Hebrews 8:1–8:6 Under the old Jewish system priests were chosen only from the tribe of Levi, and sacrifices were
offered only on the altar for forgiveness of sins (Heb. 7:12-14). This passage talks about two things
that are superior under the priesthood of Christ as compared to the old system: The Sa … Read more
Hebrews 7:23–7:28 God did not swear to Aaron that his priesthood would be forever. In fact God never suggested to
Aaron or anyone else that priesthood would be anything but temporary. One generation of priests
yielded to another generation because the priests would die (v. 23). However, in Christ … Read more
Hebrews 7:18–7:22 The Law had limitations. It was not intended to save people, but to point out sin and to point
people toward Christ. Being ethical, working diligently to help others, and giving to charitable
causes are all commendable, but none of these things can save us or make us right with G … Read more
Hebrews 7:11–7:17 The inadequacy of the legal and Levitical system and how it had to be replaced with something
better is pointed out. If the Levitical priesthood could have brought access to God or salvation it
would have not been necessary for God to provide another priesthood. As long as … Read more
Hebrews 7:1–7:10 We now come to the mysterious king-priest Melchizedek (v. 1). We do not know a great deal about
him. In Genesis 14 there are only three verses about him (Gen. 14:18-20). The writer of Hebrews
uses this story from Genesis to show that Christ is even greater than Abraham, father … Read more
Hebrews 6:16–6:20 We are living in a day when it is hard to trust people. Promises are often made with very little
intention of their being kept. It seems that lying has become the norm in much of society. In fact,
even in the Church people promise to do things and then never show up. The question … Read more
Hebrews 6:9–6:15 It seems that the author felt that, after some heavy and solemn warnings, a word of
encouragement was in order. He states that he is confident that the people he is addressing are
ready for better things that come with salvation (v. 9). The words are like those of a pastor who, a
… Read more
Hebrews 6:1–6:8 If we are going to grow as a Christian, we have to leave the elementary teachings of Christ behind
and go forward in Spiritual growth (vv. 1-3). This next passage is perhaps one of the most difficult
and controversial passages in the entire Bible (vv. 4-6). The issue centers ar … Read more
Hebrews 5:9–5:14 This is exactly the situation with these Hebrew Christians. They had been going through the same
experience, again and again, all the years of their Christian life, but had never grown. In this
passage, the writer makes it very clear that age will never, in itself, bring Spiritual … Read more
Hebrews 5:1–5:10 This chapter stresses both Christ’s divine appointment and His humility. One of the first things a
Jew might have asked a Christian during the time of the early Church was, “How are your sins
going
to be pardoned when you have no one offering sacrifices and interceding … Read more
Hebrews 4:12–4:16 The Word of God is very powerful. It is like a very sharp knife that cuts into our life and desires. It
exposes us for what we really are (v. 12). Nothing in all creation can hide from Him. He sees
everything that we do. He is the God to whom we must explain all that we have ev … Read more
Hebrews 4:1–4:11 In this passage we find the word “rest” mentioned nine times (vv. 1-11). God has provided a “rest”
and that “rest” can still be known today. The reference to Jesus also involves Joshua of the Old
Testament (v. 8). The two words, Joshua and Jesu … Read more
Hebrews 3:14–3:19 The Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land because they
did not believe in God’s protection, and they did not believe
that God would help them conquer the giants in the land. The
writer in this passage is warning the people of the danger of
unbelief: This danger demands im … Read more
Hebrews 3:7–3:13 In many places, the Bible warns us not to “harden our hearts.” This means to stubbornly set
ourselves against God so that we are no longer able to turn to Him for forgiveness. This passage is
one of those warnings (vv. 7-9). Some Bible scholars say this was writ … Read more
Recent commentaries
The Better Sanctuary In Which Christ Ministers
Hebrews 8:1–8:6
Under the old Jewish system priests were chosen only from the tribe of Levi, and sacrifices were offered only on the altar for forgiveness of sins (Heb. 7:12-14). This passage talks about two things that are superior under the priesthood of Christ as compared to the old system: The Sa … Read more
An Unchangeable Priesthood
Hebrews 7:23–7:28
God did not swear to Aaron that his priesthood would be forever. In fact God never suggested to Aaron or anyone else that priesthood would be anything but temporary. One generation of priests yielded to another generation because the priests would die (v. 23). However, in Christ … Read more
The Greatness of The New Priest
Hebrews 7:18–7:22
The Law had limitations. It was not intended to save people, but to point out sin and to point people toward Christ. Being ethical, working diligently to help others, and giving to charitable causes are all commendable, but none of these things can save us or make us right with G … Read more
Jesus Like Melchizedek
Hebrews 7:11–7:17
The inadequacy of the legal and Levitical system and how it had to be replaced with something better is pointed out. If the Levitical priesthood could have brought access to God or salvation it would have not been necessary for God to provide another priesthood. As long as … Read more
Melchizedek The Priest
Hebrews 7:1–7:10
We now come to the mysterious king-priest Melchizedek (v. 1). We do not know a great deal about him. In Genesis 14 there are only three verses about him (Gen. 14:18-20). The writer of Hebrews uses this story from Genesis to show that Christ is even greater than Abraham, father … Read more
The Certainty of God’s Promises
Hebrews 6:16–6:20
We are living in a day when it is hard to trust people. Promises are often made with very little intention of their being kept. It seems that lying has become the norm in much of society. In fact, even in the Church people promise to do things and then never show up. The question … Read more
The Encouragement to Go On
Hebrews 6:9–6:15
It seems that the author felt that, after some heavy and solemn warnings, a word of encouragement was in order. He states that he is confident that the people he is addressing are ready for better things that come with salvation (v. 9). The words are like those of a pastor who, a … Read more
The Warning of Apostasy
Hebrews 6:1–6:8
If we are going to grow as a Christian, we have to leave the elementary teachings of Christ behind and go forward in Spiritual growth (vv. 1-3). This next passage is perhaps one of the most difficult and controversial passages in the entire Bible (vv. 4-6). The issue centers ar … Read more
The Rebuke of Immaturity
Hebrews 5:9–5:14
This is exactly the situation with these Hebrew Christians. They had been going through the same experience, again and again, all the years of their Christian life, but had never grown. In this passage, the writer makes it very clear that age will never, in itself, bring Spiritual … Read more
Qualifications For The Priesthood
Hebrews 5:1–5:10
This chapter stresses both Christ’s divine appointment and His humility. One of the first things a Jew might have asked a Christian during the time of the early Church was, “How are your sins going to be pardoned when you have no one offering sacrifices and interceding … Read more
Christ is Greater Than The Priesthood
Hebrews 4:12–4:16
The Word of God is very powerful. It is like a very sharp knife that cuts into our life and desires. It exposes us for what we really are (v. 12). Nothing in all creation can hide from Him. He sees everything that we do. He is the God to whom we must explain all that we have ev … Read more
The Promise of Rest
Hebrews 4:1–4:11
In this passage we find the word “rest” mentioned nine times (vv. 1-11). God has provided a “rest” and that “rest” can still be known today. The reference to Jesus also involves Joshua of the Old Testament (v. 8). The two words, Joshua and Jesu … Read more
Failure of The Wilderness Wanders
Hebrews 3:14–3:19
The Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land because they did not believe in God’s protection, and they did not believe that God would help them conquer the giants in the land. The writer in this passage is warning the people of the danger of unbelief: This danger demands im … Read more
Hearts Are Hardened Through Sin
Hebrews 3:7–3:13
In many places, the Bible warns us not to “harden our hearts.” This means to stubbornly set ourselves against God so that we are no longer able to turn to Him for forgiveness. This passage is one of those warnings (vv. 7-9). Some Bible scholars say this was writ … Read more