Hebrews Intro
Notes
Transcript
favorite verses?
Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of 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 this reason he had to be made like them, fully human 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.
See to it, brothers and sisters, 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.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Author?
Author?
Date: 60-70 AD
Date: 60-70 AD
1 Clement in 95-96 AD
Timothy mentioned
No mention of the Temple being destroyed in AD 70, and in Hebrews 8:4-5, and 10:1-3, there is mention of the rituals of the temple spoken of in the present tense, as if they were still taking place.
Audience
Audience
Jews, Hebrews
4 books
Matthew - the kingdom
James - James 1 1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
James - practical righteousness so we may have fellowship with God
1 & 2 Peter - 1 Peter 1 1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
Hebrews, titles literally, “To the Hebrews”
As believers, cut off from their culture, their people, their relatives because of following Christ
The Jewish nation hated Jesus, and those who would abandon Moses to follow Jesus
They were enduring persecution: Hebrews 10:33-34; 13:3, 23
Think of the persecution Paul was a part of carrying out against the church. The opposition the Jewish leadership had toward the apostles. The mob that arose to tear Paul apart in the temple.
These Jewish believers may have been growing weary of the isolation from their loved ones, and the persecution they were facing from their peers. They may have thought of returning to the rituals and customs of Judaism.
There was also rising tension between Rome and the Jews. The pressure of nationalism was growing, and there would have been a strong push to prioritize their national entity and political freedom over their identity as citizens who were waiting for that heavenly country.
Where were these Hebrews?
In Rome?
In Palestine?
Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.
Purpose
Purpose
Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.
Exhortation
Exhortation
message of exhortation… what is exhortation?
an admonition - a loving attempt to correct another’s attitude or behavior by giving a warning or reprimand
or encouragement for the purpose of strengthening and establishing the believer in the faith
comforting, consolation
At the conclusion, in Hebrews 13, we find many exhortations, commands, regarding how we need to live day by day.
But before this conclusion with multiple commands, what is the overall exhortation through the book of Hebrews?
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness,
See to it, brothers and sisters, 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 indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
let us draw near to God 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.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Stand firm, Endure
Stand firm, Endure
endure hardship
endure suffering from sinful people
endure discipline
Know and fix your eyes on the Savior—the Superiority of Christ
Know and fix your eyes on the Savior—the Superiority of Christ
Tempted to compromise and return to Judaism
Using extensive quotes from the Old Testament shows the superiority of Christ
Superior revelation
Superior message - the gospel
Superior to angels, prophets, Moses, Levitical Priests, Animal Sacrifice, old covenant
Superior Savior!
Outline
Outline
The Superior Revelation (1-2:4)
The Son - heir, creator, radiance of God, exact representation of God, sustainer, purifier, Lord
Superior to angels who mediated the old covenant
Warning to not drift away
Superior Savior (2:5-18)
Superior to Moses & Joshua (3-4:13)
Warning against unbelief
Warning against not entering God’s Rest
The Superior High Priest (4:14-7)
Warning against falling away
Exhortation to mature
Exhortation of God’s Faithfulness
Example of Melchizedek
The Superior Covenant (8)
The Superior Sacrifice (9-10:18)
Call to Faith and Obedience (10:19-12)
Faith leads to Obedience
Examples of Faith
Running the race in Faith
Enduring Discipline
Fear and Obedience
Practical Exhortations (13)
What about me?
What about me?
Word of encouragement to endure
Word of encouragement to endure
isolation, persecution
temptation to compromise: morality, abortion, evolution, literal interpretation
losing hope
meeting together
Familiarity with the scripture
Familiarity with the scripture
Old Testament Foundation
Faith and Obedience
Faith and Obedience
Discipline
Discipline
