Bible Brad

Hebrews

29 min read

Hebrews

Context

  • Anonymous letter but knew the disciples, thought to be Paul or Barnabas (from Acts)
  • Audience is unknown but they clearly knew the old testament, specifically the Abraham, Moses, and wilderness stories (therefore, likely Jewish, likely written initially in Hebrew)
  • Ch 10, they were associated with Jesus and facing persecution

Overview

  • Introduction
  • Elevating Jesus (Compare/Contrast) - Jesus is superior to all, remain faithful!
    • Angels & Torah (1-2) — above the highest of all creatures — we should pay even MORE attention to Jesus than the Israelites did the law
    • Moses and Promised land (3-4) — a leader of the people — rebellion excludes you from the rest of the Promised Land (or heaven)
    • Priests and Melchizedek (5-7) — representative before God, atone for sin — Rejecting Jesus is rejecting your only hope to be truly reconciled to God, nothing else is close
    • Sacrifice & covenant (8-10) — Jesus’ death is superior to all animal sacrifices — Same as before, don’t reject your shot at the best God has to offer
  • Hall of Faith (11-13)

Slowing Down

1. By the Grace of God (1-2)

  • There is a death penalty owed = sacrifices (v3)
  • Jesus paid this price and sat at God’s right hand (v3) (Ps 110)
    • Ps 110

      The LORD said unto my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule in the midst of your enemies. Your people will be willing in the day of your power
      …
      The LORD has sworn and will not repent. You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. The LORD at your right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. [mazoridic text has Lord but LORD gives Jesus and God the same title]

  • Being better than angels, his name is more excellent than theirs (v4)
    • Remember, angels in scripture always start with: “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you” (they are mighty beings)
    • A name carries authority (e.g. “in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit”)
  • Which of the angels did God call his begotten son? Which did God call himself the father of? (v5,13, Ps 110)
  • The angels worship Him
  • God says Jesus’s throne is forever and his kingdom is a scepter of righteous (Ps 45)
    • Ps 45 — Jesus has been given a name/title esteemed above all others (quoted in v8)

      I speak to the king (v1) … thou art fairer than the children of men. Grace is poured into your lips. Therefore, God has blessed you forever. … (v2) God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness, above your fellows. (v6-7)

    • Zech 14:16 — the king == YHVH, Jesus is given God’s name

      All the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, to keep the feast of tabernacles

    • 1 Cor 15:25-28 — Jesus will judge all, even death; God has put him over all

      For [Jesus] must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. Lots of pronouns here but it means: “God put everything under Jesus’s feet”

    • Rev 5:6-10 — all of heaven bows before him

      In the midst of the throne, and beasts, and elders stood a lamb … and he came and took the book … and when he had taken the book, the beasts and elders feel down before the lamb singing “ worthy to take the book and open the seals on it, for you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood

      • Isa 6:1-4 — these are not insignificant beings

        I saw the Lord sitting upon a thrown, high and lifted up. Above it stood the seraphims, each with six wings … and one cried .. and the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried and the house was filled with smoke”

  • Go into the world and preach the gospel (as the angels do, v14)

  • Therefore, obey him! (pay closer attention, 2:1)

    • Deut 18:15-19

      The LORD will raise up a prphet, like me, and you must listen (H8085, shma - hear and obey, pay attention, give ear to) to him … v19 and whoever does not listen, I will require it of him

  • Live by the spirit (grace) and you will never stray

  • If angels required justice (Judges 2:1-5), how shall we ever escape the judgement to come if we reject salvation (2:2-3)

    An angel of the LORD came and said “I brought you out and said I would never break my covenant. … you have not done this … I will make them live with you as thorns and snares” and the people wept

  • God bears witness of this message by providing the fruits of the holy spirit and signs and wonders (2:4)

  • Jesus, who was made a little lower than angels (by becoming man), is crowned with glory and honor .That by the grace of God should taste death for every man

    • Grace is God’s power over sin, the thing that enables us to “Choose life” (Deut 30:19)
    • This is truly a grace that surpasses understanding — we no longer have to die, the law of sin and death is conquered and our covenant is free to be renewed

  • It is because of him (Jesus) that many our brought to glory, making the captain of their salvation perfect, through his grace (v10)

2. The Captain of Salvation (2-4)

  • 2:10 - God made the captain of our salvation perfect (”complete”) through suffering
  • Jesus declared God’s name (pushed to make his name Holy)
  • Jesus accepted flesh, through Mary, the blood comes from the father
  • Jesus’s work gave him the authority to open the seals in Revelation (Rev 5)
  • He took on the nature of the seed of Abraham, not the angels (he was made a man), that me may be merciful and faithful
    • Deut 18:15
  • 2:17, he took on flesh so that he could reconcile us to God — bring back together that which was separated
    • v 18, He was tempted that he may succour (”help” in some translations) us (agricultural term of cutting off twigs that won’t bear fruit, that the nourishment goes to the branches that produce fruit)
    • This is why the blood of rams and bulls was done every year, it was a picture/placeholder
    • Jesus completed the work that those foreshadowed
    • This is why the goat of Azazel no longer received a miracle in the last 40 years of the temple, after Jesus’s work
  • 3:1,2 - therefore “partakers of the heavenly calling,” consider him as the high priest and the “sent one” (Deut 18)
  • He was similar to Moses (faithful) but was better — if we hold to him, we can hope
    • Hope is a reality in the future
  • 3:7-13 - Do not be like Israel in the wilderness. God wants faithfulness not sin+offering (Psalms 51:16-17)
  • 3:14 - we must endure to the end, vs just being saved and then living whatever life we want
  • 4:1, 11 - take it as a warning that you do not fall short before the end, lean into him, run the good race, that you may enter rest (Jesus’s rest)
  • v12-13, God’s word is sharper than any sword, dividing the soul from spirit and joint from marrow; it cuts to the heart and our intentions
    • Acts 1:8 - You will receive power to be my witness to the whole earth
    • We should not shelter ourselves, we should be out there, be involved, fight til the end
  • v14-16, seeing that we have a GREAT high priest (literally great, great priest), confidently approach the throne of grace (unmerited gift) to receive mercy (the empowerment to overcome the curse of sin and flesh) and find grace (unmerited gift) when we need help

Important

What do you think? Is this a question of once saved always saved? Is this just an encouragement to remain with Him

3. Our High Priest (5)

Intro

  • Previously, we recounted the prophecies of David regarding his descendant, who would also be the son of God (Matthew 22:45, if he comes from David, why is he called “Lord” by David)
  • Hebrews is written to Messianic Jews prior to the destruction of the temple
    • At the time they were called “Netzerim” — followers of the Netzer
    • A Netzer is a root the grows separately from the main plant
    • Jesus was called this by Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1-5)

      There shall come forth a shoot (H5342) from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

The Text

  • v1, For every …
    • Go back to the previous — “we have a great high priest … that is perfect despite temptation. Let us go to the [true] throne of grace” (not just the ark)
      • Temple service changed in Babylon (Nebuzaradan sacks Jerusalem, Jeremiah hides the ark(?))
        • 2 Kings 25:8-21

          On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard who served the king of Babylon, arrived in Jerusalem. He burned down the LORD’s temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem, including every large house. …

        • 2 Macc. 2:4-8

          It was also in the writing that the prophet [Jeremiah], having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God. And Jeremiah came and found a cave, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense, and he sealed up the entrance. Some of those who followed him came up to mark the way, but could not find it. When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: “The place shall be unknown until God gathers His people together again and shows His mercy. And then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear, as they were shown in the case of Moses, and as Solomon asked that a place should be especially consecrated”

      • Temple service changes again from 28 - 68 CE - the miracle of Yom Kippur’s scapegoat (Leviticus 16:7-10, Isaiah 1:18)
        • Misha: Tractate Yoma, ch 4 https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tractate-yoma-chapter-4

          The rabbis taught: Forty years before the Temple was destroyed, the lot never came into the right hand, the red wool did not become white, the western light did not burn, and the gates of the Temple opened of themselves, till the time that R. Johanan b. Zakkai rebuked them, saying: “Temple, Temple, why alarmest thou us? We know that thou art destined to be destroyed. For of thee hath prophesied Zechariah ben Iddo [Zech. xi. 1]: ‘Open thy doors, O Lebanon, and the fire shall eat thy cedars.’”

      • Because of the latter change, we can approach the true throne, not just the practice, earthly one
  • v2-3, the high priests of old understand sin because they are sinners. They are moved with compassion and makes sacrifices for both themselves and the people
  • v4, no one chooses to become a high priest. God makes them that — as Aaron was
  • v5, Christ also didn’t choose this role but it was placed upon him by God
  • v7, he learned, just as all high priests, what sin is and the struggle with flesh
  • Going back to vs 5:
    • Ps 110 — The LORD said to my Lord, “sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool” … v4 “you are an eternal priest after the pattern of Melchizedek”
    • Matt 10:34 — “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
    • Ps 2 — The kings collaborate against the LORD and his anointed (Messiah) king (Acts 23:11-13) … The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them. … The king says, “I (David) will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son! This very day I have become your father! … v10 so now, kings, do what is wise : submit to correction
      • Acts 23:11-13

        The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.

  • What happens to those that conspire: Ps 63:9 - Ps 64:10

4. Hope before us (6)

  • This builds up to the last four chapters
  • Recall this was written to Hebrew-speaking, Jews that were familiar with the Old Testament
  • We have the Septuagint to refer between Greek and Hebrew
  • Therefore…
    • Leaving the basics behind, let’s move on to maturity
    • What were the basics?
      • Heb 5:9-10 - And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
        • Deut 18:15,18-19 - The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you - from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him. … I will raise up a prophet like you for them from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them whatever I command. I will personally hold responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the words that prophet speaks in my name.
        • Ps 110:1,4 - Here is the LORD’s proclamation to my lord: “Sit down at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool!” … The LORD makes this promise on oath and will not revoke it: “You are an eternal priest after the pattern of Melchizedek.”
      • Jesus is that High Priest and the one we must hear and obey
    • We’re done with the foundation : repentance from dead works and faith in God
      • We are meant to do more than repent, do lip service, trust in God, be baptized, and ordain the Godly
      • We see this in Acts where Barnabas’s cousin, John Mark (Col 4:10), left Paul behind when things got tough and Paul rejects going with him later on (Acts 9:26, Acts 13:13, Acts 15:36-41). Rather, he prefers someone who is hospitable (1 Timothy 3:8-12)


        Are you stuck in this rut? In the modern church, we cater to this so there’s no shame in that! Just be aware that those are just the basics. We shouldn’t stop there!

    • If God permits — your revelations are limited only by your obedience
  • v4, it is impossible for those that are truly in Christ that then fall away to be renewed again to repentance (v5:1)
    • You cannot go back to sacrifices and think they take care of your sin
    • Jesus was the reality of which those things were only a shadow/placeholder
    • Once the price is paid, it’s paid. The gift is available
    • If you fall away from that gift, you crucify Jesus all over again and there is nothing left to save you (v6) — you are saying Jesus’s death was worth nothing
    • v7-8, The good fruit gains bless or are cursed to be burned, LEAN IN
    • STAY EARNEST (v11) — recognize that we bear the helmet of the hope of salvation, we must run the race until the end. DO the word, not just hearers (James 1:22)
    • Rom 10:9-10 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (will be saved is one word: G4982, σωθήσῃ, sozothain, a future reality of salvation, 1 Thes 4:17)


      Whoa. What do you think of that?

  • v12, follow those that came before you
    • v13, When God promised Abraham, Abraham waited (endured) and obtained the promise (through his decedents)
    • God promised against his own name against two immutable things: that God already can’t lie
    • Now we have a hope as an anchor for the soul, that Jesus died on our behalf as our high priest after the order of the Melchizedek (king of righteousness)
    • v7:1, for this Melchizedek (king of righteousness), king of Salem (king of peace) blessed Abraham
    • He had no father or mother because the order is outside of time
    • Consider the greatness of Melchizedek that Abraham tithed to him
    • Melchizedek precedes Levi, so too does Jesus precede the high priesthood

5. Change in the Law? (7)

Context

  • Levitical line vs priesthood of Melchizidek — the latter is made by an oath (v16, Ps 110)
  • Once an oath is made, it’s there (v18)
    • The LORD said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool … the LORD has sworn and will not repent - Ps 110:4
    • Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear [**falsely**] thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths - Matt 5:33

Getting into it

  • v11 - if the Levitical priesthood was that all that was needed (sacrifices), we’d be done. However, those sacrifices had to be done every year as it was only a place holder for the consequences law of sin and death
  • v12 - Jesus did the law, so he can take on himself the death penalty, renewing the covenant that we may become a kingdom of priests and kings (Ex 19:6, Rev 5:10)

    And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

  • v13 - for he whom these things are written (the Netzer, our high priest, son of David) is of a different tribe: one that is far more evident
  • Levi was put in place because of the sins at Mt Sinai vs God’s plan for higher high priests
  • v21 - the Levites were temporary
  • v22 - Jesus was made a promise by a better “covenant” (though the Greek is actually “oath,” going back to Ps 110)
    • Gen 24:1- 9- …I will make you swear by the LORD that his servant will not marry my son among the Canaanites
    • “place you hand under my thigh” was literally someone grabbing the “testimonies” … really “testicles”
    • God swore to Abraham so he trusts that it will be fulfilled; if it doesn’t work out, he is released but he trusts that it will (v7-8)
  • v 24-25 - because Jesus will not die, his priesthood continues forever and he is able to save
  • v26-28 - he who is holy, sinless, doesn’t need to offer up sacrifice because he already has offered himself
  • Without Jesus, the promises do not make sense (Judah was promised to be the one to bring forth the priest)
  • v8:3-5 - Jesus offers gifts and sacrifices to God, just as all priests do (though he wouldn’t be allowed if he were on earth)
  • v6 his gifts are better as he was the originally promised priest

Important

This week was a bit more uplifting than last week. What do you take from this? For me, it is an assurance that God’s plan has been in the foundations of the world prior to any of the law, the prophets, or writings. God has truly ordained it from the beginning and has had our salvation in the fold for all time.

6. Mediator of a Better Covenant (8)

  • Read v1-6
    • v1: Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: that we have a high priest set at the right hand of God (Ps 98)
    • There was nothing wrong with the pattern built by man, it was patterned after the one in the heaven
    • Jesus ministers after the temple that the earlthy temple was only shadowing
    • Likewise, the offerings on earth are also a shadow, Jesus himself offers gifts
    • v6: He establishes a better covenant upon better promises
      • Ex 25-32 - Moses on the mountain
      • Ex 31:18 God’s finger wrote the commandments
      • Ex 32 - the golden calf: “he is delayed, let’s make gods to go before us”, v5: Aaron built an altar before [the calf] and made proclamation “Tomorrow is a feast of the LORD”
      • Ex 32:16-20 - Moses smashes the tablets and makes them drink it
      • Eating gold causes diarrhea but it could always come back
        • Sometimes finding gold in paganism just isn’t worth it…
      • Ex 34 - now YOU write the tablets LIKE the ones I made, and I’ll write the words on them again
        • Note that they are the same words, they didn’t change
        • This is a shadow of what comes later, in Jeremiah and ultimately Jesus
      • Jer 31:31-34 - Behold, the days come … I will make a new covenant (H2319 - chodesh - new or fresh thing, in the sense of a new moon, e.g. Lam. 3:23) … a covenant which they broke (just like Moses) … I will put my law on their hearts
        • Note it also shows the separation of Judah and Israel in the old but combined Israel for the new - all of Israel, no split
  • Read through 13
  • v7,8 - if the first were faultless - the fault wasn’t the covenant, it was the fault of ours
  • The sacrifices of v3 and v4, are indicative of the gap left by us
  • v9-13 - quote of Jer 31:31 (G2537 - kainos - new, especially fresh; does not speak of age, that is G3501, neos)
  • v13 - old does not mean invalid, the new comes with a gift
    • John 14 (the whole chapter):
      • This comes right after Jesus the last supper, where he said he’d be betrayed - three times - and killed. They are now in the Kidron Valley
      • Don’t be worried, I’m going to prepare a place for you — how do we follow you there?
      • I am the way… follow what I’ve shown you and you’ll meet God — just introduce us
      • God is spirit I am the hands and feet… I and the father are one and the same. If you believe me, you believe God
      • Love me, keep my commandments (v15,23), and I’ll do anything you ask of me
      • I’ll send a comforter to abide with you
    • Being a part of God’s renewed covenant receive the power of the holy spirit as a mark and gift

7. Last will and Testament (9)

  • First word: “then”
  • As a refresher of where we’re coming from, Heb 8:7

    For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second [or subsequent].

    • The first covenant was not wrong, it’s just not adequate
    • The entire context is the temple service, sacrifices, Levitical priests that are constantly changing (because of death), versus the eternal priest after the order of Melchizedek
    • Recall that God’s miracle of the ribbon turning white stopped, signifying God’s desire to move from the shadow pictures to the tangible
  • Read 1-10
    • If the first had been adequate to cover the death penalty owed
    • The spirit is what leads us into truth, not our own interpretation (2 Pet 1:20, prophecy = proclamation of what the scripture means)
    • The holy spirit is the mark of this [re]new[ed] covenant
    • While the author doesn’t go into much detail, it’s clear he has an understanding of these
      • The candlestick mentioned is a menorah - representing the 7 spirits of God (Isaiah 11:1–3)
        • Seven Spirits
          1. The Spirit of the Wisdom
          2. The Spirit of the Lord
          3. The Spirit of Understanding
          4. The Spirit of Counsel
          5. The Spirit of Power
          6. The Spirit of Knowledge
          7. The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
      • Table of showbread = a place of meeting with God (e.g. communion) and 12 loaves for the 12 tribes of Israel, a reminder of his promises
      • The second veil and arc represent the thrown room of God
      • The alter of incense was said to have been so thick that no one had need to wear perfume
    • The fact that approaching God required blood every year, much less that it was only once per year, is proof that it was not yet perfect, only carnal/earthly
  • v 11-15
    • But Christ is a high priest of good/beneficial things
    • He ministers in the perfect tabernacle — he is the one mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
    • By his own blood - which is far more valuable than bulls or goats - we have obtained eternal redemption, not just temporary (v12,14)
    • Jesus is the reality of scripture, not just the shadow
    • Because of this death, payment of transgression, he is the mediator of the new covenant
  • v16 - where a testament is, there must also be the death of the testator
    • This is speaking in a sense of “last will and testament”, which requires death
    • Similar to our discussion of Abraham and his thigh, this is not just an oath, but a will

8. Torah’s Shadow Pictures (9-10)

  • v11, Context: Jesus is a high priest of the better things that were to come by his own blood
  • The day of atonement was the model of what we would one all have access to but was not yet available
  • How can the veil be torn? Why was it only once a year? What do the shadows mean?
  • v14: how much more shall the blood of Christ purge you of your dead works
  • v15-16: me is the mediator of the new covenant and where there is a testament, there must be a death of the testator

What died for the testament to be enacted?

  • An oath is not the same as a testament, though related
    • As we saw in Genesis, Abraham made an oath to have his son married
    • A will (as in “last will and testament”) can be changed until dead
  • v18-22 - the first was dedicated by blood (atonement for sin)
  • Therefore it was necessary that the patterns be purified with blood but the heavenly things have better sacrifices
  • v23-26 - The deaths before were done repeatedly because there was a debt to pay that could not be covered
    • Animals only covered the “interest payments” and reminded us of the debt that was owed
    • Jesus covered the full debt, once for all, and nothing more is needed, nor does he need to die ever again
  • v28 - Christ will appaear again, to those that wait for him, and lead them to salvation
    • This lends to the case that we are not “saved” but rather that we declare Jesus as, then follow him in HOPE of our FUTURE salvation
      • Rom 8:23-25 - And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For this is the hope of our salvation. But hope means that we must trust and wait for what is still unseen. For why would we need to hope for something we already have? So because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfillment.
      • Rom 10:9 - If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved”
        • Greek, 4982, sozo - Future passive indicative (same word in Acts 16:31, Est 4:13)
        • We don’t profress him as “savior”, we profess him as “Lord” - master, owner — Deut 18’s prophet, like Moses
        • The resurrection is the evidence that Jesus’s work is authorized by God
      • 1 Peter 3:15 - but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear
  • Going back… v24-28 - it’s appointed unto men once to die → the day of atonement is a shadow picture of how we all die once, then (at the resurrection) we’ll be in the presence of God. Then we are judged (v27)
  • Either we pay or Jesus pays but there MUST be a death; that is our penalty
  • Judgement day is also a future, single day

No chapter markings in Greek, keep going…

  • 10:1 - the law has shadows of good things to come but can never make things perfect

    • Again, it just shows the deficit to be paid (v3)
    • If an animal could fix it, it would have been once, not constant — if you get the death penalty, handing over your dog doesn’t fix anything
    • Prayers and alms giving does NOT replace the temple sacrifices (as some modern Jews think). It’s simply not needed any more; Jesus finished it

  • v5-6 - sacrifices aren’t really for God’s pleasure (Psalm 51:16), they’re for OUR benefit (to remind us of the “better” to come)

    You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. - Psalm 51:16

  • v7-10 - the sacrifices are set aside once we Jesus died, which released God’s final will and testament

  • Recall, Heb 6:4-6 - It is IMPOSSIBLE to find something better; rejecting Jesus and accepting sacrifices scorns God

9. Who Draw back to Perdition (10)

  • v12-14 - having offered one sacrifice …. expecting til his enemies be made the footstool of his feet (again, Ps 110)

    The LORD said unto my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool … you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek

  • v15-18 - the debt is paid, so there is no more offering for sin
  • v19-20 - we can approach God in boldness, invision ourselves before the REAL arc of the covenant, the throne of God
    • The veil in the temple (that was torn) represents the flesh of Messiah
    • Because of what was accomplished, we should not have a sin conciseness
    • If we Love God, and willingly sin, we do not know God (1 John 3:5)
  • v24-25 - the law, having a shadow of good things, cannot make “the comers” (people who come for feasts) perfect. Encourage each other because it’s going to get dark
  • Backing up, v23, the profession of our faith is us trusting that Jesus did these things and that the shadow pictures are fulfilled
  • v26-27 - if we sin willfully after receiving the truth, there is no further sacrifice for sin but there will absolutely be judgement and fire
  • v28-29 - if it was bad for those that sinned under Moses, how much worse is it for those that sin while under Jesus; we now have more than just a token, we have the WHOLE debt paid and sinning willfully trods on that
    • Away from me you workers of lawlessness - Matt 7:23, speaking of those that did many wonderful things but never knew God
  • v30-39 - don’t cast it away! The righteous live by faith
  • Justified is being-made-righteous (”just as if I” never did it)
  • Doing good deeds ≠ justification; that only comes from God
  • Once the debt is paid, your desire is no longer to sin but to serve God
  • v38-39 - The just live by faith, do not draw back!
    • Perdition = G684 = apoleia = ruin, loss, destruction

10. Cloud of Witnesses (11)

  • Immediately go to 12
    • v1 - Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us
    • These are real people that speak God’s truth to us, as witnesses to God’s faithfulness and to our faith
    • This is just like LeTourneau or JCPenny__, both of whom lived off of 10% of their entire income; they are witnesses of Christ to those that were impacted by them, even in death
  • Immediately go to Ex 25
    • At Mt Sinai, ratification of the covenant, and Moses is in the mountain
    • In the midst of the giving of the laws around the tabernacle (specifically the arc = God’s throne on earth) and how to approach God

Back to Chapter 11

  • v1, Faith is the substance (word is literally G5287, “support under”) of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen
    • This isn’t something we have to make up, it is substantive
    • That which we hope for: Jesus’s second coming and our salvation/sanctification fulfilled
  • v4 - Abel had a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, meaning they had some semblance of instruction for how to approach God; even now, he speaks to us as a picture of the coming messiah
  • v5 - Enoch had faith and did not see death
  • v6 - God is and he rewards those that diligently seek him (a beautiful statement of faith)
  • v7 - by faith, Noah made an ark - becoming an heir of righteousness by faith
    • Faithfulness leads to righteousness; it is he consequence
  • v8-19 - Abraham went without knowing where he’d live; once he found it, he lived as a stranger amongst a sickly pagan culture. He was told he’d have a son, even an impossible osicklyne, and he believed; once he had that son, he offered him freely to God
  • v20-22 - Jospeh believed that they would be back in their land
  • v23-31 - Moses scorned his sinful life and chose God, drowning the Egyptians, bringing down Jericho
  • v32-38 - the judges, the prophets, the faithful have been KILLED, STARVED, SUFFOCATED, and TORMENTED because of their faith
  • v39-40 - All of this and they never received the promise
  • BUT NOW HE HAS COME
  • It is time for us to live our faith, push for Christ, and Love those he loved as if it were our last life

11. God a Consuming Fire (12)

12. Entertaining Angels Unaware (13)

Important

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