Sermon Tone Analysis

Context

Context of Hebrews

This magnificent letter to the Hebrews was written to a group of first-century Christians who were in danger of giving up.

It is clear from even a casual reading of the letter that the times were hard for Jewish Christians especially.

Many of them had been exposed to fierce persecution.

They had been physically assaulted, their homes had been plundered; some had been cast into prison on account of their faith, others had been ridiculed in public because of their resolute trust in Jesus (10:32–34).

Many of these Jewish Christians had accepted all this adversity joyfully.

But others had ‘shrunk back’ from their earlier allegiance to Christ and became apostates.

Without going that far, others were in danger of compromise.

The letter appeals to all these severely tested believers to keep their faith firmly anchored to the moorings of truth, to maintain their steady confidence in Christ and to press on to mature Christian stability (2:1; 3:6; 6:1).

But how does one encourage such people in critical and adverse times?

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

today I have become your Father”?

Or again,

4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

“I will be his Father,

and he will be my Son”?

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”?

Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), .

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

No believer can cope with adversity unless Christ fills his horizons, sharpens his priorities and dominates his experience.

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.

This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

No believer can cope with adversity unless Christ fills his horizons, sharpens his priorities and dominates his experience.

This letter’s primary exhortation is an appeal for endurance.

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the pr

God Has Spoken by His Son

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

(Cp )

3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.

When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

a Or the Son

Remember when you first fell in love with Jesus...

Hebrews 10:19

19 Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,

A Call to Persevere

20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),

b Or bears along

21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

19 Therefore, my friends,g since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

22 let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

g Gk Therefore, brothers

24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), .

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, 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.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), .

33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.

Remember when you first fell in love with Jesus...

34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

Remember when you first fell in love with Jesus...

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Remember when you first fell in love with Jesus...

Remember how entrenched you were with Him?

Remember how much time you would spend with Him?

Remember how many people you used to tell about Him?

Remember how there was constant spiritual high you were living because of Him?

Remember all the dreams you thought of because you knew He was with you?

Remember when tough times came, they seemed insignificant because of the love you had for the Lord?

Well the author of Hebrews wants to remind his hearers, and us too, about what faith now looks like as life continues to go on.

It takes different shapes.

We as humans easily forget our God and we need to be constantly reminded of who He is and who calls us to be.

We pick up the story in chapter 11:1

Hall of Faith

The rest of this chapter follows all the greats in the Bible that were considered righteous because of the faith they lived their life with.

By Faith, Abel- offered his gifts to the Lord.

He gave the Lord His best, the first, the cream of the crop.

He was considered faithful to the Lord over Cain, who gave what was left to the Lord.

Enoch pleased God through Faith.

Noah was faithful with following through with his vision to build an ark, because God told him to.

Notice, the flood was unseen and seemingly impossible, but he built it anyway.

Abraham, though old and way past ability to have children, was promised that he would be the father to many nations.

He was to receive an inheritance in a land that he did not know of at that time, but still believed there was a promised land somewhere.

Abraham, nearly dead of old age was given descendants, who would later go on to be as numerous as the stars and the grains of sand on the seashore.

Isaac and Jacob, too, were heirs of the promise from God and they too, were considered faithful because of their endurance.

Abraham, through faith, offered up his one and only son to be sacrificed, mind you, of the son who had been promised the descendants would all come through, Isaac.

Isaac, through faith, invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau.

Jacob, through faith, blessed each of the sons of Joseph.