• Past — God spoke to Jews through prophets many times and many ways • Now (Last Days) — God speaks through Jesus (heir of all things; made everything) • Jesus — just like God and sustains all things with his word • After completing the purification of sins, he sat at the right hand of God • More superior than angels • God never called an angel his “Son” or say “I am your Father” • God put christ above all things; Christ will remain the same even when everything passes away • God did not tell the angels to sit at His right hand and have their enemies defeated • Angels — ministering spirits sent to serve those inheriting salvation
Chapter 2 “Warning to Pay Attention” • Pay close attention to what you’ve heard • Message through angels was binding; every wrong received just punishment in the past • God told us about salvation long ago (confirmed by those who heard Jesus, God’s signs, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit) • Humans — little lower than angels but God is mindful of them, honor them and put everything under them (Jesus) • Everything is made for Jesus; He was made lower than the angels on earth; now exalted because he died for all • Jesus and all who are made holy are part of the same family • He calls us brothers and sisters (to our father) • Jesus was human like us; by dying, he defeated the devil who holds the power of death Hebrews • Jesus became fully human to help so he can be a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God • Jesus made atonement for our sins • Because he suffered when tempted, he can help us when tempted
Chapter 3 “Jesus Greater than Moses” • Fix thoughts on Jesus (our apostle and priest) • Jesus and Moses — both faithful to God • Jesus worthy of greater honor than Moses • God — builder of everything • Moses — faithful servant in God’s house (bore witness to God’s word in the future) • Jesus — Son over God’s house • We are his “house” if we firmly hold to our confidence and hope • Hear God’s voice? Don’t harden your heart • Do not have a sinful, unbelieving heart — you’ll turn from God • Encourage each other daily — avoid hardness of heart because of sin’s deceptions • Hold firmly to our original conviction to the very end
Chapter 4 “Sabbath-Rest for God’s People” • Promise of God’s rest still stands (Don’t miss out) • If you believe, you’ll enter his rest • God’s works — finished since creation of the world • 7th Day — God rested from all his works • Unbelieving and disobedient — never enter God’s rest Hebrews • We can still enter God’s rest • God again set a certain day (“Today”) • Sabbath-rest for God’s people • Enter his rest? Rest from works just as God did • Make every effort to enter his rest (avoid perishing caused by disobedience) • Word of God — alive, active, sharper than double-edge sword, penetrates the dividing soul, judges thoughts and attitudes of heart • Nothing is hidden from God • We all have to give an account to God • We have a high pries who went to Heaven (Jesus) — hold firm to our faith • He was tempted in every way (did not sin); empathize with us • Approach God’s throne with confidence and receive mercy and grace in time of need
Chapter 5 “Jesus the Great High Priest” • Every high priest is chosen to represent the people in godly matters (offer gifts and sacrifices for sins) • High priest can relate because he is a sinner too • He offers sacrifices for himself and the people • God chooses the high priest • Jesus didn’t choose to be high priest, God choose him to be “Priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” • On earth, God heard Jesus’ prayers and petitions for us • Jesus, Son of God — learned obedience through suffering • Once made perfect (after resurrection) — source of eternal life through obedience to him; became priest forever (order of Melchizedek) • We need to learn more than elementary things Hebrews • We become more mature by training ourselves to know good from evil
Chapter 6 “Warning Against Falling Away” • God confirmed his unchanging nature with an oath • Impossible for God to lie (encourage by our hope in God) • “Hope” is an anchor for the soul (firm and secure) • It enters inner sanctuary behind curtain where Jesus is on our behalf as high priest – order of Melchizedek)
Keep studying! Half way there!
Chapter 7 “Melchizedek the Priest” • Melchizedek “King of Salem” and “Priest of God Most High” • Met Abraham after the defeat of the kings and blessed him • Tithe — Abraham gave a 10th of everything (the plunder) • Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” • King of Salem means “king of peace” • No genealogy, no beginning or end, resembles son of God, priest forever • Law required Levites to collect a 10th from the people • Melchizedek did not come from the Levites yet he collected tithes & blessed Abraham (who God gave the promises) • Lesser (Abraham) was blessed by the greater (Melchizedek “Jesus”) • Levi paid tithe through Abraham • If perfection could be attained through the Levitical priests, why would we need another priest to come? (Through Melchizedek and not Aaron) • When the priesthood is changed, the law is changed • Old Covenant – Priest made sacrifices for sins; people had to do certain things) Hebrews • Jesus came from Judah; Moses said nothing about priests in that tribe • Old covenant — set aside (weak and useless) — the law made nothing perfect • A better hope has been given (Jesus’ sacrifice) to draw us close to God • Others became priest without an oath but God made Jesus a priest with an oath “You are a priest forever” • Due to this, Jesus has become guarantor of a better covenant • Jesus lives forever — permanent priesthood • He is able to save anyone forever who come to God through him because he lives to intercede for them • He meets our needs (holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens) • Doesn’t need to offer daily sacrifices — for himself and the people • He sacrificed for our sins once for all when he offered himself • The “oath” came after the law which appointed the Son to be perfect forever
Chapter 8 “High Priest of a New Covenant” • Jesus “High Priest” — right hand of God in Heaven • Serves in heavenly sanctuary (true tabernacle) made by God, not humans • Every high priest had to offer gifts and sacrifices — Jesus did the same • If he was on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest because there were priests already here who served at a sanctuary that was a copy of what is in heaven • Jesus’ ministry in the sanctuary — much more superior than the Levitical priests • New covenant — much more superior than the old • If nothing was wrong with the old covenant, we wouldn’t need another • God told Jeremiah, he would make a new covenant with the people (different from the old) Hebrews • Put laws in their minds and hearts • Be their God and they will be his people (all know God personally) — God will forgive us our sins • Since this is a new covenant, the old one is obsolete by God
Chapter 9 “Worship in the Earthly Sanctuary & Blood of Christ” • First covenant — regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary • Holy Place — lamp stand, table with bread • Most Holy Play — golden altar of incense, golden ark of the covenant (gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff, stone tablets) • Priest entered regularly in the Holy Place to carry out duties • Only High Priest entered Most Holy Place (once a year) after offering blood for himself and the people • Holy Spirit showed us the way to the Most Holy Place was not disclosed as long as first tabernacle was still functioning • The gifts and sacrifices could not clear the conscience of the worshiper • Old system — just food and drink, various ceremonial washings — external regulations until the new covenant • Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary by means of his blood (not calves and goats) obtaining eternal redemption • Blood of Christ cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death (old system only cleansed outwardly) • Christ — mediator of new covenant (set free those who committed sins under the first covenant) • Will is put into effect upon death (first covenant goes into effect after the blood is shed) • Moses sprinkled the people, tabernacle, everything used with blood • Law required almost everything cleansed with blood Hebrews • Without shedding of blood — no forgiveness • Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary in the presence of God • He doesn’t need to offer himself over and over otherwise he would have to suffer many times since the creation of the world • Heavenly things needed to be purified but with a better sacrifice (Christ’s blood) • He offered himself once for all mankind • We’re all destined to die once and afterwards face judgment so Christ died once to take away sins of many and he will come back to give salvation to all who awaits
Chapter 10 “Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All” • Law — shadow of good things to come (not the realities) • Repeated sacrifices could never make anyone perfect (if so, they would’ve stopped and the worshipers would be cleansed for all • Sacrifices are annual reminders of sins (Day of Atonement) • Blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins • God did not want sacrifice and offering but a body he prepared (Jesus) • God wasn’t pleased with the offerings (even though it’s in the law) • Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself to accomplish the new • We are made holy through Christ’s sacrifice • Daily, the priests offered sacrifices that could never take away sins — Jesus did and now sits at the right hand of God • Since then, he awaits for his enemies to be made his footstool • One sacrifice — made perfect all being made holy • Once forgiven by God, sacrifice for sins is no longer needed • We can enter the Most Holy Place through the blood and body (curtain) of Jesus — new way Hebrews • Draw near to God with a sincere heart, full assurance that we are cleansed and purify (by faith) • Hold to the hope you profess (Jesus is faithful) • Encourage one another to love and do good deeds • Don’t stop meeting together (as some are habitually doing) • If we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left — only fearful expectation of judgment and fire that will consume God’s enemies • Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses on the account of 2 or 3 witnesses would be put to death • How much more someone who trampled Jesus? (Treating the blood of the covenant as unholy and insulting the Holy Spirit) • God is the avenger! Don’t take revenge, God will! • Do not fall under God’s punishment • Remember when you accepted Christ and the struggles you endured: publicly insulted, persecuted, thrown in jail, lose property but you were happy about it because you have better possessions to come • Stay confident — will be greatly rewarded • Persevere and do the will of God — will receive what he promised • Jesus will come and not delay • Righteous live by faith (are saved)
Chapter 11 “Faith in Action” • Faith — confidence in what we hope for and assurance in what we do not see • They ancients were commended for their faith • Creation — universe formed by God’s command • Abel — brought better offering than Cain, commended as righteous when God spoke about his offering, Abel still speaks Hebrews • Enoch — taken from earth (avoided death); he pleased God • Without faith, it is impossible to please God (must believe he exists to come to him and God rewards those who seek him) • Noah — built ark to save his family; became heir of righteousness (keeping with faith) • Abraham — told to go to a place where he would later received as an inheritance (did not know where to go); lived in tents as strangers in the land as did Isaac and Jacob • Sarah — had a child beyond childrearing age • All these lived by faith when they died yet they did not received what was promised, they only saw them from a distance • They were foreigners on Earth — longed for a better (heavenly) country • God is not ashamed to be their God; He prepared a city for them • Abraham – By faith offered Isaac as a sacrifice; believed God would raise Isaac from the dead • Isaac – blessed Jacob and Esau in regards to their future • Jacob – while dying, blessed Joseph’s sons and worshiped • Joseph – nearing death, spoke about the exodus and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones • Moses’ parents — hid him for 3 months because he was not ordinary; they were not afraid of the king’s edict • Moses — refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, chose suffering for Christ over riches of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward; left Egypt, persevere because he saw God; kept Passover to avoid the destroyer of the firstborn • Israelites — passed through the Red Sea on dry land • Jericho — walls fell after marching for 7 days • Rahab — not killed because she protected the spies in Jericho • Judges, kings, prophets — accomplished many things and suffered much • World not worthy of these people Hebrews • They were all commended for their faith yet none received what was promised to them • We all will receive together the promise and be made perfect (Jesus’ second return)
Chapter 12 “God Disciplines His Children” • We are surrounded by many witnesses — cast off everything that makes us sin • Run with perseverance in the race for us • Fix eyes on Jesus (pioneer and perfecter of faith) so you will not grow weary and lose heart • Don’t lose heart when God disciplines you • God disciplines those he loves (like a father to a son) • Enduring hardship as disciple (We are his children) • If you are not disciplined, you are not a true son • Submit to God (Father of Spirits) and live • Discipline is painful in the moment but it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who trained for it • Strengthen weak arms and knees • Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy • Without holiness, you cannot see God • Accept the grace of God, avoid cultivating evil in your heart • Avoid sexual immorality (Don’t sell yourself like Esau did his inheritance for food) • In the wilderness, the Israelites could not touch the Mount Sinai upon receiving the law or they would die • Today, we come to Mount Zion, city of God, heavenly Jerusalem, where many angels assembled before God, church whose names are written down in Heaven, God, judge of all, righteous spirits made perfect, Jesus the mediator of new covenant, sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than Abel’s Hebrews • Don’t refuse Jesus • God shook the earth at Sinai but he promised to shake both the earth and the heavens • What can be shaken will be removed and only the unshakable will remain • Jesus’ kingdom cannot be shaken — be thankful and worship God with reverence and awe because God is a consuming fire
Chapter 13 “Concluding Exhortations” • Keep loving one another • Show hospitality to strangers, some have unknowingly shown hospitality to angels • Care for prisoners and the mistreated as if you were in that position • Honor marriage, keep the marriage bed pure (God judges adulterer and all the sexually immoral) • Stay away from the love of money and be content with what you have (God will never leave you) • God is my helper; I will not be afraid, what can man do to me? • Observe you leaders who spoke God’s word. Look at the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith • Jesus is the same always • Don’t be deceived by all kinds of strange teachings • Strengthen your heart by grace, not by ceremonially eating foods which has no benefit • High priest offers animal blood into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering. The remains are burned outside the camp • Jesus suffered outside the city gate to make people holy through his blood • Let us go to him outside the camp and bear the same disgrace • We are looking for the city to come Hebrews • Through Jesus, continually offer sacrifice of praise to God • Profess Jesus’ name • Do good and share with others (this sacrifice is pleasing to God) • Have confidence in our leaders and submit to them because they keep watch over you as one who gives an account — so their work will be a joy and not a burden • Pray for your leaders and fellow believers • Have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way • Jesus equips us with everything good to do his will; let him work in us to do what pleases him
