Additional Thoughts on Hebrews Part One
HEB 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.
In this verse you have God the Father calling the Son God. God the Father is declaring here that Jesus is God.
This is yet another place in the Bible where we see one God manifested in different personalities. In the case of this verse we see two. God the Father and God the Son. In total there are only 3. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. These 3 are one.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
This is a concept that is hard for our little minds to grasp. But nevertheless it is true. Truth does not require our understanding to be truth. This goes for the entire Bible. Everything that the Bible teaches is true regardless of what you or I think of it.
There is only one God who is manifested to us in 3 distinct personalities. Understand it or not it is true.
This means that it was God who left the glories of heaven to die on the cross to pay for your sin and then rose 3 days later. Christians need to do some serious thinking right there.
A firm grasp of this should change the way that you serve Jesus.
HEB 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Jesus existed in the beginning. God the Son has been appointed by God the father to be heir of all things. There is only one God but He is manifested to us in 3 personalities. The Bible clearly teaches the trinity. Each person in the godhead has a distinctive role. The Father appointed Jesus as heir of all things, and the Son had a major part in creation.
HEB 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
The hands of the one who made the heavens and the earth humbled Himself and became a man. Not a normal man. He is the Son of God. Perfect and sinless. Those wonderful hands were nailed to a cross for you. Those hands had the power to get down off of the cross. But He did not. His love kept Him there. The almighty creator stayed on the cross to pay for our sin.
Sin not only corrupted the human race but also the whole creation. We live in a sin stained world. Verse 11 tells us that this world will pass away one day.
HEB 1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
The creation will wax old as doth a garment. We see the decay all around us in creation. Everything is winding down. The entire universe is under the law of Thermodynamics. That means that everything is going downhill.
HEB 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.
One day Jesus will create a new heaven and a new earth. The sin stain will be removed forever. While everything we see in creation will be changed, Jesus never will. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Have you praised His name today for what He has done, what He is doing, and for what He will do in the future?
Heb 1:3 …when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
On the cross Jesus cried out loudly and triumphantly it is finished. He had by Himself purged our sins. No one helped Him. No one could. There was no one else qualified. He was the only one that could finish the work. He was the only one to live a sinless life.
The Old Testament Tabernacle is a very interesting study. Every piece of furniture pointed to Jesus. The altar, the candlestick, the laver, the Table of Shewbread. All of it. But I find it very interesting that something is missing in all the furniture. Something that man puts in every home, and every office. No chairs. No place to sit in the Tabernacle. Why? Because the Old Testament Priest’s job was never done. They were never finished. Man’s sacrifices can’t finish the job.
Heb 10:4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Rites cannot save you. Sacrifices cannot save you. Eating a cookie cannot save you. Some man cannot save you. Only Jesus. He did it all by Himself. When he had by himself purged our sins. You cannot help Jesus get rid of your sins. Your good works do nothing to purge sins. Your baptism cannot take your sins away. Jesus did it all by himself. All you can do is accept it.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus paid it all. Out of Love He went to the cross for you and for me. Jesus is worthy.
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Jesus is above all for more reasons than can be counted and one of the reasons is He purged our sins by Himself. No one else could.
HEB 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?
How can anyone doubt the love of God when He went to the cross and paid that awful price to take our sin upon Him that we might be saved.
What is even more amazing is to consider who He died for. He died for vile sinful man. In verse 6 is a rhetorical question, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” The answer to that question is nothing. Man is nothing that God should be mindful of him. Man is nothing that the Son of God should have visited us. Man has nothing good in and of himself. The Bible says that all have sin, and that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Man has nothing to offer God in exchange for his soul.
It is the love of God and NOT anything in man that made him be mindful of us. It is His love that made Him mindful of man. It is because of His love that He visited us.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
O the wonderful love of God! Amen and Amen.
HEB 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.
We live in a day of slipping. A little here and a little more there. Sins that used to appall the people of God don’t even make most flinch today. To us it has been a slow progression. Often we don’t even see it ourselves. It is a slow steady slipping. But you often hear missionaries talk about it. They leave the country for 4 or 5 years at a time, and when they come back they are shocked at all of the changes. Both in society in general and in the churches. They go back to report to supporting churches and are often shocked. They see good churches slip that used to stand for the purity of God’s Word, and used to stand for separation from the World. They go in to give a report and have to endure the world’s music. And then instead of hearing spirit filled preaching that brings conviction, they listen to an entertainer in the pulpit preach another feel good message.
We live in a day of slipping. Is it any wonder our country is such a mess. Christians need to be aware and pay attention to their walk with God. And we need to be on guard from slipping because we are all prone to let things slide. We all still carry with us that old sin nature and it loves slipping.
We need to give the more earnest heed to the Word of God.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.
Jesus did not come to save angels. Angels are not save able. The fallen angels are reserved for the lake of fire. Jesus came to save man and so He took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Jesus became a man. He suffered hunger, He suffered thirst, He suffered great pain. He got weary and slept. He knows what it is like to be slandered. To be mocked. He knows what it is like for friends to forsake you. And He was tempted. The Devil tempted Him with the lust of the eyes (He was shown and offered the kingdoms of the world), the lust of the flesh (He was tempted to make bread) and the pride of life (He was tempted to call angels to let Him down)
Eve was tempted in those same three points. She saw that the food looked good. The lust of the eyes. She was tempted with the lust of the flesh (It was good to eat) And the pride of life. It would give her knowledge of good and evil.
Jesus was tempted in all three points as we are. And because He lived as a man, we know that He understands. I don’t care what hurt you ever have. Jesus understands. He is a merciful and faithful high priest. You hurt. Take it to Jesus. You have need. Take it to Jesus. He loves you. He cares. He is merciful.
He has the heart to help you, He has the power to help you. He is merciful, and He has already paid for our sin.
Accept Him as your Savior, and after that go to Him for help when you are tempted. What a great God we serve.
HEB 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
HEB 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
HEB 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
This section of Hebrews is pointing back to the journeys of the children of Israel on their way to the Promised Land.
The primary type of the promised land of Canaan is the victorious Christian life. They still had wars and trouble when they got to Canaan. So in that way Canaan is not a picture of heaven. What was pictured in Canaan was a life where God was doing the leading and where God was providing the victories thru the trials of life. That is the victorious Christian life. A life where we enter into His rest by letting Him do the leading and give the victory in His power and not our own. They showed up to the battle in faith, and it was God that made the walls of Jericho fall. God sent the hornet against the enemy, it was God who worked and gave the victory. The Promised Land in Joshua is a picture of the victorious Christian life.
There are some places in the Bible where Canaan is a picture of our promised land to come.
In both cases the same is true, you cannot enter in because of unbelief. If you do not believe in Christ Jesus, you will not be allowed to enter into heaven. No amount of works will change this.
It also takes belief to enter into the victorious Christian life. To have victory you must follow His leading. To follow His leading you must believe that what He tells you to do is for your best.
There is a connection between belief and obedience. Many Christians don’t obey Christ like they should, and one reason is that they really don’t believe that His commands are for their best. More belief will lead to more obedience.
To enter into His rest (for eternity and for this life right now) it takes belief. You need to exercise faith.
HEB 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Because of who we are, which is partakers of the heavenly calling, we are to consider Jesus. And then something specific about Him is mentioned.
HEB 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
Jesus was faithful. God the Son was faithful to the work that God the Father sent Him to do. Jesus set a good example for us. We need to consider how He humbled Himself and served. Moses is also mentioned as being faithful. Moses served even when the people were rebelling. Moses also set a good example.
HEB 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.
HEB 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Jesus created all things and has all power, and yet He humbled Himself and served. Should we not do the same? We are not better than Jesus and He was faithful. O how we need Christians today who will humble themselves and serve. We need people who will serve when things are tough. People who will be faithful no matter what. If you consider Jesus and who He is and all that He did, you will come to the conclusion that He is Worthy of our best.
Heb 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses [was faithful] in all his house.
Heb 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.
Heb 3:4 For every house is builded by some [man]; but he that built all things [is] God.
Heb 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;
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house;
The 7-fold superiority of the Son of God over the servant Moses. (This is not an exhaustive list)
- Moses was a member of a house, Christ the Builder of one.
- Moses was identified with a single house; Christ built all things.
- Moses was an appointed leader; Christ is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
- Moses was a man; Christ the God-man.
- Moses just a servant; Christ the Son.
- Moses witnessed of things to come; Christ was the substance and fulfillment of it all.
- Moses was a servant in the house of Jehovah; Christ was the Son over His own house.
Jesus is Superior to Moses. A son is always superior to a servant in any house. A servant owns nothing; is heir to nothing; has no authority, and no right to control anything, he is under the will of another. Moses was a great servant to God. But he was still a servant. You cannot put him on the same level as the Son. Jesus is clearly vastly superior. Paul is making the point. Don’t go back to following someone who is inferior. When you follow Jesus you are following the best. You can’t get any better, there is nothing or no one superior to Jesus.
HEB 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.
God truly sees all. He is all knowing and all powerful. You can sin in the deepest darkest cave on earth and God would still see it. Many will put on a good act on Sunday or when other Christians are around but they are not fooling God. They might talk against alcohol but God sees that booze hidden in their refrigerator.
You might do some sin and think that you got away with it. You might go 6 months and nobody knows. But God knows. You might go several years and not see any consequence come your way from it. And you might think that God has forgotten about it, but He has not.
We all sin, that is just a fact. And God sees everything. Our sin does not escape His eye. So what are we to do?
1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What are we to do? Confess our sins to God and we have His promise that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. He can and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
When we mess up, we need to repent and confess it to God. You might as well because God already knows all about your sins.
HEB 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.
The word of God can do what our words cannot. It is the word of God that is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword. Not our ideas and not our philosophy. God uses His word to bring conviction. He uses His word to take the scales off of the eyes. God gives His word power. The word of God cuts to the very heart of the matter. It can cut deep thru all the falsehoods, all the denials, and all the excuses.
It is God’s word that is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. A man might think that his heart is right. Man can deceive himself to think that the intents of his heart is pure. But hold your heart up to the word of God and you will see the truth. Without Christ man’s heart is wicked.
Jer 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Since God’s word is what is powerful, should not we be using God’s word to bring conviction and win the lost to Christ? The answer is yes. We don’t need to be like the world, we don’t need to bring the world into the church house. What we need is to use the word of God.
HEB 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
The Old Testament High Priest was a picture, a type, of the true High Priest to come, which is Jesus. The Old Testament High Priest was an intercessor for the people. He offered sacrifices on behalf of the people. The people could not offer for themselves. Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for the people, and only His sacrifice is accepted. Any sacrifice that we make on our own is not accepted of the Father. There was to be only one High Priest at a time in the Old Testament. That was a picture that there was coming only one true High Priest.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The priesthood of Jesus is infinitely superior. The Old Testament priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year. Jesus has passed into the heavens. Jesus is sitting in the true Holy of Holies. He is on the throne. The Old Testament priests were sinners and they all died. They had an important job, but they were just men. Jesus is the very Son of God. He is sinless, He is eternal, He is Holy. In comparing the Old Testament High Priests and Jesus, you find there really is no comparison. Jesus is vastly, infinitely superior.
Therefore, Paul writes, let us hold fast our profession. There is no profession that is better for we already have the best. Because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us, we should stand for and hold fast the truth and do our all to honor Him. Amen.
HEB 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Is it possible to be saved and yet be dull of hearing? You bet it is.
HEB 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.
Paul is writing to believers who should have grown by now. He says that by now they ought to be teachers. But instead of being teachers they are in need of being taught. In fact they are in need of being taught the basics again.
What would you think of a little baby that is 6 months old? You would think how cute and how beautiful. Right. On the other hand what would you think of a baby that is the same size as a 6 month old but they are 20 years old? You would not think how cute. You would think that this is awful. You would think why didn’t someone do something about it. You would ask questions like why didn’t the parents take him to the doctor when they did not see him growing as he should. Christians should normally be growing after they get saved.
It is a sad thing, but I see Christians all the time today who have not grown like they should. People who have been saved for years and they have never read their Bible thru. Not even once. Christians will not grow like they should if they are not reading the Bible.
As a Christian grows he should be not only learning more of the Bible, but he should also be doing more for Christ. As he grows more he should be witnessing more. He should be serving more, he should be praying more, and yes he should be giving more.
If you have not been growing like you should, it is an easy thing to fix. Start by reading the Bible more and praying more. Work on growing like Jesus wants you to grow. Honor Him with your life.
HEB 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:
HEB 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
HEB 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
In the Old Testament they were to have a high priest. He was a picture, a type, a foreshadowing of the True High Priest to come. They were to only have one High Priest. That was a picture that there would be only one mediator between man and God.
1Ti 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
The High Priest was to have no physical defects. This was to picture the perfect ness of Christ.
The High Priest had to wear specific clothing. Fine twined linen which is white speaks of purity and righteousness. It was also made of blue, the heavenly color, Christ came from heaven. His clothing also contained scarlet, which speaks of the shed blood and is the color of a servant. And it contained purple, which is the color of a king.
In addition to the 4 colors, the ephod had a gold thread running through it. This was symbolic of the Lord’s deity. The ephod that the High Priest wore with it’s 4 colors and it’s gold was pointing to Jesus who is the true High Priest.
What the High Priest wore and what he did was all pointing to the Christ to come. Christ has now come. All those pictures have now been fulfilled. We no longer have any need for a man to be a priest. The office is no longer needed and has been done away with. There is no need to go to a man anymore, we have direct access with God. We have a much greater High Priest.
HEB 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
HEB 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.
Heb 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.
Heb 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.
We now can each go directly to the throne of grace for ourselves. Praise God.
HEB 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.
Some people can discern between both good and evil and some cannot. Some Christians have grown in their knowledge and some have not. The fact is that all Christians should mature. Every one of us should be growing in the Lord and in our faith every day. We need to do as this verse mentions and exercise our senses to discern both good and evil. There is a difference between harsh hypocritical judgment and spiritual discernment. Christians are to judge the things that they hear and discern if they are correct or not. We are supposed to know if something is good or evil.
If all Christians had the kind of discernment that is talked about here, then none of these false heresy teaching TV preachers would make it. Christians would not send them a dime when they hear. Send me your money and God will send you a blessing. Discerning Christians would turn off the TV when they hear God wants you to be rich. Properly discerning Christians would not watch someone flopping around on the floor. A discerning Christian would know that being slayed in the spirit is not biblical and is not of God. O’ for more Christians who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.