Bible Study (The Hebrews' Address!)

The Hebrews' Address

Introduction

The Letter to the Hebrew saints turns the spotlight on, and brings into striking focus, the excellence and superiority of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant, over the Old Covenant and its rituals. 

It emphasizes the substance found in Christ, compared to the shadow of Old Covenant rituals and ceremonies. 

It separates the earthly types from the heavenly anti-type and brings to attention the Words of our Lord: "...the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."  John 4:21-24 (KJV) In that distinctive way of His, Jesus differentiates what we believe to be substance, from what is actually substance from the heavenly perspective. All this that pertains to the earth, is temporary, transient and not here to stay but will all pass away! The only thing that will remain is that which cannot be shaken, that is, the reality found in heaven, of which the earthly was merely a pattern. 

Paul gave a similar exhortation to the Colossian Christians: 

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.  Col 2:8-17 (KJV)

The Letter to the Hebrew Christians was written for the following reasons:

1. It was written as encouragement to the persecuted Hebrew saint, urging them to remain steadfast and faithful, and to hold fast to the substance of the Christ! 
2. It was written for edification to demonstrate the superiority of the substance of the Christ to the shadows of the ritualistic past.
3. It was written as an exhortation to warn the believer not to abandon the reality of the substance and return to life in the shadow. 

In determining the big idea in the message, we examine why it was written. There may be several reasons for the writing, and these may be addressed in different passages and sections. Sometimes the big idea is subdivided into several sections.

Notice that the book plunges right into the subject without any introduction or greeting. It's not stated who it's addressed to. We are able to figure out why it was written, based on the topics, issues and problems it addresses. 

It has been determined that the book was addressed to a group of believers, who were knowledgeable, and well instructed in the Hebrew Scriptures and Practices, based on the numerous Old Testament references and allusions made, without any attempt at explanation. Similarly it is concluded that the writer was also a Hebrew believer, due to the obvious knowledge of Hebrew theology, and Hebrew culture.

As Christians living in these last days we also need to pay close attention to the message God is sending to Christians living in disillusionment and facing a temptation to retreat back into the shadows of rituals, formality and unbelief.

Closing thoughts on the introduction

"Living in the shadow means you have withdrawn from the light." 
In Hebrews we are introduced to why being a Christian is such an awesomely cool thing!

"God said "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 (KJV). No one willingly starves himself but seek after nourishment. Similarly in order to be strong spiritually one has to feed on a wholesome spiritual diet. If there's one thing that quickly weakens a believer, and slowly destroys him, rendering him ineffective, it is a famine of the Word."

"When life seems to come to a standstill we need to stand firm. We need to trust Him Who never lies, and remain confident that He will come through!  We do not retreat nor return to the old ways, no matter how easy and tempting it may seem. There is only one person who tries to make a relapse to the old ways appear justified and so easy...the adversary."

"It's easy to fall down a palm tree you're trying to climb. All you have to do is let go! As a believer, firmly trusting in God, we hold fast to our faith and confession, and keep on climbing!"

"Many times people hear, but yet don't hear the message. They usually go away with a tiny part, that by itself, is totally diverse from what it actually is, when it's linked to the rest. This often leads to errors, misunderstanding, and contentious separation."

"When we fall into the habit of treating Him and His Way with contemptuous familiarity, we end up in ritualistic roles that have a form of godliness, sometimes with a lot of emotions and feel "good" thrown in, but there is no power. "

"Preachers, teachers pastors and others should never take the place of prominence before Jesus, at ANY time in our lives. No matter what they've done, or who honors them, they should never brag, or boast or be ostentatious about it, and we should not "worship" them or put them on pedestals. Respect and honor should be within limits set by God, and none should think more highly of himself than he ought to think."
   
Chapter One

In determining the big idea in the message we examine why it was written. There may be several reasons for the writing and these may be addressed in different passages and sections. Sometimes the big idea is subdivided into several sections.

Notice that the book plunges right into the subject without any introduction or greeting. It's not stated who it's addressed to. We are able to figure out why it was written based on the topics, issues and problems it addresses. It has been determined that the book was addressed to a group of believers who were knowledgeable and well instructed in the Hebrew Scriptures and Practices, based on the numerous references and allusions made, without any attempt at explanation. Similarly it is concluded that the writer was also a Hebrew believer due to the personal association with the Hebrew culture.

God used the prophets in various ways in the past, to reveal portions of His message, truth and plans by employing a variety of methods, means and media.

At sundry times and diverse manners: God did not limit Himself to one mode of speech. He was diverse and varied in His presentation, but it was a unique and unified message that remains unchanging in revealing His Plan and Purpose.

The prophets of old used a kaleidoscope of expression in declaring the eternal message...

How did God use the prophets? What were some of the methods and means by which the prophets delivered God's message?

These prophets faithfully presented God's message, even while often unable to understand and grasp the full meaning or impact of that message. However, according to his predestined plan, God eventually sent His Son, Who is Himself the literal Word of God appearing in the flesh. He's the brightness of God's glory and his precise image.

Whereas the prophets had a portion of the Word, Jesus is the Whole Word.

Whereas the prophets declared what they had...some of the truth, Jesus is the Truth.

The prophets declared the way, but Jesus  came as the Way.

In John's gospel Jesus presents Himself using various metaphors viz. Good Shepherd, Way, Truth, Life, Door, Resurrection, True Vine, Light of the World, Bread of Life etc

Jesus therefore not only brought the complete message, but He fulfilled and completed it by His sacrifice. Complete, final, done as echoed in his words on the cross...FINISHED!

In these LAST DAYS God has spoken to us by His Son! This final speech is all inclusive, encompassing His Witness, Words, Works  and Person.  

Then it was from the outside...now it's from the inside.
Then it was human voices...now it's the Spirit's voice.
Then it was the servants' voices...now it's the Son's Voice.
Then it was impersonal...now it's personal!
 
It was not just that Jesus spoke on behalf of God like the prophets.
He Himself was the Message, the Expression, the Reflection, the Revelation, the Redemption, the Realization...

John 14:9 -11 KJV  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

With the very first verse we are made aware that completeness is in Jesus, and the partial message of the prophets is compiled and brought to totality by the appearance of Jesus Christ.

Everything belongs to Jesus...what you have is by permission and not yours...grabbing and holding on to Someone else's property is illegal!

God the Father speaks! We would be well advised to listen and hear what He has to say. Whether we admire, appreciate or accept the messenger, God does not mince words. He does not speak in vain but every Word proceeding from His mouth is vital to life! Man shall not live by bread alone... God speaks in various ways and uses various means and mediums but He Speaks!

The Son is referred to as the Word! A word is the expression of a thought in the mind of an individual. Jesus is The Word made flesh! His appearance portrays the express image of the Father. All before Him were mere shadows. He's Substance!

We have moved from mere shadows, glorious though they were, into the Awesome Reality of The Light that cast the shadows!

Jesus told Phillip, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father!" The Father Himself vindicated the Superiority of the Son over the leaders of the shadows... Moses and Elijah. "HEAR HIM! Therefore to see the Father we should behold Jesus. To behold Jesus we need to draw near and tarry in His Presence, rather than standing and following afar off.

How does the Son speak to us? By His very Person and Presence since He is the Living Word. To "hear Him" as the Father instructed Peter, James and John, we need to meditate in His Word and let it dwell in us richly

The Son did it ALL by Himself! He needed no one else, but by Himself purged our sins

He sat down after accomplishing His Work! Elsewhere in Hebrews it is noted that while other priests ministering daily standeth, Jesus sat down signifying the Job DONE! FINAL WORK! Nothing more to be added to it...since it's perfect! And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. Hebrews 10:11-13 KJV

Jesus inherited a more excellent name than the angels. 

Jesus is compared to the angels to show His excellent superiority. The Scripture is used to define the exclusiveness of Jesus in His Name, His Sonship, His Worship, His Kingship, His Anointing and Authority, His Eternity. He is Creator, Son, Ruler, ...

What the Father said to, and of, the Son:

Thou art My Son

Let all the angels worship Him...

Jesus is superior to the angels who worship Him! It is an indication of the might and superiority of Jesus to all spirits!

The angels are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation! Who are the heirs of salvation? Angels may be excelling in strength but they are God's ministers. We are not to get hung up or obsessed with angels, but on their Creator and Master! We are on intimate terms with their Boss!

Forget the world's depiction of cute little babies with bows and arrows, beautiful female forms with wide spreading wings! Angels are in a class of their own, that defies the world's conception and description. But we still are on close first name relationship with their Boss!

We do not have guardian angels at our beck and call but rather they are at the command of God who sends them to minister on our behalf!

Jesus is better than the angels! If the words of the angels carried weight and authority, then more so the Word of The Messiah!

His name is more excellent than that of the angels. His name was obtained by inheritance!

A comparison is made here in the first chapter between Jesus Christ and the angels, to reveal the superiority of Messiah over the angels.

The Son is the ONLY Begotten of the Father. Angels are created beings, the work of His hands for ALL things were created by Him and for Him! Of necessity and by nature the created worships the Creator. It's naturally contrary to worship the creature.

The angels worship the Son. Angels are not to be worshiped, and the angels of God ALWAYS refuse ANY form of worship, for worship belongs to God ALONE!

Angels are made by God as fiery ministering spirits. The Son however is the Everlasting Ruler of Righteousness Who actually created them!

The Son through His love for all righteousness and hatred for all iniquity is anointed above all! Angels are not privileged to be anointed!

The Son laid the foundations and created all things. He remains even after they all perish! He remains the same, the unchangeable God...therefore we do not have to hesitate concerning His moods and wonder how's His mood today...for He NEVER changes!