Hebrews 10:26–31: Choosing Truth or Consequences

Hebrews 10:26-31 NASB

26  For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

 What difference does Jesus make in your life?  What difference does the death and resurrection of Jesus make in your daily living?  This is a serious question.  One needs to give careful consideration to the answer.  The Apostle Paul in Romans 6 begins “Shall we continue in sin that grace would abound?  May it never be. 

We have two enemies, Satan and our flesh- the old sinful nature.  Both war against the Holy Spirit and our new nature for continual control.  This is why it is so important to be continually filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit so that we consistently bear the fruit of the spirit and not the works of the flesh.  See Galatians 5.

This passage in Hebrews 10 is a warning regarding the lack of consistency in Christian living by consistent willful sin.  In early Church history there was a group called the Nicolaitanes who falsely taught that what one did in the body (specifically sexual relations) did not harm the soul.  This is heresy.  Willful sin does damage to the sinner.  It hardens the heart.  It dulls the spirit to the things of God.  Willful sin causes the person to not take sin serious.  It becomes no big thing.

 

We all deal with habitual sin.  We each have our triggers that Satan uses our old nature to draw us into sin and then throws condemnation upon us for our failure.  The author of Hebrews is not talking about our failures into sin.  The author is speaking of a willful choice to sin over and over.  Jesus died to set us free from the power of and the final consequence of sin.   

Examples of this is the man in 1 Corinthians who was sleeping with his fathers wife with the knowledge of the church.  The Apostle Paul passed judgment instructing the church to not have any dealing with the individual and turned “him over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh that his soul would be saved.”  In second Corinthians, Paul instructs the church to receive him back into fellowship because he repented.  A second example is also in the Corinthian church in how some treated the Lord’s Supper.  “For this reason some of you are sick and others sleep (they died) because they had taken the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner by failing to examine their lives before partaking and using the occasion to be glutinous.

The point the author is making is that God will pass severe discipline/judgment on individuals who claim the name of Jesus, but treat his sacrifice for sin flippantly.  He makes that point by reminding the reader that on the testimony of two or three witnesses an individual was judged for breaking the Law.  How much more severe would judgment be for trampling the grace of God by taking lightly the sacrificial death of Jesus?  The author reminds the reader of the terrifying consequences of judgement.

I wonder how much we believe in verse 31.  “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Do we have a healthy fear of God and His discipline/judgment?  Think about that for a moment.  Many of us have had brushes with death.  Health scares or accidents that “put the fear of God” in us. . . for a time.  Unfortunately at some point we revert back.   

The children of Israel had these experiences in the wilderness wandering. They watched God split the Red Sea, walk on dry ground and watched the sea decimate Pharaoh and his army.  Yet would later complain that it would be better to be in Egypt than die in the wilderness. King Saul had similar experiences while hunting David only to repent for a time and resume his attempt to kill David out of his jealous rage.  Judas had no fear in selling Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver.  In the end, Judas tried to return the money, knowing that he was wrong in what he did.  Ultimately he hung himself over a cliff, the rope apparently broke and in the impact his body broke open. 

 
God takes sin seriously.  Serious enough to send His Son to pay the price.  Our motivation to live right shouldn’t be fear of what God may do to us, but love and a grateful attitude for choosing to save us.    

So, what is key for us to live in a manner that consistently honors God and holds in high esteem the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf?   The key is living with our minds controlled by Jesus and the Holy Spirit and not by the mind of the Flesh. 

 
I am not sure where or when I received the chart below.  It has been in an old beat up Bible I have had for many many years, possibly over 30.  It is based upon Mark 7:21-23, Romans 1:28-31, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 4:25-31 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5

 

Spirit-Controlled Living vs. Sin Controlled Living

Spirit Filled Mind.                          Sins of the Mind

Forgiveness.                                     Unforgiveness
Hope.                                                  Evil Thoughts

Appreciation                                    Covetousness
Willingness                                       Greed
Impartiality                                      Lust
Humility                                            Pride
Thankfulness                                    Ingratitude
Confidence                                        Selfish Ambition
Wisdom                                             Deceitfulness

Spirit Filled Emotions                    Sinful Emotions
Love                                                   Hatred
Peace                                                  Rebellion
Gentle Spirit                                     Bitterness
Gladness                                            Envy
Joy                                                       Bad Temper
Long-suffering                                 Anger
Kindly spirit                                     Unloving Attitude
                                                            Jealousy
                                                            Malice

Spirit-filled Mouth                         Sins of the Mouth
Truthfulness                                    Lying
Thankfulness                                   Complaining
Gentle Answer                                 Yelling
Encouraging                                    Contentiousness
Tact                                                    Boasting
Praise                                                 Slandering
Timeliness                                        Disputing
Soothing Tongue                             Backbiting
Pleasant Words                               Quarrelsomeness
                                                           Blasphemy

Spirit-Filled Behavior                   Sins of Behavior
Fidelity                                             Adultery
Righteousness                                 Without Self-Control
Obedience                                        Violence
Goodness                                          Revelry
Courage                                            Murder
Gentleness                                       Brutality
Self-Control                                     Fornication/Drunkenness
Cooperation                                    Disobedience to Parents
Sincerity                                          Insincere
Servant                                            Vain Glory

Kindness Stealing


One the whole, who is in control of you?  Is the Holy Spirit?  Are you consistently being filled with the Holy Spirit?  Is your mind being renewed?  If not you will be filled by another spirit and you will bear the works of the flesh.  Truth or Consequences-  Choose whom you will serve – God or self. 

Hebrews 10: 19-25: The Lettuce Patch

            The writer begins this section with “Therefore.”  We need to remind ourselves of what was said in the previous section. The main point is the Old Testament or First Covenant sacrifices only covered sin.  They could not cleanse conscience and forgive sin.  Christ’s sacrifice could forgive sin and cleanse our conscience.  The sacrificial system was replaced by the death and resurrection of Jesus.  God promises to forgive and forget our past rebellion against Him.  Meaning, God does not bring up our past and hold it over our heads.  Our flesh at war with our spirit and the enemy of our souls reminds us of our past.  God doesn’t. 

            So, because of Christ’s sacrifice the veil that separated us from God, as seen in the Temple, and the veil of Christ’s flesh grants all who come to God in faith access to God the Father for He (Jesus) is “a great high priest over the house of God” (verse 21).  We are encouraged to make three life giving changes.

            First, “let us draw near with a sincere (true) heart.  We can not in any way pay for our sins.  We cannot buy or earn salvation and forgiveness.  We must appropriate God’s grace to our lives and believe His forgiveness is real.  His forgiveness is forever and that we are no longer stained with sin and our conscience as well as our bodies are clean. 

            There is no sin that God can not forgive when we come with a true heart of repentance.  It can not be stressed enough, either you pay for your sins separate from God in Hell or you repent and allow Christ’s sacrifice on the cross to pay the debt of sin. 

            Second, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.”  Read and absorb the words of the old hymn, Jesus Paid it All by Elvina M. Hall written in 1865.

1. I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness, watch and pray,
   Find in Me thine all in all.”

Refrain:  Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

• For nothing good have I Whereby Thy grace to claim; I’ll wash my garments white
  In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
• And now complete in Him, My robe, His righteousness, Close sheltered ’neath His side,
  I am divinely blest.
• Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow’r, and Thine alone, Can change the leper’s spots
  And melt the heart of stone.
• When from my dying bed My ransomed soul shall rise, “Jesus died my soul to save,”
  Shall rend the vaulted skies.
• And when before the throne I stand in Him complete, I’ll lay my trophies down,
  All down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Finally, because of His forgiveness, “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”  Shouldn’t your response to Jesus be to encourage others to repent, love and honor Jesus?  That encouragement is to participate in a local assembly of believers to worship and find encouragement and support in a dark world that needs the light of Christ.  We need such encouragement to let our light shine and not hide it under a bushel. 

Hebrews 10:1-18, The All-Sufficient Finished Sacrifice of Christ

The Mosaic Law was a shadow of the heavenly reality and “of the good things to come.”  The sacrifices listed in the Mosaic Law could never “make perfect those who draw near,” even though these sacrifices were made day after day and year after year.  If they could make perfect those who made the sacrifices or those for whom the sacrifices were offered, why would they have to be offered over and over? 

The last words of Jesus on the cross were the cry “It is finished.”  Then the words, “It is finished,” flashed into his mind, and he realized afresh that the work of salvation was accomplished.  “If the whole work was finished and the whole debt paid, what is there left for me to do?” He knew the answer and fell to his knees to receive the Savior and full forgiveness of sins. That is how J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was saved.^[1]

The sacrifice of Jesus has taken away sin.  Hebrews 10:4 “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”   Why was the Old Testament sacrificial system inferior when God authorized it?  Did God make a mistake?

“The very nature of the Old Covenant sacrifices made them inferior. The Law was only “a shadow of good things to come” and not the reality itself. The sacrificial system was a type or picture of the work our Lord would accomplish on the cross. This meant that the system was temporary, and therefore could accomplish nothing permanent. The very repetition of the sacrifices day after day, and the Day of Atonement year after year, pointed out the entire system’s weakness.”^[2]

Shedding of animal blood does not have the ability to deal with the guilt of our sins.  God promised forgiveness to worshippers who believe “(Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35), but this was a judicial forgiveness and not the removal of guilt from people’s hearts. People lacked that inward witness of full and final forgiveness.”^[3]  The worshipper could never leave with a clear conscience.  So a better sacrifice was needed and Jesus’ sacrifice was not just better, it was perfect.

The yearly observance of the Day of Atonement could only remind the worshipper that the sacrifices were covered and not cleansed.  “But a body you have prepared for me” (Hebrews 10:5).  This body God prepared for Christ to “do your will, of God.”  God’s will was the ultimate sacrifice.  The once for all.  It is finished.  The only thing left for you to do is believe.   What is holding you back?  John 3:16 (NASB95) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

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^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 313.

^[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 313.

^[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 313.

Hebrews 9: To Make an End of Sin

The author of Hebrews 9 writes contrasting the first and the new covenants.  There were regulations for worship and the physical tabernacle.  There was an outer court and inner court. The inner court was partitioned off by a curtain and contained the Ark of the Covenant which contained the stone tablets, a golden jar of manna and Aaron’s rod which budded.  This was known as the Holy of Holies and only the High Priest could enter once a year on the day of Atonement.  He would pour the blood of the sacrifice for the nation upon the Mercy Seat, which was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.

The outer court was where the priests continually enter making daily offerings for sin and gifts to the Lord.  The point is made that gifts and sacrifices offered are unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshipper since they (sacrifices and gifts) “relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.”  Hebrews 9:10 (NASB95)

However, when Christ came, He entered the perfect tabernacle and not a copy or shadow and not with the blood of goats or calves, but by His own blood.  The writer asks the question comparing the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled for the cleansing of the flesh how much more with the blood of Christ cleanse the worshipper’s conscience from dead works to serve the livings God? 

Christ came to make an end of sin by His sacrifice, Heb 9:26. This fulfills Daniel 9:24-26.  There are 69 weeks of years equaling 483 years.  The Jewish calendar is 360 days to a year and each month is 30 days.  That equals to 173,880 days.   The following comes from Sir Robert Anderson’s The Coming Prince and his discussion on the 70 Weeks of Daniel.

Artaxerxes started his reign in 465 B.C. The decree to rebuild Jerusalem was given on the first day of Nisan, in the 20th year of Artaxerxes. In our calendar system (the Julian calendar) that date is March 14, 445 B.C. (Neh. 2:1) Jesus started His ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius (see Luke 3:1). Tiberius started his reign in 14 A.D., so Jesus’ ministry started in 29 A.D. Anderson believes that Jesus celebrated four Passovers during His ministry, one each in 29, 30, 31 and His final Passover in 32. With the help of lunar charts, we can calculate the exact date of ancient Passovers, so it is possible to calculate the exact day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as April 6, 32 A.D.  Five days later, April 11, 32 A.D., Messiah was in the words of Daniel was “cut off.”  This is the end of the Daniel’s 69^th week. 

The final contrast is that the priest entered the holy place (outer court) daily to offer sacrifices and the High Priest entered the inner court once a year.  Jesus’s sacrifice was once, and it was the true sacrifice offered in heaven itself into the presence of the Father.  When Christ comes again, he will come to those who eagerly await Him not referring to sin, but salvation. 

Come Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 8: Jesus, a Better Ministry, a Better Covenant

The writer opens this chapter with a summary statement about Jesus as our high priest.  Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God.  No solely human high priest sat and completed his responsibilities.  Verse two is interesting because heaven is viewed as the “true tent” that the Lord pitched and not man made. 

The human high priest is appointed by man and solely from the tribe of Levi to offer gifts and sacrifices. The high priest was responsible to make sacrifices for sin on behalf of the people they represent and to make offerings/gifts to God because of His blessings.  The high priest must first make a sacrifice for himself before he represents the people.  The high priest’s sacrifice is a lamb.  Sacrifices took place morning and evening. The point is made again that if Jesus were on earth, He would not be a priest because first He was not of the tribe of Levi, but Judah and it is and only Levi that could offer sacrifice and gifts according to the Law.

Verse five picks up again on the theme introduced in verse two.  The reader is reminded that the old covenant system is a “copy and shadow” of the reality of what is in heaven.  God warned Moses (Exodus 25:40) to make sure he made everything used for the worship of God in the Tabernacle exactly as he was shown while on the mountain.  The high priest, the Tabernacle, and everything used inside it were a “copy,” “shadow,” and “pattern.”  They reflected the reality seen in heaven.  The tabernacle is a copy, shadow, and pattern of the reality of Jesus. 

Everything changes.  “But now” Jesus has obtained a better ministry and is the mediator of a better covenant that has been enacted on better promises.  How is Jesus’ ministry better?  Jesus’ ministry is sinless.  Jesus never offered a sacrifice for his own sin as the human high priest had to.  Why is the new covenant better than the Mosaic Law?  The Law was a conditional covenant.  It was an “if/then” covenant.  If the people obeyed, then God would bless.  If they did not obey, God would discipline.  The mediator of the Old Covenant was at first Moses.  As we saw in Chapter one Moses spoke for God.  Jesus spoke as God.  That is why His is the mediator of a better covenant.  The New Covenant was enacted on better promises. 

What does that mean?  When the Law was given to Moses and he read it to the people, they responded saying “All the words which the Lord has said we will do” (Ex 24:3).  Yet the reality was far from obedience.  The book of Judges demonstrated over and over a cycle of disobedience and discipline over a 500-year period.  There was significant disobedience to God during the period of the kings to the point of King Manasseh sacrificed his son to the idol Molech.  Because of the significant disobedience of Manasseh, and the people failing to follow the Law and statutes God demanded, He sent Assyria (722 BC) and Babylon (605 BC) to take Israel (10 northern tribes) and Judah (2 southern tribes) into captivity.

Thank God for the New Covenant!!!  Why?  It is not based on my ability to keep a list of rules and regulations.  That is the fault of the first or old covenant.  The Law written on stone tablets is not wrong.  The Law is good, right, and righteous.  It is the inability of humanity to keep the Law.  The Law can’t change the human heart.  We need something else.  We need is grace.

The writer of Hebrews then quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 which is God’s promise of a New Covenant.  Just like the first, it is with the Judah and Israel.  Does that mean that gentiles are not part of the new covenant?  No.  The principle is “ to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, 2:9-10).  Yet it is also different because “they did not continue in My covenant.”

God makes the point “I will put My Laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts.”  The Law was not able to effect internal change in the people of God.  “The Law of Moses could declare God’s holy standard, but it could never provide the power needed for obedience. Sinful people need a new heart and a new disposition within; and this is just what the New Covenant provides.”^[1]  One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Peter 1:3 “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (NASB95)

God makes some powerful statements in this passage.  He says “I will” six times!!  I will effect a new covenant.  I will put My Laws into their minds.  I will write them on their hearts.  I will be their God.  I will be merciful to their iniquities and I will remember their sin no more. Grace!!

The onus is upon God.  Does that mean we have no responsibility?  Not at all.  The greatest responsibility as a disciple is to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor.  But isn’t that exactly what Jesus called us to do?  Yes, but the difference is the presence and power of God who helps us love Him and our neighbor.  God promises change from the inside out by putting His laws into our minds and writing them on our hearts doing what the Law could not do. God would then be known personally.  They will know God from the least to greatest. 

Finally, God would be merciful regarding sin and remember it no more.  Does that mean God forgets sin?  Can God forget anything?  No, but it does mean that God will forgive and not remind you of your failures.  It is the enemy of our souls and our flesh that wars against our spirit that reminds us of our past.  God never does.  That is grace!!!

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^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 307.

Jesus’ Priesthood is Better than Aaron’s – Hebrews 7:11-28

The writer of Hebrews continues his discussion of how Jesus is better by contrasting Jesus to the Aaronic priesthood through the tribe of Levi according to the Law.  The first point made is that the Levitical priesthood that comes through the Law is imperfect.  The writer asks the question; “what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?”  If the human Levitical priesthood was the end all, why did another priest arise “according to the order of Melchizedek” and not Aaron?  That is the main point.  God never set up a perpetual priesthood “according to the order of Aaron.” 

The Aaronic priesthood was imperfect from the start because it was based in and on humans and not the God-Man, Jesus Christ.    Nothing is ever written regarding Aaron saying, “You are a priest forever.” Aaron died in the wilderness and did not get to see the Promised Land because of his sin in creating the golden calf at the base of Mt. Sinai.  Recall that Aaron and Moses are brothers and their sister Miriam also died in the wilderness because of her sin of opposing Moses.

God says of Jesus, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Jesus’ familial line is from Judah not Levi and was not qualified to be a priest according to the Law, that was imperfect. Unlike the Levitical priesthood, Jesus has the power of an indestructible life.  Yes, Jesus did die, but he didn’t stay dead.  The bones of Aaron (probably now dust) are in the desert in current southern Israel or northwest Saudi Arabia.  Jesus is sitting at God’s right-hand interceding for the saints.

So, is the Law bad?  No! It is inferior and weak. The Aaronic priesthood was without an oath.  It was a birthright/responsibility and it changed because a priest could minister for only a duration of time because the human priest was inferior and weak.  Levitical priests became ill, they died, new priests were appointed to take their place.  The Law because of its weakness made nothing perfect.  The Law could never be the answer to humanities sin problem.

Before offering a sacrifice for the sins of the people the Levitical priest had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins.  Are you aware the Levitical priests made daily sacrifices?  The entire Levitical system is flawed because it is based upon flawed humans ministering to flawed humans.

Jesus on the other hand is the “guarantee of a better covenant” because Jesus’ priesthood is based on God’s oath and not a human birthright.  “The Lord has sword and will not change His mind, You are a priest forever.”  Jesus’ priesthood is permanent.  “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”   Unlike the Levitical priesthood, Jesus’ priesthood is “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.”  Jesus doesn’t need to daily make a sacrifice for His own sins because He is the sinless High Priest.  Jesus does not need to make continual sacrifices for the people.  He made one sacrifice by offering up Himself.  The Law appoints weak men as high priests, God swore with an oath to the Son who is forever perfect. 

Hebrews 7:1–10 The Similarities of Melchizedek’s Priesthood and Christ’s

1      For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,           2      to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is 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, he remains a priest perpetually. 4      Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5      And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.    6      But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7      But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8      In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9      And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10      for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

The writer of Hebrews comes back to Melchizedek to compare his priesthood with Christ’s.  The first comparison is that they are priests of the Most High God. See 7:17. Melchizedek’s name is King of righteousness and is also known as King of Salem which means king of peace.  These are titles that belong to solely to God.  Third, Melchizedek in verse three is said to not have a father or mother, genealogy or beginning of days or end, but is like the Son of God and a priest in perpetuity.  Melchizedek is a King and Priest. 

The above descriptions indicate that Melchizedek is not a human being yet verse 4 says “Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.”   He has the appearance of a human.  His name and title indicate a Theophany (an earthly appearance of God the Father) or a Christophany (an earthly appearance of Christ prior to His incarnation.  Another characteristic of God seen in verse one is that Melchizedek met Abraham.  God pursues humanity.  Jesus states in John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you.”  God pursued Moses, Joshua and all His servants.  Here Melchizedek met Abraham after the battle of the Kings and blessed him.

 Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of the spoils.  What Abraham gave was of the best.  Abraham did not take any spoils that belonged to the King of Sodom because he would not allow the king of Sodom to proclaim that he had enriched Abraham.  Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek.  Something needs to made clear.  A gift, offering, or tithe are given to God as a recognition of His sovereignty and blessing over your life. 

You are not giving an offering, gift, or tithe to a “church,” “ministry” or “pastor.”  Each does benefit from what is given, but it is first and foremost given to God.  Your giving recognizes His ownership of your life.  He is the Master, and you are the servant.  It is God who gives you the ability to make wealth. When Melchizedek met Abraham “He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all. Genesis 14:19–20 (NASB95)

Abraham is giving to the King of Righteousness and the King of Peace.  God is worthy of worship.  Further Melchizedek is identified as not having a father, mother, genealogy that can be traced, a beginning or end.  To be in the Levitical priesthood, one had to trace their genealogy back through Aaron and to Levi. If they were not able to, it disqualified the individual from being considered a priest.  We are told he (Melchizedek) is like the Son of God and “remains a priest perpetually.  That means he is alive even now.  Therefore, I hold that Jesus and Melchizedek are one and the same based upon his perpetual priesthood, and his names being king of righteousness and king of peace.  I see him as a Christophany. 

In Genesis chapters 12 through 18 God appears to Abraham.  In Chapter 12 God tells Abram (his name before God changed it to Abraham) to leave where he was a go to the land He would show him.  In Chapter 13 God appears again and tells Abram to walk the length and width of the land that God is giving him.  Abram moved his tent to the oaks of Mamre which is near Hebron. Chapter 14 is the War of the Kings where Abram fought and after the victory, he meets Melchizedek. In Chapter 15 God speaks to Abram and promises him a son. Abram questions God since he and his wife are well beyond the age of childbearing and rearing.  God takes him out into the night sky and tells him if he can count the stars that will be his descendants.  Chapter 16 is the conflict between Sarah and Hagar and the birth of Ishmael. 

In Chapter 17 there is a 13-year gap between Chapter 16 and 17.  Ishmael is 12 or 13 years old, and God promises that Abraham will have a son by Sarah, and he will be named Isaac.  God changes his name from Abram to Abraham and establishes the covenant of circumcision.  He also changes Sarai’s name to Sarah.  Abraham literally falls on his face and laughs being 99 years old and is promised a son.  It is God who names Isaac, which means laughter, as a reminder to Abraham and Sarah that nothing is too difficult for God. In Chapter 18 the Lord appears again to Abraham where he lives by the oaks of Mamre.  In the afternoon “three men” appeared.  Two were angels who were going to Sodom to destroy it along with Gomorrah.  One was a Theophany.  Abraham had a feast prepared for the three visitors and while it was being prepared God spoke to Abraham telling him that at this time next year He would return, and Sarah would have a son.  Sarah is in the tent laughing to herself and God questions Abraham why Sarah laughed. She was afraid and denied it, but God said “No, you did laugh.”  

The chapter continues with a discussion between God and Abraham regarding the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham pleads with God not to destroy the cities because his nephew Lot and his family live in Sodom.   God promises that He will not destroy the cities if ten righteous people live there.  My point in this excursus is to show that the Bible uses anthropomorphic language at times to describe heavenly beings and uses the terms “man” or “men” to describe them as they interact with God’s people.

What did Melchizedek do?  He blessed Abraham and he blessed God who delivered Abraham’s enemies into his hand.  The greater, Melchizedek, blessed the lesser, Abraham.  The lesser gave an offering to the greater, even though the lesser, Abraham, is the recipient of God’s promises. 

 In the Law that would come many years later, the priesthood was to collect a tithe from the people who were ministered to.  The writer of Hebrews states in verse 8, “In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.”   Even though the Levitical priesthood is nearly 500 years down the road, the writer indicates that Levi who “received tithes paid tithes for he was in the loins of his father.”  All of this to say that the priesthood of Jesus is superior to the Aaronic/Levitical priesthood because “the order of Melchizedek” is superior to the order of Levi because Melchizedek and Christ’s priesthood is forever and has no end.

Do not put your trust in a religion or denomination.  Your trust must be in a relationship between you and God because of Jesus’ priesthood.  He offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sin. 

Your Hope and Anchor of the Soul; Hebrews 6: 9-20

9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12  so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”  15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.  17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The writer had previously harsh words to say to those who were sluggish in their faith and dull of hearing.  It is an old saying, but still true.  Familiarity breeds contempt.  When we think that we truly “know God,” it becomes difficult to be surprised by God.  That was the main issue of the Pharisees.  They believed they knew God.  They knew the Torah (first five books of the Bible).  They knew the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings (what we call the Old Testament).  They could recite it.  Not only could they recite it, and they could also quote what previous Pharisees commented about it.  Yet when Jesus stood before them, he said you neither know me nor my Father (John 8:19).  Paul says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are unqualified?”^[1]

The author of Hebrews believed that even though he was harsh with them, he saw better things for them.  He reminds the reader that God is not unjust or forgetful of their love, work, and ministry in His name as they have ministered to members of Christ’s body. 

The writer desires that all who read his letter will be diligent and realize the assurance of salvation and hope to the end.  Don’t be sluggish in your faith but imitate faithful servants.  Moses in Deuteronomy 18:9 tells the Children of Israel to not imitate the evil practices of the nations around them.  Paul in 1Corinthians 4:16 calls on his readers to imitate him.  In 1 Corinthians 11:1 he says, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.”  Here the writer of Hebrews exhorts his readers to “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Who are you imitating?  Are you following good and godly examples?    

God has not forgotten you.  You may be in a wilderness experience where God appears far.  Moses spent 40 years on the back side of the desert before God called him into service.  It is easy to read about Abraham in Genesis and think God was speaking to him frequently.  The fact is there is approximately 10 years between God speaking to him. 

Just as God promised to Abraham that he would have a son, be the father of a nation, that kings would come from him, God has made promises to all His children.  Humans make promises and swear with an oath.  We swear by one greater than ourselves.  God can’t.  He swears by Himself.  His purpose does not change, and God can’t lie.  Take a moment and look at Ephesians 1;1-14 and read the promises God makes regarding your redemption.  God chose you.  He predestined you to be adopted into His family.  He has redeemed us, lavished grace upon us, given us an inheritance and sealed us with the Holy Spirit. 

This is your hope and anchor for your soul.  So, hang on to the end.  God is doing a work in you.  Don’t give up.   

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^[1] W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), 2 Co 13:5.

Hebrews 5:11-6:12: Do not Be Dull of Hearing and Become Useless to God

“Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits.

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 5:11–6:12 NASB).

How long have you been a Christian?  One, five, ten, twenty years or more?  Or maybe you have been a Christian one year that you have repeated five, ten twenty years or more.  Have you become dull of hearing the Word of God?  Do you just know the elementary aspects of Christianity? 

Hebrews 6:4-6. has been interpreted in four ways:

(1) that the danger of a Christian losing his salvation is described, a view rejected because of biblical assurances that salvation is a work of God which cannot be reversed.

(2) that the warning is against mere profession of faith short of salvation or tasting but not really partaking of salvation (The New Scofield Reference Bible, 1315).

(3) that hypothetically if a Christian could lose his salvation, there is no provision for repentance (The Ryrie Study Bible, 1736).

(4) that a warning is given of the danger of a Christian moving from a position of true faith and life to the extent of becoming disqualified for further service, (1 Cor. 9:27) and for inheriting millennial glory. The latter is the interpretation adopted here (Walvoord and Zuck, Heb 6:4-6).

It is not just what you say you believe, but how you consistently live that is important. Jesus said it this way; “This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8). He also said; “Not everyone who calls me Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Do your hands and feet reflect what you say you believe about God? Is your foundation sure? Does “your anchor hold and grip the solid rock?” This was the problem with Korah and Ananias and Sapphria. Their actions did not match their words.

Authenticity is rarely celebrated today. Instant gratification is the norm. So, if we can get fast food, instant oatmeal, or instant coffee, why not instant spirituality? Many have convinced themselves that Christian spirituality is akin to boiling water, adding butter and the flakes and getting mashed potatoes. What we fail to realize is that the sludge that clogs our veins from the fast, greasy hamburger, and fries and ultimately stops our biological life and kills the spiritual life. It takes some time to fix a good meal. It takes time to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:8).

Our neighbors, co-workers, family, friends, and acquaintances are looking for “something to believe in.” We will either stand for something, or we will fall for anything. That has been a principle witnessed over the years in Jim Jones mass suicide, the Heaven’s Gate cult, Branch Davidians and, more recently Warren Jeffs combination of polygamy, the abuse of women and children and religion. Some of these people (maybe all) would have described themselves as Christian years ago. They did not abide, or worship, Christ. They did not grow in Christ, and they lost authenticity. They became an imitation and believed a lie for so long that reality and truth were crowded out. I invite you examine your spiritual house.

I have written more on this in my book Your Spiritual House.

Jesus has the Superior Ordination: Hebrews 5:1-10

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2        he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4  And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”; 6 just as He says also in another passage, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.        8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The priest and priesthood were chosen by God.  Aaron was chosen as the high priest, was ordained, and installed in this office (Ex 28) out of the family of Levi.  The main responsibility was to offer the right sacrifices at the designated place by God in the designated manner at the designated time to be acceptable to God.  Tradition has it that the High Priest had a rope tied around his foot on the day of atonement incase he did something to offend God when he went in once a year to the Holy of Holies.  His body could be pulled out.

A priest is not self-appointed.  King Saul took the place of the priest and God took the kingdom from him (1 Sam 13) and gave it to David.  Korah and those who followed him (Numbers 16) tried to usurp Moses’ authority and they died.  God opened the ground and swallowed them up.  King Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:16-21) sought to enter the Temple and burn incense and God judged him with leprosy. Aarons’ sons Nadab and Abihu died when they offered “strange fire” to the Lord (Num 3:4).

The very existence of a priesthood and a system of sacrifices gave evidence that man is estranged from God. It was an act of grace on God’s part that He instituted the whole Levitical system. Today, that system is fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ. He is both the sacrifice and the High Priest who ministers to God’s people on the basis of His once-for-all offering on the cross.^[1]

The priest represented the people before God to offer sacrifices and gifts to God on their behalf as well as himself, since the priest is beset with the same sin condition as the people he represented.  The priest was not to take honor for himself but is given honor by God in his calling.  That is what was wrong with the priesthood in Jesus’ day.  Because they knew the Law, they felt themselves better than everyone else.  Jesus said; “to whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48).   

Not even Jesus sought to glorify Himself in his ministry.  Jesus said and did what He heard the Father say and tell him to do.  He pointed to the Father.  As a result of His sacrifice and resurrection, the Father said, “You are my Son, Today I have begotten you” and “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Why?  Because Jesus willingly went to the cross.  “He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.”  Because of His sinless life, Jesus became the perfect High Priest and sacrifice at the same time and “became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.” 

Who is Melchizdek?  In Genesis 14 there is a war between several city-state kings and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated.  They took Abram’s nephew Lot and his family captive.  When Abram heard of it, he led over 300 trained men in his house to recapture Lot.  “He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people” Genesis 14:15–16 (NASB95).

To simplify the story, the King of Sodom told him to keep the spoil and give him back the people.  Abram swore to God that he would not profit from the spoils of the war that the King could say “I made Abram rich.”  Abraham also met Melchizedek king of Salem which means peace.  So, Melchizedek is the King of Peace.  The text declares that Melchizedek a priest of God Most High.  This priest blessed Abram and he gave Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils not belonging to the king of Sodom. It is my belief that Melchizedek is a Christophany (an appearance of Christ prior to His incarnation in a Bethlehem manger).  More will be said on this in Chapter 7.

Suffice it to say, Jesus’ priesthood is better than the Levitical system.  He offered a better (perfect) sacrifice and all who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. 

So, what do your trust in?  Who do you trust in?  Are you trusting in what you have done or in Jesus the Messiah and what He has done on your behalf?  Denominations don’t save.  Walking an isle or praying a prayer or getting baptized doesn’t save.  Jesus saves.

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^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 291.