Theological context: The theological context of this book and its role in the new testament can be best understood by the old testament verse ‘the just shall live by faith’ (Hab 2:4). This verse is quoted three times in the new testament (Rom, Gal, and Hebrews). This verse encapsulates the entire message of the Bible, particularly that of the New Testament, in three key words, namely ‘just’, ‘live’, and ‘faith’. While the book of Romans can be understood as a commentary on what is ‘just’, the book of Ephesians as a commentary of ‘live’, then the book of Hebrews can be considered as commentary on ‘faith’. Prayer: Father, I thank You for justifying the sinners through faith in the work of Christ on the cross. Lord, I pray for Your grace to live a life of faith by granting greater insight on what it means to be ‘the just shall live by faith’. Amen.
Author: Unlike other New Testament books we are not sure of who is the author of this book which can cast doubt about the canonicity of the book (i.e. whether the book is inspired by the Holy Spirit). However, church fathers had no hesitation in recognizing it as the inspired writing due the depth of its spiritual content. Paul or his close associate with a strong Jewish background might have been the author of this book.
Audience: We also do not know exactly to whom it was written. The book is not written to any particular local church or to any church leaders. Hebrews 3:1 clearly indicates that the book is written to believers and 2:3 indicates that these believers came to faith by testimony of eyewitnesses of Jesus. They were not very new to faith (5:12) but had endured hardship for a long time (10:32-34). The most likely identity of these believers is that they are Jewish Christians based in Rome. Prayer: Father, I thank You for inspiring the author of this book which gives deeper insights on You and Your work on the cross and subsequent response of us toward it. Lord, I pray that these insights may strengthen my faith and transform my character, especially to endure hardship for Your name sake. Amen.
Purpose: Though the purpose of writing this book is not explicitly mentioned, one can get a fair idea of the motivation of the author. The phrases such as ‘lest we drift away’ (2:1), ‘departing from the living God’ (3:12), ‘dull of hearing’ (5:11), ‘if they fall away’ (6:6), ‘who has trampled the Son of God underfoot’ (10:29), ‘chastening of the Lord’ (12:5), and many other similar statements indicate these believers has some kind of backsliding in their faith life. Apart from this, the effort of the author to show the deity of Jesus contrasting the old testament saints, and the permanence and the perfection of the ministry of Jesus in the backdrop of the imperfect and transient nature of the old testament system, including the high priest, sacrifices, and the temple, shows that the audience is very familiar with these. All these indicate that the purpose of this book is to exhort the believers from Jewish background to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus and His church, and to warn them with the consequences of going back in their faith. Prayer: Father, I thank You for this book which shows great insights into the life and ministry of Jesus. Lord, I pray for the grace to remain faithful to You even when all situations of life are not conducive to testify my faith. Amen.
Style of the book: Most probable time when this book was written is AD 64-68 AD. Note that Timothy is alive (13:22). Several mentions of the old testament themes is a strong reason to believe that this book was written before AD 70 when the Jerusalem temple was destroyed. Style of writing of this book alternates between the teachings of encouragement and strong warnings. Some genuine believers may backslide due to fear of persecution and such needs constant encouragement. While others are professing believers without having saving faith. Such people need a strong warning to come to active faith in Jesus, or they will face judgment. Prayer: Father, I thank You for this book that encourages me when I face trials and warns me when I backslide in faith. Lord, I pray that I may never waver in faith. Amen.
1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to
the fathers by the prophets, [Go Top]
God took the initiative to speak to humanity in spite of the sinfulness of humanity
and the resulting enmity with God. God reserves the right to decide the time and
means of this communication. A part of it is recorded as Scripture which is the only
authoritative and accurate record available to all. One should not insist on God when
and how to communicate, rather one should be thankful that what he expects
from us is available. Prayer: Father, I praise you for communicating with us
through the Scripture. Lord, I pray for grace to understand its meaning
by reading, studying, meditating, etc. I also pray that I may be able to
obey all that I understand and open doors to teach others these precious
truths.
1:2 (has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has
appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;) [Go
Top]
The term last days signifies that everything necessary to establish God’s kingdom
has been completed, with only the second coming of Christ remaining. If this author
considered his time to be the last days, then we are surely much closer to His return.
God’s act of sending His Son, Jesus, to speak to us and reveal His will demonstrates
profound love for humanity and highlights the immeasurable value of Jesus’s
teachings. While it may seem mysterious that Jesus, who is God, is described as
being appointed and made an heir, this language likely serves as the most
effective way to help us understand the functions of the Triune God without
diminishing Jesus’s deity. Prayer: Father, thank you for revealing to us about
triune God and His will for us. Thank you for creating us and this universe
for us to live. We pray that we may cherish Your word and heed to your
will.
1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His
person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had
by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on
high, [Go Top]
Jesus, as the Son of God, perfectly reflects the glory and nature of God the Father,
making the divine nature understandable to finite beings like us. The same powerful
words of Jesus that created the universe also sustain it. It is a source of
great comfort to know that the Creator Himself is in complete control. This
contrasts sharply with the story of Frankenstein, where a creator is horrified
by his own creation. By purging our sins, Jesus completely removed the
ultimate consequence of sin: the spiritual death. This is the work of Christ. Our
role is to receive this gift through faith. His act of sat down signifies the
completion of his mission, and His place at the right hand of God the Father
indicates a position of equal authority and honor. Prayer Lord we adore
You being the glory and image of the Father and who reigning with the
Father in heaven. Lord, we praise for sustaining this universe and purging our
sin which we cannot do by our effort. Lord we pray that we may rejoice in
the truth that the purged our sins and hence, not to entertain sin in our
life.
1:4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by
inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. [Go Top]
While Jews hold angels in high regard for their dedicated service and great power,
Jesus is supreme because He is their Creator. This verse emphasizes Jesus’s unique
status as He inherited a promise which was never extended to any angel. This
distinction is significant to understand the uniqueness of Christ. A name denotes a
person’s character and nature. Prayer: Father, I adore You and Your Son, the
supreme over all beings as no angels, no saints, no great preacher can never ever
come anyway closer to You in character and nature. Lord, I pray that I may take
You and Your words most valuable in my life and be transformed to Your
likeness.
1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I
have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall
be to Me a Son”? [Go Top]
This is a promise made to Son by the Father. The word first born does not mean
that Jesus was created. It is a word used to reveal to us, probably to angels also, the
role of Jesus in the trinitarian economy. Father reveals the Son and their relationship
can best illustrated to us using a father-son analogy. Humanly speaking, my sons
have the best potential to represent me - both in manner and position. Prayer: Lord
we adore the triune God, which is not an idea conceived by human minds, but
solemnly revealed to us by the Holy Spirit through the Scripture. We pray
that we give due honor and glory to the Son which equals worshipping the
Father.
1:6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let
all the angels of God worship Him.” [Go Top]
When God the Father revealed His Son, in the human form, commanded angels to
worship the Son who is incarnated. Obviously, angels find it difficult, humanly
speaking, to worship the Son incarnate. It was the case with Jews during the days of
Jesus’ public life. Even today, many believe in God, but find it difficult to accept
Jesus as the true God. We see in the book of Revelation 5 the awesome scenes of the
angelic beings worshiping the Son. Prayer: Father, thank you for revealing Your
Son and commanding us to worship Him. We worship the Lord Jesus, the
very essence of God. Lord, we pray that we will never sway away from this
truth even in momentary thoughts and do not allow evil to deceive us in any
way.
1:7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His
ministers a flame of fire.” [Go Top]
The word spirit should have been better understood as wind. God uses angels even
as winds and fire to accomplish his plans. Although angels are also sons of God, they
are created being and are servants of God unlike Jesus the heir of all things. Prayer:
Lord, thank you for angels who worship you perfectly and also ministers to you
fulfilling your will perfectly. Lord, we pray that, we worship and minister to you like
these angelic beings.
1:8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. [Go
Top]
Nothing can be more clear than these assertions to the deity of Jesus where Father
addresses Jesus as God. Mystery of the triune Godhead is revealed to us. The
Dominion of Jesus is forever and how blessed it is to be under His rule forever!
Righteousness is the foundational principle of His rule. He rules not out of
whims and fancies or random activities, although it may appear like this to
the feeble human hearts, but out of a solid foundation of righteousness and
justice. Prayer: O my Father, thank you for revealing Lord Jesus and His
authority to us. We bless your holy name for you rule this universe with
righteousness. Lord, we pray that we may understand what it means to be
righteous and exhibit the same in our daily life, especially dealing with your
creation.
1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God,
Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your
companions.” [Go Top]
This verse is best understood in the context of His incarnation where Jesus lived a
perfectly righteous life which included hating lawlessness. God the Father rewarded
this life with gladness - a state of bliss. It is promised to all His companions, that is
believers following the same path of loving righteousness and hating sin, of
course to a lesser degree. Prayer: O Lord, I adore you for Your perfect life
on the earth characterised by loving righteousness, hating lawlessness, and
experiencing the joy of pleasing the Father. Likewise, we pray for Your grace
to live a life marked by righteousness and assurance doing the will of the
Father.
1:10 And: “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands. [Go Top]
Lord Jesus is the creator of heavens and the earth. There is a complex design for this
universe and the Lord Jesus is the intelligent designer behind this universe. When we
look at the complexity and vastness of this universe we get a glimpse of His wisdom
and power. It is beyond our comprehension to understand its design. For instance,
how do we understand that God created time and He exists beyond time. Humans
can’t understand what is meant by timelessness. What goes along with this is that
He created you and me with the same wisdom and power. There must be a
definite plan and purpose not only for this universe, but also for our individual
life. Prayer: Oh, what a mighty God we have and we worship You for your
magnificent creation. Lord, help us to comprehend its design and purpose.
Amen.
1:11-12 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like
a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be
changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.” [Go
Top]
God is an eternal and unchanging Spirit whereas His creation is gradually degrading
until God puts an end to it. Jesus made this statement, heaven and earth will pass
away. Lord also promised the coming of new heaven and new earth. The earth as we
see today is not going to last for long. Whereas what the Lord is doing will stand for
ever. Prayer: Lord, we worship you for you are unchanging God We pray that
we may realize the transience of this world and invest in what the Lord is
doing.
1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? [Go Top]
Jesus can never be compared to any angelic or any other divine being. Father’s
command to sit at His right hand indicated the power and position equivalent to that
of the Father Himself. Further, God the Father also promised to destroy all the
enemies of Jesus which again shows that Jesus enjoys a unique position. These words
clearly show the deity of Jesus. Prayer: Lord we praise You for revealing the nature
and relationship in the triune godhead although we are able to comprehend this
mystery only in part in our finite minds. Nevertheless we pray that we may be able to
comprehend more and more of the triune God and develop an intimate and deeper
relation.
1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those
who will inherit salvation? [Go Top]
Not only that angels are inferior to Jesus as they are ministers of the Lord entrusted
with the responsibility of serving us, this verse also shows we have greater value than
even angels before God. Jews who regarded angels highly may be surprised to hear
the position of a child of God is greater than angels. Further, we should be
encouraged with this revelation that we are not helpless in this world, but our Lord
has deputed mighty angels to serve us especially in times of troubles and tribulations.
Prayer: Lord we thank you for the mighty angels who are serving us and
pray that we are encouraged by these great resources provided to our faith
life.
2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have
heard, lest we drift away. [Go Top]
This is a warning and is addressed to believers who have already heard these things.
The exhortation is to give more attention or devotion to the words of the
scripture. A casual approach is not sufficient. Instead we read, study, memorize
and meditate so as to understand our God and His expectation from us.
This would result in a conscious effort to transform life. Prayer: Lord, we
thank you and praise you for the words revealed to us. Pray that we may
value Your words and ensure that it impacts my life, of course, with Your
grace.
2:2-4 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every
transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we
escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be
spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? [Go
Top]
Although details are not known, scripture gives clear indications that angels were
involved in the institution of the old covenant through Moses (Act 8:53, Gal 3:19.)
God severely punished those who violated this covenant. This being the case, how
much more serious God would take the covenant established by shedding of the blood
of His own Son. Even Though the salvation that God has given to us is free, that
does not mean it is cheap. God has taken special care to communicate and
authenticate this covenant which include the eye witness account (gospels), signs and
wonders performed by Jesus and his disciples. Therefore, we should not neglect
salvation. How can we neglect salvation? When we turn away, even in thoughts,
from God while going through suffering we are actually neglecting salvation.
Conversely, if we consider salvation to be more valuable than suffering, then
we are not neglecting salvation. Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess that I often
neglect salvation by questioning God even in small difficulties of life. I admit
that many a time I looked at the physical well being of unbelievers and
thought that they are more blessed than me. Lord, forgive me for neglecting
salvation. Lord, I realize that the salvation that you have given me is the
greatest blessing in my life which surpasses the most severe suffering that is
possible on the earth. Though difficult, Lord, help me not to forget this
truth.
2:5-8 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in
subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What
is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care
of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have
crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your
hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that
He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put
under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. [Go
Top]
After showing that Jesus is superior to angels, the author now argues that the
incarnate Jesus is superior to angels. For this he first shows that humans have a
greater position before God than angels. The notion that spirit beings are superior to
humans is very prevalent even in those days. We read in Genesis that God created
Adam and Eve and gave authority to rule this world. The entire creation was
subjected to the rule of Adam (Ge. 1:28). This shows the superiority of humans over
angels even though we have many physical limitations unlike angels. However, we lost
that authority due to the sin of Adam. Nevertheless, we will see the full
realization of this authority after the institution of the literal kingdom of God on
the earth. Prayer: Lord, we thank you for creating me in your likeness and
image and bestowing with great value. Lord, we pray that you give the grace
to live a life with an expectation of fulfilling the purpose of our creation.
Amen.
2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the
suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of
God, might taste death for everyone. [Go Top]
After contrasting the state of humanity with that of angles, incarnate Jesus
is compared with angles. The incarnate form Jesus took was little lower
than angels in the sense that it had the physical limitation of humanity.
Nevertheless, this humiliation of Jesus was for a noble purpose of sacrificial death.
There is intrinsic glory and honour in the sufferings of the Lord. This glory is
apart from the glory and honor bestowed on Him after the resurrection and
ascension. His sacrifice is now sufficient for all those who believe in Him
showing also the superior work of the incarnate Jesus. Prayer: Lord I thank
you and worship for your incarnation which shows Your noble character of
humility and at the same time show how valuable is our human body in
spite of its physical limitations. Therefore Lord, we pray that we may be
humble like you in associating with the physically weak and poor around
us.
2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are
all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their
salvation perfect through sufferings. [Go Top]
Jesus who owns everything for all things was created by Him. Humans are his sons
for they are created in the image of God but lost their glory due to sin. Lord in His
mercy brings many back to a greater glory by dealing with sin through the
suffering on the cross. His humanity was made perfect in suffering. Beyond its
theological implications, Lord Jesus glorified suffering itself. We think when
suffering happens, say due to sickness or due to natural calamities, God is
angry with us. This need not always be the case. Jesus did not suffer due
to His personal sin. By volunteering for suffering, Jesus glorified suffering
and set an example for all those who follow Him. Thus he is the captain
of our salvation and demonstrated the principle that the path to glory is
through suffering. Prayer: Lord Jesus, we marvel at your attitude to suffering
and how you embraced the cross. We admit that we do not like suffering,
but we also know from your life that the path to glory is suffering. Hence,
we pray to the Lord that we may never hesitate to stand for you fearing
suffering.
2:11-12 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are
all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12
saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the
assembly I will sing praise to You.” [Go Top]
Jesus is the one who sanctifies believers through his death on the cross. When we
believe in Him, we are sanctified and become part of God’s children. Jesus is similar
to our eldest brother in God’s family. The old testament prophecy that the Messiah
will declare the name of the Father is now fulfilled in Jesus. This means that Jesus
reveals God the Father and in turn the triune Godhead to us. Further, Jesus
established the assembly of God, which is the church, where God the Father is
worshipped and in turn the triune God. If we want to imitate Jesus then we all
should worship God in the church along with other believers. Prayer: Lord Jesus we
praise You for the marvelous work of uniting us with You and we thank
you for giving us the position of Your brethren. We thank you for You are
continuously sanctifying us or making us more and more holy. Yes, Lord, it is Your
marvellous work for us. How can we respond to this unimaginable blessing? Is
not by praising You in along with Your brethren in Your church. Help us
therefore to take your church seriously and praise you as the chief part of our
life.
2:13 And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and
the children whom God has given Me.” [Go Top]
Two messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus are mentioned here. First, state that
Jesus fully and absolutely trusted God the Father. This is seen all throughout in the
incarnation especially while dying on the cross. Our Lord was willing to be separated
from the Father on the cross. The agony of this separation is seen in the prayer at
Gethsemane. We could see the absolute trust of Jesus when Jesus prayed “let your
will be done.” Second, Jesus confidently presents Himself and all the children
God has given to trust and serve God the Father. Note that the children
are anyone who believes in the death of Christ as a substitute for his or
her sin. If Jesus is the captain of our salvation, and if we are His brethren,
what is expected of us to trust God the Father absolutely just like Jesus
trusted God the Father. Prayer: Lord we worship and adore you for the
absolute trust in the Father. As the song goes, it is so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and we pray that we may be able to trust the Father like Jesus trusted the
Father.
2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood,
He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might
destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release
those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage. [Go Top]
In the natural realm children inherit the nature of parents. Similarly, Jesus took
human form so that he could identify with us. Jesus destroyed Satan on the cross in
the sense that his power over us is destroyed. Satan’s power over us is fear of death
that is our desire to preserve ourselves. In fact Satan enslaves humanity with
this fear and forces them to do all kinds of sins. When a person is saved by
believing in Jesus then there is no reason to fear even the death which is
the greatest enemy of man. We have eternal life and eternal bliss in Jesus.
Satan has no hold on us if we truly understand this truth and apply in our
practical life. Prayer: Lord Jesus, we worship you for the great love toward us in
sharing our humanity and saving us through the work on the cross. We
pray that we may be truly relieved from the fear of death, fear of suffering,
fear of people, fear of failure and so on. We pray that we may live a bold
life in Jesus knowing fully that our soul is safe and secure in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
2:16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to
the seed of Abraham. [Go Top]
Angels are servants of the Lord. They execute the will of God with perfect
obedience. Angelic disobedience was dealt without mercy as we see in the case of
Lucifer and the fallen angels. On the other hand, Jesus who is ‘the’ seed of
Abraham was helped by angels several times including during his birth,
after the temptation (Mat. 4:11), and after the prayer at Gethsemane (Luke
22:43), and during resurrection. This verse shows the superiority of Jesus
over angels. As mentioned elsewhere, angels are also spirits ministering to
believers. What a great privilege. Imagine the great boldness we have when
a group of commandos surround us to protect us. How much more is the
assistance of angels for us. Prayer: Father, I thank you for the supreme position
of angels and prayer that we may be encouraged by assurance of angelic
help.
2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren,
that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things
pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [Go
Top]
High Priest is an OT concept where a person is chosen who will represent the people
of Israel and mediate with God. The high priests were sons of Aaron and therefore
they could represent the people. In the new covenant, Jesus is our high priest who
became a legitimate representative of humanity by His incarnation. Hence it is
mentioned in this verse that Jesus had to be made like His brethren so that just like
OT high priests qualify to represent the people, Jesus is qualified to be our high
priest who will do the needful to take care of the problem of sin. Two qualities are
required from a high priest. He should be merciful to the people whom he
represents. We see that Jesus demonstrated His mercy to the people and
the most obvious ones are His healings. The second quality is faithfulness
toward God the Father. By His sinless life and perfect obedience to the
Father, Jesus demonstrated His faithfulness. Prayer: Lord we thank you
for You are our high priest showing both mercy toward us and faithfulness
toward the Father. We know from elsewhere that we are also your royal
priests and therefore we also need to be merciful to the people around us and
faithful towards you. Give us the grace to fulfill this dual responsibility.
Amen.
2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid
those who are tempted. [Go Top]
The life of Jesu on the earth was characterized by all challenges associated with
humanity including suffering and temptation. This enabled Jesus to fully identify
with our plight, not only in His omniscience, but also experientially. We have
therefore greater boldness to approach Jesus even though He is the Holy God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the love shown to us through your life on the earth
which enables us to approach you in our struggles for you are sympathetic to
us.
3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider
the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was
faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His
house. [Go Top]
The author appeals to us that we should be faithful to the Lord Jesus who has made
us holy and given heavenly inheritance. The motivation for us to be faithful is Jesus
who is faithful to God the Father who appointed Him as the Messiah. We are holy
means that we are a special group of people exclusively belonging to our Lord.
Heavenly calling means that the benefit of salvation is spiritual and fulnes will be in
heaven. Apostle means the messenger of God and Jesus brought the message of
salvation through Jesus. High Priest means the mediator between us and God the
Father. A second motivation that appeals especially to the believers from jewsish
background is the faithfulness of Moses. Prayer: Lord, we pray that we may be
faithful to the heavenly calling no matter how much difficulty we may face. We
cannot do this with our own strength and we need Your mercy and power.
We cannot trust our natural strength for this and we rely fully on You.
Amen.
3:3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses,
inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For
every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. [Go
Top]
Moses has been held with a very high position among Jews who take God seriously
because through Moses God gave the law. Moses was like the founder of their nation.
These verses say that God is the owner and builder of all: both physical and
spiritual world. Whereas Moses is only a servant of the Lord who executed
the command of the Lord. It is possible that we may not see the glory of
Jesus when we look at the life of Jesus on the earth with a natural eye.
Prayer: Lord, help us to understand the greatness of Your glory. There is none
like You, and Your glory is greater than Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah,
Peter, John, Paul, and the like or even more than the glory of all of them
put together. Lord, we pray that nothing in us should marr the glory of
Jesus.
3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a
testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ
as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast
the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. [Go
Top]
Moses was a servant of the Lord and he faithfully served the Lord as we often read
that he built the tabernacle with every minute details according to the instruction he
received from the Lord. This became a pattern for all the Jews to imitate. On the
other hand, Jesus is the Son of God and owns everything unlike Moses who was the
servant of the Lord. The tabernacle that Jesus is building is His church and we are
the living elements of that tabernacle. What is expected of us holds fast the
confidence which means that like Moses be faithful to the calling. We are also
exhorted to rejoice in the hope of salvation. The fullness of the salvation that the
Lord promised will be realized only in eternity and therefore we should firmly hold
that hope. One important evidence of this is how joyful we are about the
promised salvation. Note that the believers are going through various trials and
even in the midst of intense trials if we are able to rejoice in the salvation
itself is proof to the genuinity of our faith and we can be confident that the
Lord will be able to complete what He wants in us. Prayer: Oh Lord, like
Moses, help me to be faithful to You and to rejoice in the salvation You have
promised even in the midst of various trials. Yes Lord, your salvation is
more valuable than anything else and help to cherish it dear to my heart.
Amen.
3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the
wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works
forty years. [Go Top]
Unlike the pagan gods, our God is a God who communicates clearly to us. The Holy
Spirit is the author of the Scripture in the sense that He inspires the human authors.
Therefore the Scripture is authoritative. God decides when He wants to
communicate to us. I cannot dictate but I can plead. But when He talks, I should
yield to what He communicates. Human nature is to rebel against what
God says. We rebel because we God wants to address our sin problem and
our flesh resist any attempt to deal with our sin. A good example of this
is what happened in the wilderness where the Israelites refused to yield
wholeheartedly to God. Prayer: Lord, speak to me in Your mercy so that my
life may be transformed. Give me a soft heart and give me the grace to
yield to what You say to me no matter how hard it may be. Lord, give me
understanding how to respond to Your Word in a way that pleases You.
Amen.
3:10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always
go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11
So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”. [Go
Top]
People generally assume that they have an ‘okay’ relation with God for He is a
loving person. However, God is also righteous and He can be very angry with us.
Hence, it is very critical to have an assessment of our relation with God. What
makes God angry? First, when our heart goes away from an active relation
with God. Second, when we don’t understand what pleases God and what
displeases Him. How can we ensure God is not angry with us? Take time and
effort to understand from the scripture the ways of God and embrace it
wholeheartedly. What happens if God is angry? It says God will deny the promised
rest. The rest in their context was that they could not enjoy the land of
Canan. Today, it means that we will not enjoy heaven. Hence, it is a serious
warning. Prayer: Lord, You are righteous Almighty God who deserves all honor
and adoration. Forgive me for not taking my relation with You casually. I
pray for your grace to take effort to understand your ways and follow it
with full devotion. Oh, Lord, I desire and long for the heavenly rest that
you promised to those who believe in You for salvation and live by faith.
Amen.
3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief
in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while
it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness
of sin. [Go Top]
Beware: a strong warning that requires utmost attention. Evil heart of unbelief: We
normally associate an evil heart with that of a terrorist or rapist etc. The Bible
calls unbelief as evil which itself is difficult to believe! Is it not true that a
person who goes away from his creator is evil? Often we think sin against
fellow human beings is the greatest evil and ignores his relationship with his
creator. What else can we call a person who disregard the creator but be
nice with fellow beings? The Bible exhorts us to have good relation with
others, but relation with the creator is supreme. Exhort daily: The days are
difficult because all the forces of nature will push us away from the living God.
Hence, there should be a daily effort from our side. One another: note that
our growing in relation with God is not a personal matter. Instead it is
a corporate matter that is expected to happen in the context of church.
God designed the church with the precise objective of taking us closer to
God by mutual exhortation. No one is immune to unbelief, we all can fail.
Hence, with humility, encourage one another. Equally important is also to
receive encouragement in humility. Deceitfulness of sin: Sin deceives us by
taking us away from God. Prayer: Lord, help me to have the right faith
in You and never depart from an active relationship with You. I pray for
discernment in life that I may never be deceived by sin which takes me away from
God.
3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of
our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will
hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”. [Go
Top]
Partaker of Christ: Christ suffered and enduring suffering is identifying with Christ.
God glorified Christ and likewise we too will be glorified if we suffer like him. Today:
God can communicate with us whenever he wants, and our response should be a
willingness to listen and obey. Prayer: Lord, my nature is to reject suffering,
but if you give it, help me to endure it without rejecting You, help me to
endure suffering till the end of my life and hold on to the faith. Help me
not to reject your words, but embrace it by understanding and obedience.
Amen
3:16-19 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all
who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was
He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose
corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that
they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. [Go
Top]
Author reminds me of a very unfortunate incident of the old testament. Israelite’s
were led by Moses in a very dramatic way from the bondage in Egypt. However, they
rebelled against Moses and God was angry with them to the point that God cursed
the people who rebelled against Him that they would not reach the land of Canaan
but would die in the wilderness. The root cause of their rebellion is unbelief. Unlike
the popular notion, unbelief is not a trivial issue. Rather it can be fatal! Relationship
with God is a serious matter and the foundation of that relationship is faith.
An important aspect of faith is the conviction that God is absolutely good
and that the commandments of God are for our own good. Prayer: O Lord,
the wilderness example is a constant reminder of the anger of God against
unbelief. I pray that You may help me to remove any trace of unbelief in
me. I express my desire to believe in the absolute goodness of You. What
all You will do in my life, however painful it may be, is ultimately for my
good.
4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest
any of you seem to have come short of it. 2. For indeed the gospel was
preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not
profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. [Go
Top]
Rest: To Israelite it is the promised land of Canan where they have the freedom from
Egyptian bondage and prosperity. To us it is the promise of heaven where we have
the full freedom from the bodage of sin and enjoyment of the goodness of God in
full. Mixed with faith: The promise of rest is to be obtained by faith in the
one who has promised it. Proof of that faith is the endurance to it till we
attain it. So the practical life, including facing difficulties of life, should be
based on the outworking of that faith. If not, the gospel message has no
effect on us. In other words, genuinity of the faith is known only when it is
tested and proved. Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to hold on to that faith to
which You have called and give me the grace to endure it till I reach heaven.
Amen.
4:3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I
swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works
were finished from the foundation of the world. 4. For He has spoken in a
certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the
seventh day from all His works”; 5. and again in this place: “They shall
not enter My rest.” [Go Top]
The rest refers to heaven where there is rest from sin and suffering. The basis to
enter that rest is by faith alone in the work of God. God rested after creating this
world in six days and gave this world to Adam and Eve to enjoy. In a similar but
spiritual sense, Jesus by His life on this earth and death on the cross completed the
work that is necessary for salvation. He has been inviting humanity to enjoy the
benefit of His work by believing in His work. Those who reject this work in
unbelief will not enter the rest which means they will not enter heaven. Prayer:
Father, thank you for the work of Christ on the cross for my sin. Though I
understand very little of that, I pray that I may fully enjoy the benefit of
it by believing it and living a life reflecting what I believe. Give me the
grace to continue in vibrant faith enduring all hurdles till I reach heaven.
Amen.
4:6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom
it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7. again He
designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time,
as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your
hearts.” [Go Top]
The first generation to whom Moses spoke of deliverance did not reach Canaan
because of their disobedience is a solemn warning to those who heard the
gospel but rejected it. The disobedience need not be an immediate outright
rejection like the Pharaoh, but like the first generation who initially responded
enthusiastically but did not remain faithful to Moses due to difficulties in the
journey. Nevertheless, God spoke to their second generation who eventually
reached Canaan. This is a reminder of two kinds of people, one who did
not complete the journey and the other who continued and reached the
destination by faithful obedience. Prayer: Lord, help me to continue in faith no
matter whatever is the difficulties of life before I reach the heavenly home. I
realize it is not my determination and self will but your sustaining grace.
Amen.
4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have
spoken of another day. 9. There remains therefore a rest for the people of
God. [Go Top]
An interesting biblical pattern is seen here. It is conveying a spiritual principle from
physical means. The rest promised to Isrealites had a physical dimension and
the physical occupation of the land of Canaan is only a partial fulfillment
of the promise. Complete fulfilment requires spiritual fulfillment and that
still remains. The spiritual fulfilment is heaven itself which is available for
people of God from both old and new covenant. Similarly the salvation that
Jesus offers now has physical blessing which is only a shadow of the glorious
spiritual fulfilment in heaven. Prayer: Lord I pray that I should not be content
with mere physical temporal blessing. Instead, Lord help me to patiently
and faithfully wait for the fullness of your salvation, the rest in heaven.
Amen.
4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his
works as God did from His. 11. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that
rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. [Go
Top]
The word ceased indicates a completion of the work. God completed the creation in
a good note and then entered the rest. We too, likewise should complete what God
expects us from this life before entering heaven. Hence the writer calls for diligence.
It is true that believers have the assurance of eternal life. Nevertheless the degree of
dominion in His kingdom is proportional to the diligence shown in obeying His will
while we live on this earth. Prayer: Lord I thank You for the assurance of eternal life.
But, Lord, I pray also for enjoying heaven by a diligent life now, that I may never
be slack in my calling, taking effort to do things that pleases You alone.
Amen.
4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart. 13. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things
are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
[Go Top]
This verse shows very clearly the power of the Word of God. The Bible looks like
any other book, but its power is tremendous, but very subtle. Man made sword can
cut only material things but it can do nothing in the non-physical realm.
Whereas God’s Word operating through the Bible can deal with our making
designated by words such as soul, spirit, mind, heart, thoughts, motives,
etc. which we ourselves are not very clear what exactly they are. We also
need to know the omniscience of God who knows even our thoughts and
motivations lying deep within us. Further, God being our creator, we must be
accountable to Him for all our actions, words, and even our thoughts. What is the
practical implication of these truths? First, develop a living relationship
with God’s Word with an expectation of transforming us by knowing God
intimately. Second, live with a constant awareness of the presence of triune
God. Prayer: Lord, I pray for a vibrant living relationship with Your Word.
Let Your word transform my life, my thoughts, my words, and my actions.
Lord, I pray specially to purify my motives, often deceptively hidden in me.
Lord, let me not forget that I will be judged one day for how I lived on this
earth.
4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through
the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.15. For
we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without
sin. 16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Go
Top]
Although the previous verses gave a scary picture, we are comforted by the
sympathy of the great God towards us. Here Jesus is portrayed as the High Priest
who, like the old testament counterpart, will intercede for us. The term ‘passed
through the heavens’ indicates the incarnation, burial, resurrection, and
ascension.Tempted yet without sin is a great mystery of incarnation. The Lord was
tempted implies a great comfort to us for He identifies with our struggle with sin. Yet
without sin makes Him an authentic High Priest who can plead our case before God
the Father. This is the most encouraging and comforting truth that we should drive
ourselves closer when we are in any kind of trouble. Prayer: Lord I thank
you for You are my great High Priest who understands and identifies with
me. Your primary attitude toward me is sympathy, mercy and grace. O
Lord, I come to You in my struggles knowing fully that I will find help.
Amen.
5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in
things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for
sins.2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going
astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is
required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
[Go Top]
The function of a high priest is to represent people before God. He will mediate
between men and God. Aaron and his sons were the high priest and they mediated
before God for all the Isralites. selected. Their mediation was necessary because of sin
they were enemies of God. Sons of Aaron themselves were sinners and hence they
know the weakness of the people. They can therefore sympathise with people. Before
meditating for the people, the high priest needs to offer sacrifices for his own
sin and then only he should offer sacrifices for others. In these verses the
author sets the stage for comparing and contrasting the ministry of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you once again that you are my high priest who can
sympathise with my weakness due to sinful nature and intercede before the
Father. Lord, strengthen me to overcome the power of sin in me through your
sacrifice.
5:4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God,
just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become
High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I
have begotten You.” 6 As He also says in another place: “You
are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; [Go
Top]
One of the most important spiritual principles revealed in the Bible is that we can
be accepted before only in God’s terms and conditions. This is evident even in the
choice of the high priest who was not elected or appointed by people, but they were
chosen by God. The choice that Aaron and his sons alone become the high priest is
not a human decision. Even the choice that Jesus will be our High Priest is not His
own, rather, He was appointed by the Father. To support these two quotes from
the old testament is mentioned here. First, Jesus is presented as begotten
from the Father. Of course, Jesus was not created but this verse reveals
their relation in the trinity. Second, Jesus became High Priest not because
He was a descendant of Aaron. Instead His priesthood is according to the
order of Melchizedek meaning it was directly appointed by God. Prayer:
Father, I thank you for appointing Your Son as our High Priest. Hence, I
pray that I may never entertain any doubt about the effectiveness of the
mediation of Christ. Hence, I pray that I may never seek any other mediation, be
it saints, people, or even my self-will. Instead, help me to come to Jesus
in all circumstances and for every need, however, big or small it may be.
Amen.
5:7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and
supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save
Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He
was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. [Go
Top]
We know that Jesus prayed every day but we do not know the manner, the content,
and the posture of his prayer. However, we have some glimpses of his prayer in
Gethsemane. Most probably, this verse may be most pointing to that. Here, death is
referring to the prospect of separation from God the Father when Jesus took our sin
on the cross. Of course, no one can pray like how Jesus prayed for He alone
knows the gravity of death. Nevertheless, one thing is clear, prayer is not
an entertainment. On the contrary, it is an expression of the agony of the
soul at the realization of the horrible consequences of sin that separate us
from God. If my prayer is not reflecting, of course in a milder sense, then I
may not be realizing the horror of the spiritual consequence of sin. Jesus
obeyed the Father in executing the plan of salvation. Good news is that
Father heard the payer of Jesus which means that God accepted the work of
Christ on the cross. What is obedience? It is not wishful thinking, but real
action that may involve sacrifice. This will not come easy, but has to be
learned. Prayer: Father, I thank you for your Son who has obeyed you fully
to accomplish Your plan of salvation. Lord, I pray to open my eyes to see
the gravity of the consequence of sin and respond to it in agonizing prayer.
Amen.
5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation
to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according
to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say,
and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. [Go
Top]
Perfected: Jesus was perfect even in the eternity past. However, the incarnation, the
life on the earth, and His death on the cross manifested His noble character,
especially obedience to the Father, to us and even to the rest of the creation. Author:
Jesus is the basis of salvation. What distinguishes Christian faith is that
salvation depends on a person unlike other faith systems in the world where it is
depended on doing certain works or possessing special knowledge. Obey:
Since Christ perfected obedience, it is logical and natural that those who
desire salvation need to obey Him. The first step of obedience is to believe
in Him. Melchizedek: detailed discussion will follow, but as stated earlier
that Jesus became our High Priest out of divine calling and not based on
His genealogy. Dull of hearing: Put in simple words, this is a state where a
person is not excited about spiritual matters for he is concerned with earthly
matters alone. Prayer: Lord, thank you for the beautiful plan of salvation into
which I am called. I pray that you take my heart away from the concern of
earthly things. Instead, help to be excited about spiritual matters, create in
me a longing for the knowledge of You and matters that are dear to You.
Amen.
5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone
to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have
come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only
of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But
solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
[Go Top]
It is imperative that God’s desire is that all his children should be able to have
sufficient knowledge to teach. It is true that some have the gift of teaching which is
distinct from the general expectation that all believers must be able to teach. For
instance, every father and mother has the responsibility to teach their children.
Hence, we all must have sufficient knowledge to teach the basic principles
of faith. Analogy is taken from an everyday life situation. Babies taking
milk is normal and necessary. An adult insisting on milk instead of solid
food is considered abnormal. Grown up people require solid cooked food for
their sustenance. Similarly, a new believer needs to be taught by mature
believers and these new believes should grow eventually to teach other new
believers. Why does everyone have to be teachers? We all will be faced with
situations in life to choose between good and evil which are sometimes easy to
distinguish like black and white. Often, we are faced with a situation that
appears grey and a good grasp of God’s word is necessary to distinguish what
pleases and what displeases God. Prayer: Lord, help me to grow in Your
Word that I may be able to discern what is good and what is evil. Lord,
help me also to teach new believers the basic principles from Your Word.
Amen.
6:1 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, 2 of the doctrine of
baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and
of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. [Go
Top]
Lack of growth of a believer is highly undesirable just like retarded growth of some
children. Children need to be given good nourishment for proper growth. Similarly,
new believers should learn the basics so that they will grow. The more they grow, the
more solid food needs to be taken. This means that they should take personal effort
to learn God’s Word and apply in their life. The term ‘repentance from dead works
and of faith toward God’ refers to salvation. The ‘doctrine of baptisms and of laying
on of hands’ refers to admission into church and growing there and is the most
basic means for our sanctification. The ‘resurrection of the dead, and of
eternal judgment’ point to future events associated with our glorification.
Hence, the elementary things mentioned can be summarised into salvation,
sanctification, and glorification. Prayer: Lord, help me not to be complacent with
the status, but give me that intense desire to grow into perfection. Give
me the grace to grow in Your Word to understand Your mind and apply it
to my life. Do not allow my flesh, the world, or the devil to deceive me.
Amen.
6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5
and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 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. [Go
Top]
This is probably one of the most difficult passages in the whole bible. The
interpretation that this passage refers to a backslidden believer seems to be
consistent with the text, context, and the rest of the scripture. What is
impossible is to bring him back to repentance. The terms in verse 4 and 5 clearly
refer to a believer. The ‘falling away’ is not losing salvation, but going back
to the active profession of faith. Continuing in such a life will eventually
lead to a state where he will be insensitive to sin and thereby will not be
able to repent. Every time a believer sins is like ‘crucifying again’ Jesus.
This term clearly points to the pain and shame the Lord is enduring for
that person. Two important applications to us: First, every time sin, I am
inflicting pain and shame to the Lord. Imagine the pain and shame when
our close family member is arrested for some heinous crime. Second, if a
believer continues to repent of his sin, then he may reach a state where he
will be hardened in his heart and will not be able to repent. Imagine the
horror of leprosy which hampers our ability to sense pain. Prayer: Oh Lord,
help me to realize the pain and shame on You when I sin and give me the
grace to confess my sin and take all sincere effort to turn away from sin.
Amen.
6:7 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; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to
being cursed, whose end is to be burned. [Go Top]
A simple illustration is given to explain the above point. Earth is compared to a
believer and rain to the spiritual blessing of salvation. What is expected from the
earth which receives rain is herbs that are useful to the farmer. Likewise, what is
expected from a believer receiving salvation is good works. On the other
hand, if the land is producing only useless thorn, then the farmer rejects
the crop by burning it. Similarly, if a believer is producing bad works then
that work is rejected by God. Note two things. First, the phrase ‘near being
cursed’ clearly indicates not losing salvation but the state of a believer in
heaven who is having no reward from the Lord after the judgement (burning).
Second, good works (herbs) need to be understood as actions, words, and even
thoughts which are both confirming to the standards of the scripture as well as
with a motive of glorifying God, and not in any popular understanding of
the term. Prayer: Oh, Lord, this is a strong warning to take the salvation
seriously by living a life meeting Your expectation. Give me the grace to
evaluate my life to see the herbs I am producing and to discern the thorns I
am producing. Oh Lord, trusting in the power of Your Spirit, I express my
resolve to live with a motive to produce abundant herbs to You my Saviour.
Amen.
6:9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes,
things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 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. [Go Top]
First part of this verse confirms that the above passage refers to some backsliding
believers. In one sense salvation is just the beginning of what God is doing in our life.
After the warning in the previous passage, this passage is an encouragement to the
faithful in the church. God keeps a record of very small and big work we do for the
Lord’s ministry and for His servants. Prayer: Lord, help us to understand manifold
dimensions of the salvation and give us grace to appropriate them in our life.
Believing in the promise that You will reward all our service for Your ministry,
help me to serve you specially by taking care of the needs of Your servants.
Amen.
6:11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the
full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish,
but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
[Go Top]
While these believers were appreciated for their good works before the Lord, an
exhortation is made here to continue in faith till the end of life on the earth. It is
possible, unless we take special care, to become sluggish which means a causal
approach in life which gradually takes us back in faith. Genuine believers will respond
to this exhortation. We are further encouraged to imitate the life of other
heroes of faith. Their life is an example to us and likewise, I should aim
that my life should be an example to others. Prayer: Lord, I realize often I
am sluggish in spiritual matters, but I pray that you may help me to be
diligent in faith and manifest the same in patient waiting. I pray that I may
carefully observe the life of great men and women of faith in church history.
Amen
6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could
swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely
blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And
so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. [Go
Top]
The importance of patient waiting on the Lord is illustrated by the life of Abraham.
Even the small promise of having a child took more than two decades. Other
promises made to Abraham took even greater time, surpassing his life on the earth.
Real multiplication of his offsprings happened several generations later. Today, we
receive God’s promises through the Bible which is His Word and there is no authority
above it. We are likewise exhortated to wait patiently on the Lord and not to give up
faith when problems arise. Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the manifold promises
available today revealed to us through the Bible. I pray that You give me the
grace to patiently wait on you and not to waver in faith when trials come.
Amen.
6:16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is
for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more
abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel,
confirmed it by an oath, 18 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. [Go
Top]
The terms swear and oath is similar to deeds or agreements made by two parties on
stamp paper. Once an agreement is signed, then either party cannot change its terms.
Similarly, the promises made by God are immutable and these verses assure that God
will honor His Word. The immutable things may refer to God’s unchanging character
and the immutable nature of the oath made by God. Practical implication of this
truth is that we can be confident that the salvation we have received from
the Lord will eventually take us to heaven and hence we should not waver
in faith. Lord Jesus left this world to heaven demonstrates the certainty
of these things. Prayer: Lord, thank you for the promise of heaven is so
sure and certain to all who believed in Your deity of work on the cross. I
pray that I may never waver in faith, but with patience hope for the full
realization of the salvation in heaven. Give me the grace to hold on till the end.
Amen
6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,
and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner
has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek. [Go Top]
What drives our life in the midst of all suffering is the hope of heaven where
there is no sin and no sorrow. The basis of this hope is that Jesus died,
resurrected and ascended to heaven. He is seated on the right hand of God
the Father as indicated by the word ‘Presence’. The veil in the tabernacle
symbolises the separation of the Holy God from the sinful humanity. Jesus
entering behind the veil shows that this separation no longer exists. Thus
Jesus is the ‘forerunner’ in the sense that we who believe in Jesus will also
have similar access to God the Father. This exactly is the function of a high
priest and Jesus is therefore our only authentic High Priest. The ‘order of
Melchizedek’ is a term which indicates it is a divine initiative. Prayer: Lord, please
help us anchor our soul when it is tossed by sufferings of this life to the
hope of eternal bliss awaiting us in heaven. Thank you Jesus for this hope.
Amen.
7:1 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, 2 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,” 3 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. [Go
Top]
Melchizedek was the priest of God Most High according to Genesis 14 and Abraham
met him after a conquest. There we see Abrham gave tithe to Melchizedek and
Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Obviously Melchizedek enjoyed a greater spiritual
position than Abraham. However, we have no other details of Melchizedek including
his genealogy and how he became the priest. What we can therefore conclude is that
Melchizedek’s priesthood is purely of divine origin. Not only that Melchizedek was a
priest, but he was also designated as a king, not of any nation, but in the spiritual
domain of peace and righteousness. Hence, the conclusion of the matter is that
Melchizedek is a type of Christ. Jesus is our high priest not because he was a
descendant of Aaron, but because he was divinely called (see Psalm 110:4). Prayer:
Father, I thank you for Your Son our Lord Jesus who is our High Priest standing
before You always. Let this truth sink deeply in me that Jesus will always plead for
mercy before His Father. Oh Lord, give me the grace to please you in my life.
Amen.
7:4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch
Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the
sons of Levi, 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; 6 but he whose
genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and
blessed him who had the promises. [Go Top]
Melchizedek has a greater standing than Abraham who gave tithe to the former
though we know nothing of his genealogy so as to trace the source of his
priesthood. Levites have greater standing than the rest of the tribes who
were required by the Law to give tithes to Levites. Jews do not deny the
spiritual superiority of Levites from whom all priests including the high priest
come. Applying the same principle, Melchizedek is obviously superior to
Abraham. Abraham not only gave tithes, but also received blessings from
Melchizedek. This is another reason why Melchizedek is superior to Abrham
who has great promises from God (Genesis 12). The old testament Jews
overlooked the greatness of Melchizedek. Similarly, new testament believers from
Jewish backgrounds also ignored the uniqueness and superiority of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, although You lived on the earth like a human, You are
infinitely superior than great men of faith ever lived on the earth. I pray
that I may be able to adore you more and more seeing greater glory of You.
amen.
7:7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8
Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is
witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes
through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father
when Melchizedek met him. [Go Top]
The lesser refers to Abraham who received the blessing and the better refers to
Melchizedek who gave the blessing. The ‘mortal men’ refers to Levites who receive
tithes from the rest of the tribes. Verse 8 combines two ideas from Genesis and Psalm
about Melchizedek. The priesthood of Melchizedek is forever according to Psalm
110:8. Verse 9 and 10 is based on an important theological insight that Levi and all
their descendants were present in Abraham, in some sense personally. This is similar
to we all were present in Adam when he sinned and thus we are also personally
responsible for the sin of Adam. Using this concept Melchizedek is superior to
Levites and his priesthood is superior to the levitical priest system. All this
points to the fact that the priesthood of Jesus is far greater to old testament
priesthood. Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my High Priest and no one can
represent me better than You. I pray that I may rest in your priesthood.
Amen.
7:11 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? 12 For the priesthood being
changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 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. [Go
Top]
Having established the superiority of the priesthood according to the order of
Melchizedek and the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood, the author now shows
its practical implication. The Mosaic law which came along with the Aaronic
priesthood is not perfect. When the priesthood is changed the corresponding law also
needs to be changed since priests operated purely based on the law. V13 and 14
show all these arguments lead to the Lord Jesus who came from the tribe
of Judah, but his priesthood is not because of His ancestry, but divinely
bestowed like Melchizedek. What does this mean to us? First, salvation brings a
new change in how we relate with God. Second, the basis of this relation
absolutely depends on how we related to the person of Jesus. Prayer: Father,
thank you for Your Son through Him I have access to You. Lord, I pray that
you help me to have a vibrant relation with You through Your Son Jesus.
Amen.
7:15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there
arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a
fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17
For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of
Melchizedek.” [Go Top]
Levites become priests because their father is a Levite whereas Jesus is the high
priest not because of the earthly parents, but by divine call by the eternal God the
Father. Hence, the priesthood of Jesus is eternal, divine, and perfect. So the salvation
we get through His mediation is infinitely superior due to its perfection and
permanence. Prayer: Father, thank you for appointing Your Son, Jesus, my high
priest through Him I have an eternal salvation. Lord, help me enjoy the fullness of it
even in this life on the earth. Amen
7:18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former
commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19
for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the
bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. [Go
Top]
The law given to Moses is made null by the new command through Jesus. The law is
weak to transform me, and following it is not profitable for it will not bring
righteousness before God. Law made nothing perfect. Why did God give the law?
Because, law exposes the sin that is in me, it exposes how weak I am, and so
on. On the other hand, new priesthood through Jesus brings a better hope
because of several reasons that will be elaborated below, but the key point
is that it is intended to draw us near to God. God’s desire is to have an
intimate relation with us. The intensity of this desire is seen in the pain
endured on the cross. Prayer: Lord, I confess that I neglected You in my
practical life, not taking serious steps to develop intimacy with You. I confess
that my desire is to gratify my flesh and to please others. Forgive me, and
create in me a true longing for You that will translate into quality time with
You.
7:20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (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’ ”), 22 by so
much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. [Go
Top]
Priesthood of Jesus is superior for it was by a solemn promise of the Father. V21 is
quoted from Psalm 110:8. The new covenant is better for Jesus himself is the surety.
Essentially, Jeus conveys to God the Father that He will vouch for us who believe in
Him. What a great surety! No covenant can be better than this. Prayer: Father,
thankyou for the covenant that enables us to have a relationship with You.
Lord, Jesus, great is Your love for me and help me to respond to that love.
Amen.
7:23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death
from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an
unchangeable priesthood. 25 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. [Go Top]
Yet another reason for the superiority of the priesthood of Jesus over the
Levites is mentioned here. The Ministry of the Levitical priest ends with his
death and someone else replaces him. We should not forget that the priest
has to atone for sin, and evidence of sin is death. Now the priest himself is
subjected to death also shows the insufficiency of the Levitical priest. Jesus our
highpriest has victory over death and hence his atonement on the cross is sure
cure for sin. Hence, His priestly intercession can save anyone from sin, no
matter how hard it may appear from human perspective. His intercession
is not a one-time affair, rather, it is always available to us. What a great
privilege, what a great Priest we have. Prayer: Father, I worship You for the
priesthood of Your Son that saved a wretch like me. Lord, thank you for the
constant intercession for me before the Father. Give me grace to come to
You for cleansing, no matter how ‘big’ or ‘small’ a sin looks in my eyes.
Amen.
7:26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
27 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. 28 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. [Go
Top]
The contrast between the old and new high priests is stark and clear. Jesus our High
Priest according to the new order is holy, harmless, undefiled, and is closer to God
the Father than anyone else. He is sinless and hence does not require any atonement
for Himself. His sacrifice on the cross is sufficient for the perfect and permanent
atonement of any number of people. On the other hand, the high priest of
the old order is a sinful human being who needs to atone for his own sin
regularly. The conclusion is that it is foolish to go after the older, rejecting the
new because of persecution. Prayer: Lord, I pray that I may never waver
from the perfect atonement for my sin brought by the work on the cross.
Amen.
8:1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such
a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of
the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and
of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. [Go
Top]
The author is trying to convey the superiority of Jesus Christ over all the great
saints of the old testament including Abraham and Moses. In fact, His superiority is
beyond comparison, for He is God as denoted by the word ‘seated at the right
hand of God’. Further, His ministry in heaven where no man ever Prayer:
Father, let the greatness of Your Son and our Lord Jesus may sink deeply into
me.
8:3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices.
Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For
if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who
offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of
the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was
about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all
things according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain.” [Go
Top]
Sacrifices are atonement for sin and gifts are given voluntarily for the favours from
God. Mosaic law has various instructions concerning these and the Levitical priests
administer them. If the priesthood of Jesus is superior, then Jesus also should have
something to offer. Jesus did not offer any gifts while one the earth for He was from
the tribe of Judah. Jewish priests served in the Jerusalem temple by virtue of their
lineage from Aaron. Note that the Jerusalem temple was so glorious that
even gentiles from far away places came to see the temple from outside.
Nevertheless, this earthly temple is only a shadow of the heavenly things since
Moses was instructed to build the tabernacle strictly according to the pattern
shown by God on the Sinai mountain. Now, one can imagine the greatness of
the priesthood of Jesus who is the minister of the heavenly things. Prayer:
Father, let me not be satisfied by my external religious activities however
good it may. I pray that I may get a better grip of the genuine spiritual
realities that connect me intimately with the Lord Jesus and the triune God.
Amen.
8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is
also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better
promises.7. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place
would have been sought for a second. [Go Top]
It is evident from these two verses that the new covenant is better than the old and
that the old has faults. Why is it so? The new covenant is better for a variety of
reasons, especially because it is authenticated by the promise that the mediating
priesthood (of Jesus) is forever. This means that Jeus has not only resurrected from
the dead and ascended to heaven, but also has a very effective intercession for us
sitting at the right hand of the Father. On the other hand, the ministers of the old
covenant themselves are subjected to death which is a clear indication of limitation of
their mediation. The glory of Christ and His ministry is simply awesome. Prayer:
Father, once again thank You for the promise of a new covenant and the ministry
of Your Son. I pray that my entire being will be captivated by Your Son.
Amen.
8:8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are
coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house
of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant
that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the
hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not
continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. [Go
Top]
It is interesting to note that the limitation of the old covenant as well as the
prospect of the new was already revealed in the old testament. The new covenant is
not the invention of the new testament authors. In other words, the seed of the
Christian faith was sown in the Jewish scripture and hence jews should not think
that faith in Christ is opposed to their Scripture. One should not have any trace of
doubt that the old covenant was also given by God. In this context, a solemn warning
is given to the new believers in Christ to continue in the new faith unlike
the jewish nation who did not continue in the old covenant. Prayer: Lord,
help me to understand how serious you take the covenant you made with
me and give me the grace to continue to be faithful all throughout my life.
Amen.
8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write
them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother,
saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them
to the greatest of them. [Go Top]
Very clearly the old testament points to the new covenant. While the old covenant
was external with the laws written on stones, the new covenant is internal with the
laws written on heart by God. There is no external compulsion to pursue the law,
but there is internal transformation. It is the work of God and depends
more on Him to understand this. Prayer: Father, thank you for writing that
new law in my heart and I pray that I may grow in my intimacy with You.
Amen.
8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and
their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 13 In that He says,
“A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is
becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. [Go
Top]
The peak of God’s love is seen in His mercy toward the people of the new covenant.
Remember no more: Can God forget things? Impossible. Nevertheless God no longer
remembers our sin in the sense our sin will never hinder our relationship with Him.
This verse gives a hint that this book was written before the destruction of Jerusalem
temple. By the destruction of Jerusalem temple in AD 70, all the activities of the
Levitical priest system, on which Jews placed great glory, had come to an end. If this
is true, then destruction of Jerusalem temple is an attestation of the old covenant
being replaced by the new. Prayer: Father, Your mercy is so great, and let me
not use it as a license to sin, rather, motivated by Your love, shun from it.
Amen.
9:1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service
and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part,
in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called
the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle
which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the
ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the
golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets
of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing
the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. [Go
Top]
The rituals of the old covenant were neither arbitrary or from human ingenuity.
They were instituted by divine ordinance. The tabernacle and the temple had various
elements constructed according to divine instruction and each has significance. But
now the details of these are less significant in the advent of the new covenant. Prayer:
Father, you determine how we need to approach you as evident from the detailed
instructions given in the old covenant and how much more significant in the new
covenant though visible rituals are virtually nil. Father, help us to come to
You through the meritorious work of Jesus. I pray for grace to comprehend
these.
9:6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests
always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the
services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone
once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and
for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit
indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet
made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. [Go
Top]
The priests can enter only in the holy place of the tabernacle or of the temple. Only
high priests, that too only once in a year, can enter into the holy of holies. Not only
that, he can enter only after performing a sacrifice for his sins and then for the sins of
the people. By this stipulation, the Spirit of God wants to convey that access to God
is highly limited in the old covenant, which also points to the need for a new
covenant that provides uninterrupted access to God. We can praise God for the new
covenant He made with us through Jesus which enables us to approach the throne of
Grace in heaven anytime and anywhere. What a blessed privilege. By the
way, these sacrifices are for unintentional sins and there is no sacrifice for
intentional sin. Prayer: Father, give me the grace to utilize the free access
granted through your son. Father, You see my heart and the rebellion still
there deep rooted. I pray for your mercy and ask You to transform me.
Amen.
9:9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices
are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in
regard to the conscience—10 concerned only with foods and drinks,
various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of
reformation. [Go Top]
Symbolic: This is an apt word that clarifies the doubt that the old covenant which
was also given by God is now obsolete. Old covenant is symbolic of the new in the
sense that it was given with an intention of identifying and confirming the new when
it arrives. All the elements of the old covenant have some resemblance to the new,
albeit physically. Further, the old was a temporary, physical and external
arrangement till the new come. The new, on the other hand, is the eternal, spiritual,
and transformative plan of God to all who are willing to accept in faith. Prayer:
Father, I look to You for the enabling grace to understand more and more
deeply the mysteries of Your plan for me that will transform me from inside.
Amen
9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the
greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of
this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own
blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained
eternal redemption. [Go Top]
Contrasting the old covenant the new one has several reasons for its superiority.
Only one High Priest, the Lord Jeus, the Son of God. There can be no other better
mediator before God the Father. His ministry is not in the Jerusalem temple or any
other places on the earth. Note that the Jerusalem temple itself was destroyed
showing the limitation of the old covenant. The Lord’s sanctuary is heaven, the
temple where God resides. Is there a better place we can think of? Again, the
sacrificial object was not any animals, but the Lord Jeus Himself. Note that the
old covenant has sacrificial animals which are lower in order of creation
than humans. But, in the new covenant, Jesus who is the incarnate God
was the sacrificial object which is obviously infinitely high in the order of
creation, that is, the creator Himself. Can there be any other object better
than this? Lastly, the validity of the atonement is eternal in contrast to
the annual sacrifice of the old covenant. Do we require any other covenant
that has better validity? The best covenant before the sacrifice of Jesus
available to humanity was the Mosaic covenant. However, with the arrival of the
new covenant in Jesus, human can never even imagine a covenant that is
better in any aspect. Such glorious, supreme, and awesome is the covenant on
the cross. Amen. Prayer: What shall I say to such a great covenant made
available and revealed to me. I pray that I may grasp the glimpse of the glory
awiting me in heaven. O Lord, help me to cling to You more and more.
Amen.
9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer,
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God? [Go Top]
This simple question that can be answered by pure logic has the power to demolish
the entire old covenant. The entire Jewish spirituality is founded on their elaborate
sacrificial system. However best they may be, ultimately they are all based on the
blood of animals which are much inferior to humans. The new covenant is based on
an infinitely superior sacrificial object. The words like ‘Christ’, ‘eternal’, ‘Spirit’,
‘without spot’, ‘conscious’, ‘dead works’, and ‘living’ show the superior basis of the
new covenant. Why should one rely on an inferior old system when the superior new
one is available? Nevertheless, its superiority can be appreciated only if we are
frustrated with our ‘dead’ works and longing to ‘serve’ the living God. Conversely,
the new covenant paves the way to deal with our corrupted conscience and with that
to serve the living God. So the challenge to those who believe is to cleanse our
conscience and serve the living God. Amen. Prayer: Father, relying on the perfect
work of Your Son, help me to cleanse my conscience and thereby serve You.
Amen.
9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by
means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first
covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal
inheritance. [Go Top]
This reason: death of Jesus by shedding of His blood is the basis of the new covenant
which brings redemption to us. Not only that, even the redemption of the
transgressions of those called according to the old covenant was also on the
basis of the new covenant. Ignorant of this fact many Jews boasted in the
ritualistic sacrifices of the old covenant. In fact, sacrifices of the old covenant
were a visible form of the promise that God will send Jesus as the perfect
sacrifice. The basis of the salvation of both old and new covenant is the work
of Christ on the cross. Prayer: Father, thank You for the work of Christ,
the sole basis for salvation of anyone on this earth. Help me live with that
assurance of eternal inheritance no matter what I have or have not in this world.
Amen.
9:16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the
death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men
are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. [Go
Top]
A simple understanding of this shows the seriousness of the matter. The testament
or covenant God made with humanity, be it old or new, involves death by
shedding of blood. It is definitely the most serious matter to God: it may
be beyond our comprehension what motivates God to take His creation,
humans, so seriously, except to reveal His character. Further, blood indicates
the seat of life and by giving blood, God commits His very life into the
covenant He made with us. If so, how much more we puny creation should
respond to His by devoting our entire life! Amen Prayer: Father, help me to
understand the seriousness of the covenant You made and enable me to respond
with the same commitment from my side: that is to devote my life into it.
Amen.
9:18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people
according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water,
scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all
the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which
God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with
blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. [Go
Top]
In spite of the various limitations of the old covenant, its basis is still the blood
implying life, even if that were of the sacrificial animals, given to its enactment. All
the ritualistic actions mentioned here are symbolic of various elements of the new
covenant. Hence, God has commended them, not as a suggestion, to observe these.
Sprinkling the book implies God is committed to the covenant and sprinkling the
people shows the commitment of the people to it. Same is true in the new covenant,
Jesus sheds His blood showing commitment on God’s part and when we believe
shows our commitment. How do we know we truly believe? I think the best evidence
we can think of is the continuation of faith which will be manifested in my
life. Prayer: Father, help me to be rejuvenated by the life of Christ in me.
Amen.
9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood,
and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 23 Therefore it was
necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified
with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than
these. [Go Top]
Sin is costly, serious, and it takes a life. Remission of blood signifies how strong is sin
and escape from it requires the blood, meaning the life of the sinner. God in
mercy provided atonement through the blood of His Son Jesus and spared us.
Killing of animals and sprinkling of blood conveys these truths to the people.
Prayer: Lord, help me to realize the gravity of sin in me that demanded the
blood of Jesus. Lord, give me the grace to hate sine with perfect hatred.
Amen.
9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which
are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as
the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood
of another—26 He then would have had to suffer often since the
foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages,
He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. [Go
Top]
Many portions of the scripture including the records of the resurrection and
ascension shows that the Lord Jesus is now in heaven, the temple of God. He beholds
the face of the Father and this High Priestly position is forever. Unlike the high
priests of the old covenant, the sacrificial shedding of His blood has a permanent
effect. With this the foundation of God’s redemptive plan is complete. End of age:
completion of God’s redemptive work. Prayer: Lord, thank You for being my High
Priest and I am so blessed to have You as my High Priest. I pray for cleansing of my
sins against You and true blessings from the throne of grace evidencing Your favour.
Amen
9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the
judgment, [Go Top]
Appointed: God’s design for humanity is not to live eternally on this earth. Instead,
he has to live for a while, and then face his creator to give an account of how he lived
on the earth. We should never forget two things: one day we have to leave this world
and then face judgement. This should drive how we conduct our daily life focusing
on a relationship with the Lord to know how He judges. We cannot afford
to have wrong assumptions and to avoid this plunge into God’s Word to
understand His mind. After this, fashion our dealing with all the people around
us in a way that brings greater reward and not punishment. Prayer: Lord,
one day I have to leave this world and face you on the judgement seat. I
pray that you give me the grace to live today and the rest of every day
that you give me in such a way that I should be longing to be judged by
You.
9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who
eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for
salvation. [Go Top]
The characteristic of a person who is prepared for the judgement is the one who has
faith in the sacrificial work of Christ and as an evidence of that eagerly waits for the
coming of the Lord. What does it mean to wait for Christ? First and foremost to
develop an intimacy with the Lord through the Word and prayer. Second, keep
oneself away from all kinds of defilements from sin. Third, take all efforts to prepare
others, both believers and unbeliever, to meet the Lord. And so on. Note that the
return of the Lord is an exciting event for a believer whose sins are forgiven and
especially for those eagerly waiting for Him. Amen. Prayer: Lord, let my heart
long for Your return and set my mind on the preparations for Your coming.
Amen.
10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the
very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they
offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For
then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers,
once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. [Go
Top]
Shadow and image: Shadow of an image points to the existence of the image and can
give some idea about the image, though not exact. Shadow has no existence without
the image. If one can see the images, why should he look at the shadow? The word
‘never’ emphatically shows the yearly offering of the sacrifices is imperfect and
temporary. If the covenant sacrifice was perfect and permanent, then it should not
have been done year after year. Consciousness of sins: what is expected from a
perfect sacrifice is complete cleansing from sin which was not possible with the old.
This raises an interesting question? What about the new? Whether it is able to
remove the consciousness of sins? No will be the experience of those believed in it. A
careful reading of the New Testament shows that state is possible, but only after
we leave this world. Nevertheless, a serious follower of the Word of God
can attest, a deliverance from the power of sin to a great degree even on
this side of eternity. Prayer: Father, thank you for the grace you have given
me to believe in the perfect sacrifice of Your Son and I pray that I may
be able to experience purification of my mind from consciousness of sins.
Amen.
10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it
is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. [Go
Top]
Year after year the sacrifices in the old covenant remind us that the atonement for
the sin is not done permanently. It anticipates the longing for a permanent solution
which is now accomplished by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is noteworthy to
observe two aspects in the new covenant. First, believer of the new covenant may not
experience full realization of the deliverance from sin which is not due to
the limitation of the sacrifice of Christ, rather, it is due to presence of sin,
satan, and our flesh, and these will be removed after our physical death or
the second coming of the Lord Jesus, whichever is earlier. Second, week
after week participation in the Lord’s Table is neither the reminder of our
sins nor the limitation of the sacrifice of Christ, but it is a reminder of the
perfect sacrifice of Christ that needs to be appropriated regularly in our life.
Further, the latter verse also emphatically asserts the impossibility of the
sacrifice of lower order creation to atone for higher order human beings.
Prayer: Father, I thank you once again for the perfect sacrifice of the Lord
Jesus Christ and I pray that I may be able to live in victory of that in my
life.
10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and
offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. [Go
Top]
Lord knew the limitation of the old covenant and He takes no pleasure in mere
killing of animals that has no transforming power on the sinner. Hence, God did
the preparations needed for the perfect sacrifice. One of the key aspects of
this preparation is the incarnation of Jesus. The body of Christ shares our
humanity and life in that body was sinless making these perfect sacrificial
objects. Prayer: Father, I thank you for the incarnation of Your Son and I
pray that His sacrifice may constantly transform me, and specially today.
Amen
10:7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is
written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ” [Go Top]
What uniquely charactice the incarnation is the humiliation of the Lord Jesus by the
Father, which includes total submission and unconditional obedience. Doing the will
of His Father was the mission of Jesus thereby leaving us an unparalleled example to
imitate. It is true that we have a will, but surrendering our will and submitting to
the will of the Father is true courage, genuine character, great faith, and
agape love. Unconditional obedience requires courage to face all the uncertain
consequences. Submission and obedience is possible only to an unselfish and
humble soul reflecting the character of a person. Faith in the goodness of God
is indispensable for such an obedience. What motives such an obedience
is the love for the Lord knowing that our obedience glorifies God. Prayer:
Father, I am amazed by the obedience of Lord Jesus, and with ‘reluctant’
heart pray for the grace to obey You unconditionally, knowing my fear, my
pride, my unbelief, and my selfishness preventing that. Have mercy on me.
Amen.
10:8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and
offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are
offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have
come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He
may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [Go
Top]
God does not delight in the sacrifices of the old covenant which at best is a
shadow of the sacrifice of Christ. It was the will of the Father to establish a
new covenant that brings intimate relations with Him through Jesus. Jesus
fulfilled the will of the Father and its effect on us is permanent which means
we are constantly sanctified by the sacrifice of Lord Jesus. Prayer: Father,
sanctify me today, tomorrow, and so on till I leave this world to me You.
Aman.
10:11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly
the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man,
after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right
hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His
footstool. [Go Top]
Daily … repeatedly: these words indicate the limitation of the rituals of the old
covenant which is emphatically stated as ‘never take away sins’ for the reason stated
earlier. Man: points to the humanity of Jesus and thereby qualified as a
representative of us unlike animals in the old covenant. One: contrasting the daily
repeated sacrifices of the old covenant, the work of Christ on the cross is a singular
event which is effective to deal with sin forever. right hand of God: this phrase asserts
the divinity of Jesus, that is it means one who is equal to God. It also alludes
to the Father accepting the sacrifice of Christ. Even though the work of
Christ on the cross is perfect, his enemy is still at work instigating humanity,
including believers, to sin against God. Nevertheless, just like there was a long
waiting for the first coming of the Lord, there is a long waiting for His second
coming. When He comes again, there will be perfect victory over sin and
satan and we can fully experience the power of His sacrifice. Aman. Prayer:
Father, I pray that I may be able to eagerly wait for the coming of Your Son.
Amen
10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being
sanctified. [Go Top]
Perfected: although we may not experience now, the saving work of the Lord
on us those who believe in Him is perfect and will remain perfect even in
eternity. We are not experiencing that perfection in this fallen due to the
presence of sin nature that is still in us in addition to the influence of the
fallen world and temptations from the evil one. Nevertheless, the Lord is
constantly sanctifying us which means purifying us to His service. Prayer:
Father, thank you for the perfect work of Christ on the cross and thereby in
my life. I pray that I may be sanctified by Your power and give me the
grace to submit to you and experience more and more perfection in my life.
Amen.
10:15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said
before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in
their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and
their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there
is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. [Go
Top]
The Holy Spirit’s witness through the scripture affirms the coming of the new
covenant in which God will directly implant His laws into our hearts and
minds. Heart signifies a desire to follow God’s laws. Obeying the law is not a
burden to a new covenant believer. On the contrary he delights in it. Mind
symbolises our understanding of God’s word and thereby His will. God will give a
new capacity to a new covenant believer to know what is in the mind of
God to a great extent. In addition, since the basis of this covenant is the
work of Christ, God will never consider our sinful deeds a hindrance to our
relation with Him. These characteristics of the new covenant were clearly
revealed in the old testament and Jews can never ignore the new covenant.
Lastly, since the remission of sin is complete, perfect, and permanent, there is
no need of any more sacrifice including that of the old covenant. Prayer:
Father, I thank you for putting Your laws in my heart and writing them in my
mind. I pray to You that give me the grace to experience the joy of obeying
Your laws with understanding. What unbelievable mercy You have shown in
forgiving and forgetting my sin. Help me to live a life experiencing this mercy.
Amen.
10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the
blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us,
through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the
house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies
washed with pure water. [Go Top]
The knowledge that our sins are forgiven gives us a kind of boldness to approach
God. Sin separates us from God and prevents any active relationship with Him.
Entering the holiest is symbolic of direct access to God. This concept comes from the
temple where only the high priest can enter the holiest place where he is
supposed to meet God directly. Our access to God is through the blood of
Jesus and never through our good works. Access to God in the old covenant
was very restricted, limited, and indirect, i.e only high priests can enter
the holiest, that too once in a year and every time with the fresh blood of
animal sacrifice. The new way now available to us is through Jesus. The
comparison of the veil to the body of Jesus is symbolic of how we see Father
through the body of Jesus and how Father sees us which is again through the
body of Jesus. Is this not an awesome fact that when we look at Jesus we
are actually seeing God the Father (of course not forgetting that Jesus is
God Himself)? Further, Is this not a beautiful thing that when God the
Father looks at us, He is actually seeing Jesus (of course not forgetting that
we are still sin-stricken human body)? (to be continued). Prayer: Father,
thank You for giving access to You anytime from anywhere but through
Jesus. Give me the grace to use this privilege constantly and to the full
potential by coming to You in prayer, yes a ceaseless prayer for all things.
Amen.
10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the
blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us,
through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the
house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies
washed with pure water. [Go Top]
Continuing the above thought, we not only have a new way to approach God, but,
this way is also a living way, meaning, it is available all the time unlike set times and
places to meet God in the old covenant. Thus we have Jesus as the High Priest who
will enable us to approach God’s throne boldly and also ensures that God will deal
favourably with us. If this is the case, what logically follows is the best use of this
privilege. There are three exhortations followed by the words ‘let us’. The first is let
us draw closer to God with full assurance of this privilege. But remember always
the reality of residual sin in us and hence needs to approach God with a
clear conscience by confessing our sins. It is the desire of a holy God that
believers should approach Him. If so, how much more should be the longing of
the believer to approach God. However, in reality, the opposite is the usual
response of the believer. That is sin. It takes us away from God, it ruins our
boldness to approach God. Confession has two aspects: first is the confession
of the evil conscience in me that triggers all kinds of sin, and the second
is the resultant external actions done by our body. Confess not only the
action, but also admit before God the evil conscious in us that is wicked
and corrupt. This is hard because we believe we are good and that is the
picture that we give to others also. Nevertheless, before God, we must be
absolutely honest in admitting our sinful nature and approach God with the
conviction that only through Jesus we access God. Prayer: Father, thank you
for I can always come to You through Jesus. I pray that I may not neglect
this privilege, but consistently and consciously use this very often. Father, I
confess the sinful, evil, and fleshly nature in me and its manifestation by
me.
10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He
who promised is faithful. [Go Top]
The second exhortation to the glorious privilege of having uninterrupted
access to the throne of heaven and having a high priest is to let us hold on
to this faith without giving weavering. Hold on to faith implies that we
continue in this faith and apply Biblical principles in our life. Weavering
implies severe trials and suffering may come in life that will question the
claims of this faith and such a situation should not shake our faith. The
only reason to hold on without wavering in troubled situations of life is the
character God, especially His faithfulness to His people. Prayer: Father,
You are faithful, even when I am unfaithful, which shows the greatness of
Your character and hence I worship You declaring that You are faithful.
Trusting in Your faithfulness, I pray that you help me to be faithful to You
reflecting Your faithfulness in my life. I pray that no matter what troubles
arise in my life, help me to hold on to You in faith and live a fitting life.
Amen.
10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
works, [Go Top]
The third exhortation is let us consider one another which implies not to neglect
others. Note that the Lord Jesus is not ‘my’ high priest, but He is ‘our’ high priest.
Each one of us who are adopted into the family of God should in the family there are
other members. It is therefore imperative that I need to love them and do all that is
within my scope for their spiritual growth. I also have the responsibility of stirring up
good works in them. The best way to do this is by being an example. Prayer: Father,
thank you for adopting me to Your family with diverse kinds of people. I pray
that You give me the grace to love all the members of Your family and let
my life be an example to all so that they will be stirred up in good works.
Amen
10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner
of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the
Day approaching. [Go Top]
A definite, unique, and mandatory way of accomplishing considering one another is
worship gathering of the church. God has designed his people in a locality to meet
regularly in His name and then stirrup one another in love and good works. There
will be so many things that demand our time and attention, but if we understand the
great privilege we have in Jesus, then all the other priorities will vanish.
Gathering as a church is not with a focus on for personal benefit but for
edifying others. When we become a blessing to others, God will bless us.
Amen.
10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful
expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the
adversaries. [Go Top]
There is no sacrifice for willful sin be it in the old or new covenant. Provisions to
reconcile with God through sacrifices is not for deliberate disobedience. In
other words, sacrifices are not a license to do sin. Willful sins are rebellion
against God and His laws and God takes this very seriously. Every rebellion
against a country is taken very seriously by that country often resulting in
capital punishments. How much more God will take threats against His
holiness. One should not take goodness and mercy of God granted. They are to
the humble, or the ‘broken and contrite’ or to the ‘poor in spirit.’ Prayer:
Father, I thank You for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus and I pray that I
may never take this provision as a license to sin. Give me a heart that is
truly submissive to Your laws and genuinely repentant of pitiable state.
Amen.
10:28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the
testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment,
do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of
God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was
sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? [Go
Top]
Wilful disobedience or deliberate sins had been dealt severely in the old covenant.
The role of two or three witnesses ensured that the rejection was wilful. No
mercy was shown once the rejection was established. If so, how much more
will be the punishment under the new covenant? The reason for this, as
detailed earlier, is the superiority of the new covenant. If the covenant is
glorier and superior, the punishment also will be greater. This verse also
shows the greatness of this covenant by the words like ‘Son of God’, ‘blood of
the covenant’, ‘Spirit of grace’. In addition, the severity of the rejection
by the words ‘trampled’, ‘counted … common’, and ‘insulted’. The sin of
apostasy (rejecting faith) is a serious matter and God can deal with His people
severely. Mention of the words ‘he was sanctified’ indicates the person is a
believer and the punishment need not be hell as evident from the following
verses. Prayer: Father, thank You for the mercy shown to us through You
Son Jesus and help me to continue in the faith and never depart from it.
Amen.
10:30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”
says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” 31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [Go
Top]
Here God takes the matter by Himself and He does not need any help from any
other being. God’s vengeance is right for He knows even the deep thoughts of His
creation. Note that it is written very clearly that ‘Lord will judge His people’ shows
that these people are believers and God has several means of judging His people
while on earth or even after death, as we see from elsewhere in the Scripture. Hence,
this vengeance is not sending them to hell. Nevertheless, one can imagine
how severe would be the punishment from a living God. David experienced
judgement from God when he decided to count his army. Prayer: Father,
I can only imagine the gravity of the fear that these words should evoke
in me. Father, I pray that I may learn to truly fear You, I may never do
anything to displease You, and I may hold on to the faith You deposited in me.
Amen
10:32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you
endured a great struggle with sufferings: [Go Top]
These believers had a very good beginning after they came to faith and they
endured a great struggle with suffering showing the genuinity of their faith. However,
some of them later seem to gradually move away from faith. They are now exhorted
to remember their endurance in the early days of faith. It is profitable to reflect on
how God led in the past amid sufferings.Note the word ‘illuminated’ which is the
work of the Holy Spirit who gives light to see the darkness of the human heart and
how the blood of Christ can cleanse it. It is good prayer for those around us that
the Holy Spirit may illuminate them to see clearly the spiritual realities
by removing the blindness caused by sinful flesh, corrupted world system,
and schemes of the devil. Sucuh prayer is relevant for believers who also
grow into fruitfulness. Prayer: Father, thank you for the illumination of the
Holy Spirit which enabled me to realize my sin and recognize Jesus as my
saviour from that sin. I pray that the same illumination may be given daily
to see my true spiritual state and respond in a way that transforms me.
Amen.
10:33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and
tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were
so treated; [Go Top]
Two sources of suffering due to faith: first, directly receiving from the enemies of the
gospel which can be ridicule, oppression, or outright persecution; and the second,
indirectly by identifying with those believers directly receiving the persecution.
Prayer: Father, I praise and worship you, though I do not like suffering, but beyond
my comprehension, you allow these in your power, love and wisdom in my life. I
pray that when I go through various sufferings due to faith in You, help me
Lord to hold on to You and give me the grace to go through. I also pray
that I may be able to identify with those going through such sufferings.
Adamaen.
10:34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully
accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a
better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. [Go
Top]
As mentioned in the previous verse, one way of enduring suffering is identifying with
other believers who are undergoing suffering. Here, these believers identified with the
author of Hebrews (could this be Paul?) and commented on it as a virtue. Further,
what a great faith these believers had. Their faith was genuine: they demonstrated it
by being joyful when their goods were plundered. This attitude reminds me of when
someone steals our money or by deception takes our money, how furious we become.
Most likely, our heart is deeply rooted to this world and hence we get upset when
we have monetary losses. Contrasting our attitude, these believers joyfully
accepted plundering of their wealth for they were fully convinced that the true
possession is in heaven and no one can plunder them. What a genuine faith.
The state of our heart shows how genuine our faith is. Prayer: Father, I
thank you and praise you for the enduring possession You have promised and
prepared in heaven. I pray that my response to material possession of this world
matches with the faith You have given me. Father, I pray that You take my
heart away from the possessions of this world and fix it on the eternal and
spiritual possession which are much more valuable that what I get here.
Amen.
10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has a great
reward. [Go Top]
Confidence in Christ has a reward. One need not be educated or elite, healthy, or
wealthy to have this confidence. Anyone can have this, it is an expression of genuine
faith, it is a desire and determination coming out of that faith, and the best part is
that there is a reward for faith. What is this confidence? It is a conviction
that God will give an everlasting possession in heaven which is much more
valuable than all that we can get from this world. Demonstration of this faith
is an attitude of ‘let go’ or ‘hold loosely’ on the material possessions for
the sake of faith. How do I know I have this confidence? Sometimes the
Lord may test this. For example, one may joyfully reject a lucrative job
offer if it compromises faith in some way. Prayer: Father, thank you for a
great reward for confidence in You which I can get, not because of my social
standing, education, health, or wealth, but because of the faith You have
given me. I pray that my confidence may never be shaken when You test.
Amen.
10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will
of God, you may receive the promise: [Go Top]
Endurance or long suffering is a spiritual virtue. It is the ability to continue
indefinitely in faith irrespective of adverse circumstances which can be external or
internal. Externals include direct persecution, ridicule, neglect, exploitation etc. due
to faith. Internal may include doubts, wavering, uncertainty, various negative feelings
such as insecurity, insignificance, failure, etc. We are exhorted to find what is the will
of God for our life, i.e. how God expects us to respond in adverse circumstances, and
do it, trusting God who is faithful will fulfill what was promised to us, namely
rewards in heaven. Prayer: Father, I thank You for reminding me of the endurance
needed in my life, revealing Your will through Your word, and reinforcing the
promises made. Give me the grace to endure hardships in my spiritual life,
understand more and more clearly Your will for my life, and submit to You in
obedience. Amen.
10:37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not
tarry. [Go Top]
The motivation to endure suffering in the present life is the promise of the second
coming of the Lord Jesus. This is a great promise since with His coming
everything will be restored, including His Kingdom. According to various
teachings of the scripture, especially through the parables, the Lord made it
clear that we will have a great role in His kingdom. Anticipation of His
coming therefore should motivate us to endure hardship for a little more
time. The church has been waiting for almost two thousand years for His
coming which seems quite long. Nevertheless, compared to eternity, this
period is still very little. This also is true for an individual who is waiting till
the end of his life on this earth and then be with the Lord till the rest of
eternity. Contrary to popular notion, departure from this world will be a
glorious event in the life of a believer. Coming of the Lord is a certainty,
just like how God promised about His first coming in the old testament
was fulfilled by the life of Jesus, so sure also will be His second coming.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the glorious prospect of the coming of Your
Son, establishment of His kingdom, and significant role for Your faithful in
that kingdom. Lord I pray that let this sink deeply in me and let my life be
characterised by an enduring waiting for the fulfillment of this promise.
Amen.
10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul
has no pleasure in him.” [Go Top]
The quote ‘the just shall live by faith’ from Habakkuk 2:4 is so important
that it is mentioned in the scripture at four places: the other two are in
Romans and Galatians. This is the fundamental spiritual law of God that
governs our spiritual life on this planet. Just: it is God who justifies us by
imputing the righteousness of Jesus when we believe that He is God and
His death on the cross is the sole basis of forgiveness of sin. Faith: it is the
conviction that all what God communicates to us through the scripture is
absolutely true and is the sole authority in all matters. Life: How a person needs
to relate to self, to rest of the creation, and to the creator. God takes no
pleasure in one who goes back in faith. Conversely, when we hold on to faith
irrespective of adverse circumstances, please God. alternatively, difficulties
in faith-life can be seen as God testing us and also as an opportunity to
please God. Prayer: Father, thank You for justifying me through Jesus and
deposited faith in me. Help me O Lord to hold on to You no matter what
circumstance that I may face and let my life be the one that gives You pleasure.
Amen.
10:39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those
who believe to the saving of the soul. [Go Top]
A solemn warning follows after great words of exhortation that distinguishes two
kinds of people approaching God, first, those who obtain heavenly inheritance by
continuing in faith, and the second draws back to perdition due to suffering.
Genuinity of faith can be known only by continuing in it especially when there is
opposition. Hence, it is not as important how we began our faith as to how we finish
our life faith on this earth. One need not be concerned about utter unbelief, deadly
sins, and great failures of the past. Rather, we all should be concerned about
enduring a life of faith and finishing well. It is so important in saving our soul from
the sin infected world to a state of eternal bliss. Prayer: Father, thank You for the
provision of preserving our soul through faith in the life and work of Lord
Jesus. Lord, I pray for grace to never go back in this life of faith when it
is challenged by various threats from my flesh, the world, and the devil.
Amen.
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen. [Go Top]
A very simple and elegant definition of faith. Substance: the word means confidence,
firm, that which has foundation, has actual existence, steadfastness of mind,
resolution, assurance, etc. Biblical faith has basis, has content, and is a reasonable
one, but not a blind faith. Things hoped for are the one that are promised by God
and revealed to us through the scripture. They are things not seen, which implies
that the faculty which assimilate evidence is not physical sensory organs
of our body, but data pertaining to the spiritual realm gathered from the
scripture by our inner man with the help of the illuminating work of the Holy
Spirit. Oh, that we may understand what faith means. It is neither wishful
thinking nor a superstition. Prayer: Father, You have created us with a capacity
to exhibit faith, and have given us a variety of exciting things to hope for
in the midst of various trials of life. Father, I pray that let my faith grow
steadfastly so that it has substance, it has hope, and it has right evidence.
Amen.
11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3. By faith we
understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the
things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. [Go
Top]
Testimony: it means to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something.
Here, it refers to a life of faith where the person believes in the promise of
God and lives a life affirming his convictions. He knows that this is true
because it was taught by divine revelation or inspiration. Elders here refers
to the faithful believers of great influence in the old testament whose list
follows. First principle of faith is that the material world which we see and
experience was created by God. Genesis clearly teaches that out of nothing
but by the word of God the heaven and the earth were created. There is
a creator behind this universe and hence it will function according to His
laws. Further, we are created by Him and we also should function according
to His law, and the most cardinal one is to have faith in Him and exhibit
it in how we live in this world. Prayer: Father, I thank you for the life of
the elders which motivates me and servers as an example to follow. Lord, I
pray for Your grace to live a life of faith to obtain a good testimony like
saints of the past. I am amazed at the wisdom and power demonstrated
in creating this universe. In reverential adoration I submit my life to You.
Amen.
11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God
testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. [Go
Top]
This chapter is popularly called the hall of faith - all those who in the past
demonstrated faith in their life which should challenge us, motivate us, and serve as
models to imitate. The fact that they are all mere humans with their own sinful
failures comforts us with hope that we too can have a life of faith with this sinful
body, in this corrupted world, and even when the evil devil opposes. We read in
Genesis that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted while that of Cain was rejected. Although
the reason is not explicitly mentioned there, connecting various verses, one can
deduce that Abel’s sacrifice involved blood demonstrating his faith in the principle
that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. God gave that conviction
to Abel that his righteousness is from God and Abel demonstrated it in his sacrifice.
Note that Abel’s sacrifice involves animals pointing to shedding of blood which is a
foreshadow of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. On the other hand, Cain
offered fruits and vegetables obtained directly by human labour and that too
from the cursed earth. The phrase ‘being dead still speaks’ implies that this
event is recorded and serves as an example and warning to us: what kind of
sacrifices pleases God and what does not. Yes, not all kinds of sacrifices are
acceptable before God. Prayer: Father, thank You for the perfect sacrifice of
Your Son Jesus in which You are fully satisfied. I thank You for the grace
given to me to believe in this and thereby obtained perfect righteousness
imputed by You. Lord, I pray that, like Abel, I may obtain witness that I am
righteous.
11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and
was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he
had this testimony, that he pleased God. [Go Top]
We read about Enoch that he walked with God which implies that he lived a life of
faith and by an extraordinary act God transported him to heaven without tasting
death. It serves as a great message to us that we too should likewise live
a life of faith and God will likewise reward us taking us to heave for life
with Him (note that this does not mean that we will not taste death, but
after our physical death, we will be resurrected to a glorified body). It is
challenging to read that Enoch pleased God. The question to us is whom we are
pleasing? Is it the people around us whoever they may be? Or, am I pleasing
myself? Enoch was determined to please God. Prayer: Father, thank you
for the life of Enoch. I pray that I may likewise please You and You alone.
Amen.
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him. [Go Top]
Probably the most concise definition of faith and precise statement of purpose of a
believer is revealed here. First, without faith it is impossible to please God. Can the
scripture convey the importance of faith better than this? God is displeased when we
exhibit unbelief. Conversely, anyone can please God with faith. One need not be a
genius, rich, smart, or strong to please God. Even an ordinary person can please God
with faith. No one can give an excuse for lack of faith. Second, to please
God, one must approach Him with a conviction that God exists. It goes
along with this as an accurate understanding of who God is. Since the world
is filled with varied ideas of God, we must rely on the Biblical revelation
to comprehend the true nature and character of God so as to ensure that
the content of faith is accurate. Third, faith involves a confidence in the
goodness of God who will reward us. God of the Bible is neither a sadist nor
insensitive toward human predicaments. Lastly, one must diligently, not casually,
seek Him. This means one must have longing for Him and take whatever
effort to find out who He is and what He requires of me. Prayer: Father, You
are a God who can be pleased by feeble human beings like me. I worship
You for the goodness shown in Your reward when I seek You diligently.
Lord, help me to please You by having the kind of faith You desire in me.
Amen.
11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved
with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which
he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is
according to faith. [Go Top]
Atmospheric conditions existed during the time of Noah were entirely different. The
notable among them is the absence of flood and even rain. God told Noah about the
impending destruction of the world, by then around two thousand years elapsed after
Adam, through a worldwide flood. No one ever heard, seen or even could imagine
rain and flood. In spite of that Noah believed the words of God and his faith was so
strong that he devoted the rest of his life to preparing an ark. He and his family
laboured for about 120 years building an ark to protect them from rain
and flood which they knew only from the word of God. Not only that he
built the ark in faith but this very act was an open proclamation of the
wrath of God against the wickedness of the people of the world. Our faith
in Jesus and a life demonstrating our beliefs is an open declaration of the
impending destruction of this world at the second coming of Jesus. Our
generation, like those during the life of Noah, will mock us when we proclaim the
details of what is going to happen to this world. Nevertheless, like Noah, we
must live a life of faith. Prayer: Father, I praise You for the dramatic events
during the life of Noah that have a lasting message to me. I thank you for the
faith of Noah that is challenging me even today after about four thousand
years! I pray that You give me such faith in believing all the events unfolding
at the second coming of Jesus and fashion my life investing for eternity.
Amen.
11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing
where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise
as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him of the same promise; 10. for he waited for the
city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. [Go
Top]
Abraham is known as the father of faith. His faith is evident in his obedience to
God’s calling. It might have been tough for Abraham to leave his birth place and go
to an unknown place. Though Abraham was very rich and mightier than princes of
his time, he lived as a pilgrim staying in tents ready to move any time to any place
God directs. He was willing to settle only in the city of God which is popularly
referred to as heaven. Abraham believed this promise, hoped for it, and lived a life
exhibiting his convictions. God is building a place for us to settle and this world is
not our permanent home. Prayer: Father, I praise You and thank You for a glorious
city You are building for us. Lord, give me the grace to believe this, and
demonstrate it in my life. Direct my steps and give grace to live in this world as a
pilgrim.
11:11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and
she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him
faithful who had promised. [Go Top]
Scripture clearly asserts the faith of Sarah, first woman in this list. Her act
of faith however small it may look to us is very significant in the whole
plan of God in bringing a godly nation for Him. We too likewise consider
God to be faithful even if our external circumstances are contrary. Prayer:
Father, help me to count You faithful even in adverse external circumstances.
Amen.
11:12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as
many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which
is by the seashore. [Go Top]
What faith can accomplish is unimaginable! If we were witnessing the life of
Abraham and Sarah, I wonder, would we have ever imagined the birth of that single
child at the very old age could have resulted in the formation of a nation that has
actually determined the course of human history, both in physical and spiritual
realm. Similarly, our acts of faith, however feeble it may appear to human perception,
can have the potential to change the destiny of many. What a blessed privilege to
lead a life of faith. Amen. Prayer: Father, I adore You for what You accomplish
through puny human beings when they exercise faith in You is mind boggling. I pray
that You give me that kind of faith which will lead many to eternal glory.
Amen.
11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but
having seen them afar off, were assured of them, embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [Go
Top]
Scripture made it very clear that they have not achieved the promises of God before
they depart from this earth. Nevertheless, they had the assurance and conviction that
God will fulfill the promises made in eternity. They embraced these promises by
holding them dear to them. They were not ashamed of their faith and hence
they confessed their faith to this world by their words and deeds that they
do not belong to this world. Yes, this world is not the place where we are
going to receive the fullness of manifold promises of God that accompany
salvation. At best we can experience its shadows. The values system and
governing principles of the people of this world are entirely different and hence
we are strangers to this world. It is true that we live in this world and do
not shortcut this life for the life on this earth is a journey to heaven and
thus we are all pilgrims. Prayer: Father, thank You for various promises
that accompany the salvation. Lord, I pray that You give me the grace to
hold on to them dearly and to proclaim them to this world. Oh that I may
understand what it means to live on this world as a stranger and pilgrim.
Amen.
11:14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a
homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from
which they had come out, they would have had the opportunity to
return.16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared
a city for them. [Go Top]
The patriarchs declare by their life that they seek a permanent settlement not
of this world. They could have returned to the country from where God
called them. Archaeological evidence indicated that they left a thriving city
to an unpromising distant land. They remained as pilgrims in spite of the
opportunity to return. We too should never return to the lifestyle of this
world which we left for the sake of faith. We too have a similar promise
that the Lord will come again to take us to His glorious kingdom and hence
our life should reflect our faith like the patriarchs mentioned above. That
is why we see in the scripture that He is a God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. God seems proud of this identification. Now the question is, is God
proud or ashamed of calling Himself as Tom’s God. Prayer: Father, God of
Abraham, I praise you for acknowledging the faith of the patriarchs. Now, I pray
for grace to live a life that enables You to call Yourself as the God of Tom
without any shame. Oh, how far I am from that, but Lord, help me to bridge
that gap. Amen. Prayer: Father, thank you for the promise of glory in Your
kingdom and I pray for grace to reflect in my life that I truly believe this.
Amen.
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and
he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten
son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”
19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the
dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. [Go
Top]
Greatness of Abraham’s faith is known to us in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac.
Although God knew his faith even before this incident. Nevertheless, God tested him
so that it vindicated God’s calling and proved to humanity of his faith. Analysing
how Abraham faced this test of faith is instructive to us. God promised him earlier
that through Isaac the nations will be blessed. Then God asking to sacrifice
Isaac was contrary to the earlier promise. Nevertheless, Abraham obeyed
God even though, from a human perspective, the promise will be nullified.
Abraham knew one thing very clearly that God will somehow fulfill the
promise. Abraham thought that God would raise Isaac from the dead and fulfill
the promise. Note that no one ever raised from the dead till that point in
human history. It was easier for Abrahm to believe an impossibility than to
doubt the promise of God. That was the faith of Abraham. In a figurative
way, Isaac was dead in Abraham’s mind and God raised Isaac from the
dead, again in a figurative sense. In short, from the life of Abraham, who is
considered as the father of believers, we can define faith as believing that God
would fulfill His promise even if obedience to His command may seem to
contradict God’s promises. In other words, we have to live a life of obedience
believing that God would somehow, beyond our comprehension, fulfill His
promises towards us. Prayer: Father, help me to have faith like Abraham, yes to
believe that You will fulfill your promises concerning me. Help me, therefore,
to obey You, all my life, at all time, at any place, in every situation and
circumstances. Help to have a deep connection with You that enables this.
Amen.
11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to
come. 21. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the
sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. [Go
Top]
Not only Abraham demonstrated faith, though not very dramatic to us,
Isaac and Jacob also had similar faith evident from their blessing at the old
age. It is interesting to note that they have not blessed them with their
possessions, but with promises concerning the future. We too should be
motivated by faith. Three applications we can draw from their life: first, we must
hold on to the promise of the future till the end of our life on this earth,
second, what we must give to our next generation is the faith that we have
and not merely the earthly possessions. Prayer: Father, I praise You for
the faith-life of Isaac and Jacob. I pray that likewise, I may hold on to the
faith that You have deposited in me till the end. I also pray for the grace to
pass on this faith to my next generation both by my life and my words.
Amen.
11:22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure
of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. [Go
Top]
Joseph lived a royal life in Egypt and lacked nothing for a prosperous life for his
posterity. Nevertheless, he anticipated a time when God would take them to Cannan
and instructed his children to carry his bones to canan. Even in his burial, he carried
his faith. Today, we know there is nothing special about the physical remains of our
body. However, we have a similar promise that we will be resurrected and will receive
a new body when the Lord comes. Hence, we live anticipating that day and
life on this earth should reflect that faith. Prayer: Father, thank You for
creating us with immortality and putting faith in You will take to be with You
eternally. I pray that you give the grace to live today with this conviction.
Amen.
11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by
his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not
afraid of the king’s command. [Go Top]
Faith of the parents of Moses was exemplary. They saw in him beauty (or divinity)
that prompted them to take a life threatening risk by disobeying the king who
commanded all the male children be killed. What an example of the faith of parents
shown towards their children. No wonder that God honored their faith not only in
preserving the life of their child, but also raised him to be the builder of God’s
nation. Parents must have faith in God on behalf of their children and God will
honor such faith by blessing their children. Needless to say that faith often requires
disobeying earthly authorities when their commands are contrary to God. Faith is
putting our life in the hand of God rather than protecting it by cowardly
compromises. Prayer: Father, thank you for the life of the exemplary faith of the
parents of Moses and how You have honored their faith in You. I pray for
such faith on behalf of my children and experiencing Your favour in them.
Amen.
11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the
reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he
looked to the reward. [Go Top]
Very practical application of faith that requires tremendous courage and boldness.
When Moses realized his true identity is Jewish, he refused to be called as the son of
Pharaoh’s daughter. We can reasonably assume that Moses received some instruction
about Jewish history and God has called them to be a great nation who will be a
blessing to humanity. He could have easily continued in the palace and enjoyed the
luxurious life of power and pleasure. Instead, he chose to associate with Jews
who were slaves at that time. Note that there was absolutely no benefit
of living as a Jew. On the contrary, he had to lose all the privileges of a
royal life even to the point of becoming their enemy and suffer affliction. It
was foolish from a human perspective to think that the Egyptian empire,
with all its might and glory, is nothing before the ‘nation’ of Israel. Can we
call Israel a nation at that point of time? Not at all; they were a bunch of
slaves for the past several centuries! Nevertheless, Moses could see beyond
natural human perception that the power and pleasure of the palace is merely
the passing pleasure of sin. Not only that, Moses could also comprehend
beyond all human logic that Egypt will perish for it is built on the might and
wisdom of the flesh but Israel will become a great nation for it is based
on the promise of the eternal sovereign God. That was the faith of Moses
who could easily give up the fortune and embraced the promise of God.
Prayer: Father, I thank you for the great faith of Moses, and I pray that I
may understand the passing pleasure of sin before me so as to reject them
and embrace the ‘shame’ and ‘pain’ associated with a life of faith in Christ.
Amen.
11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he
endured as seeing Him who is invisible. [Go Top]
It might not have been easier for Moses to forsook Egypt and invite the wrath of the
king. Although now we may appreciate his decision, imagine what stand we would
have taken if we were in his place. Continuing in the palace would have been the
most logical way forward for it gives peace, prosperity, security, and even
the prospect of becoming the next Pharaoh. We may even think that if I
become the next Pharaoh, I could easily help the Jews. Why should I sacrifice
the prospect of a great career and risk my life for no benefit? If I ask for
advice from believers, many of them would advise to be practical, not to be
emotional, don’t be fanatic, and so on. Unlike us, Moses had very strong spiritual
conviction that suffering with God is far better than the reining as Pharaoh.
He was able to perceive all the prospect of pleasure and pomp of Egypt
is deceptively temporal while the fulfilment and glory from the invisible
God is everlasting. That is faith: realistic assessment of what this world can
offer versus a life solely based on the promises of God. Prayer: Father, I
worship You, though You are invisible but absolutely real and I thank You for
the promises that bring great fulfillment when believed and acted on it.
Lord, I pray that like Moses, I may forsake the pleasures that this world is
offering, and endure hardships, though momentary, for the sake of faith in You.
Amen.
11:28. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he
who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29. By faith they passed
through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting
to do so, were drowned. [Go Top]
Events surrounding the institution of Passover are dramatic. God commanded
Moses to instruct Isralites to observe Passover and to apply blood on their
door so that angels of death will spare their first born. Not only did Moses
believe, but he had the faith that the people will believe in his words. We
may require great faith to act based on the words of God, but greater faith
is required when we tell others what God commanded and expects them
to act based on our words. It may be relatively easier for us to face the
consequence of acting based on the word of God. However, it is much more
difficult to face the consequences in others’ lives when they act based on our
words, even though it is from God. Having faith in God is a great thing, but
others will have faith in God by our words is a greater thing. Moses had
such greater faith. Lives of the entire Israel depended upon the words of
Moses, both at the Passover and crossing the Red Sea. Prayer: Father, thank
You for using Moses to kindle faith in the people of Israel. Lord, I pray
that grace may be given to me to instill faith in others by life and words.
Amen.
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for
seven days. 31. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who
did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. [Go
Top]
Two more incidents of exemplary faith, the first shown by the people of Israel and
the other by an individual, surprisingly from an unexpected source. Jericho was
informidable due to its strong walls. The people of Israel just entered the gateway of
Canan. God asked them to encircle the city with praises and many more such things,
all of which does not make any sense in the context of a war. Nevertheless, people
believed and the unbelievable happened. In the next incident we see Rahab shows her
faith in the true God. Her faith stands out for several reasons: she is a woman,
she was a harlot, and she was from gentile. No one might have told him
that God of Israel is the true God. Moreover, by siding with the spies she
risked the life of her family too. We can learn from the first incident that
the faith involves acting contrary to human wisdom only when explicitly
commanded by God. Second incident teaches that even if all the circumstances are
contrary to exercise faith, true faith circumvents all hindrances. Prayer: Father,
thank You for demonstrating Your power when people acted in faith and also
honoring Rahab when she acted in faith in spite of her adverse circumstances.
Lord, I pray for such faith that brings Your power and approval in my life.
Amen.
11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of
Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel
and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the
armies of the aliens. [Go Top]
Many in the OT had demonstrated exemplary faith in their life, each going through
different trials, varying in details and degree, but had one thing in common that they
held onto the hope and trust in God who is able to deliver them out. It is amazing to
see what faith can accomplish in our life. Faith unleashes God’s power in our life.
Some may be dramatic, while many may appear normal at glance. God is pleased
when we exercise faith, and enables us for unimaginable outcomes. Prayer: Father, I
worship You for the life of great men on the faith and pray for such faith in my
life.
11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection. [Go Top]
Not only men, but many women also share the list of people of exemplary faith.
They are equally valuable before God as men. Reference might be about the widow
who got her son back to life during the days of Elijah. We may not know who all
belong to the ‘other’ who were tortured. Though we don’t know the details, two
things are certain: first, God values the faith of women and promises reward for their
faith; second, many women demonstrated exemplary faith, and in many cases
excelled the contemporary men, thereby demolishing the notion that women are weak
in facing persecution. Nevertheless, be it men or women, genuine faith takes an
uncompromising stand even if that endangers one life and possession. Prayer: Father,
thank you for the many women of faith and pray for my spouse, daughters, and
sisters of my church that they may excel in faith and a life reflecting that.
Amen.
11:36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains
and imprisonment. [Go Top]
Continuing the previous theme of sufferings associated with a life of faith, author
adds to list mocking, scourgings, and imprisonment etc. Diverse are the tickets of this
world controlled by Satan to extinguish the faith in us. One must not despair in the
midst of these thoughts where the power of God. Rather, one must seize them as
opportunities to demonstrate before the creation, seen and unseen the greatness of
the faith that the Lord has deposited in us. It is humbling to note that society treats
evil and wicked men also likewise. Just as light appears brighter in a dark
background, faith is stronger when opposition is great. Amazing is how God
designed the manifestation of faith: to the world it is total foolishness, but to
the faithful it is God’s wisdom hidden from the unbeliever. Prayer: Father,
marvellous is how You work when our faith is being tested. Lord, I pray for Your
grace that I may never give up the great faith You have deposited in me.
Amen.
11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain
with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being
destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38. of whom the world was not worthy.
They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
[Go Top]
Unimaginable was the suffering endured by many saints to guard their faith. Faith
appears as a vague intangible aspect of spiritual life. However, strength of faith is
manifested in the unfathomable tenacity to be faithful when it is challenged by this
world. In fact, the world, knowingly or unknowingly hates Jesus and takes all efforts
to eliminate the faith of those in Him. The world hopes in vain that their
tactics will overpower the convictions of the faithful. The more faithful they
are, the more venomous will be their means to vanquish divine faith, often
resulting in their departure from this world. Sarcastically, the author comments
that this world is not worthy of having them in spite of their impeccable
character and selfless service; leave alone the fact that they are the true
representatives of the Lord Jesus, the ultimate king of this world. Prayer:
Father, thank You for the great faith of You faithful and I pray that you may
give such a faith to and give grace to guard it no matter what the cost be.
Amen.
11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did
not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better
for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. [Go
Top]
All the men and women of faith in the old testament though did not receive the
promised perfection, but have had good testimony possible only through faith applied
in life. The new testament believers are better privileged and hence God will perfect
the old testament believers along with us. Thus, both old and new testament
believers have to wait for perfection. By the way, what we have better is not
mentioned here, references elsewhere suggests this includes the indwelling holy spirit,
fuller revelation of God, and the like. Prayer: Father, thank You for the great
privilege bestowed on me and the promise of making me perfect. Lord, I pray that
you may help me to live with faith resulting in a life having good testimony.
Amen.
Introduction to Heb. 12 and 13. Having discussed the person of Jesus in the first four chapters, the work of Christ in the next six chapters, the author defines faith in the tenth chapter along with a long list of examples of those who exhibited faith in their life. This should teach us that it is possible for us to live a life of faith that pleases God and is not an unattainable utopian idea. Nevertheless, it is important to address the question of how we apply faith in our practical life so that it pleases our God, serves as an example to others, and ultimately obtains the promise. The book addresses this in the last two chapters of the book. It is also instructive to observe how the author encourages the reader to stand in faith for the Lord by first addressing the object of our faith which is the person and work of Christ. He then motivates us by the testimonies of people who share our frailty but exemplary in conduct. After setting proper foundation, he now gives practical exhortations. Keep this biblical principle in mind when we disciple others, or even in our own life. One needs a solid understanding on whom he/she believes (i.e. the preeminence of Jesus Christ) and on what he/she believes (i.e. the superior work of Jesus Christ on the cross). Prayer: Father, thank you for the person and work of Your Son and my Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, teach me and empower me to apply faith in my daily practical life so that it pleases You, serves as a good testimony to others, and eventually becomes a great blessing to my life. Amen.
12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
[Go Top]
The chapter starts with the word ‘therefore’ which implies that the exhortations of
this chapter is highly motivated by testimonies of faith in the previous chapter. Faith
is contagious. When we exhibit faith, others are encouraged in their faith just as
others faith challenges us. The ‘cloud of witness’ refers to the men and women of
faith listed in the previous chapters. Christian life is compared to athletic
running and we need to learn some crucial principles from a good athlete.
First principle: do not care much about temporal matters. A good athlete
gets rid of all ‘weights’ that reduces his/her competitiveness; be it clothing,
ornaments, body weights, and so on. So also, our priority in terms of time,
effort, and dedication to the Lord and His business. Our temporal needs
and responsibilities should be reduced enough to ensure that the spiritual
progress is not hindered. Second, avoid all opportunities of sin which can
wreck our spiritual life. A good athlete will be careful to avoid anything
that causes fall, even small things like shoelace. How much more should we
be careful with our conduct? Thirdly, we should continue in faith without
giving up. Often Christian life is compared to a marathon race and not
a sprint. Like a marathon runner, we should endure the race till the end,
even if it is slower. Fourthly, we have a specific life set for each one. An
athlete needs to know which track he should run and should not run in
someone else’s track. So is also, the path of life set for me is not the same for
others. Prayer: Father, give me grace to get rid of all concerns and sinful
opportunities, and with consistent faith complete my life You have set for me.
Amen.
12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [Go
Top]
In spite of the great testimonies mentioned in the previous chapter, the testimony of
Jesus remains as the greatest of all. While the cloud of witnesses surrounds us, Lord
Jesus is our direction, our focus, and our goal. Looking unto Jesus implies that
we are not looking at others however great they may be, or even ourselves
including our success or failure, and any other forces of physical or invisible
realm. Not only that Jesus is the author of faith, the one who implanted
that faith in us, He is also the finisher of our faith, in the sense that one
who is able to safely take us to heaven which is our finishing point. Jesus
embraced the cross with its suffering and shame joyfully. Though the pain was
intense and real, He was obedient to His Father which is His joy. Yes, true
joy is experienced inside of us when we obey God no matter how painful
externally. This is contrary to human nature which craves for momentary
pleasure and comfort. He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
and showed clearly how the Father honored Jesus with glory and power.
Cross given by our Father now will be the Crown in future if we, like Jesus,
endure the suffering and shame associated with the cross joyfully. Prayer:
Father, great is the life of Jesus and helps us to endure suffering with joy
knowing fully that it is graciously given to honor me in eternity. Oh Lord, open
my eyes, deepen my hearts, and lift my spirit to this marvelous privilege.
Amen.
12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against
Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted bloodshed, striving against sin. [Go
Top]
There is a lot to consider and learn from Jesus how He endured hostility from
sinners while living a life conforming to the will of the Father. Unless the life of
Christ is not our motivator, we can get easily discouraged in our faith-life. Sin is so
serious that it took the very life of Jesus. The Lord Lord who created everything by
the Word of His mouth had to shed His blood should be a chilling reminder of the
gruesome nature of sin which we often take so lightly. However, what motivated the
Lord was the joy set before Him, and this should also be our motive: yes,
there is tremendous joy set before us for every victory over sin. Oh that we
should get a glimpse of it. Prayer: Father, help us to understand the suffering
of the Lord from the wicked and evil ones of this world, knowing that we
may also face similar hostility. Lord needs your grace to go deep into our
conviction of the gravity of sin and glory awaiting when there is victory over sin.
Amen.
12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to
sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be
discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD
loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” [Go
Top]
The word ‘son’ indicates the intimacy of the relation between the Lord and a
believer which gives a new meaning to the sufferings. These are not necessarily due to
the anger of God, but are acts intended for our good. Hence, we should not be
discouraged and waver in faith. Discipling is an expression of the Lord’s love. Hard to
accept when one goes through it. Hence, when things are going fine, we
should internalize this truth and teach others. Prayer: Father, I thank you for
the unchanging deep love You have for us. Lord, I pray that I may never
doubt Your intentions when going through difficulties and various sufferings.
Instead my prayer is that you give the grace to go through it triumphantly.
Amen.
12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what
son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without
chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate
and not sons. [Go Top]
Sufferings are hard to explain when a good God reigns. To God’s people it
is not the absence of God’s love for them or lack of His power to prevent
sufferings, but they are acts of paternal love. Though hard to digest, this
portion makes it so normal and logical that if I am a child of God then I will
receive not only His blessings, but also His chastenings. On the contrary,
one should doubt his relationship with God when there is no chastening
of the Father. This is ironic to the natural man who sees all sufferings as
punishments of God. Prayer: Father, I thank You for You discipline me since
I am You son. Oh Lord, it is a great privilege and blessing. I pray that I
may understand it and receive your chastening with faith and thanksgiving.
Amen.
12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we
paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the
Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us
as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers
of His holiness. [Go Top]
Biblical understanding of parenting involves painful correction when children go
astray, but always with the intention of good. Practically speaking, this intention
should be communicated to the children and they should be convinced of it.
Eventually, this will create respect in the children towards parents. If this is true in
the natural realm, how much more in the spiritual realm. No believer should forget
that God gave us life and He has authority over our soul much more than that of
earthly parents. God’s purpose of correction or disciplining is to produce holiness in
us. God is Holy, and He desires that we too share His holiness. Prayer: Father,
thank You for you want us to share You holiness, whatever it means, for we
understand it very little only. I pray that I may understand this, willingly and
voluntarily subject to all disciplining of the Lord, however painful it may be.
Amen.
12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful;
nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to
those who have been trained by it. [Go Top]
We humans are interested in pleasure and concerned about the present only.
What the Lord is doing in our life is to produce inner spiritual qualities
that will last forever. Oh that we may understand this God: His intentions
and means to achieve that we may gain the best. Like an athlete needs to
be trained constantly to achieve and retain the fitness required to win the
prize, the Lord constantly trains us with various difficulties of life so that
we will be like Him: humility, dependance, gentleness, joyful, and so on.
Such qualities will never come overnight. Hence, instead of complaining to
the Lord for the unpleasant situations of life, we must be thankful to the
Lord, and constantly examine ourselves in the light of the scripture to make
amendments in our life. This will ultimately yield to a peaceful relation
with the Lord. Afterall, it is neither desirable nor wise to oppose what the
Lord is doing in our life. Prayer: Father, thank you for You are the God
who is interested in producing righteousness in my life. Lord, I pray that I
may gain an understanding of these and be trained by Your chastening.
Amen.
12:12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the
feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that
what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. [Go
Top]
Oh what a love of the Lord who bears with our weakness. He is not a cruel God as
some think, and the same should be the attitude of each one of us. Intention of God
is to heal us from all defects that arise out of our sinful nature. On one side we are
responsponsible for our sin, and on the other side, we are helpless as far
as getting out of the curse and consequences of sin. So our Father, like an
expert surgeon, operates us and removes all defects, and His tools include
painful disciplines. He who formed me knows the best: the precise time and
measure of the disciplines. Prayer: Father, thank You once again for Your
great concern for sinful beings like me and I pray that I may comprehend
Your marvelous schemes which will heal me from sin and make me perfect.
Amen.
12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one
will see the Lord: [Go Top]
Two fold exhortations are given in this verse: one in relation to the fellow human
beings and the other in relation to our God. First, pursue peace with all people.
Purse is a word that indicates continued persistence. We as believers have peace with
God in the sense that our sins are forgiven and that we are no longer enemies of God.
However, we also need to have peace with all people: be it believers or gentiles. That
is their sin should not be a reason for us to keep animosity with anyone. Do all that
is possible so that there is peace with all people. Second, pursue holiness.
Holiness means an exclusive and supreme relation with God. Seeing is not a
physical activity, rather, it is an understanding of God which comes through
revelation. Prayer: Father, I thank you for how you designed our life with perfect
harmony and fulfillment is so beautiful and I pray for the grace to pursue
peace with all people including difficult ones around me. I also pray that You
teach me what it means to be holi and grace to be holi, the way you expect.
Amen.
12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any
root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become
defiled; [Go Top]
While the Bible teaches the security of salvation, one should not take the grace of
God lightly. We need to be careful how we respond to the grace the Lord has shown
to us; especially in guarding our inner person. Bitterness is a serious problem: it can
be towards God or others. When things happen contrary to our expectations, if we
don’t joyfully accept them as coming from the sovereign loving and wise God who
will turn all things to our good, then bitterness gradually grows in us. Often, such
bitterness is deep rooted and unless one examines thoroughly with the help of
Word of God, Spirit of God, and the church of God, it remains hidden. Such
bitterness defiles a person in the sense it robs the warmth of the relation
with God and others, especially the people of God. Prayer: Father, thank
you for the amazing grace shown to us. Lord, help to value grace as the
most supreme in my life. Pray especially that I may search my soul with
your help to uproot all kinds of bitterness toward You and the brethren.
Amen.
12:16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one
morsel of food sold his birthright. [Go Top]
The life of Esau is a chilling reminder of the great consequence of rejecting spiritual
over material, eternal over temporal, usefulness over pleasure. How often we also fall
into that trap of giving importance to the present physical need fully neglecting what
the Lord wants us to do. One will be amazed at the great loss suffered for seemingly
silly mistakes.Humanly speaking, no one can deny the genuine need of food when
Esau was very hungry. From a divine perspective, Esau fully neglected his
spiritual privilege, he took it very casually, and sold it to his brother. Jacob
on the other hand, though he acted shrewdly, understood the value of the
birthright: he did not take any exorbitant money but only the birthright
which has no practical earthly value. In our eyes, Esau may be a foolish
person, but this verse calls him a profane person. Oh how serious is the
assessment of Esau by God. Yes, one who belittles things pertaining to God is
simply a profane person. Prayer: Father, I thank you for the mercy shown to
my life and for giving me the spiritual privileges. Lord, I pray that I may
never neglect it for my present day pleasures and comforts. Instead, I pray
that You give me the grace to value it, cherish it, and use it for Your glory.
Amen.
12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the
blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he
sought it diligently with tears. [Go Top]
The implication of the fall of Esau from grace is shocking when we know that there
was no scope of return. Grace of God is not something that we get when we want,
but it is a favor from God given when He pleases to give. If we don’t receive
it when He gives, we may reach a point even if we seek it diligently with
tears we may not get it from God. Note that Esau sought it diligently with
tears. It is not my self will that matters, but it is God’s sovereign act that
results in blessings upon us. That does not mean that we should give up
seeking God: remember Jacob’s attitude when he wrestled with God saying
that I will never leave you unless You bless. Prayer: Father, I tremble at
Your awesome presence knowing the consequence of rejecting Your grace is
essentially rejecting You. Lord, I pray that I may learn from the life of Esau
and never reject Your grace, but receive it as the most valuable in my life.
Amen.
12:18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and
that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and
the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it
begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. [Go
Top]
We often take the Word of God very lightly as mere words of a book and having no
fear or respect to it. The fact is that the Word of God is awesome and powerful
though its glory is hidden ordinarily. In one typical occasion, referring to the Exodus
instance, God reveals its power and greatness. It is so glorious, that one cannot even
touch the foot of the mountain from where God spoke. The sound of a trumpet
denotes the importance of these Words, its authority over us, and binding on us just
like a soldier hears the trumpet sound. Today we don’t see, hear or experience such
awesomeness when we read or hear the Word of God. This doesn’t mean
that we can take God’s word lightly. On the other hand, by faith, one must
be convinced of the glory and power of God’s word. Obedience is the only
evidence
12:20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much
as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an
arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am
exceedingly afraid and trembling.”) [Go Top]
The holiness of God is so great that even a beast is not allowed to touch the
mountain. Note, that the beast is not going to die automatically. God commanded
His people to kill the beast. This implies that the people of God have the
responsibility to maintain the holiness of God in their midst. Even such a great man
of God like Moses also trembled before God. Prayer: Father, great is Your holiness
which (should) make me tremble. I pray that I may truly protect the holiness of You
in my life, in my family, and in my church. Lord, give me the discernment and
boldness in serving You. Amen.
12:22. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, M
[Go Top]
ount Zion and the city on its top, Jerusalem, points to the presence of God and His
throne in heaven. In heaven, God is surrounded by a huge number of angels, who
worship God and are always ready to execute the will of God. We are exhorted to be
conscious of this truth that when we approach God in prayer, we are actually
approaching God in His throne, spiritually speaking. Be reminded of the
fear of people when they approached Mount Zion and the same or more
reverence should be there when we approach God though in spirit. How much
an Israelite yielded to king David and all his successors should remind us
how much more should we surrender to God in all areas of our life. Prayer:
Father, Mount Zion reminds me of Your holiness and Jerusalem reminds
me of Your sovereign rule. I pray that I may approach You with proper
reverence and with honor that is due to You and not careless with You. Lord,
likewise, I pray that I may joyfully submit to You sovereign rule in my life.
Amen.
12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are
registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men
made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the
blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. [Go
Top]
The general assembly refers to the court of the sovereign God where we have now
access through the mediation of Jesus. The church of the first-born points
to the fact that the New Testament church belongs to the Lord Jesus and
therefore we must approach it with due diligence. Registered in heaven refers
to the security of salvation of a believer and our permanent residence in
heaven. God is referred here as the supreme Judge of all, both believers as
their redeemer and the gentiles as their creator: all must meet God and
give an account. It is scary to the one who lived a reckless life while it is a
blessing to those who fashioned their life in the fear of God. Just men made
perfect points to the sanctification work of Christ in the life of believers, that
is, the Lord constantly purifies our inner man through various trials and
disciples. In verse 25 we see that Jesus is the mediator and there is no other
mediator between man and God. He established the new covenant based
on His work on the cross. The essence of this covenant is that anyone who
believes in the death and resurrection of Jesus will receive forgiveness of
the sin and will have eternal life. The ‘blood of sprinkling’ speaks of the
old covenant where animals were sacrificed and the blood is sprinkled on
people as a sign of forgiveness from sin. Abel’s offering of the flock is the
first sacrifice made by man and hence the word ‘Abel’ refers to the animal
sacrifices of the old covenant. Essentially, the sacrifice of Jesus is superior to
the animal sacrifices started with Abel. Note that though God accepted
the sacrifice of Abel, the sacrifice of Jesus is much superior as we had seen
earlier chapters. Prayer: Father, how much more these words remind of Your
greatness and my smallness. Lord, I pray that I may approach with honor
due to You, with joy in the prospect of eternal living in heaven, and with
diligence in life knowing one day I have to stand before You. O Lord, have
mercy on me on that day, but give grace today to live in preparation for that
day.
12:25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not
escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not
escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose
voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying,
“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” [Go
Top]
God of the Bible is a communicating person and He being our creator deserves our
earnest attention. History of Israel attests the consequences of those who rejected His
voice which we see during their sojourn in the wilderness. It was so terrifying that the
judgment was accompanied by some kind of earthquake. This event is only a shadow
of the impending judgment of God unfolding at the second coming of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Book of revelation gives a detailed account of the events surrounding His
coming, both on the earth and in heaven. Prayer: Father, thank you for
communicating to me through the Word of God and the Spirit of God. I pray for
your grace to truly tremble at Your word, and obey You in submission.
Amen.
12:27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things
that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which
cannot be shaken may remain. [Go Top]
A prophetic statement of the end times when this earth will be removed and
heaven, where God dwells, will remain eternally. This physical world is not
eternal and hence, one should not put entire labour into it. Instead, one
must put best of efforts in matters related to heaven. In other words, one
should have eternity in mind while living in this world. Prayer: Father, I
thank you for Your plan for eternity: though this world is going to an end,
You will establish heaven for us. Hence, I pray that You may give me the
grace not put my hope for this world, instead long for the eternal home.
Amen.
12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be
shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire. [Go
Top]
What motivates serving the Lord is that we are going to be part of an eternal
kingdom. We need His grace to serve God, not on our natural strength. Serving must
accompany three aspects. First: acceptably. This means our service should be
acceptable to the Lord. When we serve Him according to the pattern and principles
of the Word of God, then it will be acceptable. Second: with fear. This implies one
must be aware of the greatness of God. Third: with fear. One must not serve God
that will bring dishonor to God. God is a consuming fire: while there is great reward
in serving the Lord, one must not take this for granted. Prayer: Father, I thank you
for the great privilege of receiving Your kingdom and the opportunity to serve You
today. Lord, I pray for greater insights on what it means to serve you with
reverence and fear, and grace to serve You in a way that is acceptable to You.
Amen.
13:1 Let brotherly love continue. [Go Top]
This chapter deals with practical Christian living and consists of several instructions
for daily life. First and foremost is love. What is love? And, what is brotherly love?
Love is a much mis-understood concept. Most of us think it is a feeling. A
good definition of love is: Love is an action for the ultimate good of others
often involving self-sacrifice. Love of Jesus for us is a clear illustration of this
definition. Now, brotherly love adds emotion to the love: that is not only
that the love is an action meant for the good of another person, but also
accompanied by sweet emotion. Prayer: Father, Your love for us is perfect and that
motivates us to love others. Lord, I confess that I lack brotherly love and my
love is often selfish. Hence, I pray for Your grace to have brotherly love.
Amen.
13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have
unwittingly entertained angels. [Go Top]
Hospitality is an important aspect of ministry and it should extend even to
strangers. Obviously there is an element of risk, nevertheless, the Lord will take care
of the consequences of obeying Him. Its importance is highlighted by an old
testament allusion where Abraham entertained three men not knowing they were
angels. Apparently, this is an opportunity to get reward from the Lord. Prayer:
Father, I worship Your care and concern for strangers. Lord, I pray that I
may be able to entertain strangers trusting in Your protection and reward.
Amen.
13:3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who
are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also. [Go
Top]
These prisoners were faithful believers imprisoned for their faith. The crime they
have committed was boldly proclaimed their faith which each one of us is expected to
do. In that sense, we also commit the same crime and hence deserve the
same punishment. Hence, we are exhorted to identify with them as if we
are also similarly imprisoned. Likewise, those who were mistreated were
also for their faith. One typical case is plundering of their wealth by the
enemies of the gospel. We need to identify with such, as if we are going
through the same pain and pray for them. Never look down upon them
thinking that we are good and favored by God. In such situations the body
principle must be in force: meaning, we are all part of one body, and when one
member suffers the whole body suffers. Prayer: Father, in Your sovereign plan
some believers go through persecution and some are spared: marvelous and
incomprehensive are Your ways though we know at the end will result in
ultimate good. Lord, I pray for the grace to truly and genuinely identify
with those who are suffering for the gospel and earnestly pray for them.
Amen.
13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but
fornicators and adulterers God will judge. [Go Top]
How seriously God takes marriage is seen here. Marriage is instituted by God and
honoring it is honoring God and defiling it invites God’s wrath. The motivation to
honor marriage is not with the goodness of the spouse, but in the covenant made
before God. Any action, including words and thought, that promotes a sensual
relationship outside marriage invites God’s judgment. Conversely promoting purity in
marriage, meaning an exclusive relationship with the spouse pleases God
and will be rewarded. Prayer: Father, we praise and worship You for the
beautiful institution of marriage which is a reflection of the relationship of
Christ and His church. Lord, I pray for the grace for an honorable marriage
with my one and only one spouse, and let nothing defile it even in thoughts.
Amen.
13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor
forsake you.” [Go Top]
Greed for money and material possessions greatly robs our spiritual growth. It is a
direct challenge to the sovereignty of God who gives more to some and less to others.
It may appear to be unjust who measures blessing only in material terms. Greed also
puts our focus more on self and less on God and thus robbing our intimacy with the
Lord. Greed is not a problem of gentiles, but also of believers, though often in
a subtle way. Believers cover their greed by painting it as prayer points.
It is godly to pray for our needs and leave the outcome to the Lord, thus
manifesting our submission to the Lord’s goodness, wisdom, and sovereignty.
It is ungodly to insist on God to provide us with material blessing of our
choice. Contentment on the other hand is a great manifestation of our faith in
the promise of God who promises that He will never abandon us: He will
provide my needs, in His time, in His ways. Prayer: Father, I worship You
remembering Your promise of never leaving me and never abandoning me. Lord, I
confess the sin of covetousness and not being content with what You have
given. Lord, I pray that I may be content with what You have given me.
Amen.
13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What
can man do to me?” [Go Top]
One of the greatest problems of humanity, especially for believers, is people. We fear
them, we depend on them, we try to please them, etc., particularly those who oppose
the Lord and His gospel. Whereas here the author is reminding us of a quotation
by the Psalmist asserting faith in the all sufficiency and supremacy of the
Lord. Answer to this rhetoric is that people can do almost nothing to God’s
people in comparison to the help the Almighty can provide. If we are afraid
of the people, then it questions our faith in this promise of God. Prayer:
Father, Oh that I cannot imagine how great is Your help in protecting us in
this world which hates You. Lord, I confess my sin of fearing people which
is essential doubting this promise. Oh, Lord, I believe this promise, help
my unbelief, and transform me to a person who fears You and You alone.
Amen.
13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of
God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
[Go Top]
Believers must remember their elders/pastors in the sense of imitating their godly
life. This verse also implies the necessity of rulers for believers: that is, one should
know who is his ruler and likewise, the ruler should know whom he is ruling. In other
words, believers should be accountable to their ruler and the rulers should be
responsible to their subjects. Note that the concept of ruler in a church is
diametrically opposite to that of this world. Former lead by example while the latter
by force. On a different note, this verse expects rulers with the responsibility of being
godly examples to their flock in all walks of life. Prayer: Father, we praise
You for godly rulers who shared your word to us. Lord, I pray for grace
to follow the life and ministry of godly rulers/elders You have placed in
my life. I also pray that my life also be an example to the youngsters in
faith.
13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. [Go
Top]
Theological implications are many: Jesus is God, who is eternal, immutable, and is
not a random person who came into existence in the first century. This verse has
many practical implications also. The unchanging nature and character of Jesus
Christ is seen here. Hence, His promises will stand, He is dependable, and one can
put his entire faith in Him. Contrast the Roman emperors who were ruling those days
with all might and pomp are mere humans who will die and disappear. One need not
be afraid of such mere creatures and compromise their relation with the Lord.
Even each of us should be aware of our own transient nature and character
and hence in an absolute sense should not and could not depend on self or
others, however good and smart they are. Oh my Lord and savior Jesus
Christ, You deserve all our praise, worship, and adoration. Lord, help me to
put my confidence not in any human being including myself, rather, help
me to put my life on You, convinced of Your eternal goodness towards me.
Amen.
13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is
good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which
have not profited those who have been occupied with them. [Go
Top]
False teaching is a real threat to effective chrisitan living and we have been warned
of the same. Such teachings can never make us mature followers of the Lord. Our
heart is established only by sound doctrines and care is required of both the teachers
and listernes of God’s Word to accurately understand and communicate
God’s Word. Food in this verse, as evident from the following verses, refer to
the sacrificial meat and associated food. Author asserts that such foods
had not profited the Jews who are occupied with the physical aspects but
never bothered to enquire about the reality behind those elements. Recall
that those sacrifices were actually pointing to the sacrifice on the cross and
ignoring the significance of the work of Christ on the cross will benefit none.
In short, what takes us to maturity and effectiveness is sound doctrines
derived from an accurate understanding of the scripture. Prayer: Father,
we praise You for the sacrifice of Your Son on the cross through which we
have grace for an effective life even in this world. Lord, I pray that You
establish me with the sound doctrine and give the grace not to waste my life on
trivialities.
13:10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle
have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose
blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are
burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might
sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. [Go
Top]
Even the old testament high priest cannot eat from certain sacrificial offerings
indicating the reverence to be given to those sacrifices. Verse 11 is also details of
another sacrifice pointing again to the seriousness to be given to them. Now what is
interesting is that the author brings a connection between one aspect of an old
testament sacrifice and an event in the life of Jesus. Such connections are plenty in
the book of Hebrews. Such connections are to be understood as the life of Christ on
this earth and the work of Christ on cross as realities and the corresponding aspects
of the old testament as the shadows. While the shadows had great significance in the
old testament dispensation where the reality was not yet realized, they lost their
prominence with the first advent of Jesus. That does not mean one should
discard the old testament, rather look carefully into it for enriching the
understanding of the person of Jesus and His sacrificial work on the cross.
Prayer: Father, marvelous is how the redemptive plan was progressively
revealed to us. Lord, I pray for greater and deeper understanding of who You
are and what You have done so that it will transform me to Your likeness.
Amen.
13:13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His
reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to
come. [Go Top]
The term ‘outside the camp’ referring to an aspect of the old testament sacrifice is
actually a pointer to the manner of the Lord’s death on the cross. Although the trial
happened in the city, He was crucified outside the city is an indication of dishonor
shown to the Lord even at choosing the location of His death. If we love the Lord, the
exhortation is, be willing to receive dishonor from the people of the world who
defamed the Lord. Prayer: Father, I praise for the marvelous way the scripture shows
how the Lord Jesus bore reproach for our salvation. Lord, I confess that often I
crave for the honor from the world and reluctant to identify with You before
this world fearing their reproach. Have mercy on me and I pray for Your
grace to stand with You bearing whatever reproach this world gives me.
Amen.
13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to
God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do
not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well
pleased. [Go Top]
Thanking and praising God continually is evidence of victorious christian living.
Praising means we accept what God is doing in my life and in the world is
the best thing that can happen, even if it is contrary to my expectation.
Praise can be a sacrifice when we thank God in adverse circumstances. In
such situations, we may be filled with negative thoughts like anger, sadness,
bitterness, etc. Praising God in such situations requires sacrificing our natural
responses and consciously acknowledging what God does is ultimately the
best for us and also for others, since our God is infinitely more wiser and
loving than what we can imagine. Verse 16 expands the exhortation from an
attitude to an action. Praising God should not be restricted by thoughts
and words. Rather, earnest praising outflows to generous actions that may
bring others closer to God. The exhortation is very emphatic: we should take
deliberate steps so that we may not forget this in the business of mundane life.
The reward is also equally emphatic: God is pleased with such actions and
there is nothing more rewarding than giving pleasure to God through our
feeble efforts. Prayer: Father, we praise You for all what is happening in and
around our life, for they are all according to Your sovereign and moral will
resulting as ultimately good for us. Lord, I confess my failure in praising You by
occupying my mind with various negative thoughts causing displeasure in You.
Instead, I pray for Your grace to please You by my praising and good works.
Amen.
13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch
out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with
joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. [Go
Top]
As a faithful follower of the Lord, every Christian must be accountable to the
respective church elders. It is a God ordained rule for every believer. It is not easy to
obey or to be submissive to the elders, however, this is what God expects from us.
When believers obey and submit to their elders voluntarily and willingly then it is a
matter of joy and it will be beneficial to the believers. On the other hand, when a
believer resists the elders and brings great difficulty in their ministry, that is neither
helpful to the church nor to the believers. A believer’s life is not a one-dimensional
relation with God alone. Rather it has a second dimension towards other
members of the church. A believer may deceive himself by saying that I
am fully obedient to God and fully submissive to Christ and then resisting
their elders actually shows that he’s not truly submissive or obedient to the
Lord. Therefore, the test of our obedience to the Lord and submission to the
Lord’s decision in our relation with the Church leadership.On the other
hand, the elders must not forget their responsibility also. It is not merely
conducting meetings or preaching, rather the ultimate objective of ministry is to
ensure the souls of their congregation steadily grow in the Lord. Prayer:
Father, we praise You for You care for the progress of our soul and designed
the Church as a means of that. Lord, forgive me every time I resisted the
Church leadership. Lord, I pray for grace to voluntarily obey and submit
to my leadership. Lord, I also pray as a leader of the church, to help me
to be careful about the spiritual condition of every member of my church.
Amen.
13:18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in
all things desiring to live honorably. 19 But I especially urge you to do
this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. [Go Top]
It may be surprising to some that the author of this book with his very high
spiritual standing is requesting the prayer support of the readers, many of them are
struggling in their faith. On one hand it shows the humility of the author
which needs to be imitated by mature Christian leaders that they should
not consider them beyond the need of prayer by common believers of their
congregation. On the other hand, it shows the concept of biblical prayer where
God is pleased to answer the prayer when His people ask in faith, unity and
love. As a lay person, I should realize the value of my prayer before the
Lord and earnestly pray for the leaders and rulers of the Lord’s church.
Prayer: Father, I praise You for even my prayer is valuable before You and
seek Your grace to pray effectively for Your servervants and fellow believers.
Amen.
13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from
the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work
to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. [Go
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These verses contain a very solemn benediction loaded with adoration and
supplication that can be used in congregational meetings. God the Father is referred
to as the author of peace between man and God. He accomplished this through
raising Jesus from the dead, a perfect act of accepting the sacrifice of Jesus.
By this peace is established between God and anyone who believes in the
work of Christ on the cross. Jesus is portrayed as the greatest Shepherd,
who not only died for us, but also leading and guiding us constantly on the
way to heaven. The basis of this relationship is the everlasting covenant He
made with us by the shedding of His blood on the cross. It is His covenantal
commitment that those who put faith in His work will be made perfect. He enables
us to do good work that will please Him. When we think these things our
response is an outburst of attributing glory to Him. Amen. Prayer: Father, I
praise You for establishing peace with You through the everlasting covenant
made through Your Son. Lord, You are my great Shepherd and thank You
for making me complete in You. Lord, I pray for greater grace to do good
works that pleases You and thereby give You the adoration due to You.
Amen.
13:22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation,
for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother
Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.
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The author is very sensitive to the readers of his epistel for he knows that the
exhortations are heavy and convincing. Such exhortations may not be soothing to
ears and appealing to a natural man. Maybe the author wanted to convey his care
and concern for them, but for some unknown reason could write this letter briefly.
Nevertheless, he is glad to inform them of the release of Timothy from the
prison and the prospect of personally visiting his readers along with Timothy.
These words manifest the brotherly love between the author and the readers:
such should be warmth of love among the members of the church. Prayer:
Father, how beautiful is when your servants exhibit the love which in turn is a
reflection of Your love. Lord, I confess my lack for such a love among my
brethren and pray for Your grace to show the love and receive the love.
Amen.
13:24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from
Italy greet you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen. [Go Top]
This book is not written to any specific church or a person and is probably to be
written to scattered churches and believers. Hence the final exhortation is to greet
the respective rulers of the church, namely the elders and deacons. That means the
believers should respect and be subject to their rulers, and should have a vibrant
relationship with them. Needless to say that this verse once again emphasizes the
biblica design of a believer’s growth through their local church which is ruled by
elders and deacons. In other words, it implies that every believer should be part
of a local church and should be ruled by their elders and deacons. Every
believer must answer two questions: who is your ruler, and are you ruled
by them? Similarly, every elder should answer this question: Do you know
whom you should rule and are you ruling them in the way the Word of God
exhorts? Sadly, these days, we seldom get a clear answer to these questions.
Finally, The book beautifully ends with a final benediction of the Grace
of God to all the readers. Grace that saved us and the same grace that is
needed to complete our journey to heaven and to enjoy heaven. Prayer:
Father, thank you for the way you have designed the growth of a believer
through the local church led by elders and deacons. O Lord, forgive me when I
fail to submit to those who rule over my soul. Lord, now I pray that you
give me the grace to submit my rulers to Your glory and my edification.
Amen.
The book of Hebrews is a powerful and complex letter arguing for the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant system. It presents Jesus as the ultimate high priest and the final, perfect sacrifice, surpassing the Levitical priesthood and temple rituals. The author urges Jewish Christians to persevere in their faith, not to return to Judaism, and to find assurance in Jesus as the founder and perfecter of their faith. Prayer: Heavenly Father, We thank you for the book of Hebrews. We are grateful for its profound truths that reveal the supremacy of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for showing us that Jesus is the ultimate high priest and the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice, who has completed the work of our salvation. We pray that the message of this book would strengthen our faith and encourage us to persevere. Help us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, and to draw near to Your throne of grace with confidence. May we never grow weary but hold fast to the hope we have in Him. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.