Hebrews Chapter 2
The author continues on from Chapter one with a warning to us. (2:1) We need to pay attention to what we are hearing in reference to God’s word.
As the things we hear are true we can not ignore them. God shows us salvation through what the Lord, Jesus Christ taught, the apostles testified to these teachings and through the Holy Spirit’s Gifts to us. (2:3-4)
God became a little lower than the angels by taking on the form of man, at the same time being crowned with glory and honor set above all of God’s creation with all things under subjection to Him under His feet. (2:7-8) This happens for one reason and one reason only….that He might through God’s grace taste death for everyone. (2:9)
Jesus shared in the temptations of the flesh and through His death He overcame Satan’s hold over believers. He released all in the bondage because of the fear of death.
By being tempted (never sinning though) and experiencing what we as man experience. He is becomes a merciful and faithful High Priest. You have heard……. You don’t know how someone feels until you walk a mile in their shoes? Well I believe that is exactly what God did!
What does this say to me?
God loved me enough that He would come as a lowly man to be tempted and through His death and resurrection. He defeated Satan’s power by taking the sting out of death by offering salvation. to all.
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Hebrews Chapter 3
We find here Christ compared to Moses. Moses was merely a member or a servant in the house; whereas Christ is the builder of the house (3:2-6). We are told to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. We are warned not to harden our hearts in rebellion (3:7 & 15). The Isrealites wandering in the wilderness is used as an example of this. We are also warned that a hardened heart leads to unbelief (3:12). We are to encourage one another daily (3:13). God promises that we have become partakers of Christ if we continue in what we have learned (3:14). All of those that wandered the wilderness were not the object of God’s anger, but it was those that sinned that fell dead in the wilderness, never seeing the promised land because of their unbelief (3:16-19). What does this say to me??
Christ is to be held higher than anyother for He is God, our Creator. If we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit we will not fall to sin which left unconfessed and repented of, leads to a hardened heart which eventually leads to unbelief. Through the love and encouragement of other believers in Christ we can remain faithful to Christ. But just as many of those wandering in the wilderness could not enter into the Promised Land because of their unbelief we can not enter into the kingdom of God without continuing belief.
* You can learn more about the Isrealites flight from Egypt in the book of Exodus.
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Hebrews Chapter 4
As chapter 4 begins we are reminded of God’s promise of rest and we are warned not to miss out on it. Others before us have heard, but did not gain rest because their hearing was not accompanied by faith. Therefore, unable to enter into the rest (4:1-6). But God provided Today for us to hear and to believe. When that rest for God’s children comes we to will cease work and rest as God did on the seventh day (4:7-9). We are again warned of failing to enter into this rest because of disobedience (4:11). God’s word is Sharper than any two edged sword and it is Powerful and it is alive today. No one can hide from God for He sees all things (4:12-13). Jesus is the Great High Priest because He came as Man, walked as Man, was tempted as Man yet He did not sin. Because of these things He does not only love us but can empathize with us in our weaknesses.
What does this say to me???
God promises us rest with Him. Be careful that you don’t pass on it. Those before us were taught, but did not learn, instead they were stubborn and hardened their hearts. Because of this they did not enter into God’s promised rest.
God gave us today that we might hear and believe through faith. God gave us His Word. It is alive. It is more powerful than any other. It is sharper than any sword. And God’s Word is useful in OUR daily lives. God is always watching and someday we will have to give an account to Him for all we have done. We are responsible for everything action, word and thought. Because of God’s great love He chose to become man that He might be able to understand us better and through Christ’s Great sacrifice we are able to come to God through His Grace and Mercy.
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Hebrews Chapter 5
High Priests are but men appointed to be a representative to God. Because they are men subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as the men they represent. They must offer sacrifices for man and themselves (5:1-4). Christ did not glorify Himself, but He was glorified by God (5:5-6). And when Christ was in the Garden He prayed God’s will be done (5:7) Even though He was the Son of God He learned obedience through suffering, but being perfect He was able to be the perfect sacrifice for sin, offering eternal life to those obedient to Him (5:8-10).
The author tells his readers (and Us) that they should be growing in Christ. As babes grow up they desire something more filling than milk. They desire solid foods. We are to desire that from the Word of God. As we grow and learn more we are to desire something more in depth and deeper knowledge of the Word of God (5:12-14).So what does this say to me??
That only Jesus is the true High Priest, sinless, appointed by God. Only He is the only sacrifice sufficient to provide eternal life for those who believe.
Also that we need to seek a deeper relationship with Christ through our desire to seek the truth in His Word. Hebrews Chapter 6
The author moves from the basics or foundation to the deeper things of God. Explaining that once you have Christ as a foundation you are to continue to build upon it, to become mature in your faith. We only do this through God(6:1-3).
Once unbelievers have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and tasted the Word of God. If they fall away…or turn from Christ they crucify Christ all over again(6:4-6).
God offers us a gift that must be cultivated through doing that we receive blessings, if the gift is not cultivated it will bear thorns and is eventually rejected(6:6-7).
The author encourages the believers that they have much better in store for them(6:9).
We are told that God will not forget the things we do and the it is the desire of the author and God that we desire to be diligent till the end, imitating those who before us through faith and patience inherited the promise(6:10-12).
God made a promise to Abraham…Surely blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you” And after Abraham had patiently endured he obtained the promise(6:13-15).
There are unchangeable things about God, one of which is He cannot lie. This is the anchor for the hope that we have.(6:18-19)So what does this say to me???
We need to desire to build upon my foundation to learn more of the things of God. Since this can only be done through God, if I do not have that desire I can ask Him to give me that desire.
It also tells me that not everyone who hears the gospel of Christ will come to know God as I do. Not all will remain faithful, as we are told in the Parable of the sower (Matthew 13:4-9). After we receive that Gift of God we must take care of it, to cultivate it, through study and doing the will of God. If we cultivate it then we bear fruit, if not we allow it to become over grown and thorns will grow we turn from Him and turn to sin and eventually are rejected. Through this continual sin we crucify Christ all over again. God is always aware of what we are doing.
back to topHebrews Chapter 7
The author begins by comparing Christ and Melchizedek King of Salem. He was only mentioned two times in the Old Testament. We are not told much about him, but he was apparently a Man of God for he received tithes of Abraham and blessed Abraham (7:1-9)
Christ was not born to the tribe of Levi, but of Judah. Therefore, He was not a levitical priest. Christ came through the order of Melchizedek (7:11-17).
The writer explains that nothing is made perfect through the law. We are offered a better hope, through which we can draw near to God (7:19).
Christ was not appointed priest by man, but was sent directly by God. That He might replace the old covenant(the law). He, being a much better covenant, will remain as High Priest forever not prevented from eternal rein by death. He is able to save completely those that come to God through Him since He lives forever to make intercession for them. He is a High Priest that does not need to make daily offerings first for Himself then for the people, for He is perfect and sinless (7:20-28)So what does this say to me??
I can not come to God or receive Salvation through levitical or any other law. Jesus Christ came to replace the law making it possible for me to come to the Father, God, through His sacrifice.
Jesus is above all other priests for He is God’s perfect Son, without sin. The priests before Him were man and of a sinful nature having to offer sacrifices for sin daily for themselves and the people. Because Christ was sinless He offered Himself as a one-time sacrifice, that through Him you and I might obtain away to the Father, Salvation. I thank God for the gift of His Son and the continual intercession He makes for me. Hebrews Chapter 8
The author explains to us the main point of his writing, which is we have a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of majesty. Every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices according to the law. Christ was greater than the Levitical priests were. He was a better covenant established on a greater promise (8:1-6).
The 1st covenant (the law) was not sufficient or there would have been no need for the 2nd covenant (Christ). Because of the peoples faults, not being able to keep the law, God sent a new covenant (8:7-9).
The new law will be written on the mind and hearts of the people. Therefore all will know God. He will be merciful to the people’s unrighteousness, sin and lawless deeds. He will remember them no more, for when the new covenant comes there will be no need for the old covenant (the law). It is old and ready to vanish away (8:10-13). So what does this say to me??
Christ is High Priest above all other priests. He needed not to offer gifts according to the law, for He was the Ultimate Gift and Sacrifice. He is a better covenant and promise than the law was.
Men were not able to follow the levitical law, for man is sinful by nature. Therefore, God sent the new covenant—His Son.
When Christ came the law was written on our minds and in our hearts….this being our consciences. The idea being we adopt the ethics and morals of God as His children.
Once Christ had come and the new covenant was established there was no longer a need for that 1st covenant making it obsolete and ready to vanish.
When Christ is your Saviour you should not need a set of rules or laws to know how to behave. You have a higher set of standards, as it is the goal to become Christlike.Hebrews Chapter 9
The author describes the earthly temple (9:1-5). He goes on to explain the practices the temple Priests performed. We are also told of the sacrifices that the Priest must make first for his own and then for people’s sin committed in ignorance indicated by the Holy Spirit. This was symbolic of the present times for they were unable to make one clear in conscience. These were directed at the outward things until the reformation (9:6-10).
Christ then came as High Priest of the good things to come with the greater more perfect tabernacle not made with hands and is not made of this creation. He did not offer the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all obtaining eternal redemption (9:11-12).
How much more shall Christ who offered Himself blameless to God cleanse your conscience of dead works to serve the living God, if the blood of animals could purify the flesh (9:13-14)?
Christ came as the mediator to the New covenant. By His death for the redemption of sin under the First covenant, the law, and those called may receive the promise of eternal life (9:15).
The First covenant was sealed with blood. After Moses gave all the law to the people he took the blood of bulls and goats sprinkled the book itself, containing the law, and the people. Saying “this is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you”. He then sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of ministry. The New covenant was also sealed with blood the blood of Jesus, God’s own Son. This is necessary we are told because “ …. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” (9:16-22)
The tabernacle of old was a copy of what was to come. Christ did not enter into the Holy places made with hands, which were the copies of the true, but He entered into Heaven itself and appears in the presence of God for us! He offered Himself once not daily or yearly as was necessary by the law. He being the Greatest sacrifice and the Greater covenant.So what does this say to me??
Well the two covenants are compared showing the inadequacy of the first covenant. Man was not able to keep the whole law, therefore it was insufficient. The levitical Priests were always having to offer gifts and sacrifices for the sin.
God offers us a better covenant, His Son. One that only needed to be offered one time, because it was a perfect sinless sacrifice. He offered a way for all to come to God, freely. All we have to do is accept the free gift of eternal life.Hebrews Chapter 10
The law was a shadow of what was to come, not an exact. The sacrificed suffered continually year after year by the priests, through the law can not ever cause one to be perfected. Because, if they could then they would have ended. Instead the yearly sacrifices are a reminder of the sin, for the blood of bulls or goats cannot take away sin (10:1-4).
Instead, God sends Christ His perfect Son who establishes the second covenant, replacing the first, that through His sacrifice, death on the cross, all might be sanctified (set apart). Christ was the only sacrifice that was sufficient (10:5-10).
The priests offered the same sacrifices over and over which could never remove sin. But this Man, Christ, offered one sacrifice –- Himself-- then sat down at the right of God. For through Him we are sanctified by one offering (10:11-14).
The Lord says that "I will put My law into their hearts and in their minds I will write them" this will be established with the new covenant (10:16).
The writer also explains that where there is remission (forgiveness) of these (sin, lawless deeds) there is no longer an offering for sin (10:18).
Because of Christ’s sacrifice we can have boldness to enter the Holiest, by a new and living covenant. We have a High Priest who is over the House of God – Jesus (10:19-21).
We are given some things to do: First… draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Next… hold fast to the confession of our hope with out wavering for He who promised is faithful. Last of all… consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, coming together and encouraging one another. This should be done even more as the end times approach us (10:19-25).
We are also given a warning. If we know what is sin and we continue to sin willfully we are trampling on the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and should have a fearful expectation of judgment (10:26-30).
We are to live by our faith through all the trials and tribulations of live for by endurance we will receive the promise, which is the return of Christ, and not turn back to destruction (10:31-39). So what does this say to me??
This tells me that all the offerings of animals were not going to cover sin, make us perfect or create a way to God. Only Christ could do that. These were reminders of the sin of the people.
God provided the perfect sacrifice in His Son. He is the only sufficient sacrifice.
Jesus offered one sacrifice and sat down. He was done, it was complete, with no need for repeating it, unlike the priest before Him that had to continually offer sacrifices for they were insufficient and could not do the job.
God has written His laws on our hearts and in our minds. This is our conscience. He has also provided the Holy Spirit to convict us of what goes against our conscience, which would be sin or wrong doings. Also when we repent of theses sins God remembers them no more. When we are forgiven we are not required to make an offering for the sin as those under the levitical law were.
We are to be aware of sin in our live and to live by our faith regardless of our surroundings or situations, our trials or tribulations because through endurance we will receive the promise which is our eternal life in Heaven with God.Hebrews Chapter 11
The author begins by defining faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (11:1).
Next he tells us of several Old Testament people that were examples of those that lived by faith (see end to veiw these)*.
We are told that without faith it is impossible to please God. Because when we come to God we must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
These Old Testament people died not having received the promise – Jesus Christ. But having confessed God, having faith in Him – shown in their lives, it was clear that they sought a homeland, eternal life with God. And these desiring this better life did not turn back to their former homeland. Therefore God was not ashamed to be called their God, and prepared for them a city.
The people of God overcame many things through faith in Him… the walls of Jericho fell (Joshua 6:20) for example. Also, the prophets through faith: subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promise, and stopped the mouths of lions to mention a few. Not all escaped persecution, many because of their faith were tortured, suffered trials of mockings, scourgings, chains and imprisonment, stonings, sawn in two, slain with the sword, tempted, wandered about destitute, afflicted and tormented. Through this they obtained a good testimony of God and their faith in him.
Even though they had a good testimony they were still not able to receive the promise. Because God provided something better for us that they were not made perfect apart from us. So what does this say to me??
Well, to start with it I am given wonderful examples to follow here, although Christ is the ultimate example to follow.
It tells me that my faith does not automatically protect me from trials, tribulations, hardships, tragedy or persecution. But it does provide me a way to get through or endure these times. There are two quotes I like about faith, neither, of which I know who said. Here they are:
“Faith is not a bridge over troubled waters, but a pathway through it.”
* to view the Hall of Faith go here.Hebrews Chapter 12
We are surounded by a cloud of witnesses so we should put aside the sin that we fall into so easily and run the race that is set before us(by God), by looking to Jesus who originated and perfected our faith. He endured the cross, the shame for us and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God (12:1-2).
We are told to think about what Christ did and that as God’s child we will be disciplined by Him, because through discipline we learn. Our earthly father’s discipline us. How much more does God love His children? Discipline is a showing of love.
We are also reminded that No discipline seems to be best at the time, but it is for our profit that we might be partakers of His holiness and will yeild fruit, joy and peace for those who learn from it (12:4-11).
We are warned to be careful that we don’t fall from the grace of God, allowing bitterness to spring up, causing trouble. This is where problems begin. Instead, seek peace with all people (12:12-17).
The law, which brought fear and condemnation is compared to the Second covenant, brings love, hope and blessings (12:18-24).
We are also warned not to refuse Christ, for there will be a judgment. Christ will come again and shake the earth and heavens. We should seek the things that are not shakable-the Kingdom of God-which we obtain through Grace, that we may serve God (12:25-29). So, what does this say to me???
The cloud of witnesses are all of those that have gone before us. Their lives are to be an example to us. Jesus is, of course, the Greatest example. God wants us to run the race He has set before us. During a race we are not suppose to be looking around to see where everyone else is, but instead to remain focused on the goal. In this race our goal is Jesus.
Through discipline we learn to become Christlike. God uses discipline because of His love for us, many times I think this discipline comes as consequences to our actions.
We should also be careful not to pass on the free gift of grace we receive from God, for there will be a judgment day, and Christ will return for His own. We need to remain focused on the unshakable things of the Heavenly Kingdom, not the shakable things of this world that man relies on.
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The author begins the last chapter of Hebrews with several standards by which to live our lives. They are as follows:
(13:1) Continue in brotherly love.
(13:2) Don’t forget to entertain strangers.
(13:3) Remember those that are mistreated and imprisoned.
(13:4) Marriage is honorable. God will judge fornicators and adulterers.
(13:5) Don’t covet, be content with what you have for God, Himself says I will never leave or forsake you.
The author continues on with some direction as far as religion.
(13:7) Remember those who lead you, that have spoken the Word of God to you, whose faith follows, consider the outcome of their conduct.
(13:8-9) Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Don’t be led astray by changing, different doctrines. Rather establish the heart on grace not foods, which has not been profitable.
(13:10) We have an altar (cross), which those serving the tabernacle may not eat from.
(13:11-15) The animals brought for sacrifice into the tabernacle by the priests were first burned outside the camp. Jesus that He might sanctify the people with His blood suffered outside the city gates. We can partake in the sacrifice of Christ bearing His reproach, with Him we seek not this place but the one to come. In Christ we offer continual sacrifices of praise to God giving thanks to Him.
(13:16) Along with the continual praises it is good to remember to do good and share for these types of sacrifices are pleasing to God.
(13:17) Obey spiritual leaders, be submissive for they watch out for your soul which is profitable to you.
The author closes the letter with prayer requests a good bye and reminds them to encourage one another. So, what does this say to me?????
(13:1) Love each other as Christ loves us.
(13:2) Help out strangers for you may even receive a blessing.
(13:3) Remember in prayer those that are imprisoned, suffering for their faith just as if you were there with them.
(13:4) Marriage should be upheld and when it is not God will judge those that defile it.
(13:5-6) Learn to be happy with what you have, because no matter how little it may seem we have God will not leave or forsake us. He is our helper. We have nothing to fear with Him on our side.
(13:7) We should follow the examples Christ gives us.
(13:8-16) Jesus remains the same throughout all time. He is unchangeable. We are not to be distracted by various doctrines. Instead receive the free gift of grace, establish it in your heart, not the foods or the law which does not produce eternal life. We have received an altar, the cross of Christ, which those focused on the tabernacle do not receive they have no rights to it being subject to the law. Jesus offered Himself outside the city gates as a sacrifice. By following Him, we seek the city to come (eternal life), leaving this city behind. In this we trade in the animal sacrifices of the law and offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. We are also to remember that it is pleasing to God to offer sacrifice of things we have and of our time.
(13:17) God places spiritual leaders over us to watch out for our souls. We need to be submissive to them, for this is for our benefit.
The author asked for their prayers and closed his letter with a reminder to encourage one another.
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