Hebrews
The Promise of Rest
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 Jesus, in Hebrew and Greek, are the same. Here the …
Hearts Are Hardened Through Sin
In many places, the Bible warns us not to āharden our hearts.ā 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 written to Christians who had …
Melchizedek The Priest
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 of the Jewish …
Qualifications For The Priesthood
This chapter stresses both Christās 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, āHow are your sins going to be pardoned when you have no one offering sacrifices and interceding for you?” Under …
Obtaining a Good Testimony Through Faith
The author of Hebrews wants to talk about many others who were great men and women of faith, but time will not permit it. He lists several people in Biblical history who did mighty deeds of faith. From this variety of personalities, we can see how faith can operate in the life of any person who …
By Faith They Overcame
Someone has said there are four types of faith: (1) Faith that receives – coming empty handed to Christ for salvation. (2) Faith that reckons – counts on God to undertake for us. (3) Faith that risks – moving out in Godās power, daring to do the impossible. & (4) Faith that rests – in the middle of a crises it sits in confidence that God will deliver …
Christ is Greater Than The Priesthood
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 ever done (v. 13) …
Christ Opens The Inner Sanctuary
Christ came as a priest of the New Covenant, called āthe good things that have comeā (v. 11). Under the Old Covenant, sins were covered by the blood of bulls and goats (vv. 12-13). If you are carrying a load of guilt because you are finding that you canāt be good enough to please God, take …
The Greatness of The New Priest
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 God. The Law which …
The Rebuke of Immaturity
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 alone will never bring Spiritual maturity …