Hebrews Chapter 10

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Standing firm in the realities of a better covenant

Chapter Three Theme: Recognising the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice and the need for a consistent response

BACKGROUND

This chapter picks up on the challenge presented to the early Jewish believers of the new covenant appearing to still be running side-by-side with the old covenant. Gentile believers reading the Hebrews letter would have seen the problem differently. They (like us) had entered straight into God’s new covenant but would have welcomed the privilege of seeing the heart of God in using the old to prepare the way for the new. In this chapter  the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice is presented together with the need for a consistent response.The chapter ends on a positive note about faith, ready for Chapter 11’s presentation of those in the past who were referred to as examples in Hebrews 6:12.

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Make sure you watch the video covering Hebrews 10 and have a Bible ready in front of you.

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Verses 1-10

The centre piece of these verses is the quotation from the Septuagint version of Psalm 40:6-8 in verses 5-7. Before quoting this the writer reemphasises the inability of the old covenant sacrifices to make people perfect, in that they left the people still feeling ‘guilty for their sins.' The psalm records (in anticipation) the intentions of Christ (the Messiah) when taking up our humanity and coming into the world. The writer explains that, in being set to do his Father’s will, Jesus came to provide something better than ineffectual sacrifices. Verse 10 sums up the fulfilment of that intention by saying ‘we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.’ 

Question

• Why is it important to know that our consciences are cleansed so that we are no longer left with an overburdening sense of guilt for our sins?

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Verses 11-18

Although these verses quote from the new covenant promises given in Jeremiah 31:33-34, there is in verses 12-13 a reference to Psalm 110:1 showing Jesus seated at his Father’s right hand and waiting. For the writer this brings home the reality of Jeremiah 31:34 leading to the confirmation in verse 18 ‘and where these (sins and lawless acts) have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.’ 

Question

• How does the picture of Jesus being seated and waiting in heaven confirm for you the effectiveness of his once for all sacrifice?

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Verses 19-25

There are three exhortations in these verses. In verses 19-22 we are encouraged to draw near to God boldly as Christ on the cross has opened the way into God’s presence. The writer describes this opening up as ‘going through the curtain’ and also speaks of the sprinkling of our hearts and the washing of our bodies. These statements highlight the new covenant realities anticipated in the old covenant rituals. The second exhortation is to ‘hold firmly to the hope we possess’ (verse 23), and the third is to spur each other on by meeting together and encouraging each other (verses 24-26). 

Questions

• How does the spiritual sprinkling of our hearts and the washing of our bodies relate to the purity needed for us to come boldly into the presence of God?

• What can we do to increase the encouragement we bring to one another?

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Verses 26-31

When reading verses 26-35 it is good to have in mind 1John 1:8-10. These warnings in Hebrews are particularly strong (as we saw in Hebrews 6:4-8). This is because they relate to a determined, unrepentant attitude. The three condemning factors in verse 29 underscore this point. All three border on the unthinkable: trampling the Son of God underfoot, treating  as unholy the sanctifying blood of the covenant, and insulting the Spirit of grace. 

Question

• Why do you think the writer is so forceful on the topic of determined unrepentance?

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Verses 32-35

These verses contain the amazing testimony of these early Jewish believers. It is an incredible list. No one the writer says ‘So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.’ 

Question

• How does the list in verses 32-34 compare with the list in Hebrews 6:4-5, and could the Hebrews 10  list be a practical outworking of the list in Hebrews 6?

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Verses 36-39

Here a plea to persevere is linked with the hope of the second coming, referenced by Isaiah 26:20. It is then followed  by Habakkuk 2:4, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.' It is good to emphasise that we are not ‘those who shrink back’ but ‘those who have faith and are saved.’ 

Question

• ‘The just shall live by faith’ is often quoted. What does it mean in practice?

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

This chapter has many takeaways, both in terms of what it exhorts us to do and what it encourages us to avoid. The final verse about living by faith sets us up well for the next chapter.  

PRAYER & REFLECTION

Verses 19-22 are written as one long sentence – a sentence which is so rich in meaning that it is well-worth taking time to reflect on. As you do so, perhaps you could use it as a prayer of gratitude.

Lord Jesus, 

since we, as brothers and sisters, have confidence to enter 

the Most Holy Place by your blood,  

by a new and living way 

opened for us through the curtain, that is, your body,

and since you are our great priest over the house of God, 

let us draw near to you with a sincere heart

and with the full assurance that faith brings, 

having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience 

and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Amen

Hebrews Chapter 9

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Standing firm in the realities of a better covenant

Chapter Three Theme: Comparing the earthly tabernacle with the heavenly reality

BACKGROUND

Someone once said ‘if you want a good commentary on Leviticus, read Hebrews.' This chapter proves the point. It shows how God put types and figures into the old covenant that point to realities in the new. In particular this chapter presents a detailed comparison between the earthly tabernacle and the heavenly reality that was its template.

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Make sure you watch the video covering Hebrews 9 and have a Bible ready in front of you.

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Verses 1-10

Verses 1-5 set out the furniture and layout of the tabernacle as constructed by Moses. Verses 6-7 then explain the regular role of the priests and the annual role of the high priest (as described in Leviticus 16:11-17). Verses 8-10  complete this overview by explaining the limitation of this system, saying ‘the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed’ and ‘the gifts and sacrifices offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshippers.' 

Question

• Why do you think the writer chooses to highlight these two particular disadvantages of tabernacle (and, later, temple) worship?

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Verses 11-14

In these verses the writer takes us directly from Christ’s coming to his ascended ministry as our heavenly high priest. So ‘the good things that are to come’ (i.e. the blessing of the new covenant) can also be described as ‘the good things that are already here.' ‘The greater and more perfect tabernacle’ is heaven itself. The Most Holy Place is God’s throne room and by bringing his own blood before the Father’s throne he achieves an inner cleansing for us that goes way beyond that temporary, outward, ceremonial cleansing achieved by offering bulls and goats. 

Question

• Why is it important to have our consciences cleansed from dead (or deadly) past acts?

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Verses 15-26

Verse 15 stresses that Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant and that his death liberates all who are called. The writer then, in verses 16-22, uses the illustration of a will, only coming into effect when someone dies, to explain why things need to be cleansed with blood. There was a lot of blood in the old covenant! But In the new covenant Jesus was in effect ‘cleansing’ heavenly realities. Verses 23-26 affirm this and show that as his sacrifice was a far better sacrifice, he only had to offer himself once ‘at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin.’

Questions

• How does the ‘once for all’ nature of Christ’s death affect our thinking when we are coming before God in repentance and faith?

• People often speak about the importance of the blood of Jesus. How has this chapter helped your understanding of it when comparing the old and new covenants?  

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Verses 27-28

These final verses speak about death and judgement, and of Christ’s second coming ‘to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.'

Question

• How confident should we be when considering judgement, given that Christ’s second coming is about bringing salvation to those who are waiting for him?

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

This chapter has not only provided us with a contrast between the earthly tabernacle and the heavenly original, but has given us detailed information about the effectiveness of Jesus’ death and his ministry in the heavenly realms. The writer makes it clear that the old covenant practices repeated annually on the Day of Atonement are superseded  by a ‘once for all’ reality in the new covenant. 

PRAYER & REFLECTION

This time I’d like to suggest that you prayerfully reflect on a hymn of Isaac Watts. You may like to quietly play some reflective music while you do so. Try to find something that takes you away from the hymn’s usual rhythm.

Not all the blood of beasts,

  On Jewish altars slain,

Could give the guilty conscience peace,

  Or wash away its stain.

But Christ, the heavenly Lamb,

  Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name,

  And richer blood than they.

My faith would lay her hand

  On that dear head of Thine,

While like a penitent I stand,

  And there confess my sin.

My soul looks back to see

  The burdens Thou didst bear

When hanging on the cursed tree,

  And knows her guilt was there.

Believing, we rejoice

  To see the curse remove;

We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice,

  And sing His bleeding love.

Hebrews Chapter 8

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Standing firm in the realities of a better covenant

Chapter Eight Theme: Defining the essence of God’s new covenant

BACKGROUND

This chapter marks a huge transition point in human history – the moving from the old covenant to the new. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesied a new covenant at the time of the restoration after the Babylonian exile, and in the upper room Jesus linked its arrival with the giving of his body and the shedding of his blood.

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Make sure you watch the video covering Hebrews 8 and have a Bible ready in front of you.

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Verses 1-6

The writer tells us the main point of what is coming in this chapter (and in the next) is that we have a high priest who serves in the true tabernacle which God has raised up  in heaven. He then writes of the earthly copy where earthly high priests serve, saying that the ministry of Jesus is greater than theirs as he is the mediator of a superior covenant.

Question

• It is just about possible that priests were still serving in the Jerusalem Temple at the time this was written (Jerusalem fell in AD 70). If that were the case, what contrasts could the readers draw between an earthly priestly role and a heavenly one?

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Verses 7-9

These verses quote Jeremiah 31:31-32 from the Septuagint version (a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures in use at the time Hebrews was written). It is introduced by explaining that the fault with the first covenant (established through Moses) was that people did not remain faithful to it. Obviously it requires more than taking people ‘by the hand to lead them out of Egypt’ to make them covenant-keepers. 

Question

• Why do you think the writer of Hebrews says that people’s failure to keep the old covenant implies a fault with the covenant itself? 

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Verses 10-12

These verses quote Jeremiah 31:33-34 which spell out the benefits of the new covenant over the old as follows: the law being written in our minds and on our hearts; a close relationship being possible with God who now becomes knowable by all, regardless of a people’s status; a forgiveness that is accompanied by a gracious forgetfulness.

Question

• Why is having the law in our minds on our hearts better than just having them on stones in the Ark behind the veil in the tabernacle or temple?

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Verse 13

It is a big thing to say that the old covenant is obsolete and outdated but not only were the  believing Jews living under a new covenant but the new covenant was able to bring Gentiles into direct relationship with God. Emphasising the transient nature of the old covenant would have focussed the minds of wavering Jewish believers. 

Question

• As we are studying this, can you think of reasons why it is helpful for Gentile believers to know the details and history of the old covenant?

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

This chapter introduces us to the words of Jeremiah that Jesus had in mind in the upper room. Studying them helps us have a better understanding of the new covenant that we have been brought into.   

PRAYER & REFLECTION

As I read verse 13 of this chapter I think of all those Jewish people, well-versed in the old covenant, who are still looking for the new era that they believe God still has in store. Let’s pray that our own testimony will commend Jesus, and not unthinkingly condemn those who are yet to know him. Ephesians 2:11-22 can guide us.

Father God,

We who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We were foreigners to the covenants of promise,

without hope and without God in the world.

 But now we know him who is our peace, who has made two groups one,

destroying the barrier and dividing wall of hostility. 

He set aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. 

So we turn to the cross that reconciles us to you and others, and ask that once again 

we may preach peace to those who are far away and those who are near.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen

Hebrews Chapter 7

THEMES

Overarching Theme: Standing firm in the realities of a better covenant

Chapter Seven Theme: Explaining the necessary change in the priesthood

BACKGROUND

This Chapter is about a change in the priesthood that God had planned way before he had Moses appoint Aaron as Israel’s first high priest. When God told the serpent in the Garden of Eden that his head would be bruised by the Seed of women, God in his triunity knew that this would be a role God the Son would fulfil through his crucifixion and resurrection. However, the fuller picture would involve God the Son being mankind’s mediator, high priest, prophet, king and judge. 

The historical preparation for Jesus being our high priest not only involved setting up high-priestly practice through Aaron and his successors but establishing a separate line for an everlasting priesthood that only Jesus could fulfil. Melchizedek, who met with Abraham long before Aaron was born, was God’s way of introducing that eternal high priesthood, which surpasses the Aaronic priesthood in every way.

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Make sure you watch the video covering Hebrews 7 and have a Bible ready in front of you.

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Verses 1-10

All we know of Melchizedek from Genesis 14:18-20 is set out in verses 1-3, plus his evident lack of genealogy and similarity to the Son of God. Some scholars actually think he was a pre-incarnation appearance of Christ. The writer then goes on to show Melchizedek’s superiority by telling how even Abraham paid Melchizedek a tithe and received a blessing from him. Levi, who is mentioned in verses 9-10, was Abraham’s great-grandson and the head of Moses and Aaron’s tribe.

Question

•  In what way is it significant that God established the priestly line for Jesus through one who is both king of righteousness and king of peace?

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Verses 11-22

The argument that the Aaronic/Levitical priesthood had to be replaced because it didn’t bring perfection shows that perfection has been God’s aim from the beginning. The law also had its limitations. Changing both the law and the priesthood, sees Jesus being made high priest from the tribe of Judah on the basis of an indestructible life. His appointment is confirmed by an oath (see Psalm 110:4). All of this speaks of a better covenant through which we can draw near to God.

Questions

• If the law of Moses and the Aaronic/Levitical priesthood were interim, what was God seeking to achieve by putting them in place?

• Can you describe a link between drawing near to God and reaching perfection?

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Verses 23-28

Verses 23-25 establish the permanence of Christ’s priesthood, affirming that his continuing intercessory role brings a completeness to his work of salvation. Verses 26-27 show that not only did Jesus have no need to sacrifice for his own sins, but that his sacrifice suffices once for all. Verse 28 confirms that whereas the law appointed high priests in their weakness, God’s oath appointed Christ in his perfection.

Questions

• Why is it so important to stress that when Jesus died for sin, he died ‘once for all’? 

• How is it that a high priest who is ‘holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners’ and ‘exalted above the heavens’ is so good at meeting our needs? 

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

This chapter informs us that God has always had an ultimate plan which he has been introducing to humanity step-by-step through interim measures. The important thing to hold onto is that the ultimate reality is far better than the interim measures.  

PRAYER & REFLECTION

In verse 18 we are told that ‘a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.’ It would be good to end this time of study by quietly drawing near to God. After a time of silence you might like to pray along the following lines:

Father God,

The perfection of your planning leaves us in awe. 

You truly are the one who knows the end from the beginning.

Indeed, you are the one who defined the end from the beginning.

We are confident that, as you steered our predecessors 

through the types and figures of the past towards a better covenant, 

so you will establish our hearts and minds in the joy of your presence.

Help us to understand the fulness of your new covenant,

this better covenant that brings us nearer to your perfection.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen