiritualize Jesus’ life here on earth and forget that he was like us. He needed to sleep, needed to eat, and needed to breathe. He was tempted like us. He was teased and tormented. He knew what it was like to hunger and thirst. He suffered in many ways. In fact, Jesus was like us in every way, “yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). No one can say that Jesus does not understand. Why was Jesus made just like us? “[I]n order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God …” (Hebrews 2:17). Here we find the first use of the title “high priest” in the book of Hebrews. Not only that, it is the first time we find the title “high priest” used in relation to Jesus in the entire New Testament. As we study the book of Hebrews we will learn much more about priests. But for this chapter, it is enough to know that the idea behind the priesthood is basically one of mediation. Even the Hebrew term for priest (Cohen) denotes in its root-meaning “one who stands up for another, and mediates in his cause.”5 Mankind, on his own, cannot go directly to God. Because of sin, we need a mediator. That is why God established the priesthood.

5

Alfred Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services As They Were at the Time of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997), p. 64.

6

Merrill F. Unger, The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1988), p. 1032.

7

Merrill F. Unger, The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1988), p. 1029.

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In the precise terminology of the law it is used of one who may “draw near” to the divine presence (Ex. 19:22; 30:20), whereas others remain afar off, and it is usually applied to the sons of Aaron.6 The idea of a priesthood connects itself, in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, always more or less distinct, of sin. Men sense that they have broken a law. The power above them is holier than they are, and they dare not approach it. They crave for the intervention of one whom they can think of as likely to be more acceptable than themselves. He must offer up their prayers, thanksgivings, sacrifices. He becomes their representative in “things pertaining to God.”7 Many priests served at the temple, performing various tasks. The kohanim [priests] who were responsible for the daily service in the Holy Temple

were divided into 24 separate shifts made up of men who hailed from all parts of the land. The duration of each shift’s duties was for one week, when they would be entirely responsible for all of the daily functions in the Temple. Rather like military reservists, each priest would be expected to perform his obligatory period of service in the Temple. The shifts were further divided into six clans, or family branches, each serving for one day, but on the Sabbath all six clans worked together.8

WEEK two HEBREWS 2

But while there were many priests serving in the temple, there was only one high priest. The high priest didn’t serve for just a week. He served all year long. His priestly duties never ended. And the high priest was the only priest allowed to enter the Most Holy Place of the temple. The high priest’s function was to “make atonement for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). This means that it was the high priest’s responsibility to offer the sacrifices for sins that would enable men to draw near to God. In Hebrews 2, we learn that Jesus is our high priest. Like the high priest that served at the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus is always working on our behalf. He not only offered the sacrifice that enables us to draw near to God, he was the sacrifice that allows us to draw near to God. And to this day he is still serving as our high priest, working on our behalf. Such a high priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Hebrews 7:26 In a republic, which is the form of government found in the United States, people often question the motives of their representatives in government. They wonder, for instance, if their senator truly understands what life is like for the average person. More than that, they wonder if the senator even cares. Are they just looking out for themselves? Some probably are. But Christ is not like that. Because he lived as a man, he knows first hand all that you are going through and he represents you before God with that in mind. He is faithful to the duty he has been given. He perfectly fulfills his role as high priest. He is not a harsh high priest. He is merciful and kind. Even now, at this very moment, Jesus, your merciful and faithful high priest, is interceding for you. Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34 Why has the author spent so much time focusing on Jesus in these first two chapters? The reason, as I shared in the notes on chapter one, is because it matters how we see and receive him. The blessing we receive in our lives is directly related to the honor we give the Lord Jesus. Let me explain this by using an example from the book of Matthew. Here, Jesus explains an important principle in regard to this very issue. “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:40-42 If you honor a righteous man as a righteous man, you will receive a righteous man’s reward. If you honor a prophet as a prophet you will receive a prophet’s reward. Do you see the principle at work here? How you receive someone influences your own life.9 We may call this “the honor principle.” The honor principle is this: you will be rewarded in direct proportion to the honor you give the Lord or to his anointed servants. If you receive them as they really are, you will be rewarded accordingly. This leads us to a question. Do you honor the Lord Jesus? Do you receive him as he truly is? If you honor the Lord Jesus, and receive him as all that he truly is, you will be rewarded in direct proportion to that honor. People may call him a great teacher, but that is not all the honor that is due him. People may call him Savior, but even that is not all the honor due him. He is everything. Do you receive him as such? The Hebrew Christians were not giving the Lord Jesus the honor he deserved and they were drifting away. May this never be said of us. Oh Lord, open our eyes to the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ – fully God, fully man, first and last, beginning and end. Help us give him the honor and glory he alone deserves.

8

Chaim Richman, The Holy Temple of Jerusalem (Jerusalem: The Temple Institute & Carta, 1997), p. 20.

9

This principle applies to those the Lord sends as well. How do you receive your pastor, for instance? Do you receive him as the Lord’s anointed or as a hired worker? Your reward is based, a great deal, on the honor you give to those God sends to you.

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WEEK two

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

HEBREWS 2

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Week Three HEBREWS 3 & 4

WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

DAY ONE Read Hebrews 3 and 4 through twice. The first time through the chapters, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapters at this time. The second time through the chapters, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapters leave you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 3 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. 7So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. 10That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” 12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. 15As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” 16Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

HEBREWS 4 1Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” 4And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

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6It

still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 3:1-6 In verse one, the readers are commanded to do something in regard to Jesus. What is it?

Is this something you find yourself doing? In what specific ways do you or can you do this?

In verses two through six, Jesus is compared with Moses. Why do you think the author would need to prove Jesus’ superiority over Moses to the Hebrew Christians?

How is Jesus greater than Moses?

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WEEK three

Verse six describes Jesus as “a son over God’s house”. Who or what is God’s house?

HEBREWS 3 & 4 DAY THREE Read Hebrews 3:7-19 What is the Christian supposed to do in regard to hearing “his” voice?

Based on the context of the chapter and the book of Hebrews itself, whose voice is the Holy Spirit talking about?

What is the punishment for those who will not listen to this voice? Hebrews 3:11, 18-19

Do you believe this warning is applicable to Christians or to non-Christians? In other words, to whom is the author writing this warning? See Hebrews 3:1; 4:14

What were the heart conditions of those who were not permitted to enter God’s rest? See also Hebrews 4:2, 6

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 4:1-13 What is the common characteristic among those who enter God’s rest?

What did Jesus say he would do for the individual coming to him? Matthew 11:28-30

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Has this been the experience in your life?

WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

Why do you think so many Christians do not experience God’s rest?

Do you believe it is possible for a person to find true rest apart from God? See also Matthew 11:28-30, Exodus 33:14 and Psalm 62:1-5

What do you think God’s rest is?

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 4:14-16 In verse 14, Christians are encouraged to hold firmly to our faith for a specific reason. What is that reason?

As our high priest, Jesus went through the heavens (verse 14). What does this say about his ministry compared to the ministry of the earthly high priests? Hebrews 8:1-6; Hebrews 9:11-14

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WEEK three

In what ways was Jesus tempted just as we are? Hebrews 4:15; Luke 4:1-13

HEBREWS 3 & 4

Why is it important for the believer that Jesus experienced temptation? Hebrews 4:15

The author instructs his readers to “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (verse 16). What is the practical benefit for those who do this? See also Psalm 24:3-6

What is the God’s standard for those who would approach the throne of grace? Psalm 24:3-6

How can any Christian possibly meet this standard? Ezekiel 36:25-27; Colossians 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21

DAY SIX Read the study notes.

HEBREWS 3 & 4 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus … Hebrews 3:1 The author begins by reminding the Hebrew Christians to fix their thoughts on Jesus. The author is talking about a deliberate action they, and we, if we call ourselves Christians, must take. It does not happen by chance. We must choose to fix our thoughts on Jesus.

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If we fix our thoughts on Jesus, it is obvious that our thoughts cannot, at the same time, be fixed elsewhere. There can be many “rivals” in the Christian’s life which would divert from the attention belonging to Jesus. The author has already addressed two of the rivals that were diverting the Hebrew Christian’s attention from the Lord Jesus.

In chapter one verses one and two, the author proves Jesus’ superiority over the prophets. In chapter one verses four and following, he proves Jesus’ superiority over the angels. But with the dispatch of these two supposed rivals, the author is still not free to discuss all he would like, for there remained a rival of gigantic proportions whose presence was clouding the Hebrew Christians’ eyes, keeping them from focusing solely on Jesus. His name was Moses.

WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

Moses was, along with Abraham, regarded as the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. He was the only prophet with whom God spoke face to face (Numbers 12:6-8). God did wonders through Moses that had never been seen before in all of world history. Yet for all this, he was considered the most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3). All of this is good and commendable. However, by the time of Jesus’ ministry on earth, the Jews had placed Moses in an almost God-like position. In these first six verses of Hebrews three, then, the author quickly places Moses in his rightful position. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. Hebrews 3:3-6 The author does not denigrate Moses; he says that he was “faithful as a servant in all God’s house”. That is, as a servant in God’s house (verse 5), Moses was found faithful. A servant’s role is to prepare things for his master. Moses prepared things very well for his master. He set the table, if you will, for his master – the Lord Jesus. Notice that these verses do not describe Jesus as a servant in God’s house (even though he came to earth in the “very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). He is described as being “faithful as a son over God’s house” (verse 6). Jesus is over God’s house. Therefore, if you are a Christian, Jesus is over you, for we are God’s house.1 Do you know that? You are his possession. He can use you or not use you as he wills. If that thought makes you chafe a little, then you do not yet fully understand his place. Jesus is the eternal Son. Although he served, we must think of him as more than a servant. He is the Son. These verses, like so many we have seen in Hebrews to this point, are meant to wake the Hebrew Christians and clear the clouds from their eyes and the fog from their minds. By now, any readers of this letter hopefully have a different perspective of Jesus than they had just a few chapters earlier. The writer has been working hard to bring his readers, and that includes us, to the point where we esteem Jesus so highly that we will fix our thoughts on him. But once our thoughts are fixed on Jesus, we are still at a decision point. And this decision point is the subject of the final section in chapter three and most of chapter four.

The secret to entering God’s rest – Hebrews 3:7-4:13 As we focus on Jesus, we will hear his voice. And when he speaks, we must listen. If we do not, instead choosing to harden our hearts to the word of the Lord, we will miss the “rest” which always accompanies listening to the Lord. This is a critical passage of Scripture. Read each word carefully. The Holy Spirit has something important to teach us here. So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said:

1

If you are not a Christian, Jesus is also over you. He is your Lord whether you acknowledge his Lordship or not. Every knee will bow to Jesus (Philippians 2:1011).

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WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. Hebrews 3:7-19 Notice the first phrase in verse seven – “So, as the Holy Spirit says …”. The words that follow this phrase are actually the Holy Spirit’s words. His words are a warning. He warns us “if you hear his voice” (verse 7), not to harden your heart. Whose voice is the Holy Spirit talking about? From the preceding chapters’ focus on Jesus, it is clear that it must be Jesus’ voice the Holy Spirit has in mind. When we hear Jesus’ voice, we must not harden our hearts. Notice, this is an action that I have control over. When I hear the voice of the Lord, I choose whether I will listen or whether my heart will be hardened. Many have failed this simple test, hardening their hearts when they should have responded to the Lord. The number of those who have passed this test is very small. The ancient Israelites, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, failed this test. They hardened their hearts during the time of testing in the desert. They heard the Lord’s voice, but they would not obey that voice. Specifically, they would not obey his command that they go in and take the Promised Land.2 We must call the Israelites refusal to obey the Lord’s command what it was. It was much more than just disobedience. According to Deuteronomy 1:26, they rebelled against the Lord’s command. Rebellion is a most serious offence. In fact, according to the Old Testament, it is comparable to witchcraft.3 Like witchcraft, rebellion is an attempt to exert control over someone else. In this instance, the Israelites were attempting to control the Lord! They didn’t like his command and were attempting to force him to accept their will over his. Rebelling against the Lord always leads to the same result: a hardening of the heart. A hard-hearted person will never enter the rest of God. The ancient Israelites never entered God’s rest. In fact, he was so angry with that generation he made a solemn promise that they would never enter his rest. This is not just ancient history. The warning is for today. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts …” (verses 7-8). If we harden our hearts to the voice of Jesus we pay a terrible price; a price which is even greater than the price the Israelites paid when they could not enter the Promised Land. The price we pay for a hard heart is we do not enter God’s rest. Before we move on, let us consider God’s rest itself. The Greek word for rest is not complicated. It simply means, “a causing to cease”.4 The idea is of someone who has been struggling and striving, coming to a place where they need to struggle no more. The struggle is ended not because of defeat, but because the person has been placed over the problem or situation they were struggling with and are now resting on top of it as victors.

2

See Deuteronomy 1:26-36.

3

See 1 Samuel 15:22-23.

4

W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996), p. 529.

5

The author further confirms that his readers were Christians with the statement – “fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess” (Hebrews 3:1). The readers were, according to the author, confessors of Jesus.

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It is easy to think that this rest must be heaven, but it is not. The author is not talking about eternal life or heaven here. He is not warning people in general to listen to God or they will miss heaven. We must remember that the author is writing to Christians. He calls the recipients of this letter “holy brothers” in Hebrews 3:1. No one may be called holy except those who have put their trust in Jesus.5 All who have done so have received eternal life. It is now within them. Eternal life is not a trinket which demands constant attention so that it is not lost in a moment of carelessness. But while the Christian’s eternal destiny is decided when he puts his trust in Jesus, his earthly destiny is not. The author is talking about the Christian’s earthly destiny. In chapters three we find several clues about this rest itself: First, it is God’s rest (Hebrews 3:11 and 18). We are not called to find or create our own rest. Indeed, there exists no true rest apart from God’s rest. We enter into God’s rest or we remain in a state of unrest. Second, God decides who does and does not enter into his rest (Hebrews 3:11). Third, God decides who will or will not enter his rest based on the condition of a person’s heart. Those with hard (Hebrews 3:8 and 13), wayward (Hebrews 3:10), ignorant (Hebrews 3:10), sinful (Hebrews 3:12 and 13), and unbelieving (Hebrews 3:12 and 19) hearts will not enter into God’s rest.

Finally, the option of entering into his rest is only open for us during the time period called Today (Hebrews 3:7, 13 and 15). Again, this is not referring to heaven. We are living in this time period of Today now. We must make our decisions to serve the Lord Today, for Today will not last forever. That Day – The Day of the Lord – is coming soon, and all Christians will find themselves in God’s rest during that time period. However, decisions we have made Today will follow us and will affect life during That Day.

WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

In talking about rest, then, the author is discussing what should be the normal Christian life here on earth. The normal Christian life should be a life of rest. In both Hebrews three and four the author uses the land of Canaan as an example of rest. The Israelites, you might remember, were redeemed out of their life of bondage in Egypt. They were saved by the blood of the Passover lamb. After leaving Egypt, the Israelites passed through the Red Sea and into the wilderness. God’s desire was not to leave them in that place, but to bring them to the Promised Land. Unfortunately, of the hundreds of thousands of adult Israelites who were redeemed out of Egypt, only two were permitted entry into the Promised Land. The rest were barred by God himself. Were they saved from Egypt? Yes, they were. Did they experience the rest God had for them on earth? No they did not. The path the ancient Israelites followed correlates to the life of the Christian. Egypt is representative of the world and its sin. Without Christ, we all are slaves to sin. But God redeems us out of the world. By faith in Christ we are delivered from our old master of sin and placed in the family of God. We are brand new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Israelites passed through the Red Sea. The Christian, likewise, is baptized in water. But these two events, redemption and baptism, are not all that God has planned for the new Christian. His plan for the Christian is that he or she would experience a Spirit-filled, joy-filled, fruitful, victorious, fearless, full, abundant, peaceful, and free life in him. Does anyone really live like this? The answer is absolutely yes. In the New Testament, these people were described as being “full of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus described this as “abiding” in him (see John 15). This is what the writer of the Hebrews means when he talks about entering into God’s rest. But that rest eludes most Christians. Instead, most Christians wander in a wilderness of fear, doubt, bitterness, unforgiveness, and sin, never entering into the Promised Land of fullness in Christ. When the writer of Hebrews describes God’s rest, he is talking about the green pastures and still waters the Good Shepherd longs to lead us to (see Psalm 23). Is every Christian experiencing this kind of life? Of course not. Could every Christian experience this kind of life? Absolutely. Bible teacher Dr. J. Vernon McGee summarizes the rest of God well. The writer of this Hebrew Epistle is speaking to those who are already saved but have not entered into the blessings of the Christian life. They doubt God, and as a result they are having a wilderness experience.6 Are you having a wilderness experience? The writer of Psalm 106, in describing the Israelites’ time of testing in the wilderness, says that God “sent leanness into their soul”. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 106:13-15 KJV Do you feel lean in your soul? You will if you are not listening to the voice of the Lord. I just had lunch with a friend of mine who is a pastor. He was describing a time in his life when he left Bible school and went to take a job. He did this even though he knew God had called him to preach. This man rationalized his decision, telling God that he would become a big giver to missions. The Lord allowed him to take that job, but he also sent leanness into my friend’s soul. Both he and his wife were miserable. Finally, one night as he was standing on the factory floor he felt the Lord speaking to him. “For the last time, are you going to go my way, or are you going to go your way?” That night, praise the Lord, my friend listened to the Lord. He went from earning $10,000 a year (in 1960!) to 50 cents an hour. However, while the fatness in his wallet disappeared, the leanness in his soul did as well. God brought him to a place of rest. There is no one as miserable as the Christian who refuses to listen to the voice of his Master. There is no one as joyful as the Christian who does listen.

6

J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary Series: Hebrews Chapters 1-7 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991), p. 65.

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WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

What, then, do we need to do to enter into the Promised Land of rest God has for us? What must we do to ensure we do not suffer the same fate as the Israelites? This is the lesson we will learn in Hebrews four. Verse one begins with the warning that we must be careful that we do not fall short of God’s rest. Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. Hebrews 4:1 Careful and fearful are not the same things. The author is not telling us that we should be in constant fear of falling short of God’s rest. That wouldn’t be rest at all, it would be agony. We are to be careful. That is, we are to take special care in what we do when we hear the Lord’s voice, for that is the critical issue when it comes to God’s rest. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7 If we don’t take the voice of the Lord seriously and if it doesn’t impact our lives, we will not enter, or remain in, God’s rest. If I desire to enter and remain in God’s rest, I must be careful – that is, I must pay close attention – to how I attend to the voice of the Lord. In chapter three, the author discussed the heart conditions that lead to God barring one from entering his rest. Those with hard (verses 8 and 13), wayward (verse 10), ignorant (verse 10), sinful (verses 12 and 13), and unbelieving (verses 12 and 19) hearts will not enter into God’s rest. All of these conditions may be summarized in three words – lack of faith. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Hebrews 4:2 God’s words will only be of value to you if you combine your hearing with faith. Faith greatly pleases God (Hebrews 11:6), and he rewards men and women of faith by bringing them into his rest. Now we who have believed enter that rest … Hebrews 4:3 Notice how easy it is to enter God’s rest. The only requirement he places on us is belief. If we believe we enter God’s rest. God’s rest is not reserved for the gifted, the wealthy, the highly fruitful, or those with the most sin-free background. It is reserved for people of faith. The faith this chapter is referring to is not saving faith. It is not the faith talked about in Romans 10:9 and John 3:16. The faith this chapter is referring to is the faith required by the growing Christian. It is that faith which must be daily put in use to enter into the abundant life God has planned for those who follow him. Do all Christians exercise this faith? Obviously not. Could they? Certainly. Faith and hard-heartedness cannot coexist. The same can be said of faith and waywardness, ignorance, sinfulness and unbelief. A heart of faith cancels out all these other attributes. What is faith? It is, according to Hebrews 11:1, “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. It is being absolutely convinced that God is trustworthy and that he will keep his word. Abraham was a man of faith. He was, “fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:21). But we must be aware that faith is much more than simply believing. It is also acting in line with what is believed. In other words, faith always includes obedience. [F]aith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17 The reason, then, that many Christians have not entered God’s rest is disobedience, which is a sign of a lack of faith. [T]hose who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Hebrews 4:6 Oh, brothers and sisters, “if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (verse 7). When the Lord speaks, be quick to obey. There is no worse place for the Christian than the wilderness of unrest. Your safety is found in the promised land of God’s rest. This is what the psalmist teaches in Psalm 91.

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He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

Where is safety found? Resting in God’s shadow. However, I cannot rest in God’s shadow if I will not listen to his voice. We must understand this - apart from God there is no rest. God is longing to gather you to himself. He wants you to enter his rest. But are you willing? Are you tired of struggling and straining? Do you feel like a rodeo cowboy fighting to stay on a bull that you can’t control? You don’t need a vacation. You need rest.

WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

[A]nyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Hebrews 4:10 God’s rest is not a place of inactivity. The rest of God and inactivity have nothing in common. God created you to do good works. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 The Christian has no business working on his own. That is something we must rest from. Our business is the Father’s business. His work, instead of stealing your strength and the best years of your life, is like food for the soul. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34 Work that is actually rest – rest that is actually work, what a pleasant thought. And all that is required to enter into this pleasant place is faith. Faith is the “effort” God requires. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11 Do not harden your hearts. God is speaking to you. His voice is not the voice of yesterday. It is not trapped in the pages of the Bible, only making itself known when you choose to read it. God’s voice is living and active. His words penetrate to the very deepest part of your being.7 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 What do you do when God’s words judge the thoughts and attitudes of your heart? Do you harden your heart to his voice, thinking that you won’t pay the price for your disobedience? That is the tragic choice untold millions have made. Don’t make that mistake. Don’t you know that God sees and knows everything and that each one of us will give an account to him for how we responded to his voice? Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 What, then, is the conclusion to this matter? It is simple. When I hear his voice, I must not harden my heart. By faith in God I must obey. I realize some reading this will say, “I cannot do this thing, it is too difficult.” What you are really saying is that you do not trust God. This is an issue you must come to terms with if you are ever going to enter God’s rest. Is he a good God? Is he trustworthy? Does he have your best in mind all the time? If you cannot answer these questions, I pray that you will take the matter to God himself. Tell him what you think and why you think it. It is best to be honest about these matters, after all, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” (verse 13). God will not crush you for finally being honest with him. He will help you. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out …” Matthew 12:20 God sent Jesus as a man so that he might be able to help all men. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18 Jesus knows what it is like to go through difficult times. He can sympathize with our weaknesses. He sympathizes, however, not as a defeated victim, but as a conquering hero. He defeated death, hell and the grave and went through the heavens to take his appointed seat at the right hand of God the Father. This is the one who is on our side! Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a

7

I realize these verses are used, quite often, in regard to the Bible. While true, it is not the context of the passage. The words in the Bible are living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, and they do penetrate deep within us, but the author is not trying to persuade us about the truth and strength found within the Bible. He is speaking about God personally speaking to you, in whatever manner he speaks, and your response to him.

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WEEK three HEBREWS 3 & 4

high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 Does the idea of God’s rest delight your heart? It should, for it is a “land” flowing with spiritual milk and honey. It is heaven on earth. Here, we enter into and taste the fruit of the victory Jesus won by his death, burial and resurrection. What a tragedy it would be to be barred from this rest. That is not God’s desire. Today is your day. Go to the throne of grace with confidence, knowing your high priest – Jesus – is on your side. God is eager to give you mercy and grace. Some of us have never been out of the wilderness. We have never tasted the fruit of God’s promised land of rest. We have eternal life, that is true, but we are not living the life God has planned for us. Others of us who have entered God’s rest have, for one reason or another, journeyed back into the wilderness of unrest and forgotten the way home. Today is your day. Go to the throne of grace. Don’t go slowly. Run. Receive God’s mercy. Receive his grace. It is his supernatural gift to help you in your time of need. Cry out to God, “I am ready, Lord, to enter your promised land of rest.” Repent of your disobedience and hard-heartedness. He has never turned away those who come to him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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Week Four HEBREWS 5

WEEK Four

DAY ONE

HEBREWS 5

Read Hebrews 5 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 5 1Every

high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 7During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. 11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 5:1-4 What do these verses teach us about the high priesthood?

How is Jesus similar to the earthly high priests? Hebrews 5:1-2, 4

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How is he different? Hebrews 5:3; 7:11-28

WEEK Four HEBREWS 5

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 5:5-6 Jesus did not appoint himself as our high priest. Who appointed Jesus as high priest?

When did this happen? Hebrews 5:8-10

Jesus is “a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” (verse 6). Who was Melchizedek? Describe him as completely as possible. Genesis 14:17-20

The Hebrew law permitted only men from the tribe of Levi to serve as priests. What tribe did Jesus descend from? Hebrews 7:13-14

How is it possible, then, for Jesus to serve as our high priest? Hebrews 7:11-19

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WEEK Four HEBREWS 5

In Psalm 110, “the Lord” is designated as priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (see Psalm 110:4). This was written hundreds of years before Jesus’ earthly ministry. How do you think the Jewish people living before the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry would have reacted to this verse? After all, they knew that all priests were descended from Levi. What would this verse have said to them about the effectiveness and permanence of the Levitical priesthood?

What do you think David thought as he was writing this Psalm (by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit)? Do you think he understood the significance of what he was writing?

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 5:7-10 When do you think Jesus “offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears” (verse 7)?

According to verse seven, the Father heard Jesus’ prayer to save him. How was Jesus saved from death?

Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered” (verse 8); yet we know that he never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). How could Jesus have learned obedience if he was never disobedient? See also Luke 2:41-52

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Jesus has always been perfect. Yet the text indicates that there was a time when he was made perfect (verse 9). When do you think Jesus was made perfect? See also Hebrews 2:10

WEEK Four HEBREWS 5

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 5:11-14 According to the author, the Hebrew Christians had a deficiency. What was it?

In verse 13, the author points to a specific teaching, the understanding of which separates spiritual infants from spiritual adults. What is it?

Why do so many Christians have a problem with this teaching? Romans 1:17; 3:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:21

What is the advantage of eating “solid food”? Hebrews 5:14

DAY SIX Read the study notes.

HEBREWS 5 The title “high priest” is extremely significant to our understanding of the book of Hebrews and to our understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ. As I mentioned earlier, this title is not used in connection with Jesus in any other book in the New Testament. However, in the book of Hebrews, particularly in the next several chapters, the high priesthood of Jesus is the central theme. Hebrews five provides important background information about the office of the high priest.

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WEEK Four HEBREWS 5

Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. Hebrews 5:1-3 These first three verses are not talking specifically about Jesus. Rather, they refer to high priests in general. The first point the author makes is that the high priest is “selected from among men”. This is significant, because it reveals one of the reasons Jesus had to come as a man. If he did not come as a man, he could not serve as our high priest, for high priests are only selected from among men.1 The high priest is selected for a special purpose. He is “appointed to represent them in matters related to God”. Man cannot go to God directly. Someone must stand between God and man. That someone is the high priest. Only one man served as high priest at any given time. But while the high priest stands in a unique and absolutely critical position, he is never to behave in an arrogant or overbearing manner. Instead, “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray”. He is able to treat others in this gentle manner because, as a man, the high priest is “subject to weakness”. This means that the high priest is a sinner just like everyone else and needs forgiveness as much as any other person, “This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people”. No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. Hebrews 5:4 Moses’ brother Aaron was called by God and was the first high priest. “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve me as priests.” Exodus 28:1 Aaron did not choose himself. God chose Aaron. When Aaron died, the high priestly office did not die with him. Shortly before the death of Aaron, the office was passed to his son Eleazar. At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there.” Numbers 20:23-26

1

1 Corinthians 15:21 reveals another reason Jesus came as a man - “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man”. According to this verse, Jesus could not have been our Savior if he were not a man. But he certainly needed to be more than just a man, for, “No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him – the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough – that he should live on forever and not see decay” (Psalm 49:79). No mere man may redeem another. The conclusion of the matter is this: Jesus is man, for if he weren’t he could not be our Savior. And Jesus is God, for if he weren’t he could not be our Savior – “But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself” (Psalm 49:15).

2 Alfred Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services As They Were at the Time of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997), p. 69.

3

Merrill F. Unger, The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1988), p. 80.

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Upon Eleazar’s death the office passed to Phinehas, his son (see Judges 20:26-28). This is how the office was passed, at least up to and during the time of the first temple. But, as Alfred Edersheim points out in his book entitled “The Temple,” by the time of the second temple, the office of high priest became a trophy to be purchased, not a sacred calling bestowed only on those who were called by God. Originally the office of high priest was regarded as being held for life and hereditary; but the troubles of later times made it a matter of cabal, crime, or bribery. Without here entering into the complicated question of the succession to the high priesthood, the following may be quoted from the Talmud, without, of course, guaranteeing its absolute accuracy: “In the first Temple, the high priests served, the son succeeding the father, and they were eighteen in number. But in the second Temple they got the high priesthood for money; and there are who say they destroyed each other by witchcraft, so that some reckon 80 high priests during that period, others 81, others 82, 83, 84, and even 85.” 2 Corruption in regard to the office of the high priest continued until the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. The high priest during Jesus’ days on earth was named Caiaphas. His father-in-law Annas had also served as high priest. Neither of these high priests were “called by God”. [Annas] was first appointed high priest by Quirinius, proconsul of Syria, about A.D. 7 but was removed after seven years … by Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judea … .3 Caiaphas was the high priest of the Jews in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, at the beginning of the Lord’s public ministry (Luke 3:2) and also at the time of His condemnation and crucifixion (Matt. 26:3, 57; etc.). He was appointed to this dignity through the curator Valerius Gratus … and held it during the whole

procuratorship of Pontius Pilate, but was deposed by the proconsul Vitellus, A.D. about 38.4

WEEK Four HEBREWS 5

Both of these men were appointed by men, not by God. This was not what God intended. The office of high priest does not go to the one man deems most fitting to take the job. The office of high priest only goes to the one God calls. Aaron was the first man God called as high priest. Jesus is the last. However, while Jesus was like Aaron in that he “did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest”, he was very unlike Aaron in that he did not have to offer sacrifices for his own sins. Jesus was absolutely sinless. Jesus was also unlike Aaron in his genealogy. Aaron descended from Levi, Jacob’s third son. According to Hebrew law, only those who were descended from Levi could serve in the priesthood. Yet Jesus descended from Judah, Jacob’s fourth son. According to Hebrew law, he was not eligible for the priesthood (at least here on earth). More will be said about this in the lesson on chapter seven. Verses five and six describe the calling of Jesus as high priest. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5:5-6 The first quotation, taken from Psalm two, focuses on the fact that Jesus is the Son; the second, taken from Psalm 110, that he is a priest forever. It is significant that the Jews recognized both of these Psalms as Messianic in nature – that is, they recognized that these Psalms find their ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah. The two passages quoted teach us that it was as Son of God that He was appointed High Priest. This opens up to us the true nature and character of the priesthood. It shows us that the priesthood is rooted in the sonship: the work of the priesthood is to reveal and communicate the blessed life of sonship. As Son, Christ alone was heir of all that God had. All the life of the Father was in Him. God could have no union or fellowship with any creature but through His beloved Son, or as far as the life and spirit and image of the Son was seen in it. Therefore no one could be our High Priest but the Son of God.5 Aaron served as priest only as long as he lived; however, his priestly line lasted, at least in name, until the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. At that point, the line was broken. The high priesthood of Jesus, however, is forever. God himself told Jesus, “You are a priest forever” (verse 6). He goes on to say that Jesus’ priesthood is “in the order of Melchizedek”. This is a startling statement, for by using this verse in connection with Jesus, the author links Jesus to one of the most mysterious characters in the entire Bible. Who is this Melchizedek? He is only mentioned two times in the Old Testament. However, those two brief mentions, totaling just four verses, are absolutely critical to understanding the high priesthood of Jesus. The first mention of Melchizedek is in the book of Genesis. Here we learn that Melchizedek was both a king and a priest. Abraham met him as he was returning home after defeating several kings in battle. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:18-20 This passage includes the first use of the word “priest” in the Bible. Bible scholars have long understood that the first time a word is used in the Bible is highly significant. The context in which it is used sets the pattern for the fullest meaning of that word throughout the entire Bible.6 For instance, the first time the word “love” is used in the Bible, it is used in connection with a father’s love for his only son whom he must sacrifice (see Genesis 22:2). This is the fullest meaning of love in the Bible. It ultimately points to God the Father’s love for his only Son, Jesus, whom he sacrificed. That is the greatest possible expression of love. Here, we see that the first time the

4

Merrill F. Unger, The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1988), p. 191.

5

Andrew Murray, The Holiest of All (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1996), p 180.

6

Scholars call this the “Principle of First Mention.”

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WEEK Four HEBREWS 5

word priest is used it is used in connection to Melchizedek, not to Aaron! If that isn’t enough, the word priest is applied to a man who is both a king and a priest! It would appear, then, that the fullest meaning of the priesthood is seen in the line of Melchizedek and not Aaron. And the fullest meaning of the word refers to a priest who is also a king. Psalm 110 is the second passage referring to Melchizedek. Here God the Father makes an oath about the priesthood of his Son. The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110:4 Keep in mind that this is from an Old Testament passage. This was from a Psalm that the Jews knew and loved, and it is about, at least in part, the high priesthood of our Lord and Savior. The entire gospel is found within the Old Testament. Jesus himself said, in reference to the Old Testament Scriptures, that “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). Close reading of this passage reveals several important facts about the priesthood of Jesus. First, Jesus’ priesthood is different from and superior to Aaron’s priesthood in that Jesus’ priesthood is guaranteed by an oath from God. The author emphasizes this point in Hebrews seven. Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” Hebrews 7:20-21 Second, Jesus’ priesthood will last forever. And third, Jesus’ priesthood is in the order of Melchizedek. This means, in essence, that Jesus is not a priest in the pattern set by Aaron. He is a priest in the pattern set by Melchizedek. More will be said about this when we study Hebrews seven. This sudden mention of Melchizedek throws a shaft of light into the whole argument of the letter. It would become immediately apparent to the intelligent Hebrew where the argument was leading. At this point, however, the writer does little more than inject the name, but he comes back to it later and builds mightily on it. So then, Christ was exalted to be a priest as Melchizedek was exalted to be a priest. And, had the writer been composing a psalm instead of a treatise, no doubt he would have inserted a selah at this point, meaning, “There, what do you think of that?”7 At this point, the author leaves the Old Testament and Jesus’ calling by God and focuses on Jesus’ life on earth. In particular, he focuses on Jesus’ relation to God the Father during his suffering. During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:7-10 The significance of these verses is that they refer to Jesus’ earthly experience. Earthly experience was necessary in order for Jesus to become a “merciful and faithful” high priest. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17 Hebrews 5:8 mentions that Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered”, This does not mean that Jesus was ever disobedient, but it refers to the fact that his obedience did not spring simply from his perfect moral character. It was forged in the school of suffering.

7

John Phillips, Exploring Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2002), p. 66.

8

Thomas Hewitt, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976), p. 98.

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Griffith Thomas has rightly said ‘This is the difference between innocency and virtue. Innocency is life untested, while virtue is innocency tested and triumphant’. The Son had always possessed the disposition of obedience, but for Him to possess the virtue of obedience, testing was necessary.8 In addition to pointing out that Jesus “learned obedience” , we also learn from verses eight through ten that Jesus was “made perfect”. This cannot mean that prior to this time Jesus was not perfect in a moral sense. Jesus never sinned. He was always perfect in body, soul and spirit. The key to understanding this statement about Jesus being made perfect is the meaning of the word perfect

as it is used here. It does not mean without sin. It means “to bring to an end by completing or perfecting”. 9 When Jesus was completed and perfected by the work he did through his life, death and resurrection, “he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek” (verse 9). The fitness of Jesus for His work is now stressed, for teleio–theis, translated made perfect, means ‘made mature’ or ‘complete’. In the first place, Jesus was ‘complete’ in having obtained every necessary qualification for the office of priesthood. He had the authority and calling of his Father; He became the possessor of human nature and sympathy; He surrendered His will to the obedience and will of God; and He offered on the cross the perfect sacrifice. In the second place, He was ‘complete’ in the sense that He was crowned with glory by His exaltation to the right hand of God. Thus He became fit to become the author of eternal salvation, for in His character as High Priest He offered Himself as an expiatory sacrifice for our sins and, therefore, He became through this expiatory sacrifice the Saviour of man.10

WEEK Four HEBREWS 5

For the Christian, the moment when Jesus was “made perfect” is the most important moment in history, for at that moment Jesus “became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him”. At that moment he was “designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek”. Just think about all that Jesus went through so he could be your high priest! And you will never need a different high priest, for he is a high priest forever. There is much more the author could say about Jesus and his high priesthood, and much more he will say about the subject, but he turns from that subject for the moment to the subject of the spiritual condition of his readers. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Hebrews 5:11-12 The Hebrew Christians were not as advanced in their faith as they should have been. They were “slow to learn”. This is not because they were mentally incapable of learning. The Hebrew Christians did not care enough about the truths of the faith to learn anything additional. They were complacent; content with the little they already knew. They had been Christians long enough that they should have been able to teach others, but they needed teaching themselves. They had a very poor grasp of the elementary truths of God’s word. The subject of Christ’s priesthood was one of considerable difficulty but it was certainly not beyond explanation, nor was it beyond the writer’s ability to explain it, but his readers had become confused and limited in their minds through apathy and mental listlessness. They had become dull of hearing, which was a common Greek ethical term for a sluggish intelligence.11 Could the same thing be said of us today? I think it could. Many Christians are, like the Hebrew Christians, “slow to learn”. What a tragedy. We do not care enough about our salvation to even learn about it. We are content with the few things we already know. By our lack of hunger for God’s truth, we firmly position ourselves in a state of spiritual malnourishment. We feed on “milk, not solid food” (verse 12), because, as spiritual infants, we are incapable of digesting anything but spiritual milk. “You need milk” renders an expression that literally means “you have become having need of milk,” an expression in which “you have become” is important. Once again the writer is drawing attention to the fact that his readers have moved their position. Always in the Christian life, one either moves forward or slips back. It is almost impossible to stand still. These people had not advanced; so the result was that they had gone back and had “become” beginners.12 The Hebrew Christians were slow in grasping God’s truths. Spiritual slowness is always connected with spiritual slippage. If the dark things do not become plain then the plain things will become dark.13 To this point, the author has been talking in general terms. The Hebrew Christians were characterized by slowness of learning. The body of Christ at large is also characterized by slowness of learning. But that doesn’t mean that all are slow of learning. Let’s talk about you and me. Are

9

W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996), p. 466.

10 Thomas Hewitt, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976), p. 98. 11 Thomas Hewitt, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976), p. 101. 12 Leon Morris, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Volume 12, Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981), p. 52. 13 Thomas Hewitt, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1976), p. 101.

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you slow to learn? Am I? How do you know if you are or if you are not? In verses 13 and 14, the author provides the simple test that separates the infants from the mature in Christ.

HEBREWS 5

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13-14 Did you see it? Spiritual infants are “not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness”. Spiritual infants understand something of salvation, obviously, or they would not be Christians at all. But there is something critical they do not understand – they do not understand the teaching about righteousness. Milk is predigested food, and it is specially suited to babies. But only those who have teeth can enjoy meat. The writer defines the “milk” as “the first principles of the oracles of God” (5:12). The “meat” of the Word is the teaching about our Lord’s ministry now in heaven as our High Priest. The writer wanted to give this “meat” to them, but they were not ready for it. The “milk” of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ did on earth – His birth, life, teaching, death, burial, and resurrection. The “meat” of the Word refers to what Jesus Christ is now doing in heaven. We begin the Christian life on the basis of His finished work on earth. We grow in the Christian life on the basis of His unfinished work in heaven.14 It is clear from the context of this chapter that the “teaching about righteousness” we are to be acquainted with is teaching centered on Jesus as high priest. It is not only recognizing Jesus as high priest, but knowing Jesus as high priest. It is letting him live through you today. It is not constantly looking back to his finished work on the cross, although that is obviously necessary, but looking up to his unfinished high priestly work in the heavens. It is receiving his invitation to “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). It is trusting in a living, breathing high priest who is, at this very moment, interceding for you (Romans 8:34). It is abiding in Christ today (John 15), growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus, going from glory to glory. It sounds nice, doesn’t it? Praise God for the milk, for without it, we would have never grown at all. But milk alone is no meal for an adult. It cannot completely satisfy a hungry soul. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14 Those who see and know Jesus as their high priest are marked by maturity. They no longer need to be babied. As spiritual adults, they are able to distinguish good and evil for themselves. With this brief introduction to Jesus the high priest, the author has set the table. The next few chapters feature a little milk, and large helpings of meat. Those who are hungry will be filled. Enjoy the feast.

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

14 Warren Wiersbe, Be Confident (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Publishing, 2003), pp. 59-60.

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Week Five HEBREWS 6

WEEK Five

DAY ONE

HEBREWS 6

Read Hebrews 6 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 6 1Therefore

let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so. 4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case – things that accompany salvation. 10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. 13When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 6:1-3 What is it that the author encourages the Hebrew Christians to leave?

What is the benefit of doing so? Hebrews 6:1; 1 Peter 2:1-3

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What is the distinguishing mark of a mature believer? Hebrews 5:11-14

WEEK Five HEBREWS 6

The Hebrew Christians the author was writing to were still practicing Old Testament rituals which foreshadowed Jesus. This was common among the early Christians, most of whom were Jews. Describe the situation Paul found upon his arrival in Jerusalem. Acts 21:17-26

Paul confronted Peter when he saw Peter’s hypocritical stance toward the Gentiles in regard to the keeping of the law. Describe the situation detailed in Galatians 2:11-16 in your own words.

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 6:4-8 In verses four through six, the author says that repentance is impossible for certain people. What are the distinguishing characteristics of those people for whom repentance is impossible?

The author inserts a short “parable” in verses seven and eight. What is the point of this parable, and how does it apply to the Hebrew Christians, and, by extension, to all Christians?

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Did the author actually think that the Hebrew Christians were at the point described in these verses? Hebrews 6:9-10

HEBREWS 6

Why do you think the author put these warnings in this letter?

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 6:9-12 The author quickly shifts from warning the Hebrew Christians to encouraging them. How does he encourage the believers?

God’s justice is referred to in regard to the work a Christian does and the love he or she shows. How does this knowledge help you?

The Hebrew Christians are encouraged to “show this same diligence to the very end” (verse 11). What do you think “the very end” is? See also 1 Timothy 6:13-15

The author encourages the Hebrews not to become lazy. What are they instead encouraged to do?

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(Personal) Is this something you find yourself doing? If so, whom do you imitate?

WEEK Five HEBREWS 6

(Personal) Do the people you imitate meet the standards outlined in verse 12?

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 6:13-20 According to verse 16, why do men take an oath?

Why did God confirm his promise of salvation with an oath? Hebrews 6:17

God cannot lie. He cannot break his promise of salvation, and he cannot break his oath which confirms that promise. What is the result of knowing these two things in regard to the salvation of Jesus? Hebrews 6:18

Our hope in Jesus is “an anchor for the soul”. Is Jesus your anchor? If so, how does he “stabilize” your soul (your mind, will and emotions)?

What is the life condition of those who have no anchor for the soul? Matthew 9:36

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WEEK Five

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter 6.

HEBREWS 6

HEBREWS 6 This is one of those chapters that can strike fear and trembling into the bravest of Christians. But my prayer is not that we just get through this chapter in one piece. Let’s have more faith than that. My prayer is that we’ll not only make it through, but that we’ll be mightily blessed through the truths we learn from this chapter. Amen? So be it.

A CALL TO LEAVE ELEMENTARY TEACHINGS Hebrews six picks up where Hebrews five left off. The author has just told the Hebrew Christians that they are “slow to learn” (Hebrews 5:11). His desire is to move them from the “elementary truths of God’s word”, which he also calls “milk”, to the “teaching about righteousness”, also known as “meat”. This “meat” as we saw from the context of the last chapter, is focused on the high priesthood of Christ. The author begins the chapter by describing the milk he wants the Hebrew Christians to leave behind. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting we will do so. Hebrews 6:1-3 The “elementary teachings about Christ” the author is referring to are, I believe, the teachings found within the Old Testament. The Old Testament was, after all, the only Bible the first century church read. Consequently, even for the non-Hebrew Christians, much more emphasis was placed on the Old Testament than we place on it today. Add to this the fact that every Jewish boy spent hundreds of hours studying the Old Testament in the synagogue school, and you can see the attachment the Hebrew Christians would have had with the teachings found within the Old Testament. John Pollock, author of The Apostle – A Life of Paul, describes the apostle Paul’s early synagogue training; training which was typical for many Jewish boys in the first century. The school attached to the Tarsus synagogue taught nothing but the Hebrew text of the Sacred Law. Each boy repeated its phrases in chorus after the hazzan or synagogue keeper until vowels, accent, and rhythm were precisely correct. Paul learned to write the Hebrew characters accurately on papyrus, thus gradually forming his own rolls of the Scriptures. His father would have presented him with another set of rolls, on vellum: the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint, from which the set readings were taken in synagogue each Sabbath. By his thirteenth birthday, Paul had mastered Jewish history, the poetry of the psalms, and the majestic literature of the prophets. His ear had been trained to the very pitch of accuracy, and a swift brain like his could retain what he heard as instantly and faithfully as a modern “photographic mind” retains a printed page.1 With this background, it is easy to see why the Hebrew Christians held tightly to the rituals and laws found in the Old Testament. The Old Testament outlines many such rituals and laws that prefigured Jesus Christ. For instance, if a man sinned, he was required to “bring as his offering for the sin he committed a female goat without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 4:28-29). The blood of the goat was not the reason the man received forgiveness, of course. The blood was merely a picture of the blood of the Lord Jesus, whose blood is the only blood capable of washing away sin. Notice that this ritual involved the laying on of hands – which is referred to in Hebrews 6:2. I believe the Hebrew Christians were still identifying themselves with these pictures and precursors of Christ rather than Christ himself. They were like the Christian believers the apostle Paul met on his last journey to Jerusalem. 1

John Pollock, The Apostle – A Life of Paul (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1985), p. 17.

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Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to

circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.” Acts 21:20-24

WEEK Five HEBREWS 6

These believers had been following Christ for many years, but they were still zealous for the Jewish law. Even as believers they were taking part in “purification rites,” that is, they were washing themselves in accordance with Old Testament customs for their purification. This is what the author means by the phrase “instruction about baptisms”, found in verse two. He is not talking about believer’s baptism or the baptism with the Holy Spirit. He is talking about Jewish purification rites. This is why both the New American Standard and the English Standard Version use the word “washings” rather than “baptisms” in verse two. When Paul traveled to Jerusalem, the believers wanted him to be purified in this ceremonial manner at the temple. Coming from abroad, Paul would have had to regain ceremonial purity by a sevenday ritual of purification before he could be present at the absolution ceremony of the four Jewish Christians in the Jerusalem temple. This ritual included reporting to one of the priests and being sprinkled with water of atonement on the third and seventh days.2 Obviously, being sprinkled with water does not purify you. We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). The Hebrew Christians, however, were still attracted to the old ways, and it was keeping them from forward progress in Christ. Spiritual babyhood is fostered by ritualism. An elaborate ritual was acceptable in Old Testament times because that was the infancy stage of divine revelation, but with the coming of Christ the nursery should have been left behind. The Hebrew believers had to put away the cramping and inhibiting rituals of their former faith. They had made no progress in spiritual things because they were still tied to the apron strings of the old dispensation.3 The author’s point, then, in verses one through three, is that the Hebrew Christians need to move beyond the “elementary teachings about Christ” – those elementary teachings found in the Old Testament – to the reality of Christ seen in Christ himself. None of this is to denigrate the Old Testament itself. I love the Old Testament and believe it contains the full gospel. I believe every word in it is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). However, the pictures of Christ in the Old Testament must not become a substitute for Christ himself. He is the fulfillment of the law. The Hebrew Christians have been urged onward and upward. We, too, must go onward and upward. Dead rituals have no place among the living. We must ask ourselves if we, like the Hebrew Christians, have become stalled in the elementary teachings about Christ and have neglected Christ himself. Once you start with Christ, you are called to finish with Christ.

A STERN WARNING Now that the author has urged the believers to “leave the elementary teachings about Christ” (verse one), he warns them about the danger of falling away. It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Hebrews 6:4-8 This is, by all accounts, a difficult passage. It becomes more difficult when we take it out of context. We must constantly guard against the tendency to approach the Bible like we are some sort of spiritual lumberjack, quickly cutting out select trees (verses), and then dragging those trees out of the forest where we found them (the entire passage). These verses were not written as individual

2

Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Volume 9, Acts (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981), p. 520.

3

John Phillips, Exploring Hebrews (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2002), p. 69.

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WEEK Five

thoughts, but as important parts of this specific letter. Therefore, it is in the overall context of the letter that we will find the most satisfactory answers to our questions.

HEBREWS 6

To untangle this passage, I believe we must not forget the author’s audience – Hebrew Christians, and the author’s intent – pointing those Christians back to the Lord Jesus. In verses one through three, the author has urged the Hebrew Christians to “leave the elementary teachings about Christ”. We have already discussed what these elementary teachings are. Now I want you to focus on something else about the first three verses. Notice that in verse one the author uses the pronoun “us” and in verse three he uses the pronoun “we”. Verses one through three are written specifically to and s about the Hebrew Christians. The author is saying to them, in essence, “Together, let us move past these elementary teachings about Christ.” In verses four through eight, the author does not use these more personal pronouns. He doesn’t say “we,” “you,” or “us.” Instead, he talks impersonally about “those who have once been enlightened” (verse 4). He tells a parable about “land that produces thorns and thistles” (verse 8). It seems, then, that the author is reluctant to put the Hebrew Christians in the class of those who fall away, but he does feel that it is necessary to warn them about the consequences of those who do.

n er,

).

The author is not warning the Hebrew Christians about what will happen to them. He is warning them about what does happen to those who “fall away”. Why did the Hebrew Christians need to be warned in this way? From the context, I believe, it is clear. They were in danger of doing this very thing and this letter was God’s word of warning to them. The phrase “fall away” signifies the action of falling away “from adherence to the realities and facts of the faith”.4 The o author doesn’t tell us all that he means by the use of this phrase, but I believe he is talking about far more than merely backsliding. After all, the Hebrew Christians had already been accused of this (see Hebrews 2:1). I believe he is warning the Hebrew Christians about the consequences of abandoning their faith altogether. We can hear echoes of this same thought in Hebrews 10:29.

ts

How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? Notice, in these verses the author doesn’t accuse the Hebrew Christians of trampling the Son of God underfoot, and he doesn’t accuse them of treating the blood of Jesus as unholy. Once again, he speaks in generalities, describing “a man” who would do this. But while he doesn’t accuse them directly, he does, however, feel the need to warn them about the consequences for those who would do this.

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The author summarizes these thoughts in Hebrews 10:35. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. The Hebrew Christians were at the point of throwing their salvation away! That is why God had the author write this letter – he knew that the Hebrew Christians needed to hear a stern warning. Just imagine the urgency with which it was written! God’s words to the author were probably something like, “I need you to write a letter to the Hebrew Christians – today!”

g.

Now, how does this warning apply to us? Is it to be taken seriously? The author surely intended that the Hebrew Christians take it seriously. These verses are real warnings. I must tell you that I have spent several days working through this passage. As I have prayed about and thought through the passage myself and as I have read the opinions of various commentators, I have come to the conclusion that we must be extremely careful with how we handle this warning. As Christians, we simply cannot ignore this warning, as we might do if it were written to nonChristians. The context of the passage is clear. It was given as a real warning to a real group of Christians who were on the verge of shipwrecking their faith. 4

W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996), p. 224.

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Some of you may be asking why I haven’t talked about eternal security and entered the debate over whether a Christian can or cannot lose his salvation. I haven’t discussed this issue in these terms because the author did not discuss the issue in these terms. In fact, the author wasn’t discussing this issue at all. He wasn’t writing to a group of theologians eager to settle a theological debate. He was writing to a group of Christians he knew and loved. These Christians were

t , g.

considering throwing their faith away. This was a warning about the consequences for those who would do this. The author meant his warning to be taken seriously. I know this much for sure.

WEEK Five

If I see a tiger in the jungle, I am not going to open his mouth to see if he has any teeth. He may have no teeth, that is true, but I am going to assume that he has teeth and stay as far away from the tiger as possible. The same may be said of this warning. Only a fool would do otherwise.

HEBREWS 6

A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT Now that the author has, hopefully, knocked a little sense into the Hebrew Christians, he speaks a few words of encouragement. Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case – things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show the same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hebrews 6:9-12 Notice, in these four verses the author resumes speaking to the Hebrews in a more personal style, calling them “dear friends”, “your” and “you”. The author does not believe they will be numbered among those who have fallen away. He believes the opposite – that they will be rewarded! It seems the Hebrew Christians had worked hard for God, demonstrating their love for him by the way they had helped his people. The author encourages them in this by telling them that God will remember all that has been done. However, it is not enough to start in the right direction. We must also concentrate on how we finish. Laziness has no place in the kingdom of God. God is looking for diligence to the very end. Anything less is poor stewardship. How does the Christian end well? The author tells us how those who have gone before us ended well. Those who have inherited his promises have all had two things in common – faith and patience. Faith isn’t enough, and patience isn’t enough. The combination of these two is the key to finishing the race well. Where do faith and patience come from? They come from God, and they are to be expected in every child of his. Every Christian has some faith, for faith must be present for one to be saved. God gives a “measure of faith” to all his children (see Romans 12:3). And more faith comes as we hear his message (see Romans 10:17). Never complain that you don’t have faith. If you are a Christian, you do have faith. God has given you faith. Study God’s word and attend to his voice and your faith will grow further. Patience, like faith, is present in the life of every Christian. This may surprise you, but it is true. If you are a Christian, you have patience. I say this because patience is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). Fruit grows. Therefore, the more mature you are in the Lord, the more the Holy Spirit’s fruit should be seen in your life. You don’t need to pray for patience. It naturally grows in all those who love the Lord and press forward in him. If you are not seeing any patience in your life it is not because you have none. It is because the patience you have is not being exercised. A healthy fruit tree will produce fruit. If you are spiritually healthy, patience will naturally grow in your life. Now, how do I put these two to work in my life? The author of Hebrews tells us to “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” The formula may be written like this: faith + patience + imitation = our promised inheritance. I am not the first to run the Christian race. I have a pattern I can follow. I can imitate the saints who finished well. To do this, I obviously need to know their stories. Far too many Christians are ignorant of the victors who have gone before us. We need to be well acquainted with the saints named in the Bible, and the saints not named in the Bible, as well. I would recommend that, along with your daily Scripture reading, you make it a habit to read biographies of saints who have “fought the good fight.” I have been greatly blessed and encouraged as I have read about, and endeavored to imitate, the lives of Samuel Morris, William Carey, Watchman Nee, Uncle John Vassar, Corrie Ten Boom, Brother Andrew, Martin Luther, George Mueller, John Wesley, John Bunyon, D.L. Moody, Charles Finney and many others. I like to learn from men and women of the Spirit. How did they succeed? You will learn great secrets of the faith as you read about and imitate the lives of those who have successfully gone before you.

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WEEK Five

THE PROMISE AND THE OATH

HEBREWS 6

The author has encouraged the Hebrew Christians. But they needed more than just encouraging words. They needed an anchor they could hold on to. That anchor is exactly what the author presents in the last eight verses of this chapter. When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:13-20 The anchor is the hope offered to us in Jesus. He is our glorious hope. How do I know that my hope in Jesus is not just wishful thinking? I know it because God promised Abraham that he would bless him and give him many descendants. This blessing is only found in Jesus. This promise was a promise of the gospel. God’s word to Abraham is proof that Jesus is the hope of our salvation. God cannot lie (1 Samuel 15:29), therefore, this promise should greatly comfort me. Notice, however, that this passage in Hebrews talks about more than just a promise. It says that God “confirmed it with an oath”. In other words, God made a solemn oath that he would keep the promise he had previously made. Why would God do this? He doesn’t need to take an oath about anything. His word is good. He cannot lie. His promise to Abraham was enough. Do you know why he took the oath? He took it for us. He took an oath so that “we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged”. God promised our salvation in Jesus. He cannot lie, therefore I can trust in his promise. That is a first “unchangeable thing”. More than that, he took an oath about his promise of our salvation. That is a second “unchangeable thing in which it is impossible for God to lie”. God did this to encourage our “souls”. We can grab hold of Jesus with confidence, knowing that God has guaranteed our salvation in Jesus in two ways – by his promise and by his oath. He is our anchor. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20 In these verses, Jesus – our great hope – is called an “anchor for the soul”. This is an important thought and bears exploring. The Christian is a three-part being: body, soul and spirit (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23). When you are born again, your spirit (heart) is made brand new (see Ezekiel 36:25-27). You become a new creation in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Your soul and body, however, are not made new. If you are an old man when you are born again, you do not turn into a young man at that moment. Your physical body remains old. In the same way, your soul – your mind, will and emotions – is not made brand new. However, it does not need to stay in a damaged state (as all mankind is without Christ). It must be restored, almost in the same way that antique furniture would be restored. The old layers of worldly thinking and habits must be stripped off one layer at a time. Jesus is the anchor for your soul. Like an anchor that firmly holds a ship even in the midst of a great storm, Jesus keeps the Christian’s mind, will and emotions upright and intact even in the midst of life’s troubles. If you are a Christian, your hope is anchored to Jesus. He has gone into the very holiest place in the entire universe, and is securely planted there. An anchor line extends between Jesus and you! A ship’s anchor line goes down. Your anchor line goes up to the very throne of God! If you were able to follow that anchor line, right now, to the anchor itself, you would see Jesus ministering there on your behalf. At this very moment he is interceding for you (see Romans 8:34).

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God has guaranteed, by a promise and an oath, that your anchor will never slip. Your anchor holds! Put your trust in that anchor. As you do, you will find great rest for your soul.

WEEK Five HEBREWS 6

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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Week Six HEBREWS 7

DAY ONE

WEEK six

Read Hebrews 7 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 7

HEBREWS 7 1This

Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. 4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people – that is, their brothers – even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. 11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come – one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26Such a high priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

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WEEK six

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 7:1-10

HEBREWS 7

These verses include details about Melchizedek which were not highlighted in our study of Melchizedek in Hebrews 5. From these verses write as many details about Melchizedek as you can.

The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” and his title means “king of peace”. Both his name and his title point to Jesus. Look up the following verses and describe Jesus’ relationship to righteousness and to peace, and, if indicated, how this affects the Christian.

RIGHTEOUSNESS Psalm 36:5-6

Psalm 111:3

Psalm 119:137

2 Corinthians 5:21

Psalm 23:3

Matthew 6:33

PEACE Isaiah 9:6

John 14:27

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Romans 5:1

WEEK six HEBREWS 7

Ephesians 2:14

Colossians 3:15

2 Thessalonians 3:16

The author spends a great deal of time talking about Abraham giving a tenth of his plunder to Melchizedek. Why is this seemingly insignificant fact very significant?

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 7:11-22 According to verse 11, why was the Levitical priesthood inadequate?

Do you believe Christ’s high priesthood accomplishes this? See also Hebrews 10:10 and 14

When the priesthood changes, something else must also change. What is it? Hebrews 7:12

God is just. Everything he does must be completely “legal.” How, then, is it “legal” for Jesus to serve as a priest when he descended from the tribe of Judah and not from the tribe of Levi?

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WEEK six

According to verse 19, what are we able to do through Jesus’ priesthood?

HEBREWS 7

What was the best the old priesthood could accomplish? Hebrews 9:13

Why is it significant that Jesus became a high priest with an oath?

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 7:23-25 The Levitical priesthood had many weaknesses. These verses describe one major weakness. What was it?

Why is it important that Jesus lives forever? What does this have to do with his priesthood?

Why is Jesus’ present intercession critical to your salvation today? See also Romans 8:34

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The Hebrew Christians, as we learned in Hebrews 5, were not thinking about Christ’s “active” priesthood and how it applied to them. Do you think believers today have this same problem? Do you?

WEEK six HEBREWS 7

What sorts of spiritual conditions might be present in the Christian’s life who does not see Jesus as an effectively and actively serving high priest?

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 7:26-28 From these verses, describe our high priest Jesus as completely as possible.

The high priests sacrificed “day after day”. What does this say about the efficacy of their sacrifices? See also Hebrews 10:1-4

Jesus’ offered himself as a sacrifice “once for all”, what does this say about the efficacy of his sacrifice?

What do the following verses say about the blood of Jesus – its preciousness, effectiveness and power? Romans 3:25

Romans 5:9

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WEEK six

Ephesians 2:13

HEBREWS 7 Colossians 1:19-20

Hebrews 9:12

1 Peter 1:18-19

1 John 1:7

Revelation 1:4-5

Revelation 5:9

Revelation 7:14

Revelation 12:11

Jesus has been “made perfect forever”. Why is this significant for the Christian?

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter seven.

HEBREWS 7 We return to Melchizedek. Hebrews five introduces the reader to this mysterious person and Hebrews six mentions him once, but it isn’t until Hebrews seven that the author explains his significance. It is not as though the Hebrew Christians were totally unfamiliar with Melchizedek. They certainly knew the story in which he appears, because, after all, it involved the very first Hebrew, the highly esteemed Abraham. They were also aware of the Psalm which mentions

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Melchizedek – Psalm 110. What the Hebrew Christians were not aware of was what Melchizedek had to do with Jesus.

WEEK six HEBREWS 7

But we must not see this chapter as nothing more than history which would have been helpful to the first century Hebrew Christian but does not apply to life today. Every Christian needs to understand the truths outlined in this chapter, for they are God-breathed and they concern our Lord. This chapter is not milk. It is grade-A steak; the very finest cut available. It reveals new truths about the Lord Jesus Christ. Every time we learn something new about him, we are able to move to a new, much higher level of appreciation for him. Higher appreciation leads to greater love for him. Greater love leads to greater obedience. I believe that was the result when the Hebrew Christians read this chapter for the first time. May it be true of us as well.

THE CHAPTER DIVISION Hebrews seven may be divided in two parts: the first ten verses describe Melchizedek himself, the last 18 verses describe how Jesus’ priesthood is like Melchizedek’s priesthood and superior to the Levitical priesthood.

A CLOSER LOOK AT MELCHIZEDEK The author begins this discussion on Melchizedek by reviewing the passage in which Melchizedek appears (Genesis 14). These were facts all the Hebrew Christians would have known quite well. This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. Hebrews 7:1-2 It is important to note that Melchizedek was not just a king, nor was he just a priest. He was a king and a priest. As we learned in our lesson on Hebrews five, Melchizedek is the first priest mentioned in the Bible. He is the only priest mentioned in the Old Testament who also served as a king. It is not that others did not wish to serve as both king and priest. In fact, Uzziah, one of the kings of Judah, entered the temple to offer the incense which the priests were only allowed to offer. But Uzziah was not permitted to fill both offices. Even while he was attempting to offer the incense, the Lord struck him with leprosy.1 Under the law, kings, who were descendants of Judah, were not allowed to serve as priests, and priests, who were descendants of Levi, were not allowed to serve as kings. In filling both of these offices, Melchizedek was set apart from all those, except one, who would ever follow. The one, of course, is Jesus. When Abraham met Melchizedek, he had with him a great deal of plunder from the battle he had just won. He gave Melchizedek a tenth of this plunder. This is a significant action, explaining a great deal about the relationship between these two men. However, before the author explains the significance of Abraham’s tithe, he provides his readers with the meanings of both Melchizedek’s name and his title. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Hebrews 7:2 How does a mere man bear the name “king of righteousness”? Righteousness means, among others things, being right with God. Man without Christ is not right with God (see Romans 3:10). As Jesus said in Mark 10:18, “No one is good – except God alone.” How then does Melchizedek bear this name? And how does a mere man bear the title “king of peace”? Man without Christ is not at peace (see Romans 3:17). How then does Melchizedek bear this title? There are two possibilities, neither of which may be conclusively proved or disproved by these verses in Hebrews. The first is that Melchizedek bears these names because he is no mere man. Melchizedek may have been Christ himself. Many Christians believe this to be the case. The second possibility is that Melchizedek was a man who was a type of Christ. Many Christians believe this to be the case. If this second possibility is the case, Melchizedek bore these names not as his own possessions, but as temporary labels, given him so that he might direct attention toward the one to whom the name and title truly belong – Jesus. Years ago people in large cities would walk around wearing “sandwich boards” – two large boards

1

See 2 Chronicles 26:16-21.

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WEEK six HEBREWS 7

covering both their front and back sides. These sandwich boards would have advertisements written on both sides. The person wearing the sandwich board would attract great attention to himself, but that was not the ultimate purpose of the sandwich boards. The advertisements did not refer to the person wearing the boards. They always referred to something else. The person wearing the sandwich board was merely the carrier of the name and advertisement. He would temporarily attract attention to himself with the goal of directing the people to the place or product which was being advertised. In a similar manner, if Melchizedek was not Christ in a preincarnate appearance, he was wearing a “sandwich board” with Jesus’ name and title. His task, as a picture of Christ, was not to draw attention to himself. It was to point the way to the true king of righteousness and the true king of peace – Jesus. Jesus alone may bear the name king of righteousness because he is supreme in righteousness. That is why he is called “the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). He alone may bear the name king of peace because he is supreme in peace. For all eternity we will see the peace he brings increasing. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. Isaiah 9:7 In discussing all this, we haven’t yet touched on the fact that Melchizedek was the king of Salem, which was probably Jerusalem. One day, Jesus will also rule and reign in that city. Obviously, there are many similarities between Melchizedek and our Lord Jesus Christ. We will see even more in the verses ahead.

MELCHIZEDEK’S GENEALOGY From the name and title of Melchizedek, which are, as we have already discussed, more truly the name and title of Jesus, the author moves to an examination of Melchizedek’s genealogy. Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. Hebrews 7:3 Unlike so many other significant characters in the Bible, Melchizedek has no genealogical records associated with him. The Bible never records who his father or mother were. He was, at least in terms of the biblical account, “[w]ithout father or mother”. He simply was. And as if that isn’t enough, Melchizedek’s birth and death are not listed in the Bible. As far as the record is concerned, at least, he never was born and he never died. Again, he just was. The similarities with Jesus are obvious. While he had an earthly mother, in a greater sense, Jesus was, like Melchizedek, without father or mother. He simply always was. This is why he was able to say to the Jews, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (see John 8:58). He always was and he always is. As I mentioned earlier, these similarities between Jesus and Melchizedek have caused some to believe that Melchizedek actually was Jesus himself, in a preincarnate appearance. The wording in Hebrews seven certainly leaves this possibility open. Henry Morris, in his excellent commentary on Genesis, states why he believes this may be the case. The one other possibility is that Melchizedek was not only a type of Christ, but was actually Christ Himself, in one of His preincarnate appearances. Although this interpretation is not without its own difficulties, it does seem to harmonize most naturally with the doctrine of verbal inspiration and the principle of literal interpretation. The only person of whom the statements in Hebrews 7:3 could be literally true as they stand, without the addition of other words supposedly implied, would have to be none other than the Second Person of the Godhead.2 But while many are convinced that Melchizedek and Christ are one and the same person, perhaps more would argue otherwise. Warren Wiersbe, in his New Testament study on the book of Hebrews, advances this point of view.

2

Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1982), p. 321.

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Melchizedek was not an angel or some superhuman creature; nor was he an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ. He was a real man, a real king, and a real priest in a real city. But as far as the record is concerned, he was not born, nor did he die. In this way, he is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. Though Jesus Christ did die, Calvary was not the end; for He arose from the dead and today lives in “the power of an endless life” (Heb. 7:16). Since there is no account of Melchizedek’s death, as far as the record is concerned, it seems that

Melchizedek is still serving as a priest and king. This is another way in which he is like the eternal Son of God.3

WEEK six HEBREWS 7

If Melchizedek wasn’t Jesus, then who was he? No one knows. There was a tradition among the Jews that Melchizedek was actually Shem, Noah’s eldest son. This is possible, as based on the genealogies recorded in Genesis, Shem died after the death of Abraham. The truth is, until That Day we probably won’t know anything more about Melchizedek than we can learn from this chapter. Exactly who he is will likely remain a mystery. But while it is fruitless wondering who Melchizedek is, it is certainly not fruitless thinking about how Melchizedek and his priesthood relate to Jesus. As we learned from chapter five, this is a thought we should give far more attention to.

ABRAHAM’S TITHE AND MELCHIZEDEK’S BLESSING Now that the preliminary information about Melchizedek has been given, the author focuses on the money which Abraham gave to Melchizedek and the blessing which Melchizedek gave to Abraham. As the author points out, these two seemingly insignificant actions turn out to be extremely significant to the whole topic of priesthoods. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people – that is, their brothers – even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. Hebrews 7:4-10 Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of his plunder. In essence, he tithed to Melchizedek. In paying the tithe to him, Abraham was demonstrating that he considered Melchizedek superior to himself. The significance of this fact is made clear when the author points out that Abraham’s great grandson Levi, because he was “still in the body of his ancestor”, also “paid the tenth through Abraham”. In essence, Levi, through Abraham, tithed to Melchizedek, proving Melchizedek’s superiority over Levi. But this proves much more than just the superiority of the man Melchizedek over the man Levi. It proves the superiority of the priesthood of Melchizedek over the priesthood of Levi, for all priests in Israel were descended from Levi.4 This must have been a shocking thought for the Hebrew Christians. They had grown up with the belief that God had instituted one priesthood; the Levitical priesthood. They had even been commanded, by God, to tithe to the Levitical priesthood. Here they see that the Levitical priesthood had always been a subservient priesthood, for even before the Levitical priesthood began, Levi had tithed to Melchizedek, acknowledging the superiority of the order of Melchizedek. The author proves that Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to Levi’s in a second way, pointing out that when Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, Melchizedek blessed Abraham. This is significant, because the greater person passes on his blessing to the lesser person. When Melchizedek blessed Abraham, it was an admission by both that they understood who the greater was and who the lesser was. As the author notes, “without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater”. A third way in which Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood is that, at least as far as the record goes, Melchizedek never died. The Levitical priests, as ordinary men, all died. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. Hebrews 7:8 The Israelites had been tithing to ordinary mortals. But the tithe Abraham paid to Melchizedek went to one who is “declared to be living”. Death is indicative of weakness. This weakness had been seen in every single Levitical priest. But it had not been seen in Melchizedek. No genealogy existed which could prove his death. This was one more demonstration of his superiority.

3

Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Confident: A New Testament Study – Hebrews (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Publishing, 2003), p. 74.

4

See Exodus 32:19-29.

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Thus we have seen, in three distinct ways, the superiority of Melchizedek and his priesthood over Abraham, Levi and the Levitical priesthood. These initial verses would have left the Hebrew Christians with a new appreciation for Melchizedek and a new perspective on the priesthood of Levi. On the one hand, they would have seen Melchizedek’s priesthood as far greater than they ever believed. On the other hand, they would have seen, from the Scriptures, that the priesthood of Levi had always been subservient to Melchizedek and his priesthood. Thus far, the author’s words have been based on the historical record of Melchizedek in Genesis 14. At verse 11 the author turns his thoughts to the second Old Testament passage referring to Melchizedek – Psalm 110. And it is from this passage that we find the connection between Melchizedek and Jesus made clear.

JESUS AND MELCHIZEDEK Before we reflect on verses 11 and following, let us first consider the reference to Melchizedek found in Psalm 110, for it is essential background to this passage. This Psalm was considered by the Jews to be a Messianic Psalm, that is, they believed it especially referred to the Messiah. While all the verses in this Psalm concern the Lord Jesus, for the sake of this study we will consider only the fourth verse. The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110:4 The words which appear here within the quote marks are God the Father’s, and they are addressed to one whom David calls “my Lord” (see Psalm 110:1). Who is the one whom David calls “my Lord”? It is none other than the Lord Jesus. This was confirmed on the Day of Pentecost when the apostle Peter told his Jewish listeners that the “my Lord” referred to in this Psalm is Jesus (see Acts 2:34-36). Therefore, Psalm 110:4 is an oath from God the Father to Jesus that he is “a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”. More will be said of this shortly, but this is the background we need to look at the following verse. If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis off it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come – one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? Hebrews 7:11 Why did God make a promise to Jesus that he was a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek? He made this promise because the Levitical priesthood and the law connected with it could not bring the people to perfection. If the Levitical priesthood and the law had been able to perfect men, there would have been no need for another priest in a different order. Changing priesthoods means much more than simply changing the person who mediates between God and man. The law itself was attached to the priesthood; therefore, when the priesthood is changed, the law changes along with it. For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:12-19 The Jewish law stated that priests must be descendants of the tribe of Levi. However, the priesthood of Melchizedek had no such law. Jesus did not become a priest because he was from Levi – he actually descended from Levi’s younger brother Judah. He became a priest “on the basis of the power of an indestructible life”. His perfect life, not his human ancestry, is what enabled him to become a priest in the order of Melchizedek. God himself confirmed Jesus’ eternal priesthood by taking an oath, guaranteeing his priesthood

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forever. Those who say that there will one day be a new or different messiah do not realize that God has taken an oath, appointing Jesus as priest forever. He cannot change the high priest now!

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And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without an oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:20-22 The Hebrew Christians were considering putting their trust in the old Levitical priesthood and the old law again. The folly of this thought was fully exposed in this chapter. The true high priest, Jesus, has been installed in his office. God has guaranteed his high priesthood with an oath. There will never be another priesthood except the priesthood in the order of Melchizedek. The days of the Levitical priesthood and the glory associated with it have long since died away. The days of the true high priest are at hand, and his glory will continue forever. God will not and cannot change his oath. He has sworn that Jesus is a priest forever. Unlike the Levitical priests, Jesus will never die. He lives forever, and, because of God the Father’s oath, his priesthood is in effect forever. There will never be another moment when Jesus is not serving as high priest. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:23-25 God has established a permanent priesthood with a perfect high priest. The value this has for us is that Jesus is “able to save completely those who come to God through him”. The word completely means totally. Jesus saves the believer in all areas. He is not interested in doing a partial work in your life. All areas of life are under his high priesthood. The word completely also includes the idea of forever.5 There will never be a need to find a different high priest. Your high priest is working on your behalf forever. Such a high priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted about the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:26-28 The law, which was based on the Levitical priesthood, could never save a man completely and forever. It was a “shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves” (Hebrews 10:1). The law was meant to draw people to Jesus. Much like a bandage that covers a bleeding wound until a doctor can examine and properly close the wound, the law provided temporary help to the Hebrews, but it was not a permanent solution to their problem of sin. Imperfect priests cannot work perfect solutions. But Jesus is perfect, and he perfectly meets our need. He sacrificed for our sins once for all. He will never need to offer himself again, for, as with everything he does, his offering was perfect. This is the high priest God has appointed. Praise his glorious name! He has been made perfect forever, and forever he will be working his perfection in those who love him. He did work – that is his work on the cross, and he is working – that is his work at the right hand of God the Father. Andrew Murray, in his well-loved commentary on Hebrews, beautifully contrasts these two aspects of Christ’s ministry. In the opening verses of our Epistle we found the work of Christ divided into two parts. When He had effected the cleansing of sins (that was after the order of Aaron), He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (that was after the order of Melchizedek). There are too many Christians who see in Christ only the fulfillment of what Aaron typified. Christ’s death and blood are very precious to them; they do seek to rest their faith upon them. And yet they wonder that they have so little of the peace and joy, of the purity and power which the Saviour gives, and which faith in Him ought to bring. The reason is simple, because Christ is only their Aaron, not

5

See the NIV text note on verse 25.

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their Melchizedek. They do indeed believe that He is ascended to heaven, and sits upon the throne of God; but they have not seen the direct connection of this with their daily spiritual life. They do not count upon Jesus working in them in the power of the heavenly life, and imparting it to them. They do not know their heavenly calling, with the all-sufficient provision for its fulfillment in them secured in the heavenly life of their Priest-King. And, as a consequence of this, they do not see the need for giving up the world, to have their life and walk in heaven.6 Do you see it? So many of us concentrate so completely on the finished work of Christ that we never draw any life from the ongoing work of Christ. Our high priest did not complete his service at the cross. He is serving today. If that isn’t enough, let’s take our thoughts on Jesus’ priesthood a step further. Did you know, brothers and sisters, that all Christians serve as priests in this priesthood? We could never have served as priests under the old law. That was reserved for those who were descendants of Levi. But that law has been abolished. A new law is in place, and it states that all those who put their trust in Jesus serve as priests today. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10 He is the high priest. We are his royal priesthood (once again, we see royalty combined with the priesthood!). This will never change. Since it is true today, we ought to live as if it were true today. Your high priest is, even now, at the right hand of God interceding for you. This is his role. It will be his role forever. Our role is to see him as he is today, to see ourselves as we are today, and to walk in the light of that truth. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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Andrew Murray, The Holiest of All (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1996), p. 237.

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Week Seven HEBREWS 8

WEEK seven

DAY ONE

HEBREWS 8

Read Hebrews 8 through twice. The first time through the chapters, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapters at this time. The second time through the chapters, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapters leave you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 8 1The

point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. 3Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. 7For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8But God found fault with the people and said: “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 13By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 8:1-2 According to verse one, Jesus sat down. What does this imply about his work of redemption? See also Hebrews 10:12-14

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The priests in the Levitical priesthoods never sat. How does Hebrews 10:11 describe their work?

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Jesus sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. When did this event happen? Acts 2:22-36

The right hand of the throne is the position of power. In the Old Testament, we read about Joseph being elevated to the position of second-in-command to Pharaoh. What was the extent of his power? What limitation, if any, was there to his power? Genesis 41:39-44

Jesus “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25). What will happen when all Jesus’ enemies are under his feet? 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 8:3-5 High priests are “appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices”. Jesus was not exempt from this requirement. What was it that Jesus offered? See also Hebrews 10:1-10

What is the difference between the sanctuary the earthly priests served in and the sanctuary Jesus serves in? See also Hebrews 8:2

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Who designed the earthly tabernacle? Exodus 25:1-9

HEBREWS 8 Do you believe the Israelites saw the tabernacle as a picture of the heavenly tabernacle? In other words, do you believe they were thinking of the heavenly when they worshipped in the earthly? See also John 2:13-22 and Acts 6:12-14

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 8:6-9 How is the covenant of which Jesus is mediator different from the covenant under which the Levitical priests served?

Why did God replace the first covenant?

The old covenant (the law) was based on laws that the Jewish people were commanded to keep. What was God’s promise to those who would keep his laws? Leviticus 18:4-5

Has any man (with the exception of Jesus) ever been able to keep God’s laws? Romans 3:10-19

If man cannot keep the law, why was it given? Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:19, 24

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DAY FIVE

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Read Hebrews 8:10-13 The old covenant was based on works. What is God’s new covenant based on? Romans 3:21-22

HEBREWS 8

Why is God’s new covenant better for man than the old covenant? Galatians 3:10-13

In the new covenant God promises to put his laws in our minds and write them on our hearts. What do you think this means?

Why would an “internal law” be superior to an “external law,” which is what those under the first covenant were attempting to keep.

What other advantages to the new covenant are listed in verses ten through 12?

The new covenant is also described in Ezekiel 36:25-27. How does God describe the work he does in this covenant in these verses?

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What is the significance of God calling this covenant “new”? See verses eight and 13

HEBREWS 8 If the old covenant is obsolete (verse 13), why do so many people still want to base their relationship with God on their obedience to the law?

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter 8.

HEBREWS 8 STUDY NOTES Once again, the author returns to the subject of the high priesthood of Jesus. In fact, the author won’t leave the topic until midway through chapter ten. That’s six chapters devoted to this one subject. The question is, why? What is so significant about the priesthood of Jesus that the author was compelled (by the Holy Spirit) to write so extensively on the subject? I believe one reason the author was forced to delve so deeply into this subject is that the Hebrew Christians had, in their minds, elevated the Levitical priesthood to a status which was above that of Christ. They needed to be shown that the Levitical priesthood was inferior to the priesthood of Jesus in all areas. However, while love of the wrong priesthood may have been a problem for the first century Hebrew Christians, it is not the problem Christians have today. Our problem is that we neglect to think about Christ’s priesthood at all. As we discussed in earlier weeks, we tend to focus most, if not all, our attention on what Christ did, forgetting that he is still doing. For both groups, the first century Hebrew Christians and the Christians of today, these chapters should serve as flashing lights, warning us of our danger and redirecting our attention to our great high priest. The author does this in chapter eight by making three comparisons: he compares Christ’s priesthood with the earthly priesthood, he compares the tabernacle where Christ serves with the earthly tabernacle, and he compares the covenant Christ mediates to the covenant associated with the old priesthood.

TWO DIFFERENT PRIESTHOODS What do we know about our great high priest? We know that he “lives forever” and has a “permanent priesthood” (7:24). We know that he is “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners” and “exalted above the heavens” (7:26). We know that he is “perfect forever” (7:28). And we know that his priesthood is perfectly effective (7:25), saving “completely those who come to God through him”. In the first few verses of chapter eight, the author adds even more to our understanding of our high priest. The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. Hebrews 8:1-2 Our high priest, unlike the high priests serving under the old law, “sat down”. The high priests in the Levitical priesthood never sat down, for their work was never completed. In fact, the high priests could not sit down, for there were no chairs in the temple or tabernacle. I like how J. Vernon McGee, in his Thru the Bible radio broadcasts, explained the significance of Christ sitting down.

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Christ did something which no priest in the Old Testament ever did. There is not a priest in the line of Aaron who ever had a chair in the tabernacle where he sat down. He was on the run all the time. Why? Because he had work to do. All of these things are shadows that point to a finished sacrifice. Now that Christ has died, all has been fulfilled, and we do not need to wonder if we are doing enough to merit salvation. All we need to do is turn to Jesus Christ and trust Him as our Savior. He sat down because He had finished our redemption. He asks only that we accept it.1

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There is great significance in the fact that Jesus sat down. His work of redemption was finished. He had nothing more to do, so he sat down. This fact is so significant that Hebrews ten reemphasizes the point. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:11-12 But while Jesus is sitting in terms of redemption, as John MacArthur, Jr. points out in his commentary on Hebrews, there are times when he is compelled to take his feet. A tragic but beautiful story from the book of Acts comes to mind in regard to Jesus’ sitting at God’s right hand. Just before Stephen was taken out of Jerusalem to be stoned to death for preaching so powerfully before the Sanhedrin, “he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). As far as redemption is concerned, Jesus is seated, because He rests from the finished work of redemption. But when one of His own falls into trouble, He stands up, because He takes the position of action. His power and His energy are immediately activated in behalf of His beloved. He is seated as our Redeemer, but is standing as our Helper in time of need.2 What a wonderful paradox! Jesus sits, and yet he doesn’t sit. His work is finished, yet it is ongoing. His greatness knows no limits. When Jesus sat down, he sat at the right hand of God the Father. He did so at the invitation of God the Father. In his message to the people on the Day of Pentecost, Peter described the exact moment when Jesus took his seat. “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:33-36 The event described in these verses actually happened. There was a moment in time when Jesus entered the throne room of heaven. He had just secured eternal redemption for all who would trust him, defeating death and hell in the process. Don’t you wish you could have seen this event? The Conqueror returns to his Father, having accomplished all that he had been sent to do. The Father welcomes his Son and tells him to take his seat. The angels shout with glad joy, their voices filling all the heavens. What a day that must have been! Jesus sat in the seat of power, on the throne (see Acts 2:30) “at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 8:1). Like Joseph in the Old Testament, who was told by Pharaoh that, “without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt” (Genesis 41:44), and “Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you” (Genesis 41:40), so Jesus received total authority from his Father.3 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18 More than this, our high priest Jesus is free to give this authority and power to those he chooses! And he chooses his followers! That means you and me. “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19

1 J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary Series: Hebrews Chapters 8-13 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1991), p. 16. 2 John MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Hebrews (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1983), p. 208. 3 See Revelation 2:26-27.

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The earthly high priests did not have supreme authority, and they could not pass their limited authority to those they chose. They could not designate other priests. They died, and when they died, their authority died with them. Jesus lives, and his authority goes to those who are in him, for we are seated with him in heaven! That is not my idea, it is God’s! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … Ephesians 2:6 What a glorious thought! I am in Christ. Where he is, I am. There is no comparing Jesus with the earthly priests. He is superior in all ways. They never sat. He sits. Their authority was limited. His is unlimited. He alone is fit to serve in “the true tabernacle set up by the Lord” (Hebrews 8:2).

TWO DIFFERENT TABERNACLES The second comparison the author makes in this eighth chapter is between the tabernacle where the Levites served and the tabernacle where Christ serves. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5 The word tabernacle simply means tent. But there was much more to the tabernacle than just a simple tent. There were actually three main areas in the tabernacle: the courtyard, which was outside of the tent itself, the Holy Place in the front portion of the tent, and the Most Holy Place in the rear portion of the tent. A thick curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. It was there, in the Most Holy Place, where God’s presence rested.4 It is important to realize that the plans for this tabernacle did not originate in Moses’ mind. God gave Moses all the plans for the tabernacle. Moses could not build it any way he chose. It had to be exactly like the pattern God had shown him. “Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” Exodus 25:9 Every element in the tabernacle, from the “curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman” (Exodus 26:1), to the gold lampstand in the Holy Place “was made exactly like the pattern the LORD had shown Moses (Numbers 8:4). Why was it so critical that Moses build the tabernacle exactly according to the pattern he had been shown? It was critical because the tabernacle was not the first of its kind. It was a “copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (Hebrews 8:5). In the same way that my shadow, however vaguely, resembles me, so the earthly tabernacle needed to resemble, at least in some measure, the heavenly tabernacle. The author uses the difference between the two tabernacles to illustrate the difference between the earthly priests and our heavenly high priest. Earthly high priests served in the shadow tabernacle. Our heavenly high priest serves in the “true tabernacle” (Hebrews 8:2). Earthly high priests served in a tabernacle set up by man. Our heavenly high priest serves in the true tabernacle “set up by the Lord” (Hebrews 8:2). Once again, we see our Lord’s superiority clearly demonstrated. He ministers in a superior tabernacle, therefore his ministry must also be superior. Notice, the author has not yet talked about the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice compared to the sacrifices offered by the Levitical priests. We might expect him to do so at this point; however, he saves that discussion for Hebrews nine and ten. Instead, the author turns his attention to the foundation of Christ’s ministry.

TWO DIFFERENT COVENANTS Christ’s ministry cannot be adequately explained until the covenant his ministry is built upon is explained. Covenant is the basis of our relationship with God. Like the foundation of a house, our covenant with God is the foundation everything else is built upon. 4

See Exodus 25:8.

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The word covenant, as used in English, generally refers to a strong agreement between two parties.

The word covenant, as used in this passage, is slightly different, for it “does not in itself contain the idea of joint obligation, it mostly signifies an obligation undertaken by a single person”.5 That single person under obligation is God. The entire covenant rests on him.

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There are several covenants referred to in the Scriptures. For instance, God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants that he would never again destroy the entire earth by a flood (see Genesis 9:8-11). No matter what man does, God will not destroy the entire earth with a flood. This covenant is our guarantee, for God cannot lie. In addition to this covenant, God made covenants with several individuals, the most famous being covenants with Abraham and with David. However, the author is not discussing any of these covenants in this passage. In these verses, he compares the covenant the Levitical priesthood is built upon with the covenant the ministry of Jesus is built upon. But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. Hebrews 8:6 Let’s start by looking at the covenant the Levitical priesthood is built upon. This first covenant6 is also sometimes called “The Law.” This covenant is outlined in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. That is why the first five books of the Bible are often called “The Law.” This covenant outlined how men were to relate to God. Laws were established in order that men might draw near to God in a proper way. The Ten Commandments form the base of this covenant. But there weren’t just a handful of laws. There were dozens and dozens of them, relating to all areas of life. Some laws related to the appropriate sacrifices to offer when you had sinned. Some laws related to how to celebrate God’s special festivals. Other laws dealt with more mundane manners of life, such as how to deal with mildew. Some seem strange, such as the instructions regarding what to do if a lizard falls in a pot. It can be tiresome just reading over these laws; just imagine trying to keep them! While the keeping of the law may seem like a relatively simple task once the law itself was learned, it was actually quite difficult, for the laws applied to heart motivations as well. For instance, the seventh of the Ten Commandments is “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). This seems straightforward enough. However, Jesus made it clear that the command goes much deeper than it first appears. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28 The command was not just to be obeyed with the body. It was also meant to be obeyed with the mind and the heart. According to Jesus, those who have had a single lustful thought have broken the seventh commandment! Jesus did not apply this standard to adultery alone. He said the same is true for the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). “You have heard that is was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” Matthew 5:21-22 Who among us has never had a hateful thought? Not one. And these are just two of God’s laws! All of them are just the same. They are to be obeyed with the body, with the mind, and with the heart. God’s standard is impossible to keep. Not one of the Israelites ever kept these laws. They tried, to be sure, but no one ever perfectly kept the law. We must understand that the problem was not with the covenant or with the laws within the covenant. After all, God instituted the covenant, therefore it was perfect. The problem was with the people; they could not keep the covenant. They were unable to obey God’s laws. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people … Hebrews 8:7-8 Why would God establish a covenant that no one could keep? That’s a good question. The surprising answer, as we learn from the book of Galatians, is that the law was never meant to be kept. It was established to bring people to Christ. God knew that the people could not keep the

5

W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996), p. 135.

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This covenant is the “first covenant” in that, from an earthly chronological sense, it preceded the new covenant which was inaugurated with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It is important to understand, however, that the new covenant is not new in any sense. Nor was this covenant God’s plan B once he realized the people could not keep plan A. Jesus “was chosen before the creation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20). The gospel of Jesus Christ is eternal (see Revelation 14:6), it has always been God’s plan.

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law. He wanted the people to learn the same thing. This is precisely the point Paul emphasizes in his letter to the church in Galatia. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. Galatians 3:21-25 Like a bandage, which covers a wound until the doctor can properly cleanse and close it, the first covenant was a temporary “sin bandage” until Jesus arrived. God knew the first covenant would not produce holiness in anyone. He knew no one would be able to perfectly keep the law. The law was to make the people aware of their sinful state, and, consequently, aware of their need for a Savior. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:20 The people couldn’t keep the first covenant. This is why God made a new and better covenant 7 – a covenant that was made with the people’s fallen condition in mind. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:10-12 Once again, as he does so often in the book of Hebrews, the author quotes an Old Testament passage to prove his point. His point, remember, is the superiority of this new covenant of which Jesus is the mediator. The quotation here is from Jeremiah 31:31-34. In this passage, the author brings up three major advantages of the new covenant. The first advantage of the new covenant is that it is not an “external” covenant. It does not involve memorizing rules and regulations. In this covenant, God puts his laws in the people’s minds and writes them on their hearts. What a great help this is. In essence, God “hard-wires” the new laws into the Christian! This radically changes how these laws are to be kept. As Ezekiel 36:27 says, “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws”. In this covenant, we are literally wired by God to keep the law and God himself moves us to keep his laws. What a wonderful thought. In short, God has taken the law-keeping upon himself!8 He is the keeper of the law in the new and better covenant.

7

Not new in the sense that God suddenly came up with a better idea. Life through, in, and with Jesus Christ was always God’s idea.

8

For a fuller understanding of the wonderful truth about God keeping the law, read Romans 7. The study notes in our study book on the book of Romans, The Power of the Gospel, may prove helpful. The church needs to understand this truth.

9

This passage does not teach universal salvation. Jesus made it clear that everyone will not be saved. What it does teach is that everyone under this covenant will know God personally. That was not true of the first covenant.

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The second advantage of this new covenant is the relationship with God it guarantees to those who are under the covenant. In the old covenant, the high priest alone had special access to God – and even that was restricted to just once a year. The rest of the people could not access God directly, because they were not holy. However, in the new covenant, you don’t need to find someone to relate to God for you. Because of the finished work of Jesus, you can have your own personal relationship with God. Those who know the Lord Jesus don’t need to go to an earthly priest to find God. Those who know the Lord Jesus don’t need to go to Jerusalem to find God. In this covenant, everyone will know God.9 This is the truth Jesus proclaimed to the Samaritan woman at the well. “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-24 It is easy to think that God did all this just for humanity. He did not. He does love humanity, but he also did this for himself. Notice, God is seeking worshipers who worship him intimately. It is what he wants. He desires fellowship with man, and this is the only way it can happen! However,

we cannot relate with God in the intimate manner he desires when we are unholy. That is why the third advantage of the new covenant deals with the forgiveness of sins. Sins committed under the first covenant were not forgiven. They were merely covered.

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[I]t is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:4 In the new and better covenant, however, sins and wickedness are dealt with in an entirely different manner. They are forgiven and forgotten. They are completely erased. Because of this, our consciences are cleansed of guilt, and we are able to serve the living God. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:14 God’s forgiveness is so complete that he actually calls those under this covenant “righteous” (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), “holy” and “without blemish”. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation … Colossians 1:21-22 This is not ancient history. This covenant deals with you … today. If you are a Christian, you have been set free! God desires an intimate relationship with you now, and he has made the way for that relationship to happen! It is not based on your holiness, it is based on his! He is the keeper of the new covenant. Do you see the greatness of this new covenant? If not, read this section again. The old covenant is nothing like the new. The old came with glory, to be sure. Remember, Moses’ face shown when he came down the mountain. But the glory of the old covenant is nothing compared with the glory of the new. Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 2 Corinthians 3:7-9 This is the new covenant. Do you understand its greatness? It opens the door to God himself. No longer are we bound by rules we cannot keep. God washes our sins away, changes our hearts so that they beat like his heart, puts his Spirit in us, and moves us to follow his laws (see Ezekiel 36:25-27). What a wonder! And who made and makes this covenant possible? Jesus Christ our great high priest. Praise his name forever.

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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Week Eight HEBREWS 9

DAY ONE

WEEK eight

Read Hebrews 9 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 9

HEBREWS 9 1Now

the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings – external regulations applying until the time of the new order. 11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. 16In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. 2A

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DAY TWO Read Hebrews 9:1-5

HEBREWS 9

Verses one through five describe the two rooms in the tabernacle. Briefly outline the layout of these two rooms, and the items found within them.

Based on what you know of Hebrews so far, what do you think these items were representative of?

How was the tabernacle itself funded? Exodus 35:4-9; 20-29

What was the approximate weight of the gold, silver and bronze used in the tabernacle? (Use the footnotes in your Bible for help) Exodus 38:24-29

Where did the Israelites, all former slaves, get the gold, silver and bronze to furnish the tabernacle? Exodus 3:21-22; Exodus 12:31-36; Psalm 105:37

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 9:6-10 Verse three describes a curtain that separated the first room (the Holy Place) from the second room (the Most Holy Place). Who could minister in the first room, and who could minister in the second room?

What were the requirements for the high priest to enter into the Most Holy Place?

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What was the Holy Spirit teaching by this?

WEEK eight HEBREWS 9

What happened to the curtain separating these two rooms when Jesus died? Matthew 27:45-51

What was the Holy Spirit teaching by this?

Do you think the people or the priests recognized this?

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 9:11-15 Jesus went through the tabernacle. How was the tabernacle Jesus entered different from the tabernacle the Levitical high priests entered into?

How was his entrance into the Most Holy Place different from the high priest’s entrance into the Most Holy Place?

Jesus obtained “eternal redemption” for all those who put their trust in him. What is the significance of this phrase?

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What benefit did the blood of goats and bulls bring to the worshiper of God?

HEBREWS 9

What benefit does the blood of Jesus bring to the one who trusts in him?

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 9:16-28 What did Moses do after he “had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people”?

How do you think you would have felt if you were in the crowd listening to Moses and he had sprinkled you with blood?

What was the Holy Spirit teaching by this?

Why did Jesus need to shed his blood in order for us to receive forgiveness of sins? Why didn’t God forgive man in some other way? Hebrews 9:22

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What was the result of Jesus’ sacrifice? Be as specific as possible.

WEEK eight HEBREWS 9

Jesus will never die again. He will never offer himself as a sacrifice again. However, he will appear a second time. What will he do at this second appearing? Hebrews 9:27-28

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter nine.

HEBREWS 9 Chapter nine begins with a review of the tabernacle’s layout. As I mentioned earlier, the tabernacle had three main areas: the outer court, which was outside the tent itself, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place were separated by a large curtain. In these first ten verses the author does not describe the outer court at all. He concentrates on the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Hebrews 9:1-2 Much could be said about the various items in the Holy Place. All of them are highly significant. In different ways they represent our Lord and his ministry. However, the author does not have the individual items in mind. He merely wants his readers to remember the layout of the tabernacle so that he can prove something about Christ’s priesthood through it. This is why he quickly moves from the Holy Place to a description of the Most Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. Hebrews 9:3-5 Again, much more could be said about the ark of the covenant and the items within it, but the author does not take the time.1 He doesn’t want to discuss the items within the tabernacle. He wants to discuss how the priests ministered within the tabernacle. When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings – external regulations applying until the time of the new order. Hebrews 9:6-10 Do you see the author’s point? He wants to draw attention to the ministry that took place in the Most Holy Place. Many priests entered into the Holy Place. In fact, the priests were in the Holy Place on a daily basis. However, ordinary priests were not allowed into the Most Holy Place. Only the high priest was allowed to enter this room. But he couldn’t enter the Most Holy Place anytime he wished. He entered just once a year, on the Day of Atonement.2 And he could not enter the room without blood. The blood was needed because of the sins of the high priest and the sins of

1

For a fuller description of the contents of the ark of the covenant and their significance, you may refer to pages 99 and 100 of The Power of the Gospel, our study book covering Romans 1-8. It will be well worth your time to study this topic in greater depth.

2

The Day of Atonement, also known as Yom Kippur, was the tenth day of the seventh month (using the Jewish calendar). This would be September or October using a modern calendar.

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WEEK Eight

the people. It was an indication of guilt. The high priest then sprinkled this blood on the atonement cover – the gold cover of the ark of the covenant.

HEBREWS 9

What is the point of this history lesson? The author tells us in verse eight. The Holy Spirit was showing that the “way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed”. In other words, this was a type of a spiritual play, directed by the Holy Spirit and acted out by the high priest once a year. This “play” was to be a yearly reminder to the people that the entrance into the presence of God was closed. The ordinary people could not enter into God’s presence, for they were forbidden from entering inside the tabernacle itself. The ordinary priests, while they could enter into the Holy Place, could not even enter into God’s presence. And the high priest, while he could enter the Most Holy Place, could do so only with blood, indicating that he didn’t really belong in God’s presence, for he was as guilty as the people. I imagine how the worshipers would have felt as they gathered at the tabernacle on the Day of Atonement. Deep down, some must have wanted to enter into the Most Holy Place themselves. Children must have asked their parents why they couldn’t go into the Most Holy Place. Parents would then have told their children that they couldn’t because only the high priest was eligible, and, most importantly, they couldn’t because they were guilty of sin and therefore not welcome. But surely the Holy Spirit was doing more than just showing that the way into the Most Holy Place was closed, wasn’t he? I believe he was also reminding the people that God was there … waiting. Indeed, King David wrote of those who were eligible to enter into God’s presence. Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Psalm 24:3-4 David saw that those with clean hands and pure hearts were eligible to enter into God’s presence. But who could possibly meet that standard? The people were outside, wanting to enter, and God was inside, waiting for them to enter. And this is how things remained, until...

And then came Christ After approximately 1,500 years of this play-acting, the Holy Spirit was ready for the actual performance. When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12 Like the earthly high priests, Jesus entered the Most Holy Place. However, that is where the similarities end. For Jesus entered the true Most Holy Place of which the earthly Most Holy Place was but a shadow. And Jesus, unlike the earthly high priests, did not enter with the blood of goats and calves. He entered by his own blood. He was, at the same time, both the sacrifice and the high priest. It is important to understand that this blood was not to cleanse his own sins, for he had none. Jesus was without blemish. His blood was for the sins of all people. And Jesus entered the Most Holy Place once for all. He will never make that entry again, for it is unnecessary. Jesus has a permanent place in the Most Holy Place – the very presence of God. What comfort this should give the believer. There is no need to wonder if Christ’s sacrifice will be accepted next year, or the year after that, or, for that matter, ten million years from now, for it has been eternally accepted. His blood “obtained eternal redemption”. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:13-14 Christ’s blood, we learn in verses 13 and 14, achieved far more than the earthly sacrifices ever achieved. The earthly sacrifices outwardly cleaned people, but they never were able to deal with the inward condition of the heart, and therefore, the people’s consciences were never truly

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cleansed. They knew the guilt remained. The blood of Christ, we read in verses fourteen, cleanses “our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God”. There is no need for the Christian to walk around under a load of guilt. Jesus’ blood cleanses our consciences. Because of this we are able to serve God as if we had no guilt whatsoever, for that is the truth. Our sins have been forgiven. They are no longer in existence, therefore, our consciences are clean. God is seeking worshipers who worship him in spirit and truth.3 To worship him in this way, we must have a clean conscience. A clean conscience enables us to serve the living God with confidence. A guilty conscience, however, produces nothing but cowardice, as the ancient Indian scholar Pilpay noted in 326 B.C.

WEEK eight HEBREWS 9

Guilty consciences always make people cowards.4 Cowardly people live cowardly lives and make cowardly decisions, as we learn from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The servant who received one talent was afraid of the master, and that is why he buried his talent. Unfortunately, many Christians are forced to live as cowards, for they do not have the clean conscience described in these verses in Hebrews. Why is this? One reason is that they have sinned and have not confessed these sins to the Lord. When a Christian sins, there is but one thing to do – confess the sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 Another reason many Christians do not have a clean conscience is that, even after they have confessed their sins, they have no faith that they have actually been forgiven. I had a period of time when I walked around with a great load of sin. It almost felt like I was carrying a backpack full of rocks around on my back. I could see why the Lord would forgive others, but I had a hard time seeing why he would forgive me. After all, my sin was deliberate. I knew God’s will and deliberately did the opposite. One day, the Lord finally showed me the meaning of 1 John 1:9. His forgiveness, I saw, had nothing to do with me. True, I needed to confess my sins, but his forgiving me had nothing to do with me at all. His forgiveness is based on his faithfulness and justice. In other words, if he didn’t forgive when we confessed our sins, he wouldn’t be faithful and he wouldn’t be just. God’s justice demands that he forgive us when we confess our sins, for Christ’s blood has been shed. What joy this brought me! What confidence in the blood of Jesus! When I confess my sins, God forgives my sins and purifies me from all unrighteousness. And if I have been purified from all unrighteousness, that makes me righteous! Spotless! Blameless! Holy! If you, as a Christian, have been walking around with a great load of guilt, it’s time to believe God’s word and in the power of the blood of Jesus. If you confess your sins, he will forgive you, for he must, his faithfulness and justice demand it.5 Your forgiveness depends on the blood of Jesus. Your future depends on the blood of Jesus. God made the Israelites very aware of their need for blood. He did this in a most graphic way. When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:19-22 Imagine listening as Moses reads God’s laws from a scroll. When he finishes speaking, he takes a branch and dips it in blood and sprinkles it over the scroll. The scroll is soon covered with blood. When he finishes sprinkling blood on the scroll, he again dips the hyssop branch in the bowl of blood. When the branch is dripping with blood, he sprinkles it over the people. A few drops of blood land on your face and on your robes. Your hair is wet with blood. When your attention finally turns from yourself to Moses again, you see him turn to the new tabernacle and the beautiful gold items used in its ceremonies. He isn’t going to sprinkle those too, is he? He is. Those, too, are soon dripping with blood.

3

See John 4:23-24.

4

John Bartlett, Familiar Quotations (Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company, 1938), p. 977.

5

This is not to say that we may sin and in a happy-go-lucky manner “confess” these sins so that we might be forgiven. There is nothing “light” about confessing our sins. It is a painful experience, for we have hurt the one we love. True repentance follows godly sorrow. Godly sorrow is feeling the pain God feels about your sin. See 2 Corinthians 7:10-11.

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It’s a shocking and almost distasteful scene, isn’t it? Everything is covered with blood. The question is, why?

HEBREWS 9

This was another play, scripted by the Holy Spirit. He was showing, in a most graphic way, that the path to God’s presence is paved with blood. Without blood there is no forgiveness. Without blood there is no cleansing. Without blood there is no purity. Without blood there is no approach to God whatsoever. This wasn’t the first time this play had been enacted, of course. The first enactment had been in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, they “sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves” (Genesis 3:7). In other words, they attempted to cover their sin with coverings they made themselves. But their sins weren’t covered, for no blood had been spilled to pay for their sins. This is why God made new garments for Adam and Eve. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 Notice, God’s garments were of skin. The very first physical death we find recorded in the Bible is of an animal, probably a young lamb. The lamb was killed because of Adam and Eve’s sin. They had tried to cover their sin without blood, but “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). This is why, for the sake of renewed fellowship with Adam, God had slain a lamb. In Genesis 4:4, we read about Abel bringing “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock”. He, like his parents, found that the path to God’s presence was paved with blood. And “the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering”. In Genesis 8:20, we read about Noah building an altar and sacrificing “clean animals and clean birds” on it. He, too, found that the path to God’s presence was paved with blood. In Genesis 22, we find the play acted out again. Although this time, even more foreshadowing is added. The Holy Spirit wants to make this very clear. Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Genesis 22:1-2 As I mentioned in an earlier lesson, this is the first time the word “love” is used in the Bible. The first time a significant new word is used in a text book, it is usually defined. The same holds true in the Bible. The first time a significant word is used, the word is defined. It is defined by the way in which the word is used and the context in which it appears. Thus, the deepest meaning of the word love involves a father’s love for his only son whom he is going to sacrifice. Abraham obeys God and takes his son to the region of Moriah. On the way to the place of sacrifice, Isaac asks Abraham, “where is the lamb for the burnt offering” (Genesis 22:7). Abraham’s answer is highly significant. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Genesis 22:8 Do you see it? The lamb is coming from God himself! He has taken the responsibility of providing the lamb. Abraham was speaking prophetically of God the Father providing Jesus as the offering! Abraham bound Isaac and laid him on the altar. It’s important to know that Abraham was well over 100 years old at this time, and Isaac was a strong young man. According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus, Isaac might have been 25 years old at this time. If he had not wanted to obey, he could have easily resisted his father. But he obeyed. He allowed himself to be bound. Abraham took the knife to kill his son, but the angel of the LORD called out to him and stopped him. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Genesis 22:12 At this point, Abraham “looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:13).

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Abraham was so moved by this event that he named the place. He called it “The LORD Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14). That is significant enough, but notice the next sentence. Every time I read it, I get excited. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” Genesis 22:14

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Abraham’s name for this place became a well-known saying among the Israelites. They would say, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” I don’t know how or in what context the people used the phrase. But every time the phrase was used, it should have evoked a rather obvious question. What will be provided? What does the “it” refer to? From the context it is obvious: the “it” that will be provided refers to the lamb God will provide. Let’s take this a step further. The saying went, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” Where is the mountain of the Lord? It is the mountain where Abraham sacrificed Isaac, in “the region of Moriah” (Genesis 22:2). Do you know where this “region of Moriah” is? Can you guess? It is right where Jerusalem is located. Where did Jesus die? On the mountain of the LORD! The ancient Israelites had a saying about the coming of Jesus! The foreshadowing was that specific! Some 2,000 years after the events of Genesis 22, John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness. Throngs went out to see and hear him. Perhaps thousands were baptized. The country was electrified by this man’s message. He called the people to turn from their sins and to be baptized. He talked, continually, about one who was coming. Then, one day, the message changed, for a man caught John’s eye. To others, this man may have looked like an ordinary Jew. But John saw something different. John pointed to the man, shifting all attention off of himself and onto this man. “Look the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 How did the people react? How many knew that this man was The Lamb that God was providing, and the one their saying referred to? From their reaction to the Lord’s ministry, I would guess not many. But that has always been the case. We have traced the blood trail through Genesis 22. We could continue this tracing, for the blood trail is evident all the way through the Old Testament. From the very beginning, God made it clear that blood was necessary. Not the blood of bulls and goats, for “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). The blood of bulls and goats pointed to the blood of the Lamb. His sacrifice and his sacrifice alone was sufficient to do away with sin. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:26-28 For us, as for Adam and Eve, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and every other human, the path to God’s presence is paved with blood … the blood of The Lamb.

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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Week Nine HEBREWS 10

DAY ONE

WEEK nine

Read Hebrews 10 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 10

HEBREWS 10 1The

law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God.’ ” 8First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). 9Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his

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people.” 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 10:1-18 Yearly sacrifices were an annual reminder of something. What was it? Hebrews 10:1-3

Verses five through eight indicate that God did not desire sacrifices and offerings. What do you think his desire was? Hebrews 10:10

Verse ten says that “we have been made holy”. Verse 14 talks about “those who are being made holy”. How can the Christian “be holy” and “be being made holy” at the same time?

Verse 14 indicates that the Christian has been made perfect forever. We know Christians still happen to sin. What does this verse mean by “perfect”?

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What is the Holy Spirit’s response to sins the Christian has committed? Hebrews 10:17

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If the Holy Spirit does not remember your sins, where do you think guilty feelings from past sins come from?

What should the Christian do about this? See 2 Corinthians 10:5

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 10:19-25 Why does the Christian have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place?

What does this say about the importance of your own works in regard to your standing with God?

What specific commands do you find in the following verses? 10:22 –

10:23 –

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10:24 –

HEBREWS 10 10:25 (you will find two commands here) –

(Personal) How are you doing in regard to the keeping of these commands?

Based on these verses, what would you say to the Christian who might say, “I don’t need to go to church (that is, fellowship with other believers) in order to be saved?”

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 10:26-31 What is the warning found in these verses?

To whom do you think this warning was addressed, Christians or non-Christians?

Why did you answer as you did?

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Why do you think the writer to the Hebrews would include this strong warning?

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How do you balance verses like these with verses that talk about God’s love and grace?

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 10:32-39 Describe the Hebrew Christian’s experiences during the “earlier days” when they had first “received the light”.

What do the following verses teach about the Christian and persecution? 2 Timothy 3:12

John 15:18-21

Matthew 5:10-12

Do you think the persecution the Hebrew Christians faced had anything to do with their “drifting away” from Jesus?

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The author gives the Hebrew Christians a specific instruction in verse 32, what is it?

HEBREWS 10

Why do you think he gives them this instruction? See also Revelation 2:3-5

The author tells the Hebrew Christians not to throw away their confidence. What, instead, are they to do? Hebrews 10:36

(Personal) Would those who know you best say that you do this?

What is the reward for those who do this?

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter ten.

HEBREWS 10 Like an artist putting the final brushstrokes on a masterpiece, here in chapter ten the author puts the finishing touches on his explanation of why the high priesthood of Jesus and the new covenant was and is necessary, and why God made the first covenant, also known as the law, “obsolete” (see Hebrews 8:13). These final few brushstrokes are significant, for in them we find the point of this whole discussion. Read the first verse carefully, particularly concentrating on the last sentence. Here you find the reason why the law needed to be replaced. The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Hebrews 10:1

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The reason the law had to be replaced was because it could never “make perfect” those who draw near to worship.

God’s goal is not to “improve” those who would draw near. That is not enough. What God needs from those who would draw near is perfection, for only those who are perfect may enter into his presence. If you think I am overstating the case, consider Psalm 24:3-4, verses we have already looked at in previous weeks.

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Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. What man has clean hands and a pure heart? No man, according to Romans 3:10-20. Yet this is what God requires of those who would ascend his hill and “stand in his holy place”. If we are to draw near to God, we must be made perfect. The law could not do this. If it could have made the worshipers perfect, wouldn’t the sacrifices have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:2-4 So, we learn that the law was, at least in terms of making men perfect and thereby acceptable to God, totally ineffective. It never brought men to the place they needed to be if they were to draw near to God. This is why Jesus had to come. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God.’” Hebrews 10:5-7 This is a quote from Psalm 40:6-8.1 Here we learn that God never desired sacrifices and offerings. They didn’t please him. His will was something entirely different. Jesus came to do that will. The question this leads us to is, what was God’s will? The author gives us the answer in verse 10. Don’t miss this. It is absolutely essential to your understanding of God the Father, Jesus and who you are in Christ. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. God’s will was that we would be made holy – not improved, not decent, but holy. Now, why does God want holy people? He wants holy people, because he wants us to be in his presence! He desires our company! And we cannot be in his presence without holiness. ... without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 Holiness is complete purity – absolute separation from evil and absolute dedication to righteousness. As we have seen before, no man, with the exception of the Lord Jesus, is holy. We cannot, on our own, ever attain holiness. Yet here in verse ten we see that, by the sacrifice of Jesus, “we have been made holy”. We can’t attain to holiness. God makes us holy! If you are a Christian, you are holy, not because of your own works, but “through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”. This is a truth we must grasp if we are to ever walk with confidence with the Lord. Consider the following verses. Notice how Christians are referred to here. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion ... Colossians 3:12 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation ... Colossians 1:21-22 These verses don’t say that the Christian should try to be holy. They say that the Christian is holy. This was God the Father’s will. He knew that we could not draw near unless we were holy, therefore, he sent Jesus to do his will. He made us holy. And this did not take many sacrifices on Jesus’ part. “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”.

1

The author in Hebrews quotes Psalm 40:6-8 from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament). The Hebrew translation does not read, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me”. Instead, it reads, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced”. How do we reconcile these two seemingly different phrases? When the Hebrew reads that God the Father pierced (“dug out” or “bored out”) Jesus’ ears, it probably means he prepared Jesus to hear and obey him. Thus, he was preparing Jesus’ body for service to him.

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What a contrast this is to the ministry of the earthly priests. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. Hebrews 10:11 The earthly priests worked day after day, but their sacrifices could not take away sins. Sins and holiness cannot coexist. Therefore, for man to be made holy, man’s sin problem needed to be effectively dealt with. The earthly priests could not do this with many sacrifices. Jesus did this with one sacrifice. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:12 Jesus’ sacrifice, as we have seen, makes the Christian holy. Another way to say this would be perfect. However, just because a Christian has been made holy, does not mean that all the Christian’s actions will be holy. These are very different things. Jesus’ sacrifice makes you holy in your essential nature. But this is just the start of God’s work in your life. He changes you on the inside at the moment of salvation, and these changes which he has worked inwardly then begin to work themselves outward. This is the meaning of verse 14. ... because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14 As a Christian, I am holy and I am being made holy. They are both true. I am holy in my essential nature, and little by little my actions and attitudes are being brought into line with who I truly am. Jesus told several parables that illustrate this truth. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:33 God’s eternal life in our lives is like the yeast. It seemingly starts small. But immediately it starts working its way all throughout our lives. Soon our attitudes and actions change. The law started with the outside. It started with the actions, but it could not change the heart. God changes the heart and our salvation is worked out from there. The parable of the mustard seed illustrates the same truth. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 God forgives your sins and “plants” a new heart in you. While this may seem like an insignificant change on God’s part, soon this tiny seed he planted in you overtakes your whole life. In the parable, the mustard seed grew into a tree that grew so large it even brought blessing to the birds. In our lives, God’s changes are so overwhelming that we, like the tree, are able to be a blessing to others. You see, God starts with our heart and makes us holy. He plants a “holy seed” in us. This seed will grow. It is so powerful that it begins pushing sin out of your life. This is why the Apostle John said that those who are born again cannot continue to sin. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9 How can I continue to sin when my essential nature is holy? My new nature hates sin. Therefore, a Christian who is walking in sin will be the most miserable person on earth – even more miserable than they were before they were saved, for they are doing something that is totally contrary to the new nature inside of them. But while my new nature hates sin, it loves righteousness, for it is “geared” that way. I don’t have to try to enjoy righteousness. I can’t help enjoying God’s things, for that is how God made me! Could you live a mediocre Christian life, never drawing near to God and never doing the things that he intended? Sure you could. In fact, most Christians do. But it isn’t easy. You see, you were built to draw near to God and to live a godly life. A mediocre Christian life is a little like deep sea fishing in a canoe. It can be done, at least for a time, but it’s not safe, easy, comfortable or enjoyable.

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I have great confidence in who God made me to be. I don’t have any confidence in myself. Everything I have is through Christ, with Christ and in Christ. He made me holy. Not only that, I am being made holy. Thanks be to God for his glorious work in me!

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Draw Near! What are the practical implications of these truths? This is what the author covers in verses 19 through 39. The most important implication of this truth about the Christian’s holiness is listed first – we are to draw near to God. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 I have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place because I have absolute confidence in the blood of Jesus and in my great high priest. I have been made holy through the sacrifice of his body (Hebrews 10:10). Jesus is, at this very moment, at the Father’s right hand interceding for me (Romans 8:34). I know I am welcome in God’s presence. Since the way has been opened to me, there is but one thing to do – draw near to God. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8 The path has been cleared for you. There is no reason to delay running to him! The sweet fellowship most Christians long for is not out of reach. Simply make the decision to draw near to him. He will respond. There is a sweet simplicity about this fellowship with the Lord. It doesn’t take spiritual work. The work has been done for you. It takes childlike faith. The temptation to veer from this simplicity of faith can be strong. Once we begin with the Lord we may forget how we attained our position with him, and we may try to maintain our relationship through our actions. For instance, I may begin thinking that my daily Bible reading or prayer is “earning” me favor with God. This is swerving from the path. I may, like the Hebrew Christians, grow cold in my faith. This, too, is swerving from the path. Or I may simply, instead of drawing near to God, walk the other direction, drawing near to the world. There is safety in one place and one place only – in God’s presence. I must hold unswervingly to what I know to be true. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

Your responsibility to others However, I am not alone. I must remember that I am part of the body of Christ. Many others are walking the same path I am on. I have a responsibility toward them. I must encourage them toward God. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 I have met so many Christians who do not consider it important to fellowship with other believers. For a variety of reasons, including hurt feelings, unmet expectations, bad experiences, and a lack of desire, they refuse to come together with the rest of the church. This is unwise. It hurts the believer who is separated from the church and it hurts the church. We don’t gather together at a church. We are the church. We are Christ’s body. When we refuse to fellowship together, it hurts Christ’s body. Jesus said the gates of hell cannot stand against the church. He did not say the same thing about individual believers. We gather together to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (verse 24). We also gather together to encourage each other. The root word in

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encourage is courage. Did you know you receive courage from your brothers and sisters in Christ? Courage is not a fruit of the Spirit. It does not naturally spring forth in those who are saved. We receive it from the Lord and from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, those who refuse to meet with other Christians will lack the courage they need. Not only is it unwise to refuse fellowship with the body of Christ, it is sin. We are commanded to keep meeting together. In fact, the author of Hebrews tells the Hebrew Christians to do this “all the more as you see the Day approaching” (verse 25). Instead of drawing away, we should be looking for more opportunities to come together.

A troubling passage The author’s encouragement in verses 19 through 25 is not to be taken lightly. That is why, in these next six verses, the author tells the Hebrew Christians what God does to those who deliberately keep on sinning. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31 Why do we have another strong warning here? From the context of the passage, I believe it is because the believers needed it! They were doing the opposite of everything they had just been encouraged to do. They were not drawing near to God, were not holding unswervingly to the hope they professed, were not spurring one another on to love and good deeds, were not meeting together and were not encouraging one another. In other words, they were neglecting God and they were neglecting each other. This is further confirmed by the fact that in the original Greek, the word “for” appears at the beginning of verse 26. Notice how verses 25 and 26 read in the English Standard Version. ... not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth... Hebrews 10:25-26 ESV The word “for” connects verse 26 with the verses immediately preceding it. The author is writing this to a group of believers who were deliberately not drawing near to God, deliberately not holding fast their confession, deliberately not stirring their fellow believers to love and good deeds, deliberately not meeting together, and deliberately not encouraging one another. Some will say that this passage could not be written to Christians. I believe that ignores the context and the words of the warning itself. Here we find that the one being warned “has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him”. This is a sanctified person the author is referring to! In verse 30, we read “The Lord will judge his people”. Who are his people? Christians are! This is a warning to Christians about the consequences of deliberately continuing to sin. There were no sacrifices in the old covenant for those who deliberately sinned. In fact, as we see in verse 28, those who deliberately rejected the law of Moses were put to death. If that was the case under the old covenant, how much more severely does a Christian who is deliberately sinning deserve to be punished? The apostle Paul talks about certain believers who died because they took the Lord’s Supper “without recognizing the body of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:29). These believers, by their irreverent disregard for the Lord’s body, brought judgment on themselves. Paul goes on to talk in general about God’s judgment of believers. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

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As Christians here on earth, we must understand that we are liable to God’s judgment. When he judges us, he is disciplining us so that we won’t be condemned with the rest of the world. These people in the Corinthian church didn’t lose their salvation by their sin – they lost their lives! The author is not referring to eternal security here. I believe he is talking about the punishment God will give to his people when they deliberately continue in sin.

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I like how Warren Wiersbe explains this difficult passage in his commentary on Hebrews. What can this kind of a Christian expect from God? He can expect severe discipline. (Chastening is the theme of Hebrews 12.) There is no need to “water down” words such as “judgment and fiery indignation” (10:27), or “sorer punishment” (v. 29). We have already seen from the history of Israel that hardly anybody who was saved out of Egypt by the blood of the lamb entered into the promised inheritance. Nearly all of them died in the wilderness. “There is a sin unto death” (1 John 5:16). Some of the Corinthian believers were disciplined, and their lives taken, because of their presumptuous sins (1 Co. 11:30, where “sleep” means “died”). God does not always take the life of a rebellious believer, but He always deals with him. “Vengeance belongeth unto Me” was spoken to Israel, God’s people. “The Lord shall judge His people!” (Heb. 10:30, quoted from Deut. 32:35) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).2 As with the warning in Hebrews 6:4-8, this is a warning that the author wanted his readers to take very seriously. He definitely did not want them to read this warning and say, “This is written to non-believers, therefore it doesn’t apply to me.” This is another “tiger in the jungle.” We ignore this warning at our own risk. These words have been ignored by many a believer who didn’t take them seriously, for they felt they couldn’t possibly apply to them. The consequences for these believers have been terrible.

The Way Back The Hebrew Christians, or at least some of them, were dangerously close to being judged by the Lord. As I mentioned in the notes on Hebrews six, I believe this is one of the reasons God had the author write this letter. I don’t know how the Hebrew Christians responded to this warning. My belief is they took this warning seriously and they turned their hearts back to the Lord. But this warning wasn’t written just for the Hebrew Christians. There are many Christians today in this same position – deliberately walking in sin. This is a position which cannot be maintained for long. For God will warn the believer, and, if there is no change on the part of the believer, judgment will inevitably follow. All of us have been in this position at times. We wander from the Lord, and one day “wake up” spiritually wondering, “How did I get here, and how do I get back?” The first step back is simply to remember those days when our faith was vibrant. This is exactly what the author encourages the Hebrew Christians to do. Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. Hebrews 10:32-34 The Hebrew Christians hadn’t always been wavering in their faith. There was a time when they were strong in faith. But those days, at least for a number of the believers, were long gone. Here, the author reminds them of how far they’ve fallen. A similar reminder may be found in Jesus’ letter to the church in Ephesus. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelation 2:4-5

2

Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Confident (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Publishing, 2003), p. 117.

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These believers were in a similar situation to that of the Hebrew Christians. They were not doing the things they did at first. Indeed, like the Hebrew Christians, they had “forsaken” their first love. Jesus’ call to them was to remember things as they used to be, to repent, and to do the things they did at first. Isn’t God good to us? He graciously warns us so that we won’t have to face his judgment. This is a gracious warning to the Hebrew Christians. It is also a gracious warning to us today. If you are deliberately walking from the Lord, take this as a warning from him. Remember how things used to be, repent, and do the things you did at first. Return to your first love. God is not looking to destroy you. The opposite is true. He wants you to draw near to him. There is a rich reward waiting for those who live by faith. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 Draw near to him. The path has been cleared for you by Jesus. Don’t delay. Run. The only safe place is in his presence.

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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Week Ten HEBREWS 11

WEEK ten

DAY ONE

HEBREWS 11

Read Hebrews 11 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 11 1Now

faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. is what the ancients were commended for. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones. 23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he 2This

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persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. 29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. 31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. 32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

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DAY TWO Read Hebrews 11:1-7 Hebrews 11 is all about faith. Why do you think the author would address this topic now? How does it logically fit in with the study we have just completed of Jesus our high priest?

What is faith? See also Romans 4:21

What is God’s response to faith? Hebrews 11:2, 6

What did Jesus say faith can accomplish? Mark 9:23; Mark 11:20-25; Matthew 21:18-22

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How was faith seen in the lives of the following individuals? Abel –

Enoch –

Noah –

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 11:8-19 How was faith seen in the life of Abraham?

Verses 13 through 16 describe a perspective that all these people of faith had in common. What was it?

(Personal) Is this perspective true of you?

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 11:20-31 How was faith seen in the lives of the following individuals? Isaac –

Jacob –

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Joseph –

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Moses’ parents –

Moses –

The people of Israel –

The prostitute Rahab –

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 11:32-40 Samson was a man with many moral flaws, yet he was mightily used by God. Why did God work so powerfully through Samson?

Do you think God was pleased with Samson?

Some of the people in these verses experienced severe persecution because of their faith. How do you reconcile the treatment they received with Jesus’ words in Mark 9:23, Mark 11:20-25, and Matthew 21:18-22?

Can an effective Christian be a “glass is half empty” kind of person?

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Are you a man or woman of faith? Is this a trait God sees in you? Would your friends or family or enemies say the same about you?

HEBREWS 11

In what specific areas of your life can your faith be “stretched” beyond where it is today?

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter 11.

HEBREWS 11 This is my father’s favorite chapter in the New Testament. Therefore, these notes are of special importance to me. I feel like I’m standing at the barbeque grill, and I’ve been given a choice Rib Eye steak by my wife and told, “Don’t burn it.” (My reputation as a cook has earned me this frequent reminder.) This is definitely a choice Rib Eye passage, and left to myself, I would burn it. But by God’s grace alone I believe it will be “cooked” exactly as it deserves – well done. Hebrews 11 does not refer to the superiority of Jesus, Melchizedek and the high priesthood of Jesus, the old and the new covenant, or the tabernacle. But this doesn’t mean the author has changed subjects. He is merely taking these subjects to their logical conclusion. The logical conclusion of everything that has been addressed thus far in Hebrews is faith.

The Importance of Faith We must remember where we are in the overall outline of this book. The author has just spent ten chapters convincing his readers of the superiority of Christ, the superiority of the new covenant, the superiority of his high priesthood, and the superiority of his blood. Since these are all undeniable facts, the Christian must live with these facts dominating every facet of life. In other words, the Christian must live by faith. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Hebrews 11:1-2 Here we find a simple definition of faith. There are two key words here – sure and certain. My life is not based on things that may be true. It is not based on things that are likely to be true. My life is based on truth. I am sure and certain of these truths. Because of this, I am not free to live as I lived before I had faith. All my actions should be and must be related to these truths. As we’ll see in this chapter, faith is much more than simply believing something to be true, as if belief and actions could somehow be separated. There are actually three main elements of faith. The main elements in “faith” … are (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God’s revelation or truth, e.g., 2 Thess. 2:11-12; (2) a personal surrender to Him, John 1:12; (3) a conduct inspired by such surrender, 2 Cor. 5:7.1

1

W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

Publishers, 1996), p. 222.

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A man of faith is not one who merely says he believes something. That is not the kind of faith the Bible calls faith. A man of faith is one who firmly believes God, has personally surrendered to him, and who lives in accordance with those beliefs. The apostle James summarized this quite nicely. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26 A quick read through the gospels proves that Jesus did not arbitrarily bless those he came across, regardless of their faith or unbelief. He responded to people of faith. Here are just a few examples.

Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ”Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” Matthew 9:22 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Matthew 9:29

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All these people received miracles because of their faith. The opposite is also true. The people in Jesus’ hometown did not receive the miracles they could have received because of their lack of faith. Their lack of faith limited what Jesus could do in their lives. Read carefully the wording in the following verse. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6:5-6 Our entire lives must be by faith. In fact, it is the one thing God wants from his children. Jesus was quite clear on this point. Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:28-29 Mark this well. God is not looking for you to do anything great for him. He wants you to believe in the one he sent – Jesus. “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17). “[E]verything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Now we must understand that faith is nothing new. It is not a “New Testament” requirement of God. It has always been his requirement. The Old Testament saints did not live because of their works. They lived – and still live in heaven – by their faith. The Old Testament saints were not commended for the great deeds they did. True, they did great deeds by the grace of God, but these deeds sprang from their faith. Faith, not deeds, is what the ancients were commended for (Hebrews 11:2). They, like every Christian today, could do nothing without God. But they, like every Christian today, could do all things through Christ who strengthened them. That’s right – Christ strengthened the Old Testament saints. God’s work has always been to believe in Jesus. Jesus’ words in John 6:28 and 29 have always been true. The Old Testament saints put their faith in the One to come. We put our faith in the One who came. But the object of our faith is exactly the same – the Messiah Jesus, God’s Anointed One.

The Power of God Even as you read this, God is at work, radically altering situations and events throughout the world. His voice, at this very moment, is breaking through to someone who doesn’t even want to know God. Nations may forbid the outward exercise of Christianity, but they cannot stop God. He will do what he wants, when he wants. As he said to Job, “Who then is able to stand against me” (Job 41:10). If I am to be a man of faith, I must know and understand his greatness and the extent to which he has impacted and is impacting life on earth. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 This verse is probably talking about more than the original creation of the universe. A more precise translation of the word translated “universe” in this verse is the word “ages.” In Heb 11:3 [lit., “the ages (have been prepared)”] the word indicates all that the successive periods contain; cf. 1:2.2 The Amplified Bible translates this verse as follows. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3 Amplified The idea here is that the ages before and throughout world history were framed and formed (and are being framed and formed) by God’s commands. He did not simply create the world and leave it alone, like a child spinning a top and then watching it as it loses its power. God has always been at

2

W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

Publishers, 1996), p. 685.

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work. He raised Pharaoh up (see Exodus 9:16), and, when he decided, he brought him down. He brought the Babylonian empire to power (see Daniel 2:37), and, when he decided, he brought it down. In the New Testament we read that Jesus came “when the time had fully come” (Galatians 4:4). This means Jesus came at the precise moment God intended. Who can stop anything God intends to do? Consider for a moment: why did Caesar Augustus order a worldwide census (Luke 2:1)? Who was behind this order which required everyone to go to “his own town to register” (Luke 2:3)? It was God, for this order brought Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus had to be born (see Micah 5:2). This does not mean that every human action has been foreordained by God. It does mean, however, that by faith I understand that all of history has been shaped and is being shaped by God. I should never say, “That’s impossible,” for doing the impossible is nothing to God. He will do what he wants when he wants. No one can stand in his way. And what is God looking for from me? He simply wants me to believe. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23

Pleasing God God worked wonders through the people listed in Hebrews 11. It is absolutely critical that you know and understand that they did not do the work. God worked. They simply believed, and their faith brought great pleasure to God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 You must understand that your actions do not and cannot please God, for anything done in your own strength is not from him. God is pleased by his own actions, for they are perfect. In fact, he not only is pleased with his own work, he delights in it. This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24 Notice the wording here. In these verses God says that he delights in his exercise of kindness, justice and righteousness. As Christians, we must understand that God is pleased with himself and his own work, and he must be the performer of his work, for it is work only he can do. However, God does allow us to take part in his work. He puts the will in us to do his work, and he does the work through us. Our part is simply to trust in him. … for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 None of the people listed in Hebrews 11 were commended for their work. Any commendable work they did was God’s work. They were commended for their faith. Again, as Jesus said in John 6:29, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Our work is to believe God. He is the one who does the work through us.

The People of Faith What I love about this list of people in Hebrews 11 is its diversity. No two personalities or situations are alike. Abel (verse 4) offered God a sacrifice by faith. By faith, not by his sacrifice, he was declared righteous (this is the same way people are saved today!), and by faith he is still speaking today – in heaven. Someday, if you are a Christian, you’ll meet him and be able to ask him how he came to have such faith in God. Enoch (verse 5) walked with God by faith. He pleased God by faith. Works had nothing to do with his pleasing God. It was faith, which always produces works. Noah (verse 7) built an ark by faith. He too, like Abel, “became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith”. Not only was he made righteous by faith, Noah was a “preacher of righteousness”

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(2 Peter 2:5). This means he was telling the rest of the world that they needed to put their faith in God. He didn’t preach works. He preached faith! Abraham (verses 8-19) “obeyed and went” by faith. Again, we see works inspired by faith. Everything true and lasting always starts with faith. In verse ten we see something true of all people of faith – they are “looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God”. This same truth is repeated throughout the chapter.

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All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16 Faith looks forward. It sees far beyond today. Isaac (verse 20) was a man of faith. He saw beyond today. We know this, because by faith he blessed his sons “in regard to their future” (verse 20). Jacob (verse 21), like Isaac, blessed his sons (although this verse refers to the blessing of his grandsons, which was also by faith). By faith he spoke about their respective futures. By faith, he even saw and spoke about the coming of Christ. “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.” Genesis 49:10 At one point while he was blessing his sons, Jacob even cried out, “I wait for your salvation, O LORD.” Genesis 49:18 ESV Here Jacob is dying, a time when one would think his thoughts would be consumed with himself, and all he can think about is the salvation found only in Jesus. “I’m looking for what you promised, O Lord! I can’t wait to see it.” Joseph (verse 22) also saw beyond today. By faith he “spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones” (verse 22). He knew God had a future for the Jewish people, and he saw far beyond his own time here on earth. He was thinking about events hundreds of years in the future. Do you think this way? Do you see beyond today? Or do you merely think of yourself and your time, not considering that God has a plan for all eternity? We must get beyond ourselves. Moses’ parents (verse 23) trusted God. They were not afraid of Pharaoh’s edict that all Hebrew baby boys must be killed. Defying his order, they hid Moses for three months. There is no fear in faith, because faith is fully confident in God and his abilities. He is in absolute control. How did they hide Moses? By faith. Again, their actions sprang forth from their faith. They were not commended for their actions. They were commended for their faith, which produced their actions. By faith Moses (verse 24-28) walked away from earthly pleasures. He “refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (verse 24). He chose mistreatment and disgrace rather than the “pleasures of sin” (verse 25). Why would anyone choose mistreatment and disgrace? There is only one reason – to be with Christ. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Hebrews 11:26 Moses chose Christ over sin, even though, at the time, it cost him personally. But Moses was not thinking short term. He, like all men and women of faith, was looking ahead to his reward. Like his parents, Moses was not afraid of the Pharaoh. He was not afraid because he “saw him who is invisible” (verse 27). Once again, we find Christ at the center of faith. Moses saw him and was strengthened by him, even though he was invisible to Moses. Faith sees Christ, even when he is physically unseeable. And those who see him are blessed by God. “[B]lessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 The Hebrew people (verse 29) walked through the Red Sea by their faith. Again, faith always leads to action.

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The walls of Jericho (verse 30) fell by faith. The people marched around the city for seven days, but the marching didn’t cause the city walls to fall. It was faith. Rahab the prostitute (verse 31) was saved by her faith. It was not her welcoming of the spies which saved her. This welcoming was prompted by her faith in God. Her words to the two spies testifies to her faith in God. Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death.” Joshua 2:8-13 Rahab saw the Lord behind everything that was happening. She said, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you” (verse 9). It was a settled fact in her mind. She had thought about the crossing of the Red Sea, which took place 40 years earlier, and knew that is was “the LORD” who “dried up the water” (verse 10). She was absolutely convinced that “the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (verse 11). She sounds like a Christian, doesn’t she? She should, for she was a member of “the Old Testament church.” Interesting, isn’t it? All the other people of Jericho heard about the same events. But only one of those who heard put faith in the One behind the events. And her faith is what saved her. But wasn’t she a prostitute? Oh yes, and far worse. She was actually God’s enemy and a follower of Satan. But that is no different from any of us, for we were all worthless sinners, followers of Satan and God’s enemies before we knew Christ.3 There is no one who is righteous without Christ. But Rahab, unlike so many who might consider themselves “more innocent” before God, trusted in God. Her faith made her righteous. Her many sins were completely erased. The author is running out of time. He could go on and on about the men and women of faith. Instead, he lists some of Israel’s heroes – “Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets” (verse 32). How did these people do what they did? The answer should be obvious by now. They did it through faith. They were not commended for their actions; they were commended for their faith, which always produces actions. Faith is success in God’s eyes. The results produced by the faith may not look immediately successful, but they always are. Whether the immediate results appear successful, like conquering kingdoms and shutting the mouths of lions (verse 33), or whether the immediate results appear disastrous, like being stoned or sawn in two (verse 37), we must come to the place where we realize that faith is success in God’s eyes. I must see with eyes that look beyond the present moment. I do this with eyes of faith. God is in control. He always, always, always does the right thing. You might ask, “But what about the saints that were killed for their faith? That surely wasn’t success, was it?” Consider the life of Stephen. He was murdered, and “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” (Acts 8:1). This was a disaster for the church. At least it appeared to be a disaster. But before we relegate this to the disaster category, read verse four. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Acts 8:4 Countless people are in heaven today because of the preaching that resulted from this one man’s death. Do you think Stephen, as he looks back at his death nearly two thousand years ago and the results that came from it, considers it a victory or a defeat? Is he frustrated that he wasn’t able to live out a normal life-span on earth? Or does he give glory to God and his wonderful plan in

3

See Ephesians 2:1-3 and Romans 3:9-18.

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spreading the gospel. We must be very careful in how we categorize events, for we do not see all, and immediate results do not always indicate the success or failure of something. As people of faith, we must believe that God is working even when we don’t see his hand.

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Who can possibly harm me? As a man of faith, I am invincible, for I am in the arms of the Invincible One. Satan may win his “momentary victories” (he thought he had just such a victory when Christ was crucified), but God is always the victor. Let us look forward, then, with complete confidence in our Lord and in his word. He will be true to his word, “for he cannot disown himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger of sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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DAY ONE

WEEK elEven

Read Hebrews 12 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 12

HEBREWS 12 1Therefore,

since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13“Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. 18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

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28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.”

DAY TWO Read Hebrews 12:1-3 Why did the author spend so much time (all of chapter 11) chronicling the faith of the Old Testament saints? Hebrews 12:1

In verse one, the author seems to differentiate between “everything that hinders”, and “the sin that so easily entangles.” What might the difference be between these two things?

What is the Christian encouraged to do with both of these things?

How, practically, does the Christian do this?

As Christians we are to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. How do we know the race God has marked out for us?

Verse two tells us that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before him”. What do you think this joy was?

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How does the Christian avoid growing weary and losing heart? Hebrews 12:3

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DAY THREE Read Hebrews 12:4-13 Basing your answer on verses four through six, how do you think the Hebrew Christians were responding to God’s discipline in their lives?

Discipline is a proof of something. What is it?

In verse seven the author tells the Hebrew Christians to “Endure hardship as discipline”. What do you think this means?

Why does God discipline his children?

What does discipline produce in those who have been trained by it?

Do you think it is possible to be disciplined by God and yet not receive any benefit from it?

DAY FOUR Read Hebrews 12:14-17 Verses 14 through 17 include specific instructions for the Christian. What are they?

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The Christian is to make “every effort to live in peace with all men”. How do you reconcile this command with some of the actions Jesus took? For instance, Jesus had heated discussions with the Pharisees, and he made a whip and drove the money-changers out of the temple. Was he making every effort to live in peace with all men? See also Romans 12:17-21

Verse 14 reads, “be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord”. If the Christian has been made holy by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:10), why is he still commanded to be holy?

What is the penalty for those who will not “be holy”?

What is a bitter root and what does it result in?

How should the Christian deal with a bitter root?

What is the Christian commanded to do in regard to sexual immorality? See also 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 and Ephesians 5:3-7

What can Christians do to guard themselves in this area?

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DAY FIVE

WEEK elEven

Read Hebrews 12:18-29 Verses 18 through 21 point back to an event which took place in Exodus 19:9-22 and 20:18-21. Describe the event.

HEBREWS 12

The author indicates that the Hebrew Christians had not come to a mountain like the one described in the question above. What, instead, did they come to? Hebrews 12:22-24

Jesus’ blood “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (verse 24). What do you think the author meant by this? What was “the word” Abel’s blood spoke? What is “the word” Jesus’ blood speaks? See Genesis 4:8-12

The Hebrew Christians are warned not to “refuse him who speaks” (verse 25). Who is this one who speaks?

What is he speaking?

Why do you think the author uses such strong language in verses 25 through 27? What might this say about the Hebrew Christian’s attitudes toward Jesus?

Do you believe Christians today might need to hear the same warnings?

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How does the author describe God in verse 29?

HEBREWS 12 How can a Christian live in fear of God, yet, at the same time, have confidence to boldly go before his throne?

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter 12.

HEBREWS 12 Hebrews 11, like all the chapters in the Bible, was not written in a vacuum. The author was not just writing what he considered important. It was written to a particular people group (Hebrew Christians, and by extension, Christians in all times and places) for a specific reason. What was it? Why did the Holy Spirit inspire the author to document the faith of these men and women of old? The first three verses of Hebrews 12 are most helpful in determining the reason behind Hebrews 11. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 Let’s look at these verses one phrase at a time. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” – This is not referring to the fact that these great heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 are watching us run our race. These heroes are not witnesses of us. They are witnesses to us of the power of faith. And, as we saw in the last chapter, there aren’t just a few who have lived by faith. We are surrounded by people of faith. Countless millions have fought the good fight and finished the course. All of their lives witness to the power of faith. But how do we run this race of faith? The author gives us detailed instructions guaranteeing our success. “[L]et us throw off everything that hinders” – The author is not talking about sin here, for sin is mentioned immediately after this phrase. He is talking about non-sins which keep us from moving forward. The definition of the word hinder describes what these non-sins the author is discussing do in our lives. To stop; to interrupt; to obstruct; to impede or prevent from moving forward by any means.1

1

Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 Edition

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The things that hinder are those things that keep us from running the best race possible with and for the Lord. Just today, I spent time praying with a Christian brother who, last week in our prayer time, had confessed that he had been spending too much time playing computer games like solitaire. This dear brother knew that the games, although they are not sinful in themselves, were hindering him. This is something he knew he needed to throw off, and today, praise the Lord, he told us that he has not played these games for the last week. Do you have anything in your life like this? I’m not talking about a sin. I’m talking about something that slows you down. It could be anything, the possibilities are endless. If so, follow the author’s advice and throw it off.

“[L]et us throw off … the sin that so easily entangles” – Here, the author is talking about sin. Sin trips us up, and it too needs to be thrown off. Once, you were a slave to sin. But when you were born again, God changed you completely. Sin is no longer your master, for you are dead to sin but alive to God.2 Now that you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), you are to live as a new creation. If sin reigns in your life, it is something you can and must do something about.

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Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Romans 6:12 What do I do if I discover sin reigning in my life? I confess that sin and I throw it off. “[L]et us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” – Did you know you are in a race? The course has been marked out already. You don’t mark out the course for yourself. God marks out the course. He determines the path for your life. This race is not a sprint. It is a marathon, and it needs to be run with perseverance. Perseverance is not a fruit of the Spirit. It does not just appear in your life. It is developed through trials and tests when we do not give up. There are no quitters wearing a victor’s crown. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” – If I want to run my race well, I can’t look at the ground, and I can’t look at those running alongside me. I must keep my focus on my Lord. He is the author of my faith. He is also the perfecter or finisher of my faith. He is the first and the last. I have nothing apart from him and I am nothing apart from him. My eyes need to be fixed on him and him alone. “Consider him … so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” – What is the one trait common among all those who quit the race? They aren’t considering Jesus. He suffered greatly for us. When we consider, that is, when we reflect on and ponder who he is and how he lived and how he lives today, and when we consider what he would like, we will not grow weary and we will not lose heart. If you find yourself tired and losing heart, this is your answer. Think about Jesus and you will find new strength. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 To hope in the Lord is to fix your eyes on him and to consider him. If you do this, your strength will be renewed. Just this morning I was reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Corrie Ten Boom. Ms. Ten Boom is now in heaven, but she spent the latter half of the twentieth century traveling the globe as a, in her own words, “tramp for the Lord.” In this particular section, she describes a time when so many hardships and inconveniences – from missed flights and earthquakes to inconsiderate hosts and uncomfortable accommodations – piled up in her life that she just decided to quit. Self-pity had come into my heart. Self-pity is a nasty sin and the devil uses it and always starts his talks with “Poor Corrie.” This time he began by saying, “Why must you always live out of your suitcases? Stay at home and then you won’t have trouble with customs officials, passports, luggage, plane connections, and other things. Every night you will be able to sleep in the same comfortable bed, and there are no earthquakes in Holland. After all, you are no longer young. You’ve lived like a tramp for many, many years. It is time to hang up your harness and retire into a nice green pasture. Let someone else do the work. You’ve earned your reward.” By this time I was nodding. “Yes, yes, Satan, you are right.” So, having listened to his advice I wrote a friend in Holland who managed an international guest house where at the time I had a room kept for me with my own few pieces of furniture. “I believe the time has now come for me to work in Holland,” I wrote. “I am tired of all this traveling and I cannot stand having wheels beneath me any longer. Will you arrange to have a desk – a big one – put in front of the window in my room; and an easy chair – a very easy one – on the right …” In my fantasy I had worked out a lovely dream of heaven here on earth, and me in the middle of it! That afternoon I posted the letter and then came back to my room to look over my

2

I would encourage you to study Romans 6 to see how we died to sin. This truth must be in our hearts if we are to walk in the victory Christ purchased for us. Our study book on Romans, “The Power of the Gospel,” covers this chapter in depth and may be a great help to you.

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calendar. I jotted down all the names of people I would have to write, canceling my appointments. Everyone would understand. Had not many said, “My, you must be tired at your age!”? Everything would have gone all right (or perhaps I should be truthful and say “all wrong”) had I not picked up my Bible. This old, black Bible has been my guidebook in times of light and in times of darkness. I began to read, asking, “Lord, what would You have me to do?” I opened to the Book of Romans, chapter 10. “How shall they call on Him in whom they have believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? … As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” (See verses 14, 15.) … I sat for a long time – thinking. It is not our task to give God instructions. We are to simply report for duty. I laid my Bible on the bed and picked up pen and paper. Balancing the pad clumsily on my knee I wrote my friend in Holland. Forget that last letter I wrote. I am not coming home to Holland. I refuse to spend the rest of my life in a pasture when there are so many fields to harvest. I hope to die in harness.3 When we consider ourselves, as Ms. Ten Boom had been doing, we will grow weary and lose heart. Strength is given to those who consider “him” – Jesus. He endured hardship and so must we. Jesus himself told his disciples, and that, by extension, includes all his followers, that they would suffer for his name. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” John 15:18-21 The Hebrew Christians had suffered for their faith, but they had not yet died for their faith. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Hebrews 12:4 Instead of welcoming the suffering they had undergone, which they apparently had welcomed at one point in their lives (see Hebrews 10:32-34), they were wavering, wanting the blessings of the gospel without the trials which inevitably accompany it.4 More than this, they were shrinking from God’s discipline in their lives, not realizing that “the Lord disciplines those he loves” (Hebrews 12:6). And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Hebrews 12:5-8 I have never spanked the children that live down the street from us. I have, however, spanked my own children. The fact is, I love my children too much not to discipline them. The same is true for the Christian. God loves you too much not to discipline you. His rebuke (see verse 5) is a sign of his love. His punishment (see verse 6) is a sign of his care. He is treating us as his sons!

3

4

Corrie Ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord (New York, NY: A Jove Book, 1983), pp. 138-140. The Christian is commanded to rejoice in suffering for the gospel – see Matthew 5:10-12.

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Christians are, at the point of salvation, like unbroken horses. They are in the “Lord’s corral,” by their own choice, but they have never had a saddle on them in their lives. How many times do we buck as God throws the saddle on our back and tightens the cinch straps? “Lord, this is

uncomfortable. Why can’t I just remain as I am now?” The answer is simple. “You’re my son. I love you too much to let you remain as you are now. I am disciplining you so that you might share in my holiness.”

WEEK elEven HEBREWS 12

As we saw in Hebrews 10:10, when we are born again, God makes us holy. But, at the same time, he is also making us holy (see Hebrews 10:14). Discipline is part of the “making me holy” process. Even hardship is part of this process. How many times have I complained about the hardships in my life? Instead of thanking God that he is disciplining me for my own good, I buck and kick, thinking I am somehow above hardship. We must understand that God will bring hardship to every Christian. It makes us strong. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3 Why do we tell our daughters to make their beds in the morning and wash the dishes at night? Is it because they have done something wrong? No, it is to train them so that they can function well in this life. If they never learn to work, life will be difficult for them. The “hardship” of making their beds and washing the dishes is training them for greater things. We love our daughters too much to see them go through life as weak people who can’t handle unpleasant or uncomfortable situations. We should not be surprised when God does the same thing in our lives. He purposely brings us into hard situations knowing they will make us stronger. Instead of bucking and fighting the saddle (circumstances), we should submit to the discipline that we might share in God’s holiness, and reap a harvest of righteousness and peace in our lives (see Hebrews 12:11). No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 Notice, discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace only in those who have been trained by it. Those who have not been trained by the discipline of God receive no benefit from the discipline. Indeed, the only thing they will receive is more discipline! If I grumble and complain about the situations I find myself in, I can be sure I am not being trained by them. I can also be sure that I will receive more testing of this same kind. Better by far to receive God’s discipline and be strengthened and trained by it. The Hebrew Christians were not receiving God’s discipline well. They were bucking and biting. Therefore, there was no strength in them. Spiritually speaking, they had “feeble arms and weak knees” (Hebrews 12:12). They were not fit for God’s work, and they would not be fit until they received God’s discipline. How many is this true of today? We do not receive God’s discipline, and so we have feeble arms and weak knees. We can’t help others, for we are barely able to stand ourselves. But if we receive God’s discipline, we will be strengthened by it, and we will have the strength to help the many others who are, at this point, spiritually lame (see verse 13).

Moving forward with God When we accept Christ’s finished work on the cross, and focus our attention on him, he will lead us places we never imagined going. The Lord is our Shepherd, and he will lead us to still waters. But, we will not see our Good Shepherd if we refuse to be who God made us to be … holy. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 If I do not walk in personal holiness, I will not be able to see my Good Shepherd. I will not see what he is doing. I will not see where he is going. How many Christians wander about in the darkness, never knowing what God is doing simply because they refuse to walk in holiness? God is looking for those with “clean hands and a pure heart”. Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Psalm 24:3-6

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It is, unfortunately, easy for the Christian to live an unholy life. We must understand that the unholy life is an unnatural life for the Christian. Just as sinning was natural for you before you were born again, so walking in holiness is natural for you now that you have been born again. However, many Christians have never walked by the Spirit. They do the very things they were saved from. Sin, while it is no longer their “legal” master, is still very much their master, because they refuse to walk by the Spirit. This is why the author needed to address specific sins the Hebrew Christians needed to avoid. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears. Hebrews 12:15-17 The Hebrew Christians should not have had to be warned about these sins. Then again, we should not need this warning either. But we do. Could the author have written these instructions to you? Have you missed the grace of God, instead relying on your own strength and power? Do you have a bitter root? Perhaps you were wronged at some time in your life, and you refuse to forgive. A bitter root behaves much like the roots of the Poplar tree, which are common in northern Wisconsin where we live. These roots don’t just go down into the earth. They “travel” just beneath the surface of the earth, forming new trees everywhere they go. Bitterness also travels. It causes trouble and defiles many, sprouting new “bitterness” trees everywhere it goes. If you are holding onto bitterness, you must let it go, not only for your own sake, but also for the sake of others. The warning against sexual immorality is especially significant today, for a large percentage of the church is mired in immorality. Esau sold his inheritance rights for a single meal. What a poor choice he made. He had something of great value – the inheritance rights of the firstborn son, a guarantee of a double portion of all of his father’s possessions – and he traded them away for a bowl of red stew. When we are sexually immoral, we “sell” our inheritance rights as sons of God for a bowl of immorality. God has so much he would like to do in and through us, and we trade the greatness of our spiritual inheritance for a bowl of sexual stew. When we watch movies or television shows with sexual immorality in them, or when we read books with sexually explicit material, or when we visit sexually explicit internet sites, we are committing adultery. Do you realize that? Jesus said that “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). We must call these actions what they are. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. It is time we lived as we really are – holy. Our standards must be God’s standards. If we truly fear God, we will walk uprightly before him. God is real. We have a tendency to treat him as unreal, almost more like a “force” or “concept” than a real person. We have come to the living God. God appeared to the Israelites so that they would fear him and put their trust in Moses. The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Exodus 19:9 It will be well worth your reading the entire account of God’s appearance to the Israelites in Exodus 19. On the day he appeared to the Israelites, “there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him”.5

5

Exodus 19:16-19

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Is this the God we worship today? It is! He is the very same God. He does not change. However, he is not asking us to come to a mountain to see him. He is warning us from heaven.

WEEK elEven

God’s shaking is not done. At that time, he shook one spot on this vast earth. The shaking was so terrible, Moses himself said, “I am trembling with fear” (Hebrews 12:21). But the shaking will extend far beyond one place on earth.

HEBREWS 12

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” Hebrews 12:26 Everything will be shaken. God’s voice will shake the universe, and only those things that are unshakeable will remain. The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Hebrews 12:27 What is unshakeable? God’s kingdom is unshakeable. As followers of the Lord Jesus, we must live with this shaking in mind, remembering that anything we build on our own, apart from the Lord, will crumble in the shaking. Moses was not permitted to wear his sandals in God’s presence (see Exodus 3:5). Why was God concerned about small trivial things such as sandals? Why didn’t he simply ignore them? He didn’t, because he couldn’t. Moses could not walk into God’s presence with the filth of the world stuck to his feet. However, he did not have to remove his sandals. He could have decided to keep his sandals on, but he would not have been permitted to enter the presence of the Lord, for his presence is holy. In the same way, we cannot bring our old sinful lives into God’s presence. We come to him with nothing, and he does with us as he chooses. Are you afraid of God? If you aren’t, you don’t know him as you ought. Those closest to God fear him the most. And, strange as it may sound, they also desire him the most. If either fear or desire is missing, we will not see God. If we do not fear him, we will not enter his presence, for he will not permit it. And if we do not desire him, we will not enter his presence at all, for we will not permit it. C.S. Lewis wrote a series of children’s stories called The Chronicles of Narnia which are rich with deep spiritual truth. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the second book in the series, the main characters, who happen to be children who have found themselves in a land full of talking animals, first learn about Aslan, a lion who is representative of Jesus. Notice how the lion is described in this section. “Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.” “Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”6 God is not safe. And those who draw near to him must remember that fact. He is dangerous. And he is good. This knowledge leads the Christian to worship that is truly acceptable to God. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29 The foundation of true worship is not musical ability. It is reverence and awe. Our God is a consuming fire. And everything he has not built will one day crash to the ground. “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” Luke 20:18 The only safe ground is found within the kingdom of God. The kingdom will one day be all we see and know and experience. But until that day, we, who have the kingdom within us, must live as children of the kingdom – servants of the gospel, stewards of the gifts of God, and diligent workmen who see beyond today and the “wisdom” of today that will one day pass away.

6

C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (New York, New York: Collier Books, 1973), pp. 75-76.

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The Hebrew Christians had forgotten many things. They had forgotten who they were. That was a tragedy. But the greater tragedy was that they had forgotten who God is. May the same never be said about us. Let us, like Moses, remove our “sandals,” that is, all that would prevent us from drawing near to God, and run to him. For, as strange as it may sound, safety from God the “consuming fire” is only found within God the “consuming fire.” And in his presence, all that is shakable quickly melts away.

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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Week Twelve HEBREWS 13

WEEK twelve

DAY ONE

HEBREWS 13

Read Hebrews 13 through twice. The first time through the chapter, simply read the text. Do not write any notes regarding the chapter at this time. The second time through the chapter, circle or underline key words or phrases and write down any questions or thoughts the chapter leaves you with in the margin. If the verses bring any related Scriptures to mind, please write them in the margin.

HEBREWS 13 1Keep

on loving each other as brothers. 2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. 4Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” 7Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. 10We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. 15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. 20May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter. 23I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. 24Greet all your leaders and all God’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. 25Grace be with you all.

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DAY TWO

WEEK twelve

Read Hebrews 13:1-6 Why should “loving each other as brothers” be easy for the Christian to do? Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-23

HEBREWS 13

Why is the Christian encouraged to entertain strangers?

Angels are God’s messengers – they deliver God’s words. Has a stranger (not necessarily an angel) ever brought a message from God to you?

The Christian is to remember those in prison and those who are mistreated. What are practical ways you can do this?

What can we learn from the parable of the Sheep and the Goats in regard to remembering those in prison and those who are mistreated? Matthew 25:31-46

As Christians, how can we honor marriage?

What is God’s response to sexual immorality? Hebrews 13:4; Ephesians 5:3-7

Do you believe this judgment is applicable to Christians as well as to non-Christians?

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WEEK twelve

Why should the Christian keep his life free from the love of money, and instead, be content? See also 1 Timothy 6:10

HEBREWS 13

DAY THREE Read Hebrews 13:7-10 In verse seven we are told to remember our leaders, to “Consider the outcome of their way of life”, and to “imitate their faith”. What benefit will it bring to think about those Christian leaders who have gone before us?

Why does it matter to the Christian that Jesus Christ doesn’t change?

What is the Christian to do in regard to “strange teachings”?

How can a Christian recognize what is or is not a strange teaching?

Have you ever been carried away by a strange teaching?

What would be the indicators in a Christian’s life that he or she has been carried away by a strange teaching?

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DAY FOUR

WEEK twelve

Read Hebrews 13:11-16 Life as a follower of Jesus will not always be easy. According to verses 12 and 13, where will following Jesus take us and what will it result in?

HEBREWS 13

Can a person follow Jesus and, at the same time, be enthusiastically embraced by the world? John 15:18-25; James 4:4

Verse 14 reads, “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come”. Is this necessarily true of all Christians?

(Personal) Is it true of you?

Verses 15 and 16 list three sacrifices the Christian should make. What are they?

What is God’s response to these sacrifices?

DAY FIVE Read Hebrews 13:17-21 What are Christians to do in regard to their leaders?

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WEEK twelve

Why did God put leaders in the body of Christ? See also Ephesians 4:11-16

HEBREWS 13

Satan hates authority. How do his followers respond to authority? 2 Peter 2:10; Jude 8

(Personal) Have you made your leader’s work a joy and not a burden?

(Personal) The author encourages the Hebrew Christians to pray not only for him, but also for those who were with him. The author no longer needs our prayers, but our current leaders do. Write out a prayer for your leaders in the space below.

DAY SIX Read the study notes for chapter 13.

HEBREWS 13 STUDY NOTES Put yourself in the ancient Hebrew Christians’ place for a moment. They were not reading this letter as you are. They had been listening to their leader read this letter to them for quite some time. By this time, the Hebrew Christians were tired. Their minds and hearts had been stretched in many ways. They had been taught, rebuked and corrected. Rather than overload the people with more than they can bear, the author, prompted by the Holy Spirit, leaves them with a few simple reminders – we’ll look at 13 of them. As I read through this chapter, I am convinced that we greatly need these same reminders today. As you read through this list of reminders, I would urge you to consider your own life and any changes the Lord would have you make in how you live. 1. A reminder to love. Keep on loving each other as brothers. Hebrews 13:1 It is sad how poorly we as Christians treat each other. Gossip, slander, bitterness, revenge, jealousy and hatred should be absent from among the saved. We are God’s children! He has put his own nature in us (see Galatians 5:22-23). This is why our lack of love is so perplexing. How can we claim we love God when we don’t love our brothers? And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:21

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Some Christians might say, “I can’t love my brothers, for they are unlovable, and you don’t know what they did to me.” Ahhh, but you can love your brothers. You have absolutely no excuse, “because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). If you are a Christian, God’s love is in your heart. Use it. You’ll find that loving comes quite naturally for you, since that is how God made you to be.

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2. A reminder to entertain strangers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 I don’t know how many people have actually entertained an angel, but I know that it does happen – a lot more than you or I think. In the Old Testament, Abraham (Genesis 18), Lot (Genesis 19), Gideon (Judges 6) and Manoah (Judges 13) all entertained angels. But what was the practical value of these angelic visits? The practical value was the message, help or strength these angels brought with them. They were God’s messengers. If any of these four men had neglected to “entertain” the strangers they encountered, they would have missed God’s instructions for them. Thus, by entertaining strangers, these men encountered God’s messengers and, ultimately, God himself. Does the thought of an angelic visit fill you with skepticism? It shouldn’t. We are connected to the God of heaven. Is it so surprising that he would use angels to help his family? This is one reason why we entertain strangers. They very well may be bringing the help we so desperately need (see Hebrews 1:14). 3. A reminder to remember those in prison and those who are mistreated. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3 We have a tendency to remember whatever is directly in front of us, waving its arms for our attention. But there are many brothers and sisters who desperately need our attention but cannot get it, for they are in prison. They cannot come to us, we must go to them. This is one thing the Hebrew Christians had done quite well. The author commended them for their treatment of those in prison and those who had suffered persecution. Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. Hebrews 10:32-34 We must remember that we are part of a body, and the body is a single unit. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26 Believers all over the world are suffering for their faith. In some countries, this persecution is quite severe. But no country is “safe” from persecution. The devil always steals, kills and destroys (see John 10:10), and he loves nothing better than killing and destroying the church. He will do this wherever and whenever he can. Every single Christian who desires to live a godly life will experience persecution. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12 Benjamin Franklin supposedly said, at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”1 He was making a play on words, saying, in essence, “If we don’t stick together, we will die one by one.” As Christians, however, we will be persecuted no matter what we do, whether we are together or apart. Let us “hang” together, then, drawing strength from each other. Far better to be persecuted with my brothers and sisters alongside me and encouraging me than to be persecuted alone. But how can I remember my brothers and sisters who are imprisoned when I cannot physically visit them? I can pray. I must remember that my prayers, unlike my body, are not confined to one

1

John Bartlett, Familiar Quotations (Boston, MA: Little Brown and Company, 1938), p. 227

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specific area. No matter where they are or what they are going through, I can pray. I can also stand with and support those who are helping the persecuted church.2 There are many ministries helping our brothers and sisters around the world. Our financial gifts make a big difference in the amount of help they are able to provide. As a final note, this verse is referring to those in prison, presumably for their Christian witness. However, there are many who are “imprisoned” in other ways, and we cannot forget them. There are many who are sick. We must comfort them. Those in nursing homes cannot come to us. We must go to them. There are many Christians in prison, not for their faith, but because they are paying for a crime they committed. These brothers and sisters are no different than any other Christian. They too need love and support. We must go to them. Consider the words of our Lord. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” Matthew 25:34-36 Do not forget your brothers and sisters. Go to them, for they cannot come to you. Remember them, for they cannot remind you of their need or condition. Jesus will one day tell those who have heard this command and kept it, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). 4. A reminder to honor marriage and keep the marriage bed pure. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage must be held in high honor by the saints. We honor marriage when we stand and fight for the traditional (and correct) view of marriage. As I write this, on September 24, 2004, many are attempting to redefine marriage to include relationships other than just the traditional male/ female marriage. Do not let this foolish talk confuse you. God instituted marriage, and Jesus himself said that it is between a male and female (see Matthew 19:4-6). He has not changed his mind about what marriage is, for he does not change (see Hebrews 13:8). And while, in the future, man may call a “committed” relationship between two men or two women a marriage, it is most assuredly not a marriage, and need not be recognized by the Christian as a marriage, for God is the one who created marriage, and he has clearly defined it as between one man and one woman (see Genesis 2:21-24). How else do we honor marriage? One way we honor marriage is in our interactions with others. Carefully consider your own life. By your actions do you honor marriage? If you are married, do you honor your marriage by your actions? There are things which are impermissible for a married man or married woman to do. The married man must be extremely careful about any interactions he has with other women. He must be careful about what he says and about what he does. The married woman must be extremely careful about any interactions she has with other men. The unmarried must be extremely careful about any interactions they have with married members of the opposite sex. God himself joins the man and woman together (Matthew 19:6). We must make every effort to ensure our actions do not undermine the good work he has done. He will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Many Christians are shockingly careless in their relationships with the opposite sex. This ought not to be. When we sin against our husband and wife, we are sinning against our own body. Beyond that, we are bringing reproach against the Lord and his name.

2

The Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors with Brother Andrew are both excellent

ministries focused on helping the persecuted church.

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As I mentioned in the notes on Hebrews 12:16, sexual immorality is a problem of epidemic proportion in the church. All too often, we watch things we should not watch, read things we should not read, say things we should not say, wear things we should not wear, and do things we should not do. God will not be mocked. All the sexually immoral will be judged. This includes Christians. If you have given yourself over to sexual immorality in any way, repent. If you do not, you will be judged.

Adultery is far more common than we might think, for it includes lustful looks (see Matthew 5:2730). The abundance of adultery, however, does not decrease its offensiveness to God. He hates adultery, and he will judge it. Again, if you have given yourself over to adultery in any way, repent. If you do not, you will be judged.

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5. A reminder to keep my life free from the love of money and to be content. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 Notice, we are to keep our lives free from the love of money. It is something we must guard against. What’s wrong with money? Absolutely nothing. It is the love of money that causes problems. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 How do I guard against the love of money? What can I practically do? One simple way I guard against the love of money is to give it away. We are commanded to remember the poor and to remember our Christian leaders. By giving away our money (which is actually God’s money), we cut off any hold it has on us. Another practical way I guard against the love of money is by drawing near to God, for as I draw near to him, everything quickly returns to its proper place. Money is not the answer to our problems. It is God. And I have God! God is with me. He will not leave me or forsake me. He will provide for all my needs (see Matthew 6:33). If I have God, I have everything, for he has everything. What more do I need? Thus, godliness inevitably leads to contentment. And contentment inevitably leads to fruitfulness. The power of contentment is just one of the truths we learn from the Parable of the Sower. Notice how discontentment chokes out the effectiveness of the word. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:22 Jesus could have discussed many things which choke out the word, but he talked about discontentment. Contentment plays a major role in our fruitfulness as a Christian. If I am not bearing fruit, this should be the first place to check. The author’s reminder to the Hebrew Christians is very applicable to today. Be content with what you have. You have God. He is enough. 6. A reminder to remember, to carefully consider and to imitate those Christian leaders who have already died. Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:7-8 As I mentioned earlier, I greatly enjoy reading biographies of the saints who have gone before us. This has been more than just enjoyable for me. It has greatly helped me in my Christian walk. Just this week I reread a biography on John Wesley. As I read about his life, I was moved to talk with God about my own life. There is much to imitate in a man like John Wesley … or Charles Finney … or Martin Luther. This is what the author is talking about here. We must not get so caught up in today’s battle that we forget to consider and imitate those who went ahead of us, for their lives are to serve as tutors for our lives. Jesus doesn’t change. He is just as much on the throne today as he was in the days of John Wesley. Life hasn’t changed as much as we think it has. God is still doing the impossible. He will always do the impossible, for all things are possible with God. But the author’s encouragement goes beyond just remembering the “famous” Christians who have gone before us. We are urged to remember and imitate the leaders who personally spoke God’s word to us. This would include all the men and women of faith who impacted your life –

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grandparents, parents, pastors, Sunday School teachers, etc., etc., etc.. True, they may have never been famous in the world, but God does not see things as the world sees things. Imitating the lives of those who have gone before you will make you strong. We will all join our leaders in not too many years. Whether by death or by rapture, each one of us is drawing near to our departure from this earth. When we think about those who have gone before us, time is put in its proper perspective. Bill Holmquist, the man who led my parents to Christ, died several years ago. He is in heaven now, but I still think of him. And the thought of Bill brings me great joy. I don’t know where I would be if he had not faithfully proclaimed the gospel to my parents. I want to be like Bill. Lord, give me strength to imitate this great man of God. 7. A reminder to stay away from strange teachings. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. Hebrews 13:9 I can’t tell you the number of Christians (or people who once claimed to be Christians) I have watched get derailed by some “strange” teaching which they have embraced. Strange teachings vary from time to time and place to place, but they always bear the same bad fruit. They draw people away from fellowship, promote pride, disparage leadership, and steal joy. Whether the strange teaching is in regard to “ceremonial foods” (see verse 9), which Bible version is the correct (or incorrect) version to use, which day to worship, or how to wear your hair or clothing, rest assured, strange teachings always bear bad fruit. I have yet to meet a person who has made one of these issues their cause who has grown in love. I have yet to meet a person who has made one of these issues their cause who has grown in godliness. I have, however, met many who have made some strange teaching their cause who have grown in bitterness, wandered away from the Lord and the Church, and alienated and hurt many Christians along the way. The warning is clear. Stay away from all kinds of strange teachings. They will carry you away unless you guard yourself. What constitutes a strange teaching? It is anything that is “foreign” or “alien” to the gospel.3 Those things which are foreign to the gospel cannot strengthen those who are enamored with them, for they have no life within themselves. Indeed, anything we rely on for life outside of the Lord Jesus himself will always lead to death. The works of the flesh cannot bear good fruit. “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” John 6:63 I like how the Phillips translation renders this passage in Hebrews. Do not be swept off your feet by various peculiar teachings. Spiritual stability depends on the grace of God, and not on rules of diet – which after all have not spiritually benefited those who have made a specialty of that kind of thing. Hebrews 13:9 Phillips Be on your guard against teachings which add to the gospel. If you run after them, they will sweep you off your feet and carry you away. They will not strengthen you. They will ruin you, and, possibly, many along with you. The grace of God is enough. Your spiritual stability depends on it and it alone. 8. A reminder to go to Jesus and bear the disgrace he bore. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. Hebrews 13:13 If the book of Hebrews can be summarized in one word, that word would be Jesus. His is the purest and holiest name that human lips have ever uttered. However, the name of Jesus is not loved by all. He is a divisive person. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’” Matthew 10:34-36

3

W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson

Publishers, 1996), p. 602.

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We must make the difficult choice to identify ourselves with Jesus. Let us run to him, bearing the disgrace he bore. If we lose our dignity for his name, we will walk in his dignity, which is, in actuality, the only true dignity there is on earth.

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39

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9. A reminder to look for the city that is to come. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14 Here we are reminded to look to heaven. This was one of the distinguishing marks of the men and women of faith listed in Hebrews 11. It has always been so. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16 10. A reminder to offer to God a sacrifice of praise. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13:15 We are to “continually” offer to God a sacrifice of praise. Why? Because praise is the “fruit” that naturally grows on the lips of the Christian. Our lips were made for praising! If they are doing otherwise, they are being misused. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. James 3:9-10 Feelings have nothing to do with praise. I am to praise continually, for this is natural for me. God made me to praise. 11. A reminder to do good and to share with others. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16 Praise is not the only sacrifice I offer to God. When I do good, and when I share with others, I am also offering sacrifices, and these sacrifices please God. Did you know that our actions can bring pleasure to God? What a privilege it is to know that I am bringing him pleasure. A simple action – loaning a tool to a neighbor – sends shock waves of pleasure into the throne room of God! And, joy of joys, he lets me know when he is pleased, for he makes his pleasure known to me by the Holy Spirit who lives in me. Make it your aim to please him. It isn’t difficult. He is easily pleased when we walk by the Spirit, for when we walk in his strength, he is always pleasing himself. 12. A reminder to obey your leaders and submit to their authority. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17 In verse seven we were reminded to remember our Christian leaders who are already in heaven. Here in verse 17, we are instructed about how we ought to relate to our living leaders. We are to obey them and to submit to their authority. Unfortunately, this command has been largely ignored by the church. Leaders are gifts from God for the body. They will be required to give an account to God of their work (see James 3:1). When we make work difficult for them, it is an additional burden on their shoulders, and, ultimately, a disadvantage for us, for it keeps us from receiving the blessings from them we should have received. Godly authority in our lives is not a burden. It is our protection. Satan hates godly authority. Indeed, a sure sign that he is at work is a despising (see 2 Peter 2:10) and rejecting of authority (see Jude 8).

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Do you obey your leaders? Are you making your leaders’ work easy or a burden?

HEBREWS 13

Have you increased or decreased their joy? 13. A reminder to pray for those who are working hard for you in the faith. Pray for us. Hebrews 13:18 Finally, the author reminds his leaders to pray for him and for those with him. Prayer, like the sacrifice of doing good and sharing with others, pleases God. This action brings him pleasure. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior … 1 Timothy 2:1-3 Not only does prayer please God, it works. We should always pray, and we should never give up (see Luke 18:1-8). This is not too much to ask. When we pray, God always hears. It is a promise. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer …” 1 Peter 3:12 Can you pray? Of course you can. If you have never prayed, make your first prayer, “Father, help me to pray!” It is our part. Let us play that part, then, to the very end. The day will come when all the praying will be done and we will see our Savior face to face. That day is not this day, however. Let us live this day to the fullest, diligently doing all we have been called to do. The 13 commands we have studied are all within the reach of every Christian. All can be kept quite easily, not by might, nor by power, but by God’s Spirit (see Zechariah 4:6). The day will come when the last deed on earth has been done. May that day come quickly.

DAY SIX

(CONTINUED)

This week, the Holy Spirit has taught me …

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