“CHRIST’S PERFECT BLOOD”
“But this
man, after he had
offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,
sat down on the right hand of God … there
remaineth
no more
sacrifice for sins.” (Heb 10:12, 26)
SUMMARY
Paul
writes to the many Hebrews who believed that Jesus Christ was their
promised Messiah. Instead of putting their trust in his shed blood for
their sins,
they were still participating in the Old Testament practice of
animal
blood sacrifices.
Paul tells
them to stop this, move on and believe on the perfect shed
blood of their Messiah for their sins, believing Jesus as their Saviour.
SETTING THE
SCENE
For three
and a half years, Christ the Messiah had healed, fed, demon-delivered
and taught the Jews, such that they believed in him and were
ready to
enthrone him as their King of Israel.
Apart from
the subterfuge, lies, treachery and violence of the scribes
and the Pharisees in putting Christ on the cross, many of the people
retained
their belief about Christ as their Messiah. Furthermore, Paul’s
readers, these Messianics
(Jews believing Christ was still their promised Messiah) had
been helping
Paul in prison and other persecuted Christians.
Just prior
to his beheading in 68AD, Paul writes how the animal blood
sacrifices still being performed by his Messianic friends, counted for
nothing,
having been replaced by Jesus Christ’s once-and-for-all-time
perfect blood.
On the
other side, the Jewish hardliners of scribes and Pharisees,
never believing in Christ, had not moved on from their 1500 year old
beliefs in
the ways, laws and practices of Moses. These Mosaics (Jews
still believing
in Moses) were being particularly zealous in trying to drag the
Messianics back
into their fold from which they had ‘escaped’, by using the practice of
animal
blood as the common denominator between both groups.
FIVE FACTS
1. Paul’s
readers were not Christians
2. Paul’s
readers are not Jews in the
tribulation
3. They
believed Christ was their promised Messiah
4. With
Christ on earth, blood was still needed for sins
5. However,
after the cross, they were still performing
animal
blood sacrifices
PAUL’S
READERS WERE SITTING
ON THE FENCE!
Should they
stay with
animal blood or believe on Christ’s perfect blood?
UNBELIEF
The great
sin of Israel had always been unbelief.
In the desert it was unbelief, when
Christ was on earth it was unbelief,
and now, just before Jerusalem is destroyed in 70AD, it’s still unbelief. It was this sin of unbelief that
so easily beset
them (Heb 12:1) from believing on Christ’s perfect blood.
GOD’S
UNFOLDING ARGUMENT
The main topics covered are angels,
unbelief, Aaron, the doctrine of Christ, perfection,
Melchisedec, Jesus the
Saviour, blood, elders, belief, faith, chastening
and obedience
For the
Jew, angels were like God himself and
Paul establishes the fact that Jesus, although having a better
name than the angels,
was made a little lower in the flesh
to taste death for every man.
He reminds
them of their besetting sin of unbelief, that would harden their hearts, and thus, prevent
them from entering into God’s promised spiritual
rest.
He
explains how Christ replaces Aaron
as the High Priest as being after
the order of Melchisedec. Paul then
urges his readers to leave the principles of
the doctrine of Christ and go on to the
perfection of Jesus.
As blood
(mentioned 19 times in chapters 9-13) was necessary for dealing with
sin, Paul ends
with the perfect blood of Christ.
Paul holds up the history of their faithful
elders as examples to follow regarding their obedience
in following God’s instructions and warning of
dire consequences should they disobey.
He goes on
to outline the chastening they would receive as sons.
Lastly, his advice is to obey people
(like himself Paul), who have presented this word of God to them.
THE EXTREME
URGENCY
It’s
getting ‘late in the day’, it’s 68AD, and the Roman Emperor Titus is
about to
level Jerusalem to the ground, with a 2,000 year Jewish dispersion to
follow.
So
before Paul puts his head under the executioner’s axe, God says “Paul I
want
you to write one last book to the Hebrews, particularly the Messianic
Jews. I want to convince
these timid people about Jesus and his perfect blood.”
So it’s
with the gentle
caution of a loving, kind and patient father, coupled with hope, that
Paul writes
this Epistle. But he does have this in his favour - they like him are
attending Christian worship services. They are willing to listen.
But God
loves the Mosaics just as much and hopes they
will read this epistle and be convinced as well. That’s why Paul writes
to all the descendants of Abraham
–
the Hebrews.
If Paul
was writing to Christians, he would have
simply directed them to his thirteen books for Christians – Romans to
Philemon.
So great
is God’s love for Israel, that he
has Matthew and Hebrews chronologically written to bookend the New
Testament
canon (apart from St John’s Revelation), with Matthew
being written first
around 37AD and Hebrews written last
around 68AD
– about 30 years apart.
CHAPTER
SUMMARIES
All Paul’s
previous
books, Romans to Philemon, have been written prior to this Epistle in
68AD.
Therefore
his Jewish
readers would have access to them and all the scripture verses.
C1 – C2
ANGELS
C1
MADE BETTER
THAN ANGELS
BY NAME
a. GOD’S
SON PURGED OUR SINS (1:3)
b. THE SON
OF GOD MADE BETTER THAN THE ANGELS
(1:4)
c. THE SON
OF GOD BEGOTTEN BY GOD (1:5)
d. THE SON
OF GOD CALLED GOD BY GOD (1:8)
e. THE
EARTH WILL PERISH BUT NOT THE SON OF
GOD (1:12)
1:1
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time
past unto
the fathers by the prophets,
God, who
at sundry times and in divers
manners –
God at separate times and various ways spoke, and mostly it was written
down,
to Israel’s fathers beginning with Abraham, by the prophets, known and
unknown,
of which there are at least sixteen listed in the Old Testament –
Isaiah to
Malachi.
1:2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom (not
through) also he made the worlds;
Hath in
these last days spoken unto us by his
Son, - This
is Christ the Son of man and for about thirty five years (the cross was
in 33AD
and Paul writes around 68AD).
whom he
hath appointed heir of all things, - Yes,
Jesus Christ created the heaven and the earth and all things therein
(Col
1:16-17) and he inherits the whole lot at the end (Rev 19-22). Jesus
Christ as heir
(singular) will inherit everything in the future and he will be the
sole
beneficiary. Of course, those who are in Christ, are also to be
joint-heirs
with him (Rom 8:17).
by whom (not
through) also he made the worlds; -
There
is the physical earth and the
universe and there are also the
worlds with various levels in hell and Abraham’s bosom. In addition,
there is
the world on earth which is the system of man’s government, there is
the 1st,
2nd and 3rd heavens and then there is heaven
itself.
1:3 Who
being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,
and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged
our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Who
being the brightness of his glory, - Jesus is
the brightness of God’s glory (Ez1:28;
10:4; Ps 60:19)). Just as the moon reflects the sun’s glory so the Son of man reflects God’s glory.
The moon
has no light of its own, but only
passes on the light of the sun. Similarly, the Son of Man has no
brightness of
his own but reflects the brightness of God the Father’s glory.
and the
express image of his person, - With a
coffee machine
one can get an ‘expresso’ whereby a
cup of coffee is expressed out of the beans ie ‘ex’ being out of and
‘pressed’.
Although a poor analogy, this may help the reader to understand that
Christ was
‘expressed’ out the oneness of the Godhead where “…the
Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost...” (1John 5:7-8) are
one. There is one God that is the Godhead of three persons – the
Father, the
Word and the Holy Ghost (1 John 5:7-8)
and
upholding all things by the word of his
power, (not
power of his word)
Now there
is the power
of his word – but this is different
as it is the word of his power.
When Jesus
created the heaven and the earth, he spoke and
out of his words came power. That was creation and that was the power of his word (Ecc 8:4; Luke 4:32).
Now,
having created all things he upholds things by his
power by speaking words. This is called the word of his
power. (1Thess 1:5)
CREATION |
Christ
speaks words of power |
The power of his word |
UPHOLDING
CREATION |
Christ
being power speaks words “…
the power of an endless life”
(7:16) Having
created, he upholds all things by his power of having an endless life. |
The word of his power |
when he
had by himself purged our sins, - The
meaning is given in Ezekiel 20:38 when
God says he will ‘take out’ and ‘remove’ certain people.
A purging is not only a complete removing but
a washing of the conscience from guilt and shame and condemnation.
The Old
Testament saints sins were only
covered. A Christians’ sins are taken away completely by the purging of
our
consciences.
sat down
on the right hand of the Majesty on
high: - He
is not “set” at the right hand of God but gets up and down as he wants.
Jesus
does not sit down for ever as some versions say, but will be coming
back to sit
on David’s throne. In Hebrews 10:12 we
see that “...after he had offered one
sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”
The comma
comes after the word “ever” not before the word “sins”.
In the
first verse, Paul gets the Jews
immediate attention by reminding them of their history with God,
their ancestral fathers and the prophets.
Furthermore,
throughout the whole of the thirteen chapters of this epistle, Paul
continues
to remind them of their heritage with over 40
quotes from the Old Testament.
Now in
verses two and three, we have a brilliant and concise outline of the history and future of the universe –
1. Christ
is the creator
2. Christ
is the heir
3. Christ
the express image of God
4. Christ sustains
everything by his power
5. Christ went to the cross
for the sins
of mankind (and Mary wasn’t needed)
6. Christ returned back to
heaven waiting
for God to release him for his 2nd coming.
1:4
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance
obtained a
more excellent name than they.
Being made
so much better than the angels, - Now, why
all this
focus on angels?
Very
simple, Israel’s history was soaked
in angels as they were as close to God as you could get. They appeared
as men,
they talked to men, they demolished armies, they appeared in visions,
they delivered
messages from God, they were to be obeyed and so on. Angels to Jewish
life were
as common as the weather. If they saw an angel, they fell on their face
as if
they were in the presence of God.
as he hath
by inheritance obtained a more excellent
name than they. The Jew is
familiar with the phrase “more excellent”
(Prov 12:26) being used for a righteous man. In this case, Jesus has a more excellent name than the
angels, because he is in God’s family as the Son of God and they aren’t
heirs
or sons. He is a non-created son. The angels are created sons
and are
not family and the next ten verses
explain why as Paul authenticates Christ’s inheritance as more
excellent name
with quotes from the Old Testament.
1:5
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my
Son, this
day have I begotten thee? (Ps 2:7)
Answer?
He didn’t. Angels are created. Only Jesus is begotten. He is the only begotten.
And again,
I will be to him a Father, and he
shall be to me a Son? (2 Sam
7:14)
Stating
a fact. Angels never had God the Father as their father – only Jesus
did.
1:6
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world,
he
saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Ps 148:2)
Yes
Jesus is begotten not created. The angels worshipped him and still do -
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye
him, all his hosts. Ps 104:4
Also
he is the only begotten of the
Father (John 3:16).
1:7
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and
his
ministers a flame of fire. (Ps 104:4)
And of
the angels he saith, WHO MAKETH HIS ANGELS SPIRITS, -
Angels are
created spirits made by Jesus
(John 1:3).
AND HIS
MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE. - Fire
indicates judgment in the Bible. His
ministers (Heb 1:14) both herald good news and bring forth judgment.
There are
examples of the angels as ministers of fire in the Book of Revelation
with
their missions.
Now if angels are to
be feared, then how much more Jesus, who is to be worshipped by the
angels.
1:8
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and
ever: a
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Ps 110:1)
But
unto the Son he saith, - This is a
reference to Psalm 45:6-7 where God is talking
to Jesus.
THY
THRONE, - A
throne is a sign of authority and sitting on it denotes power and
authority. This is the throne of David and it is, and
will be, an earthly one (1Kings 2:45). Jesus also has a throne
in heaven
where he now sits (Heb 10:12).
O GOD,
- God
the Father calls God the Son by the name of God.
IS FOR
EVER AND EVER: - David’s
throne (Jewish) is established for all eternity
to come on earth..
A
SCEPTRE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTRE OF THY KINGDOM. –A sceptre
is a rod or
staff used by kings and rulers as a show of their power and authority.
In the
book of Esther, we see the king using
‘the golden sceptre’ (Esth 4:11; 5:2 and 8:4) demonstrating his
position of
both wrath and power. King Ahasuerus is a type of God the Father, with
his
sceptre symbolizing Jesus. The sceptre must be kissed to avoid the
king’s
wrath. Truly, kiss the Son lest he be angry (Psalm 2:12).
When
Christ finally rules and reigns in the
1000 years after the seven years of Tribulation on earth, the display
of his
kingdom and rule will indicate to the world that he is the sceptre of
righteousness. Numbers 24:17.
1:9
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore
God, even
thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
(Psalm 45:7)
THOU
HAST LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS, -
Jehovah God is righteous (Ezra 9:15) and Jesus is
Jehovah (Rev 1:17-18, Is 44:6) so therefore it follows that not only is
Jesus
righteous but he also loves righteousness.
AND HATED INIQUITY; - If God is
light and there is
no darkness in him (1John1:5) then the same applies to Jesus for he is
God. It
naturally follows that righteousness will have nothing to do with
iniquity and
indeed hates it.
THEREFORE
GOD, EVEN THY GOD, - Jesus
is called God by God himself. Isaiah 44:8 and 46:9
says that there is only one God and so we are left in no doubt that
Jesus is
God.
HATH
ANOINTED THEE WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS -
oil
is a
symbol of the Holy Spirit. See Aaron in Psalm 133. In Leviticus 8:6
we have
the water and Leviticus 8:12 we have the oil representing the Holy
Ghost. Jesus
has taken over the role of the high priest. (Matt 3:16).
ABOVE
THY FELLOWS. - In
Zechariah 3:8 we find that the high priests (eg Aaron)
were called fellows along with the Levite priests. Here, God states the
fact
that Jesus is superior to them. (Ps 45:7)
1:10
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of
the earth;
and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
And,
THOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING – Jesus is
referred
to as Lord. The
following is reference to Psalm 102:25-27.
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the
earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure:
yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou
change
them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall
have no end. Ps 102:25-27
Also in
Genesis 1:1 we see that Jesus is in
the beginning.
HAST
LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH; - This is
not the
world but the physical earth as mentioned in Hebrews
1:2.
THE
HEAVENS –
The heavens are physical things.
ARE THE
WORKS OF THINE HANDS: - Jesus
creates the world and all things contained therein (Job
38:4-6 and John 1:3 and Col 1:16).
1:11
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax
old as
doth a garment;
THEY
SHALL PERISH; - This
quote comes from Psalm 102:25-26. Further testimony to this fact is
found in 2
Peter 3:10,12. Yes, burned with fire.
BUT
THOU REMAINEST;
- Jesus Christ not only remains forever but his government increases
for ever.
(Is 9:6-7).
AND
THEY ALL SHALL WAX OLD AS DOTH A GARMENT; - The 2nd
Law of
Thermodynamics confirms the fact that clothes, cars, land, the sun and
bodies
all decay and fall apart. Everything physical eventually disappears.
However, opposite
to that, the Jews knew well of God’s preserving power in the desert
(Deut 8:4, Deu 29:5).
1:12
And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be
changed: but
thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Ps
102:25-27)
AND AS
A VESTURE SHALT THOU FOLD THEM UP, AND THEY SHALL BE CHANGED: - A vesture
is a form of clothing. Jesus will treat his creation in a
manner as one would roll up a suit of clothes (2 Pet
3:10). The physical creation
will be changed after the Millennial reign. It will be burnt up and
replaced.
It will be
still a ‘physical’ one but a
different physical like Jesus when he walked through the walls. He was
flesh
but a different flesh. (John 20).
BUT
THOU ART THE SAME, –
God, who is Jesus Christ, will stay the same forever. This fact is
introduced
here and reinforced later (Heb 13:8).
The
physical will change but God won’t. God
is Spirit and Jesus is Spirit and spirit does not decay. Now those who
are
saved have outside bodies which will decay but their soul will live
forever,
being in Christ’s body (1Cor 12:13).
AND THY
YEARS SHALL NOT FAIL.
Thy fellows’ years (the Levite priests) had short lives with numbered
days but
you Jesus will live forever.
1:13
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right
hand,
until I make thine enemies thy footstool? (Ps 110:1)
But
to which of the angels said he at any
time, - A
serious but rhetorical question not requiring the
obvious answer of “None!”
SIT
ON MY RIGHT HAND, This refers to Psalm 110:1. God’s
favoured hand is the right and is mentioned five times in Hebrews. The
phrases
“the righteousness of God”, “right standing with God” and “get right
with God”
all have meaning. Blessings were passed
down through the right hand (Ex 48:13-17). This is why left handed
people were
burned at the stake in the Middle Ages supposedly for being cursed of
the
devil. In Matthew 25:33, the left hand represents the goats.
UNTIL
I MAKE THINE ENEMIES THY FOOTSTOOL?
- Have his enemies been made his footstool yet? No, but
they will when Jesus reigns for 1000 years in the Millennial reign.
Death is
the last enemy to be destroyed. (1Cor 15:26).
1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for
them
who shall be heirs of salvation?
Are they
not all ministering spirits, sent
forth to minister
And
here the position of angels is made crystal clear in that they will
administer
as directed. Angels are sent to
minister and carry messages (Revelation 2:1), become guardians (Matthew
18:10),
strengthen (Luke 22:43) and simply be present (Acts 27:23)
Do we
need angels to minister to us today? No. We are in Christ. Paul’s
readers
weren’t. That is why he refers to them as future heirs of salvation
for
them who shall be heirs of salvation? – For
those that will be saved and heirs of salvation.
Do Christians
today need angels as ministering spirits? No, being in Christ’s body is
all the
protection that a Christian needs and this takes the place of
ministering
angels.
C2
BUT CHRIST,
IN THE
FLESH, WAS MADE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS
b. THE
ANGELS RULE THE WORLD TO COME (2:5)
c. JESUS
DESTROYS THE DEVIL’S POWER OF DEATH (2:14)
d. JESUS
TAKES ON HIM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM (2:16)
2:1
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the
things
which we have heard, lest at any time we should let
them slip.
Therefore we
ought to give the more
earnest heed
“We”? Yes, although Paul is a Christian,
he has the right to say “we” as a fellow Jew, and so he calls them
brethren
(3:1, 12), to encourage these timid unsaved Messiah believing Jews to
salvation,
in letting them know they are not alone, with Paul being there to help
them. Paul
uses the words “we” in 36 verses and “us” in 26 verses. Similar to a
man
addressing a crowd “We need need to move forward to a greater future by
…”
“Earnest” is a
Pauline word
mentioned eight times by him and no-one else in the Bible.
When
addressing Christians, Paul talks of the
“earnest of the Spirit” (1Cor 1:22; 2Cor 5:5) which is the permanent
indwelling
Holy Ghost. In the Hebrews epistle he is
hoping that his readers will do likewise by believing that Jesus is the
Saviour
and not just Christ as the Messiah.
to the
things which we have heard, – These
have been
heard and spoken to us by the prophets (1:1) and the Son (1:2) and God
himself
(1:8-10,13).
lest at
any time we should let them slip.
The Jew
was very
familiar with the terms of ‘slipping’ and ‘sliding’ which meant no
recovery as
in the case of heifers when they slide.
For Israel
slideth back as a backsliding heifer:
now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Hosea
4:16
Why then
is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?
they hold
fast deceit, they refuse to return. Jeremiah
8:5
2:2 For
if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
For
if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, They knew
that disobedience to angels
was disobedience to God and this sin would earn them suitable
punishment. The
word ‘stedfast’ means immoveable.
and every
transgression and disobedience – sins
received a
just recompence of reward; – ‘Recompence’
means
that it is a something that has been worked for. They earned it. The
Jew was
very familiar with penalty and reward from the Lord (Num 5:7-8).
This is
not just the ‘consequences’ which is
watered down word and a neutral word. A recompence is given as reward
for evil
works and unbelieving minds – people have actively pursued these things
and God
gives them their ‘just desserts’.
2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at
the
first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them
that
heard him;
How shall
we escape, - We
won’t. A
rhetorical question needing no answer – there will be no escape. Even
if they
hadn’t been with the Lord when he spoke these things with his
accompanying
signs and wonders, the disciples and the apostles were, and gave their
confirmation as to the truth of what Christ said.
if we
neglect so great salvation; – Why
wouldn’t God
have said ‘So great a salvation?’ In
Hebrews 1:14, it says ‘who shall be heirs of salvation’ and not heirs
of a
salvation. Therefore if we be ‘heirs of salvation’, let’s not neglect
so great
salvation. (Heb 10:31). Furthermore, to say “a salvation” would imply
there are
other salvations.
which at
the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, –
Jesus Christ on earth first spoke to the Jews about the kingdom of
heaven (Matt
4:17) and then about of the kingdom of God (Matt 6:33, 19:24).
and was
confirmed unto us by them that heard
him; - These
were the disciples, the thriteen apostles and others. However,
Paul’s
knowledge of Jesus Christ came from direct revelation (Gal 1:11,12; 2
Cor
12:1-7;) not flesh and blood (Gal 1:16).
2:4
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and
with
divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
God also
bearing them witness, – God also
provided
evidence to support the words spoken by the Lord and confirmed by
others.
both with
signs and wonders, – ‘Signs’
is a Jewish
term as evidenced in 1Corinthians 1:22; Luke 2:34 and John 2:18.
with
divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy
Ghost, –
the apostolic sign gifts of 2Corinthians 12:12. These were sign gifts
to Israel
(1 Cor 14:22).
according
to his own will? – This is
God’s
will. The question mark here refers back to the question being
asked
from the previous verse.
We should
always pray Gods’ will (Jam 4:15;
Acts 18:21; 21:14; 1 John 5:14; Phil 4:6; Rom 8:27; Gal 1:4; Rom
1:10).There is
only one will of God. There is no ‘permissive’ will as this is a made
up
term. No, there is only long-suffering
by the Lord. Christians use the words ‘direct’ and ‘permissive’ will as
a
sinful excuse to do what they want. “I know that I’m not doing his
direct will,
but he is giving me permission to do this anyhow because I’m in his
permissive
will.” No, God is only being longsuffering to you.
2:5
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to
come,
whereof we speak.
When
we read the Book of Revelation, the world to come, with over 70
mentions of angels,
we can see how the coming world of the seven year tribulation will be
made subject
to them.
2:6 But
one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art
mindful of
him? or the son of man (this is
human man and not Jesus Christ the Son of Man) that thou
visitest him?
But one in
a certain place testified, saying,
– This
the Old Testament reference of Psalm 8:4-6. An angel said at a certain
place in
the Old Testament scriptures.
WHAT IS
MAN, THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM? – This
refers to just
ordinary men.
OR THE SON
OF MAN THAT THOU VISITEST HIM? – The son
of man
is just ordinary men not the Son of man which is Jesus. See Job
7:17-18.
2:7
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst
him with
glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
THOU
MADEST HIM – man was created and made. He gave Adam
authority over all in the garden of Eden.
A
LITTLE
LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; – Adam
was physical and the angels are spirits and therefore flesh is
‘inferior’
or lower to spirit.
THOU
CROWNEDST HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOUR, – Adam
was called the son of God (Luke 3:38)
DIDST SET
HIM OVER THE WORKS OF THY HANDS: – Adam had
the original commission (Gen 1:28). Adam was
placed over creation while the angels have been given the subjection of
the
world to come (Heb 2:5; Ps 8:6; Ps 92:4; Heb 2:7)
2:8
Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in
that he
put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under
him. (Ps 8:4-6)
But now we see not yet all things put under
him.
Yes,
man is still subject to death and the following ten verses explain how
Christ
has tasted death for every man but he rose again thereby defeating
death.
THOU
HAST PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. – God
gave Adam
the earth to subdue (Genesis 1:28). Psalm 8:4-6
For in
that he put all in subjection under
him, he left nothing that is not put under him. – the earth,
the fish
the fowl and every living thing
But now we
see not yet all things put
under him. – Death
is not yet put under man (1Cor 15:26. Eph 1:22). When Adam sinned, this
interrupted the original commission given to him. Adam was now subject
to the power
of death that Satan has over him.
2:9 But
we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of
death,
But
the exception is Jesus, he made himself in the form of a flesh servant.
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Phil 2:7)
2:10
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all
things,
in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their
salvation
perfect through sufferings.
For
it became him, – It
was fitting that he should become
for
whom are all things, – All
things are for Jesus who will eventually rule in the
Millennial reign here on earth. All things will be his footstool
and
by whom are all things, – All
things were made by
Jesus – not through him (John 1:3,10; Col 1:16)
in
bringing many sons unto glory, – Those who
are saved
will be brought unto glory “…and whom he
justified, them he also glorified.” (Rom 8:30)
to make
the captain of their salvation – Jesus
Christ is the
captain to those who are saved. A captain is some-one in charge. He’s
the
leader. The Jew is familiar with this terminology as they knew that God
was
their captain. (2Chron 13:12).
perfect
through sufferings. – Christ was
born
sinless and never sinned but became perfect through obedience in spite
of the
suffering (Heb 5:8). In carrying out the Father’s will perfectly,
(Hebrews
10:7,9) he proved his perfection. He was perfect when born, perfect
when ten
years old, perfect when a young man and so on. There was never a time
when he
wasn’t perfect.
And
being made perfect, Christ is the author of eternal salvation to those
that
would obey him (Heb 5:9)
Yes,
Jesus is the captain, not Joshua, of their entering into rest (Heb 4:8;
12:2;
13:8)
2:11
For both he that sanctifieth (Christ) and
they who are sanctified (those who are saved) are all
of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them
brethren,
Correct.
Those who are saved are Christ – ians (Christ
– I Am Nothing). We are in Christ and
he in us the hope of glory (Col
1:27). Yes, we are brothers and sons of Christ. Paul supports this with
the
following Old Testament scriptures.
For both
he that sanctifieth - Jesus
Christ was the
one who was able to sanctify which means to set apart (1 Cor 1:2)
and they
who are sanctified are all of one: -
The
Jews were sanctified under Moses (Ex 19:14)
for which
cause – because of
the above
he is not
ashamed to call them brethren, – Jesus was
by birth a
Jew like his fellow Jewish brothers and so he could call them brothers
because
of their being of the same race. He is our sanctification (1 Cor 6:11;
1 Cor
1:30).
2:12
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst
of the
church will I sing praise unto thee. (Ps 22:22;
Is 8:17-18)
This is
David speaking about the congregation
in the desert (Ps 22:22). In Acts 7:38 the word ‘church’ is also used
for
Israel in the desert. Hence, the word church is not exclusively a
Christian
term.
And if he
shall
neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to
hear the church, let him be unto thee as a
heathen man and a publican. Matt 18:17
2:13
And again, I will put my trust in him. (2 Sam
22:3) And again, Behold I and the children which
God hath given me. (Is 8:18).
WILL PUT
MY TRUST IN HIM. – trust in
God the
father (2 Sam 22:3)
And
again, BEHOLD I
– Jesus
AND
THE
CHILDREN WHICH GOD HATH GIVEN ME. –
The children that God gave Jesus were
Israel (Is 8:18). Isaiah was also to guide them for God’s glory as
well.
2:14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also
himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him
that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Forasmuch
– ‘for
as much as has been said’ or ‘in as much’
then as
the children – Israel and
the Gentiles
are
partakers of flesh and blood, – are human
flesh and
blood.
he also
himself likewise took part of the
same; – Jesus
also took on the human form of flesh and blood
that
through death – Jesus died
he might
destroy him – Satan
that
had the power of death, that is, the devil;
- “How
can the devil have the power of death?” you ask. The devil’s power of death is not the ability to kill
anyone anytime he wants to. No, but God can as he has the power over death.
Because
Adam and Eve sinned they eventually physically died. As we are born
sinners,
thanks to them, we will eventually
succumb to death be it in 2 minutes time, 2 years or seventy years.
However, by
defeating the devil at the cross, Christ ensured that we live forever.
The
power of death is simply the power to get people to sin and as a result
will
eventually die.
2:15 And deliver
them who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
And
deliver them – Jew and
Gentile alike
who
through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage. – Before
Jesus came, the Jew was in bondage
and were afraid of dying. They didn’t know whether God would accept
them or not
eg David was scared of losing the Holy Spirit (Psalm 51:11). They never
had
security of salvation. Saul lost the Holy Spirit and Samson had it come
and go
and come again. This is called the bondage of the fear of death. Today
many
fear death as they are not saved. Many funerals are just a dreadful and
mournful affairs with the relatives and friends crossing their fingers
and
hoping their dearly beloved will somehow make it to heaven.
2:16
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took
on him
the seed of Abraham.
For verily
= truly and
without a lie
he took
not on him the nature of angels; – Jesus
became flesh.
The nature of angels is spirit (Heb 1:7).
he took on
him the seed of Abraham. – This seed
is a flesh seed Now to Abraham and his seed
were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as
of one,
And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Gal
3:16).
Angels
were created, but Christ, although not being created, went one level
lower than
the angels and became flesh.
2:17
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his
brethren, (Yes, Christ became a Jew and therefore a
brother to them, being in the same race) that
he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, (Christ replaced Aaron as the
high
priest) to make reconciliation for the
sins of the people. (Christ’s blood makes for reconciliation)
to be made
like unto his brethren, – Jesus was
born a Jew and called the Jews his
brothers
that he
might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, – the high
priest was responsible for showing
the blood of the slain animal to God. Jesus’
priesthood replaces that of Aaron (Matt
3 :16).
to make
reconciliation for the sins of the
people. – Just
as Aaron showed the blood to God for atonement and reconciliation,
Jesus showed
the blood but in his case, it was his own. See Hebrews 1:3 where he
“purged our
sins by himself” and there is only one mediator (1 Tim 2:5; Gal 3:19).
2:18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able
to
succour them that are tempted.
For in
that he himself hath suffered being
tempted, – Jesus
was tempted for forty days and nights in the desert and tested
right up
to the cross.
he is able
to succour them – Jesus is
able to
care for them (2 Sam 18:3)
that are
tempted. – God
through Paul is
saying that Jesus can care for and provide for them.
C3 – C4
UNBELIEF
Ch 3
HARDEN NOT
HEARTS
a. CHRIST
JESUS,
HAVING BUILT THE HOUSE THAT MOSES LIVED IN,
IS WORTHY OF MORE HONOUR THAN HIM
(3:3)
b. THE
HEBREWS CAN
ALSO BE OF CHRIST’S HOUSE IF THEY
HOLDFAST THEIR CONFIDENCE TO THE
END (3:14)
c. BUT
UNBELIEF
WILL STOP THEM ENTERING INTO THE REST OF JESUS AS THE SAVIOUR
(3:12, 18, 19)
3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,
consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
The Jews
were called holy (Ex 19:6) and Paul
calls them holy in that they are a set apart people. He is not calling
them
saved or saints though. He also calls them brethren as both he and they
are
Jews. They are brothers in the flesh
They
were partakers but not saved. Since
Abraham their father, they had taken part in the things of God for over
1900
years. They were ‘part – takers’ not ‘full – takers’.
Christ
had taken over the high priest role being immersed in water and the
‘dove’ oil
of the Holy Ghost (Matt 3:16). Aaron only had water and oil poured on
him (Lev
8:6, 12).
Wherefore,
holy brethren – Holy means
consecrated
The Jews
were called holy (Ex 19:6) and Paul
calls them holy in that they are a set apart people.
He also
calls them brethren as both he and
they are Jews. They are brothers in the flesh
partakers
of the heavenly calling, – They have
been
partakers of God’s calling from heaven since God said to Abraham “…Get thee out of thy country...” (Gen
12:3). They are God’s chosen people and called to be part of his plan.
consider
the Apostle – The signs
of
an apostle were signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds (2 Cor 12:12). Now
Jesus
is the ‘chief’ apostle, the Apostle, as he was a man approved of God
with
miracles, signs and wonders (Acts 2:22).
and High
Priest – Aaron and
his sons
were a high priests (small letters),
anointed with oil and washed with water to
signify their office (Lev 8:6,12). But Jesus replaced Aaron as high
priest, and
became the High Priest (capitals
which showed deity) when he also was anointed with
oil and washed with water, with the descending dove representing the
former
(Matt 3:16).
of our
profession, Christ Jesus; – The Jews
were finding
it hard to believe that they should have the same profession as Paul
about
Jesus Christ.
On the
surface, Paul seems to making a statement
about his profession of faith which was not necessarily the same as the
one
held by the Jews to whom he was writing. But if they will stop and
think, they
should be and are the same. For Jesus said “For
had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
But if ye
believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John
5:46-47).
With these words he challenges them about their belief in Moses and his
writings, being the first five books of the Old Testament
(Genesis to Deuteronomy).
In these
books are revealed that Jesus Christ
would be the Messiah. Furthermore, it is prophesied that they would
reject him
and he would be the Saviour to the world (Gen 18:18; 22:18; 26:4)
He uses
the royal “we” = as a brother to the
Jews, he can call himself “we”. He calls Jesus Christ and the Jews as
one in a
previous verse in 2:11.
For
both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one:
for which
cause he is not ashamed to call them
brethren,
therefore Paul can call them brethren as well in using “we”.
3:2 Who
was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in
all his
house.
Who was
faithful to him - Jesus
fulfilled his
Father’s will at all times (Matt 26:39) and is called the faithful and
true
witness (Rev 1:5; 3:14; 10:11)
that
appointed him, – God
appointed Jesus
(Luke 22:29).
as also
Moses – as well as
Moses (2Ch 33:8; Acts 7:44)
was
faithful in all his house. – When
Miriam and Aaron
spoke against Moses, she received the leprosy from God who says that
Moses “…is faithful in all mine house.” (Num
12:7). In coming against Moses, she received a rebuke from the Lord as
he shows
his favour toward Moses (Num 12:8). For those wanting to be faithful to
God, it
is necessary to be meek (Num 12:3).
3:3 For this man
was counted worthy of more glory
than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour
than the
house.
For this
man – Jesus
Christ
was
counted worthy of more glory than Moses,
- Counting
is an exact art eg the number
two is not three and four is not nine. Now if man is careful in
numbers, so
much the more is God. So when God says that he counted Jesus worthy of
more
glory, then the Jews had better believe it.
inasmuch
he who hath builded the house hath
more honour than the house. – A house
which is builded is a phrase which
the Jew would be familiar with - “…as do
thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have
builded, is called by thy name.” (1 Kings 8:43). Today this may be
the case
with a particular builder or architect of a famous landmark or
building. Long
after he is dead and long forgotten, the glory of the building is
looked at and
admired.
Similarly,
God says that Jesus Christ is the
builder of Israel but has been forgotten. This echoes the passage in
Romans
1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a
lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,..”.
The
Creator is more worthy than the creation. So, the builder of the house,
Jesus,
is more worthy of more honour and glory than the house.
3:4 For
every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
For every
house is builded by some man; – A building
or house
just doesn’t suddenly appear of its own accord. It reminds us of the
story of
two men who are shipwrecked on a desert island and seemed doomed. They
find a
ticking watch in the sand and one of them, a creationist, yells “Praise
God! A
watch! There are other people on this island. The other, an
evolutionist, says
unimpressed “Let’s not jump to conclusions, the watch might have just
evolved
itself in the sand.” Everything in creation was made by the Creator and
his
name is Jesus (Gen 1:1; John 1:3,10;
Col 1:16).
In this
case, the house is the house of Israel
(Ex 40:38).
but he
that built all things is God. – Jesus
built them as
he is the Creator (John 1:3,10). Paul is proving that Jesus is God.
3:5 And
Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a
testimony of
those things which were to be spoken after;
And Moses
verily was faithful in all his
house, as a servant, – A servant
carries out his master’s wishes and
commands (Ex 14:31; Josh 11:15).
for a
testimony of those things which were to
be spoken after; –
What were
these things that would be spoken
about later? They were the Rock, the Manna, the cloud, the pillar of
fire, the
red heifer, the Passover lamb, the shewbread, the ark, the budded rod,
the
tables of stone, circumcision and the list goes on. These were types,
patterns
and foreshadows of the real man Jesus Christ. Moses was faithful in
carrying
out the commands of the Lord with respect to ritual and ceremony.
3:6 But
Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast
the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
But Christ
as a son over his own house; Although
Christ is
the son of his house, it is still his house. “…That the
heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a
servant, though he be lord of all;” (Gal 4:1). He is the son and he
is the
house.
whose
house are we, if we hold fast– The Jew
will be part
of Christ house if they hold fast, which means not to let go. They
thought that
they were part of his house when he was alive and they were! But now
they are
not.
Hold fast
is not a work! It is to hold fast
to the confidence and believe. (Eph
2:8-9)
As Job
said My righteousness I hold fast,
and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I
live.
Job 27:6 6
the
confidence – This
word is
mentioned in several places (Heb 3:6; 3:14; 10:35). A good
understanding of
what Paul is referring to is to be found in the following scriptures.
The Lord
God is the confidence of Israel.
By
terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our
salvation;
who art the confidence of all the
ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea: (Psalm
65:5)
Israel had
shifted its confidence to Egypt
but it (Egypt) “…shall be no more the confidence
of the house of Israel, which
bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after
them: but
they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 29:16)
and the
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the
end. – The
end here is “the end” that finishes as Jesus the Saviour.
What is
the ‘hope’ that the Jews have that
would justify ‘rejoicing’? Jeremiah says the hope of Israel is the
Saviour (Jer
14:8). Joel states that the LORD will be the hope of his people (Joel
3:16).
Paul says in Acts “And now I stand and am
judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:”
(Acts
26:6) and “Christ in you the hope of
glory;” (Col 1:27)
Therefore
if Israel will have a confidence
and rejoice of the hope in the Lord God, and hold fast to this and take
it to
its conclusion, they will too find themselves in the house not only of
Christ’s
house as the Messiah (2Cor 3:13-16 and 1Pet1:9) but the house of Jesus
the
Saviour.
‘The end’
being the end resulting in their
salvation.
3:7
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his
voice,
This
is a reference to Psalm 95:7-11 where Israel were reminded of their
rebellion
and provoking the Lord God to anger (Judges 2:12).
The
reference to “To day” is familiar phrase for
the Jew with God always saying to them that today is the day to believe
that
not only is Christ the Messiah but also their Saviour.
3:8
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of
temptation
in the wilderness:
HARDEN NOT
YOUR HEARTS, – Israel
hardened their
hearts against God. Israel are familiar with God addressing their hard
hearts
(Deut 15:7; 1Sam 6:6; Ps 95:8)
And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he
hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
And the
LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let
the
people go.
Ex 7:13-14
They were
familiar with hearts being hardened
as with Pharaoh above.
AS IN THE
PROVOCATION, – They
provoked God in
the desert Psalm 95:8. Everyone at one time or another has either
wittingly or
unwittingly provoked another person to anger and this is what the Jew
did
toward God in the wilderness. Their five major sins of lust, idolatry,
fornication, tempting Christ and murmuring are outlined (1Cor 10:6-10).
IN THE DAY
OF TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS: – The
Jews tempted
Christ in their wanderings in the desert for forty years after they
left Egypt
(1 Cor 10:9). To phrase to ‘tempt Christ’ is explained as follows “…because they tempted the LORD,
saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” (Ex 17:7). Israel were
guilty of
doubting and questioning whether the Lord was with them or not.
3:9
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty
years.
WHEN YOUR
FATHERS – These were
the elders
of the tribes of Israel
TEMPTED ME,
- Paul
says that they tempted Christ. God says they tempted him. Who’s right?
They
both are – God is Christ and Christ is God (1 Cor 10:9; Deut 1:26).
To phrase
to ‘tempt Christ’ is explained as
follows “…because they tempted the
LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” (Ex 17:7).
PROVED
ME, – God
passed their tests and
proved himself to them by providing for them.
SAW MY
WORKS FORTY YEARS. – God’s
works were
Manna, quail, water from the Rock, the pillar of fire, the cloud,
clothes not
wearing out and so on. This generation in the desert saw more miracles
than any
other nation at any other time. They were trying God and rebelling
against him.
God worked for them for forty years and produced his works for them. It
may not
have been what they wanted, but God knew best and gave them just
recompence for
their actions.
Paul is
reminding the Hebrews of their past
behaviour in the desert because they are guilty of repeating it with
their
unbelief at the time of his writing this epistle.
3:10
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do
alway
err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
WHEREFORE
I WAS GRIEVED WITH THAT GENERATION,
- God
experienced deep acute sorrow and distress and that’s why he wouldn’t
let those
over 20 years of age cross over Jordan (Num 14:29).
AND SAID,
THEY DO ALWAY ERR IN THEIR HEART; –
They
didn’t have the right heart attitude to God then, as well as now.
“Alway” means
‘all the time’ while “always” has the meaning of ‘all the ways’
AND
THEY – Israel
in the desert
HAVE
NOT
KNOWN MY WAYS.
– ‘To know’ means to take it to heart and not just perform lip
service. The
scriptures give further meaning to knowing a person physically (1Kings
1:4).
God was
very specific in letting them know
about his way and ways but they chose not to follow him or them. They
knew of
his ways in their heads but not in their hearts. “And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me,
ye that work iniquity.” (Matt 7:23).
3:11 So
I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) (Ps
95:7-11).
SO I SWARE
IN MY WRATH, – This comes
from Psalm
95:11 where God promised and made a vow
in his wrath. This does not mean it is a swear word like today. There
is a time
of God’s wrath coming upon the earth called Jacob’s Tribulation and it
will be
God’s wrath being poured out on the earth. It’s a dreadful thing for
God to
sware in his wrath because when he does then people will suffer.
THEY – Israel
SHALL NOT
ENTER INTO MY REST.) – God is not
talking of
spiritual rest here but the physical rest to be had in Canaan. However
the same
situation applies to the spiritual rest. Because of unbelief they will
not
enter into his spiritual rest.
3:12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart
of
unbelief, in departing from the living God.
lest there
be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Unlike
a Christian today with eternal security, who may leave God, he can
never depart
from God. As Paul’s readers, the Messianic Jew was not saved, if he
departed
from God, that was it! They would go to hell.
Take heed,
brethren, – It means
‘be
diligent, watchful, alert and don’t forget’. Paul being a Hebrew calls
them
brethren due to the fact that they are literal Hebrews (not brethren in
Christ).
That’s why
he can address them as “we”
throughout Hebrews.
lest there
be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, – like
that displayed by your fathers and ancestors in the desert. These are
strong
words indeed – unbelief comes from an evil heart.
in
departing from the living God. – Once again
the Jew
knows about departing from God because of their unbelief. But here, God
stresses the point that he is not just God but ‘the living God’ to
emphasize
that he is alive and well and had taken the form of Jesus Christ who is
also
God and therefore still living as well.
3:13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest
any of you
be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
This a
quote from
the Old Testament where God reminded them of their unbelief in the
desert.
7 For he is
our God; and we are
the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To
day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart,
as in the provocation, and as in the
day of temptation in the wilderness:
9When your fathers
tempted me,
proved me, and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with this
generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not
known my ways: 11 Unto
whom I sware
in my wrath that they should not enter
into my rest. Psalm 95:7-11
3:14
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of
our
confidence stedfast unto the end;
Paul
says “Don’t be like those, but be like us Christians. You can have
Christ as
Saviour if you will be confident and resolute to the end.”
For we – fellow
Hebrews
are made
partakers of Christ, – this is
the baptism
into the one body of Jesus Christ that we have now – this being saved
by grace
through faith alone in the church age. Paul says that they can move on
from
being part time partakers to full time permanent possessors.
Now they
thought they were partakers of
Christ by being Messiancs but here Paul changes the meaning of the word
to say
“There’s more” ie “You were but not now!’ Yes, they were part – takers
or
takers in part.
if we - fellow
Hebrews
hold the
beginning of our confidence – God is
their
confidence (See the comments of Hebrews 3:6) Paul says to hold
onto the
beginning of their confidence in the God of their salvation. They are
the
illuminated in Christ by believing him to be the Messiah but they need
to
follow this to the end and have him as Jesus the Saviour.
stedfast
unto the end; - They will
have to
hold out this belief to the end. Now is belief a work? NO!. Romans 4:5
says so!
“But to him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted
for
righteousness.” Belief is not a work.
This end
is in Jesus Christ himself and not the
end of the tribulation.
3:15
While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your
hearts, as in the provocation.
While it
is said, TO DAY – A
reference to Psalm
95:7,8 and mentioned in Hebrews Hebrews 3:7,13,15 Heb 4:7 (twice) and
refers to the
Old Testament times as well as to the time that Paul writes to the
Hebrews.
IF
– There
is always this condition
YE
- You
Hebrews
WILL – This is
the key word
here. Like today anyone can be saved if they will believe on
the shed
blood (the blood that was shed by Jesus on the cross and not the
pretend
‘blood’ of the Roman Catholic mass) that they have Lord Jesus Christ
and
nothing else. It has to with the will.
HEAR HIS
VOICE – hear the
voice of God
who is Jesus Christ
HARDEN NOT
YOUR HEARTS – Don’t be
hard
hearted, stiff necked or lukewarm.
AS
IN THE
PROVOCATION.
– As you Hebrews did for forty years in
the desert when you provoked God.
1 Kings
15:30 = Jeroboam provoked the Lord
with his provocation.
“Because
of the sins of Jeroboam which he
sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he
provoked
the LORD God of Israel to anger.”
3:16
For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that
came
out of Egypt by Moses (Correct!
All those over twenty years old were slain).
For
some,
– Some of the Jews in the desert
when
they had heard, did provoke: – They
provoked God to anger and he slays them in the desert. Another example
occurs
when Israel provokes the Lord to anger and he slays the house of
Jeroboam
(1Kings 15:30).
howbeit
–
however
it may be
not
all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
– As mentioned “some …
did provoke” but those under twenty years of age were not held
accountable (Num
14:29). Some made it to the rest of the promised land.
3:17
But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them
that had
sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
But with
whom was he grieved forty years? – God is
about to tell
us.
was it not
with them that had sinned, – These were
those who
provoked from the previous verse (Num 14:29). Their sin was lust,
idolatry,
fornication, murmuring and tempting Christ (2 Cor 10:6-10)
whose
carcases – This is
the flesh
body. Cases that carry the flesh ie car-ry cases.
fell in
the wilderness? – They fell
down in the
desert and died and got burned up like briars and thorns (Heb 6:8).
3:18
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest,
but to
them that believed not?
sware
he
that – God
made a vow, an oath – not a swear word
like today. As in a court of law “Do you swear on the Bible” and so on.
they
should
not enter into his rest, - This
was the physical rest of arriving in the land of
Canaan.
but
to them
that believed not? – Those
who murmured with unbelief. Murmuring
happens when you don’t think that God knows what is best for you. It
comes from
an evil heart of unbelief (Heb 3:12).
3:19 So
we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
(Yes,
unbelievers didn’t get into the promised land of Canaan)
The above
five verses are an explanation of the Old Testament quote given prior
in 3:13.
(Ps 95:7-11)
Ch 4
UNBELIEVERS
WILL NOT
ENTER HIS REST
Physically
they
didn’t get into the land then, and now, spiritually, unbelievers won’t
either
4:1
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering
into
his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
As
mentioned previously, the “we” (Heb 2:10) and here, the “us”, is Paul
identifying
with his fellow Jew, as he calls them ‘brethren’ (Heb 3:1,12) in letting
them know
they are not alone, as he is there to help them.
As
explained in Chapter Three above.
Liken
it to a base-baller on 3rd who is illuminated. Paul is
urging them
to run to home base and be saved.
Only
home runs count.
4:2 For
unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word
preached
did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
What
gospel was preached unto them? Theirs
was the gospel of a physical rest, from
their enemies, and awaiting them in the promised physical land of
Canaan (Deut
12:10 25:19)? They didn’t believe and constantly murmured (Num 14) such
that
many were destroyed and didn’t enter Canaan. There was no profit for
these
unbelievers – they went to hell.
What
gospel is Paul preaching to them? Not a
physical rest like Israel entering into Canaan, but the gospel of a
spiritual
rest in the kingdom of God (Rom 14:17). Believe in Jesus as the Saviour
and have
eternal life in heaven.
4:3 For
we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn
in my
wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: (Ps 95:11) although the works were finished from the foundation of the
world.
Ever since
Adam, referred to as the
foundation of the world, man could have had rest and salvation in God
through
believing him by obeying. This would involve no works on the part of
man. God
completed all the works necessary for creation in all aspects and
wanted man simply
to obey God with belief and love.
In this
case, God rests on the seventh day as
a pattern for man to follow so that he may be at rest also ie a rest
for which
he doesn’t have to work for.
For we
which have believed do enter into rest,
This is
the rest of
Paul’s gospel and doctrine and the kingdom of God.
as he
said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall
enter into my rest: (Ps 95:11)
Yes, God
made an
oath that they will not enter into Canaan.
although
the works were finished from the foundation of
the world.
To enter
heaven,
all man has had to do is to believe that God has made it possible
through
animal blood but now it has to be Jesus’ blood.
4:4 For
he spake in a certain place (in the
Old Testament scriptures) of the seventh day on this wise,
And God did
rest the seventh day from all his works. (Gen 2:2)
God is
held up as the example to follow of resting from works on the 7th
day.
4:5
And in this place again (here in
Heb 4:4) , If they shall enter into my rest. (Ps
95:11)
They
will not enter into my rest ie the murmurers and unbelievers and so on.
4:6
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein,
The
non-murmurers and believers entered Canaan.
and they
to whom it was first preached
entered not in because of unbelief:
Yes, all the murmurers complainers and
unbelievers of twenty years and above did not enter (Num 14:29)
4:7
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day,
This was
the particular day when David said
“…To day …” (Ps 95:7)
after so
long a time;
David
said that over a thousand years ago (Paul writes in the late 60’s AD)
as it is
said, To day
Paul
repeats it again
if ye will
hear his voice,
He
hopes they will hear unlike those mentioned in the gospel of Matthew
(Matt 13:13-15)
harden not
your hearts. (Ps 95:7,8)
A call
for a voluntary non-hardening of hearts. The Jew was well acquainted
with the
consequences of hardened hearts beginning with Pharaoh and their own
desert
experience.
4:8 For
if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken
of
another day.
Prior
to this verse, it is Jehovah God that is responsible
for both the entering of the physical rest of Canaan and the spiritual
rest of
the kingdom of God (Hebrews 3:11, 18; 4:1,3,4,5).
It
is here that Jesus was responsible for their rest,
thereby showing that he, Jesus Christ, is one and the same as Jehovah
God. Now
Paul’s readers would have known that as Christ calls himself the “I AM”
being
Jehovah (John 8:58).
Because of
their continual unbelief in God and
disobedience, there remained another day of salvation in Jesus Christ.
This was
not a physical one as in Canaan but a spiritual one, being their approaching day of salvation in Christ
(Heb 10:25).
For it
became him, for whom are all things, and by whom
are all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory, to make the
captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Heb 2:10
Like
Joshua, who was also their captain in leading them into a physical
Canaan,
Christ is their captain who speaks of another day – their approaching
day of
salvation in him.
4:9
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
This is
the rest in the kingdom of God.
4:10
For he that is entered into his rest,
Like
me, Paul
he also
hath ceased from his own works,
As it
is stated elsewhere, by grace are ye
saved through faith not of works (Eph 2:7-8)
as God did
from his.
God
rested on the seventh day.
4:11 Let
us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after
the same
example of unbelief.
This ‘labour’
concerns all those who may have grappled with God’s word before being
saved,
think on it, reason about it and wrestle with it before being saved.
This is
the labour that may occur before
believing. As Paul aptly puts it “… we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts
14:22
The act of
believing is not a work as confirmed in the New Testament “But to him
that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Rom
4:5. Before you
believe, it just might be a struggle to get there.
4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the
heart.
Don’t
fool with God and pretend. He can see into your hearts and minds and
all things
are revealed before him. He is the ultimate spiritual surgeon with the
ultimate
spiritual scalpel.
4:13
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:
but all
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to
do.
There
is nothing that can be hidden from the Lord. Yes, with whom we have to
do –
with whom we must deal with. There is no escaping.
4:14
Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
Aaron
has been replaced by Christ as the High Priest.
that is
passed into the heavens,
Christ’s
body was in heaven as he had gone to the Father (Matt 27:63; 28: 12-13;
John
20:17). He rose bodily.
Jesus the
Son of God,
To
call Jesus the Son of God made him equal with God. (Jn 5:18) and Jesus
meaning
the Saviour (Matt 1:21) as opposed to Christ the Messiah (Jn 1:41).
let us
hold fast our profession.
Take
your profession as Christ the Messiah onto Jesus the Saviour. Move it
on.
4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling
of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without
sin.
This
high priest, Jesus Christ, now in heaven, has been a man and therefore
is well
acquainted with the our temptations.
4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
This
is not come boldly ‘into’ but ‘unto’ the
place where the Lord will
save you.
This
verse has nothing to do whatsoever with taking the Lord’s supper. It is about salvation.
This
verse is dreadfully misunderstood by Pastors administering the Lord’s
supper in
giving the impression that no more reverence need to be given than to a
shoemaker’s dog. No, when asking the Lord to save you, be very humble
with cap
in hand, come in quietly as a sinner needing salvation.
Yes,
come boldly to the point of salvation, don’t hesitate, don’t be
backward in
coming forward but don’t barge into the
throne room of grace!
C5
AARON
Ch 5 =
Christ better
than Aaron
5:1 For
every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things
pertaining
to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
This
refers to Aaron who can offer sacrifices on the behalf of Israel
5:2 Who
can have compassion on the ignorant, (the lay
people) and on them that are out of the way; for that he
himself also is
compassed with infirmity.
He
knows what it is like to be surrounded by the flesh and be subject to
the
infirmity of sins
5:3 And
by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to
offer for
sins.
Unlike
Christ who had no sins, Aaron offered sacrifices for his own sins.
5:4 And
no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God,
as was
Aaron.
Aaron
was appointed by God and didn’t appoint himself.
5:5 So
also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he (God the
Father) that said unto him (Christ), Thou
art my Son, to day have I begotten
thee. (Ps 2:7).
Similarly,
Christ was also appointed by God.
5:6 As
he saith also in another place (in the
scriptures), Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec. (Ps
10:4)
Aaron
was appointed by God to be the high priest (1Chron 6:49) and similarly
Christ was
appointed
5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and
supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to
save him
from death, and was heard in that he feared;
This
refers to the garden of Gethsemane. Did
he fear death? No! Did he fear God? Yes! And that’s why he was heard.
Christ
was heard of God because he feared God. Now if we don’t fear God he
won’t hear
us either. We are to be reminded that God answers our prayers according
to the
number of idols in our lives (Ezek 20:3)
5:8
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things
which he
suffered;
Because
Christ was God himself, he was made a son in the flesh as well. He was
always
obedient to the God the Father.
5:9 And
being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them
that obey him;
Was
Christ ever not perfect? No. Every day that went by he was perfect at
that
point in time. When he had fulfilled the law he was perfect. As Christ
obeyed
the Father, we are to obey Jesus Christ as to what he says we must do.
5:10
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Melchisedec
was not of the tribe of Levi therefore he was not of the order of
Aaron. He is
separate.
5:11 Of
whom we have many things to say, and
hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
However
I bring it up again in chapter seven. Dull of hearing? Yes (Matt 13:13).
5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that
one
teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God;
and are
become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
“Look
dear Reader” Paul says “you Jews should have been the first to receive
Jesus as
Saviour and not the Gentiles. With your 1500 year history of God and
all the
prophecies, you are still babies.”
What
advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there
of circumcision? Much every
way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the
oracles of God. Rom
3:1-2
Given
to the
Jew from Abraham onwards -
1.
The first
principles of the oracles of God
(‘enlightened’ under Moses)
2.
The principles
are the doctrine of Christ (‘illuminated’
with the
doctrine of Christ the Messiah)
3.
The
“rest” is of Jesus the Saviour (Christians)
Need
of milk? Yes, go back to the milk of Moses but if you believed him
you would believe in Jesus as Saviour. For had ye
believed Moses, ye would have believed
me: for he wrote of me. John 5:46
5:13
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of
righteousness:
for he is a babe.
If you
continue to believe on Christ the Messiah and continue in the animal
blood
sacrifices you are babies and you are unrighteous.
5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even
those who
by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil.
“You
haven’t grown up”
Paul continues “because you are still drinking milk. You are still
believing on
Christ as the Messiah. You are still having animal blood temple
sacrifices. You
are stunted in your growth. As a result, you are not able to work out
between
the good and the bad. I am your friend and my advice is good and
perfect. The
scribes and Pharisees are bad.”
C6
MESSIAH
Ch 6 =
Leave
the principles of the doctrine of Christ as the Messiah
and
let’s go on to the doctrine of Jesus the Saviour
a. THE HEBREW IS URGED TO LEAVE HIS BELIEF OF THE DOCTRINE
OF CHRIST THE MESSIAH AND GO ON UNTO PERFECTION (Heb 6:1)
b. BEING ONCE ENLIGHTENED (UNDER MOSES) HAS LONG GONE (Heb 6:6)
c. A BETTER SALVATION AWAITS (Heb 6:9) – JESUS THE SAVIOUR
d. BE NOT SLOTHFUL BUT HAVE JESUS AS THE ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL (Heb 6:19)
HERE IS THE KEY TO THE WHOLE BOOK OF HEBREWS:
There are three groups mentioned in the first four verses of chapter 6.
Paul’s readers were previously once enlightened (Heb 6:4) under Moses (past) - Mosaics
They now have the doctrine of Christ (Heb 6:1) the Messiah (present) – Messianics
They need to go on unto perfection (Heb 6:1) Jesus the Saviour (future) - Christians
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:1 Therefore
leaving the principles of THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST , let us go on unto PERFECTION not
laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of
faith toward God,
They are
presently
under the doctrine of Christ which is the doctrine of the Messiah.
As the
woman at the
well exclaims
The woman
saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called
Christ: … John 4:25
When
Andrew tells his brother he has found Christ
… We have
found the Messias,
which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
John 1:41
let us go
on unto PERFECTION
This Jesus
the
Saviour. This is the doctrine of Jesus the Saviour, the doctrine of
Paul’s
gospel, the doctrine of the Christian – it is the doctrine of
perfection.
not laying
again the foundation –
This is
the
foundation of the doctrine of Christ. It has been vital and is the
foundation
of the house but now these Jews must move on to the doctrine of
perfection.
of
repentance from dead works, –
There are
six basic beliefs with the doctrine
of Christ. 1. Repentance from dead works 2. Faith toward God 3.
Baptisms 4.
Laying on of hands 5. Resurrection of the dead 6. Eternal judgment
Works
can’t purge the conscience to get right
standing with God, this is why they’re called dead works (Heb 9:14,23).
Only
the blood of Christ can purge the conscience.
What are
these dead works? The Sermon on the
Mount is full of works – impossible works. Paul’s readers need to
understand
that only the perfect works of Christ are live works. Any other works
people
rely on to get into heaven are dead works.
Put it
this way, entry into heaven had always
been by works hasn’t it.
“What!?”
you say. Yes think about it.
If Adam
hadn’t sinned he would have lived
forever. So atonement with God was with blood. Under the Old Testament
the law
of works was given not to Israel to save them but to condemn them and
show they
were sinners. Again atonement was with blood.
So to get
into heaven we have to be perfect
ie with perfect works. Anything else is dead works. As Paul says For by
grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should
boast. Eph 2:8-9
As Paul
says let us
go on unto perfection – the perfect works of Christ + the perfect blood
of
Jesus.
and of
faith toward God, – The Jew
was very
familiar in having faith toward God (Mark 11:22). God says: “If
you
don’t know about faith toward God at this stage we won’t go over that
here.” See
Acts 22:16.
6:2 Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of
the
dead, and of eternal judgment.
Of the
doctrine of baptisms, – These
included spiritual and water. There is
the baptism of Jesus (John
3:22), the baptism of fire (Matt 3:11), the baptism of the Holy Ghost
(Matthew
3:11), the baptism of John (Mark 1:4) and the various other washings
and water
rituals of the Jews.
and of
laying on of hands, – The Jew
was very
familiar with the ritual of laying on of hands. Those involved
in a
burnt offering laid his hands on the bullock (Lev 1:4). There was the
laying on
of hands for healing (Mark 6:5). There was the laying on of hands to
give sight
(Mark 8:23). There was the deliverance from devils (Luke 4:41).
and of
resurrection of the dead, – Jesus
speaks of
this (Matt 22:30) and Peter (Acts 4:2)
and of
eternal judgment. – Jesus
clearly speaks
of everlasting punishment (Matt 25:46). This is mentioned in Hebrews
2:3 and
Hebrews 9:39.
There are three groups of people mentioned in 6:1
and 6:4 with three different doctrines:
THE DOCTRINE OF MOSES “ONCE
ENLIGHTENED” (6:4) |
Under Aaron the Jews were enlightened. Aaron was
the lighter of the lamps (Ex 30:8) The Jew
brought light to a dark world. They had light, were enlightened, on the following: 1. Have
tasted of the heavenly gift (1Sam 11:6) 2. Made
partakers of the Holy Ghost (Saul, David, Samson) 3. Have
tasted the good word of God (Heb 6:5) 4. And the
powers of the world to come (Matt 12:32, Mark 10:30, Luke 18:30) |
THE DOCTRINE
OF CHRIST THE
MESSIAH (6:1) “NOW
ILLUMINATED” (10:32) THIS IS
WHERE PAUL’S READERS ARE PRESENTLY STUCK! They were enlightened under Moses but are now illuminated with the doctrine of
Christ the Messiah (10:32) Jesus told
them to “Let your
light so shine before men …” Just like
incandescent bulbs (Matt 5:16) |
This is the doctrine of the Messiah, – Christ
on earth 1. Repentance from dead works (Matt 3:2) 2. Faith toward God (Mark 11:22) 3. Doctrine of baptisms – water and Holy Ghost There is
the baptism of Jesus (John 3:22), the baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11),
the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:11), the baptism of John (Mark
1:4) and the various other washings and water rituals 4. Laying on of hands There was
the laying on of hands for healing (Mark 6:5; Luke 4:4)). There was the
laying on of hands to give sight (Mark 8:23). 5. Resurrection from the dead Jesus
speaks of this (Matt 22:30) 6. Eternal judgment Jesus
clearly speaks of everlasting punishment (Matt 25:46). He first
findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the
Christ. John 1:41 |
THE DOCTRINE OF JESUS THE SAVIOUR (= the
doctrine of Paul) “…let us
go on unto PERFECTION…” (6:1) |
This is
the Doctrine of Perfection of having Jesus the
Saviour in heaven Let’s go
on unto Jesus who is perfect, his death is perfect as he is the perfect
one. (Heb 7:11). And she
shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins. Matt 1:21 |
6:3 And this will
we do, if God permit.
If we
have time we can go over all these things again.
6:4 For it is
impossible for those who were ONCE ENLIGHTENED (the
doctrine of
Moses), and have tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Paul’s
readers were
under Moses once and certainly have tasted the heavenly blessings given
by God.
Yes, they were ‘part – takers’, takers in part, only. In the Old
Testament, the
Holy Ghost came and went – eg with David the Holy Ghost came and never
left
him, with Saul it came and left and with Samson it came and left and
came back
again. Saul and Samson were part – takers of the Holy Ghost. Christians
are
full-takers.
for
those
who were once enlightened,
– To
be ‘enlightened’ is to be under Aaron and
the law. Numbers 8:2-3. Aaron was the enlightened and his name means
enlightened.
and
have
tasted of the heavenly gift,
– “If
ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
how much
more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that
ask
him?”
Matt 7:11
All
the way
through the OT they had tasted heavenly gifts.
were
made
partakers of the Holy Ghost,
– To
day if you will hear his voice
(Heb 3:7;9:8;10:15); Mary had Jesus by the Holy Ghost (Matt 1:18); blasphemy
against
the HG (Matt 12:31); David said things by the Holy Ghost (Mark 12:36);
the
disciples spoke by the Holy Ghost (Mark 13:11; Luke 1:15); at Pentecost
(Acts
2:38; Acts 28:25; Peter (2 Pet 1:21)
These
were limited
and temporary in-dwellings of the Holy Ghost – they were partakers but
not
permanent possessors.
6:5 and have
tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
The
good word of God are the scriptures that they had access to. They knew
all
about Abraham’s bosom, hell, angels, devils, kingdom of heaven and the
kingdom
of God.
And have
tasted the good word of God, – When would
the Jew
have tasted of the good word of God? Jeremiah 29:10 states that God
will visit
them in Babylon after seventy years “…and perform my good word toward
you.” Put
it this way, ever since Abraham, the Jew, the Hebrew and the Israelite
would
have the written word of God and also holy men of God spake as they
were moved
by the Holy Ghost (1Pet 1:21)
And the
powers of the world to come, – How would
the Jew
know of the world to come and the powers of it? The phrase ‘the world
to come’
is clearly mentioned (Matt 12:32, Mark 10:30, Luke 18:30, Heb 2:5).
6:6 If
they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they
crucify
to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
If they
shall fall away, – Paul’s
readers were illuminated (Heb 10:32) with the doctrine of Christ.
If they fell away they would return to the doctrine of Moses of being
enlightened.
to renew
them again unto repentance; - Anytime
that a man
seeks to get right with God other than by believing in the shed blood
of Jesus,
he treats with disdain what Christ has already done on the cross.
Paul
writes to the Messiah believing
‘illuminated’ Jew (Heb 10:32) who have progressed one step further than
the ‘Moses-believing-‘enlightened’-Jew’.
He warns that should they retreat even further then it is impossible to
renew
them to repentance.
seeing
they crucify to themselves the Son of
God afresh, - To ‘fall
away’ meant to continue to have animal blood for sins.
This would ignore the blood
of Jesus. As Paul says “there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sins” (Heb 10:26) after Jesus on the cross. Not
to go on
to the blood of Christ would equate his blood with the blood of animals
ie no
difference.
put him to
an open shame. – Jesus was
to be shamed once and once only. Jesus
won’t be put to
open shame again. To ignore Jesus on the cross puts continuous shame on
him by
saying that his sacrifice was not needed.
An example
from the Old Testament was Moses
striking the Rock (Jesus) a second time and this puts Jesus to an open
shame
(Num 20:11). The end result was that Moses didn’t enter into the
Promised Land
of Canaan. Paul’s message is “Don’t be like Moses.”
6:7
For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon
it, and
bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth
blessing
from God:
The
following is a summary
of the two verses Hebrews 6:7-8.
Just
as the earth drinks
in the rain to be produce good crops, then the illuminated Jew ought to
drink
in this message of trusting the shed blood of Jesus for salvation and
also
bring forth good fruit. This will receive the blessing from God. If
they refuse
to hear, then God shall treat them as thorns and briers fit for
burning.
For
the
earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, – When
it rains, the good ground readily
soaks up the water. God knows that he has sent the rain often upon them
and
truly they are to ‘give the more earnest heed’ (Heb 2:1).
bringeth
forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, – The
ground produces grains and plants to eat for the
people that farm and tend the land
receiveth
blessing from God. – The
ground that has rain sent from God is
blessed
6:8 But
that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto
cursing;
whose end is to be burned.
You
are not saved and therefore if you go
back to being enlightened under Aaron you will end up in the fires of
hell.
The blood sacrifices of Aaron make a mockery of Christ’s blood. God’s
blessing
of salvation to be found in the perfection of the Saviour Jesus, such
that, you
can be like the living plants and trees in receiving the rain that
waters. To
refuse this offer you will end up like the useless bushes with prickles
and
thorns that are only fit to be burned.
But
that
which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing;
– A
farmer gathers the weeds, thorny
bushes and lantana and those plants that are hated by the farmer.
whose
end is
to be burned. – These
plants are gathered and burned. (Matt
3:9-11). Don’t
be like the hard ground that won’t receive the rain because the next
step is
being burned (Heb 12:18).
Be the
type of ground that will bring forth
good fruit by receiving the rain from God. Don’t be hard
hearted/provoking/rejecting/stiff necked and not bring forth good fruit
otherwise you will enter perdition.
6:9 But, beloved,
we are persuaded better things
of you,
Using
kindly and
encouraging words
and things
that accompany salvation,
The
perfection of
Jesus and his perfect blood
though we
thus speak.
Even if we
do speak about the worst outcome
of an everlasting burning in hell.
6:10 For God is not
unrighteous to forget your
work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that
ye have
ministered to the saints, and do minister.
This was
their labour
of love and kindness to toward Paul in prison and indeed toward other
Christians.
6:11 And we desire
that every one of you do shew
the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Paul says
“Come on
don’t be idle or negligent, but be industrious by taking that same
assurance
you had in Christ the Messiah on earth and transfer this hope to Jesus
the
Saviour who now lives in heaven.”
6:12 That ye be not
slothful, but followers of
them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Sloths
move very slowly. Paul says don’t be
like them. As Paul says Be ye
followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Cor 11:1. There are
many promises in the Lord.
6:13 For when God
made promise to Abraham, because
he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
The
promise was
Abraham would be the father of countless millions (Gen 12:2; 15:5). To
sware
here is taking an oath, and not cursing as is the popular meaning. God
made an
oath.
6:14 Saying, Surely
blessing I will bless thee,
and multiplying I will multiply thee.
God
promised Abraham That in blessing I will
bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed
as
the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is
upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of
his enemies; Gen 22:17
6:15 And so, after
he had patiently endured, he
obtained the promise.
Now
Abraham was 75
years old when given this promise but it was not until he was 100 years
old did
Sarah give birth to Isaac. Was he patient? In spite of the fact he
couldn’t
wait for God to fulfil his promise and he had Ishmael when 83 years
old, he was
patient up to that point, and indeed, after it.
6:16 For men verily
swear (take an
oath) by the greater:
In a court
of law,
they produce a Bible upon which people take an oath to tell the truth,
as there
is no greater than God himself.
and an
oath for confirmation is to them an end of all
strife.
Once a
person has
made an oath, that’s the end of it and there’s no going back.
6:17 Wherein God,
willing more abundantly to shew
unto the heirs of promise (the Jew)
the
immutability (not to be changed) of
his counsel (on what he had decided),
confirmed it by an oath:
God not
only promised but he double promised with an
oath.
6:18 That by two
immutable things,
God’s promise
+ God’s oath = Two rock solid-never-to-be-changed things
in which
it was impossible for God to lie,
God
doesn’t lie,
never has and never will.
we might
have a strong consolation, who have fled for
refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Like me,
Paul. Now
Christ the Messiah was the consolation
(Luke 2:25) that Israel was
waiting for. But Paul says here “You need Jesus the Saviour
as your strong consolation.”
6:19 Which hope we
have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Our soul
can never be
lost as we have eternal salvation. Jesus Christ is the High Priest that
has
entered into the Holy of Holies.
6:20 Whither the
forerunner is for us entered,
even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Jesus the
Saviour
is the high priest, like Aaron did, has entered not into an earthly
tabernacle
and holy of holies, but into heaven itself. The high
priest entered through the curtains
into inner sanctuary of the ‘Holiest of all’ (Heb 9:3) to show the
animal blood
to God. Jesus has entered into heaven and shows his blood to God the
Father
himself.
C7
MELCHISEDEC
Ch 7 =
Levi
(Abraham) tithes to Melchisedec
a.
MELCHISEDEC HAS AUTHORITY OVER ABRAHAM AND LEVI
THROUGH TITHING (Heb 7:1,4)
b. JESUS
IS AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC AND
THEREFORE
HAS
AUTHORITY OVER ABRAHAM, LEVI AND THE JEW.
c. THE
CHANGE OF PRIESTHOOD MEANS A CHANGE OF LAW
(Heb 7:12)
d. JESUS
IS A BETTER TESTAMENT Heb 7:22)
Melchisedec
has
authority over Abraham and Levi through tithing; Jesus is after the
order of Melchisedec
and therefore has authority over Abraham, Levi and the Jew as well.
7:1
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high
God, who
met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
For this
Melchisedec, king of Salem, – Jerusalem
was
formerly called Salem. (Gen 14:18; Ps 76:2). He was a priest with no
human
ancestors. He just appeared. Just like angels from heaven became men in
the Old
Testament, Melchisedec appeared also. God was able to do this.
priest of
the most high God, – he was
God’s high
priest here on earth before there was a high priest under Mosaic law.
who met
Abraham returning from the slaughter
of the kings, - You
can read the account in Genesis 14:1-17.
and
blessed him; – Melchisedec
blessed
Abraham by giving him bread and wine (Gen 14:18-20) in response to
Abraham
giving him tithes. He was a type and foreshadow of Jesus Christ to
come, who
gave himself as the bread (his broken body) and wine (his shed blood)
for the
whole world (John 3:16).
7:2 To
whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by
interpretation King
of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of
peace;
Melchisedec
is a type of Lord Jesus Christ who is the King of righteousness and the
King of
peace (Is 9:6)
7:3
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither
beginning
of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a
priest
continually.
No
human ancestry whatsoever. Angels also appeared out of heaven as men,
so this
is no big deal for God to make this happen.
7:4 Now
consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham
gave the
tenth of the spoils.
Yes,
Abraham was the father of all the Jews (Jn 8:39) who made himself
subject to
Melcisedec. Now Abraham is the father of the Jews but a greater one
than him is
Melchisedec.
7:5 And
verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the
priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according
to the
law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of
Abraham:
Abraham’s
descendants were the tribe of Levi who took tithes. But Levi being in
the loins
of Abraham are deemed to offer tithes to Melchisedec.
7:6 But
he whose descent is not counted from them
Melchisedec
was not a Jew
received
tithes of Abraham, and blessed him
that had the promises.
Melchisedec
blessed Abraham. Abraham had God’s promises of being a great nation.
7:7 And
without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
Abraham
is the less and he is blessed by the better Melchisedec.
7:8 And
here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom
it is
witnessed that he liveth.
And here
men that die receive tithes; – These are
the human
Jewish Levite priests that died
but there
he receiveth them, - Melchisedec
took tithes
of whom it
is witnessed that he liveth. – this
Melchisedec
didn’t die (Heb 7:3)
7:9
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed
tithes in
Abraham.
Levi
being in Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec.
7:10
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met
him.
Although
Levi was not
born, he is in Abraham, so when Abraham paid his tithes to Melchisedec,
Levi is
said to have paid his tithes at the same time.
7:11 If
therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it
the people
received the law,) what further need was there that another priest
should rise
after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of
Aaron?
If
therefore perfection were by the Levitical
priesthood, –
which it wasn’t
(for under
it the people received the law,) –
Moses
received the law from God and it was given to Aaron and the Levites to
administer.
what
further need was there that another priest
should rise –
Answer? None. If they had perfection
another priest wouldn’t have to be given this office.
after the
order of Melchisedec, and not be
called after the order of Aaron? – If they
had perfection, they wouldn’t have
needed anyone after the order of any one by any other name.
If
Levi and the Levitical priesthood had established perfection for the
people,
how could anything be better?
Instead,
God says “Don’t stay barren with Aaron, Connect with Melchisedec”
7:12
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a
change
also of the law.
For the
priesthood being changed, – now the
priesthood
has changed from the order of Levi to the order of Melchisedec (which
will be
changing to Judah as Jesus being of the tribe of Judah was also after
the order
of Melchisedec.)
there is
made of necessity – It is
necessary
a change
also of the law. - The law
must
change also
7:13
For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another
tribe, of
which no man gave attendance at the altar.
For he of
whom these things are spoken
pertaineth to another tribe, – The person
to whom this refers belongs to
another tribe. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah.
of which
no man gave attendance at the altar.
– Jesus
never attended an altar as Levi
gave attendance at the altar to sacrifice the blood of bulls and goats.
Melchisedec never attended an altar before God and so Jesus doesn’t
either
because he is after the order of Melchisedec.
7:14
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which
tribe Moses
spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Levi
was the 3rd tribe. Judah was the 4th tribe out of
which
Jesus comes.
7:15
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of
Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
It is
crystal clear. Jesus Christ is similar to Melchisedec and he (Jesus)
arises as
another priest.
7:16
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but
after the
power of an endless life.
not
after the law of a carnal commandment, – Jesus
was
called
of God an high
priest not as a result of a man made law and commandment as the Levites
were.
but
after the power of an endless life. – Because
Jesus is in the Father and was
begotten of the Father, he is with
no
beginning
and no end. Also an endless life would be one of power. An ordinary
man’s life
lasts only a few decades and then the ‘power’ runs out. Furthermore,
Jesus
upholds all things by the word of his power. Being all powerful, when
he speaks
words, this is called the word coming out of his power.
7:17
For he (God
the Father) testifieth, Thou art a
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Ps 110:4)
7:18
For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going
before for
the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
For there
is verily – Truly
there is
a
disannulling – It is
cancelled.
of the
commandment going before – The Jewish
law of the
continuity of human Levite priests is annulled. The Jewish priesthood
is now
replaced by Jesus being of the order of Melchisedec
for the
weakness and unprofitableness
thereof. – The
law as given by Moses on Mt Sinai and put into the hands of the Aaron
and the
Levite priests, was weak and unprofitable. Why? Those under the works
of the
law were under the curse of it (Gal 3:10) and perfection can’t come
from a law.
7:19
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a
better hope
did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
For the
law made nothing perfect, – the law
couldn’t make
any body perfect because the standards are too high. It only made you
aware that
you couldn’t keep it. When Jesus kept the law, he was perfect even to
the point
of death (Heb 5:9)
but the
bringing in of a better hope did; - The better
hope was
Jesus and he obtained perfection through absolute obedience to God in
fulfilling the law. The better hope being the God of Israel who became
flesh
(Joel 3:16).
by the
which – Jesus
Christ
we draw
nigh unto God. – The law
was designed
to be a schoolmaster to bring us to Jesus Christ (Galatians
3:24).
Ephesians 2:13 says “But now in Christ
Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh by the blood of Christ.” So the blood makes us nigh
through the
death of Jesus Christ.
7:20
And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
And
inasmuch – Because or
since or seeing that
not
without an oath – means with
an oath
(Heb 6:17) the permanence of God’s counsel was confirmed by an oath and
thereby
is unchangeable for all time. Jesus Christ had an oath from God to make
him
priest after the order of Melchisedec and not after the Levites.
Levites
didn’t have any oath to confirm them
as priests but Jesus Christ did.
he was
made priest: – Jesus
became priest.
7:21
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an
oath by
him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a
priest
for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
For those
priests were made without an oath; – The
priests of the
Old Testament were made without an oath as they were ordained by
heredity.
but this –
Jesus
Christ
with an
oath by him, – With an
oath by God
the Father
that said
unto him, – God said
to Jesus
THE LORD
SWARE AND WILL NOT REPENT, – This is a
reference
to Psalm 110:4. God has made an oath and will not retract it, rescind
it or
turn his back on it
THOU
– Jesus
ART
A PRIEST - have
a priesthood
FOR
EVER – for
eternity
AFTER
THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC:)
– according
to the pattern of Melchisedec
7:22 By
so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
By so much
– As a
result of this
shift and change
was Jesus
made a surety – A one
hundred percent
certainty
of a
better testament. – Trusting
in his shed
blood alone by faith alone. This testament is referred to elsewhere
(Matt
26:28, Mk 14:24, Lk 22:20, 1Cor 11:25, 2Co 3:6 , Heb 9:15).
7:23
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered
to
continue by reason of death:
And they –
the Levites
truly – certainly,
in fact and honestly
were many
priests, – a lot of
them
because
they were not suffered – they were
not
allowed, permitted or tolerated or couldn’t continue
to
continue – to carry
on in their
office
by reason
of death: – because
they were
human and died. This is the reason that there were many of them
as they
had to replace the one who had died before.
7:24
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable
priesthood.
But this
man, - Jesus
because he
continueth ever, – He lives
and has
eternal life. We are informed that his years shall not fail (Heb 1:12).
hath an
unchangeable priesthood. – Jesus has
a
continuing and never changing role as the high priest because he lives
forever.
There are no more priests to come after Jesus.
But this
man, - Jesus
because he
continueth ever hath an
unchangeable priesthood. - no more
priests after Jesus. It will never be changed.
7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that
come unto
God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Wherefore
he is able also to save them - Jesus
can also save them.
to
the uttermost –
that’s into heaven.
that come
unto God – the Father
in heaven
by him, – There is
only one mediator (and it
isn’t Mary or a church or the Pope)
seeing he
ever liveth – Jesus
lives now and
forevermore in heaven.
to make
intercession for them. – He
intercedes to God
on their behalf. A high priest on earth isn’t needed anymore to make
intercession for the Jews here on earth.
7:26
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
For
such an high priest – Jesus
became
us, –
became
a man like us (1Tim 3:16; Phil 2:8)
who
is holy,
– who
is pure and sinless
harmless,
– didn’t
commit sin and harm against the laws of God
undefiled,
–
sinless
separate
from sinners, – wholly
man yet wholly God and not counted as
a sinner
made
higher
than the heavens; – Jesus
made the heavens so he is above them.
7:27
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up
sacrifice,
first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did
once, when
he offered up himself.
Who
needeth not daily, – He doesn’t
have to
offer sacrifices everyday
as those
high priests, – like the
mortal/earthly Jewish high priests
to offer
up sacrifice, – who
offered
sacrifices
first for
his own sins, – the
earthly high
priest (eg Aaron) was sinful and had to get right with God first before
he
performed on behalf of the people (Lev 9:7). Christ was sinless and
there was
no need for him to offer up sacrifices for himself.
and then
for the people's: – the people
had sins
that stopped them being right with God. So the high priest acted on
their
behalf (Lev 9:15)
for this
he did once, – Jesus died
once for others’
sins
when he
offered up himself. – when he
went to the
cross, Jesus doesn’t need
to offer any more sacrifices for sins as he was the one time sinless
sacrifice
himself
7:28
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but
the word
of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is
consecrated for
evermore.
For the
law – the Mosaic law
maketh men
high
priests which have infirmity; - by the law
of
heredity, sinful human Levite priests take office.
but the
word of the
oath, – the oath
of God Ps
110:4
which was
since the
law, – which
became evident after the law
maketh the
Son, – Jesus
became the high priest by the oath of his Father.
who is
consecrated – declared
sacred and set apart for a divine purpose
for
evermore. – for ever (and more
after
that).
C8
BLOOD
Ch 8
The new
covenant has
Christ’s blood
a. AARON
SERVED AS A
SHADOW OF HEAVENLY THINGS (Heb 8:5)
b. JESUS
IS THE
MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL IN THE
TRIBULATION (Heb 8:8)
8:1
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have
such an
high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty
in the
heavens;
Now
of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: – Here
is an up to date summary so far
We
have such an high priest, – Jesus
(Matt 3:16)
who
is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; –
Jesus
has risen from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father.
You Jews
now have a high priest in heaven.
8:2 A
minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord
pitched,
and not man.
A minister
of the sanctuary, - The word
‘sanctified’ means set apart. The word ‘sanctuary’ is a sacred place
where
things are set apart.
and of the
true tabernacle, – Jesus Christ is the true sanctuary and
he ministers in his own sanctuary. The true sanctuary and
tabernacle is now
in heaven.
which the
Lord pitched, – He made
and erected this
tabernacle which is himself which is his body
and not
man. – It was
made by
God’s hands and not man’s.
8:3 For
every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore
it is of
necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
For
every high priest – The
Jewish high
priest on earth
is
ordained –
is allowed and instituted and commanded and given
permission
to
offer gifts and sacrifices: - offer
material gifts and sacrifices
wherefore
it is of necessity – Therefore
it is of imperative and essential
that
this man – Jesus
have
somewhat also to offer. - Also
has something to offer.
8:4 For
if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are
priests
that offer gifts according to the law:
For if he
were on earth, - And Jesus
isn’t. When
on the earth he was prophet, he’s in heaven as priest and is coming
back as
king.
he should
not be a priest, – if Jesus
were on
earth he wouldn’t have the office of priest
seeing
that there are priests that offer
gifts according to the law: – The Jewish
priests offer gifts (Num 18:29;
Lev 23:38) in accordance with the law given by God with the
accompanying rules,
rituals and ceremonies. Furthermore, earthly priests offer sacrifices
for
themselves as sinners. Jesus was sinless therefore he couldn’t be an
earthly
priest.
8:5 Who
serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was
admonished
of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he,
that thou
make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Who serve
unto the example and shadow – These earthly
Jewish priests perform earthly blood sacrifices which are a pattern and
example
of Jesus Christ to come
of
heavenly things, – Jesus
Christ came
from heaven and has returned there. The offering of gifts and
sacrifices were
earthly examples of the heavenly.
as Moses
was admonished of God – God
instructed Moses
when he
was about to make the tabernacle: – the
earthly
physical tabernacle
for, SEE,
SAITH HE, – God said. This is
reference to Psalm 25:40
THAT THOU
MAKE ALL THINGS – make sure
when you
build the tabernacle
ACCORDING
TO THE PATTERN - following the blueprint
SHEWED TO
THEE – shown to
you
IN THE
MOUNT. – In the
mount? Why not
on the mount? Moses had to take shelter
IN the rock while God presented himself with all his glory (Ex
25:40).
8:6 But
now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is
the
mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better
promises.
But now – when
Christ died
hath he – Jesus
obtained a
more excellent ministry - Jesus
was sinless
and had perfect works and perfect blood.
by how
much also– by this
ministry also
he is the
mediator - Jesus is
the mediator
(1Tim 2:5) and he is male and his name is not Mary.
of a
better covenant, – This is
better one
than the old covenant that were under with Moses and the Levitical
priesthood.
This better covenant is the new covenant, however it is not
the new testament. Israel has the covenants (Rom 9:4).
which was
established upon – which was
built upon
better
promises. – These
promises,
although having been prophesied, will come to fruition when he opens
their eyes
(Zech 13:3) and they won’t need any more prophets to convince them. There will be a finish to transgressions and
an end of sins, and he will forgive their sins (Dan 9:24-27). This is
called
the new covenant.
Note: This
new covenant applies only to the Jews in the
Tribulation and
not to the Christian in this present age. Christians are under the new
testament and never, ever the new covenant despite what is being
preached. The
new covenant with the house of Israel is explained further (Heb 8:8).
The new
testament and the new covenant are like chalk and cheese. Christians
are never
under any covenant.
8:7 For
if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have
been
sought for the second.
For if
that first covenant had been
faultless, - If
the first covenant / first testament / old covenant / old testament was without fault and error, then the new
covenant would not be necessary. The old covenant as established on
earth with
substitute animal blood and laws was designed to show Israel they were
sinful
and couldn’t keep the laws. This is why it was faulty. The
law made nothing perfect but could only point out faults. In
not being able to keep the law, the Jew was imperfect and that’s why
offerings
were constantly made to get right with God. The whole system was just
not right
and was faulty.
then
should no place have been sought for the
second. – However
if this system had been without fault then there wouldn’t be the
requirement
for another covenant / second covenant / new covenant.
Should the
Jews not get saved under the new
testament of faith alone in Christ’s shed blood alone, then they will
have the
new covenant in the Tribulation.
8:8 For
finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the
Lord, when
I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house
of
Judah:
(Jer 31:31-34)
For
finding fault with them, – finding
fault with
the gifts and sacrifices of Heb 8:3
he saith,
– God said
BEHOLD,
THE DAYS COME, – the days
are coming
saith the
Lord, – says Jesus
Christ.
LORD =
Jehovah in the Old Testament.
Lord =
Jesus Christ in the New Testament
WHEN
I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT
WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH:
– This is not
with the church today. This is a new covenant with Israel and the house
of
Judah in the Tribulation.
JEWS under the
Old Testament (Jesus
hasn’t come & died yet) |
CHRISTIANS
under the
New Testament (Jesus has
died but Christians haven’t been ‘raptured’) |
JEWS in the 7
year Tribulation (Christians
have been taken but Jesus yet to return to earth) |
The Jews
are under: the first
covenant or the old
covenant or the first
testament or the old
testament |
Christians are under: the new
testament or a better
testament or a more
excellent ministry |
The Jews
are under: the new
covenant or a better
covenant |
8:9 Not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day
when I took
them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they
continued
not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Not
according to the covenant that I made
with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand – This will
not be like
the old covenant that God had with Israel at Mt Sinai.
to lead
them out of the land of Egypt; – God made a
covenant
with the Jews when they came out of Egypt to Mt Sinai (this was about
two years
after they left Egypt)
because
they continued not in my covenant, -They broke
my
covenant. Covenants have mutual agreements on both sides and Israel
broke
theirs.
Are
Christians under the new covenant? Of
course not! We never made bargain to start with. If we sin, we are
still going
to heaven. Why? We are redeemed and have all sins (past and future)
forgiven
and washed away.
and I
regarded them not, - so I
disregarded them
saith the
Lord. – says
Jehovah who is
Jesus Christ.
8:10 For this is
the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put
my laws
into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them
a God,
and they shall be to me a people:
FOR
THIS IS THE COVENANT – the
new covenant in the 7
year tribulation. A covenant that they can’t break.
THAT
I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL - This
will be with all the twelve tribes of Israel
AFTER
THOSE
DAYS, – the
days in which the old covenant was made
saith
the
Lord; - says
Jesus
I
WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MIND, – Whether
they like it or not
WRITE
THEM
IN THEIR HEARTS: – However
this will not only be the ‘lip
service’ of the mind but also they will have it in their hearts
I
WILL BE TO THEM A GOD, – I
will be
their God
THEY
SHALL
BE TO ME A PEOPLE: – ‘shall’
- whether
they like it or not. I am God and I have decided (Dan 9:24-27 and Zech
13:3 and
Zech12:10).
8:11 And they
shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,
saying,
Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
AND
THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERY MAN HIS NEIGHBOUR, – The
Jew will not
teach, instruct or prophesy any more to your neighbour (Jer 31:34).
AND
EVERY MAN HIS BROTHER, – Neither
to your family or fellow Jew
SAYING,
KNOW THE LORD: – You will
not say “I
urge you to know the Lord”. It will be automatic.
FOR
ALL SHALL KNOW ME, – Because
every Jew will
divinely know me because
I will write it in their hearts that I am your God.
FROM THE
LEAST TO THE GREATEST. – This will
be to all Jews.
Any
teacher, witnesser or prophet will be put
to death. Why? They won’t be needed as it will be obvious to all.
Anyone who
prophesies will be put to death as they will be false prophets.
8:12 For I will be
merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no
more.
For
I will be merciful – God
won’t give the Jew what they deserve.
to
their unrighteousness, – “For
they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to
establish their
own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness
of
God.”
(Rom 10:3). The Jews have gone about establishing from
their own minds on how to get right with God and have been disobedient
to God
and what he wanted.
and
their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. – God
will have no memory of their sins (Jer 31:34).
Seventy
weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the
transgression,
and to make an
end of sins,
and to make
reconciliation for
iniquity,
and to bring in
everlasting righteousness,
and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Dan 9:24
8:13 In that he
saith, A new covenant, he hath
made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to
vanish
away.
In
that he
saith, – God
A
new
covenant, he hath made the first old. – The
new covenant
will replace the old covenant. As the latter was made with Israel, God
will
replace it and give Israel a new one.
Now
that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish
away. – Anything
that is old, rots
and decays and is ready to disappear having served its usefulness and
role
Note:
This
may seem confusing. Individually Jews will be saved in the church age
but as a
nation they won’t as God deals with Israel as one unit, as one man (Num
24:5;
Is 40:27).
The
old
covenant was given at the Exodus and Mt Sinai and the new covenant will
be
given to Israel during the Tribulation. The new covenant begins when
God opens
their eyes (Zech 12:10).
C9
BLOOD
Ch 9 = The
old covenant
had animal’s blood
a. CHRIST
WITH HIS
OWN BLOOD ENTERED THE HOLIEST OF HOLIES AND OBTAINS ETERNAL
REDEMPTION (Heb 9:12)
b. CHRIST
IS THE
MEDIATOR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (Heb 9:15)
9:1
Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine
service,
and a worldly sanctuary.
Then
verily – Then truly
the first
covenant had also ordinances of
divine service, – The
law given to Moses had the rituals/ceremonies/festivals and order
of
services. Ordinances have feasts associated with them (Ex 12:14).
and a
worldly sanctuary. –It was a
sanctuary of
and from this world - a literal, physical, earthly tabernacle. It
wasn’t one
from heaven.
9:2 For
there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick,
and the
table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
For there
was a tabernacle made; – a literal
but
temporary shelter/ temple/tent
the first,
– the first
part in
this tent
wherein
was the candlestick, – There was
a literal
seven headed candlestick representing Jesus being the true light (John
1:9)
and the
table, – literal
table
and the
shewbread; – 12 loaves
of bread representing
the 12 tribes
which is
called the sanctuary. – This first
room in
this tabernacle was called ‘the sanctuary’.
‘a worldly
sanctuary’ (9:1) ‘a
tabernacle’ (9:2) |
|
1st
part |
‘the
sanctuary’ (9:2) the first
tabernacle (9:6) |
2nd
part |
The
Holiest of all (9:3) the
tabernacle (9:7) |
9:3 And
after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of
all;
And after
the second veil, - The
first
sanctuary was entered through the first veil. Going further there was
second
veil after that (Mark 15:38).
the
tabernacle which is called the Holiest of
all;
- after going through the second veil, the high priest would enter the
‘Holiest
of all’ and this was the inner most part
9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant
overlaid round
about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's
rod
that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Which had
the golden censer, – literal
golden
censer. Incense was put into the censer which contained live coals, to
give off
a pleasant smell and a thick cloud of incense. It is symbolic of
prayers that
were offered up to God (Rev 8:3).
and the
ark of the covenant overlaid round
about with gold, – the
ark covered in gold signifying Deity.
wherein
was the golden pot that had manna, – golden pot
with manna
that God had miraculously preserved. This symbolized Jesus who is
called Manna
which signified his deity (Ex 16:31) and the true bread from heaven.
(Jn 6:32)
and
Aaron's rod that budded, – Reference
to the
budding (Num 17:8) was type of Jesus (Is 53:2). A budded rod
comes out
of the rod of Moses. Out of the law, would come Christ who would fulfil
the
law.
and the
tables of the covenant; – God’s laws
written
down on stone. Also Christ is the Rock (Matt 21:44)
9:5 And
over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we
cannot now
speak particularly.
And over
it – Ever
watching and
attending
the
cherubims of glory shadowing the
mercyseat; - two
replica angels (cherubims) were cast in gold and displayed at either
end of the
lid (the mercyseat) of the ark and reaching over the ark. This was the
seat of
‘not giving them what they deserved’ and so it was called a mercy seat.
Beneath
it was Christ the true bread that fulfilled the law and therefore
signifying
mercy.
of which
we cannot now speak particularly. – Not at the
moment.
9:6 Now
when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the
first
tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
Now
when these things were thus ordained, – Officially
sanctioned,
ordered and brought about by God
the
priests went always into the first tabernacle, – The
general priests
went into the first room only
accomplishing
the service of God. – This
involved doing
the rituals in the
outer sanctuary and completing them to God’s satisfaction.
9:7 But
into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without
blood,
which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
But into
the second went the high priest
alone – He
went by himself
once every
year, – This was
the Day of
Atonement when only the high priest went into the ‘Holiest of
all’ (Lev
23:27, Lev 25:9).
not
without blood, – He went
with
animals blood
which he
offered for himself, – First, he
had
to get right with God for his own sins and turn God’s wrath away from
himself
(Lev 9:7).
and for
the errors of the people: – The word
‘error’ is
an all encompassing term which includes transgressions (known
sins) as
well as trespasses (unknown sins) (Lev 9:15).
9:8 The
Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was
not yet
made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
The Holy
Ghost this signifying, – The
meaning is given by
the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God leads us into all truth and provides
the revelation
from God (John 16:13).
that the
way into the holiest of all – into the
second
sanctuary or the second room of the Tabernacle.
was not
yet made manifest, – It hadn’t
been
manifested in a man yet. This is the mystery of godliness that God
would become
man and be manifested in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16).
while as
the first tabernacle was yet
standing: – With
the first room all the ‘props’ were needed.
The first
tabernacle was a lead into the
second and as such formed a barrier to those who would walk right in.
While it
stood, Jesus was not yet revealed, but then when revealed, there would
be no
need for the candlestick, table and shewbread.
9:9
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were
offered both
gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as
pertaining to the conscience;
Which was
a figure (shadow) for
the time then present, in which were offered both gifts
and sacrifices, - At
that time, the sacrifices and gifts that were offered were only
a shadow
of things to come
that could
not make him – Aaron
and the high
priests
that did
the service perfect, - Why? It
was according
to the law. The priest was a sinner as well. Jesus was sinless. Animal
blood
was imperfect as well.
as
pertaining to the conscience; – The
obedience to
ritual, ceremonies of animals blood and so on, couldn’t bring about the
permanent sinless condition required by God. There was no assurance of
a
completed and permanent salvation. Their conscience would be
continually
disturbed as to their temporary righteous condition before God. As sins
were
committed, more animal blood would have to be spilt to appease their
conscience. Only divine blood could purge the conscience.
9:10
Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and
carnal
ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Which
stood
only in meats and drinks, – Things
that were physical and could be eaten and drunk
and
divers
washings –
The furniture and holy vessels used for
many washings/ceremonies needed to washed and purified.
and
carnal
ordinances, – These
were the worldly religious
rites. These were the ‘physical order of services’.
imposed
on
them – They
were imposed by God. Their sins were
made to be exceedingly sinful ie the law would highlight how sinful
they were.
Not requested by the Jews but required of them.
until
the
time of reformation. – All
these holy things
were all ‘re-formed’ or re-fashioned
into that holy thing
called Jesus (Luke 1:35). There was a reforming that took place
when God
became flesh. This refers to the first coming of Jesus Christ and not
the 2nd
advent which is the restitution of all things (Acts 3:19,21).
A
re-formation
is a re-forming and is a second forming.
9:11
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by
a
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to
say, not
of this building;
But
Christ
being come an high priest –
Jesus became the high priest. (Matt 3:16)
of
good
things to come –
Some of these good things are mentioned (Rom
8:28-32). Salvation by the shed blood of Jesus and a purged conscience.
This is
truly a ‘washing away of sins’, a cleansing, a purging from the guilt
and
stains of sin.
by
a greater
and more perfect tabernacle, – Jesus
is
better than a temporary set-up. Jesus
is the greater tabernacle with all its furniture. Jesus
is the
censer, the ark, the Aarons’ rod, the table, the shewbread, the
candlestick and
the perfect lamb with the sinless shed blood
not
made
with hands, – Jesus
as the tabernacle wasn’t made by men
that
is to
say, – let
me explain
not
of this
building; – We
are not talking of the 1st and
2nd earthly tabernacles. Jesus is the 1st and 2nd.
9:12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood
he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption
for us.
Neither
by
the blood of goats and calves, – Earthly
animal blood
but
by his
own blood – His
own shed blood
he
entered
in – he
was able to enter in
once
– Not
every year as the earthly priests (Heb 9:7)
into
the
holy place, – This
signifies the heavenly ‘Holiest of all’, the inner room,
as he
showed his blood to God in heaven.
having
obtained eternal redemption for us. – Jesus
alone
did this. It was not Jesus + our church attendance, our good works, our
own
righteousness but he alone accomplished this.
9:13
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an
heifer sprinkling
the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
For
if the
blood of bulls and of goats, –
signified
the burnt offering for disobedience
and
the
ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, - for
those touching a dead body they were deemed unclean and
needed their flesh cleansed (Num 19:2-22, Deut 21:3)
sanctifieth
to the purifying of the flesh:
–
The ashes of the red heifer actually purified and cleansed the skin and
flesh
9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to
serve the living God?
If the
physical blood of a heifer can purify the flesh, then Christ’s blood
can do
much more by purifying the conscience.
How much
more – much more
shall the
blood of Christ, - the shed
blood of Jesus
who
through the eternal Spirit – God’s
eternal Spirit
that is holy and lives forever (Matt 3:16).
offered
himself without spot to God, – Just as
the Passover
lamb was observed for imperfections, spots and blemishes for four days
before
sacrifice (Ex 12:3,6), then Jesus, the Passover Lamb (1Cor 5:7) was
similarly
observed for four days after entering Jerusalem.
purge your
conscience – not just
your
physical body but your conscience. The
blood of heifers was for the physical skin and the flesh but the blood
of Jesus
is for the conscience
from dead
works – These are
the works
that are performed but can’t get you right standing with God (Heb 6:1;
Matt 24:17). As Paul says “not of works
…” (Eph 2:8-9)
to serve
the living God? – To serve
God the
Father
This was
the difference between animal’s
blood and Christ’s blood – the former couldn’t purge the conscience.
9:15
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that
by
means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were
under the
first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of
eternal
inheritance.
And
for this cause
he
is the mediator – Jesus
is the reconciler and the intermediary not Mary (Heb8:6;12:24)
of
the new testament, –
faith alone in his shed blood (1Cor 11:25). This is not
the new covenant.
that
by means of death, – Jesus
death
for
the redemption of the transgressions –
past, present and future
sins. Remission was for past sins only (Rom 3:25)
that
were under the first testament, – This
is was the
old covenant/the old testament under Mosaic law
they
which are called – Those
who are saved and in Christ are then
called. It’s not
the other way around with the calling first and then salvation (Rom
8:28-30).
might
receive the promise of eternal inheritance. – the
promise is the permanent
indwelling of the Holy Ghost with eternal security (Luke 24:49)
9:16
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the
death of
the testator.
For
where a
testament is, – A
last will and testament
can’t be read out till someone dies. Under the first testament the
bulls and
goats died first then their blood was used as atonement for sin (Lev
17:11).
there
must
also of necessity – an
absolute requirement
be
the death
of the testator. – You
can’t have a last will and testament if
the person is still alive. The
reason it was called the old testament, was because animals were the
testators.
In
the case of
Jesus, he dies first before the thief, otherwise the thief couldn’t be
in
heaven where Jesus said he would be (Jn 19:32-34).
9:17
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is
of no
strength at all while the testator liveth.
For a
testament is of force after men are
dead: – The
last will and testament comes into play when a man dies.
otherwise
it is of no strength at all while
the testator liveth. – The
testament has no power while the man is still living.
9:17 For a testament is of force after men are
dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. –There
must be a death of a man for a last will and testament.
9:18
Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without
blood.
The
blood of bulls and goats were used for the first testament. When they
died and
their blood was shed, the first testament could take place.
9:19
For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people
according to
the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and
scarlet
wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
For when
Moses had spoken every precept to
all the people according to the law, – Moses told
them about the law and the
sacrifices that were needed
he took
the blood of calves and of goats, – The
animal’s blood
with
water, – This
signifies John
the Baptist baptism (John 3:5), also the word of God. Also signifies
the
cleansing of the church by the washing of the word. (Eph 5:26)
and
scarlet wool, – Scarlet
wool
represents the lamb that was slain and has blood on its wool.
and
hyssop, – A small
aromatic
plant with blue flowers. Used to apply the blood on the lintels
(Ex
12:22) and is the instrument that is used to apply the blood. The
hyssop is
a type of faith. Jesus is a type of hyssop who applies his blood by
his
faith to our account and washes us clean. (Gal 2:20)
and
sprinkled both the book,– book of
the law
and all
the people, – those
present
9:20
Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath
enjoined unto
you.
Saying,
This is the blood of the testament –The old
covenant was
the old testament was the 1st testament and the blood of the
animals
was constantly needed for various sin sacrifices (Ex 24:8).
which God
hath enjoined unto you. – the
covenant and you
are together. Now we are in Christ
and not merely en-joined together as under the old testament.
9:21
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all
the
vessels of the ministry.
Moreover
he sprinkled with blood – This was
not a
washing away (Heb 9:13). Hence the term “Are you washed in the blood?”
not “Are
you sprinkled in the blood?”
both the
tabernacle, and all the vessels of
the ministry. – The
blood was scattered in both tabernacles and over all the
instruments eg the
table, censer, ark, candlestick. They were all physical and needed
constant
sprinkling. This had to be done daily to keep sin at bay. Today our
sins are not in remission as we are redeemed and
our sins are washed away. Remission is for past sins only (Rom 3:25).
9:22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and
without
shedding of blood is no remission.
And almost
all things – This
didn’t include
the conscience. (Lev 17:11)
are by the
law purged with blood; – The blood
purged but
not the conscience.
and
without shedding of blood is no
remission. –
This was God’s way that went right back to Adam and Eve and Cain and
Abel. Animal
blood could only give remission for sins that are past (Rom 3:25)
9:23
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens
should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with
better
sacrifices than these.
It was
therefore necessary – It is
crucial
that the
patterns of things in the heavens – The
realities of
heaven which are reflected by the shadows down here.
A woman
gets a dress pattern to make a dress.
She could actually make a dress from the paper pattern but it would
only be a
paper dress and not the real thing – but it would have the shape and be
the
size. Now, it was the same with the patterns of the Old Testament –
they were not
the real thing but a representation of what was in the heavens.
should be
purified with these; – animals’
blood
but the
heavenly things themselves – spiritual
things
require Jesus blood
with
better sacrifices than these. – Jesus
blood better
than animals
9:24
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands,
which
are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in
the presence
of God for us:
For Christ
is not entered into the holy
places made with hands, – This
refers to the holy places in the heaven and not the
earthly tabernacle where the earthly priests went.
which are
the figures of the true; – The
figures of things
here on earth are the shadow or the form of the real things in heaven.
but into
heaven itself, – Not the
heavens (Gen
1:1). Heaven exists outside of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd
heaven.
now to
appear in the presence of God for us:
– God
lives in heaven not the heavens.
9:25
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth
into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Nor yet
that he should offer himself often, –
Jesus
doesn’t offer himself often – only once
as the
high priest entereth into the holy
place every year - the
high priest went into the ‘Holiest of all’ every year for the day of
Atonement
with blood
of others; – animals.
Christ uses
his own blood.
9:26
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the
world:
but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin
by the
sacrifice of himself.
For then
must he often have suffered since
the foundation of the world: - Jesus
doesn’t offer himself more than once,
for if he had, he would have had to suffer from the foundation of the
world
when Adam and Eve required blood.
but now
once – once and
only one
time.
in the end
of the world – the world
that then
was and that finished in 33AD at the cross.
hath he
appeared – He came as
a man
to put
away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
– he
went to the cross and shed his blood for the sin of the whole world.
9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
And
as it is appointed – It
has been appointed ahead of time
unto
men – for all
men. Not animals, as
when animals die go back to dust. They have no soul.
once
to die, – die
once
but
after this the judgment: – There
is no reincarnation, purgatory
or ‘six-feet under’.
There
is God’s
judgment which is hell. Christians are in Christ
before they die and therefore not judged when they die.
9:28 So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that
look for
him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
So Christ
was once offered to bear the sins
of many; – This
is for all men (Rom 5:15).
and unto
them that look for him – a pre 2nd
Advent rapture just before Armageddon
shall he
appear the second time without sin –
the
1st time he came was without sin but he became sin (2Cor
5:21; 1Peter
2:24) and carried these sins off literally to hell (1Pet 3:19; Jn 1:29)
and the
sinner ends up ‘sinless’. When he appears the 2nd time he
will be
without sin. Your sins were deposited in hell when he went through it.
He no
longer has them in his body. He comes back sinless.
unto
salvation. – The
salvation of physical
bodies. For the Christian, this is called the blessed hope (Titus
3:10). The
appearing of our blessed Saviour and great God – not two people but
just one. Thay
are both one and the same.
C10
Christ’s
blood
Ch 10 =
Christ’s perfect blood
This is
the chapter
of the Bible that Rome hates the most.
a. THERE
IS NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SIN AND SINS
(Heb 10:10,12, 14,18,26)
b. THE
ENLIGHTENED JEW (believing Moses) REMINDED
THAT HE
HAS BECOME
ILLUMINATED (believing Christ is the Messiah) (Heb 10:32)
c. URGED
TO GO FORWARD TO A BETTER AND AN ENDURING
SUBSTANCE
TO THE SAVING OF THE SOUL AND NOT DRAW BACK UNTO PERDITION (Heb 10:34,39)
10:1
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the
very
image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered
year by
year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
For
the law
having a shadow – A
shadow has no real
substance and is a temporary form only. Shadow boxing is not real
boxing and a
dress pattern is not the dress.
of
good
things to come, – a
purged
conscience and eternal security in heaven,
and
not the
very image of the things, – This
is a shadow
that is unclear and indistinguishable. The animal blood was shadow.
can
never
with those sacrifices which they offered year by year – These
were the burnt, the meal, the peace, the sin
and the trespass offerings.
continually
– repeated
over and
over.
make
the
comers – Those
that ‘came’ every day, week, month,
year were called the ‘comers’
thereunto
perfect. – The
1st testament was never
sufficient to make the partakers perfect.
10:2
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that
the
worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
For then
would they not have ceased to be
offered? – A
question that asks that if the sacrifices had made men perfect,
then
they would have stop doing them
because
that the worshippers once purged
should have had no more conscience of sins. – because
those that
came to the altar would have no more guilt associated with their sins.
10:3
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of
sins every
year.
But
in those sacrifices - under
Moses under the law
there
is a
remembrance again made of sins every year. – They
remembered their sins every year.
They
just
felt guilty. They couldn’t get rid of it. They had a conscience.
10:4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats
should take
away sins.
For it is
not possible – This is a
stronger
way of saying “It’s impossible.”
that the
blood of bulls and of goats should
take away sins. – The
animal blood couldn’t do it. Their sins were forgiven but not
washed
away (Rev 1:5).
Like a
white sheet placed over a dead carcase
of an animal. After a day, the stain would start to show. The next day
another
sheet is placed over the first sheet and so on for every day after
that. The
animal is covered but the stain keeps showing through.
10:5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and
offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Wherefore
when he cometh into the world, – when
Jesus
came into the world
he
saith,
Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, – God
would have an end to all these blood sacrifices and offerings.
but
a body
hast thou prepared me: – Jesus
took on the form
of physical man. Jesus was a person in heaven before he came earth and
the body
was just ‘a thing’ (Luke 1:35).
10:6 In
burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
God had no
pleasure in all these physical
sacrifices (Is 1:11-15).
10:7
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written
of me,)
to do thy will, O God. (Ps 40:6-8)
Lo, I come
– I have
come as man to
earth
(in the
volume of the book it is written of
me,) – In
the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, it is prophesied
about me. For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed
me (John 5:46).
to do thy
will, O God. – To do the
will of God
the Father and that was to become the final Passover lamb
(1Cor
5:7). To be the final blood sacrifice
once and for all time such that there remains no more sacrifice for
sins.
10:8
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings
and
offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein;
which are
offered by the law;
Above
when
he said, – This
is a reference to the
above verse in Hebrews 10:6.
Sacrifice
and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest
not,
neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; – According
to the old covenant God the Father said that he
had no delight in any of the sacrifices.
Contrary
to the
popular
belief for the Jew, instead of revelling
in the Law and thinking how wonderful
that the law had been given to them, they should be mourning. The law
was given
to make their
sin
exceeding sinful. The law
is good and perfect and holy and is the
representation of God himself – it is the expression of his character
which was the complete opposite to them.
The law was
to give
the Jews
the sense of failure in that they were not good enough.
With the
law came the blood sacrifices which
were to atone for not being able to keep the law. These at various
times were
offered with appropriate reverence but increasingly they just became a
repetition of a formula. This would be very similar to how many people
treat
the Lord today. They go out and sin on Saturday night and then go to
church on
Sunday and get ‘fixed up’ with God – mechanical, mindless and just a
formula to
con God and get back into his ‘good books’.
However God is not fooled. God makes it quite clear to the Jew
that they
can no longer carry on this way. He’s sick of it all and their
meaningless sacrifices.
10:9
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away
the
first, that he may establish the second.
Then said
he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O
God. – Jesus
said I am come to do the Father’s will. This is mentioned for the
second time
(the first in Heb 10:7) hereby stressing how important the purpose for
Jesus’
coming – to die on the cross.
He taketh
away the first, – first
testament
that he
may establish the second. – second
testament
10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the
body of
Jesus Christ once for all.
By the
which will – This is
the will of
Jesus to do his Father’s will
we are
sanctified – set apart
through
the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ – he
offered his body
once – This
happened once and one time
only and mentioned several times (Heb 9:26; 10:10,12,14,18,26).
for all. –
This
includes every man, woman
and child.
10:11
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
And every
priest standeth daily ministering – Where
would this be
happening today? Answer – the Roman Catholic mass.
and
offering oftentimes – many times
the same
sacrifices, - day
after day, year
after year
which can
never take away sins:
– Roman
Catholicism is condemned as no priest
can take away sins. For the Jewish priests then as well as today, no
man can
take away sins.
10:12
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for
ever, sat
down on the right hand of God;
But this
man – the man
Christ Jesus
after he
had offered – He
presented it to
his Father for acceptance or rejection as he put his blood forward for
consideration
one
sacrifice for sins for ever, - Here it
is in print. After he had gone to
the cross and shed his blood once, one time, only once, never to be
repeated.
No more sacrifice needed. Jesus Christ’s shed blood was the only thing
that God
would accept as total payment for sins forever.
The
following will never save: Believing in
God, Being a good person, Giving money to the church, Keeping the Ten
Commandments, Having, Christian parents, Living for God, Doing your
best, Being
a church member, Obeying the church, Getting baptised as a baby,
Praying to
God, Dying for God and country, Loving your neighbour, Going to the
confessional, Helping the poor, Taking Holy Communion, Doing good
works, Having
the last rites at death, Going to church regularly, Praying to Mary,
Doing many
penances.
When you
stand before God, all he’ll ask is
“What did you do with Jesus?”
sat down
on the right hand of God; -
– Jesus
Christ can’t be put to death any more.
Why? He’s at God’s right hand at this very moment.
The text
doesn’t read: “…after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down
on the right hand…” but “…one
sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down
…”. See where the comma is? If
you put in the wrong place it means a totally different thing. Many
corrupt
Bible versions have Jesus offering a sacrifice for sins but not for
ever. See
Col 2:14 and Acts 7:56. Jesus has not sat down forever. Why? He’s
coming back!!
10:13
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
From
henceforth – From this
time on
expecting
till his enemies be made his
footstool. – Jesus
Christ’s enemies are defeated now and are his footstool, however this
will be
made plain to everyone when he returns to rule and reign. Satan is the
god of
this world. When Christ comes back he will be the God of this world and
the God
of the earth.
10:14
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified.
For by one
offering – only one
needed
he hath
perfected - Jesus is
the perfect
one (Heb 5:9)
for ever –
that’s for
ever
them that
are sanctified. – Those that
have been
saved and set apart (Heb 2:11; 10:10, 14, 29).
See that?
No loss of salvation here! Eternal
security! Forever sanctified!
10:15
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that
he had
said before,
Whereof
the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: –
The Holy Ghost operated
in the Old Testament under the dispensation of Moses although not as
permanently indwelling a person
for after
that he had said before, – The Holy
Ghost said
before in the Old Testament
10:16
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, saith
the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will
I write
them;
This is
the covenant – This will
be the new
covenant in the seven year tribulation (Jer 31:33-34)
that I
will – Jesus
make with
them after those days, – After some
days into
the tribulation (Is 61:2)
saith the
Lord – Jesus
I will put
my laws into their hearts, – whether
they like it
or not
and in
their minds will I write them; – no
learning or
remembering required
10:17
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
This is a
reference to Daniel 9:24-27.
10:18
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for
sin.
Now where
remission – Remission
for sins is for past sins (Rom 3:25). Jesus at the last supper
(Matt 26:28) was saying to his disciples that his future shed blood
would be to
cover past sins. However, Jesus’ blood was also for the redemption for
sins
covering the future. (Col 1:14)
of these
is, – iniquities
there is
no more offering for sin. – Jesus will
never be
on the cross again. The Roman Catholic mass is a blasphemy. For past,
present
and future sins there remains no more offering.
10:19
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest
by the
blood of Jesus,
Having
therefore, brethren, – Paul,
being a Jew, addresses his Jewish
brothers of the flesh
boldness
to enter into the holiest – This was
their inner
tabernacle that only the high priest could enter. The real ‘holiest’ is
in
heaven and is not the ‘holiest’ on earth. Paul is saying “Look
brothers, you
can come into the holiest now and not just the high priest.”
by the
blood of Jesus, – shed blood
10:20
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the
veil, that is to say, his flesh;
By a new
and living way, - The new
way has been
done by Jesus and it’s a living and not a dead way
which he
hath consecrated for us, - consecrated
means to
come into the treasury of the Lord (Heb 7:28; Josh 6:19). Consecrated
means to
become separated (1Ki 13:33).
through
the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
– the
veils in the tabernacles were representations of Jesus flesh and blood.
His
broken body was the 1st veil and the blood was the 2nd
veil. On the cross the veil was rent in twain. (Matt 27:51)
10:21
And having an high priest over the house of God;
And having
an high priest – Jesus
over the
house of God; – This is
the
equivalent of the Jews’ tabernacle however this is no longer a
physical building and no longer is needed
the sons of Aaron presiding over God’s house or the tabernacle.
Christians are
now the ‘tabernacle’ or temple of God (1Cor 6:19).
10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed
with pure
water.
Let us
draw near – Paul uses
‘us’ to
bring them along in the argument.
with a
true heart in full assurance of faith,
– An
evil heart (Heb 3:12) has unbelief but a true heart is one of belief
and this
will then take you onto the full assurance of faith.
At the
moment you have an assurance believing
that Christ is the Messiah, but believing that he is the Saviour as
well will
be the full and total assurance you need. We can know for certain we
are saved
and have eternal life (1John 5:13 ).
having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience – This
reference to the blood of Jesus and not to water. This is not about
water
baptism although Methodists use Isaiah 52:15 to prove this is water
sprinkling
rather than full water immersion. In Hebrews 9:13 the ashes of a heifer
were
used to purify the flesh. God says that the analogy exists for Jesus’
shed
blood to purify the heart from an evil conscience.
and our
bodies washed with pure water. – This is
a
reference to the fact that water baptism can only wash the body and not
the
conscience which is the job of the blood of Jesus.
10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for he
is faithful that promised;)
Let us
hold fast the profession of our faith
– Mentioned
previous as ‘consider Christ Jesus’ (Heb 3:1). Wherefore, holy
brethren,
partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest
of our
profession, Christ Jesus. You have professed your faith in Christ the
Messiah,
now move onto having Jesus the Saviour.
without
wavering; – no doubts.
Stay
strong.
(for he is
faithful that promised;) – Jesus
can’t be
unfaithful as he has promised
10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works:
And let us
consider one another – let’s
think about the
other
to provoke
– This is a
strong word
used by God. The Jew knows about provoking God to anger and are
familiar with
this term. But this time it is to provoke to something good.
unto love
and to good works: – softened
and tempered
with love and good works - terms that the Jew was familiar (John 10:32).
10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the
day
approaching.
Not
forsaking – not
leaving or
turning your back on
the
assembling of ourselves together, – ‘assembling’
is a
familiar word for Jews used 49 times in the Old Testament. Ourselves,
meaning Paul
and the Messianics, with the latter who had been attending Christians’
services
of worship.
Unfortunately,
this is mistakenly used by
Christians stressing the point that you must go to church – they
misread
‘ourselves’ for ‘yourselves’
as the
manner of some is; – Some were
already
forsaking the gathering together with Christians. Remember that Paul
writes
this epistle while imprisoned for the second time around 67-68AD.
During the
interim since his first imprisonment, the Roman emperor Nero, had
terribly
persecuted the Christians. He then went after Paul, the ring leader,
re-arrested him and has thrown him in prison to await execution.
The
illuminated Jews, to which Paul writes in
this epistle, have seen all this and this is too much for them to bear,
knowing
that should they enter into ‘the rest’ of Jesus the Saviour, they can
expect
the same fate. Already though, as a result of leaving the enlightened
ones
(Moses), they have undergone much pain and suffering from their former
faith,
as Paul points out in Hebrews 10:32-34. As a result, some of the
‘illuminated’
may have returned to being just ‘enlightened’ or drifting off by
themselves.
but
exhorting one another: – urging on
but not
commanding
and so
much the more, – increasingly
as ye see
the day approaching. – the day of
their
salvation. Thus is the ‘To Day’ of the previous chapters.
10:26
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge
of the
truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
This verse
is one of the most misunderstood
verses as people use it to try and prove that a Christian can lose
their
salvation.
For a
start, the target audience as stated
all along, is not the Christian.
Secondly,
the true and exact opposite meaning of this popular
interpretation is contained in this verse.
Why is a
there no more sacrifice for sins?
Simple, Christ’s blood was the last one.
For if we
– Paul uses
this ‘we’
to bring them along in the argument. If you have a son who has been
caught
throwing rocks etc, a wise and gentle parent when correcting may use
the
following words in seeking to persuade by gentle argument than direct
command
eg “Now, Johnny, you’re growing up to be a man, and we men
don’t throw things at others do we?”
sin
wilfully – This is to
sin with
the will and can be classed as knowing sin – a sin that has
been
committed with intent.
after that
we have received the knowledge of
the truth, – Not
only have they received the truth regarding the blood of Jesus,
but they
have received the knowledge of it. The difference is this - Anyone can
hear the
truth but the knowledge of the truth goes a little deeper into the
heart. There
is head knowledge and then there is heart knowledge.
there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, – Having
got to know
the truth about the blood of Jesus as the only way to enter the rest,
God
informs these illuminated Jew that no other sacrifice will now do. (Num
15:30)
10:27
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries.
But a
certain – There
will be no
doubt, it is 100% sure
fearful
looking for – You will
be
fearfully looking forward into the future
of
judgment and fiery indignation, – the fire
of God’s
wrath and judgment and hell.
which
shall devour the adversaries. –
adversaries of the
salvation plan that God outlines here concerning the all sufficiency of
the
shed blood of Jesus.
10:28
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or
three
witnesses:
It was
sufficient for two or three people who
were witnesses or saw a man breaking the Old Testament law, to have him
put to
death with no reprieve or mercy (Deut 17:6; 19:15; Matt 18:16; 2Cor
13:1; 1Tim
5:19).
Here there
are three witnesses – God the
Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Ghost. Furthermore
they are
witnessed by angels.
10:29
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy,
who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood
of the
covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done
despite
unto the Spirit of grace?
Of
how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, - You
will have worse punishment
who
hath trodden under foot the Son of God, – This
is an absolute
disdain in
rejecting
Jesus Christ. The Jew was familiar with the
stories of feet on the necks of kings (Josh 10:24) which symbolized
total
rejection. (Jezebel (2Kings 19:33); the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13)
and the
pastors (Jer 12:10).
and
hath counted the blood of the covenant, – This
blood is the blood of
old covenant and the Jew was sanctified with that at that time. But if
he
rejects the blood of Jesus, he then relies on the ‘shadow of the blood
to
come’. This elevates the “old blood” to a position where it shouldn’t
be
elevated and in so doing treats is as unholy, because it is being used
for a
purpose for which it wasn’t designed. It was once holy, but is now no
longer
holy as it is being treated as an unholy thing. Treating a once holy
thing,
with knowledge or ignorance, makes it unholy.
wherewith
he was sanctified, – This
old blood did sanctify the Jew and set him apart
an
unholy thing, – the
once holy Old Testament blood of animals now becomes
unholy
and
hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? – ‘Despite’
means harm, malice and violence to God’s Spirit that is being
gracious to you. It has done harm and been spiteful to the God’s Holy
Spirit.
Would
you reject the current #1 football star and force a 100 year old former
legend,
back out onto the field to play? Of course not, what a derision and
mockery!
But some were putting the ‘glorious’ (2Cor 3:11) and once sanctifying,
holy,
enlightened (Mosaic), covenant blood (now rendered powerless with a
‘Use By’
date), to the unholy use of washing away sin which it can’t do now.
This
wilful sin of despising the Son of God and his blood (Heb10:29) draws them
back
unto perdition (Heb10:27,39), as no more sacrifice for sins were needed
after the
perfect blood.
10:30
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I
will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
For
we – Paul
uses the word ‘we’ in the argument to side with the
Jews and take them along in his argument
know
him that hath said, – Jesus
said ( the LORD is Jehovah and the Lord is Jesus)
Vengeance
belongeth unto me, - This
is a reference to Deuteronomy 32:35.
I
will recompense, saith the Lord. – A
recompence is a due or
fitting reward for work done. I
will rightfully repay you for your work and this will
take the form of vengeance. You will have earned it Deuteronomy 32:4;Deu 32:42; Ps 94:1;99:8).
And
again, The Lord shall judge his people. – This
is reference to
Deuteronomy 32:36.
Jesus
will judge his people. It’s ‘LORD’ in the Old
Testament representing Jehovah and ‘Lord’ in the New Testament for
Christ. The
LORD and the Lord are one and the same.
10:31 It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
It
is a
fearful thing – dreadful
and horrific
to
fall into
the hands – hands
of God not Satan
of
the
living God. – God
is living and his name is the Lord Jesus
Christ. (Mark 12:26-27)
See
2Cor
5:11. He is the God of the living (Matt 22:32)
10:32
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were
illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
But
call to remembrance the former days, in which, – Remember
when in earlier times
after
ye were illuminated, - ‘Illumination’
(believing in Christ as the Messiah) is one
step in advance of being ‘enlightened’ (being under Aaron, Moses and
the law)
but one step short of entering the rest (having Jesus as the Saviour).
ye
endured a great fight of afflictions; – The
authorities
persecuted these illuminated Jews for helping, hiding and feeding the
Christians.
‘Illuminated’
can’t mean ‘enlightened’ as the Jews under Aaron hated the Christians
and
didn’t help them.
10:33
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and
afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were
so used.
Partly,
whilst ye were made a gazingstock
both by reproaches and afflictions; – You were
objects of contempt from the
enlightened ones – the orthodox Jew, for having left their fold.
and
partly, whilst ye became companions of
them that were so used. – You became
friends of Christians who were
persecuted
10:34
For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the
spoiling
of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better
and an
enduring substance.
For ye had
– This is
past tense and refers to
Paul’s first time in prison.
compassion
of me in my bonds – Were
kind and
caring toward me when I was bound up in prison. AD 64 1st
time in
prison.
and took
joyfully the spoiling of your goods,
– It
was joy for you to have your
possessions confiscated, ruined and sold for helping Christians
knowing in
yourselves
that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. - Although you were not saved, you knew about
the doctrine of Christ (Heb 6:1-2). You also know about the new
covenant that
is coming in the Tribulation (Zech 12:10).
10:35
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of
reward.
Cast not
away therefore your confidence, – don’t
throw away your
hope. You have confidence in believing that Christ is the Messiah so go
on from
there and have confidence in the fact that Christ Jesus is the Saviour.
If you
can there is great reward in this.
which hath
great recompence of reward. – entering
the rest and
coming to the end of your struggle. The Jew had knowledge of such a
phrase (Ruth
2:12 and 2 Sam 19:36).
10:36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will
of God,
ye might receive the promise.
For ye
have need of patience, – you will
need to be
patient.
that,
after ye have done the will of God, - What is
the will of God? To believe on the shed blood of Jesus
ye might
receive the promise. – The
promise of the
permanent and indwelling Holy Ghost that will never leave you (Acts
1:4; 2:33).
10:37
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and
will not
tarry.
For
yet a
little while, – There
will be a little
time to pass (Hab 2:3-4).
and
he
– when Jesus
that
shall come will come, and will not tarry.
– This
is the second coming (Rev 19)
10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my
soul
shall have no pleasure in him.
NOW THE
JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH: – The Jew was
saved
by grace through his faith and being
obedient to what God would have him to do
(Hab 2:4).
BUT IF ANY
MAN DRAW BACK, - So
similarly, don’t
draw away. Even to stand still will be considered as drawing back. Not
to go
forward is to go backward.
MY SOUL
SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM. – This
refers to
Leviticus 26:30.
10:39
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them
that
believe to the saving of the soul.
But we – Paul is a
Jew and is talking to Jewish brothers in the flesh
are not of
them – Nice
inclusive
language giving them the benefit of the doubt with good persuasive
talking and
reasoning. Also stating a fact that Paul and the Christians are not of
them who
draw back or have drawn back to hell.
who draw
back unto perdition; – This is
hell and the
lake of fire. Men will be tormented in destruction and perdition (1 Tim
6:9). Satan
and Judas have association with perdition (Jn 17:12; 2 Thess 2:3).
There remains
a day of judgment and perdition for ungodly men (2Peter 3:7).
but of
them that believe to the saving of the
soul. – If
you will have your souls saved, you will avoid perdition. ‘Save’
is also
mentioned elsewhere (Heb 5:7; 7:25; 11:7).
C11
FAITH
In this
chapter, the word ‘faith’ is used 23
times in referring to the Old Testament saints. But in the whole of the
39
books of the Old Testament, it is only used twice! The reason? The
besetting
sin of the Jew was unbelief. Sure, the Old Testament saints did
everything by faith,
but this was based on their believing
God. No believing God? No faith? They believed God and were
obedient to
what he would have them do.
Paul is
emphasizing believing God. If they
believe on Jesus and his shed blood and leave their animal sacrifices,
they
will be copying their Old Testament elders.
Ch 11
Based
on belief. The list of elders.
A LIST OF
ELDERS, ALTHOUGH THEY WALKED BY FAITH AND OBTAINED A GOOD
REPORT,
THEY WERE
NOT MADE PERFECT (Heb 11:2,3,39,40)
Here is
the key in
verse 8 for Paul’s readers:
“By FAITH
(believing
what God said) Abraham,
when he was CALLED
to go out into a place which he should after RECEIVE
for an inheritance (Canaan), OBEYED;
and he WENT OUT, not
knowing
whither he went.” (Heb 11:8)
Paul
says to these illuminated Jews, “Do what
your father Abraham did”
1. God is calling you
2. Believe
what God tells you to do
3. Obey and
do it
4. You will receive your inheritance
in heaven.
11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things
not seen.
Now faith (believing
what God said) is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. –
A poor
analogy might be: A title deed to a
property is proof of ownership of that property even though the owner
may not
have seen it.
Similarly,
the Bible is proof of the believer’s
ownership in heaven, even though he hasn’t seen it yet.
‘So
then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ (Rom
10:17)
What would
be the evidence of your faith? Prayer, having correct
doctrine, witnessing
and so on.
11:2
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
The Jew
was familiar with good reports (Heb
11:39 and 1 Sam 2:24 and Prov 15:30). Just like an obedient child at
school get
a good report card through learning his lessons, then these elders get
a good
report card from the Lord because of their faith. God writes in this
epistle,
that the illuminated Jew can also get a good report card from believing
that
Christ Jesus shed blood can save their soul.
11:3 Through faith
we understand that the worlds
were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not
made of
things which do appear.
Through
faith (believing
what God said) we
understand that – This
is the faith from God about what he says and through this faith we get
understanding
the worlds
were framed by the word of God, – Just as a
builder
puts up a frame for a building, God spoke his word and did the same for
his
creation.
so that
things which are seen were not made
of things which do appear. – This is a
creation out of nothing. Magicians
use illusion to look as though they make something out of nothing. God
does it
for real.
11:4 By
faith (believing
what God said) Abel offered unto God a
more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that
he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet
speaketh.
By faith
Abel offered unto God a more
excellent sacrifice than Cain,
Abel had
faith that his blood offering was
what God wanted. He had seen his parents do the same thing.
by which
he obtained witness that he was
righteous, – Because
Abel offered blood and Cain offered his works, the former was said
to be
righteous.
God
testifying of his gifts: – God gave
his
approval.
and by it
he being dead yet speaketh. – “The voice of
thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the
ground.”
(Gen 4:10). Long after Abel was dead, his blood cried from the ground.
Now long
after Jesus has died his blood also cries out spiritually and speaks to
God.
For those who have their soul saved, it is a propitiation which turns
away
God’s wrath.
It was a
literal thing that Abel’s blood went
into the ground. Being in the ground, God could see it and it reminded
God of
what had happened when Cain killed Abel. Abel’s blood spoke to God on a
continuous
11:5 By
faith (believing
what God said) Enoch was translated (taken
from earth without dying) that he should
not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for
before
his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
What
is a translation? You can have a phrase that is translated into two
languages –
they are the same words but in different forms. So Enoch was the same
man but
in a different form. He had gone form
physical
man to spiritual man.
11:6
But without faith (believing
what God said) it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
But
without faith it is impossible to please
him: – Walking
by sight cannot please God, in fact, it has zero percent success rate.
Even
though you can’t see the outcome, you believe what God tells you to do.
for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, - He
must believe
that God is the great “I AM” (Ex
3:14).
and
that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Those
that will labour and seek the truth at any cost will be rewarded both
before
and after the salvation of their souls. Diligent is a word used in
Hebrews
12:6. Diligent souls get fat (Prov 13:4). ‘Diligence’
is a business term especially used with the word ‘due’. ‘Due diligence’
involves careful scrutiny of the books/cash flow/assets and so on.
11:7 By
faith (believing
what God said) Noah, being warned of God
of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the
saving of
his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith.
By faith
Noah, being warned of God of things
not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his
house; –
Noah
just believed what God said and moved with awe? No! Wonderment? No!
Reverence?
No! Fear? Yes! Fear of what? Fear of
God’s wrath. Paul says “Noah saved his house, therefore you Jews save
your
souls (house) as well.”
by the
which he condemned the world, - By the which (the things not yet
seen) which was the flood and other events
and became
heir of the righteousness which is
by faith. – This
the righteousness that comes not of works but of faith. Christians
today are
heirs of righteousness because of faith alone in the shed blood of
Jesus alone.
God sometimes shuts up his saints like he did with Noah and the
believer
must abandon themselves to the faith that only God can give.
Noah
started a journey and arrived without
knowing when, where or how, but you Jew can see where the end point is.
Do
likewise.
11:8 By
faith (believing
what God said) Abraham, when he was
called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an
inheritance (Canaan), obeyed; and he went out, not
knowing
whither he went.
Abraham
went from Haran under God’s
instructions and not knowing where he would end up. Abraham started on
a
journey like you Jews have been on and arrived by faith. If you love
Abraham
then follow his example.
11:9 By
faith (believing
what God
said) he sojourned in the land of
promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same
promise:
By faith
he sojourned in the land of promise,
as in a strange country, – He resided
temporarily in ‘strange’ Canaan which was the
eventual land that his descendants would occupy
dwelling
in tabernacles – tents (Num
24:5)
with Isaac
and Jacob, – They were
not yet
born but were in him.
the heirs
with him of the same promise: – They were
heirs of
God’s promise to Abraham. Are you heirs? Then do likewise and go
forward in
faith and believe.
11:10
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker
is God.
As well as
staying in a strange land (earthly
Canaan) Noah wanted to be dwelling in God’s house by believing God.
11:11
Through faith (believing
what God said) also Sara herself
received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when
she was
past age (99 years old), because she
judged him faithful who had promised.
11:12
Therefore sprang there even of one (Abraham) , and him as good as dead (100 years old),
so many (his descendants) as
the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea
shore
innumerable.
11:13
These all died in faith (believing
what God said), not having received the promises (given
to Abraham), but having seen them afar off, and were
persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were
strangers
and pilgrims on the earth.
Yes,
they knew their eventual home was heaven.
11:14
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a
country.
They
could see that the earth was only a temporary place to dwell. They
would
confess that they sought a new heavenly country. They were obedient and
believed.
11:15
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence
they
came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
And truly,
if they had been mindful of that
country from whence they came out, – There was
a famine in Canaan (Gen 12:10) and
Abram and Sarai his wife, went to Egypt for food when they
shouldn’t
have. If Abraham had been mindful of the promise that God had given
him, they
could have remained in the land of Canaan.
they might
have had opportunity to have
returned. – They
would have entered into the Promised Land (Canaan) themselves
11:16
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for
them a
city.
But now
they desire a better country, that
is, an heavenly: – This
is heaven
wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called
their God: – In
walking by faith and desiring a better country, God is not ashamed of
them.
for he
hath prepared for them a city. – This will
be the New
Jerusalem to come.
11:17 By faith (believing
what God said) Abraham, when he was tried, offered up
Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only
begotten son,
By faith
Abraham, when he was tried, - He was
tested
offered up
Isaac: – Isaac was
the type of
Jesus (Gen 22:8).
and he
that had received the promises – Abraham
Gen 13:14-18
offered up
his only begotten son, – This
reminds us of
John 3:16. He was ready to kill his son even though God said
that
through him would be countless descendants. Abraham is a type of God
with an
only begotten son. (Jn 3:16)
11:18
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Of whom it
was said, - Abraham
That in
Isaac shall thy seed be called: –Through
Isaac would
be his descendants (Gen 21:12; Rom 9:7).
In Jesus
will be a huge number of descendants
just like Abraham had and will have.
11:19
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the
dead; from
whence also he received him in a figure.
Accounting
– A
financial term
meaning the same as ‘reckoning’.
that God
was able to raise him up, even from
the dead; – Abraham
knew that God could and would raise Isaac from the dead
from
whence also he received him in a figure.
–
Isaac is a type of Christ. Abraham is a type of God. This type was then
replaced by God himself with the lamb which is Christ. Abraham and
Isaac were
figures or a shadows of God the Father and Christ to come.
11:20
By faith (believing
what God said) Isaac blessed Jacob and
Esau concerning things to come.
By faith
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau
concerning things to come. This is
found in Genesis 27:27-38.
11:21
By faith (believing
what God said) Jacob, when he was a
dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon
the top of
his staff. (Gen 48:14)
11:22
By faith Joseph (believing
what God said), when he died, made mention of the departing
of the children of
Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
By
faith
Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of
Israel;
- Joseph
says the Lord will
deliver them out of Egypt into the promised land albeit earthly, but
still
representative of the spiritual in heaven to come (Gen 50:24).
and
gave
commandment concerning his bones. – Joseph
wanted
his bones taken out of Egypt and placed in the promised land (Gen
50:25). Bones
are also representative of a spiritual body. Jesus when he appears to
his
disciples after his resurrection, has flesh and bones and this is what
a
spiritual body consists of (Luke 24:39). His, albeit, physical bones
were to be
buried in a physical promised land and this symbolized the spiritual
bones in a
better, spiritual promised land to come in the new heaven to come.
11:23
By faith (believing
what God said) Moses (believing what
God said), when he was born, was hid
three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child;
and they
were not afraid of the king's commandment.
By faith
Moses, when he was born, was hid
three months of his parents, – His
parents hid him for three months in the
bulrushes. (Ex 2:1-3)
because
they saw he was a proper child; – This is a
child with
a purpose. Every man has his proper gift (1Cor 7:7) and tools also have
their
proper use eg shovels for digging, hammers for hitting etc, so this
child Moses
was fitted for a proper use and purpose before God. There are proper
uses of
people and things for God. (1Chron 29:3)
and they
were not afraid of the king's
commandment. – There
was a commandment to kill the boy babies (Ex 1:22) but Moses parents
weren’t
afraid of Pharaoh’s edict. Their faith was stronger than any
persecution that
would come. Paul is helping to see that the trials and persecutions of
Hebrews chapter
ten were also experienced by people of faith that they respected and
loved.
11:24
By faith (believing
what God said) Moses, when he was come
to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
By faith
Moses, when he was come to years, – When he
was old enough
refused to
be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter; – Moses
refused high office (although he was next in
line to be
Pharaoh) and walked out of his Egyptian family into God’s family. Paul
urges
the illuminated Jew to do likewise and leave the Jewish family and
enter into
God’s family.
11:25
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,
than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God, – He
led God’s people to the promised land through the trials of the desert.
Paul
says to his readers “Become a Christian and suffer with us as the
people of
God.”
than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
season; – Moses
could have stayed in a foreign land and had all the privileges, wealth
and
honour in Egypt.
11:26
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in
Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in Egypt: – Moses held
more dearly the sufferings of
Christ than the treasures and pleasures of Egypt.
Now Moses
wasn’t a Christian, but Paul is
letting the Jews know he is writing to, that Jehovah God of the Old
Testament
is Jesus Christ of the New Testament. The Name ‘Christ’ means ‘the
deliverer’, ‘the
Messiah’. (2Sam 22:2; Ps 18:2)
Paul
exhorts them to do similarly. See Heb
13:8 ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
today, forever”
for he had
respect unto the recompence of the
reward. –
Moses
could see ahead and the rewards that
would come from obeying God. The reward of doing God’s will outweighs
the
reward of disobedience. Recompence is the earned reward of some action
and is
used several places (Hebrews 2:2,Hebrews 10:30,Hebrews 10:35,Hebrews 11:26). Paul
says to do likewise
to the illuminated Jews.
11:27
By faith (believing
what God said) he forsook Egypt, not
fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is
invisible.
By faith
he forsook Egypt, - Moses fled
Egypt
(Exodus 2:15).
not
fearing the wrath of the king: – Moses
didn’t fear
Pharaoh and Paul urges the Jew not to fear any opposition that will
come
because they enter ‘the rest’ by becoming Christians
for he
endured, as seeing him who is
invisible. – He
saw the invisible God Jehovah who is Christ. This enabled him to endure
the
hardships that came and the persecutions.
11:28
Through faith (believing
what God said) he kept the passover, and
the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should
touch
them.
Through
faith he kept the passover, - Moses
keeps the passover by faith and
Paul urges the Jew to also see Jesus Christ as the Passover (1 Cor 5:7)
And the
blood shall be to you for a token upon the
houses where ye are: and when I
see the blood, I will pass over you, and
the plague shall not
be upon you to destroy you,
when I smite the land of Egypt. Exodus
12:13
and
the sprinkling of blood, - This
blood was upon the lintels
(Exodus 12:13) and saved from God’s wrath. Paul wants the Jew to also
have the
sprinkling of blood, not the physical blood to the purifying of the
flesh, but
the spiritual blood of Jesus to the purging of the conscience.
lest
he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. – The
firstborn of Egypt were destroyed because Pharaoh wouldn’t have the
blood of
the physical passover lamb for protection. Similarly, Paul says that
the Jew is
in danger of destroying themselves, as the future and possible
firstborn into
heaven, should they reject the blood of Jesus. Jesus was the firstborn
into
heaven, and the believer being in Jesus, is also said to be firstborn
(Col
1:15). The believer belongs and is the church of the firstborn (Heb
12:23).
11:29
By faith (believing
what God said) they passed through the
Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
By
faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: – not
soggy. This is the baptism which is a dry one and not a wet one (Rom
6:3-4; Eph
4:5). The escaping Jew through the Red Sea to get to the other side and
rest,
had a dry baptism. Similarly the Jew coming into the rest will also
experience
the baptism of the Holy Ghost into the death of Christ to get into the
rest.
which the
Egyptians assaying to do were
drowned. – This
is attempting with effort, purpose and plan. An assay by a
geologist is
a sample here and a sample there with strategy. The Egyptians had a
plan and
strategy to follow the Jew through the Red Sea.
Paul urges
them to similarly not to fear the
pursuing hordes of afflictions and persecutions, but flee through a dry
baptism
into the rest of their souls. He says the opposition will do themselves
harm,
but they will be safe in the arms of Jesus.
11:30
By faith (believing
what God said) the walls of Jericho fell
down, after they were compassed about seven days.
By faith
the walls of Jericho fell down,
after they were compassed about seven days. – Paul says
that the
people entered the city of Jericho by faith and not by works lest any
man
should boast (Joshua 6:1-27). They believed God when he told them to
circle
Jericho several times and so on.
Similarly,
Paul urges them to do likewise and
enter God’s city by faith.
11:31
By faith (believing
what God said) the harlot Rahab perished
not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with
peace.
By faith
the harlot Rahab perished not – Paul says
“Fancy
this! A gentile and a woman prostitute was saved by believing the spies
sent
from Joshua.” (Joshua 6:25).
with them
that believed not ,– Jericho
inhabitants
when she
had received the spies with peace. –
her
house in the wall didn’t fall down and all those inside were protected
by the
scarlet (Joshua 6:18, 22). Paul urges
his reader, the illuminated Jew, to receive himself, Paul, also as a
spy as it
were, with peace and not be destroyed with others.
11:32
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of
Gedeon,
and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and
Samuel, and of
the prophets:
And what
shall I more say? – What
more
can I say? How much more do you need to convince you?
for the
time would fail me to tell of Gedeon,
and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and
Samuel, and of
the prophets:
Gideon (Judges 6); Barak (Judges 4:6);
Samson (Judges 14) Jephthae (Judges
11)
11:33
Who through faith (believing
what God said) subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the
mouths of lions.
Who
through
faith subdued kingdoms, - You
illuminated Jews can also subdue a kingdom by faith if you will – the
kingdom
of God
wrought
righteousness, - By
faith you also may obtain righteousness –
God’s righteousness though the blood of Jesus.
obtained
promises, - You
also may obtain the promise of the
indwelling Holy Ghost by believing
stopped
the
mouths of lions. – You
also can stop the mouth of the lion
called Nero the emperor who you have just recently seen kill the
Christians.
11:34
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword,
out of
weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the
armies
of the aliens.
Quenched
the violence of fire, - Save
your soul, and
you will not face the fire of hell
escaped
the edge of the sword, - There is
only one
sword you’ll want to escape and that’s the sword of the Lord
(Revelation 19:15)
out of
weakness were made strong, - When you
enter the
rest, your weakness will be made strong in him (2 Corinthians 12:9)
waxed
valiant in fight, - As you
flee into
the rest, you will also grow more and more valiant.
turned to
flight the armies of the aliens. – Your
strength will be
in the Lord, who shall you fear? (Hebrews 13:6)
11:35
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
Women
received their dead raised to life
again: - The
widow of Zarephath experienced this (1Kings 17:17). Paul says that they
too are
to be considered dead and to be raised to life again by believing and
faith.
and others
were tortured, not accepting deliverance;
that they might obtain a better resurrection: - Paul urges
them to
this if necessary. You Jews
have spoiled
your goods and suffered afflictions and been a gazing-stock in helping
me, but
not in comparison to these Old Testament saints. Do not accept a false
deliverance but the real deliverance by the blood of Jesus. The better
resurrection will be into heaven. You do not want to be resurrected
into hell.
11:36
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea,
moreover of
bonds and imprisonment:
Paul
outlines the Old Testament examples
while also being a present witness for them in this regard.
11:37
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were
slain with
the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute,
afflicted, tormented;
They were
stoned, - Avoid at
all costs, the stone (Jesus) that will grind you to powder
(Matthew 21:44)
they were
sawn asunder, were tempted, were
slain with the sword: - Avoid at
all costs the sword of the Lord (Revelation 19:15).
they
wandered about in sheepskins and
goatskins; - Like
Adam and Eve who had skins also, after having had the blood of a lamb
to get
right with God (Genesis 3:21).
being
destitute, afflicted, tormented; - Paul says
that he has been through all this himself as
well (2 Corinthians 11:22-30). The Jew to which he writes has also
experienced
some of this as well.
11:38
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts,
and in
mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
The world wasn’t worthy of Jesus either.
11:39
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith (believing
what God
said), received not the promise:
This was
the promise of the indwelling Holy
Ghost (Acts 1:4 and Acts 2:33).
11:40
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without
us
should not be made perfect.
God having
provided some better thing for us,
– The
shed blood of Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Ghost
that they
without us should not be made perfect.
– Being
‘enlightened’ then they weren’t made perfect then and being an
‘illuminated’
Jew can’t make you perfect either.
C12
CHASTENING
This
chapter is soaked in Old Testament references with which
Paul’s
readers would be thoroughly familiar.
An
exceedingly clever way to encourage, explain and convince
Ch 12 = Put aside
unbelief
a. THE
ILLUMINATED HEBREW URGED TO FINISH THE RACE
(Heb 12:1)
b.
ALTHOUGH HAVING CHRIST THE AUTHOR, YOU ALSO NEED JESUS
THE FINISHER (Heb 12:1-2)
c. URGED
TO LIFT THE HANDS AND FEEBLE KNEES (Heb 12:12)
d. COME
UNTO JESUS AND REFUSE HIM NOT (Heb 12:24, 25)
12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of
witnesses, let us 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,
Wherefore
seeing we – The Jew,
having
seen miracle after miracle, Paul uses the words of ‘seeing’ (1 Cor
1:22) and
‘cloud’ (Ex 13:12) as the visual language that all Jews would have been
familiar with
also are
compassed about – Surrounded
by
with so
great a cloud of witnesses,- These are
everyone
mentioned in this epistle - angels, spirits, Jesus, God the Father, the
Holy
Ghost, elders, fathers, prophets and Christians and
all those mentioned in chapter 11
let us lay
aside every weight, - Runners
don’t have
weights or pockets or wallets to put in their pockets.
and the
sin – The sin
for the Jew
is unbelief
which doth
so easily beset us, - It’s
always been unbelief that easily comes upon the Jew.
and let us
run with patience – The Jew
would be
familiar with this phrase and they know that patience brings forth
fruit (Luke
8:15). Just like Abraham waited 13 years to get Isaac, but only after
he had
believed
the race
that is set before us, - The race
set before
the illuminated Jew is equivalent to being on third base in a baseball
game.
All they have to do is run home and get to the end. At home base they
can then
rest. (Heb 3:6,14; 6:11). This is Paul’s language (1Cor 9:24; 2Tim 2:5;
2Tim 4:7; Gal 2:2; Phil 2:16)
12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for
the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down
at the right hand of the throne of God.
Looking – Visual
Language is used
29 times
in this epistle.
(look
Heb 9:28) (looking Heb 10:27
Heb 12:2, 15) (looked Heb 11:10)
(appear
Heb 9:24,28; Heb 11:3) (appeared Heb 9:26)
(see
Heb 2;8,9; Heb 3:19, Heb 8:5, Heb 10:25;Heb 12:14,25 Heb 11:5; Heb 13:23)
(seeing
Heb 4:6,14; Heb 5:11; Heb 6:6; Heb 7:25; Heb 8:4;
Heb 11:27; Heb 12:1)
(seen
Heb 11:1,3,7,13) (saw Heb 3:9,
Heb 11:23) (watch Heb 13:7)
unto Jesus
the author – This word
is also
mentioned (Heb 5:9). Jesus is the author and he has the
‘author’- ity.
He writes the story and only he will determine the plot and the
outcome.
and
finisher of our faith; - Now,
the
author of a book starts and finishes the book. Jesus is the
author and
finisher – the alpha and omega (Rev 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13). “As a Messiah
believing illuminated Jew you have him as the author but you need him
as the
rest, the finisher and the Saviour.”
who for
the joy that
was set before him
– This joy was after the cross (Phil
2:9)
endured – A familiar word to the Jew regarding Abraham
(Heb 6:15); their former days in
(Heb 10:32); Moses
(Heb11:27)
the cross,
despising
the shame,
- Scornfully disdained with the shame
of being made a curse, being spat upon,
whipped, rejected, hardly clothed, bearing the sin of man and so on
and is set
down at
the right hand of the throne of God. – God
set him down at his right hand, the special hand, which is where the
blessing is
to be found. Paul urges his readers to become ‘right – eous’ as well.
12:3
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners
against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
For
consider him – Ponder and
think
about it, if you will
that
endured – It
certainly was an
endurance
such
contradiction – This made
up of two
words ‘contra’ and ‘diction’ meaning ‘against’ and ‘speaking’ – it was
the
speaking against. You have faced a certain amount of contradiction to a
certain
extent by being illuminated and believing the Christ is the Messiah,
however
not ‘such’ contradiction that Jesus faced going to the cross.
of sinners
against himself, – This would
be
unbelievable contradiction to have sinners come against the only
sinless man
who ever lived.
lest ye be
wearied – This is a
familiar
word for the Jew (Ezek 24:12) and occurs fifty-six times in the Old
Testament.
and faint
– Contradiction
can
make you weary and faint. This word occurs 41 times in the Old
Testament.
in your
minds. – This is
where it
starts. Discouragement starts in the brain.
12:4 Ye
have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Paul’s
readers hadn’t been persecuted yet to
the point of spilling any of their blood yet. They had faced strong
opposition
from the enlightened ones though.
12:5
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as
unto
children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor
faint when
thou art rebuked of him:
And ye
have forgotten the exhortation – This is
from the Old
Testament (Prov 3:11-12)
which
speaketh unto you as unto children, - Paul uses
this to
address them as children saying that they haven’t yet become of full
age yet.
My son,
despise not thou the chastening of
the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
The
Jew is familiar with the
chastening hand of the Lord –
Psalm
38:1 – good prayer to pray.
Ps
6:1 – not when your angry
Lord.
Deut 8:5 –
man chastens a son
Deut
21:18-21 – rebellious son
2 Sam 7:14
– chastened but mercy will not
depart.
Ps 94:12 –
blessed is the man
Prov 13:24
love your son
Prov 19:18
while there is hope
Rev 3:19 I
rebuke and chasten
Job 33:19
Chasten with pain
Ps 69:10
Chasten my soul
Dan 10:12
chasten thyself before the Lord.
12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he
receiveth.
The Jew
knows this (Deut 8:5; Prov 13:24).
The
Lord corrects everyone
whether they backslide or not. Why? To keep us humble
(2Cor12:4-8); to empathize
with others (2Cor 1:1-3); to keep our affections
on things above (Col 3:1-3); to prove God’s promises
are real (Phil 4:13,19); to show that the grace
of God is sufficient for the severest trials (2Cor
12:9).
To
conform us to the image of his
Son (Rom 8:28) can simply mean that God must test us. Just being a
child of God
means you must be dependent on him. He must get the glory. We must be
made
nothing and have no confidence in the flesh (2Cor 10:2; Phil 3:3-4).
12:7 If
ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son
is he
whom the father chasteneth not?
If ye
endure chastening, - You know
about this
already from your history (Deut 8:4-5). It was tough but you did
eventually
arrive at Canaan (Heb 4:8; Job 5:17). Chastening is not punishment.
God
dealeth with you as with sons; - If you
don’t obey
your father in the natural, you will get some correction. Now some
earthly
fathers may not correct you, but God being a good father will not
forget to
chasten.
for what
son is he whom the father chasteneth
not?
The Jew to
whom Paul writes are hesitant
about taking a further step into Christ the Saviour as they have endured already. They were seeing what the Christians
were going through and having second thoughts.
12:8
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers,
then are
ye bastards, and not sons.
But if ye
be without chastisement, - No
correction means
no father.
whereof
all are partakers, - Rebellious
sons were
stoned (Deut 21:20).
then are
ye bastards, and not sons. – Bastards
are born out of wedlock. Bastards
know who their mother is but very
often not their father. Why? Their mothers have co-habited with
different men
and may not know who the father is. Mothers find it very difficult to
raise
teenage sons on their own. All boys need the rod of correction that
only
fathers can bring while mothers fulfil the mothering role.
12:9 Furthermore we
have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much
rather be in
subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Furthermore
we have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us, -
All boys respect their fathers who will correct them. Boys and men know
they
need someone looking over them and after them. Males do not have a
problem with
this.
and we
gave them reverence: - The Jew
was very
familiar with reverence (Lev 19:30; 2Sam 9:6; 1Kings 1:31).
shall we
not much rather – If we
would do this
for our earthly fathers, we should all the more do this for our
heavenly
Father.
be in
subjection – This is
stronger
than reverence
unto the
Father of spirits, - Another
reference to
angels and spirits (Heb 1:7) to which they gave homage. This
is the spiritual Father in heaven who is
father of these spirits. “If you respect and worship angels then how
much more
should you give the Father of these spirits?”
and live?
– Being in
subjection
unto the heavenly Father will bring everlasting life not
perdition. If
you don’t you will die and burn in hell.
12:10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own
pleasure;
but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
For
they
verily for a few days - As
you grew, all this correction from
your earthly fathers may have seemed like a long time but it wasn’t
chastened
us
after their own pleasure; -
They thought it was
for our good as well as theirs. In either case, it wasn’t for eternal
purposes.
but
he for
our profit, - You
will have your soul saved and
in addition you will inherit rewards in heaven (1 Cor
6:9-10; 1Co 15:50; Gal 5:21). How much more will he do it for our profit? The
desert was
for your benefit to show you your hearts the lust, idolatry,
fornication,
tempting Christ and murmuring (1Cor 10:10). This time was also to try
your
hearts (2Chron 32:31; Ps 26:2; 139:23).
that
we
might be partakers of his holiness. – Your
profit
was to be partakers of his holiness. The word ‘partakers’ is used (Heb
2:14;3:1;3:14;6:4;12:8;12:10) meaning to take part ie a part – taker.
Paul urges
them to ‘whole - takers’ with Jesus.
12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but
grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto
them which are exercised thereby.
Now no
chastening for the present seemeth to
be joyous, but grievous: At the
time we have no understanding and even if we do,
we don’t enjoy it.
nevertheless
– anyhow
afterward
it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness – The
end justifies the means. We can look back and see it was for our own
good. Righteousness
yields fruit and it is peaceable.
There is a
self-righteousness that comes from
our own strength and independence but this doesn’t produce the right
fruit and
is not what God wants (Amos 6:12).
God
chastens us to get right with him. After
the ‘whack’ we get in love, all is forgiven when we come into our
rightful
place. Just like with Mum and Dad. There is a peace just getting right
with
each other.
unto them
which are exercised thereby. - Now this
is a race
and you will be exercised just like a foot race. But after it all,
there is
rest and a peace after the exercise.
12:12
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble
knees;
There were
five main offerings – Burnt, Meal, Peace (consisting
of wave
and heave offerings), Sin, Trespass
Wave
and heave offerings were
part of the peace offerings to the Lord. Jesus also was heaved up on
the cross
and also became a curse on behalf of all men to make peace with God the
Father
on our behalf. Paul is saying that if the sacrifice of praise is all
that’s
needed then raising the hands is symbolic of making peace with the
Lord. Christ
is our peace offering (Rom 5:1 and Col 1:20).
Wherefore
lift up the hands which hang down, - A heave
offering
and lifting up your hands (Lev 7:13-14, 32) is a peace offering.
and the
feeble knees; - ‘Feeble
knees’ and being ‘feeble’ were familiar under the Old Testament
“Thy
words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened
the feeble knees.” Job 4:4
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm
the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart,
Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance,
even God
with a recompense; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes
of the blind shall be opened, and the
ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters
break out,
and streams in the desert.
10 And the
ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come
to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall
obtain joy
and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Is
35:3-6,10.
12:13
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame
be turned
out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
And make
straight paths for your feet, - Stop
making it
difficult for yourselves. Symbolic of the straight paths to the cities
of refuge which were a type of Christ. The gospel of peace, which
brings peace,
is also associated with the feet.
lest that
which is lame – Even the
priests
couldn’t be lame (Lev 21:17-20). Jesus Christ was observed for four
days for
‘lameness’ and defect (Ex 12:2-6).
be turned
out of the way; - Now Jesus
Christ is
the way (John 14:6) and he appeared to Paul in the way (Acts 9:17).
but let it
rather be healed. – Your
lameness can be
healed. Your lameness is the result of
the sin of unbelief. Be healed so that you can run into Jesus (the city
of
refuge) who is the rest and the end of the race.
12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man
shall see
the Lord:
Follow
peace with all men,
-
First of all get peace with the Lord Jesus Christ.
How
can you have peace with all
men without being saved? You can’t. It’s not real peace if you do. When
the
Prince of Peace comes back there is real peace (Is 6:9). God made peace
with
man (Luke 2:14).
and
holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord: Absolutely.
You will not see the Lord without being
saved. This is holiness that comes from being saved.
12:15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest
any root
of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Looking
diligently – Wanting
the truth at
all cost. Pursue the truth. Just like the woman having ten pieces of
silver and
losing one and searching diligently to find it (Luke 15:8). They are
familiar
with the words ‘diligent’ and ‘diligently’ as it occurs 38 times in the
Old
Testament.
lest any
man fail of the grace of God; - God’s
grace saves you
(Eph 2:8-9) so don’t fail or fall short of it.
lest any
root of bitterness – Don’t let
even a root
spring up. Plants come from roots. You can’t see a plant when it’s a
root but
it’s there and with nurturing and watering it’ll grow. The waters of
Marah were
bitter (Ex 15:23) and bitter water causes a curse (Num 5:18-19-23-24).
What
sort of bitterness could happen? Could it be that the Gentile can now
call God
‘Abba Father’? (Rom 9:24; Gal 4:6).
The only
cure at Marah was to have a tree
that was thrown in and it sweetened it (Ex 15:25). Jesus is that tree
and the
only antidote. Bitter herbs were used to remind them of the days of
bondage in
Egypt (Ex 12:8). To stay bitter is to stay in bondage. God would urge
them to
come out of the bondage of Egypt and come into a better land.
springing
up trouble you, - This is
how
bitterness works. It seems to come from nowhere.
and
thereby many be defiled; - This is
the
equivalent of a file being taken out of the filing cabinet and not
being put
back again – it is de-filed. To be defiled is to have your condition
altered
forever as was Dinah’s case (Gen 34:2). Paul urges the illuminated Jew
not to
have bitterness keep them away from the better things that God has for
them.
12:16
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who
for one
morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Lest there
be any fornicator, - A
fornicator like
Esau denied his inheritance, the Lord’s inheritance which was for him.
God
urges the reader not to be like Esau and deny their rightful
inheritance by not
coming into the rest.
or profane
person, - A profane
person is
like a harlot who has married another (Lev 21:9). Don’t profane
yourselves by
being unfaithful to the doctrine that Jesus Christ is only the Messiah.
as Esau,
who for one morsel of meat sold his
birthright. – Esau
paid a terrible price for neglecting his birthright and he sold it
extremely
cheaply.
God urges
the illuminated Jew to not sell
their birthright by neglecting Christ as Saviour and by selling up your
everlasting life for a one morsel of gain or ‘food’ that seems to
satisfy but
doesn’t in the long run.
If your
morsel is believing that Christ is
the Messiah, you will ‘starve’ in the long run and go to hell. Your
birthright
is to be in Jesus as the Saviour.
12:17
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the
blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though
he
sought it carefully with tears.
For ye
know how that afterward, - ‘Before-ward’ Esau had the blessing being the
eldest. Afterward he didn’t.
when he
would have inherited the blessing, - It was
Esau’s
blessing to be had simply by inheritance. No works were involved. Just
it is
for you to inherit the blessing from Jesus the Saviour – you can’t earn
it, buy
it or work for it.
he was
rejected: It’s too
late when
the gate is shut. God rejected Esau.
for he
found no place of repentance, - No place
means no
place. There is no repentance when it’s too late (Gen 27:38).
though he
sought it carefully with tears. There’ll
be much
weeping and wailing after the offer of Jesus the Saviour is taken away
(Gen
27:38).
Although
Esau received no repentance
and no birthright, he received a blessing. However this blessing
involved work
(Gen 27:39-40) and was not God’s inheritance.
God warns
that the illuminated Jew who are so
close to entering the rest, that should they reject their birthright,
then they
can look forward to a similar fate as Esau.
12:18
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and
that
burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
For ye are
not come
unto the mount that might be touched, - This mount is not like the physical one that you could touch
– Mt Sinai.
You are come to a spiritual mount.
and that
burned – God burned this physical mount with fire at
Mt Sinai (Deut 4:11).
with fire, - Fire speaks of the judgment at Mt Sinai (Ex
20:18). At this mount, God gave the law which brought with it a curse
(Gal
3:10, 13).
nor unto
blackness, - (Ex 20:21)
and
darkness, - (Ex 20:21)
and
tempest, - (Ex 19:16)
12:19
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice
they
that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any
more:
And the
sound of a trumpet, and the voice of
words; which voice they that heard - (Ex
19:18-19)
intreated
that the word should not be spoken
to them any more:
The people
cried out that God would stop
speaking to them (Ex 20:19). The people wanted another god, Moses their
god, to
speak to them. God was too harsh. The Jew is being accused of settling
for
second best in having Moses speak to them. They wanted the physical man
and not
the spiritual God. They are in danger of committing the same sin of
having Christ
the physical Messiah and not Jesus the spiritual who now speaks to them
from
heaven. Paul says don’t make this same mistake as they did at Mt Sinai.
Let God
speak to you and don’t refuse to hear him (Heb 12:25).
12:20
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so
much as a
beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a
dart:
(For they
could not endure that which was
commanded, - God
spoke from heaven and it was unbearable (Ex 20:19). Paul’s readers find
themselves in a similar position – they are refusing to listen to God
who is
commanding them to enter the rest.
And if so
much as a beast touch the mountain,
it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: - Although
the mountain
was physical, it was spiritual in that God would not be touched (Ex
19:12-13;
Ex 20:19) and this was similar to Uzzah (2 Sam 6:7). The physical, the
animals,
couldn’t touch the spiritual and live either.
The
analogy here is that if you touch the
physical ie continue to have Christ as your Messiah, you will die.
12:21
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly
fear and
quake:)
And so
terrible was the sight, - The word
‘terrible’
comes from the word ‘terror’. The presence of the Lord is a terrible
thing
(Deut 7:21). Their experience of the presence of God was a dreadful
thing in
the true sense of the word.
that Moses
said, I exceedingly fear and
quake:) – Even
Moses who was chosen by the Lord was in fear and trembling. This is not
written
in scripture but had been noted. Like Jeremy (Matt 2:17; 27:9) he spoke
words
but it wasn’t recorded.
12:22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living
God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
But ye are
come unto mount Sion, and unto the
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, - Mt Sinai
is where you
were and had come to and this is where you had a dreadful physical
time. Don’t
repeat this again. You are come to the spiritual mount this time and it
is the
mountain of the living God who sits at the right hand of God the
Father, and
his name is Jesus Christ the Saviour. You are come to him who speaks
from
heaven (spiritual) and not the one who speaks from earth (physical).
and to an
innumerable company of angels, - Paul’s
readers have
a history of dealing with angels who they respect and admire.
12:23
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are
written
in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men
made
perfect,
To the
general assembly – Ye are
come ‘unto’
not yet ‘into’ (from verse 22) to this assembly. The Jew is familiar
with this
term (Ex 12:6). This general assembly are those taken from Abraham’s
bosom into
heaven and the church of the firstborn are Christians. Indeed, the Jews
were
called a church in the desert.
and church
of the firstborn, - The Jew
in the
desert is called a church as well as a congregation (Heb 2:12; Ps
22:22).
which are
written in heaven, - This is a
spiritual
place where Jesus speaks from.
and to God
the Judge of all, - all men,
Jew, Greek,
Barbarian etc
and to the
spirits – not
physical
of just
men made perfect, - Men who
will be
justified are made perfect by the shed blood of Jesus. Just men (Ecc
8:14) are
made perfect and become so by being obedient.
If the Jew will obey the Father’s will, he will also join those
in heaven.
12:24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood
of
sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
And to
Jesus the mediator of the new covenant,
-
Ye
are come (from verse 22) to Jesus now. There is also
a new covenant that will come in the Tribulation for the Jew when they
will
look on him who they have pierced (Zech 12:10).
and to the
blood of sprinkling, - This is
the blood of
(Heb 9:14) which is spiritual and purges the conscience and not the
heifer
blood which is physical (Heb 9:13)
that
speaketh better things that that of
Abel. – This
shed blood of Jesus does three things that the blood of
Abel
could never do - 1. Results in vengeance 2. Accomplishes and fulfils
the atonement
3. Purges the conscience. Abel’s blood was eventually avenged (Gen
4:10-11) and
justice was done at that time, but it didn’t bring about atonement or
the
purging of the conscience.
Now
if
Abel’s blood cried out to God from the ground and
God heard it (Gen 4:7), how much more will Jesus blood get God’s
attention?
The
blood of Jesus - 1. Brought
the avenging and the curse on Jesus himself
2. Accomplished the atonement between God and man Atonement and
3.
Purged man’s conscience. A much better blood than Abel.
12:25
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped
not who
refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we
turn away
from him that speaketh from heaven:
See that
ye refuse not him that speaketh. – This is
Jesus that
speaks from heaven.
For if
they escaped not – This is
anyone on
earth when Jesus Christ was the Son of man and includes the enlightened
Jew.
For refusing him then, they went to hell.
who
refused him that spake on earth, - Jesus
the Messiah
on earth
much more
shall not we escape, - you will
be just like
them and end up in hell
if we turn
away from him that speaketh from
heaven: -
Jesus now sits in heaven on the right hand of God the Father as the
risen
Saviour. You’ve taken him as Messiah, but now, that is not enough.
Don’t refuse
him who tells you to have him as the Saviour.
Paul uses
the brotherly “we” as a flesh
brother of the Jew.
12:26
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised,
saying, Yet
once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
Whose
voice then shook the earth: - This was
at the
Mount mentioned previously and this was the voice of Jesus (Ex 19, 20).
but now he
hath promised, - A promise
is
sufficient as Jesus never breaks a promise like man does.
saying,
Yet once more I shake not the earth
only, but also heaven. – This is a
reference to Haggai 2:6-7. There is
coming a time in the Tribulation when the earth shall shake just like
at Mt
Sinai (Is 24:20;13:13). In addition the heaven shall shake as well (Rev
21-22)
12:27
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those
things
that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which
cannot be
shaken may remain.
The things
that are created shall be shaken
but those things which are spiritual shall not be moved and shall
remain. Paul
urges the illuminated Jew not to place their faith in the physical
Christ that
came as the Messiah but have him as the Saviour who now sits in heaven.
And this
word, Yet once more, signifieth – This
words again
draw your attention to the fact and are significant
the
removing of those things that are shaken,
as of things that are made, - The earth
and the physical shall pass away
and be no more.
that those
things which cannot be shaken may
remain. –
Those in Christ the Saviour and the spiritual heaven will stay behind
12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us
have
grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly
fear:
Wherefore
we receiving a kingdom which cannot
be moved, - This
is the kingdom of God which is a spiritual one and exists forever.
let us
have grace, - Paul
urges the
reader to receive the grace of the Lord (Eph 2:8-9).
whereby we
may serve God acceptably – This is
acceptable
to God.
with
reverence – This is
his name
(Ps 111:9).
and godly
fear: - Sorrow is
godly but
now exercise some ‘godly fear’ knowing full well the wrath of
God and
what he can do (2 Cor 11:7).
12:29
For our God is a consuming fire.
For our
God is a consuming fire.
–
‘Our
God’ is a Jewish term (Deut 4:24; 9:3) and also used by Christians. If
you
refuse Jesus who speaks from heaven, your future is sealed in perdition
and
fire. Paul finishes with this just in case his readers have
misunderstood where
their future lies should they refuse Jesus the Saviour by continuing
with their
animal blood sacrifices.
C13
OBEY
This
chapter is a
thoroughly drenched with Jewish terminology
with
seventeen plus
Jewish references
Ch 13 = Remember,
obey, salute
a. DO NOT
BE
DEFILED BY MIXING THE MARRIAGE OF MESSIAH AND SAVIOUR (Heb 13:4)
b. JESUS
CHRIST IS
JEHOVAH, MESSIAH AND SAVIOUR (Heb 13:8)
c. THE
HEBREW IS
EXHORTED TO REMEMBER, OBEY AND SALUTE THOSE WITH THE RULE OVER
THEM WHO HAVE SPOKEN THE WORD OF
GOD TO
THEM (Heb 13:7, 17,24)
13:1
Let brotherly love continue.
Let
brotherly love continue. – This has
been
mentioned previously when praising them for helping the Christians (Heb
10:24).
As mentioned he also calls them
brothers as being a Jew also in the flesh with them. As he has reminded
them
not to forsake the assembly of ourselves.
13:2 Be
not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained
angels
unawares.
Be not
forgetful to entertain strangers: Just they
were
strangers in the land of Egypt and were oppressed (Ex 22:21)
for
thereby some have entertained angels
unawares. – Many
examples are given (Gen 18:2). The Jew was familiar with angels
(Heb 1
& 2). Similarly, Paul says, Jesus the Saviour who now sits in
heaven, and may
be strange to you, however don’t shut him out either.
13:3
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them
which
suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound
with them; - As
you have done with me (Paul) (Heb 10:34) and currently are doing during
my
second time in prison.
and them
which suffer adversity, - Some
Christians
were in prison and some were also suffering adversity.
as being –
You aren’t
yet but act as though you
were
yourselves
also in the body. – Although
you’re not
in the body of Christ yet.
13:4
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but
whoremongers
and adulterers God will judge.
Marriage
is
honourable in all, - There were
the sects that were saying that marriage was a dishonour to
God. The Essenes and the Gnostics took this view and were influencing
some of
the Jews to follow suit.
and the
bed undefiled: - The
marriage bed is
and remains undefiled because marriage is honourable.
but
whoremongers and adulterers God will
judge. – Like
Esau (Heb 12:16). To be a friend with the world is to be an adulterer
(Jam
4:4).
Paul urges
them not to be a spiritual
adulterer with the wrong ‘Jesus’. He urges them not to continue to be
married
to Christ as the Messiah either, as this would be dishonourable. God
would have
them receive Christ as Jesus the Saviour. This is similar to a person
starting
a relationship with someone by getting engaged and then moving on to
marriage. “You
are engaged to Christ, you know him, but now you must have him as your
husband.”
13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content
with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee.
Let your
conversation – This is
their
behaviour as well as their speech (Gal 1:13).
be without
covetousness; - From the
abundance of
the heart the mouth speaks (Matt 12:24). Fornication is held in the
same regard
as covetousness (Eph 5:3) and it is idolatry (Col 3:5).
and be
content with such things as ye have: -
This
is a great thing to have - contentment with food and raiment
(1Tim 6:8).
for he
hath said, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee. –
This is a reference with which the Jew was familiar (Josh 1:5; Deut
31:6,8;
1Chron 28:20).
13:6 So
that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what
man
shall do unto me.
So that we
may boldly say, - We can say
this if we
are in the throne room of grace (Heb 4:16).
The Lord
is my helper, - This Jesus
the Lord speaking. The Jew
knew this about Jehovah the LORD (Ps 54:4,Psa 30:10;Psa 118:6). They had experienced afflictions and reproaches
throughout all
their history. Paul has pointed out to them already that Jesus is
Jehovah and
Jehovah is Jesus.
and I will
not fear what man shall do unto
me. – In
time past, the Jew had no fear of what men would do to them, even
against
incredible odds (Ps 56:4,Psa 118:6).
13:7
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto
you the
word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their
conversation.
Remember
them which have the rule over you, -
This
would be the spiritual rule (1Tim 5:17) as Paul writes about the word
of God
and faith. Like a dressmaker who produces a finished product, someone
who has a
rule does the measuring and cutting and trimming. They had been meeting
with
the Christians and were participating with the believers, though not as
believers. Paul has the authority to run the rule over them and indeed
to rule
them.
who have
spoken unto you the word of God: - Elders
have double
honour who labour in the word and doctrine (1Tim 5:17). The Jew was
familiar
with the elders in the book of Nehemiah “So
they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,
and caused
them to understand the reading.” (Neh 8:8). Paul says “You have had
elders
that rule over you, but now I am your elder.”
whose
faith follow, - The Jew
above all,
has a history of following men of faith. Paul urges them to follow the
faith of
himself and other Christian elders and get saved.
considering
the end of their conversation. – Don’t only
listen to
what they say but watch and consider their behaviour. Entering into
‘the rest’
is the end for the illuminated Jew and will be the end of their race.
13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to day,
and for ever. -
Paul has pointed out that Jehovah God is Jesus in the flesh and Jesus
Christ is
Jehovah.
1. The
past is Jesus Christ as the Manna in
the desert (Exodus 16:31) and as the Rock in the desert (1 Cor 10:4).
2. The
immediate past is Jesus Christ who is
God and became manifested in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16).
3. The
present and the future is Jesus Christ
who now sits in heaven on the right hand of God the Father (Heb 10:12).
Jesus the
Saviour who speaks from heaven is
Christ the Messiah.
13:9 Be
not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good
thing
that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have
not
profited them that have been occupied therein.
Be
not
carried about with divers – Different
- as
in the seeds and garments (Deut 22:9,11)
and
strange
doctrines. – As
mentioned, there were various sects that
were vainly puffed up in their own minds (Col 2:16-23)
For
it is a
good thing – The
Jew knows that good
things come from the Lord
(Deut
26:11; Josh 21:45; Ps 34:10). When God uses Paul, who “profited
in the Jews’ religion above many my equals” (Gal 1:14) and combines his
knowledge with carefully chosen words and phrases, persuasive reasoning
is
formulated. God writes through Paul, a Jew, and uses those phrases and
reasons
that will turn his readers’ hearts if at all possible.
that
the
heart – Not
the mind. Get a person’s heart then their
mind will be sure to follow. All thy heart is a familiar phrase for the
Jew
(Matt 22:37; Mk 12:30; Lk 10:27). Philip leads the Ethiopian eunuch to
believe
with all his heart (Acts 8:37).
be
established – At
this stage Paul’s readers, the illuminated
Jews, haven’t been established in Jesus the Saviour and so God uses
this word
‘established’. If they shall then be established, then God will then
stablish
them in the faith as in Colossians 2:7 “Rooted
and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught,…”
with
grace; -
God always has moved and operated with grace. Always
with grace – God’s grace which gives us the things we truly don’t
deserve. The
believer is established and stablished by grace.
not
with
meats, - Not
physical things such as the
‘touch not’, ‘handle not’ and ‘taste not’ things of the world. The
Mosaics, the
‘enlightened’ ones, sought to bring the ‘illuminated’ Jew back under
bondage
with the rudiments of the world (Col 2:21).
They
needed
scriptural meat not the ‘touch not, handle not meats’ doctrines. ie we
are
strengthened by grace in the inner man. Even James the Jewish leader in
Jerusalem found it hard to let go the ‘meat thing’ (Acts 15:20, 29).
which
have
not profited them –
Why?
These
things have to do with the flesh and are physical and not spiritual. “Which all are to perish with the using;)
after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a
show of
wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not
in any
honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Col 22:22-23).
that
have
been occupied therein. – These
things occupy the flesh
and they push aside those things that are spiritual.
13:10
We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve
the
tabernacle.
We have – Those that
are us who are saved
an altar,
- This word
signifies
for the Jew a sacrifice of death and blood. However, their
earthly
animals remained dead. In fact, Jesus is the High Priest and the altar
as well.
When he died he cried “It is finished” (John 19:30) – I have fulfilled
all the
law.
God
through Paul urges them not to go back to
the doctrine and the altar of the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’.
whereof
they have no right to eat which serve
the tabernacle. – This
refers to the Levitical priesthood. This is not said in a hurtful tone
but is
merely stating a fact that they have no right to eat, and in fact
can’t, at
this spiritual altar.
13:11
For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the
sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
This is
reference to their sin offerings (Ex
29:10-14; Lev 4:11-12; Lev 13:46). From the moment that Jesus spilt his
own
blood within the city from the scourging and thorns, to when he was
taken
outside the city for crucifixion, this was the fulfilment of Old
Testament patterns
and types of animals. Where was Jesus burned? Outside the city. Jesus
was
burning up with heat for lack of water (John 19:28 ).
13:12
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his
own
blood, suffered without the gate.
Wherefore
Jesus also, - Jesus in
like manner
that he
might sanctify the people with his
own blood, - Similar
to the animals blood which sanctified the people
suffered –
death is a
suffering (Heb 2:9)
without
the gate. – Outside of
the city
gate. This phrase is mentioned twenty times in the Old
Testament. The
Jew was familiar with the phrase.
13:13
Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his
reproach.
Let us go
forth therefore – As a
result of all
this
unto him
without the camp, - Outside of
the camp
to Calvary (Lk 23:33)
bearing
his reproach. – Not our
own (Heb
10:32-33)
13:14
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
For here –
down on
earth here
have we no
continuing city, - Only a
physical city
as in Jerusalem or indeed any city. Earthly cities are guaranteed to
fail (2
Pet 3:10).
but we
seek one to come. – This is
the new
Jerusalem (Heb 12:22) , indeed the one in heaven.
13:15
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
By him – Not
through him
therefore
let us offer the sacrifice of
praise to God continually, - The
sacrifice that God is interested In now
is a spiritual one and not a physical one. Not the sacrifice of
animals
anymore (Ps 107:22). The sacrifice of praise is not a physical one as
was the
animals under the old covenant. This praise is a spiritual one. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him
must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).
that is,
the fruit of our lips giving thanks
to his name. – This
is the explanation of what the sacrifice of praise means - it’s the
fruit of
the lips. It is spiritual and not physical and it comes from the heart
(Matt
12:34). Give thanks that Jesus shed blood washes away our sins (Rev 1:5)
13:16
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such
sacrifices
God is well pleased.
This is
the fulfillment of the law that ye
love one another (Rom 13:8, 10; Gal 5:14; Jam 2:8)
But to do
good – The Jew is
exhorted
to do good and depart from evil (Ps 34:14). In this epistle, they are
likewise
exhorted to do good by departing from the evil heart of unbelief (Heb
3:12) and
doing good comes from discerning between good and evil (Heb 5:14) which
they
will have when they obey God and have Jesus as Saviour.
and to
communicate forget not: - This word
‘communicate’ is nowhere else mentioned in the Bible by any other
writer and is
exclusively a Pauline term meaning money and goods (Gal 6:6; Phil 4:14;
1Tim
6:18). The word ‘communication’ represents that which comes out of the
mouth.
for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased.
– God
is pleased. Believing and then having the faith that comes from God to
walk by
it with helping the saints. These are the sacrifices that please God.
13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:
for they
watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do
it with
joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Obey them
that have the rule over you, and
submit yourselves: - This
is the second time Paul mentions this. Although the Jews are stiff
necked and
rebellious they can be very obedient people to those in spiritual
authority.
for they
watch for your souls, as they that
must give account, - This
is the lot of a Pastor and many take it too lightly.
that they
may do it with joy, and not with
grief: - Let
them have the joy of the salvation of your souls.
for that
is unprofitable for you. – If those
that watch
for your souls do this with grief because you will not believe in Jesus
as the
Saviour, you’ll wind up in hell because you won’t obey them and follow
their
faith.
13:18
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all
things
willing to live honestly.
Pray for
us: - Paul is
in prison
and would like to join them as soon as he can
(Heb 13:9)
for we
trust we have a good conscience in all
things - Used
20 times between Romans and Titus. A good conscience has been purged of
sin and
comes by the blood of Christ (1Pet 3:21; Heb 9:9,14; 10:2) and is not
an evil
one (Heb 10:22).
willing to
live honestly. – A purged
conscience
makes us want to live honestly and be willing to please the Lord.
13:19
But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored
to you the
sooner.
But I
beseech you the rather to do this, that
I may be restored to you the sooner. Paul says
that praying for his soon return is
worthwhile and God will answer the prayers. Paul is still in prison
13:20
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord
Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant,
Now the
God of peace, - God
reached down and
made peace with man (Luke 2:14).
that
brought again from the dead our Lord
Jesus, -
God raised the Lord and Saviour from the dead (Gal 1:1). Notice he
doesn’t use
the word ‘Christ’ here.
that great
shepherd of the sheep, - The
shepherd leads
the sheep. Paul urges them to follow Christ the Messiah and receive him
as Jesus
the Saviour. The LORD is my shepherd. The LORD is the Lord.
through
the blood of the everlasting
covenant, -
In The
Tribulation – it’s the blood of Jesus Christ that
enables all to have another
chance and for God not to wipe out the total population again
And I
said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they
which came
out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev 7:14
and
And
they overcame him by the blood of the
Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their
lives
unto the death. Rev 12:11
13:21 Make you
perfect in every good work to do his
will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through
Jesus
Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Make you
perfect in every good work to do his
will, - In
obeying his will, good works will be the result and all this will make
you
perfect.
working in
you that which is wellpleasing in
his sight, - Similar
to Colossians 1:10.
through
Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen. –
All this will be possible through what the Jesus Christ has done – the
Saviour
Messiah. Note: The word Saviour comes before Messiah and is now more
important.
13:22 And I beseech
you, brethren, suffer the word
of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
And I
beseech you, brethren, suffer the word
of exhortation: - Suffering
and obeying this epistle is part of the labour and diligence you must
show to
enter the rest.
for I have
written a letter unto you in few
words. – Paul
has written with his own hands and it hasn’t been a long letter.
13:23 Know ye that
our brother Timothy is set at
liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
Know ye
that our brother Timothy is set at
liberty; - Timothy’s
mother was a Jewess and his father a Greek. He’d been let out
of jail.
with whom,
if he come shortly, I will see
you.
– This will be in Paul’s answer to pray that he will too be released
(Heb
13:19).
13:24 Salute all
them that have the rule over you,
and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.
Salute all
them that have the rule over you, - To
salute is to
honour and obey. These were the Christian elders with whom they were
fellowshipping
and all
the saints. – They are
assembling
with the saints although they haven’t been saved yet themselves.
They of
Italy salute you. – Paul
writes from
Italy from prison. Salute was a familiar phrase for the Jew (Matt 5:47).
13:25 Grace be with
you all. Amen.
Grace
be with you all. – Paul
finishes this epistle with a farewell of God’s grace. However, when he
writes
to the churches this is his beginning. Hopefully when these illuminated
Jews
take Jesus as their Saviour, they will read his epistles to the
Christian
churches as they will then be Christians.
By Harley Hitchcock.
www.
AustralianBibleMinistries
.com
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