Hebrews 8

HIGH PRIEST OF A BETTER COVENANT
HEBREWS 8

Main Point of the Letter
8:1-2, 5

These verses continue the discussion of Jesus as the Christian’s high priest. But it moves the argument further to a high point.  Hebrews 7:28 stated that God the Father appointed God the Son as the high priest of believers and he had been made perfect forever. Chapter 8 verse 1 picks up that thought saying we have such a high priest, meaning the perfect son appointed by God the Father. Further, Jesus ministers as our high priest in heaven.

This verse has as its background Psalm 110:1. Remember that much of Hebrews is an expository sermon based on Psalm 110. That verse says “The LORD says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”  But look also at Zechariah 6:12-13. There the picture is of one who shall sit and rule on a throne. But there also be a priest on his throne. This is a picture of the office of the king and the office of the priest coming together. They came together in Jesus. So, Hebrews sees Jesus on the throne at the right hand of the Father both as place of exaltation and priestly service.

Verse 2 tells us that Jesus’ ministry for us is not on earth, but in heaven. He calls it “the holy places”, the true tent, set up by God. The “tent” is a reference to the Tabernacle. It was the moveable tent that God directed Moses to build so God could “dwell in their midst”. (Exodus 25:8) The priests ministered at the Tabernacle.

Now skip down to verse 5. It says the old testament priests served a shadow and a copy of the heavenly things. The throne of God, where God’s presence is, and the area around it are a tabernacle in heaven. God dwells there and he is worshipped by all of those who are in heaven. Revelation gives us some pictures of this. In chapter 4, John saw a throne and one seated on the throne. (Revelation 4:2-3) All around the throne were other thrones and those who sat on them worshipped God. The living creatures around the throne also worshipped God.

Since the tabernacle was a shadow and a copy of God’s throne in heaven, God instructed Moses to make all of the items exactly as God said. In Exodus 25:9, God told Moses “Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so shall you make it.:” And God specified how the tent should be made, and the court yard, and all the furnishings. God would dwell there so it had to reflect the dwelling place of God in heaven.

But Jesus ministers in the holy place that is the “true tent” set up by the Lord. This means heaven, where God dwells. Jesus is at God’s right hand ministering for us. Just as the Old Testament sacrifices were types of his sacrifice, so the Old Testament priests were types of Jesus as high priest. In other words, Jesus fulfilled by the sacrificial system and the priesthood.

By calling heaven the true tent, he is not saying the Tabernacle was a false tent. Rather he means heaven is the perfect holy place and the Tabernacle was an imperfect holy place.

The ministry of the priest
8:3-4

Verse  3 reminds us that the job of the high priest as to offer gifts and sacrifices to God at the tabernacle. Therefore, since Jesus is a priest (“this priest”) must also have something to offer. And verse 4 tells us Jesus would not be a priest if he served on earth, but he did not qualify as a priest on earth. And, if you reflect on the 4 gospel accounts, you will remember that Jesus never attempted to act as a priest. He acted as a teacher and healer. The inference here is rather subtle, but the point is that Jesus, offered his sacrifice in heaven. Yes, he died on a cross on earth, but he presented himself to the Father in heaven, the true tent, as a sacrifice for us. Therefore, his ministry is in heaven.

A Better Covenant
8:6-13

Verse 6 tells us that the new covenant he mediates is better than the old covenant. In fact he says it is “much more excellent” than the old covenant. And we know it is better, as verse 7 says, because if the first covenant had been faultless, or perfect, there would have been no need for a second covenant.

Having made the statement that the new covenant is better than the old covenant, he offers proof from the Old Testament as is his style. That proof is Jeremiah 31:31-34.  

The writer begins this quote by saying “He (God) finds fault with them when he says”, meaning he blames sinful Israel for failing to keep the covenant. The context for Jeremiah 31 is that some of the Israelites had already gone into exile and captivity. The remainder would go soon. God had declared judgment on them for failing to keep the covenant. He told them they would go into captivity for 70 years. Then, beginning in chapter 30, God said he would restore the fortunes of Israel. Beginning in 31:31, Jeremiah related God’s promise to make a new covenant. The writer of Hebrews began his quote at that point. By doing so, he shows that God promised long ago to bring another, new covenant, and that it would not be like the old covenant because God’s people did not keep it. (Hebrews 8:9)

The fact that God announced his intention to make a new covenant way back in the time of Jeremiah, shows that God always intended the old covenant to be temporary.

The greatest difference would be that God would put his laws into their, and our, minds and hearts. (10) And all who enter into this covenant will know God. (11)

The Israelites were to teach the covenant law to their children, they were to wear it on their hands and heads. But God will write the new covenant in the hearts of believers. By the death of Christ, he killed our sin and enabled us to live for righteousness. The Holy Spirit dwells in us, constantly reminding us of God’s standards of holiness and urging us to be holy. Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

No human being in his or her flesh can live up to God’s standards. Every one of them will sin. Every one of them will break the covenant. Only by changing us through and in Christ can we rise above the sin nature and live for God. Only because the Holy Spirit in us enables us can we live in a way that glorifies God. So, don’t try to reach God by our goodness apart from Christ. It won’t work. Instead, believe in Christ and trust him to save you from sin and death. Then live in the power of the Holy Spirit rather than in your own strength.

The Old Covenant is Obsolete
8:13

The New Covenant makes the Old Covenant obsolete. Even in his time, the writer of Hebrews saw it vanishing away, disappearing. “Obsolete” means God does not intend any further use for the old covenant and its sacrifices to achieve redemption. The new covenant in Christ supercedes the Old Covenant. There is no going back.

Jesus, of course, saw to it that the old covenant would vanish. He did this by destroying the temple through the Roman army in 70 A. D. He foretold it in Matthew 24:2, when he said there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. He foretold it by saying in John 2:19, “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up”. His priesthood for believers supercedes and replaces the old priesthood of the temple and tabernacle.

THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST - Hebrews 7:20-28

JESUS, THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST
HEBREWS 7:20-28

7:20-22
A Better Priest & A Better Covenant

These verses continue the theme of the passage: Jesus, as a priest after the order of Melchizedek is superior to the Old Covenant priests descended from Aaron.  The writer is still preaching from Psalm 110:4. 

The “it” in verse 20 is the “better hope” of verse 19. This better hope is the new covenant of salvation through Christ’s priesthood. The new covenant offers a better hope than the old covenant. 

So verse 20 is saying the new priesthood, the priesthood of Christ, was not made without an oath. Or, stated positively, the new priesthood of Christ was made with an oath. The implication is that Jesus’ priesthood, is superior to the old covenant priesthood because it was inaugurated with an oath. The old covenant priests were not appointed with an oath, but God the Father appointed Christ as priest of the new covenant with an oath. And, of course, he quotes yet again Psalm 110:4, where that oath is expressed.  

Additionally, there was no promise that the old covenant would last forever. In fact, it was always God’s intention that the old covenant be temporary. Paul, in Galatians 3:17, tells us God’s promise to Abraham and his offspring continued until it was fulfilled in Christ. The old covenant, or “the law”, did not annul the Abrahamic covenant, rather the law was added to show man’s sinfulness and point to the need for a savor. But God’s appointment of Jesus as our high priest was not just a promise, but God’s oath, that the priesthood of Jesus would last forever.  The concept of the oath is to make it final, eternal and unchangeable. 

So, verse 22 is the summary. The new covenant, of which Jesus is the guarantor, is a better covenant than the old covenant. And Jesus can guarantee it because of God’s oath. A guarantor in this sense if one who offers his life as the guarantor of another person. 

This is important because the writer is trying to convince these Jews to continue in the faith and not return to Judaism. You can apply this truth today to those who claim Jews can be saved without coming to Christ. And, in my opinion, you can apply it to those who teach that there will be a latter day return to the temple and old covenant by the Jews, and that it would be a good thing.

Hebrews 7:23-25
Jesus The Eternal Priest

In verse 23, the writer points out that the old covenant priests, being human, died. Death prevented them from continuing their ministry as priests. So, your high priest would only be your high priest during his life time. Once he died, he could no longer intercede for you. He could no longer offer sacrifices for you.

In contrast, verse 24 shows that Jesus holds his priesthood permanently. Or we might say, his priestly office is eternal. It goes on forever. It does so because Jesus is eternal. He lives forever. 

Because Jesus lives forever, he intercedes for us forever. Therefore, as verse 25 says, he is able to save to the uttermost. The eternal priest mediates an eternal salvation. 

Who does Jesus save? He saves “those who draw near to God (the Father) through him”. (25) 

“Saved to the uttermost” (ESV) is another way of saying we have eternal life. The NIV says “completely” and the NASB says “forever”. He saves us for eternity and he completely saves us. 

This appears to be another vindication of the doctrine of the perseverance or preservation of the believer. The one who truly believes does not lose his salvation because he or she commits a sin, because Jesus continues to intercede for him or her forever. 

What is eternal life? Eternal life is a permanent relationship with God the Father through Jesus the Son. Jesus said “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”  (John 17:3) Eternal life is not that you will play golf on the perfect course in heaven. It is that you know God beginning at your conversion and continuing forever. And by “know God” I do not mean know facts about him, but that you come into relationship with him because you come into relationship with Jesus.

Here is an example. The American colonists knew many facts about their king, who was George III, King of Great Britain and Ireland, of the House of Hanover. But they did not have a relationship with him. They did not love him, they did not serve him, and the did not obey him. In fact, they rebelled against his authority and rejected his rule over their lives. 

In the same way, you can know facts about Jesus and even believe those facts, but not have a saving relationship with him, because you do not love him, serve him and obey him. In fact, you rebel against him. We call that rebellion sin.

The only people who have eternal life are those who have believed in and committed themselves to Jesus Christ. Verse 25 says he saves those who draw near to the Father through the Son. The idea here is that man was once near to God. Genesis tells us God made man in his image. He gave him rule over the earth as God’s representative. God made a special garden for man’s home. And he communed with them in that garden. 

But, man rebelled against God’s authority and sinned. Sin separated man from God. Genesis portrays this separation both in the judgment of death and the banishment of man from the garden. This idea of separation is why gospel tracts show a picture of a great canyon between God and man. Isaiah 59:2 says it clearly: “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

Jesus came and provided reconciliation. Although men and women were separated from God, they now could draw near to God through the sacrifice of Jesus, if they believed on him. Romans 5:10 says “for if while we were yet enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more now that we are reconciled shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   

Notice, though, that Hebrews 7:25 does not say that everyone on the planet comes to know God. That is the false doctrine of Universalism. It does not say you can come to God through another religion or practice or person. 

Jesus said the same thing. Here are some examples from the gospel according to John: 
you have given him (Jesus) authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. (John 17:2); 
no one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6);
to all who did receive him, who believed in his name,he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12); and
whoever believes in him (Jesus) should not perish but have eternal life. 


So, can you obtain eternal life without believing in Jesus as the Son of God? Not according to Jesus, who said “whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)

7:26-28
Jesus is the Perfect High Priest

Verse 26 says it is fitting that we have this kind of high priest. “Fitting” means appropriate and beneficial. It is appropriate for and beneficial to us to have this permanent, superior high priest. The NIV tries to capture this thought by saying he “meets our need”. 

What kind of high priest is he? The writer gives us several adjectives, or descriptions of Jesus. He is:
holy
innocent
unstained
separated from sinners and
exalted above the heavens.


These are all ways of saying Jesus even in human form did not sin. He was perfect. He is perfect. Remember in 4:16 he said Jesus has been tempted as we are in every respect, yet without sin.

Verse 27 points out to us that the old covenant priests were not perfect and sinless. They sinned. So, before they offered sacrifices for the people, they offered sacrifices to themselves so that they would, in effect, be sinless when they offered sacrifices for the people. 

But Jesus did not have to do this. Since he was without sin, he did not have to offer sacrifices for himself. And because, as sinless, he was the perfect sacrifice, he did not have to offer himself as a sacrifice over and over. Verse 27 points out that he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 

The old covenant sacrifices pointed to this truth. The animal sacrificed had to be “without blemish”. For example, the burnt offering must be a male animal without blemish. (Leviticus 1:3)  This requirement of “without blemish” was to be a picture of the ultimately perfect sacrifice, the man of no sin, Jesus. Hebrews will discuss that in more detail later in the book.

Verse 28 is a summary verse. it says that the old covenant high priest was weak (sinful) and Jesus is greater than them. He is greater because he was appointed with God’s oath, he is greater because he was appointed after them and therefore to replace them, and he is greater because he is perfect forever. And, finally, he is greater because he is the Son who is perfect forever. 

THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIEST - HEBREWS 7

Chapter 7 resumes the discussion of Jesus as our high priest. In particular, it discusses Jesus as a priest “after the order of Melchizedek”. 

The last verse of chapter 6 is a nice transition sentence to this discussion. It says Jesus was our forerunner into the presence of God, “having become  a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”. (6:20 English Standard Version-ESV) 

The ultimate point of chapter 7 is to describe the priestly office of Jesus and to prove it is superior to the Old Testament, Levitical, priesthood. Further, it shows that Jesus replaced the Levitical priesthood. Melchizedek was the priest who was a type of Christ and his priesthood; he foreshadowed the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. 

To make these points, the writer knows he must first explain who Melchizedek was and why he is important. 

Verses 1 through 3 are one long sentence. If you take out the subordinate clauses, the sentence says “For this Melchizedek ...continues a priest forever.” In the New International Version (NIV), it would be “remains a priest forever”. 

Verses 1 through 3 recount the story of Melchizedek in abbreviated form. The story is the subject of Genesis 14. You might remember that Abraham and Lot had separated. Lot went down to live in the fertile plain around the city of Sodom. He eventually moved into the city. A war broke out between two groups of kings. The group that included the king of Sodom lost. The winning kings took all of the people of Sodom captive and took their possession. Abraham found out what happened, then went and defeated the kings, freed the captives including Lot, and took a great amount of property as spoils of war.

On the way back to his home, Abraham encountered Melchizedek. Genesis 14:15 calls him priest of God Most High. (This event happened before God instituted the covenant priesthood with Aaron.) Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of the spoils.

The only other mention of Melchizedek in the Old Testament is Psalm 110:4. There God the Father appointed the “Lord” as a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. As we discussed in an earlier lesson, much of Hebrews is an explanation of Psalm 110.

The writer of Hebrews points out three things about Melchizedek in Hebrews 7:2. First, he says “He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness”. The word Melchizedek, in Hebrew, comes from “melek”, meaning “king”, and “zedek”, meaning “righteousness”. So, his name means king of righteousness. 

Second, the writer points out that he was the king of Salem. (This may have been an ancient city on the site of Jerusalem. Psalm 76:2 makes this reference.) The word “Salem” means peace. Therefore, he was also “king of peace”. Although the writer points this out, he does not do anything with it. His emphasis is on Melchizedek as priest.  

Third, the writer reminds us that there is no history given for Melchizedek. No father or mother are named, no genealogy, no beginning or end to his life. The writer then draws a conclusion from these facts. He said in verse 3, that Melchizedek resembles the Son of God for he seems to continue as a priest forever. This statement shows us that the writers of the New Testament used typology to interpret the Old Testament. He is saying Melchizedek was a type of Christ in that he appears to be without end, an eternal priest. Melchizedek is the type and Christ is the antitype in literary terms. Christ has no beginning or end and, therefore, serves as our high priest for eternity.

In verses 4 through 10, the writer argues from the Old Testament text that Melchizedek was greater than Aaron. He begins this argument by saying “see how great this man was”. Then he demonstrates it by describing th events of Genesis 14. 

First, he says in verse 4 that Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek. The unwritten thought here is that the lesser person gives a tithe to the greater person. Melchizedek then blessed Abraham. The one who blesses is greater than the one who was blessed. (7:8) So, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. 

Remember that Abraham had a son named Isaac. Isaac had sons named Esau and Jacob. Jacob was the one through whom God chose to work. He renamed him Israel. Jacob\Israel had 12 sons. One of them was named Levy. Levy was the father of Moses and Aaron. The priests all came from Levy. 

But at the time Melchizedek blessed Abraham, Levi was not yet born. Verse 10 says he was “still in the loins of his ancestor”.  That just means he was not yet born. This is also the point of referring to Abraham as the patriarch in verse 3. A patriarch is the head of the family or tribe. 

So, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, greater than Levy and greater than Aaron. The unwritten conclusion is that, since Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek, or after the order of Melchizedek, he is greater than the priests who are after the order of Aaron.

Hebrews goes on to explain why this is important.

In verses 11 through 14, Hebrews explains that the Levitical priesthood was flawed. It could not make the worshipper perfect. Verse 11 says “if perfection had been attainable”, which implies it was not. When God gave the covenantal priesthood to Israel through Aaron, God extended grace to Israel. He provided a way for the to receive atonement. When they sinned, they came under the sentence of death. Romans 6:23 tells us the wages of sin is death.

But the old covenant sinner could make a sacrifice of an animal through the Levitical priest. God allowed for the death of the animal, the shedding of its blood, to atone for sins. Then on the Day of Atonement, the high priest could make a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the whole nation of Israel.

But the Levitical priests could not make the Israelites perfect. They kept on sinning and needed continual sacrifices to atone for their sins. Romans 3:20 says “For by the works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin”. 

Since the priesthood of Aaron, of the covenant, could not make people perfect in God’s sight, that priesthood was imperfect. The people needed an new priesthood after a different order. Verse 12 says that a change in priesthood means there is a change in law also. I believe “law” here means the same as “covenant”. There was a need for a new covenant with a new priest. Since there will be a new order, the priest must be of a new order, not of the line of Levy and Aaron.

In verses 13-14, the writer shows that Jesus is this kind of priest. When he wrote “the one of whom these things are written”, he meant Jesus Christ. Jesus came from another tribe than the priests. Jesus was descended from Judah, not Levy. 

Matthew 1 recited the genealogy of Jesus. It shows he was descended from Judah. (Matthew 1:3) Judah was the 4th son of Jacob. (Genesis 29:35) His oldest three brothers were disqualified from heading the family because of grievous sins they committed. Levy’s family redeemed itself by supporting Moses to destroy the Golden calf and, then, became the line of priests.   That left Judah to inherit the blessing and stature of his father as head of the family of Israel. Jacob affirmed this at his death. He prophesied to Judah that “our brothers shall praise you; your and shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you.” (Genesis 49:8) Then he said “the scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet until tribute comes to him and to him shall be the obedience of all peoples.”  (49:10)

Jesus, as David before him, came from the line of kings, not the line of priests. 

So, his priesthood came from a different source. Hebrews 715 says the source was not “bodily descent”. It was not that he descended from Aaron. The source of his priestly office is the power of his indestructible life. Jesus’ resurrection makes his life indestructible. Every priest in the line of Aaron died. Jesus lives. 

At Jesus’ resurrection, based on his sinless life, the Father appointed him as a priest after the order of Melchizedek. The writer quoted Psalm 110:4 again to show that. Again, we see the writer is giving an exposition, an explanation of Psalm 110 when he applies this to Jesus.

Let’s look at Psalm 110 again briefly. Past lessons has explained this in detail. This Psalm is a picture of the resurrected Jesus coming to the Father in heaven. “The LORD” in verse 1is the Father. “LORD” is a way to express God’s name, Yaweh. “Lord” translates “adonai” for master or Lord. So, we see the Father, Yaweh, say to the resurrected Son, adonai. sit here at my right hand. Then in verse 4, he takes an oath and makes him a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 

Hebrews 7:18-19 show us that the old covenant passed away and jesu brought a new covenant with a new and better hope for his people. Verse 14 says the former commandment is set aside. The Levitical priesthood is set aside. The old covenant is set aside.

Remember Jeremiah 31:31 and following from our last study. Read that passage. God said he would make a new covenant which would not be like the old covenant. Instead of a law written on stones, he would write his law on the hearts of his people. In Ezekiel 36:27, he said he would put his Spirit in us and cause us to walk in his statutes and to obey his rules. 

Paul, in Galatians 3, explained that God intended all along for the law to end when Christ came. He said the law was added (to the promise made to Abraham and his offspring) until the offspring (Christ) should come. 

So, the writer of Hebrews said the old covenant is set aside, so you lose that. But you gain a better hope in Christ,through whom we draw near to God. (verse 19)

This statement about hope connects back to Hebrews 6:19-20, which said we hold fast to our hope in Christ, who leads us into the presence of God. Even though this sermon is written primarily to Gentiles, this thought of Christ bringing us into God’s presence is very meaningful to those of us who are not Jews, but Gentiles.

In the Bible, Gentiles were those who were “far off”. Only the Jews and converts to Judaism got anywhere near to God after the institution of the covenant. But, Ephesians 2:11and following  says we Gentiles who were separated from Christ and alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, were brought near through the blood of Christ. And now we have access in the Spirit to the Father. 

HEBREWS 6:13-20

A major theme of this book is “persevere to the end”. In the passage we studied last week, he ended by telling the Hebrews he wanted them to have the full assurance of hope until the end so that they, through faith and patience would inherit the promises.

So, verse 13 starts a passage that uses Abraham as an example of one who had faith and persevered to the end.

FIRST WE SEE IN VERSE 13 THAT GOD MADE A PROMISE TO ABRAHAM AND HE MADE AN OATH, OR SWORE TO PERFORM IT. SO, WHAT PROMISE IS HE TALKING ABOUT?

GOD MADE SEVERAL PROMISES TO ABRAHAM, BUT IN GENESIS 22 HE MADE A PROMISE AND TOOK AN OATH TO FULFILL IT. ABRAHAM HAD JUST PROVED HIS FAITHFULNESS BY HIS WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE HIS SON, ISAAC TO GOD. GOD HAD ALREADY PROMISED (IN GENESIS 13) THAT ABRAHAM WOULD HAVE MANY OFFSPRING, THAT HE WOULD HAVE A GREAT REWARD AND HE WOULD HAVE A SON (GENESIS 17). THE DEATH OF ISAAC WOULD CAUSE THE PROMISE TO FAIL. YET ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND PROCEEDED WITH THE SACRIFICE. GOD DID NOT MAKE HIM GO THROUGH WITH IT, BUT ABRAHAM WAS FAITHFUL. THEREFORE, GOD MADE A PROMISE TO HIM AND TOOK AN OATH TO FULFILL IT.

GENESIS 22:15-19 SAYS:

AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CALLED TO ABRAHAM A SECOND TIME FROM HEAVEN AND SAID “BY MYSELF I HAVE SWORN, DECLARES THE LORD, BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE THIS AND HAVE OT WITHHELD YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON, I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU, AND I WILL MULTIPLY YOUR OFFSPRING AS THE STARTS OF HEAVEN AND AS THE SAND THAT IS ON THE SEASHORE. AND YOUR OFFSPRING SHALL POSSESS THE GATE OF HIS ENEMIES AND IN YOUR OFFSPRING SHALL ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED BECAUSE YOU HAVE OBEYED MY VOICE.

THE WRITER OF HEBREWS QUOTES PART OF THIS IN VERSE 14 “SURELY I WILL BLESS YOU AND MULTIPLY YOU”. HE KNEW HIS JEWISH AUDIENCE WOULD KNOW THE REMAINDER OF THE PASSAGE.

BUT AFTER THE PROMISE, WHAT HAPPENED? REALLY, NOTHING HAPPENED IN HUMAN TERMS. ISAAC GREW UP TO BE A MAN. HE HAD TWO KIDS, TWIN BOYS ESAU AND JACOB. YET, HEBREWS SAID HE PATIENTLY WAITED AND HE OBTAINED THE PROMISE. HE WAITED 25 YEARS FOR ISAAC TO BE BORN. HE PATIENTLY WAITED WHEN GOD COMMANDED HIM TO SACRIFICE ISAAC. SO, HE SAW THE PROMISE FULFILLED IN THE BIRTH OF ISAAC. BUT HE ACTUALLY DID NOT SEE GOD MAKE A GREAT MULTITUDE COME FROM HIM. HE DID, HOWEVER, BELIEVE GOD WOULD DO IT.

WHY DID GOD SWEAR AN OATH TO ABRAHAM? HEBREWS 6:13 DISCUSSES THAT. FIRST, IN VERSE 13, IT SAYS GOD HAD NO ONE GREATER BY WHOM TO SWEAR, SO HE SWORE ON HIMSELF. NORMALLY, A PERSON TAKES AN OATH TO INVOKE A HIGHER POWER TO HOLD HIM TO THE TRUTH. IN AMERICA, WHEN A PERSON TAKES THE WITNESS STAND TO TESTIFY IN A TRIAL, HE SWEARS TO THE TELL THE TRUTH “SO HELP ME GOD”. HE IS SAYING, GOD IS THE WITNESS TO MY TESTIMONY AND MAY PUNISH ME IF I DO NOT TELL THE TRUTH.

BY WHOM THEN WOULD GOD SWEAR? AS VERSE 13 SAYS, THERE IS NO ONE GREATER. THERE IS NO HIGHER POWER. SO HE SWORE BY HIMSELF.

GOD DID NOT HAVE TO SWEAR AN OATH. HE WORD IS TRUE AND HE ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISE. SO, IF HE SAID HE WOULD MULTIPLY ABRAHAM’S FAMILY INTO A GREAT MULTITUDE, HE WOULD DO IT. BUT HERE, HE WANTED TO REINFORCE THE TRUTH AND POWER OF THE PROMISE, SO, IN ADDITION TO HIS WORD, HE SWORE AND OATH TO PEFORM IT.

VERSE 17 SWITCHES THE EMPHASIS FROM ABRAHAM TO THE “HEIRS OF THE PROMISE”. THOSE ARE WE WHO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF THE PROMISE MADE TO ABRAHAM. AND WHO ARE THOSE HEIRS? THEY ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND FOLLOW HIM. FOR NOW, IN THE CHURCH THROUGH THE AGES, THERE ARE MULTITUDES OF THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED GOD AND RECEIVED HIS SALVATION.

THIS FACT, THAT WE ARE HEIRS TO THE PROMISE, IS ASSUMED IN THIS PASSAGE. IT IS, HOWEVER, STATED PLAINLY IN THE BOOK OF GALATIANS. GALATIANS IS A LETTER FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL TO THE CHURCH IN GALATIA. THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER IS TO REFUTE THOSE WHO TAUGHT YOU HAD TO PRACTICE THE JEWISH LAW IN ADDITION TO FAITH IN ORDER TO BE SAVED.

IN GALATIANS 3:7-9, PAUL SAID:

 KNOW THEN THAT IT IS THOSE OF FAITH WHO ARE THE SONS OF ABRAHAM. AND THE SCRIPTURE, FORESEEING THAT GOD WOULD JUSTIFY THE GENTILES BY FAITH, PREACHED THE GOSPEL BEFOREHAND TO ABRAHAM SAYING “IN YOU SHALL ALL THE NATIONS BE BLESSED”. SO THEN, THOS WHO ARE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED ALONG WITH ABRAHAM, THE MAN OF FAITH.

THEN, IN GALATIANS 4:7, PAUL SAID IF WE ARE SONS, WE ARE HEIRS.

SO, WE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST ARE THE SONS OF ABRAHAM AND THE HEIRS OF THE PROMISE. AND HEBREWS 6:17 TELLS US GOD DESIRED TO SHOW US MORE CONVINCINGLY THE UNCHANGEABLE CHARACTER OF HIS PURPOSE, SO HE NOT ONLY MADE THE PROMISE, HE GUARANTEED IT WITH AN OATH. THAT MEANS, WHEN GOD MADE THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM, HE WAS THINKING OF EVERY PERSON WHO WOULD BELIEVE IN CHRIST THROUGHOUT HISTORY, AND HE WANTED TO MAKE ALL OF THOSE BELIEVERS CONVINCED THAT HIS PURPOSE AND PROMISE NEVER CHANGED, SO HE BACKED UP HIS PROMISE WITH AN OATH.

THIS MEANS THAT GOD PURPOSED TO CREATE A PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF. THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE THOSE WHO CAME TO HIM BY FAITH IN THE REDEMPTION ACCOMPLISHED BY GOD’S SON, JESUS CHRIST. HE MADE THEM A PROMISE THROUGH ABRAHAM THAT HE WOULD MAKE THEM HIS PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE.

VERSE 18 SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE TWO THINGS TO GIVE US CONFIDENCE. THOSE TWO THINGS ARE GOD’S PROMISE (WORD) AND HIS OATH. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, OF COURSE, SO HE MUST KEEP HIS PROMISE AND HIS OATH.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO US? VERSE 18 SAYS IT MEANS WE HAVE STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT FROM GOD TO HOLD FAST TO THE HOPE SET BEFORE US. WE ARE “THOSE WHO HAVE FLED FOR REFUGE”. WE HAVE ABANDONED HOPE IN OURSELVES, IN OUR STRENGTH, IN OUR POSSESSION, IN ALL EARTHLY THINGS. AND WE HAVE FLED THOSE THINGS TO TAKE REFUGE IN GOD THROUGH CHRIST.

YOU SEE, GOD DOES NOT WANT YOU TO FEAR. HE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO DOUBT. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED HIS SON, JESUS, AS SAVIOR AND LORD, HE GIVES YOU ETERNAL LIFE. YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE. HE WILL RESURRECT YOUR PHYSICAL BODY AND CHANGE IT INTO A GLORIFIED BODY. HE WILL CREATE A PLACE IN THE NEW EARTH FOR US TO LIVE FOREVER IN HIS PRESENCE. HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE ASSURANCE OF THIS. HE WANTS YOU TO BE ENCOURAGED IN ALL OF YOUR TRIALS THAT YOUR HOPE IS SECURE. BECAUSE HE WANTS YOU TO HAVE THIS ASSURANCE, HE GAVE YOU A PROMISE AND AN OATH TO ENCOURAGE YOU.

REMEMBER THAT “HOPE” IN THE BIBLE IS NOT A WISH. IT IS A CERTAINTY THAT BRINGS ENCOURAGEMENT. THIS HOPE IS A SURE AND STEADFAST ANCHOR OF OUR SOULS. AN ANCHOR KEEPS A SHIP IN ONE PLACE. IT KEEPS IT SECURE. IT KEEPS IT STABLE. OUR HOPE IN GOD’S PROMISE AND HIS UNCHANGING CHARACTER IS THE ANCHOR FOR OUR SOUL. WE NEED NOT BE TOSSED ABOUT IN A STORM OR STRONG WAVES, BECAUSE WE ARE ANCHORED TO HIS PROMISE. IN EPHESIANS 4:14, PAUL TOLD THEM NOT TO BE “TOSSED TO AND FRO BY THE WAVES AND CARRIED ABOUT BY EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE, BY HUMAN CUNNING, BY CRAFTINESS IN DECEITFUL SCHEMES”.

SO, WHEN THE “NEW ATHEISTS” ATTACK THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE AND THE DEITY OF CHRIST, YOU ARE NOT TOSSES AROUND, YOUR BOAT IS SECURELY ANCHORED TO THE PROMISE AND OATH OF GOD.

WHEN DAN BROWN AND OTHERS WRITE BOOKS SAYING THE GOSPELS ARE NOT TRUE AND THE CHURCH HID THE TRUTH, YOU ARE NOT TOSSED, YOU ARE ANCHORED BY GOD’S PROMISE AND OATH.

AND WHEN PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH SAY THEY HAVE FOUND A NEW TRUTH OR A NEW SECRET, YOU ARE NOT LED ASTRAY.

VERSE 19 SAYS OUR HOPE LEADS US RIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD. THE WRITER MAKES A REFERENCE TO THE TEMPLE OR TABERNACLE. HE SAID IT ENTERS INTO THE INNER PLACE BEHIND THE CURTAIN. HE IS SPEAKING OF THE MOST HOLY PLACE, WHERE GOD’S PRESENCE DWELT IN ISRAEL.

OF COURSE, OUR HOPE IS NOT ABSTRACT. OUR HOPE IS IN CHRIST. HE PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS. HE GAVE HIMSELF AS A SACRIFICE FOR US. SO, HE IS OUR FORERUNNER, AS VERSE 20 SAYS.

BEFORE WE COULD GO INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD THE FATHER, THE MOST HOLY PLACE, JESUS HAD TO GO AND MAKE A SACRIFICE. THE IMAGE HERE IS AGAIN THE DAY OF ATONEMENT WHEN THE HIGH PRIEST WENT INTO THE MOST HOLY PLACE AND MADE ATONEMENT FOR THE SINS OF ISRAEL. JESUS WENT INTO THE MOST HOLY PLACE IN HEAVEN, INTO GOD’S PRESENCE, AND PRESENTED HIMSELF AS THE SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT FOR US. BECAUSE HE WENT INTO GOD’S PRESENCE ON OUR BEHALF, OR FOR US, WE CAN GO INTO GOD’S PRESENCE. WE DO IT NOW SPIRITUALLY IN PRAYER, BUT LATER WILL DWELL IN HIS PRESENCE FOREVER.

THE LAST PHRASE OF VERSE 20 IS A TRANSITION. IT SAYS JESUS DID THIS ON OUR BEHALF AND HE COULD DO SO BECAUSE HE WAS A HIGH PRIEST FOREVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEK. AND WITH THAT, THE WRITER TRANSITIONS BACK TO THE DISCUSSION OF JESUS AS PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEK.

 

MOVING ON TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

5:11-14

The Rebuke

This passage continues the discussion of Jesus as our eternal high priest after the order of Melchizedek. The writer states that he has much to say about this. (5:11) And he does, because this topic goes on for several chapters (through 10:39).

It starts, however, with a rebuke. The writer says it is hard to explain this truth to them because they are spiritually immature and “dull of hearing”. (The New International Version says “slow to learn”. But the idea is not that they are dumb, but that they are spiritually dull or listless.) And they are not new believers. We know this because he says “by this time you ought to be teachers”. But, despite the fact that they have been believers for a good while, they still need someone to teach them basic truths. So, this does not mean they were new believers and it does not mean they were stupid. Rather, they were spiritually dull. 

Believers have a duty to read, study and obey the Bible to become more mature as believers. Preachers and teachers have a duty to teach all of the truths of the Bible and not just the simple ones. I have been a member of one one denomination for a long time. It seems like almost every year they come out with a program that is the basics of this or the basics of that. I want to know when they will have the advanced version! 

The writer here uses the picture of a baby. The baby must have milk. But after he grows up, he needs solid food for nourishment. These believers are still babies. They are immature. They do not know the Bible. The writer is trying to shame them with this portrayal. 

In verse 14, the writer gives us the sign of Christian maturity: they are able to distinguish good from evil. He says by constant use, or study, they have developed the ability to discern. We need this so badly today. We are constantly exposed to false teaching within the church, attacks of non-believers and even the assertion that there is no truth. We can only discern these matters if we are in the Word constantly. That we are not explains a lot of the problems in churches today. 

6:1-3

The Call To Move On

So, he says, let’s move on from the elemental teachings. Let’s leave the milk and feed on some solid food! He lists these elemental teachings for us. There are 6:

1. repentance
2. faith
3. washings
4. laying on of hands
5. resurrection of the dead
6. eternal judgment.

He is not saying these doctrines are not important. They are in fact elemental or foundational. But they are the first things you should learn. And then you should move on to greater and deeper truths.

And so, in verse 3, he says they will do so “God permitting”. If God continues to give him the time and the opportunity, this writer will move them on to this deeper truth of the priesthood of Christ. If God continues to give the congregation spiritual understanding, they will move on to know these deeper truths. It reminds me of James writing “you ought to say if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that”. (James 4:15) He is acknowledging that God is sovereign. He will give the opportunity to teach or he will not according to his will. He will open the hearts and minds of the congregation, or he will not, according to his will.

6:4-8

Why It Might Not Be Impossible

Verse 4 begins an explanation of why it might not be possible for this group to move on to maturity. It begins with the conjunction “for”, which in the Greek text is “yap”, pronounced “gar” transliterated into English. I’m not sure why, but the New International Version (NIV) leaves this word out. But it is the “for” that tells you what the writer is trying to explain.

So, why might these people not be able to move on to maturity? The answer is because they are not believers and are demonstrating this by leaving Christ for Judaism. It is apostasy, a firm rejection of salvation through Christ alone.

In verses 4 through 6, he says it is impossible for a certain type of person to be brought back to repentance if they fall away. If we take out the subordinate clauses, we see that it says “it is impossible for those...if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance”. 

So, who are these people? The writer describes them in several ways:

1. those who have been enlightened,
2. those who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
3. those who have tasted the goodness of the word of God, and
4. those who have tasted the powers of the coming age.

This is not four different kinds of people. Rather it is four ways of describing those who will not move forward to maturity. So, who are they? 

There are two main opinions about whose these people are. 

First, some maintain these are Christians who lose their salvation. Second, others maintain the passage refers to those who have been in the church, have professed Christ, but not truly believed. Their unbelief is demonstrated by their falling away.

I do not believe that a believer can lose his salvation, so I do not believe this passage can refer to those who believe but fall from grace. The Bible speaks of the security of the believer. This is the old doctrine of perseverance of the saints. For example, Jesus said he would give eternal life to everyone who believes in the Son of God. (John 3:16) He does not give temporary life and take it away when a person sins. Eternal means forever. 

Jesus told the woman at the well that whoever drinks of his water will never be thirsty again and that water would be a spring of water welling up to eternal life”. (John 4:13-14) He also said “I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29)

John explained it this way: “They went out from us but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out that it might become plain that they are all not of us.” (1 John 2:19) This writer of Hebrews said the same thing in 3:14: we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boating in our hope.

So, if the Bible teaches us that a believer cannot lose his salvation, this passage must apply to someone else. The Holy Spirit does not contradict himself. Given the description, it has to apply to those who have been fully exposed to the gospel, the fellowship, the power of God, and understand it to be true, but walk away from it and refuse to believe or, believing, refuse to follow. They hold Christ up to contempt by rejecting him. 

The example the writer gives helps us to see this is the correct interpretation. In verse 7, he gives a farming analogy. He says land that produces the crop for which it was cultivated receives the blessing from God. In other words, soil that takes a seed and produces a crop receives the blessing. Soil that grows thorns and thistles is worthless and receives a curse. It ends up being burned. Fire is usually a symbol of judgment. This is a symbol of judgment and hell.

Does this story sound familiar? It so, it is because Jesus told the same story. Some people call it the parable of the sower, but it should be called the Parable of the Soils, because that is what it is about. This story is recorded in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-21. In this story, Jesus said a farmer sowed seeds in four different kinds of soil. Only one produced a good crop. One sprang up with plants, but they had no root and withered away, choked by thorns. This is the same group to which the writer of Hebrews refers. 

In every congregation of believers, there are people who stay a long time, enjoy the fellowship, attend, give and seem to be saved. Then, one day they leave and we are shocked. This writer of Hebrews says that those who have experienced all this and walk away, denouncing Christ, cannot come again to repentance. God will not let them hold Christ in contempt. 

I know it is popular in Evangelical life to say God always gives everyone another chance, but this passage refutes that. He may bring a lost person to salvation when it seems impossible, but he will not always continue to call one who knows everything there is to know and still rebels. 

This passage is not written to make you doubt your salvation. If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God who died for your sins and was raised from the dead for your salvation, you are saved. But it is to caution us from believing we can attend church and be saved while maintaing a heart that is hard toward Jesus and unbelieving. And the greatest warning is, those who reject Christ are held accountable.

It is not just about what you say, but what you believe. There are no magic words to recite. There is no requirement that you have a specific memory of what you said the day you committed your life to Christ. What is required is that you believe in Jesus and confess him as Lord. (Romans 10:9-10) That is why Peter tells us to make our calling and election sure. (2 Peter 1:10) Your calling and election is sure if you believe and place your faith in Christ alone for salvation. 

6:9-12

Thinking the best of the Congregation

The writer of Hebrews thought his audience was actually saved. So, in verse 9, he says he feels sure of better things. He means he feels sure they are not abandoning Christ and showing they are not saved. They have worked and loved for Jesus’ name. (10) They have served the saints. 

But, the writer wanted each of them to show this same earnestness and, therefore, have this same assurance of salvation. They should look at those who inherit salvation because of their faith in Christ and patience in waiting for their full inheritance. 

We all need motivation sometimes. He encouraged his people not to be spiritually sluggish. We motivate each other with our fellowship. We motivate each other by teaching God’s word. We motivate each other by joining in worship.

Are you sluggish spiritually? Are you sliding into apathy or sin? Are you thinking of abandoning the faith? Are you tormented with doubt?

The cure for sluggishness is to grow your relationship to Christ. I know you have heard it many times and it may even sound trite to you. But, the cure for sluggishness is to repent of sin, study God’s word and pray often and diligently. Then, it is to serve. Give yourself to Jesus without reservation. That is what it means to believe he is the Son of God. If he really is the Son of God and he died for your sins, you owe him everything and you want to follow him wherever he leads. You love him and rejoice to belong to him. You persevere to the end.

If none of these seem to apply to you, make sure you really are committed to Christ. I do not mean that you go to church, you do not do anything really bad, your family is Christian or that you own a nice, leather Bible. I mean that you believe Jesus is God’s son raised from the dead, you believe he will save you from the penalty of your sins and has given you eternal life.  And you have committed to follow him no matter what. If that is not what your story is, give your life to him today. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God has raised him from the dead. (Romans 10:9-10)