Hebrews (written)

Saturday, 9 February 2019

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

The author has already twice implored his readers to hold fast. In verse 3:6, he said –

“…whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”

And then once again the same Greek word is used in verse 3:14 –

“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”

This is now the last time he will use it, and the last time it is used in Scripture. He urges his audience to “hold fast the confession of our hope.” In this then is the second of the three standard attributes which the author speaks of. In verse 10:22, the author wrote of “faith.” In this verse, he writes of “hope,” and in the next verse he will speak of “love.” The “confession of hope” is the surety of the promise of God as it applies to the life of the believer. We can have faith that God is merciful, but do we have hope that His mercy will be applied to those who believe in Christ? Such is the point of the author’s admonition.

The audience is exhorted to hold fast to that which has been promised, and they are admonished to do so “without wavering.” The word is found only here in Scripture, aklinés. It signifies “unbent,” and thus resolute and firm. There was to be only the mental assurance that what is promised will be delivered.

The lesson of Israel in the wilderness comes to mind. The people certainly knew that the Lord promised them entrance into Canaan, but they did not have faith that He would be with them in the process, and their hope was thus not grounded. Instead, it wavered. In this, they turned their hearts away from the Lord and back to Egypt. And in response, the Lord sentenced them to die in the wilderness. They failed to realize that “He who promised is faithful.”

Believers have been presented with the truth that Christ has gone before His people, through the veil, and into the Holy Places. Further, He is even now ministering as High Priest before God in order to mediate on our behalf. And so, to ensure that the reader doesn’t waver, he reminds them now that He is, in fact, faithful. Because He is, then why should His people do anything but hold fast to the hope they confess?

The lesson of Israel, being spared throughout the ages, and still remaining as a people now, demonstrates that God keeps His covenant even when His people falter and fail. As we have this demonstration of past (and continued) performance, and as we have the message of Christ revealed to us through the apostles, then there should be no wavering in our hope at all.

Life application: As a society progresses from honoring hard work to one which is entitlement-based, the very moral character of that society changes. Instead of being productive and tending to one’s own needs, the people begin to expect things they did not personally earn. Eventually, they take what is not theirs from those who have earned it. This is the direction that much of the industrialized world has been going, and in many cases, it has already arrived.

The moral fabric of many Christian denominations has followed this change and has become a social gospel rather than one based on a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. Another result of this move is that people in churches allow personal faith, and the surety of their hope, to become entitlement-based as well. Church attendance moves from focusing on the glory of God to discovering what God can do for the congregant. Pastors no longer preach on personal responsibility or Christian values, but instead preach that we should “expect a blessing” or “expect a miracle” in our lives.

People no longer come to the table in gratitude, but rather in expectation. When they arrive, they claim rather than proclaim; instead of “I proclaim the name of Jesus,” it becomes “I claim in the name of Jesus.” Ideally, holding fast to the hope we confess should include honoring the One in whom our hope rests, not demanding from Him.

If we really believe God exists and that He is sovereign, then our faith will remain strong in crisis as well as in prosperity. When we expect a reward for our faith, then our faith is misdirected – the reward was received when Jesus saved us. Everything else which comes after that must be taken in its proper context. Jesus is ever-faithful – our sins are forgiven, our resurrection is assured, and our eternity is settled. Let us remember to praise Him for His faithfulness.

Thank you, Sovereign Lord, for the perfect Gift of our Lord Jesus. Give us willing hearts to hold fast to the hope we confess in Him. Keep us from willful presumption, and rather, give us hearts that petition You in humility. Glory and honor belong to You! Amen.

Friday, 8 February 2019

…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

The words, “let us draw near,” are connected to the “boldness to enter the Holiest” of verse 20. The author is imploring his audience to draw near to God (who resides in the Most Holy Place, symbolic of heaven itself). It is reminiscent of the words of Hebrews 7:19, where the author speaks of “the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Believers have that hope, and they are to have boldness in that hope. James spoke in this manner as well –

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

In the surety of our hope, and in displaying boldness in it, we are to “draw near with a true heart.” The author has already used the word translated as “true” twice in relation to the true tabernacle (meaning typical of Christ where God resides), and the true Holy Places (speaking of heaven). He now uses it one more time in the book in relation to the heart of the believer. The word “emphasizes the integrity of what is true, down to its inner make-up (reality, ‘true inside and out’)” HELPS Word Studies. Vincent’s Word Studies goes further by saying, “The phrase means more than in sincerity. Sincerity is included, but with it all that enters into a right attitude toward God as revealed in our Great High Priest, – gladness, freedom, enthusiasm, bold appropriation of all the privileges of sonship.”

With such a true heart, the author notes that we are to draw near “in full assurance of faith.” The words are similar to verse 6:11, which spoke of the believers, “full assurance of hope until the end.” The faith is in the truth of what is presented, and it is the very basis for any proper relationship with God. That then leads to the full assurance of hope. When one possesses the full assurance of faith, their full assurance of hope will be rightly grounded and directed. And in this, the author then speaks of “having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.”

Here the author speaks of the internal, spiritual aspect of man in his relation to Christ. The heart is that which relates to “the affective center of our being” (HELPS Word Studies). Though the heart is spoken of more than eight hundred times in the Bible, it never speaks of the physical organ itself, but it is used figuratively in relation to the mind, will, intention, and inner being of man. Thus, having them “sprinkled from an evil conscience,” looks to the cleansing power of the blood of Christ as it cleanses man from his moral impurity while purifying his mind. This symbolic cleansing is referred to by David in the 51^st Psalm –

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

The purging with hyssop was a purification by the sprinkling of a blood mixture. David wasn’t referring to being externally cleansed, but internally. This is made clear in his words later in the psalm which say, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10). This is the purification referred to now by the author of Hebrews.

From there, the author continues with, “and our bodies washed with pure water.” This is the external aspect of the body. As the inner hearts of men are to be purified to draw near in sincerity, the external body is to be washed in symbolic agreement with that inner change. The Greek, however, reads in a specific manner –

our (plural)
hearts (plural)
our (singular)
body (singular)

There are many people; there is one body. The church is one, but Israel collectively is one as well. The Jews and Gentiles who have been brought into the church are cleansed, but the nation of Israel has not yet been so purified and cleansed. This then is referring to Israel, the people, as was prophesied in Ezekiel 36:25 –

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.”

There was a time prophesied by Ezekiel in which Israel as a collective people would be brought from among the nations and brought back into their own land. In that time, the Lord promises that He would cleanse them. That time is yet ahead, but it is surely coming. They have been brought back, and they are once again in the land being prepared for their cleansing. The pure water then is the word as referenced in Ephesians 5 –

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Jew and Gentile are one body in Christ, but Israel as a collective whole is not yet purified in this manner. This will occur at some point. It is this that the author is referring to here. Individual Jews are to be purified, and the body as a whole is to be cleansed.

Life application: There is one gospel, there is one church (though made up of many “churches”), and there is one way to be brought into that church. It is through the blood of Christ and the cleansing which He provides. Israel (the people) is a part of what God is doing, and He has not rejected them. The truth of this matter continues to be seen in the particular words chosen by the author of Hebrews in order to reveal this.

Yes Lord! Through You we have full assurance of properly directed faith. Through You our hearts are sprinkled, thus cleansing us from a guilty conscience. And through Your word our body is made holy – washed with pure water. Because of You, we stand acceptable to God the Father. What else can we do but shout! Hallelujah and Amen!

Thursday, 7 February 2019

…and having a High Priest over the house of God, Hebrews 10:21

Here the author builds upon what he has been saying. We can boldly enter the Holy Places because of the blood of Jesus (10:19). This is in “a new and living way which He consecrated for us” (10:20). And that is “through the veil” (10:20) which is His flesh. He now adds to that with, “and having a High Priest.” The Greek does not read “High Priest.” Instead, it uses the word megas, or “great.” Thus, He is the “Great Priest.” It is true that He is the High Priest, however, the author purposefully uses this term (also used in Hebrews 4:14 with a different connecting word).

This then is most probably referring to the prophecy of the Great Priest from Zechariah 6, and it seems that this is a purposeful connection to that verse by the author. In that passage, it says –

“‘“Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. ¹² Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying:

“Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!
From His place He shall branch out,
And He shall build the temple of the Lord;
¹³ Yes, He shall build the temple of the Lord.
He shall bear the glory,
And shall sit and rule on His throne;
So He shall be a priest on His throne,
And the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’” Zechariah 6:11-13

In verse 11 of that passage, Joshua is called ha’kohen ha’gadol – “the priest, the great.” There is prophesied in that passage a uniting of the offices of King and High Priest. This is realized in Christ Jesus, and this seems to be what the author has on his mind. Christ is not just “a high priest,” but He is the “Great Priest.” It is He who (as Zechariah prophesies) “shall build the temple of the Lord.” In the Bible, and in both Testaments, the term “house of God,” is frequently used to speak of the temple of the Lord. It is this same term which is now used by the author to reveal the authority with which Christ rules. He is “a Great Priest over the house of God.”

A description of Jesus as the Great High Priest is described in glorious detail in Revelation 1 –

“Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; ¹⁶ He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” Revelation 1:12-16

The symbolism is rich in this account as it shouts out Christ’s glory – both His humanity and His divinity. The lampstands were used in the temple for illumination. That He is “like the Son of Man” indicates His humanity. The garment reaching down to His feet reflects His status as our High Priest. The golden band replaces the woven band of the earthly high priest and reveals His deity and also the eternality of the office. The snow-like head and hair indicate His absolute purity and divine glory. The eyes like a flame of fire are what read into our very thoughts and minds. The feet like fine brass represent his permanence and authority to judge. His voice like the sound of many waters reveals his deity and authority to proclaim God’s word. The seven stars in His hand speak of His sovereign authority over the angels of the churches. The sharp two-edged sword reflects the authority of His words and their ability to “judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart;” and His countenance like the sun shining in its strength is indicative of the glory of God which shone in the sanctuary as seen in the Old Testament.

Life application: The risen Christ, Jesus, is our Great Priest! Although much of the Old Testament symbolism concerning priestly matters is not used by Paul (in earlier epistles) during the Gentile-led church age, that is because the Gentiles had less need to understand those roles which the Hebrews would be fully aware of. However, even Paul’s words show that Christ fulfills all of the priestly roles for us, in this dispensation, as the high priest of Israel did for the people of Israel under the Old Covenant. There is one atoning Sacrifice, there is one Mediator between God and man, etc. And those things are handled by Jesus in His death, burial, resurrection, and continued mediation. If you wonder if your prayers to God actually make it to His ears, don’t worry. If you are in Christ, they do. He is, even now, tending to your needs before the Father.

Lord God, it is so wonderful to know that we do not have the need for an earthly priest to minister for us before You. Rather, we have Jesus, the Great Priest of the New Covenant who fills every role necessary to bring us to You once again, and to mediate for us in Your presence. We have absolute surety in Christ that our needs before You are met perfectly. Hallelujah and Amen.

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

…by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, Hebrews 10:20

The verse is connected to the previous one. Together, they read –

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,”

The words here, “a new and living way,” are incorrect. There never was a way for us to enter. Only the priests could do so in an earthly sanctuary, and theirs was only prefiguring the true access. Now there is “a way, new and living.” There is one way and only one way to enter, and that is through Christ.

With this understanding, and with the small, but major correction, it is seen that, “by a way, new and living,” is speaking of entering the Holiest. Only the priests could enter into the holy places, and only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, only once a year on the Day of Atonement, and only with blood. But that was not into heaven. It was only a type and shadow of what Christ would do. Now, because of Christ, those who believe in Him may boldly enter covered in His blood. Which is the “way, new and living.”

Shed blood signifies death, and yet, the verse here says the way is “living.” This is because His shed blood not only fulfilled the Old Covenant, but it established the New Covenant –

“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’”

Thus, it is a way “which He consecrated for us.” It is the death of Christ Jesus which allows us full and unfettered access to God once again. The same word, translated here as “consecrated,” was translated in verse 9:18 as “dedicated.” These are its only two uses in Scripture. The word signifies, “advancing to a new sphere (dimension) of reality.” It is Christ who makes this possible for us, and it is “through the veil, that is His flesh.”

Here the symbolism of the veil which stood between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the Sanctuary is explicitly said to prefigure Christ Jesus. Understanding this, it makes this veil, or paroket, an amazing study. It is well worth the time to watch this video from the Superior Word, to discover what is being pictured in it in relation to the coming Christ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJvNjczxFNc

One can see in this the humanity and the deity of Christ. The veil, His body, is what allows access into God’s presence. As the veil concealed the glory of God behind it, so Christ’s humanity concealed that same glory. This is evident from the account of the Transfiguration. In the rending of the veil, meaning His body, access to the glory of God is obtained.

Life application: For a short explanation of the symbolism of the veil, we can look at two accounts of it in Scripture –

“You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. ³² You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. ³³ And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. ³⁴ You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. ³⁵ You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.” Exodus 26:31-33

And another time the curtain is mentioned –

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
⁵¹ Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,” Matthew 27:50, 51

The curtain of the temple restricted access to the Most Holy place. Just as the curtain was torn open when Christ died, so access to the throne of God was restored to fallen man through the body of Jesus. We need look for no other explanation. The Bible tells us the wonderful story. Trust that access has been granted, and also be sure that it is only through Christ that access is so granted.

Lord God, thank You for the restored access to Your glory which was lost so long ago when we turned away from You in Eden. Now — through Christ – a way, living and new, has been opened up for those who will simply accept it. Christ’s body was torn so that we can come to You again. What a marvelous wonder You have accomplished for Your people. Thank You for Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:19

With the doctrinal aspect of the epistle concluded, the author now begins his words of exhortation and encouragement. The words in this verse and the next few are very similar to those found in Hebrews 4:14-16. After having given so much theological instruction on the supremacy of the work of Christ, he once again restates his thoughts. In other words –

1) “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.” (4:16)
2) Here is how and why that is possible (intervening chapters and verses)
3) “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” (10:19)

The word, “Therefore,” sums up every chief and supporting thought to be found which explains what is now stated. The statement was made, the case justifying it was presented, and now the case is restated to complete the thought as a close to the presentation.

The Hebrews (and any Gentile who has placed His faith in Christ as well) have been given the information necessary to understand why they, who once were forbidden to go beyond a certain point in the sanctuary under pain of death (Numbers 3:38, etc), were now not only allowed to enter the Holy Places (the word in Greek is in the plural, and it signifies the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place), but rather to have boldness in doing so.

The word “boldness” is one which indicates “freedom of speech,” and thus, “confidence.” There is no holding back, but that which is desired is to be freely obtained. As this is a word referring especially to “boldness in speech,” the idea that one gets is not a literal entering into the Holy Places, but a confident appeal to God who is in the Holy Places, as if we literally enter and speak to the Lord, just as Moses did – face to face (see Exodus 33:11). And, just as the priests of Israel presented the incense daily before the veil, which would then waft through the veil and into the presence of the Lord, so our prayers go through the veil (which is Christ). The symbolism shows that our prayers, because of Christ Jesus, are being transmitted directly to God through Him, and this is because it is “by the blood of Jesus.”

The term is more rightly translated as, “in the blood of Jesus.” We do not carry the blood of Christ into the Most Holy Place, but – like the symbolism of the high priest of Israel – the High Priest Jesus presented the blood, and all who come to Christ are symbolically presented with Him. This is explained, for example, in Ephesians 2 & 3 –

“For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:18

“…in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Ephesians 3:12

The Body has been offered, the Sacrifice has been made, and the blood has been accepted; atonement is realized for those who – by faith – come to God through Christ. We are covered by the blood, and thus we are “in” the blood that has been offered.

Life application: The over-arching theme of the book of Hebrews is “greater than.” Jesus is greater than the angels. Jesus is greater than Moses. Jesus is greater than Aaron, etc. An underlying theme, however, is “boldness.” The word, in one form or another, is used multiple times in the book as a reminder that believers are completely safe, completely secure, and can be completely at rest in what Jesus has done for us. And this did not come about, nor does it come about, by our efforts under the law. It came about solely by Christ’s efforts in fulfillment of the law and in the establishment of the New Covenant in His blood. It is all about JESUS!

Glorious God Almighty, when we were weak and without hope in this world, You sent Christ Jesus to do what we could never do – to obtain that which was out of reach, and to provide that which could not be granted in any other way. He has loosed the chains of bondage, and He has led us to Your glorious presence once again. All hail what You have done through Jesus Christ our Lord. All hail the Name above every name. All hail JESUS! Amen.