Hebrews Part 14

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

Sometimes faith means standing up against evil

Moses’ parents defied the king to save their child

And that was also an example of faith

This does not mean that we are to always defy the government.

Paul teaches in Romans chapter 13

that the government was either established or allowed by God

And in either case, we should submit to human laws

except in the cases where those laws contradict God’s laws.

In the case of murdering your own child

That is an very good example of when it is perfectly ok

to defy the government.

However, you can’t just decide one day that you don’t need to pay taxes

Simply because the taxes support things you don’t like

Jesus paid taxes to Ceasar

And Paul also says in Romans 13 that we should do the same

Even if the taxes are going to things we disapprove of

And there is a good reason for this

but I won’t get off track and teach from Romans 13 tonight

we will address that the next time we go through that book

just know that in most cases we submit to human laws and government

But there will be times when faith will be required to act in a manner that defies the ruling class

And this example of saving the life of Moses is an example of that kind of faith.

The author then takes a little more time to talk about Moses

I’ll read it all, and then we will highlight some key points

for the sake of time.

Hebrews 11:24–27 ESV

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

So, Moses had faith because he identified with his people

as opposed to the Egyptians

This is a type and shadow of the church vs the world

And we can see a parallel between identifying with Christ today

versus identify with worldly culture

In fact, the author says in verse 26 that Moses chose the reproach of Christ

over the wealth and treasures of Egypt.

Obviously Moses didn’t know Jesus

So, the author speaking figuratively

and drawing that parallel for his audience

in that in the same way Moses left Pharaohs house

We should also leave behind the world

Even if it means we have to give up some things that we treasure

This is faith.

Moses went from being a prince to being a shepherd in the wilderness

So, giving up things for God is a sign of faithfulness too.

It doesn’t matter how much you love the things of the world

You’ve got to love Jesus more if you have faith

So, in contrast

Loving the things of the world more than Jesus

Is an example of not having faith

faithlessness

So, God is going to ask us to give up some things from the world

not matter how much we may love them

You think Moses really hated the silk clothes

and Egyptian cotton sheets of the palace life?

You think he really wanted to live in the wilderness with some goats?

This doesn’t mean that you can’t have nice things when you turn to Christ.

but the underlying principle is

that you will have to give up some things that you enjoyed

But that are keeping you from being closer to Jesus.

In the end, the things of this world you gave up

will pale in comparison to the things God is going to give us

when we receive our reward

and that is the same reward Moses was “looking forward to” by faith.

Hebrews 11:28 ESV

28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

On that first Passover night,

Imagine if they simply believed the word of God

and didn’t take action to put blood on the doorpost?

Would they have saved their firstborn child?

of course not.

Once again, Faith is action,

but not just any action, it is obedient action.

and we see proof of that in the next verse…

Hebrews 11:29 ESV

29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

The same Red Sea crossing saved God’s people

but killed the Egyptians

So, faith is not just action

it is the obedient action

Going to church doesn’t save you in and of itself

it isn’t the action, it is the obedience

There are those who will go to church their whole lives

and never be saved

The same Red Sea crossing saved lives and took lives

Action prompted by obligation and

without obedience will never save you.

Hebrews 11:30 ESV

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

Here is another example of action that was a result of obedience and trust

God said exactly how many days and times they needed to march around the walls

and they did it faithfully while trusting that God was faithful.

Hebrews 11:31 ESV

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Here we see the point being hammered home.

There is no translation or theological bias

that can weed out the compounding effect of all these examples

the author is making sure this message will stand the test of time

and the changes in language.

Who was saved in this verse? Rahab

Why was Rahab saved?

She took action.

Now, there were those in Jericho who were hunting down those spies that Rahab protected

They were taking action

But it was the wrong action.

So, faith, again, is not just action, but the right action.

And the right action, is what obedience is.

The wrong action is rebellion.

He makes is super clear here.

Obedience is major component of faith

Disobedience is not faith.

here is a very rapid fire ending to the chapter…

Hebrews 11:32–38 ESV

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Look at all those verbs

Action words

Not just indiscriminate action

but faithful obedience and trust in God’s word.

We also see highlighted that many of these faithful witnesses

suffered in a major way

They died, they were tortured, they were put in prison

The author is really building up the fact that these OT saints

Were faithful despite it being difficult

And perhaps the original audience was worried about the persecution happening to Christians

and that may very well be the reason they are “falling away”

They are worried that societal pressures will continue unless they go back to being a good devout Jew

Instead of a follower of Christ

And we’ve got to be careful we don’t do the same thing today

Because we are living in the same time of pressure cooker today

We can never bow down to the pressure to turn from Christ

Or deny Christ

Even if it seems like doing so will save our lives

or make our lives more comfortable

We must also hold fast to our faith.

So, in these many examples from the OT

they went through all of these hard times,

and still held to their faith

and then he says...

Hebrews 11:39–40 ESV

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Here is the punch line.

The list of faithful people we just read about

went through more things than you and me

and they held onto the faith

and they did it without something that you and me have

A promise that you got

and they didn’t get

What is that?

The gift of the Holy Spirit

If they made it without the HG

and you don’t make it with the HG

what will you say on judgement day?

What can you say?

What will be your defense?

What will be your justification?

If you let go of the faith when it gets “hard”

And you’ve got the Holy Spirit to help you through it

What case could you possible make on Judgment day?

Whatever argument you try to make,

Just realize that all these OT saints

Are going to be standing there as a witness against you…

and that is what the next verse says…

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Therefore:

This first word of the chapter let’s us know that we need to connect it to the last chapter.

Now, you need to do this always

but especially when their is a word like, “Therefore”, or “For this Cause”.

So, we have a great cloud of witnesses

Who are they? and Why are they witnesses?

The who is obvious,

It is all the OT saints that had faith in God

Now, why are they witnesses?

This doesn’t mean they are watching us from the clouds.

It doesn’t mean they are cheering us on.

They are witnesses that can be called upon

to testify against us

Should we decide not to finish our proverbial race

Now, there are different opinions about this verse depending on who you read

Some say these witnesses are testifying too us that finishing the race is worth it

Some say these witnesses are simply cheering us on from heaven

Some say these witnesses will be called to testify against us should we fail to endure

I believe the 3rd choice fits the best.

First of all, a witness doesn’t cheer… a witness testifies.

So, that option makes no sense to me.

So, then that leaves us with two options.

Either the witnesses are testifying to us, or against us.

Now, the word “therefore” comes into the calculation.

We just read about how each of these OT saints

endured very difficult trials without the gift of Holy Spirit

And yet, they kept the faith.

THEREFORE… they will surround us as witnesses.

This tells me that they will testify against us if we fail to keep the faith.

We will have no excuse.

Somewhere, someone has gone through much worse that me

and they kept the faith without the Holy Spirit

And if I fall away… that person will be called as a witness against me.

This is how I read it.

Feel free to disagree.

But the rest of the verse says…

You better lay aside anything that will cause you to fail

and you better endure to the end of this race

Why?

Because Moses did it without the Holy Spirit

Abraham did too.

Daniel survived the lion’s den without it

Shadrach went through the firey furnance without the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What will you say if they are called to testify?

What will you say about giving up the faith when Joseph is on the witness stand?

Talking about the pit he was thrown into

The slavery he endured

the prison sentence he suffered through?

Nothing… that’s all you’ll be able to say.

So, we must endure by laying aside every weight and sin.

We know what sin is, but what are weights?

In this context, I believe it the Old Covenant

Again, there’s disagreement on this. Some think it is just a repetition of sin.

Other’s think it is things that are not sin, but still get between us and God.

And I think as a principle, that is true

but specifically, for the original audience, it meant the Law.

The original word seems to imply an anchor point

that ties you down.

In the metaphor of a race,

a “weight” seems to mean lose clothing

or improper running equipment

Anything that causes you to run slower.

So, not something that stops you from running

but something that causes you to run slower

And that could apply to a lot of things in our lives…

How do we remain focused on what really matters?

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Looking to Jesus:

Our Eyes need to stay in one place

and in one direction during this race

We can’t look back at where we came from

and we can’t look to the side at those who are running with us

We must not compare ourselves with anyone else running the race

Instead, we keep our eyes on prize, the finish line, Jesus.

The Founder and perfecter of our faith:

The KJV says, the Author and Finisher of our faith

I preached a message one time called “The Finisher of our faith”.

What does that mean?

It isn’t hard to understand that Jesus is the founder or author of our faith

Our faith comes FROM Jesus

He is the founder or source of our faith.

But what does it mean for him to finish our faith?

Our faith comes from Jesus

and if he gave it to us

then he should be the only one that takes it from us

We shouldn’t finish our own faith by throwing in the towel

We shouldn’t let the devil finish our faith by convincing us to stop running this race

We shouldn’t let society turn our faith off

Only when we have completed the race will our faith be perfected, or completed in Jesus

When we get to Heaven, we won’t need faith or hope

We will only need love.

Joy Set Before Him:

As gruesome as the cross was,

The writer here says that it was the Joy set before Christ

So, the finish line of his race was the cross

and yet, Jesus found joy in that

So, whatever is coming in your future

surely it isn’t as bad as the cross

and if Jesus found joy in the cross

you can find joy in whatever is set before you.

Whether it is a storm, a trial,

a disease, the loss of a loved one,

financial hardships

come what may, I will rejoice through it

because I know what is on the other side of it

Endured the Cross:

This word, Endured, is probably the shortest way to say the theme of the letter

This is the message of hebrews in a single word

Endurance

Jesus Endured

We must Endure

We’ve already been compared to all the OT saints

and how they endured much worse than us

and they did it without the Holy Spirit

And now the author is comparing us to the only one we really need to “look at”

And he is the perfect example of endurance

If anyone had a good reason to turn back

Jesus did.

He was walking toward a cross that was going to kill him

He was going to suffer immense pain

He wasn’t even guilty

He wasn’t dying for himself, but for us

He had every reason to turn back

and yet… he endured.

Let that be your example when you feel like quitting.

That that be your motivation to get up tomorrow and read your Bible

and spend some time in prayer

Let that be on your mind the next time you think about skipping church

Jesus didn’t quit, and neither will I.

He endured the cross

I can endure one more day

Despising the Shame:

BDAG καταφρονέω

to consider something not important enough to be an object of concern when evaluated against someth. else, care nothing for, disregard, be unafraid of

So, Jesus looked at the shame of the cross as insignificant

compared to joy on the other side of the cross

And that is what we must do…

Whatever we are facing cannot even compare to where we are going one day.

Hold onto the joy set before you at any cost.

That’s faith.

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