Hebrews 3:¹⁸ And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? ¹⁹ And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” The Israelites who came out of Egypt did not enter the Promised Land Rest b/c of their disobedience and their disobedience was b/c of their lack of faith.

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith.” The Jewish Christians that the Hebrews writer was addressing were in danger of not entering the Messianic Rest (Matthew 11:28-30) at the end of the age in 70 AD. Some of them were leaving their faith in Jesus and returning to Judaism. They had the gospel (good news) preached to them with the promise of eternal life and immortality if they would endure to the end, but many were falling away.

Hebrews 10:²⁶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will (the Greek word is mello, “about to”) consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” There was a judgment. of unbelieving and rebellious Jews that was “about to” happen in just a few years in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem, killing over a million evil Jews. But these verses refer to Jewish Christians who were once “sanctified” or saved. If they leave the faith and return to Judaism, they will meet the same fate as the unbelieving Jews in 70 AD.

Hebrews 4:¹¹ Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.” AI: “A double-edged sword cuts both ways, and the word of God is seen as cutting through falsehoods and revealing truth. It penetrates deeper than any physical tool, reaching into the “division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow” to separate the innermost parts of a person. Like a two-edged sword, it cuts through superficiality and deception, distinguishing between the soul (mind and emotions) and the spirit (inner being), and exposing the truth of the heart’s motives. This means it exposes hidden motives and beliefs, helping individuals to see their true selves.”

Many people “go to church” but what’s really going on inside them? Secret sins like greed and lust that are invisible to others but fully “open and laid bare” to God? Hypocrisy: being a part of a church for impure or ulterior motives? Worldliness: preoccupied with worries, riches, and pleasures that cause one to be unfruitful and useless for the Master? So we listen to a sermon and hear the Word preached to us. But are we really letting that Word penetrate into our inner being, judging. our thoughts and intentions? Are we listening just to be entertained, to critique the speaker? How often do you really get deep into the Word so that the Word can get deep into you? That should be a daily thing, not a Sunday church service thing.

Don’t miss eternal llife and immortality b/c of unbelief. God speaks in a lot of ways providentially, but I know He speak through the Word. The Word was written so that we don’t have to rely on oral tradition. We don’t have the originals of the Bible books, but we have totally trustworthy copies. The Word is not a “dead letter”. It is living and active. The Spirit of God who inspred both the old and new testaments is speaking through every word. My mom has been dead since 2010. She left some long letters before she died, expressing her wishes and concerns. I have read them occasionally to see how I think she would want me to think and act. Her spirit is still speaking to me through those letters written 20 years ago. The Spirit of God is still speaking through His Word, both old and new testaments, that was completed 2,000 years ago. It is stll living and active. Will you allow it to come alive and act within you to accomplish God’s purposes for leaving us His Word in writing?

This is a great slide from ClaimingJoy.yolasite.com taken from Hebrews 10:19-25.

It begins with “therefore” which I was taught means “based on what went before”. The Hebrew author has presented point after point to show that Jesus is “better” than the angels, better than Moses as deliverer, better than Aaron as High Priest, and that Jesus has a better covenant with better sacrifices.

So “therefore” based on what went before (his points in 1:1-10:18) he gives a “since”. The Greek word for since is echó: To have, to hold, to possess, so it just means “having”. Having what? 2 things. 1) “Having” the ability to enter the presence of God, the Most Holy Place in heaven, by the blood of Jesus. We can draw near to the the throne of God. Hebrews 4:¹⁶ Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” 2) “Having” such a great high priest over the house of God, which is the church. A high priest who will never die, who offered his own blood as the sacrifice to forgive sins permanently “once for all time”. A high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses. A high priest who is merciful to forgive us of our sins.

So, “since” or we “have” those 2 things, what does the Hebrews writer encourage us to do as believers in this new covenant church of the firstborn? He gives 3 things. Each begins in the various translations with “let us” (NASB, NIV), or “may we” (Young’s Literal Translation). Then there are 3 action verbs that he encourages us to do.

1) Let us draw near (proserchomai: To come to, to approach, to draw near) to that throne of grace for forgiveness and help in time of need. What a shame to have this privelege and opportunity and not take advantage of it. The Old Testament saints did not have that privilege. Draw near with a true or sincere heart in full assurance that you can come to the very presence of God. After all, you have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus and are now the “sanctified” or set apart for God. Our bodies have been washed with pure water. Is that figurative of our spiritual cleansing from sin or does it refer to water baptism which was “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Perhaps both. Our water baptism alone does not save us. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus’ death. But they were commanded by the apostle Peter to be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Ananias told Saul to “arise and be baptzed and wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16). The same apostle Peter who told them to be baptized for he remission of sins in Acts 2:38 also said in Acts 10:⁴⁷ “Surely no one can refuse the water for these (Cornelius’ and his household) to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” ⁴⁸ And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” The apostle Peter went on in his first letter to compare water baptism to the water saving of the 8 people on the ark. In the context those 8 people (Noah and his family) were not saved “from” the water (although they were but that is not Peter’s point) but instead they were saved “by” the water (saved from the human sinful filth that had filled the earth, that surrounded them). 1 Peter 3:20 eight persons, were brought safely through (or by) the water. ²¹ Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Those are some pretty strong verses that show the importance of water baptism, which was practiced by the apostles and the church in the book of Acts. So “our bodies washed with pure water” could refer to water baptism in Hebrews 10:22 but it would also be figurative of the cleansing of our sinful flesh by the blood of Jesus when we are baptized. Water baptism is part of saving faith. It is not a work to earn salvation. 

2) Let us “hold firmly (Greek: katechó: To hold fast, to restrain, to possess, to keep)
to the confession of our hope” without wavering. AI: “The verb (hold fast) encompasses two chief actions: positive retention of what is good and active restraint of what is harmful.” The writer already encouraged this to the readers in 3:6 and 3:14. “We are His house if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast” (Hebrews 3:6); “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first” (Hebrews 3:14). The theme of the whole Hebrew letter has been to warn Jewish Christians about leaving the faith and going back to Judaism, showing them the old covenant was “about to disappear” (Hebrews 8:13), showing them the superiority of the new covenant that could forgive sins permanently once for all time. Indeed the readers of the letter were persecuted (Hebrews 10:32-36) and many “wavered” in their faith and began to have doubts if this new way was really worth leaving their honored traditions under the Law. Over and over he begs them to “endure” and not quit, to stay faithful and not be like the Israelites in the wilderness who failed to enter their Promised Land “rest” due to lack of faith and obedience. These Jewish Christians had made the great “confession” (that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God) when they were baptized. That confession was their “hope” of eternal llfe. Don’t waver from that. The writer adds, “He who promised (eternal life) is faithful.” God will be faithful and give eternal life to those who endure. You don’t have to worry about Him keeping His promise, but will you be faithful to your confession? The same question could be asked of us believers today. We are surrounded with people denying the deity of Jesus (even in a lot of the churches). Jesus said, Matthew 10:³² “Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”

3) Let us consider how to encourage one another to love and good deeds. The Greek word for “encourage” is paroxusmos: Provocation, Stirring up, Sharp Disagreement. AI: “The Greek word marks a sudden surge of emotion that moves people to action. The noun can carry either a constructive or a destructive sense, describing a stimulus that provokes, stirs, or irritates. The direction—toward unity or toward division—is determined by the moral and spiritual context in which the stimulus is received.” It was the word used of the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:39). But the word can also be “stirring up” believers to love and good works. Synonyms for “stimulate” include arouse, energize, provoke, encourage, excite, and motivate. A “stimulus package” is to stir up a slow economy. Light is a physical stimulus that activates photoreceptors in the eye. In other words, when we see Christians wavering or becoming complacent in their faith, we need to stimulate them to get back to love and good works. That could even be harsh warnings such as given several times by the Hebrews writer.

When do we have he opportunity to do this? When we “meet together” (episunagógé: Gathering together, assembly)(10:25). Did you notice the “synagogue” in that word, the Jewish assembly place in the first century? No doubt this refers to the gathering of Christians in their various house churches in the first century. 1 Corinthians 14:26 had instructions on the use of miraculous gifts when they would “assemble” (sunerchomai: To come together, to assemble, to gather). The early church assembled often from its first inception, the first 3,000 baptized believers in Acts 2:⁴⁶ Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.” They met in house churches; they did not have “church buildings”.

When did they meet? Obviously their meetings were not restricted to just one day, but it does appear that they met on the first day of the week (Sunday) as a regular practice. 1 Corinthians 16:² On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper, so that no collections need to be made when I come.” Paul believes that the Corinthian Christians are meeting every Sunday and therefore encourages them to make this collection for the saints in Jerusalem who are suffering from a famine. Some misuse this command to make it one of the “5 acts of worship” that are mandatory for acceptable Christian worship today. This was a command that would have ended once Paul came to Corinth and when the Corinthians gave him the money collected so he could carry it to Jerusalem. How can someone make that a command that applies to us today? The principle of giving or our means is there, but that’s all. The Hebrews writer adds: “not neglecting to meet together”, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (KJV), “not abandoning our own meeting together” (NASB). The Greek word here is egkataleipó: To forsake, abandon, leave behind, desert. AI: “The verb ἐγκαταλείπω conveys a deeply personal form of forsaking: deserting someone who reasonably expected ongoing presence, help, or protection. The compound intensifies the ordinary “leave,” stressing an abandonment that wounds, exposes, or isolates.” It is the word used by Jesus, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? Demas had deserted and forsaken Paul (2 Timothy 4:10). A misuse of this verse in Hebrews 10:25 might be saying that a believer is going to hell if he misses any of the regular church services, which is kinda what my church taught when I was little. A “faithful church member and Christian was one who attended all 3 services (Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night). A believer might have several ways of gathering with other believers that do not involve Sunday “going to church” (which is a misnomer since we are the church). On the other hand, you can see the value in gathering with other Christians whenever possible to encourage one another to love and good works. Even if you don’t think that you need any encouragement, there is someone there who does need encouragement and you might be the one to give it to them. Covid really disrupted that, and many have just chosen not to return to such church gatherings, which is sad. Many believers are very disgusted with the “big church business” which spends 80% of the money collected on buildings and staff instead of feeding the poor, drilling clean water wells overseas, and printing and distributing Bibles in the many languages to the unreached masses in the world. That’s me actually. I would almost prefer to listen to a good sermon online from my favorite Bible teacher, do my own personal studies in the Word, pray my daily prayer list, and then maybe encourage a believer in need with a text or email. I’m sure that is okay with God, but it would still be good for me to attend the church this Sunday morning and encourage those gathered there. There will be many Christians there that need encouragement that I would not have the opportunity to encourage otherwise. So, I guess I will “go to church” Sunday! In the meantime, we have a house church every Wednesday in our house and a Sunday night small group gathering. So I do encourage you to gather with other believers whenever and wherever you can. There was a special incentive for the readers of the Hebrews letter: “all the more as you see the day drawing near”. My church taught that day was Sunday, the day of meeting. I disagree. I believe it refers to the day of judgment coming on the Jews in 70 AD. The next verse following 10:25 is Hebrews 10:²⁶ For we — willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth — no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice, ²⁷ but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour the opposers” (Young’s Literal). Notice that Young’s correctly translates it as a judgment “about to” devour the Jews in 70 AD.

Hebrews 10:20 we have a “new and living way”. A new covenant superior to the old about to disappear covenant. A living way, the sacrifice of Jesus that provide forgiveness and eternal life. Hebrews 10:²⁰ by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh. It took Jesus’ death, by His sacrifice in the “flesh” to provide access to the very throne of God. There was a veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies and only the high priest could go through that veil and only on the Day of Atonement. Jesus’ flesh is the removal of that veil that allows us to enter the very presence of God.

Jesus is your Savior, Redeemer, King, Lord, etc. But in the Hebrews letter, He is the new covenant High Priest. Now that would mean a lot to a Jewish Christian. The first high priest was Aaron. His role was to act as a mediator between God and the Israelites, offering sacrifices and performing rituals, most notably entering the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). On the holiest day of the year, he would enter the Holy of Holies (only he was ever allowed to enter there and only on this one day) for two trips: one to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant for his own sins and then a 2nd trip to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat for the sins of the people to cover (atone) for their sins for the entire past year. You can imagine the relief of the people if and as he came out of the tabernacle after that 2nd trip! He then would place his hands on a goat, putting the sins of the people on the goat, and send the goat off into the wilderness to never return. Thus, the “scapegoat”.

The Law was about to “disappear” (Hebrews 8:13) in just a few years after the time of writing of Hebrews in 70 AD when the temple was destroyed by the Romans. After that there would be no more temple, no more sacrifices, no more day of Atonement, no more High Priest going into the Holy of Holies. That would be quite a shock to Jewish Christians, even hard to believe that God would send the Romans to destroy His own temple! Some Jewish Christians were even leaving faith in Christ and the church to return to Judaism, probably enticed to do so by the non-Christian Jews who were rebelling against Rome.

But the Hebrews writer gave the assurance that there is a much greater High Priest, Jesus, for the greater new covenant that would be replacing the old covenant. This new High Priest, Jesus, would enter the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God, in heaven, not on earth, in a spiritual tabernacle in heaven. The Aaronic old covenant high priests died physically and would have to be replaced, but not Jesus as he was eternal. The old high priests had to make a trip into the Most Holy Place to sprinkle blood for their own sins, but not Jesus since he was sinless. Jesus would only make one trip in to the Most Holy Place in heaven to offer, not the blood of animals which could not forgive sins permanently, but to offer his own blood to forgive sins once for all time (Hebrews 10). The Aaronic high priests had to enter to enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement every year, but Jesus only had to enter the Most Holy Place in heaven one time, once for all time. After making that offering of his blood, he would come out of the Most Holy Place in heaven to make his 2nd coming, but the 2nd coming was not to make an offering for sin but to provide salvation and immortality to believers. 9:²⁸ so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

Jesus’ high priesthood was after the order of Melchizadek and not Aaron (Hebrews 7). Melchizadek was a mysterious figure to whom Abraham offered tithes and who blessed Abraham, showing his superiority over Abraham. Abraham was greater than Levi, his great grandson Levi. So if a>b and b>c then a>c (the transitive property of inequality). Melchizadek is greater than Abraham and Abraham is greater than Levi so Melchizadek is greater than Levi. The high priesthood of Melchizadek is greater than that of Levi. Also Melchizadek is described with no genealogy as if he is eternal, which is a type of the eternal high priesthood of Jesus, his antitype.

This discussion of the new greater high priesthood of Jesus being superior to Aaron should have helped Jewish Christians who might have been struggling in their faith. Their non-Christian Jewish brethren are telling them that there is no way God would allow His temple to be destroyed by the Romans and certainly no way that sacrifices, the Most Holy Place, the High Priesthood of Aaron, etc. would totally disappear in just a few years. They expected Jesus to make his 2nd coming (which he predicted would be within their lifetime) to be soon to rescue them from the Romans, defeat the Romans, and restore the Jewish kingdom to the power it had in the days of David. No doubt many Jewish Christians had that same false expectation. Fortunately, they trusted what Jesus had told them to do (Matthew 24), which was to get out of Jerusalem when they could before the final siege of the city began in the spring of 70 AD. Eusebius, the 3rd century AD church historian, tells us that the Jewish Christians did escape Jerusalem and fled to Pella before that final siege. After the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, maybe they finally realized that the new kingdom (that Jesus said was “at hand”) was a spiritual kingdom, not of this world (John 18:36), that would not defeat the Romans and restore the physical power of the kingdom of the old covenant. Jesus had predicted that some of those he was speaking to would still be alive to see “him coming in His kingdom” (Mark 9:1) and that’s what happened in 70 AD. Thus, Hebrews was a valuable letter for the Jewish Christians at the time of writing as the temple was about to be destroyed. It certainly would mean more to them than to us Gentile Christians living 2,000 years later.

So what is the lasting message from the book of Hebrews for us Gentile Christians about this new high priest. Since Jesus is an eternal High Priest of the new covenant, then He is our High Priest. What does that mean for us today? Why do we need a high priest? Obviously we need the sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins and the analogy of Jesus our High Priest entering the Most Holy Place in heaven to offer his blood for the forgiveness of sins once for all time. That’s a beautiful analogy that reassures our faith as we struggle with sin. To know that He is at the right hand of the Father as our “Advocate” (1 John 2:1-2), making “intercession” for us to the Father (Romans 8:26,27) when we sin.

But there is more to the high priesthood of Jesus than just that. Hebrews 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; ² he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is clothed in weakness.” Jesus did not have to offer blood for his own sins, but he did undergo suffering to enable him to be able to “deal gently with the ignorant and misguided” (i.e. sinners). His suffering perfected Him to be able to do that. Hebrew 5:⁸ Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.” This makes it more personal than just a high priest who maybe sacrifices for our sins but doesn’t really relate to us b/c he is a sinless high priest who really isn’t sympathetic to our sins. He did not sin, but His own weakness showed how the Father prepared him for the role of sympatizer. 5:⁷ In the days of His humanity, He offered up both prayers and pleas with loud crying and tears (i.e. in the Garden of Gethsemane) to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His devout behavior.” In the Garden He was to the point of depression (not clinical depression but depression). He began to feel “sorrow and distress, sorrowful to the point of death” (Mt 26:37,38). His sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). On the cross He cried, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

The Jewish Christians were suffering. 10:³² But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming companions with those who were so treated. ³⁴ For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession.” Their new high priest Jesus was not just the forgiver of their sins, but He could sympathize with their sufferings and weaknesses b/c he also experienced suffering and weakness. That would be comforting to know. That might help them “endure their suffering to the end” (i.e. 70 AD and the end of the Jewish Age and the end of the last days of the Jewish Age). 12:1b let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Thus the Hebrews writer says this of the new high priest Jesus: 2:¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” 4:¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” Was he tempted to quit when things got rough as in the Garden He faced the thoughts of being crucified? Yes. He had seen many victims of crucifixion hanging on crosses by the roads, suffering for 2 or 3 days usually before they died. How would you feel if you knew you had to go through that in the next 24 hours. I mean we have great dread just knowing we are going to have to go through a painful surgery in the next 24 hours. I can’t imagine the dread that martyrs of the faith like Polycarp went through. Polycarp died as a martyr in 155 AD at the age of 86, refusing to renounce his Christian faith. He was first burned at the stake, but when the fire failed to consume his body, he was stabbed to death with a dagger. John Huss died by being burned at the stake on July 6, 1415, after being declared a heretic by the Council of Constance. BTW Huss’s “heresy” was that he believed the same fundamentalist beliefs that I hold and that the Reformation movement held, i.e. Jesus, not the pope, is the head of the chruch and we are all priests (not Catholic priest system). I can’t imagine the dread of knowing that in 24 hours I will be burned at the stake.

So this new high priesthood of Jesus meant more to a Jewish Christian in a way, but it presents a picture of Jesus that the terms Redeemer, King, and Lord do not give. Yes, Jesus makes “propitiation” (2:17) for our sins, once for all time, and intercedes for our sins daily. The Greek word is hilaskomai: To propitiate, to appease, to atone for: appeasement/satisfaction of divine wrath on sin. This is the equivalent of the Hebrew word for “atonement” and the mercy seat on the ark where blood would be sprinkled to make atonement or covering of the sins of the people of the past year. But he is more than just the propitation for our sins. He is not just an impersonal high priest. He can sympathize with any sin, temptation, or struggle that you face. You know what it means to have someone you can talk to when you struggle, someone you trust, someone who can sympathize with what you are going through. You have that in Jesus 24/7. But you must feel the need for that spiritually. If you just face trials on your own strength, you will eventually fall.

So right now, look up into heaven (wherever that is!). Can you see Jesus your high priest sitting at the right hand of the Father? When you sin today (and you will), can you look up and see Jesus asking the Father to forgive you b/c He died for you? When you struggle with problems, spiritual or physical, today can you look up and hear Jesus talking to you, sympathizing with you encouraging you to stay strong? To me, that’s what the Hebrews writer is saying in 4:16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” You want mercy and grace for your sins, but you need “help in the time of your need”. When faced with danger, we cry out “help me”. We should be asking for Jesus’ help 24/7, especially in the midst of a spiritual crisis. He will “come to our aid” (2:18) when we need it. The Greek for “aid” and “help” is the same Greek word: boétheó: To help, to come to the aid of, to assist: a brand of help, especially critical assistance that meets an urgent situation (delivering very needed aid). 

You have a great High Priest Jesus. Try turning to Him all day today in every circumstance you face. You are not alone in your struggles.

In Hebrews 3-4 there are 4 “rests” and then an application that gives us a 5th rest:

1. God rested on the 7th day of the creation week. 4:3 although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”. This rest of God is the basis for all the other rests. The idea is that if believers can endure to the end then they will rest from their labors and be rewarded. 4:¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.”
2. The Promised Land was rest for the Israelites in the Old Testament. The Promised Land would be a land of milk and honey, cities already built for them, vineyards already planted, victory over their enemies and peace, a place of rest after 400 years of slavery in Egypt and several months of harsh travel in the wilderness and desert on the way to Canaan. Unfortunately, that first generation that came out of Egypt rebelled and missed entering that rest and were all sentenced to die (those 20 and older) in the wilderness wandering for 40 years. The next generation was able to enter the Canaan rest under the leadership of Joshua.
3. The rest that was offered by King David in Psalm 95, which the author of Hebrews quotes in Hebrews 3:7-11. In Hebrews 4:⁷ He (i.e. God) again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,”Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts”. 8 For if Joshua had given them rest (the Canaan rest that Joshua led the people into), He would not have spoken of another day after that.” In other words, if entering Canaan rest under Joshua was the last rest offered, then another rest would not have been offered to the people in David’s day. David even makes the plea to enter God’s rest as a current offer, “Today”..
4. The rest that the Hebrew author was warning them not to miss. What rest were they in danger of not entering? It had to be a rest they could or could not enter in their lifetime. Here is the full preterist view of that rest for the Jewish Christians that Hebrews was written to. “According to the full preterist interpretation, the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD and the subsequent end of the Old Covenant system fulfilled a key prophetic and theological event that brought “rest” to believers. The end of ritual labor: The Old Covenant required continual sacrifices and ritualistic works from the Levitical priesthood. In the preterist view, the destruction of the temple ended the need for this priestly labor, fulfilling the “resting from his own works” mentioned in Hebrews 4:10.
   A new era of worship: With the Temple’s destruction, worship shifted permanently from a physical location and ceremonial system to a new, spiritual reality centered on Christ, the superior High Priest. This inaugurated the final spiritual rest for the people of God.
   Warning to Jewish Christians: The original audience of Hebrews was composed of Jewish Christians facing persecution and tempted to return to the security of Judaism. The author’s warning in Hebrews 4 to “strive to enter that rest” would have been a timely encouragement for them to persevere in Christ and not revert to a system that was about to be destroyed.
   So this sabbath rest they could enter in 70 AD would be a Messianic rest for all believers from 70 AD onward. It would be especially significant for Jews who were burdened with the legalistic requirements of the Law and yet no eternal hope provided by the Law. You are constantly working to keep a Law that can’t even save you. You become wearied with your sins and your inability to keep the Law perfectly.” I believe that the 40 years in the wilderness is parallel to the 40 years of the transition period of the early church from 30-70 AD and the transition from the old to the new covenant. We trend to read Hebrews 4 as if the author is writing to us, but he isn’t. He is writing to those Christians living in the transition period trying to remain faithful till the judgment and end of the transition period in 70 AD.
5. What is the rest for believers after 70 AD? It would be the rest Jesus offered in Mt 11:28-30. ²⁸ “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” Most of us are not Jewish Christians so this rest might not look the same it would to them trying to hold on till 70 AD. But it is a rest that we all should strive for. It is a “spiritual rest” while on earth. AI: Trust and reliance: True Christian rest involves trusting God with life’s burdens, knowing He is sufficient and will provide. It’s a choice to let go of the need to control everything. Peace and security: It is the peace and security that comes from a right relationship with God, found in entrusting your life to Him.
   Connection with God: Resting in God involves spending time in His presence, being still, and allowing His peace to fill your mind, body, and spirit. A deeper fulfillment: This spiritual rest is not just a pause but a profound strategy for spiritual health and a way to find strength and focus on God Himself, not just on the tasks of life. Most people, even Christians, live their entire lives without finding God’s rest. I, for one, am always striving, working, thinking, controlling, being frustrated, worrying, etc. Seldom do I just sit back and enjoy Jesus’ rest and be at total piece. Are you like that? I wish I could just fly away and find rest, like David said in Psalm 55:6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” One day, I hope to enter a final phase of rest that God has prepared for believers. Revelation 14:¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” It will be nice just to enjoy being around throne and being freed from this weary, burdensome life on earth. Revelation 7 paints that picture of eternity: ¹³ Then one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. ¹⁶ They will no longer hunger nor thirst, nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any scorching heat; ¹⁷ for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Hebrews 3:7-19 is the 2nd warning the author gives to those Jewish Christians who were leaving faith in Christ Jesus to return to Judaism. 3:7b Today, if you will hear His voice,
⁸ Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah,
As on the day of Massah in the wilderness,
⁹ “When your fathers put Me to the test,
They tested Me, though they had seen My work.
¹⁰ For forty years I was disgusted with that generation,
And said they are a people who err in their heart,
And they do not know My ways.
¹¹ Therefore I swore in My anger,
They certainly shall not enter My rest.”

The incident at Massah and Meribah is from Exodus 17 as Israel was on the way to Mt. Sinai after being freed from slavery in Egypt. They came to Rephidim and complained about having no water and tested God. Moses struck the rock and provided water. Exodus 17:⁷ Then he named the place Massah (from the Hebrew word meaning “to test”) and Meribah (from the Hebrew word meaning “quarreling or contention”) because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” Deuteronomy 6:16; 9:22 and Psalm 95:8-9 refer to that incident. The Israelites did not have the faith that God would provide, so complaining and testing God are symptoms of a lack of faith and an evil heart of unbelief, refusing to submit to God’s protection and guidance.

Hebrews 3:12-19 goes to encourage the Jewish Christians to not have an evil, unbelieving heart like that of the Israelites in the wilderness. David used Massah and Meribah as a warning to the Israelites living in his day. The phrase ““Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me” becomes applicable to the “today” of David’s time, and also to the “today” of the Hebrew author’s time. It becomes the today of our time also. The warning applies to all of God’s people of all times: 3:¹² Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

That’s the message for me and you today. Sin will try to deceive you today. Materialism, riches, worries, and pleasures will try to distract you from your faith in God. Bad things might happen today that will cause you to complain instead of trusting God. You might begin to quarrel and argue with others about why God allows bad things to happen. Israel’s lack of faith persisted and that generation was not allowed to enter God’s “rest”, i.e. Canaan, the Promised Land. The Hebrew writer was warning his readers that they might miss entering their “rest” due to lack of faith and obedience. Their “rest” would be the final gift of immortality that God would give faithful believers in the first century generation at 70 AD. The 40 years of Israel being tested in the wilderness is a parallel to the 40 years from 30-70 AD that the 1st century church was being tested. Those who endured to the end (70 AD) would receive immortality (1 Corinthians 15) and those who fell from grace would be judged in the great destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD where one million Jews were killed by the Romans.  

The warning is clear to the readers of the Hebrews letter: 3:¹² Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We need to encourage one another “today” and “every day”. There are many believers who face trials, temptations, tests, difficulties, tragedies, etc. who need to be encouraged by other believers. The strongest of us in our faith need encouragement at times. We need a lot of believers like Barnabas, whose name meant “son of encouragment”. He encouraged the new Christians at the new Gentile church in Antioch. He encouraged the Christians in Jerusalem to accept Paul into fellowship. He encouraged John Mark after John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Later Paul accepted John Mark favorably, probably due to Barnabas’ encouragement of John Mark.

We all get wrapped up in daily troubles and problems. We worry about things instead of trusting God. Make it a priority “today” to look around you and find someone who needs encouragement, and then go encourage them. It will get your mind off your own problems. Be a Barnabas today!

By the way, Psalm 95 is a great psalm. Here are the verses in Psalm 95 leading up to the ones that the Hebrew author quoted in Hebrews 3.

95:1 Come, let’s sing for joy to the Lord,
Let’s shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
² Let’s come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving,
Let’s shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments.
³ For the Lord is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
⁴ In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are also His.
⁵ The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Come, let’s worship and bow down,
Let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker.
⁷ For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”

These verses tell us that singing with joy and thanksgiving to the Lord and reverent worship are important in building up our faith so that we don’t fall due to unbelief like the Israelites did. You are probably familiar with the song “Come let us worship and bow down”. I encourage you to stop right now and listen to this song and then take a moment to worship and bow down.

Hebrews 2:1  For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift (pararreó: To drift away, to slip away, to flow past) away from it.”
The verb conveys the picture of a boat whose moorings have loosened so that it glides past a safe harbor.Patristic writers such as Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom drew on Hebrews 2:1 to exhort congregations against cultural assimilation. Chrysostom’s Homilies on Hebrews likened inattentive believers to men lounging in a boat while currents sweep them away.”

The Hebrews author was warning Jewish Christians who were leaving their faith in Christ to return to Judaism. Perhaps they had become discouraged with the fact that Jesus had not returned as soon as they thought he would. He did predict that his 2nd coming would be within the lifetime of those listening to him, but that was still a few years after the writing of Hebrews (in 70 AD it would still be within that generation as Jesus predicted). There was a lot of Jewish nationalism just before the Jews revolted against the Romans which led to the Wars of the Jews in 67 AD that led to the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Perhaps the Jewish non-Christians rebels had convinced some Jewish Christians that faith in Jesus was not producing the desired results of restoring the Jewish nation to former glory, dispelling the Romans. That is what many Jewish Christians expected even though Jesus said that he did not come to set up an earthly kingdom (John 18:36). Apparently many were leaving their faith and returning to Judaism.

Let’s be clear. In 2:1 the author warns against drifting from faith in Christ, but later in the book he clearly states that a saved believer could completely fall from grace. 6:⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” That sounds like a saved believer can fall from grace, right? I am amazed when I read the comments on these verses by a Calvinist commentator. One said that these verses presented a hypothetical situation that could not really happen because, in Calvinism, a saved believer cannot fall from grace. It would be like warning a child, “The Boogey-man is going to get you if you don’t eat your food.”

Another clear section that shows that a saved believer can fall from grace is 10:²⁶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which is “about to” consume the adversaries (the judgment on the Jews would be just a few years later in 70 AD). ²⁸ Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Is that not a clear prediction of punishment of those Jewish Christians who leave the faith?

Sometime a saved believer will make some instant renouncement of his/her faith. Charles Templeton was Billy Graham’s right hand man in preaching and evangelism for many years. But he had inner questions about his faith. The existence of evil and suffering bothered him a lot. One day, he just packed his bags and walked off, declaring that he no longer believed in God. He wrote his book, “Farewell to God” and died as an atheist.

But usually we just drift off, slowly, carried off like the tide will pull a boat away from the dock. AI: “Signs of drifting from faith include neglecting spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible reading, a lack of joy or passion for religious activities, and a shift in priorities away from faith towards worldly desires or comfort. Other indicators are compromising on values, finding excuses to avoid community, and being emotionally disconnected during worship or prayer.”

Can you imagine being in a small boat right next to the dock. You doze off and then wake up an hour later only to find that you are 100 yards away from the dock. Look at your spiritual habits and priorities in your life right now. Are you far off from the dock? Take your paddle and paddle back to the dock before you drift so far away that you can’t get back. Examine your spiritual life. Can you tell when you are drifting from your faith? Does it even bother you if you have lost your first love, your zeal for the Lord. Are you content just to be far away from the dock, enjoying the good life, eating and drinking and having a good time? Maybe your drifting has been so slow that you just haven’t realized how far away you are from the dock.

Something to think about!

Here is a good slide I found with a simple outline of the book of Hebrews:

The author is writing to Jewish Chrsitians in Palestine probably, some of whom are leaving faith in Christ and returning to follow the Law of Moses. He shows rhem the several ways that Jesus is superior to Moses and the Levitical High Priests. He shows them that His offering of his blood is superior to animal sacrifices. He shows them that his new covenant is superior to the old covenant. He shows them that the new and living way of faith in Christ is superior to the legalism of the Law.

He begins with a most interesting part that Jesus is better than the angels. Why would the author need to argue that point? AI: “In the first century CE, a diverse range of Jewish communities showed a significant interest in angels, particularly within apocalyptic and mystical traditions. Angels served as divine intermediaries, providing guidance and carrying out God’s will, with named figures like Michael and Gabriel being popular. This “preoccupation” wasn’t monolithic, however; it varied by group and included ideas from Hellenistic thought, with different groups holding unique traditions, from the desire to achieve angelic status to the invocation of angels in ritual texts and amulets for aid and protection. ” Then there was the Book of Enoch speaks of the origin of demons and fallen angels. It said that the fallen angels had sex with the godly daughters of Seth’s line and produced giants. The book names the fallen angels, the “watchers”. AI: “the Book of Enoch was widely read and held in high regard by many 1st-century Jewish Christians, although it was not considered canonical scripture by all. It was very popular during the Second Temple period and influenced early Christian thought, as evidenced by its presence in the Dead Sea Scrolls and its direct quotation in the New Testament book of Jude.”

Colossians 2 even mentions the “worship of angels”. 2:¹⁶ Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— ¹⁷ things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. ¹⁸ Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind.” The false teachers in context seem to be Jewish, perhaps the Judaizers who tried to force Gentile Christians to keep the Law. What was the “worship of angels”? AI: “the “worship of angels” refers to a heretical practice in the early church where false teachers insisted that believers should worship or revere angels as mediators to get closer to God. This false teaching, often linked to Gnosticism and syncretic Jewish practices, is condemned by Paul because it detracts from Christ’s supremacy and suggests He is not sufficient for salvation. The practice was associated with a system of asceticism and claims of special angelic visions, which Paul refutes by reminding the Colossians that Christ is the head of all powers.”

In the book of Hebrews, the emphasis on angels is connected to the Jewish Christians leaving the faiath to go back to following the Law. The Law was ordained by angels (Acts 7:52) and “ordered through angels” (Galatians 3:19). Hebrews 2:2 For if the word spoken through angels (i.e. the Law) proved unalterable.” So it is easy to see these apostate Jewish Christians elevating the role of angels since the giving of the Law to Moses at Mt. Sinai was somehow “ordained” by angels.

Having said all that, the Hebrews writer gives several arguments to show that Jesus is “better than the angels” in chapter 1.

1. To which of the angels did the Father ever say “You are my Son” (Psalm 2:7). He said that to Jesus.
2. God commanded the angels to worship Jesus when he came into the world.
3. The angels are just “ministering spirits” but the Son Jesus is called “God” in Psalm 45.
4. The heavens will wear out but the Son Jesus will be eternal.
5. To which of the angels did the Father say, “Sit at my right hand”, but He told Jesus that (Psalm 110).
6. In 2:5 he adds one more argument: the Father subjected the world to come (the Messianic Age) to the Son Jesus, not the angels.

Christianity condemns the worship of angels. Some Catholic parish recite the prayer to St. Michael the archangel, but they do not worship any angels. AI: “Catholic veneration of angels is a form of respect and is a way to ask for their intercession and help from God. This is a practice of venerating them as God’s messengers and servants who assist in the divine plan (but not the worship of angels).”

It is interesting that the discussion of angels in Hebrews chapters 1 and 2 ends with this comment: 2:¹⁶ For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendants of Abraham.” He took on human form, lower than the angels, but He did not do so to save fallen angels. He did that to save fallen mankind.

I don’t know if we can really relate to all the arguments about Jesus being “better than the angels”. It obviously was something that the Hebrew writer felt was needed to be discussed. I don’t even know what the role of angels is today. I assume that they still are God’s “ministering spirits” that He uses in some way. In the Bible there are a lot of times when angels appear and speak directly to people. Do angels still do that? Many claim that they do. Do children have a guardian angel (Matthew 18:10)? Do angels do many unseen things in our lives? Perhaps, but certainly the focus is on Jesus, not angels.

Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. ³ And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

These 3 verses tells us so much about God’s Son, Jesus. He spoke in the Old Testament through inspired prophets and in the last days (which were the very days at the time of writing) has spoken to us in His Son. If we stopped there, we would have the Islamic view of Jesus that he was just a prophet like Moses, and nothing more than another spokesman for God. The Islamic view is that God cannot and does not have a Son (from the Koran). They say that Jesus never claimed to be God or that the New Testament never claims Jesus to be God. Wrong on both counts! Notice what the author of Hebrews says about the Son.

1. God is appointed the Son as heir of all things. All things in heaven and earth, spiritual and physical, would be subjected to Jesus (Hebrews 2:5-8). Just as a father usually leaves everything to his heir, i.e his son, so the Father left all things to His heir, i.e. His Son Jesus. That final subjection of al things to Jesus would be fulfilled in 70 AD at the end of the Jewish Age and of the last days.
2. God made all things through the Son. John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” Colossians 1:¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: ¹⁶ for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” So the Son, in His pre-incarnate spirit form, was present in the beginning (Genesis 1:1) and created all things in the creation week. He used the power of the Holy Spirit to do that, just as He used the power of the Holy Spirit to do all His miracles.
3. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory. The Greek word for “radiance” means: apaugasma: Radiance, reflection, brightness. It is used in the NASB only one time. This means that in Jesus, the fullness of God’s glory shines forth. John 1:¹⁴ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. The Amplified Bible reads this: “The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine],” The Jews would no doubt would think of God’s glory as the Shekinah glory of the Old Testament. AI: “It is a concept describing the majestic, radiant presence of God that settled among His people (Shekinah comes from the Hebrew word for “dwelling”), often depicted as a cloud of light or fire. Key examples in the Bible include the cloud guiding the Israelites, the fire on Mount Sinai, and the light filling the Tabernacle and Temple.” So Jesus is the physical manifestation of that Shekinah glory of the Father. Not an actual bright light or fire, but you can see the glory of the Father when you see all the characteristics of God when you see the characteristics of the Father as expressed in all that Jesus was and did. A good illustration of this is the sun. AI: “you cannot look directly at the sun, even for a moment, as it can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss. The sun’s intense ultraviolet (UV) rays can burn the cells in your retina, a condition known as solar retinopathy, which can lead to blurred vision, blind spots, and reduced color vision. The only way to look at the sun safely is by using special, ISO (International Standards Organisation)-certified solar eclipse glasses or by using a pinhole projection method.” So we can look at the glory of God but only through special glasses when we look at Jesus!
   John Chrysostom 4th century church father and great preacher) preached that as radiance is inseparable from light, so the Son is eternally begotten, not made. The Nicene Creed’s phrase “Light from Light” reflects this exegesis. THE NICENE CREED (325 AD refers to Jesus as the “only begotten Son of God, God from God, Light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, through Him all things were made; the Son is the exact representation of God’s nature”.
4. The Son is the exact representation of God’s nature. The Greek word:
   exact representation: charaktér: NASB 1 time only. Character, exact representation, express image. 1. a graver (the tool or the person) 2. (by implication) engraving ((“character”), the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or (figuratively) representation).  the mark (figure or letters) stamped upon that instrument or wrought out on it; hence, universally, “a mark or figure burned in (Leviticus 13:28) or stamped on, an impression; the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect”.
   In the Greco-Roman world, χαρακτήρ commonly described:
   • A mint stamp that left Caesar’s image on a coin.
   • A branding iron that impressed a mark of ownership on livestock.
   • A wax seal affixed to a document, guaranteeing authenticity. Paul uses a different word, “image”. Colossians 1:¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” The Greek is: eikón: Image, likeness, representation a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance — image. Matthew 22:19-21 Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He *said to them, “Whose image (eikon) and inscription is this?” They *said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image (eikon) of God.” John 14:9 The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.” God is a spirit that fills the universe, so how can we really know what that the Creator Spirit is even like? Well, look at the character and actions of Jesus and you can see what the Father is like.
5. The Son upholds all things by the word of HIs power. Colossians 1:¹⁷ He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” What holds the force of gravity together and thereby allows Newton to discover the laws of motion? What holds the protons and electrons (called the electromagnetic force) so that the electrons don’t go flying off into space and thereby destroying all matter? What holds the planets in our solar system orbiting around the sun with such precision that we can send men to the moon and back safely? But it’s not “what” does all this, but “who”. does all this. It is Jesus “who” holds all things together and by His power does all these things that are essential for life on earth. There are over 30 physical laws and constants that must all come together with exact precision in order to have life on earth, and Jesus is the One who holds all these together. Also notice that it is by the “word” of His power. Just as God spoke the worlds into existence in the beginning, “God said, Let there be Light”, etc. All Jesus needs to do is to speak and it will be done. He says, “Gravity, hold things together”, and it is done.
6. When he had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of God the Father, the Majesty on high. After he died to purify, cleanse, and forgive sinners Jesus ascended back to the Father 40 days after His resurrection and sat down at the right hand of the Father. Figuratively, of course, since the Father is a Spirit. The 10th chapter of Hebrews makes the point that Jesus’ offering of His body was “once for all time”. The author says that the old covenant priests are continually offering animal sacrifices for sins. The high priest had to go into the Most Holy Place every year to offer the sacrifices of the Day of Atonement to cover his own sins and the sins of the people for the past year. The author concludes, 10:¹¹ Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; ¹² but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” As Jesus said while hanging on the cross, “It is finished”. His work of redeeming mankiind was finished for all time. Now it just needs to be preached to the whole world so that sinners can come to Jesus and be saved by that one time offering of Jesus.

Wow! So many truths in just a few verses. Jesus is not just another prophet! Meditate on these things.

Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, ² in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. ³ And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

1. “In these last days.” The author is saying that the “last days” are the current days at the time of writing. He is not speaking of “the last days” as being sometime in the future. I watched a preacher on TV this morning who kept using verse to try to save that the “last days” predictions of the end are occurring today. But that’s not what Hebrews 1:2 says. So what are “the last days”? My church taught that the last days were the Messianic Age that began in Acts 2 and continue until the 2nd coming. I disagree. The last days referred to the last day of the Jewish Age and the Jewish system. The last days began in Acts 2 with the establishment of the church in 30 AD and lasted until the destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD. The end of the last days in 70 AD also was the final removal of the old covenant (Hebrews 8:13).
2. “In these last days God has spoken to us in HIs Son.” God spoke in the Old Testament through the inspired prophets, but spoke through Jesus, beginning in those last days at the time of writing of the Hebrew letter. We read God’s words spoken through Jesus as recorded in the gospels. Jesus affirmed this truth in John 12:⁴⁹ For I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” After he died Jesus then gave miraculous inspiration to the apostles to know and speak all truth (John 14:26; 16:13). He left 5 miraculously inspired positions for he early church. Ephesians 4:¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers. These 5 continued to speak God’s word and then many of their teachings were recorded in the New Testament books from Acts through Revelation. The 27 books of the New Testament were all written before 70 AD and are our guide to all the truth that we need to know. Ephesians 4:¹⁴ As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.” Christians today can disagree on a lot of miinor doctrines and issues, but we are usually united on the basic truths of Christianity. Ephesians 4:⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” There is no excuse for all the cults that deviate from these basics.

Thanks for reading. More to come on Hebrews 1:1-4.

Who wrote the book of Hebrews? Paul, Apollos (my choice), Barnabas, Luke, Aquila? As Origen (200 AD) said, “Only God knows for certain!” When quoting the Old Testament, the author usually uses the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrews OT, done in 250 BC in Alexandria, Egypt. The early church was divided over who the author was and whether the book should be included in the New Tesstament canon. The Eastern church and many church fathers believed that Paul wrote it, so they considered it canonical early on. The Western church doubted that Paul was the author and was much slower to accept its canonicity, but did so by the 4th century. I do not think that Paul wrote it. Why not? Because of a statement in Hebrews 2:³ how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard (i.e. heard directly from Jesus which would be the apostles), ⁴ God also testifying with them (i.e. the apostles), both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit (which the apostles gave to baptized believers by laying their hands on them, Acts 8:14-18) according to His own will.” The apostle Paul would never have said that! In the Galatian letter, Paul is adamant that he received the gospel that he preached directly by a revelation from Jesus and that he did not get it from the apostles. Galatians 1:¹¹ For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is not of human invention. ¹² For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” So who wrote it? I think Apollos wrote it. He was from Alexandria, Egypt, which is where the LXX was translated and widely used by 1st century Christians there. The author is keen at using logic in his arguments in the letter. Apollos was eloquent (logios: Eloquent, learned) and proficient (dunatos: Powerful, mighty, able, possible) in the Old Testament Scriptures. Acts 18:²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was proficient in the Scriptures (i.e. Old Testament Scriptures). Martin Luther was the first to suggest that Apollos wrote Hebrews (for the reasons just given). I agree with Martin Luther!

The first test for canonicity of a New Testament letter or book was if it was written by an apostle or a close associate of an apostle. Thus the gospels of Matthew and John were automatically accepted.  Irenaeus (3.1.1.) claims that John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark based on Peter’s preaching, so that helped get that gospel in. Luke was a close associate of the apostle Paul, so his gospel was accepted. John the apostle wrote 3 letters (the 2nd and 3rd were disputed as to canonicity) and Revelation which were accepted (although Revelation was disputed). Peter wrote 2 letters which were accepted (although 2 Peter was disputed). Jude and James, brothers of Jesus, were disputed but accepted.

Hebrews was disputed due to the question about who wrote it, as already discussed. But it was eventually accepted because of the belief that Paul wrote it. But if Paul did not write it (which I don’t think he did), then can we be sure that it is canonical anyway? Yes we can. Why? First of all, it was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. The temple was still standing and priests still entering the temple to offer sacrifices at the time of writing of the book. Hebrews 9:⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, ⁷ but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, ⁹ which is a symbol for the present time.” The NASB correctly translates the verbs here in the present tense, not past tense as the NIV does. The priests “are continually entering”, the high priest “enter” once a year and “offers” blood. That was still going on at the time of writing. The way into the new holy place (the Holy of Holies in heaven where God dwells) has not yet been disclosed while the tabernacle “is still” standing.

Not only that, but the book accurately predicts that there will be a judgment on the unbelieving Jews that is about to happen. Hebrews 10:²⁶ For we — willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth — no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice, ²⁷ but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, “about to” (mello, to be about to)devour the opposers” (Young’s Literal Translation). YLT is one of the few translations that correctly translate the Greek word mello to be “about to”, which means something is imminent. This verse could only refer to the judgment of the unbelieving Jews in 70 AD where the Romans destroyed the temple and the city of Jerusalem, killing over a million Jews according to Josephus. So the book had to be written before 70 AD.

Then, the book accurately predicts the imminent 2nd coming of Jesus and says that it will be “very soon” and there will be “no delay” in that 2nd coming. Hebrews 10:³⁷ For yet in a very little while,
He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” The 2nd coming of Jesus was the coming to judge the Jews (10:26-27) the which was predicted right before 10:37. The 2 events are connected and occur at the same time. This prediction of a 2nd coming that was imminent at the time of writing is consistent with Jesus’ predictions in Matthew 10:23; 16:27-28; 24:30-34; 26:64 and with other such predictions by Paul and the other NT writers. So the book had to be written before 70 AD. This prediction also destroys the theory of many who say that Jesus did predict his 2nd coming to be imminent but that he delayed that 2nd coming (going on about a 2,00 year delay as of today). They say that because they expected Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom but he did not. They say that he delayed his 2nd coming and will some day come to establish an earthly kingdom. The problem with their theory is that Jesus never intended to establish an earthly kingdom. John 18:36 “my kingdom is not of his world”. Matthew 16:²⁸ “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” He did establish his kingdom in the first century, but it was a spiritual kingdom, the church. He did not delay his 2nd coming.

Another proof that the book was written before 70 AD and is canocial is found in Hebrews 8.:¹³ When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.” This is a prediction that the old covenant was about to be (eggus: Near, close, at hand) taken away, to “disappear” (aphanismos: Disappearance, destruction, ruin). That could only refer to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD and the final removal of the old covenant, to be replaced by the new covenant. After 70 AD, animal sacrifices have never been offered and there is no genealogically confirmed priesthood to offer sacrifices.

One final proof that the book was written before 70 AD and is canonical is found in in another accurate prediction in Hebrews 12:²⁶ And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” ²⁷ This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ²⁹ for our God is a consuming fire. This is a prediction of the imminent destruction of the old heavens and earth, i.e. the old Jewish system to be replaced by the new heavens and earth, i.e. the new covenant system. Again, that would occur in 70 AD. The old covenant system was phsical with the physical city of Jerusalem and could be “shaken” and destroyed when the temple was destroyed. The new covenant system “could not be shaken” because it was spiritual with the new, heavenly Jerusalem, which is the church.

The conclusion? It doesn’t matter if we can be sure who wrote the book. It doesn’t matter if the book was accepted in the canon b/c the early church thought that Paul wrote the book and probably were mistaken about who wrote the book. The book is full of accurate predictions about the destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The book was written while the temple was still standing at the time of writing, and thus is was written before 70 AD and before the predictions would be fulfilled. It accurately predicts the future, which is the first test of a true prophet.

Here is a slide I did that summarizes all this.

The first test of canonicity of a new testament book was if it was written by an apostle (Matthew, John, Peter, Paulof close associate of an apostle (Mark and the apostle Peter, Luke and the apostle Paul). The early church eventually accepted Hebrews in the canon based on belief that it was written by Paul, which is highly unlikely. So, if they were wrong about the author, how can we be sure that the book was indeed canonical? The book is full of accurate predictions about 70 AD which is proof of a true prophet of God.

1. The book was written while the temple was still standing (Heb 9:6-9) so it was written before the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD.
2. The book accurately predicts in 10:27 the judgment on the unbelieving Jews that was “about to happen” (Mello) in 70 AD.
3. The book accurately predicts the 2nd coming of Jesus to judge the Jews which was imminent at the time of writing (10:37) and which would not be delayed. 
4. The book accurately predicts the imminent removal of the old covenant (8:13) to be replaced by the new covenant, which would also happen in 70 AD.
5. The book accurately predicts in 12:26-27 a final destruction of the old heavens and earth, i.e. the old Jewish system, which would happen in 70 AD.