Hebrews

Our Access To God

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Last revision: 5 June 2003

Go to Lesson 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

^Outline

1	Heb 1	Jesus is greater than the angels
2	Heb 2	But … He’s not beyond our reach, because He’s our Brother
3	Heb 3	Jesus is greater than Moses
4	Heb 4:1-13	But … we could miss God’s rest like the people who followed Moses
5	Heb 4:14-5:10	Jesus is our High Priest, better than Melchizedek
6	Heb 5:11-6:28	But … we have a responsibility to mature
7	Heb 7	Jesus established a better priesthood
8	Heb 8	Jesus established a better covenant
9	Heb 9	Jesus even offered a better sacrifice
10	Heb 10	But … the righteous still live by faith
11	Heb 11	Examples of Living By Faith
12	Heb 12	But … you need to get in shape to run this race
13	Heb 13	Our sacrifices are important

^{Explanation of style}

Joshua 1:1-9

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^Lesson¹

Introduction

Ñ “The thing that will help us most in dating the letter is its references to persecution. It is clear that at one time their leaders had died for their faith (Heb.13:7). It is clear that they themselves had not yet suffered persecution, for they had not yet resisted to the point of shedding their blood (Heb.12:4). It is also clear that they have had ill-treatment to suffer for they have had to undergo the pillaging of their goods (Heb.10:32-34). And it is clear from the outlook of the letter that there is a risk of persecution about to come. From all that it is safe to say that this letter must have been written between two persecutions, in days when Christians were not actually persecuted, but were none the less unpopular with their fellow-men. Now the first persecution was in the time of Nero in the year A.D. 64; and the next was in the time of Domitian about A.D. 85. [1]

Ñ The Epistle hails and sends greetings from some place in Italy, at a time when Timothy, Paul's disciple, was set at liberty, and the writer was on the point of paying, with Timothy, a visit to his readers (13:23,24). The passage, "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them" (13:3), does not necessarily imply that he himself was in prison, indeed 13:23 seems to imply his freedom. These notices naturally suggest the close of Paul's first Roman imprisonment, in the spring of the year 63, or soon after; for Timothy and Luke were with him there, and the writer himself evidently belonged to the circle of his friends and fellow-workers.

There is further internal evidence that the letter was written before the destruction of Jerusalem (70), before the outbreak of the Jewish war (66), … the Temple was still standing, with its daily sacrifices regularly going on, and the doom of the theocracy was still in the future. [2]

Ñ We don’t know who wrote this book, when they wrote it, or why they wrote it. The early church fathers thought the book was magnificent, but had trouble including it in the canon of Scripture because of its anonymity.

Higher Than Angels (Hebrews 1:1-14)

Heb 1:1-2

Superior to the Prophets

Ñ The letter to the Hebrews is written in beautiful Greek, yet the author was thoroughly familiar with Jewish law. Could have been written by …

- Barnabas (Greek disciple)

- Apollos (from Alexandria, center of learning)

- Paul (perhaps with a good writer)

Ñ This is a passage that any classical Greek orator would have been proud to write. The writer of Hebrews has brought to it every artifice of word and rhythm that the beautiful and flexible Greek language could provide. In Greek the two adverbs which we have translated in many parts and in many ways are single words, "polumeros" and "polutropos." "Polu-" in such a combination means "many" and it was a habit of the great Greek orators, like Demosthenes, the greatest of them all, to weave such sonorous words into the first paragraph of a speech. The writer to the Hebrews felt that, since he was going to speak of the supreme revelation of God to men, he must clothe his thought in the noblest language that it was possible to find. [3]

s What are some ways that God speaks to people?
Are the methods mentioned here intended to be all-inclusive?

s What are “these last days”?

Ñ “The Jews divided all time into two ages – the present age and the age to come. In between they set The Day of the Lord. The present age was wholly bad; the age to come was to be the golden age of God. The Day of the Lord was to be like the birth-pangs of the new age.” [4]

s What does it mean to be an “heir of all things”?

s Where was Jesus in the creation story?

Heb 1:3-14

Superior to the Angels

s How is Jesus like the Father (v.3)?

Ñ Jesus is called the "charakter" of God's very essence. In Greek, "charakter" means two things, first, a seal, and, second, the impression that the seal leaves on the wax. The impression has the exact form of the seal. So, when the writer to the Hebrews said that Jesus was the "charakter" of the being of God, he meant that he was the exact image of God. Just as when you look at the impression, you see exactly what the seal which made it is like, so when you look at Jesus you see exactly what God is like. [5]

s What is the significance of “sitting down” at the “right hand” of God?

s What are some things that you have heard about angels?

s [In Jewish beliefs] there were millions and millions of angels. There were two hundred angels who controlled the movements of the stars and kept them in their courses. There was an angel who controlled the never-ending succession of the years and months and days. There was an angel, a mighty prince, who was over the sea. There were angels of the frost, the dew, the rain, the snow, the hail, the thunder and the lightning. There were angels who were wardens of hell and torturers of the damned. There were recording angels who wrote down every single word which every man spoke. There were destroying angels and angels of punishment. There was Satan, the prosecuting angel, who on every day except the Day of Atonement continuously brought charges against men before God. There was the angel of death who went out only at God's bidding and who impartially delivered his summons to good and evil alike. Every nation had its guardian angel … Every individual had his guardian angel … So many were the angels that the Rabbis could even say: "Every blade of grass has its angel." [6]

s What is Jesus’ position relative to the angels?

s In v.5 there are two quotes. Why does the author include the first quote from Psalm 2:7? Why is the second quote (2 Sam.7:14) included?

Ñ Most of these quotes use the Septuagint (the Old Testament translated into Greek in the 3^rd century B.C.) as the source, and therefore may not sound to us like direct quotes.

s If Jesus had a part in creation (1:2), then what is meant by saying God brought “His firstborn into the world” (v.6)?

s How is Jesus described as different from the angels in v.7-9 (quoting Psalm 104:4; Psalm 45:6-7)?

s How do you suppose the Jews understood this everlasting throne and kingdom prior to Jesus’ birth (v.8)?

s What does the quotation in v.10-12 say about Jesus?
Read Psalm 102:24-28.

s What does the quotation in v.13 (Psalm 110:1) say about Jesus?

s What purpose do angels have? To whom do they minister?

s How does this passage help you understand who Jesus is?

ÿ Jesus is higher than all of the prophets.

ÿ Jesus is higher than the angels.

^Lesson²

Brother To Us (Hebrews 2:1-18)

Heb 2:1-4	*Consequences of the Message* s The author claims (v.2) that the angels delivered a message that was binding and punished disobedience. What message do you suppose is being referred to here? - The Law? - Any message delivered by angels? s What might be the consequences of ignoring or drifting away from the salvation that Jesus offers? s Can you tell from this passage how the author found out about this salvation? s What was the purpose of God’s signs, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Heb 2:5-13	*Compassion of Jesus* s What has God placed under Jesus’ authority (subjection)? Read Psalm 8. How does this quote help explain Jesus’ authority? Is His authority apparent to us? Why? Ñ In the psalm quoted here the two parallel phrases: "What is man that you remember him?" and "Or the son of man that you visit him?" are different ways of saying exactly the same thing. The psalm is a great lyric cry of the glory of man as God meant it to be. It is in fact an expansion of the great promise of God at creation in Gen.1:28, when he said to man: "Have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." [7] Ñ The glory of man, incidentally, is even greater than the King James Version would lead us to understand. It has: "Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels" (Ps.8:5). That is a correct translation of the Greek but not of the original Hebrew. In the original Hebrew it is said that man is made a little lower than the "Elohiym"; and "Elohiym" is the regular word for "God." What the psalmist wrote about man really was: "Thou hast made him little less than God," which, in fact, is the translation of the Revised Standard Version. So then this psalm sings of the glory of man, who was made little less than divine and whom God meant to have dominion over everything in the world. [8]
	s Why did God crown Jesus with glory and honor? s What do you think it means to be made “perfect through suffering” (v.10)? s How is Jesus the “Author” or “Pioneer” of our salvation (v.10)? s What does it mean to you to be part of God’s family, i.e., Jesus’ brothers and sisters (v.11)? s How do the quotations in v.12-13 (Psalm 22:22; Isaiah 8:17, 18) help explain Jesus’ relationship with us?
Heb 2:14-18	s What did Jesus do for us (that we couldn’t do ourselves)? s What did Jesus do to the devil? Do verses 14-15 shed any light on the meaning of Rev.12:9 or Rev.20:2? Ñ Verse 16 is key to this section and the discussion about angels. Jesus is higher than angels and He is higher than us; but He has chosen to help us as a brother. Therefore He is not out of reach for us. s What are some reasons for Jesus being made human like us?

ÿ Even though Jesus is higher than the angels, He is our brother.

^Lesson³

Higher Than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-19)

Heb 3:1-6

Superior to Moses

s What is the “heavenly calling” (v.1)?

- To be holy

- To be part of God’s family

- To exhibit love and mercy

Ñ In v.1, “consider” is a much more intense term than we might think. It means to perceive or understand fully,[9] like the man who is supposed to “consider” the log in his own eye before pointing out a splinter in another’s eye (Matt. 7:3).

s How is Jesus an apostle (v.1)?
How is He a high priest?

s Who appointed Jesus? (i.e., to whom has he been faithful?)

s What (or who) is the “house” spoken of in v.3-4?
What does it mean to “build” this house?

s How would you compare Moses’ role with Jesus’ role in v.5-6?

- Servant versus Son

s What makes Jesus more worthy of honor than Moses?

Ñ The passage quoted in v.2, “Moses was faithful in all his house” (Num. 12:6-8), was an argument that Moses differs from all the prophets. To them God makes himself known in a vision; to Moses he speaks "mouth to mouth." To the Jew it would have been impossible to conceive that anyone ever stood closer to God than Moses did, and yet that is precisely what the writer of the Hebrews sets out to prove. [10]

s Why do you think courage (confidence) and hope are necessary in order for us to remain God’s “house”?

Heb 3:7-19

The Consequences of Supremacy

Ñ Read Psalms 95:6-11. The two phrases, the provocation and the day of temptation translate two Hebrew words which are place names – Massah and Meribah. This is a reference to the story told in Exo.17:1-7 and Num.20:1-13. These passages tell of a rebellious incident in the pilgrimage of the children of Israel. They were thirsty in the desert and railed against Moses, regretting that they had ever left Egypt and forswearing their trust in God. In the Numbers version of the story God told Moses to speak to the limestone rock and water would gush forth. But Moses in his anger did not speak to the rock; he struck it. The water came forth but for this act of distrust and disobedience God declared that Moses would never be allowed to lead the people into the promised land. "Very certainly they shall not enter in to my rest," means, "Very certainly they will not enter into the Promised Land." To wanderers in the desert the Promised Land was the place of rest, and it was often called the rest (compare Deut.12:9). The point is that the disobedience and the distrust of Israel debarred them from the blessings of God that they might have enjoyed. [11]

s According to the quotation in Heb.3:7-11, how is our relationship with Christ similar to the relationship that the Israelites had with Moses?

- Rejecting Jesus means rejecting God (and to the Jews rejecting Moses meant the same thing)

s What is the opposite of a “hardened heart”?

s Why is the author so concerned about believers hardening their hearts (or falling away or not holding fast)?

s How does sin destroy our confidence in Christ?

s In what ways can we encourage each other to remain faithful?

s Did Moses lead all of the Israelites into the promised land (v.16-19)?
What was the cause of their failure to enter?

- Didn’t know God’s ways

- Went astray in their hearts

- Tested God

s Can the same problem(s) hinder us?

ÿ Jesus is even higher than Moses.

ÿ Therefore, pay close attention to your calling.

^Lesson⁴

Entering God’s Rest (Hebrews 4:1-16)

Heb 4:1-13

Diligent in Obedience

s What does the “therefore” in v.1 refer to?

s What is the author encouraging the readers to do?

s What are the readers of this book expected to be concerned about (v.1)?

s What are some definitions of “rest”?
What is “God’s rest”?

- Completion

- Satisfaction

Ñ In order to emphasize the main point, we are given three examples of rest in this passage:

- Creation rest (v.4)

- Canaan rest (v.8)

- Calvary rest, which is available to us (v.11)

s Why did the Israelites miss God’s rest?

s What was the “good news” that was preached in the Old Testament (v.2)?

- Compare Exodus 19:3-6

- Why wasn’t this “good news” enough to bring them to rest?

s Notice the time element in this passage:
In what way is God’s rest past?
In what way is it present (compare Mat.11:28-30; Rom.5:1-2)
In what way is it future?

Ñ Notice that v.7 quotes Psalms 95:7-8 for the third time (also in 3:7-8 and 3:15). Read Psalms 95:6-11 again to see why it’s so important. David’s psalm offers hope that we might still be able to enter God’s rest – if we don’t harden our hearts.

s In what way do we (or will we) observe the “Sabbath” (v.9)?
What works do we rest from?

- Maybe we’ll rest from trying to be good enough J

s How do we enter God’s rest?

s The context preceding v.12 is that obedience is required in order to enter God’s rest. How does the Word of God relate to obedience and disobedience?

s How is the Word of God described in v.12-13?

s Can you find in this passage some ways that the Word of God works like a physician?

- Diagnostic

- Surgery

- Implantation

Ñ The Greek word translated “laid open” in v.13 is tetracheelismena, which means to bend back the neck (the word “trachea” has the same root) and expose it for peril or surgery. [12]

Ñ God offered rest (Sabbath) as far back as Creation. But people didn’t enter it. Now we learn that it’s still available. But we could miss it, too.

ÿ Although Jesus is better than Moses, we are not better than the people who followed Moses. Most of them missed God’s rest, and so could we.

ÿ We can participate in God’s rest if we trust Him and do not harden our hearts.

^Lesson⁵

Jesus Is High Priest, Better than Melchizedek
(Hebrews 4:14-5:10)

Heb 4:14-16	*Confident in Approaching the Throne* s What are some characteristics of Jesus that show He is capable of working with us – even though we may be disobedient? s What is there about Jesus that encourages you to place your confidence in Him? © Why do you trust Jesus to be your High Priest? s How has He passed through the heavens? s How was He tempted? Ñ The concept of God being approachable was new to both the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews considered God too holy to share our human existence, and the Greek philosophers had described deity as aloof from human concerns. [13] s How do mercy and grace contribute to God’s rest? © In what ways have mercy and grace been shown to you? © Do you confidently approach God’s throne?
Heb 5:1-6	*Called By God*** s Describe the characteristics of a high priest (v.1-4). - Appointed - Offers gifts and sacrifices for sin - Deal justly with weak people (realizing his weaknesses) - Called by God s How did Jesus offer “gifts and sacrifices” for sin? s How should one “deal gently” with people in their weaknesses?
	s The word that is translated “deal gently” is metriopathein. W. M. Macgregor defined it as "the mid-course between explosions of anger and lazy indulgence." Plutarch spoke of it as that sympathetic feeling which enabled a man to raise up and to save, to spare and to hear. It means the ability to bear with people without getting irritated; it means the ability not to lose one's temper with people when they are foolish and will not learn and do the same thing over and over again. It describes the attitude to others which does not issue in anger at their fault and which does not condone it, but which to the end of the day spends itself in a gentle yet powerful sympathy which by its very patience directs a man back to the right way. [14] s If a high priest is called by God, why is he still encumbered with weaknesses? How does this weakness affect the attitude of the high priest toward the rest of the people? How did Jesus share this characteristic? s What does it mean to be called by God (v.4)? (compare 3:1) - Compare 1 Peter 2:9 – Who is called: few or many? How is a high priest’s calling distinct? How was Jesus called? © For what purpose has God called you? s Who was Melchizedek? (Gen.14:18-20; Ps.110:4) Why does he take precedence over Aaron? - He was high priest before Aaron was called © What are your “Melchizedeks”? I.e., What are the roles that Jesus wants to have in your life (like “high priest”) that conflict with your own expectations of Jesus?
Heb 5:7-10	*Jesus’ Qualifications* s What are some of Jesus’ qualifications for high priest? - Prayed earnestly - Learned obedience through suffering - Reached His goal (“perfect”) - Provided salvation - Called by God s What are some examples of Jesus offering up prayers this fervently (v.7)? How did God answer His prayers? s What does it mean that Jesus “learned obedience” (v.8)? - Perhaps it means that He matured Since He wasn’t disobedient, what did He learn? Was it necessary?
	s When was Jesus “made perfect” (v.9)? In what since was He not “perfect” earlier? s Why is Jesus’ “perfection” important for Him to offer eternal salvation? To whom is this salvation available? s What do you think the Jews at that time would consider as obedience? Did Jesus change the meaning of obedience for them? © Do we follow Jesus’ example of compassion, obedience, and prayer? © Have you learned the lessons of obedience that Jesus learned?

ÿ Jesus meets the qualifications for high priest:

Ø Called (appointed) by God

Ø Interceded for people & learned how to live obediently in the midst of weakness

Ø Offered sacrifice for sins

Ø Jesus meets the qualifications for high priest:

ÿ Jesus is better than His predecessor, Melchizedek.

^Lesson⁶

Press On To Maturity (Hebrews 5:11-6:12)

Heb 5:11-14	*Grow Up* s Why is the author having trouble proceeding with his description of Jesus as High Priest? s What was the spiritual state of those who first received this book? © What are some areas in which you are slow to understand? s What are the marks of spiritual maturity mentioned here? - Ability to teach - Acquainted with the Word - Able to discern good and evil © What marks of spiritual maturity do you see in your own life? © What are some “elementary principles” that you/we need to let go of in order to move ahead? s What do you suppose is meant by “solid food”? (compare 1 Cor.3:2) Why is “solid food” only for mature Christians? What is the danger for infant Christians? s How does one “train” to discern good and evil? Aren’t our consciences enough of a guide? Is this a matter of learning the distinction or unlearning what the world teaches?
Heb 6:1-8	*Stick* With It Ñ There are 6 elementary teachings in v.1-2 which “constitute a common ground between Judaism and Christianity … The essence of the author’s argument is that the one difference between the two faiths – Jesus Christ – is crucial.” [15] s List the “elementary teachings” in v.1-2. Do we underemphasize or overemphasize these teachings? s In v.1 we’re told to press on to maturity; then in v.3 the author says we will “if God permits.” What might be a reason that God would throttle our growth? Does God limit growth? - Perhaps He enables growth at just the right time.
	s What does it mean to “fall away” (v.4-6)? What hope is there for someone in that state? If such a person ceases their rejection of Jesus and accepts His one-time sacrifice, can the person be restored? Why is this difficult? s How does one who falls away put Jesus to open shame? s Describe some of the enjoyments that a believer “tastes” (v.4-5). © Describe the “taste” of the heavenly gift and the Word of God. s What is the “heavenly gift”? s How are maturing Christians like the land (v.7)? How are those who fall away like the land (v.8)? © Are you drinking in God or just being prickly (v.7-8)?
Heb 6:9-12	*A Good Start*** s Why do you suppose the author changes his tone in v.9? What does he expect of the reader? s What are some things that “accompany salvation” (v.9)? s What are the works for which the author compliments these people? s Why does helping God’s people show love to God (v.10)? © What does our behavior toward others reveal about our love for God (v.10)? s What is the sluggishness (or laziness) that is warned against in v.12? How does it relate to the attitude in 5:11-14? s How can we put v.12 into practice and become “imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises”? © How can you show faith and patience in your current circumstances?
Heb 6:13-20	s How is Abraham an example of faith and patience? What did Abraham learn about patient faith? s Why did God swear an oath with His promise to bless Abraham? Why did He need to swear an oath if He cannot lie? - Perhaps as a second “witness” to the promise. s What is the significance of an oath? © Are you trustworthy with your promises? s How do you reconcile this oath with Jesus’ statement in Matt.5:33-37? s What are the “two unchangeable things” that give assurance about God’s promise (v.18)?
	s What is the promise (or promises) for which we are heirs (v.17)? (compare 6:12) - Maturity - High Priest - Blessings s What hope do these promises give to Christians? s From what were the Jewish Christians fleeing (v.18)? To what were they fleeing? s Why would this hope have been an encouragement for believers who were being persecuted? Ñ The importance of our hope is described with two illustrations: - Anchor - Holy of Holies These illustrations share some common aspects: - Both are invisible when operating properly - We must be connected in order to benefit (one by rope/chain, the other by the High Priest) s What is it that makes our hope securely anchored (v.19-20)? s What does our anchor protect us from? © How tight is the rope to your anchor? Is it like one of those extensible dog leashes or like a rock climber’s safety rope? s What does Jesus do in the holy place (behind the veil)? Ñ [In v.20] the writer to the Hebrews uses a most illuminating word about Jesus. He says that he entered the presence of God as our forerunner. The word is "prodromos." It has three stages of meaning: (i) It means one who rushes on. (ii) It means a pioneer. (iii) It means a scout who goes ahead to see that it is safe for the body of the troops to follow. Jesus went into the presence of God to make it safe for all men to follow. Let us put it very simply in another way. Before Jesus came, God was the distant stranger whom only a very few might approach and that at peril of their lives. But because of what Jesus was and did, God has become the friend of every man. Once men thought of him as barring the door; now they think of the door to his presence as thrown wide open to all. [16]

ÿ Press on to maturity so that you can discern the truths about Jesus.

ÿ God desires and expects the best from you.