OUR FATHER WHO WAS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THE GOD OF THE PATRIARCHS

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 11 verses 13 - 22 lists the articles of faith that the patriarches exercised while they lived and that this faith was the same faith that we in our time adopt to become members of the family of God.

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. 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 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.

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.

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.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Amen.

4

 OUR FATHER WHO PROMISES ARE THE BASIS OF FAITH

The book of Hebrews chapter 11 verses 8 - 12 says this;

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.

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she[d] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 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. 

Amen.

3

OUR FATHER WHO IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE WITHOUT FAITH

The book of Hebrews chapter 11 verses 1 - 7 says this;

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHO WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE

The book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 26 - 39 says this;

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. 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? 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.

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 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; 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. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

37 “For yet a little while,

And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith;

But if anyone draws back,

My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON IS THE HIGH PRIEST OVER HIS HOUSE

The book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 19 - 25 says this;

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. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 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.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON PERFECTED THOSE WHO ARE BEING SANCTIFIED

The book of Hebrews chapter 10 verses 11 - 18 says this;

 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. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

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.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON'S MISSION WAS WRITTEN OF IN THE SCROLL

The writer of the book of Hebrews 

 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. 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.

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.

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.’ ”

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.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON'S SHED BLOOD WAS PROOF IN HEAVEN OF THE SACRIFICE THAT SECURED THE ETERNAL COVENANT

The book of Hebrews chapter 9 verses  16 - 28 says this;

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.  

The writer of Hebrews reveals a vital component of the nature of covenants that are secured by blood.

In the same way that a legal will is only valid if the writer of the will is proven to have died, the covenant of blood is only valid if the person securing the covenant is proven to have died. The blood itself is then the proof of death. 

When blood was spilled on the ark and on the utensils of the covenant, the blood was proof that a death had been exacted upon the sacrifice in order to perform the cleansing.

All the sacrifices pertaining to the earthly tabernacle were temporal and thus had to be performed yearly with the blood being presented each time but the sacrifice that Jesus gave of His own life was eternal (once and for all)  and ascended into heaven itself where  His sacrifice became a better sacrifice because He was directly in the presence of God. 

When the Lord Jesus was on the cross, a Roman soldier pierced His side to ascertain that Jesus had legally died.
The blood that poured out of His side was the proof of death that secured the covenant. Confirmed by the precept that the life of the body was in the blood (Leviticus chapter 17 verse 11), if the blood is spilled on the ground or presented at the tabernacle, it is legal proof of the death of the one whose blood it was.

Considering the legal case that was before heaven when Cain killed Abel, the ground had received Abel's blood and the blood cried out from the ground that was proof of the death of Abel and this was enough to find Cain guilty of the crime of murder even though Cain had denied knowledge of Abel's whereabouts.

When Jesus died on the cross, the Roman soldier's verification of the Jesus's death using a spear plunged into His side resulted in Jesus's blood pouring onto the earth.  The earth quaked in revolt upon receipt of a righteous person's blood and this registered in heaven a proof of Jesus's death in the same was that Abel's innocent blood gave proof to heaven of Abel's death.

This is why Jesus said in Luke chapter 22 verse 20 , "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you".  The blood that was shed as proof in heaven, secured the covenant. 

2  

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON MEDIATES IN A GREATER TABERNACLE THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS CREATION

The book of Hebrews chapter 9 verses 11  - 15 says this;

  11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Amen.

6

OUR FATHER WHO MADE A WAY FOR MANKIND TO REACH HIM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

In the book of Hebrews chapter 9 verses 1 - 10, the writer focuses in on the practices of the earthly sanctuary that were governed by the first covenant. The spaces and accoutrements of the tabernacle all signified levels of the heavenly realm and the item pertinent to the point that the writer wanted to make was the fact that in the holy place, ordinary priests could enter to carry out tasks and routines but the inner space was the most holy place and only the high priest could enter this space and he could only do this once a year and only while he was carrying the blood for the atonement of his own sin and for the sin of the people of Israel.

In this detail of highly restricted access, the Holy Spirit was revealing that the way to the presence of God had not been made known to men and this would be true as long as the space of the tabernacle was still in operation because the activitites of offering sacrifies were ongoing in the tabernacle but still access into the inner space was not provided for anyone except the high priest. 

What was made clear in the protocols of the old order was that they were insufficient to give mankind access to their God and this pointed to the a new order that would be build by God Himself and would be mediated by the perfect and eternal Son of God.

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO PROMISED A NEW AND BETTER COVENANT AND JESUS WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF THAT PROMISE

The book Hebrews chapter 8 verses 7 - 13 gives the scriptural basis for the obsolesence of the old covenant when the new eternal covenant was revealed.  Pointing to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 verses 31 - 34, the writer demontrates that the scriptures, having prescribed the old covenant, directly mentions a new covenant that would displace the old covenant that God made with His people.  The children of Israel had broken the first covenant and as such, a new covenant of a new type that involved the transformation of the hearts of men and that would provide grace for the integration of the race of men into the family of God.

This new covenant was a better covenant that made the old covenant obsolete and so the children of children are alerted that it was coming and would overide the covenant made with their fathers.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 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. 

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. 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.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO HAS GIVEN A SUPERIOR PRIESTLY MINISTRY TO HIS SON 

The book of Hebrews chapter 8 verses 1 - 6 says this;

1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

In this passage, the writer of Hebrews continues to emphasize the qualifications of the Lord Jesus Christ as a priest who supercedes the priests of the Levitical order.

1) He sat at the right hand of Majesty in Heaven

2) He serves in the orginal God-built sanctuary of which the earthly tabernacle made by men was merely a shadow.

3) The covenant to which He is a mediator is superior to the old covenant because it encapsulates better promises.

Jesus is a calibre of high priest who can ensure eternal representation for men before the sanctuary in heaven. 

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS MADE PERFECT FOREVER BY BEING SINLESS AND BY HIS SACRIFICE FOR MEN

Hebrews chapter 7 verses 23 - 28 says this;

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Whereas the priests innuaguated by the law were flawed human beings and thus needed to offer sacrifices to cover their own sins before they could offer sacrifices for the rest of the children of Israel,  the Lord Jesus was holy, bameless and pure (set apart from sinners). The Lord Jesus was therefore the perfect priest who, already exalted above the heavens, could accurately represent humanity before God.

Also, Levitical priests, being mortal, could only serve during their life spans while Jesus is the eternally living priest  who sustains a permanent priesthood and thus His priesthood is able to completely save those who come to God through Him because He is ever present.   

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO SWORE TO THE ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS

The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 7 verses 13 - 22 continues his examination of what the king and priest named Melchizedek represented.

Because the priestly tribe of Levi did not exist at the time Abraham encountered Melchizedek, it is clear that Melchizedek come from a priestly line that had nothing to do with the Levitic priestly tribe that was later established in the law. Further to that, the Lord Jesus came from the tribe of Judah which had no prescription of priesthood.

What is revealed is that there is a priesthood that exists that is not secured through ancestral lineages but rather through the indestructibility of that priest's life which the Lord Jesus fulfilled by rising from the dead.

13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:

                       “You are a priest forever,

                        in the order of Melchizedek.”

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

                “The Lord has sworn

                and will not change his mind:

                ‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

The priesthood occupied by the Lord Jesus is also one secured by an eternal oath of God which makes Jesus an eternal priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Whereas Levitical priest were not innaugurated by oaths, the priestly line to which Jesus belonged was one that was sworn to by God himself and as such was a better covenant because it was a priesthood that was under-written by the life of God forever.

Amen.

6

OUR FATHER BEFORE WHOM WAS MELCHIZEDEK AS HIS HIGH PRIEST

The writer of Hebrews chapter 7 verses 1 - 10, having expressed how reliable the salvation through the Lord Jesus provided by God actually is by explaining how Jesus, the One who represents us before the One behind the veil that conceals the Presence, was a priest in the order of Melchizedek, goes on in this passage to reveal the significance of Melchizedek.

 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.

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. 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. 

Melchizedek (whose name translates to 'king of righteousness") and whose title of king of Salem (translates of 'king of peace'), is a figure who came from no defined place and was not in the known ancestry of the children of Israel.

After Abraham had run down and killed the kings who had kidnapped members of his family, Melchizedek approached Abraham and Abraham paid him a tithe of the spoils of the battle.

The tithe, according to the law, was to be paid to the Levite priests who were descendants of Abraham but when Abraham paid his tithe to Melchizek, the Levite priests still within Abraham, in effect, also paid their tithes to Melchizedek which placed Melchizek above Abraham and above the priestly stucture that was set up under the Mosaic law.

This puts Melchizedek in a more senior position than anyone charted in the family tree of God's people and further to that, Melchizedek blessed Abraham which is another indication of the greatness of Melchizedek who was able to bless the patriarch Abraham who had the promise of salvation for all mankind and because the absence of a mention of an end of life, Melchidek is represented as being an eternal priest.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO SWORE BY HIS OWN SELF FOR THERE WAS NONE GREATER

The book of Hebrews chapter 6 verses 13 - 20 says this;

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. 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, [mconfirmed 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.

The writer of Hebrews demonstrates from the scriptures that the promise to which we attached our hope in Christ is absolutely reliable because that promise has been sworn to by the God who is truth itself and who cannot lie.

Because of this, we can abandon our entire beings and future into God's hands with the knowledge that God has staked His integrity on His fulfillment of the promise He made. 

The centerpiece of this promise made to fallen sinners is Jesus the Christ who was the One through whom  our redemption was secured and by His priesthood, continues the work of santifying us and completing the work He began in us to prepare us for what He predestined us for.

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.

Amen.

OUR FATHER IS NOT UNJUST TOWARDS THOSE WHO HAVE TOILED FOR THE SAKE OF HIS NAME

The book of Hebrews chapter 6 verses 9 - 12 says this;

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. 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.

The writer of Hebrews, having warned his readers about the extreme hazzard of falling away after having experienced the heavenly gifts of God and having had partaken of the Holy Spirit and and having tasted of the goodness of the word of God and having participated in the powers of the age to come, reveals that he has high expactations that his readers would not go through that even though it was needful for him to speak to them in that manner.

The writer assures his readers that their work and labour of love in their ministry towards the saints sthat was done in the name of God did not go un-noticed by God and would be just towards them.

He encourages his readers to remain steadfast in their diligence until the very end of their time on earth. Whereas it is possible to become weary and sluggish, the readers of the letter are advised to imitate those in their midst who through theor own faith and patience, inherit the promises of God.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER TOWARD WHOM WE SHOULD HAVE SINCERE FAITH

The writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter 6 verses 1 - 8 urges his readers to grow beyond the foundational doctrines like repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection from the dead and eternal judgement. He encourages them to move toward maturity and completeness but  importantly notes that this is dependent on God´s permission to move ahead.

The reason God vets all those who will be allowed to surge towards maturity is that once a person has ascended into the heavenly things and partakes in the Holy Spirit, experience the good word of God and practiced the powers of the age to come, it is impossible for them to be restored by repentance if they fall away because at the enlightened level, falling away puts Christ to open shame and they would require that Christ be crucified again.

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.

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.

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.

To minimize the chance of such a thing occuring, God screens believers and only those whom He green lights (because He understands their thoughts and intentions), are able to advance towards maturity with assurance that they can stay the course.

Amen.

8

OUR FATHER WHO EXPECTS HIS SONS TO GROW TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The writer of Hebrews, at the end of the previous passage, laments the dullness of the audience´s ears as the reason why the priesthood of Melchizedek and the correspondence with the priesthood of Christ could not be explained to them.

He also laments the fact that the people to whom he was writing to explain the basics of doctrine should have already been teachers but instead  were like babies who needed to be suckled. In their state, they were not prepared to handle the word of righteousness which required that they would have, through their graduating to solid food,  be able to use their senses to disern both what was good and evil.

 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.

Amen

6

OUR FATHER WHO CALLED HIS SON AS HIGH PRIEST

The book of Hebrews chapter 5 verses 5 - 11 says this;

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”;

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. 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.

In this passage we see that Jesus did not glorify Himself but rather it was God who appointed Him to that position and we learn the principle of not self-promoting but rather leaving it to God to lift us up if it is His good pleasure. Psalm 75 verse 6 says it this way:

For exaltation comes neither from the east

Nor from the west nor from the south.

But God is the Judge:

The writer of Hebrews goes on to explain the journey of suffering that the Lord Jesus was set upon even though He prayed and supplicated to God His Father who was indeed able to save Him from death and Jesus was indeed heard because of His fear of the Lord.

Even though the Lord Jesus was a Son, while on earth He learned the highest form of obedience to the point of death and this proof of His absolute perfection made Him able to underwrite all the salvations of all the people who heard the good news of His salvation and as a result of believing the offer of salvation, obeyed Him.

The Lord Jesus, the author of salvation is then called as the High Priest whose on-going service is to represent those who were saved to God the Father and this priestly calling is "according to the order of Melchizedek" who was the high priest to whom the patriarch Abraham paid his tithe to with no begining nor end and no earthly pedigree.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO CALLS PRIESTS

In contrast to the heavenly high priest, the book of Hebrews chapter 5 verses 1 - 4 describes a high priest from among the people who could sympathize with those he served because he shared their weaknesses but that the sacrifices  he offered for others, he needed for himself.

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. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHO KNOWS THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF OUR HEARTS

The passage in the book of Hebrews chapter 4 from verses 11 - 16 uges the readers to be diligent in entering the rest of the promised land.

The writer explains that the inner most thoughts and intentions of of our hearts are plainly detectable to God who sees even the division of soul and spirit (which are comparable to the way that a joint and marrow are  linked).

And it is to God we must give an account of our entry into the rest the He provided for us.

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 

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.

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.

We who are on earth and have believed in the promise of God have Jesus the Son of God who is our sympathetic high priest in heaven who understands our weakneses having lived a physical life as we do.

As such, we should hold fast to what we have believed and testified to and we should be confident when we come before the throne of grace understanding that we have mercy and grace made available when we need it.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE REST WE MUST STRIVE TO  ENTER

The 4th chapter of Hebrews from verses 1 - 10 says this;

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. 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.” 

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.”

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. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER TO WHOM WE MUST NOT HARDEN OUR HEARTS

The book of Hebrews chapter 3 verses 7 - 19 says this;

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.

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.’ ”

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. 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.”

16 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.

The writer of the book of Hebrews cautions his readers that in the same way the children of Israel were denied access to the promised land because they stagnated in unbelief, we too could become hardened because of the deceitfulness of sin and rebel against the voice of the Holy Spirit and depart from God and fall in the wilderness having failed to enter the rest of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO BUILT THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE OF EXISTENCE

The writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter 3 verses 1 - 6, reveals that his intended audience was those of the children of Israel by how he decribes Moses, their law-giver, as a faithful messenger from God and then goes onto to describe the Lord Jesus as even more glorius than Moses because Jesus was the one who buit the entirety of house of Israel where as Moses served in the house as a testimony to the coming dispensation where the son and heir of the house would be revealed and through whom we are made members of the household of God.

In this passage, the Lord Jesus is given the title of Apostle and High Priest representing the manner in which He was sent from God on a mission of salvation for men and also for the role as an intermediary between God and man. 

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. 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. 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.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that we should remain firmly rooted in our confidence and joy in the hope of the salvation that only Christ provides.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON IS BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY

The book of Hebrews chapter 2 verses 10 - 18 says this;

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. 11 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.”

13 And again:

                    “I will put My trust in Him.”

And again:

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 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. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 

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. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

The writer of Hebrews, continuing on the subject of the pre-eminence of Christ over all things, describes how the Lord Jesus suffered as part of His mission to bring many sons to glory and the formula that allowed that to be possible was that He (Christ) was embedded with those who He came to save where He partook in the suffering of life, endured the same temptations they were subject to and as such, Jesus was able to call those who believed in Him 'brothers' for He and they were sharing a common tragectory except that Jesus did not sin and thus His sacrifice was efficacious to save human beings.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO MADE HIS SON A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGLES AND THEN SET HIM AS RULER OVER ALL THE WORKS OF HIS HANDS

The book of Hebrews continues in chapter 2 verses 5 - 9 says this;

5 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. 

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.

The writer of Hebrews, carrying forward the point from the previous passage how critical the message bourne by the Lord unto salvation was, explains that all things were made subject to angels but rather it was the Son of God under whose feet all things were put.

And the Lord Jesus, the perfect Son of God, having subjected Himself to the suffering of death on behalf of all men, ascended to the highest pinnacle of all things to Him was accorded  glory and honor.

Amen.

6

 OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDED A VERY GREAT SALVATION FOR US

The book of Hebrews chapter 2 verses 1 - 4  says this:

1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 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?

The writer of Hebrews adjures his readers to carefully attend to the things they heard that resulted in their salvation so that they wouldn´t drift away. The writer reasons that if the words of messengers was binding and that those who were not careful to heed every word that was delivered to them suffered punishment, how much more dire would the condition be of those who negligently drifted away from the words inaugurated and spoken by the Lord Himself that yielded salvation itself.

Further to that, the message of the gospel was delivered to us with signs and wonders along with miraculous gifts of the Spirit of God to attest to the veracity of the promise of salvation by believing.  

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO MADE HIS SON PRE-EMINENT OVER ALL THINGS 

The writer of Hebrews, having established the pre-eminence of Christ over all creation, lists the ancient prophetic writings that credentialled Jesus as the Son of God in Hebrews chapter 1 verses 5 - 14 which reads this way:

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”?

6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:

“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

7 And of the angels He says:

“Who makes His angels spirits

And His ministers a flame of fire.”

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.

        9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

10 And:

“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,

And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

11 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.”

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:

“Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Amen.

4

 

 OUR FATHER WHOSE IMAGE IS EXPRESSED IN HIS SON

Starting a study on the book of Hebrews, it is a book whose author is not certain. While frequently attributed to the Apostle Paul, there are reasons that this is doubted because the writer did not identify himself the way Paul did in all his other writings.

Although there are other candidates who have been proposed as the writer of the book of Hebrews like Apollos, Barnabas, Luke or Priscilla, for the porpose of this study, we shall treat the writer as anonymous.

The first 4 verses of the first chapter of book of Hebrews says this:

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 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; 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, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

The writer of Hebrews begins the book with a description of the progression of God's revelation of Himself and His intention through prophets in the past and ultimately did so by His own Son.

God's Son Jesus is described as the heir to all things and the one through whom the worlds were made and who was the brightness of the glory of God and the express or fully revealed image of God the Father and who upheld all things by the word of His power.

The Son, in His perfection as the express image of God, undertook to purge our sins and having done so, sat down the right hand of the majesty (Royal throne) in heaven taking His place as the preeminent one over all of existence and showed Himself to be qualitatively greater than the angels by what He inherited and the name he had obtained.

Amen

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