Hebrews 3-5

Correction…

Kabbalah

The extreme advancement of the writings of the Talmud

Middle age Jewish mysticism

Analyzes numbers and letter combinations and derives meanings from that analysis.

Argues for successive emanations of god, each progressively more distant from the creator.

Eventually these emanations take angelic form that are lesser and lesser.

Pantheistic as it worships these angels as separate deities.

The highest of these angels is Metatron

Talmud

Jewish traditions that had been transmitted orally for generations that were committed to writing in the 3rd century.

Worshipped, or at a minimum, highly regarded angels.

Metatron is the highest of the angels in the Talmud. Said to be the angel that led them by a pillar of fire and cloud in the desert.

How Hebrews challenges the Jewish teaching of the day (Talmud)

Christ’s supremacy over angels: Chapters 1-3

Direct access to God through Christ alone: Chapters 3-5

Christ as the eternal High priest replaces the Levitical system: Chapters 7-10

Christ as the sole mediator: Chapter 12

One final sacrifice replaces perpetual offerings: Chapter 13

Chapter 3

Read 2:14-18

V. 1

Consider Jesus

Christians share in a heavenly calling.

You were not saved just to get into heaven.

You were saved into a heavenly calling.

2:18 in the NLT:

18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

In your suffering, trials, and tribulations… Consider Jesus. For he suffered and sacrificed so that you would be able to enter into the kingdom and your calling in the kingdom here on earth.

Apostle

Jesus was sent to save us

The Greek word apostolos in pre-Christian writing was a maritime term used to refer to a rescue ship.

The Jewish use of the word derives from the Hebrew word seliah means representative. The term is related to a messenger but is used specifically to refer to someone that is a delegate of the sender who carries genuine authority.

This is a statement used to contrast to the view of angels being greater than Christ. They cannot be because they are simply messengers. Christ is an apostle.

This statement is also saying that he is more than a prophet. He is not just the voice of God. He is God, sent with the full authority of the creator.

High Priest

The priest is the one who intercedes to God for the believer.

Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.””

Romans 8:34 “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus died once for all. He is therefore the savior of all. And that means all have access to the Father, if they go through Him.

v 2-6

Moses was the hero of the first century Jew.

Compare this to your modern day heroes

Stating that Jesus was obedient in giving up his life just as Moses was faithful in his calling, is now elevating Jesus above Moses.

These statements are given in a way that does not diminish the faith of Moses, but explains that like him, we are part of the “House” or “family” and Christ is the Son with the authority over that house.

The audience can read this and know that God has lifted them up through Christ.

V. 7-14

V 7-11 Cited from Psalm 95:7-11

V. 8 - Do not harden your hearts.

V. 13 - “That none of you would be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin”

Or you will not enter into his rest.

Instead…

Exhort one another (ESV)

Warn each other (NLT)

Encourage one another (NIV)

The Greek word means to encourage, to build up, to comfort.

We are called to do this daily.

As we build each other up, we help each other stay away from sin.

Sin leads to a hard heart, so staying away from it leads to a soft heart.

Encouragement softens hearts.

Discouragement hardens hearts.

Hardened hearts will not enter into his rest

Softened hearts will enter into his rest.

Be an encourager.

Encouragement brings peace, leads people away from sin, creates bonds, joins the body, destroys brokenness, cost nothing, gives everything.

v. 15-19

The Author repeats the beginning of the Psalm already quoted.

He lays out the example of the Israelites failure because of their hard hearts.

Chapter 4

Looking to that example…

Fear the result of the hard heart

(NIV) be careful

(NLT) fear

This is what the “fear of God” means. It is the fear of what His judgement will bring.

It is knowing that He is God and you are not.

It is knowing that you are saved through Christ and outside of Christ you are not.

You still have the promise of entering into his rest, keep it that way.

Walk in repentence. Encourage each other. Renew your mind. Know the truth and do not follow temptation.

V. 2 - They heard the message, but did not listen.

The message is the gospel. That Jesus died for all. Those that receive the gift enter into the kingdom. In the kingdom we love God and love each other. Share that message. Encourage others to live that way. When we are not living that way, change it immediately (repentence).

V. 3 - He repeats the end of the psalm already quoted.

V. 4-6

The rest entered into is the same rest spoken of in the creation story (Gen 1:31).

That is where the Father is.

In 3:19 unbelief prevents entering into His rest.

In 4:6 Disobedience prevents from entering into His rest.

Belief and obedience are required.

Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

James 2:18–19 “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

To actually believe is only proven by your obedience.

If you “believe” and don’t follow, you really don’t “believe”. Obedience is the outworking of your faith.

V. 7

Do not harden your hearts, “Today”.

That means everyday.

As long as the day is called today, soften your hearts and turn to Him.

You can harden your hearts tomorrow. 😏

V. 8

If entering into the promised land would have been the rest promised by God, then David would not have been talking about entering into God’s rest when he later wrote Psalm 95.

Jeshua is the name of Joshua and Jesus.

The author is stating that reliance on the Mosaic law and the entering of the promised land was obviously not their salvation. The later Jeshua brought that.

V. 9-11 - the Sabbath

There remains a Sabbath for the people of God.

We are not yet in the rest of the Father.

We must rest from our works as God did from His.

A day dedicated to the loving God and loving others.

Matthew 12:8 “For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.””

In Christ we are Lord of the Sabbath. There is a Sabbath. And we determine how it is spent.

v. 12-13 - The word

Following a teaching on Psalm 95, the author refers to the Word of God.

The Word

Living

Active

Sharper than any two-edged sword

Divides soul and Spirit, joint and marrow

Separates spirit and flesh

Discerns the thoughts and intentions

No creature is hidden from His sight.

Exposes

The Word is Jesus. The Word is the Bible. They are one.

v. 14-16 - High Priest

Jesus is a High Priest who is able to sympathize with our situation as He intercedes for us.

Tempted in every way - does not mean literally in every way.

He was never tempted with gambling on blackjack in Vegas.

He was, however, tempted with greed.

Temptation is not a sin.

V. 16 - We should then go to the throne with boldness, not as one who is ashamed, but as one who is to receive mercy and grace from the One who can sympathize with our plight and show us how to overcome.

Chapter 5

High priest

The High priest is the person stands between God and the people.

He is the one that takes the confessions, the offerings, sacrifices, and prayers from the people to God.

V. 2 - He is the one that makes an atonement for sins.

v. 3 - Given that the high priest was also clothed with weakness, he could deal gently with those who were going astray (5:2). Since he was himself a sinner, the sin offering he made was for his own sins as well as theirs

V. 4 - He did not choose to take this role on, but was appointed by God.

However, he is of a different order…

Melchizedek

Genesis 14:18–20 “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

Melchizedek was a priest of an order that was not Levitical.

Jesus as High priest by this order means that his priesthood is not dependent on tribal lineage, repeated sacrifices, or limited by time or death.

It is a priesthood that lasts forever.

V. 11-14

The word translated to “dull of hearing” is also translated to lazy or stubborn.

They have been too wrapped up in their Jewish heritage to see that everything the law and prophets pointed to is fulfilled in Jesus.

1 Corinthians 3:1–2 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,”

Evidence that the author may have been Paul or a companion of Paul.

What does it mean to be spiritually mature?

Solid on the basic principles of God (understand the gospel)

Skilled in the word of Righteousness (know the word)

Discern the will of God (Constantly in prayer)