Year: 2017

The author just laid out for us in chapter 11 the saints that went before us and encouraged us to live up to their faith which is a great marker for us.  He then begins in chapter 12 by encouraging us to run the race with perseverance while looking to Jesus as the one who makes our faith perfect.  But he prefaces that remark with this great statement: “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.”  I take comfort in that statement.  Remember, he named those witnesses by name in chapter 11.  But I have other witnesses that I call out and name in my heart and in my mind: Dr. Frederick Bronkema, Rev. Frederick Bronkema, Alice Henry, Marguerite Bronkema, “Big” Al Syversten, Rev. Gus Feather, and others who have influenced me and been significant in my life as witnesses to the faith.  

We all have a cloud of witnesses who were responsible for teaching us the faith and for putting us on the right path to salvation.  Some are still living, others are no longer on this earth.  The author of Hebrews lifts up those who have left the earth.  He goes from speaking strongly and with much hope in regards to these witnesses to describe a life which is one of persecution and oppression.  Those witnesses went through it, so when we go through it, we should be able to shoulder the burden as they did, but with faith.  

He speaks to these persecutions as discipline from a parent to a child.  We are the child and God is the parent.  What is crucial to me is that he states in the midst of describing the fact that persecution is inevitable, that even while we are being persecuted…look at vs. 14: “Pursue peace with everyone.”  That is a goal after which we ought to move forward.  Let us make our goal one of pursuing peace with everyone.

I also like the words of vs.28 especially in these days when worship has become a topic of conversation at session: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe.”  It is our responsibility to offer God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe.

Let’s rest for a minute in verse 1.  Have you ever wondered what faith is?  If you have, vs.1 gives us the answer.  Listen to it again: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Skip then to vs.3 and you will see that it is by faith that we believe that God created the heavens and the earth.  We are not going to get into a creationist vs. evolution debate, but let’s just say that I believe that God created the heaven’s and the earth.  It is much less important in how many literal days and if God created in such a way so that the earth and its inhabitants would evolve.  I believe all of that is true.  The earth is more than a few dozen thousands of years old, and it is proven that species do evolve.  But the primary point, which vs.3 addresses, is that God created.  

From here we have a listing of men of faith.  Actually, strike that.  Look at vs.23 and you will find that it was by faith that Moses was hidden in the bulrushes by his parents.  They trusted that God would take care of him.  God did.  Wait, strike the men part again.  We find Rahab who is mentioned as a pillar of the faith.  

We come to the end of this chapter, again, another long one, thanks for hanging in there, and the author gives us a summary.  Look at vs. 39, all of these people who are mentioned between verses 3-39 were faithful to God, and yet they did not receive the final prize which is promised to all of us while they were still living on this earth.  They would not inherit eternal life until they were passed from this earth to the next. They were not able to taste the new covenant until the day that Jesus walked upon the earth.  

The encouragement that we receive from this chapter is that we are able to receive and understand the definition of faith.  But another encouragement is that in the next chapter we hear that these men and women of faith serve as a model for each one of us.  Let’s hold onto that thought until we get to the next chapter.

Okay, that was a long chapter.  I want to be sure that you are aware of the many verses from the Old Testament which are quoted by the author.  He is not merely writing extemporaneously, but rather quoting Scripture which would have been very familiar to the readers of that day.  Feel free to read the Scripture that is quoted. 

vs. 4: Psalm 40:6-8

vs. 8: I Samuel 15:22, Psalm 50:8-12, Isaiah 1:10-17, Jeremiah 7:21-26, Hosea 6:6

vss. 12-13: Psalm 110:1

vss. 15-18: Jeremiah 31:33-34

vs. 28: Deuteronomy 17:2-6

vs. 30: Deuteronomy 32:35-36, Psalm 135:14

vs. 37: Isaiah 26:20

vs. 38: Habakkuk 2:3-4

So, not only is this chapter long…now I just made it longer.  Happy reading!

You have to spend some time in this chapter and focus specifically on these verses: 15, 22, 26b, 28.  Let’s break them down starting with a general overview of the chapter.  The author speaks about an old covenant which was established under Moses and how important it was for this covenant to be established with blood.  It was the blood of the animals which were sacrificed on behalf of the people and on behalf of the priest who was offering the sacrifice for the people.  He gives the details of what was in the ark of the covenant: Aaron’s budding staff, golden urn holding the manna, and the tablets of stone on which were written the Ten Commandments.  It is really fascinating stuff, but then we move into the new covenant.  

Verse 15 gives us the first taste of Jesus described as a mediator of the new covenant.  It is Jesus who mediates, Jesus who is in between us and God, it is Jesus who steps in the chasm and in the breech that has occurred because of our sin.  His role as mediator cannot be understated.  As a mediator he has died himself which allows those of us in the new covenant to receive eternal life.  The mediator made that happen.

Verse 22 reminds us that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.  This is true for both the old and the new covenant.  The old covenant had the shedding of blood of the animals.  In the new covenant the shedding of blood was that of Jesus himself.  As a result of the shedding of Jesus’ blood our sins are forgiven.  Can we get any more basic and fundamental than that?  This is at the root of what we believe.  But we go on.

Vs.26b, now remember when there is a b after a verse it means that you only read the second part of the verse.  The first part doesn’t really pertain to what we are saying.  So, b tells us that Jesus came one time to save us of our sins.  He didn’t have to do what the priests had to do with the animals which was sacrifice them every single year.  No, Jesus’ act, once in the realm of history, was enough to wash our sins clean.  This is powerful, this is strong, this is important to remember.  When we approach the throne of grace and ask for forgiveness and ask for a personal relationship with Jesus we only need to do that once.  When we do that once, it is over, it is done, Jesus becomes our mediator, our God, our high priest, yes our Savior.  

Finally, vs.28 reaffirms our belief that Jesus is coming back again.  We do not know when he is coming back and these verses don’t address the “when”, but we do know that he is coming back.  This is far more important and absolutely fundamental to our faith knowing that Jesus is coming back again.  When he comes back again it is not to teach, it is not to heal, it is not to deal with sin like he did the first time that he came.  When he comes back again it will simply be to gather his beloved with him, those who are eagerly waiting, to be with him for eternity.  

This may, but probably not, beat out Romans 8 as the most important chapter in Scripture.  Let’s give it a second place.  Powerful stuff.

If you want to understand this verse you have to turn to Jeremiah 31:31-34.  Here we find the foundation of our understanding that Jesus came and established a new covenant.  The old covenant is the one that was based upon the law.  “But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises.”  Did you get that.  The old covenant is no longer the one which draws us closer to God.   There is actually a better covenant.  

That covenant is based upon sacrifice, made by God for us.  That covenant is based on grace, God’s grace which compensates for our sin.  That covenant is based upon faith, not works lest we be deceived.  It is interesting that this covenant that is established by Christ is called a second one.  I firmly believe that God never has a plan A and then when that goes awry He tries out a plan B.  No, this is the second covenant because the first served its purpose.  The second, however, is the one under which we live.  

He calls the old covenant obsolete.  He says that what is obsolete will disappear.  Interesting, the ten commandments are part of the old covenant… 

So, let’s talk about tithing.  The author speaks about Melchizedek, and remember we referred back to him in previous chapters and said this story which is described is found in Genesis 14.   But here we find the emphasis on the fact that Abraham gave the priest a tithe, as it is commanded by the law.  I think this is crucial, and I am saying this not to raise funds for the church, but to give each person a real life example of how God can reveal Himself in your life.  We are commanded to give a tithe of what we bring home in regards to our financial income.  What that means specifically is that we are to give 10% of what we make, of what we bring home financially to the church.  Here are some Scriptures and then I’ll speak about tithing from a personal and, I hope, salutary way.

If you are interested in this topic read these Scriptures.  If you are not, just trust me that the Bible says that we should tithe.  Genesis 14:19-20, Genesis 28:20-22, Leviticus 27:30-34, Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:26, Deuteronomy 12:5-6, Deuteronomy 14:22-29, II Chronicles 31:4-5, Nehemiah 10:35-37, Amos 4:4-5, Malachi 3:8-12.

We are speaking specifically about financial tithing here.  I have stories of when God provided to the penny for a need that we had and I attribute it directly to the fact that we have tithed.  I say this not as a recognition of righteousness on my part or on any else’s.  I say this as a recognition of God’s faithfulness.  Ever since I can remember my family has tithed.  I remember my grandmother, who was a missionary in the Congo, talk to me about tithing and how important it was.  I remember my mom speak to me about tithing when I got my first job, not even as a teenager.  

I cannot over emphasize the importance of tithing.  Jesus constantly speaks about money issues in the Bible.  But I tend to stay away from it because churches have gotten a reputation that all they care about is money.  So I stay away from that topic more than I speak about it.   But I think I am doing you a disservice as a result of that.  I should talk about it because when we turn over our worries and concerns over finances to the Lord, then so much changes in our life.  I am convinced that if everyone tithed then they would not have to worry about God providing.  God promises to meet our needs.  Notice I did not say that he promises to meet our wants.  He promises to meet our needs.  I trust that because God has met our needs time after time.  

The first three verses contain some of the most crucial elements of the Christian faith laid out before us in Scripture.  Listen to what the author addresses.  He speaks about repentance from dead works.  This is the fundamental understanding in Christianity that if we truly love Jesus then we would abhor evil and turn our back against it.  We hear about a faith which is given to us as a gift from God.  The faith that we have has to be a faith that is seen in the Gospels where Jesus constantly chastises his disciples because they have little faith.  It is a faith that belongs to us, but is given to us.

We then leave verse 1 and move into 2 where early on, remember we are still in the first century, the author speaks about baptism.  He also addresses the laying on of hands.  This is crucial.  The laying on hands, and baptism as well, are both parts of our worship service in which we take part even today.  We lay on hands for our deacons and elders because it was done first in the Acts of the Apostles.  We believe that the Holy Spirit moves within the congregation and the laying on of hands demonstrates the power and the potentiality of the Holy Spirit within the church and within our lives.  He doesn’t stop there but transitions to the resurrection which is arguably one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith.  He then finishes it up with a conversation, albeit brief, about judgment day.  So much in two verses from an author whom we might think does not have the developed and sophisticated theology that we might have.  

Then he dives right into a topic which is very, very controversial.  Can you lose your faith once you have it?  It seems that the author says yes, you can lose it.  Now, we need to be clear and say that our theology does not allow that.  There is plenty of Scripture which assures us of our salvation in perpetuity.  We can do nothing to earn our salvation, so the flip side would be…think about it, we can do nothing to lose our salvation.  Look at these verses and see if you can find a message about salvation always being in the hands of God, and we serve a gracious God.  John 10:28-29, Ephesians 1:4-5, Romans 11:29, John 6:37, 39.  Once saved, always saved.

I hate to give you another Scripture to go to before we look at this verse, but jump to Colossians 1:28.  I understand the goal of church is to make sure we may present everyone mature in Christ.  As a result our responsibility begins anytime we have a point of contact with a person.  Once we have a point of contact with that person the clock starts.  We should see it as our responsibility to give that person every opportunity to become mature in Jesus Christ.  It connects to these verses in Hebrews 5 when Paul speaks about only being able to give the community to whom he is writing milk as opposed to solid food.  He says in verse 14 (I guess we are working backwards) that solid food is for the mature, and those reading this letter were still infants.

The author does go back and speak to the imagery of the high priest and their role and how Jesus is a perfect example of a high priest.  But then he brings in this guy names Melchizedek.  The literal translation of Melchizedek is “Melek” which means king and “tzedek” which means righteousness.  Jesus is the high priest after the order of the king of righteousness.  Who is this king?  Melchizedek is mentioned in Psalm 110 as a prototype to the coming Messiah.  He is also mentioned in Genesis 14 as the priest who comes and blesses Abram after battle.  You can find that in Genesis 14:18-20.  There is a less direct correlation to what the author in Hebrews is speaking about in regards to the high priest in Genesis as much as there is to the Scripture in Psalm 110.  Go ahead and read all of it and you will see what I mean.

We will hear more about this high priest Jesus and how he is, indeed, a high priest.  At least that’s what the author of Hebrews states.  Till then, hang on.

I had to read this chapter a couple of times.  Let’s set the context.  The letter to the Hebrews was written probably a bit later in the 1st century when the Christian community was really feeling the persecution and the pressure from the Roman Empire.  As a result there were a number of believers who were falling away because they felt like the cost of discipleship was simply too high to maintain an association with this group of people who loved Jesus.  I would rather not be with them and keep my life than lose my life but somehow get some spiritual benefit out of it.  You can understand that, right?  But the author of Hebrews does not have too many kind words for them as a result.

He speaks about those in the past, the Hebrews of the past, who turned their back on God.  God then declared that “they shall not enter my rest.”  This is a direct quote from Psalm 95:11.  In that psalm the author lays out the traitorous example of the Israelites in the wilderness who turned their back on God.  He speaks about the ancestors who tested God and so as a result were not able to enter into the promised land.  The author of Hebrews equates the testing in the wilderness with the current testing that was taking place in the 1st century AD.  I really can’t do the same with us.  We do not face any of the type of testing that they faced either in the wilderness or in the 1st century.  Our testing comes from our own lack of discipline since we have all that we need right in front of us.  We are not persecuted to death.  We are not starving in the desert.  We are self-content, dumb, and happy with all the wealth that we need and all the niceties that come from being an American in the 21st century.  Wait, did I just say that.

I refer you to Hebrews 4:12 you will see a quote that is often used to describe the power and the authority of Scripture.  It is a two edged sword.  Just when you feel like you are getting comfortable with it and it is starting to justify your actions and your approach to life, it cuts the other way and identifies ways in which to improve and rearrange your life so that it more closely resembles a life that God would want from us.  

Jesus and Moses are given equal time but the author makes a very clear distinction between the two of them.  

I love this painting by Raphael which is in the rooms leading up to the Sistine chapel.  It is the transfiguration of Jesus which can be found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  You see Jesus and Moses in the same space, with Jesus obviously taking a larger and more important place than Moses.  The author of Hebrews states as much.  This is crucial.  Jesus is not another Moses.  Jesus was God.  John 1 states as much, Hebrews in this chapter states as much.  Moses is the house and Jesus was the builder.  What a great image for all of us.  We are the houses which God builds and then we are able to contain all that God sends us through his Holy Spirit.  

The author warns us that if the Israelites, who had every opportunity to see the face of God and see His hand at work, hardened their hearts against him, then we have to be aware that it could happen to us.  Those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses had the opportunity to see God in ways that none of us may have ever seen him.  They saw the plagues, they saw the red sea parted and they were able to cross on dry ground while the army of Pharaoh was drowned, they saw the pillar by night and the cloud by day, they saw the quails, they saw the manna.  All of these things were miracles and signs of God’s existence.  How could they harden their hearts?  But they did.

What have we seen?  We have seen our children born, our needs met miraculously, God intervening on our behalf, jobs coming through, financial hardships overcome with miraculous gifts, spouses identified.  When have you seen the hand of God at work in your life?  Have we hardened our hearts just because of the business of life?  Have we hardened our hearts because, well, life goes on?  We are no different from the Israelites.  Even though they were able to see miracles that may not be on display today, we have received our fair share of God moments and miracles.  This warning is for us as well.