The Epistle To The Hebrews, Part 1&2

The Epistle To The Hebrews, Part 1 - A Bible Study by Jack Kelley - https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/spiritual-life/the-epistle-to-the-hebrews-part-1/

 

A fair number of the questions posed to me have to do with whether our salvation is conditional or not, and what part our behavior plays in obtaining and maintaining it, or causing the loss of it. Answers to these and other questions about our relationship with the Lord are found in the Letter to the Hebrews and so I've quoted from there on a regular basis. But although I've taught Hebrews a number of times from both pulpit and platform, I've never before published a comprehensive study of the letter.

 

The Letter to the Hebrews was written anonymously but there's been speculation as to its authorship for most of the Church's history. The earliest recorded suggestion, in 200 AD, was that Barnabas, a learned Jew from the tribe of Levi and one of Paul's associates, wrote it. From 400 to 1600, it was universally assumed that Paul was the letter's author. After the reformation Apollos became the leading candidate, probably because Martin Luther had proposed him as being the letter's most likely author.

 

Each of these three had the Jewish background and intellectual horsepower to write the letter, but I continue to favor Paul. He had both the strong motivation to write it, having a passionate desire to see his brothers accept their Messiah, and to remain anonymous since he was considered a turncoat by the Jewish leadership. But while even the mention of his name would incite them to anger, Paul said that he would agree to be cursed and cut off from Christ himself it meant that salvation would come to those of his own race. (Romans 9:3) And while some have challenged Paul's authorship, claiming that the letter was not written in his typical style, it's closer to his style than to either Apollos or Barnabas. But the simple fact is that the Letter to the Hebrews was written anonymously at the direction of the Lord who had His own reasons for wanting it that way. And that should be good enough for us.

 

While no date is given, whoever wrote the letter did so between 35 and 70 AD since there's no mention of the Temple's destruction. In fact, the Temple is referred to in the present tense several times. The letter's purpose was to document the absolute sufficiency of the Lord's death as payment in full for man's sins to the large community of Jewish believers in Israel, many of whom had been priests in the Temple when it happened. Considerable pressure was being exerted upon them to revert to Judaism or at least maintain some sort of hybrid status, blending adherence to the Levitical system with the belief in Jesus as Israel's Messiah.

 

This attempt to "Judaize" the Gospel was by no means confined to either Jerusalem or the first century. From the time Jesus went to the cross to this very day, man has tried to add his own effort to the salvation equation in a misguided attempt to either complete or maintain what he thinks the Lord only partially accomplished. In doing so He has relegated the Lord's death to the same status as that of a bull or a goat, insufficient to the task. But from the beginning the letter offers persuasive evidence of the Lord's deity, another issue that's still unresolved in the minds of some, making any thoughts of insufficiency even more ridiculous.

 

So the message of Hebrews is that God became human to accomplish for us what we could never accomplish for ourselves. All that's left for us to do, indeed all we can do, is to accept this by faith and enter into a lifelong rest from the work of our salvation. Everything in the letter has to be considered from this perspective. The conflict between Law and Grace will make itself evident in nearly every chapter, as will the necessity of choosing grace. Clearly, this letter has as much to say to us now as it did to them then. Let's begin.

 

Hebrews Chapter 1

 

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Hebr. 1:1-2)

 

Immediately the Lord is revealed as the Son of God, His Prophet for the last days, and the one through whom the universe was created. His arrival changed the manner in which God communicated with His people. From now on everything had to conform with the words of the Son. Without any preamble, the Lord is portrayed not as a mere man who had lived among them for about 33 years, but as one who, in the words of the Prophet Micah, is from eternity past (Micah 5:2) John would later make the same claim in his Gospel. (John 1:1-3)

 

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebr. 1:3)

 

God is a Spirit, invisible to us. In His Son, He became the visible image of Himself, recognizable to us. "When you've seen Me you've seen the Father," Jesus said. (John 14:9) And after He died for our sins, He rose again, and ascended into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of Majesty, the work of saving us completed. There were no chairs in the Temple because the purifying work of the priests was never done. After Jesus had (literally by Himself) provided purification for sins, He sat down. The work was finally finished. There was nothing more to do.

 

Sometime in the past, it had been decided that the Son would become a physical being and when He did it would be forever. So there's a human sitting on the Throne of God today, an exalted one to be sure, but a human just the same. And when God steps out of time He sees you there too, seated with Him, the example for all eternity of the incomparable riches of His grace. (Ephes. 2:6-7)

 

So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebr. 1:4)

 

In Hebrew, the angels are called b'nai haElohim, which is translated sons of God. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.

 

For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." [Psalm 2:7] Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son" [2 Samuel 7:14] (Hebr. 1:5)

 

In this second reference, God was speaking to David about Solomon, but the writer shows that the Messianic Son of David is in view, not just his biological son.

 

And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." (You have to read Deut. 32:43 in the Septuagint to get this one.)

 

In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." [Psalm 104:4]

 

But about the Son, he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." [Psalm 45:6-7] (Hebr. 1:6-9)

 

This is an astonishing quote, missed by many. It shows the Father calling the Son "God." Jesus had said that He is God. John (John 1:1) and Paul (Colossians 1:15) agreed. But here is God Himself confirming it.

 

He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." [Psalm 102:25-27] (Hebr. 1:10-12)

 

The Psalmist ascribed this to the Father but the writer of Hebrews is applying it to the Son. Not only did He inhabit eternity past but will inhabit eternity future as well.

 

To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? [Psalm 110:1] Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:13-14)

 

The notion that Jesus was an angel, as early Gnosticism held and as the Jehovah's Witnesses still teach, is clearly refuted. While angels exist to minister to God's people, Jesus is the visible image of God. He was with God in the beginning and He is God. He became flesh and dwelt among us. God in human form.

 

Hebrews Chapter 2:1-4

 

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebr. 2:1-4)

 

Here is the writer's first warning against drifting back into Judaism. The Law was given at Mt. Sinai with the help of angels. (Deut. 33:2, Acts 7:38, Gal 3:19) If it was binding, refusing to forgive even a single violation, how much more so the remedy, the free gift of Grace given by the Lord Himself and confirmed with witnesses, miracles, and gifts? The two cannot co-exist because there's no middle ground. In spite of all of its other freedoms, grace does not grant us the freedom to participate in our own salvation by keeping the Law.

 

This is the no-nonsense beginning to a complex letter written to people who obviously had more than a passing understanding of their scriptures. For them, it was the bridge from the Torah to the Gospel. For us, it's a challenging look into the Church's theological foundations as we discover that the bridge goes both ways. More next time.

 

 

 

 

 

The Epistle To The Hebrews, Part 2 - A Bible Study by Jack Kelley - https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/spiritual-life/the-epistle-to-the-hebrews-part-2/

 

Hebrews Chapter 2:4-18

 

In our last study, we saw the anonymous author give proof that Jesus is as superior to the angels as His name (the Son of God) is to theirs (sons of God). The Son of God is the exact representation of His being, His prophet for the Last Days, the sole provider of our purification. And when He had finished His work, He sat down at the right hand of majesty. Now we'll see that in the process He descended lower than the angels for a little while to become human in order to save mankind. Let's begin.

 

Jesus Made Like His Brothers

 

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:

 

"What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet." [Psalm 8:4-6]

 

In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebr. 2:5-9)

 

Both here and in Psalm 8 the phrase a little is also translated for a little while. Jesus, who as the Son of God is superior to the angels and in fact created them, temporarily descended down the hierarchy of creation to a place lower than theirs to become the Son of Man.

 

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says,

 

"I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." [Psalm 22:22] and again, "I will put my trust in him." [Isaiah 8:17] And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." [Isaiah 8:18] (Hebr. 2:10-13)

 

We, the Father's children, have been given to the Son to be his brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29 tells us that in God's view we've been conformed into the likeness of His Son so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And Paul also wrote:

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:4-7)

 

In the Greek and Roman cultures, sons were not automatically heirs to their father's estate. When they reached a point of maturity where they could understand what it meant, usually between 14 and 18, they went through a formal adoption process where they received "the full rights of sons", qualifying them to inherit their father's estate. Until then even though they were biologically related to their fathers, they had no more legal standing than the household slaves. Through the Lord's atoning sacrifice, we've been given "the full rights of sons" in our Father's family. No longer slaves to sin, and not just forgiven, we've been made heirs with Christ of all eternity.

 

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.

 

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebr. 2:14-18)

 

God didn't make His son an angel to save angels, but a man to save mankind, to be our High Priest, our atoning sacrifice, and our mediator before God. When Adam sinned, he lost his immortality and his inheritance, and all his children were made slaves to Satan. Without a redeemer man was hopelessly lost, being unable to save himself. God had the price of redemption and the desire to pay it, but according to His own law only a man, Adam's next of kin, could save us. (Leviticus 25:25,47-48) But being enslaved themselves, no one of the family of man could do it. And so God became a man in the form of His own Son and paid the price of our redemption with His own life. But He didn't just save us. As He ascended back up the hierarchy to His rightful position on the throne of creation, He took us with Him, past the angels, to be sons and daughters of God and joint heirs with Him, seating us beside Him in the Heavenly realms (Ephes. 2:6).

 

Hebrews 3

 

Jesus Greater Than Moses

 

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (Hebr. 3:1-6)

 

Here the recipients of the letter are described as born again believers and are told that their most revered ancestor Moses has been surpassed by Jesus. As the apostle John would write, the Law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus. (John 1:17) The superiority of the Son over the servant demonstrates the superiority of the New Covenant over the Old. Those who had been trained from birth to rely on the Old Covenant now had to have the courage and hope to cling to the New.

 

Warning Against Unbelief

 

So, as the Holy Spirit says:

 

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" [Psalm 95:7-11]

 

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

 

We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."

 

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. (Hebr. 3:7-19)

 

Another warning not to go back into the Levitical system. Having been freed from slavery in Egypt with an outstretched arm and mighty acts of judgment (Exodus 6:6) the Israelites rebelled when God asked them to walk by faith into the Promised Land and achieve victory over its inhabitants. "There are giants in the land," they said, "and we looked like grasshoppers in their sight, and in ours." (Numbers 13:33)

 

Because of their unbelief, God withdrew His power and when they tried to take the land in their own strength, they were soundly defeated (Numbers 14:41-45) and consigned to life in the wilderness.

 

The Israelite who accepted deliverance from the bondage of slavery in Egypt but refused to cross over into the Promised Land is a model of the believer who has accepted deliverance from the bondage of sin yet refuses to walk in victory. Both are redeemed from bondage and both receive God's provision, but both are deprived of His power and doomed to spend their lives in the wilderness.

 

Sacrifices For Sin

 

A central element of the Levitical system was the daily sacrifice for sin. Every evening a lamb was placed on the altar and allowed to burn all night to cover the sins they committed during the night. At sunrise, it was replaced with a new one that burned all day to cover the sins they committed during the day. In addition, Israelites had to make a personal sin offering for their own sins. Failure to do these things deprived them of God's blessing and brought His anger upon them.

 

John introduced Jesus to Israel as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) He was referring to the daily sacrifice for sin. The difference is that this Lamb would only be sacrificed once for all time. With the establishment of the New Covenant, we only have to believe that He died for us to be saved for Eternity. (John 3:16) But that doesn't stop us from sinning, and every time we do we have to confess to remain in fellowship with God in the here and now. (1 John 1:9) We never again have to worry about God's anger (Colossians 1:20) but failure to confess when we sin will still deprive us of His power, His protection, and His blessing. It's the New Covenant replacement for the daily sacrifice.

 

In effect, the writer admonished the Hebrew believers that turning back from the New Covenant would leave them just as weak and powerless over spiritual enemies as their ancestors had been over physical ones after turning back from the Promised Land. It would demonstrate their unbelief in the sufficiency of the Lord's death to cover all their sins. It would not endanger their salvation, but it would put them out of fellowship with Him. While still on the right side of pardon they'd be on the wrong side of power, stuck in a spiritual wilderness just as their ancestors had been stuck in a physical one. Confession and forgiveness were God's only acceptable remedies for their sins.

 

It's the same today. How many believers live powerless lives because of their unconfessed sins? Oh, they're still saved, but where is their victory on Earth and what will be their reward in Heaven? They have a life without health, trial without triumph, service without success. They're on the right side of Easter but the wrong side of Pentecost. How about you?

 

 

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