Recap

So far in Hebrews, we've read through the comparison between Jesus and the angels, the Torah, Moses, the promised land, the priesthood, and the old covenant. Likely written in the 60s CE to Jewish Christians, the letter demonstrates how everything in the Old Testament pointed to Jesus. The letter opened establishing the supremacy of Jesus in all things. Where previously God spoke to his people through his prophets, he now speaks through Jesus.

The author compared Jesus to angels, emphasising that while angels served as messengers, Jesus, the Son of God, created and sustains all things, ruling as king. Rejecting the Torah, delivered by angels, brought judgment. Rejecting Jesus’ salvation brings far greater consequences.

Unlike the Torah’s focus on law and judgment, Jesus brought freedom and redemption. By taking on humanity, Jesus fulfilled humanity’s role to rule creation. He suffered, died, and rose again to defeat death and the sin. He now leads believers into glory as his brothers and sisters.

The author compared Jesus to Moses, noting that while Moses faithfully served as a prophet and priest, Jesus is greater. Moses was a servant in the tabernacle, but Jesus is the Son over God’s house He is the ultimate temple where believers meet God. Those who trust in Jesus become part of God’s household and share in his greater promise.

The author warned against hardening hearts like the Israelites in the wilderness. Their lack of faith kept them from the promised land’s rest. Believers now have hope in a greater rest through Jesus. One that begins now and will be fully realised in God’s eternal kingdom. They called to remain faithful, encourage one another, and trust in Jesus’ promise of eternal rest.

The readers were urged to grow beyond basic teachings. They were warned against rejecting transformation, which could harden them to the gospel. Despite this, the author expressed hope in their growth and encouraged trust in God’s promises through Jesus, the eternal high priest.

The author described Jesus as the perfect high priest, appointed by God to offer eternal salvation through his obedience and suffering. Unlike human priests, Jesus needed no atonement for himself, empowering believers to overcome sin.

Jesus, as a priest in the order of Melchizedek, fulfilled the role of a king and priest. Unlike mortal Levite priests, Jesus offered a better hope through his ultimate sacrifice, requiring no further offerings.

Jesus established a new covenant, replacing the old. Unlike the outward laws of the old covenant, this one transforms hearts, enabling a personal relationship with God. As both king and eternal priest, Jesus offered his own blood, granting believers eternal access to God and fulfilling what the old covenant could not.

In response, believers were urged to hold fast to their faith, approach God with sincere hearts, and encourage one another. Rejecting Jesus’ final sacrifice leaves no further remedy for sin, only judgment. The author encouraged perseverance, recalling the readers’ early faithfulness and urging them to endure until Jesus’ return.

Hebrews 11-13

The author now moves into the final section of the letter, pointing the examples of great men and women who have gone before them, and giving final encouragement on how to hold to this faith well.

First, they define faith. Faith is holding on to a hope of something we cannot yet see. It was faith that shaped the faithful men and women of God before Jesus. They did not know Jesus or know exactly what God was going to do, but they had faith in the hope that God would make all things right.

The author then lists many great men and women in the Old Testament. Abel, the first good man offered God his best out of faith. While he died, he was considered righteous and his story lives on. Enoch (Genesis 5:18-24) lived by faith, trusting in God so much that God took him straight to heaven. Neither could see how God was going to fix the world, but they lived faithfully, nonetheless.

Noah was faithful to building an arc, even though he could not see the rain that was coming. Abraham faithfully left his homeland for the promise of God. He was faithful (on the whole) in trusting that God would provide him with a son in his old age, even though he could not see how. Through the faithfulness of Abraham, many have been blessed.

All these died without seeing what was ultimately promised, but they trusted it was coming. They recognised that their hope wasn’t of this earth. They were like foreigners in a land foreign to them. This wasn’t their home, but their home would come.

Abraham was faithful in offering up Isaac because he trusted God’s promise that he would have descendants through Isaac. He couldn’t see how it was going to work out, but he remained faithful. Still not receiving the promise Isaac had faith it would happen and spoke in blessings over his sons. In the same way, when Jacob was dying, he blessed his sons and the sons of Joseph in faith.

Moses’ parents were faithful in hiding their son despite threats from the king. Moses was faithful, turning down a home of luxury and taking on suffering and life in the wilderness because he had faith for something better. In faith, he encouraged the Israelites to partake in that first Passover, confident that God would do what he promised and destroy all the firstborns.

It was faith that caused the Israelites to travel through the red sea into the wilderness. Faith that caused the walls of Jericho to fall down. Faith that led Rahab to abandon her people for the promise of what God was doing amongst the Israelites.

The author points out the Old Testament is full of people who were able to achieve great things and willing to go through awful struggles because of the hope and faith they had in God. And for each of them, they didn’t experience it in their lifetime.

Therefore, if they could stand and persevere in faith, then how much more should believers who now have experienced and know of what Jesus has done? In light of these great crowds of faithful men and women who have gone before them, believers should also drop the things that hold them back and run forward in faith.

And through it all, keep eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the ultimate example. Jesus was willing to face great suffering and shame for the hope that was on the other side. He endured persecution and shed blood, so believers should be willing to face similar hardships.

The author then likens it to good discipline. Quoting Proverbs 3:11-12, the author points out that good parents correct and discipline their children to develop them in maturity. In the same way, believers should see difficult times as discipline from God.

Not punishment. God is not punishing believers with difficult times. But he is using those difficult times to grow believers in maturity. So believers should seek to allow faithfulness in those difficult times to shape and grow them in the likeness of Jesus.

The author switches to some practical ways of holding to the faith. Believers should pursue peace over conflict, and they seek to embody holiness. As a community, they should encourage one another, weeding out any opportunities for bitterness or resentment as that leads to trouble and tearing people down.

They point to the example of Esau. Not appreciating what he had, he gave up his blessing, his inheritance, for a bowl of soup. It was only later that he realised what he had given up and wanted it back, but by then it was too late. In the same way, believers should be careful not to reject the faith, not appreciating what it means until too late.

This faith is supernatural, meaning it can’t be seen or touched. The Israelites experienced things. They arrived at mount Sinai to encounter God. There were pillars of fire, and darkness, and loud noises. There was God’s audible voice that struck fear into them. There was the very real reality that if someone touched mount Sinai while God was on it, they would die.

Instead, believers have come to Mount Zion. Here the author is drawing on the Old Testament idea of Zion being an idealised future mountain city where God rules and reigns. While mount Sinai brought fear and death, this ideal future mount Zion brings life and freedom.

Therefore, do not reject the voice of Jesus that points to this hope. As the Israelites were often punished for ignoring God’s messages through humans, this will be even more so for those who ignore Jesus.

May believers be defined by mutual love and showing love to strangers and people they don’t know. They should support those who are suffering in prison, as though they two were suffering. Believers should seek maintain and strengthen marriages, not weakening them with sexual immorality.

Believers should avoid money not putting their confidence in it, but in God. The author encourages them to remember their leaders, who model Jesus for them. They should examine how these leaders live their lives and what fruit that bears. If it’s good, they should follow their example.

As with other letters going around the churches, the author encourages his readers to not listen to teaching that encourages strict rules for eating and other things.

The author then highlights that under the old covenant, priests had to leave the tabernacle to get the animals and sacrifice them and then bring the blood in to offer for others. In the same way, Jesus left heaven and came to earth so that he could return and offer his blood for all.

Likewise, believers should be willing to step outside the boundaries of their groups and churches so that they might reach those outside.

Then comes some final instructions and greetings. Submit to the leaders in the church. Don’t make their job harder and that doesn’t benefit anyone. Pray for the author that they might continue to also live right. Timothy has been freed from prison and is looking to visit this anonymous author, so they will come together when they visit the original readers. And then the letter finishes.

Hebrews is a thorough reminder of the awesomeness of the gospel. Jesus is greater than everything that has come before and the salvation he brings is complete and perfect. Because of this, believers should be careful to hold on to this message, not ignoring it or abandoning it. They should seek to be faithful in how they live their lives, in light of this great hope. That is the letter to the Hebrews.

Psalm 28

This psalm is attributed to king David and falls into the category of lament psalm. There is the possibility that it was a prayer of a king as they are going through potential threats to their life. We’ll see this at the end of the psalm.

Psalm 28:1-2 - A prayer for help

Psalm 28:3-5 - A prayer for the wicked to be punished

Psalm 28:6-8 - A declaration of trust in God

Psalm 28:9 - Final request

This lament psalm launches straight into asking God to intervene. The psalmist asks God to not ignore them; to not be deaf or silent to their troubles, because without God, they will continue to fade. 

The psalmist points out that they have been crying out to God and seeking him in his sanctuary. They have been faithful in seeking for God’s help, not trying to do it in their own strength.

Then comes the second request, punish the wicked. The psalmist clearly has enemies who are causing trouble, and so they ask God to give their enemies what they deserve. These are people who pretend to want the best for others but who’s only care is themselves. They do not care about God.

Having made their requests, the psalmist declares their trust in God. God does hear. He is the strength and shield of his people. And then it mentions that God “is the saving refuge of his anointed” (Psalm 28:8). This is the little clue that the psalmist is a king, as kings were often referred to as God’s anointed.

Anchored one more in their confidence in God, the psalmist ends with one last request. May he save his people, like a shepherd who carries his sheep.