Hebrews 6-7 Bible Study

Bible Passage: Hebrews 6:1–8, Hebrews 6:9–20, Hebrews 7:1–3, Hebrews 7:4–10, Hebrews 7:11–14, Hebrews 7:15–19, Hebrews 7:20–28

Prayer

Opening about difficulty of Hebrews and why we are starting back at ch6.

Who are the Hebrews?

Small Jewish community. They are not in Jerusalem, probably somewhere to their East. They were probably preached to by the Apostles, and it was after Jesus had ascended and the apostles were spreading the message of Jesus around Asia and Turkey. The only message they knew about Jesus was 2nd hand during missionary visits as there wasn’t a “New Testament” but because they were Jewish, they did know the old testament.

Who was this book written to?

Its written primarily to 2 groups of Hebrew people.

Hebrew Christians - True followers and believers of Jesus. They had converted from Judaism to Christianity. The others in their community were very hostile towards them and they were being persecuted. They were in danger of falling back into Judaism. They would walk the line between Christianity and Judaism, including partaking in Jewish ceremonies and traditions. As they felt more pressure from others, they wanted to satisfy everyone. So the book is trying to tell them that there is better way, a new covenant made by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus and they had to end the Judaism ways.

Hebrew Non-Christians - They are convinced they know who Jesus is, they have tasted the gospel, but they just wont make the total commitment to Jesus, they dont have a personal relationship with Jesus . Maybe they had an emotional event, maybe Baptized. But again they don’t fully commit themselves or 100% trust in Jesus.

Why was this book written?

Hebrews is written to prove to the Hebrew people that Christianity is superior to Judaism and to stop hanging on to the Old testament rituals, so as we read Hebrews it is very important to remember the why it was written and who it was written for.

1. Spiritual Maturity Embraced

Hebrews 6:1–8 NKJV

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. 6:1 Says “Therefore” Therefore referring to their immaturity as Christians from ch5. They only drink the milk like a newborn and havent grown. They should be mature by this point and able to teach others. They are still stuck in the ways of Judaism. What do you think when you see these acts such as Baptism, resurrecting the dead, and eternal judgment? While it appears these are Christian acts, these are actually Old Testament rituals and beliefs. Baptisms here actually means the washing. Pharisees had elaborate hand washing rituals they believed came from Moses that food would be unclean if you didn’t do this. So the Hebews are trying to stay in a fine line between Christianity and Judasim, they could do these acts, but keep everyone happy. Is that a denial of Jesus? Also what are some Christian beliefs that arent on this list? This is one of the most controversial passages of the New Testament, so lets go through it. 4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. What does this sound like when you read it? This for the Hebrews who had spiritual experiences, but did they fully commit that Jesus is the Messiah? Is this a salvation experience or not quite? Did the Pharisees have religious experiences? Did they pray? Did they tithe? Did they preach the word of God? But what did Jesus call them? Again, this is a warning to the Hebrews about trying to find a common ground in Judaism, but what this really is turning your back, shaming Jesus, and recrucifying him again and again, but how can we as Gentiles take this as a serious warning? Are there people in the church or who have gone to church that were enlightened and tasted Gods word? Maybe participated in the Lord’s supper? Can recite Bible verses, but yet have never fully dedicated themselves to Jesus, they dont fully believe in Jesus. So this isnt talking about losing salvation, its talking about those who are on the fence. You know what the fence is? The devils playground. But to those that have trust and faith in Jesus, you are stamped. Once you are stamped with the seal of God you are forever stamped Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 7.For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. How do we show our faith? In our fruit and our works. Its hard to fall away if you are growing and bearing fruit. What happens if you dont bear fruit? God cuts you off. God has blessed the Hebrews, but where is the fruit.

2. Security in Promises

Hebrews 6:9–20 NKJV

9.But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Have you ever been at a job for so long that you wonder if your boss cares and you start losing motivation? Thats what we see here. The Hebrew Christians are feeling defeated. They are being persecuted. Friends and family are turning their backs on them. They face ridicule. But instead of continuing to chastise the Hebrews, we now see a message of hope, that they will do the things that accompany salvation, and that God sees their work and the love the Hebrews have for Jesus. They are being told to stay motivated even through all of the struggles. And to copy those who have shown patience, like Abraham, until they inherit the Kingdom of God. Why do we struggle with motivation as Christians? We get discouraged, we get tired, we feel hopeless. How can we help other Christians? 13. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. What was God’s promise to Abraham? Sarah has Issac, Issac and Rebekah have Jacob, and Jacob has 12 kids and they are considered the 12 tribes of Israel. Promise fulfilled. Does anyone remember how long it took for God to fulfill the promise? 25 years so why are we so impatient waiting on God? Have you ever just asked, God are you coming through for me? What happens when we lose patience? 16.For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. What is an oath? God binding himself as a witness to a promise. And his promise and oath will never change. He just cant do it. And the Hebrews can find strong consolation(comfort), and refuge in God’s new promise, through the hope of Jesus. This was the message to the Hebrews who are struggling on leaving Judaism behind. 19. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Who is our new anchor in Heaven? Jesus, hes the forerunner, so hes gone in before us and now we are anchored to him and that is the hope we have in him and this forever. Before we go on lets discuss another problem. Remember the Jews were still trying to understand the priesthood. They are trying to figure out if Jesus is the new High Priest, or was it still a fleshly high priest like the OT? So in the OT a priest was someone who connected people to God, he was the mediator. He did sacrifices, you bring him the sacrifice, and he did it, he wiped the blood on the altar. And there is yet another issue they are struggling with. There are 12 tribes of Israel, right? One of those tribes, the tribe of Levi is considered the priestly tribe, so, the OT high priests were Levites, and this is where some of the Hebrews thought the Messiah would come from. Does anyone see the problem? What tribe was Jesus from? Judah. So this high priest thing had to be cleared up so they could move forward, which is the point of Ch 7.

3. Melchizedek Mystery Revealed

Hebrews 7:1–3 NKJV

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. So Lets talk about Melchizdek, hes the high priest mentioned here in Hebrews7 that makes his appearance in:

Genesis 14:18–21 NKJV

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” In the OT, Jesus would show himself. He showed himself to Hagar and told her to go home, he stopped Abraham from slaying Issac, and many other times. Some people thingk Melchizdek was Jesus in human form. There are some things here that could support that. He comes of out nowhere. He just appears in Genesis. In verse 3 we see he has no genealogy, he father, no mother, and no end. And hes made like the son of God. Genesis tells us that he is the king of Salem, which is now known as Jerusalem. and he was the priest of God. If he is or isnt, it doesnt really matter.

4. Priesthood's Supremacy Acclaimed

Hebrews 7:4–10 NKJV

Now consider how great this man was(this man being Melchizedek), to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi(remember the tribe of Levi is the priestly tribe), who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them(again this is Melchizedek) received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Who we thought was an insignificant 3 verses in the OT, is actually great. How do we know he’s great? Abraham the patriarch of Israel gave him a 1/10 of his spoils. Since he paid tithes to Melchizedek, This shows Melchizedek is in a position of authority over Abraham and his descendants including Levi.

5. Priesthood Transition Heralded

Hebrews 7:11–14 NKJV

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. We see a need for a new priesthood, the Levitical priesthood could not reconcile people to God, if they could have then there would be no need for Jesus. Why couldnt they reconcile to God? They were not perfect and since the priesthood had to change, so did the law, and the new priest would come from a tribe that never produced a priest. And this priest would rise the same way as Melchizedek. Again this was a major sticking point for the Hebrew people. Why? Because they assumed the Messiah would come from the levites.

6. Priesthood Power Unleashed

Hebrews 7:15–19 NKJV

And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”’ It has become clear, that a new priest has to come and not from a law that says he has to be a lineage but because of powerful, never ending life. 18. For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness(in other words the law sets a standard buwe cant fulfil the law, and neither can the priests), for the law made nothing perfect(We are unable to live to the law and cant be made new under the law); on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Do speeding laws stop people from speeding? Do jails stop people from breaking the law? The law was made to show us God’s standard, but it cant be made through the flesh. It shows us we need a new way to draw to God.

7. Perfect Priesthood Realized

Hebrews 7:20–28 NKJV

And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. The high priest of the order of Aaron was appointed by heredity, not by personal character or an oath of God. Not so with Jesus and the priestly order of Melchizedek. God even sealed His choice by an oath. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Since the priesthood was constantly changing, so was the character of the person holding the position. But now Jesus intercedes for us and that never changes and is constant For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. Because Jesus is perfect, we no longer need the daily living sacrifices to clean our sins.