Additional Thoughts on Hebrews Part Two
HEB 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.
Sometimes we get tired of doing things for God and specifically tired of not seeing as many results as we would like.
Sometimes we will get tired of ministering to people who seem to not appreciate it. The devil will whisper in your ear things like what you are doing is not making a difference, no one cares what you are doing, no one notices, and other such lies.
If you are involved in ministering to the people of God, you will have low times where you get tired and thoughts like this will come. This is not only true for Pastors. Even church members who are trying to be a blessing and a help to others can have these thoughts come up.
When you are tempted to think that no one notices or cares what you are doing, you need to remember that God notices and He cares. 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.
God is pleased when you work for Him. He is pleased when you are involved in a labor of love for His names sake. God will remember each and every single time that you ministered to His saints. No matter how big a ministry or how small. God sees it, He notices it, and He will not forget it. And one day you will be rewarded for it.
So when you get wicked thoughts like quitting trying to be a blessing to others, you need to push that wicked thought out of your mind. And keep on ministering to others.
Do not focus on getting recognition from men. Instead be assured that God sees it and He will reward you for it one day. Amen and Amen.
HEB 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
HEB 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
The context here is the eternal security of the believer. God cannot lie. It is not that he chooses not to lie. Lying is so against His holy nature that it is impossible for Him to lie. God therefore absolutely must keep His promises. And God promises to us eternal life if we believe on Jesus with a repentant heart.
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
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.
God has clearly said over and over that eternal life is given to those who believe. And He says that we cannot lose it.
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
What wonderful promises. And since God cannot lie this gives us an anchor for our soul.
HEB 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast,
We have an anchor for our soul that is both sure and steadfast. It can never slip or let go. We are eternally secure. Amen and Amen!
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.
There is much more for a Christian to learn than the basics. We are to be continually growing in our knowledge and our walk with the Lord. It is implied that the believers that Paul was writing to were guilty of not moving past the basics. Some of the basics are listed here. The doctrine of Christ. That is who He is and what He did to save us. The foundation of repentance from dead works is mentioned. You cannot save yourself. You can’t earn heaven. It cannot be bought. It is faith that saves. Verse 2 mentions some more of the basics.
Paul was not putting down any of these great truths. He is admonishing us to keep learning after we get the basics down. There is a lot to learn about how God wants us to live and how He wants us to serve Him. Keep learning so you can have proper biblical discernment so that you don’t fall into some error. Keep learning so you will become a more mature Christian and can be a greater help and blessing to others. There are many reasons to keep learning and growing as a Christian.
It is sad to say, but there are Christians today that don’t even have the basics of verses 1 and 2 down. Others stop there. Still others grow and learn for a while after the basics but then stop. The truth is that we should never stop. There is always more to learn. You can read the Bible 100 times and still learn more the 101st time. Determine to always keep learning and growing.
HEB 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.
I love the way that this is worded. “to save them to the uttermost” The word uttermost is defined as, the greatest, in the most extensive degree.
You cannot be saved any more than to the uttermost. When God saves you it is to the most extensive degree. You are completely saved.
This verse tells us who gets saved to the uttermost, “to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,” the Him is Jesus. The only way to be saved is thru Jesus.
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.
Being saved to the uttermost is an eternal salvation. An uttermost salvation must be eternal. A reason is given in this verse for how He can save to the uttermost, “seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
It is because Jesus ever liveth. He is not dead, He is risen. He is our advocate sitting on the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. He will be there tomorrow and next week and next year and forever. Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us.
We have a wonderful salvation. We are saved to the most extensive degree. To the uttermost. Our salvation cannot be lost and is eternal. Our salvation is thru Jesus the very Son of God. And Jesus is risen ever living to make intercession for us.
We should praise the Lord for being saved to the uttermost.
One of the main themes of Hebrews is that Jesus is greater. He is greater than the angels, and He is greater than the Levitical priesthood.
HEB 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
One reason is that priests die. Their priesthood ends.
HEB 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Another reason the priesthood of Jesus is greater is that His priesthood is unchangeable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And His priesthood will never end.
HEB 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.
Jesus saves all the way to the end because He ever liveth to make intercession. Jesus will always be there and He will never change His mind on your salvation. He never casts out those who come to Him.
HEB 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
The priesthood of Jesus is greater than man’s because Jesus is greater. Only Jesus is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Only Jesus is higher than the heavens. Only Jesus has a name that is above every name.
HEB 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.
The priesthood of Jesus is greater because Jesus is sinless. Jesus never had to offer up a sacrifice for His own sin. The O.T. priests did, but not Jesus. Jesus had no sin of His own.
Jesus is the perfect great High Priest. He is the only one you need. Don’t go to an inferior priesthood made up by man. Go straight to the superior priest. Go to Jesus.
The priesthood of Jesus is greater than man’s because Jesus is greater. Only Jesus is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Only Jesus is higher than the heavens. Only Jesus has a name that is above every name.
HEB 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.
The priesthood of Jesus is greater because Jesus is sinless. Jesus never had to offer up a sacrifice for His own sin. The O.T. priests did, but not Jesus. Jesus had no sin of His own.
Jesus is the perfect great High Priest. He is the only one you need. Don’t go to an inferior priesthood made up by man. Go straight to the superior priest. Go to Jesus.
In this chapter we have the most detailed description of Melchisedec. Who this person was can confuse people and stir up debate. Some believe that he was just a man. Others believe that he was an Old Testament appearance of Christ.
HEB 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;
HEB 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;
Some say that the word Salem means Jerusalem. But the Bible defines it here as meaning peace. King of Salem, which is, King of peace. Salem is not a city. If you take that to be the context here then you must also say that righteousness is also a city. Also, at this time Jerusalem did not exist. Abraham went there to sacrifice Isaac and they were all alone.
HEB 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.
Can a man be without father and without mother? No, of course not. He is also without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life. No man is eternal. All men have a beginning and all men have end of life. No man can abide a priest continually. To me it is very clear that the only one that fits these statements is Jesus.
One of the reasons that some do not and think Melchisedec was just a man is the statement in verse 3 that says, but made like unto the Son of God. They then say he cannot be the Son of God because it says like unto. That could just mean that that appearance of Jesus back then as Melchisedec was not the same because Jesus was not yet incarnate. He had not yet became man. That would happen thru the virgin birth.
I believe that the appearance of Melchisedec was a supernatural appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament.
HEB 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.
HEB 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
In Hebrews the priesthood of Jesus is compared to the Old Testament priesthood of the Levites. And Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry. Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant. It was established upon better promises. The priest hood of Jesus is superior in every way. It saddens me that many do not see this. They try to resurrect the Levitical priesthood and put their faith in that instead of trusting in Jesus and Him alone. After Jesus came the Old Testament priesthood was done away with. Its purpose was to be a picture and point to Jesus. Once Jesus came then there is no more need for the picture. We have the real thing!
Verse 7 tells us that the Old Testament Covenant was flawed. It could never do the job. It could only point to what could. If that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
If the old covenant could have saved, then Jesus would not have had to come. But it was flawed. Jesus had to come to establish a new covenant.
There is no more need for a flawed priesthood of flawed men. We have a perfect sinless High Priest in Jesus.
HEB 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:
This is talking about a time that is yet in the future.
HEB 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.
God will make a new covenant with Israel. It will be different than the one He made with them before. It will not be a covenant of the law. The old covenant contained an if. If they would obey, then… The burden was placed upon them to obey, and of course they failed horribly. Verse 9 says they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
HEB 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:
This new covenant will be all on the Lord. There is no if’s in it. It is simply something that God will do. He will put His laws into their mind, and He will write them in their hearts, and He will be to them a God, and they will be to Him a people. God is not done with Israel. He will visit them again one day and will make this new covenant. A covenant that is all on Him. And because of that it will not fail.
HEB 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.
What a wonderful thing when verse 11 comes to pass, and in God’s time it will.
HEB 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
HEB 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.
The Tabernacle in the wilderness was built as an example and a shadow of heavenly things. Its main purpose was to point to Jesus Christ and His coming ministry as the true High Priest. Everything about the Tabernacle spoke of Jesus. From the Altar of sacrifice to there being only one door to the table of shewbread, and so on. All of it spoke of Christ. From the colors that was used to the materials that it was made of. The Tabernacle really is a tremendous study.
It was very important that none of the details got messed up in its construction. If they used the wrong material or the wrong patterns or colors, they would have ruined the picture of what was being taught about Jesus. So Moses was admonished of God that he make all things according to the pattern that was shown to him in the mount. Moses was actually shown exactly how to build it. And this took a lot of time. If you remember Moses was with God for 40 days, then was interrupted by the sin of the people, and then after the interruption Moses had to go back up the mountain for another 40 days. That is a total of 80 days! I know that not all of that time was used for showing Moses how to build the Tabernacle. But a lot of it was. Just read how many chapters are devoted to its details in the book of Exodus. The Tabernacle had much to say about our Lord Jesus Christ.
HEB 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;
The Ark contained 3 items in it and they all pointed to Jesus Christ.
It contained manna which foreshadowed Christ as the bread of life. Manna came from heaven. Jesus is the bread from heaven. Manna came to the wilderness. Jesus left His home to enter the wilderness of this world. Manna was free and salvation thru Jesus is free. Manna was at the door and only had to be received. Jesus has done the work and paid the price and He only has to be received. Christ is the true manna and is sufficient to meet needs of all people
The Ark contained the tables of the covenant. It contained the written Word of God, which is all about Christ. Jesus is the living Word. John 1:1-2 & 14.
The Ark contained Aaron’s rod that budded. The Rod was old dried and dead. No life was in it. God made it not only come to life, but bear fruit. That is a picture of resurrection. Jesus alone is the resurrection and the life.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
The rod not only had blossoms but it also bore fruit. Christ is the first fruits.
All three items in the Ark were a wonderful picture of Christ.
HEB 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
All men have an appointment coming with death. You cannot change that. You cannot avoid it. And after you die comes the judgment. Every man will be judged by God. The saved will not be judged as far as going to heaven, but the saved will still be judged. They will have to stand before Jesus and give an answer for how they lived their life for Him. They will be rewarded or suffer lack of reward. The lost will also stand at judgment and they will be found to not be in the lamb’s book of life and cast into the lake of fire.
The guaranteed judgment after death should have an effect upon us. If you are lost, you should realize your need to be saved.
If you are already saved, the coming judgment for how you lived your life should motivate you to strive to live your life for Jesus.
Note – Saved people who are alive when Jesus comes back (commonly called the rapture) will not die. Instead they will be caught up and meet Jesus in the air. This group will avoid death, but they will still stand at the judgment seat of Christ.
HEB 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;
HEB 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.
HEB 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.
A large portion of the book of Hebrews is devoted to comparing Jesus our Great High Priest to the Old Testament Priesthood. The Old Testament priesthood was inferior in every way. Its purpose was to point to Jesus. It could not take away sin. That is why they had to do it over and over and over again. It could never accomplish salvation, but only point to the salvation to come.
Jesus’ only had to make one offering. Jesus only had to do it once. His sacrifice was perfect. He put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And that one sacrifice is sufficient for every sin that every man ever committed. Never again will Jesus have to die for sin. Never!!!
Many people do not know this but the Catholics sacrifice Jesus again every time they have mass. Their priest says some hocus pocus and they claim that it turns the bread and wine into the literal body and blood of Jesus. Then they break his “literal” body again and drink his “literal” blood. That is what their dogma teaches. This somehow covers them for a while, but then wears out. The sacrifice that they did was not sufficient and must be repeated over and over and over again. So they take mass over and over again. What they don’t understand is that Christ’s sacrifice was perfect and sufficient. He only had to offer Himself one time and one time only. All we have to do is trust in His perfect one time sacrifice.