In-depth study of Hebrews

Transcription

1 WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY January 12 In-depth study of Hebrews Hebrews 12:14-13 Interaction Last week we discussed discipline and training, what are your thoughts? Are you a disciplined Christian? Do you train daily? Hebrews 12:14-29 In the last section of Chapter 12, the author uses two warnings (14-17 & 25-29) with a discussion of earthly Sinai vs. Heavenly Zion sandwiched in between (18-24) Hebrews 12:14-17 a Warning Peace and holiness are again mentioned with the admonition to strive for or pursue peace. o The verb for pursue is a strong verb indicating an active and urgent pursuit of shalom, God s peace. This peace is more than just harmonious living, it is a peace that only comes from relationship with God true peace, if you will. This pursuit also involves the entire Christian community. We are one, we are responsible for each other, we can have peace and holiness because we know God. Three parts comprise the first warning: o See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God We must guard ourselves and others from becoming careless with God s grace the gift of Jesus Christ. Too many Christians simply get lazy, casual or sloppy in their commitment to Christ. Don t do it! And don t let your brothers and sisters do it either! o That no root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble and by it the many become defiled. This is a concept taken from Deuteronomy 29:18. Bitterness among the church, a body of believers or a family causes pain and problems for everyone. Do you know a bitter person? What is that person s effect on others? How does bitterness go over in church life? o That no one be immoral or irreligious (godless) like Esau

2 Immoral means someone who engages in sexual sin there is no Biblical record of Esau being immoral. Perhaps Esau was called such ion Jewish tradition because he married a foreigner. Esau treated his inheritance in a cheap and idolatrous way. This was his godless behavior. Again, we are not to treat what God has done for us with a flippant attitude. Christ s life, suffering and death for us is a valuable gift to be treasured and nurtured. Once again as in Hebrews 6:4- the author uses the actions of Esau as an example that one who turns away from God cannot come back a second time. Hebrews 12:18-24 Earth vs. Heaven This section is designed to give hope to believers who are worried about falling away. This is evident as the author begins verse 18 with for. The contrast is between that which was terrifying and that which is comforting. Israel s experiences with Mt Sinai are recalled in verses o Something that can be touched is indicative of the physical nature of Mt Sinai it was tangible and could be experiences though the senses. Fire, darkness, gloom, tempest, and dread were experienced. Mt Sinai indicated an experience and not so much a revelation of anything in particular. If even an animal touched the mountain, it would be stoned. What would happen if a human did so? Moses was the only one allowed to come to the mountain, and he did so incomplete safety. But even Moses was afraid. Christian s experiences with Mount Zion are reported in verses o The description given encourages the believer to come to the mountain to approach the throne of grace with confidence. (Hebrews 4:16) o Zion was the traditional location of God s presence on Earth. o There is no doubt that the author was referring to a heavenly city and not the city of David by his use of the term heavenly in contrast to that which can be touched. o It is a place of great joy and festivity innumerable angels are present and so are the firstborn. The first born can be understood as those who have received their inheritance through Christ.

3 The metaphor of a roll is found in both the Old and New Testament and sung about in our hymns! o Those first born of Christ will be judged by God himself and those who have been made perfect and are in God s presence. Hebrews 12:25-29 A Final Warning A warning from earth and a warning from heaven. o Do no refuse the one who is speaking is the voice from heaven. This ties back to the preceding verse which says that the word we now have is more gracious than the blood of Abel. The one who is speaking is God who spoke through prophets and through Jesus. See how the author uses they to refer to Israel and we to refer to Christians. The idea of shaking the Earth comes from various OT passages, in particular, Haggai 2:6-7 o Shaking indicates judgment. o In the future, God will shake not only Sinai, but heaven as well a more intense judgment. o That which can be removed by shaking are the temporal, earthly things. That which will last forever faith, Jesus, believers will remain. Verse 28 expounds upon that which will remain- our relationship with God. Because worship involves a relationship and not a place, it will never go away! Verse 29 reminds all that God will judge and bring destruction to those who do not pay Him heed. We should take away these two things, at least, from Chapter 12: The author viewed Jesus as the prefector and pioneer of our faith by what he did here on Earth. Jesus endurance of the cross created the faith we all believe in now. Jesus is exalted he is seated at God s right hand. Because of what he did on Earth and where He is now, believers can have complete confidence and security in following Him now and in heaven.

4 Hebrews 13:1-6 These verses contain reminders of how Christians should live. They need no explanation because they are known by believers. 12:28 serves as the end of Chapter 12 but also as the tie to Chapter 13. o Brotherly love should continue. Again, a reminder that love is the basis of Christianity. Part of the kingdom that cannot be shaken is love for each other. o Hospitality to strangers. This was necessary for the early church in particular. Those entertained angels were Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18) o Remember those in prison. A reminder of the partnership we share with persecuted Christians everywhere. The literal translation for the last part of the verse is: as if you were in their bodies. o Marriage should be honored by all. Mutual love and the idea that commitment is sacred. Being holy and maintaining the sanctity of marriage is as important as maintaining the sanctity of our relationship with God. What a commentary on the sacredness and purity of marriage! o Be free from the love of money and be content with what you have. This two part exhortation is a continuation of the two part encouragement that was pervasive in moral thought throughout the Greco Roman empire. Philo of Alexandria (Jewish philosopher) who said, All the worst quarrels, both public and private, are due to greed for either a well-formed woman or possessions. The Greco-Roman moralists Lucian who said, the love of pleasure brings in adultery and the love of money. Longinus said, the love of money (a disease from which we all now suffer sorely) and the love of pleasure make us their thralls, or rather, as one may say, drown us body and soul in the depths, the love of riches being malady which makes men petty and the love of pleasure one which makes them most ignoble. We may be content with what we have because God s presence and blessings are enough for us.

5 Hebrews 13:7-19 This section begins and ends with a discussion about leaders with an exposition on Jesus stuck in the middle. The exposition seems strangely out of place, but it can be viewed as a summary of the entirety of Hebrews. Remember those who led you o A reminder to consider the leaders and their conduct. o No specifics are offered here about who the leaders are. Verse 8 Jesus is the same o If we recall the verses about Jesus being the pioneer and perfecter of our faith then the link between verse 7 & 8 becomes more clear. Verse 9a addresses a strange teaching of which we are not informed. Verse 9b may or may not be related to verse 9a. o It may be that the strange teaching has to do with food o But it seems more likely that 9b is an introduction to the discussion that begins in verse 10. Verse is the meat of the exposition. o Just as the sacrifices offered on the Day of Atonement were not eaten, they were taken outside to be burned in an offering (the blood brought sanctification), Jesus blood sanctified the people and he was taken outside the city to be sacrificed. Verse 12 & 13 begin the application o Jesus was crucified outside the camp, we should go there to accept his sacrifice. This is metaphor Following Jesus was outside the mainstream of Judaism, even society. Following Jesus brought shame take up your cross, deny yourself. Readers then and readers today are encouraged to find their own identity in Jesus. Jesus called people to leave all behind, to leave father and mother, to deny self. Definitely outside the camp! Interaction The church is inside the camp once more the church is seen as positive, as an acceptable cultural institution. How do Christians and the church once again, find themselves outside the camp? In verse 15 Christians are called to offer sacrifices of praise.

6 o God does not desire cakes, bread, animals anymore. He asks for the sacrifice of our lips, of our lives. Verse 16 tells us again that doing good and sharing is what pleases God. o These last two verses are evidence that God desires something more of his followers service and sacrifice apart from the regular worship times and places! Formal worship is good, but worship with our lives, through everyday living is better! Verse 17 picks up on the motif of leaders again. o We are to be obedient to present leaders and submit to them. These are not government leaders, but spiritual leaders as is evident buy the phrase, they watch over your souls. Leaders, spiritual leaders, have a responsibility for the salvation of their people. In verses 18 & 19 the author interjects himself into the discussion. o He asks for prayer as a leader and for his ability to come to them. Hebrews 13:20-25 Verses are a benediction with notable theological concepts. o God is the giver of peace o God raised Jesus form the dead who brought up from the dead o Great Shepherd of the sheep Moses was the shepherd of the sheep (Isaiah 63) but Jesus was the great Shepherd of the sheep. This designation of Jesus as shepherd is unexpected he has heretofore been the high priest. He is now the sacrificial sheep. Jesus is a shepherd-like priest who still guides his flock having been raised from the dead. o This is the only direct reference to Jesus being raised from the dead in the book of Hebrews! o The book ends with personal greetings. Questions/Comments?