Hebrews:

Jesus, Our Sure Hope

Table of Contents

Invitation to Study 1

Introduction to this Guide 2

Introduction to Hebrews 4

1. Week One: September 27 thru October 3, 2010 7

God has spoken by His Son
Hebrews 1:1-3

2. Week Two: October 4 thru October 10, 2010 13

Jesus: Greater than Angels
Hebrews 1:4-2:4

3. Week Three: October 18 thru October 24, 2010 17

Jesus: Made Like His Brothers
Hebrews 2:5-18

4. Week Four: October 25 thru October 31, 2010 23

Jesus: Greater than Moses
Hebrews 3

5. Week Five: November 1 thru November 7, 2010 27

Jesus: Rest We’ve Been Looking For
Hebrews 4:1-13

6. Week Six: November 8 thru November 14, 2010 33

Jesus: Our Perfect High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-5:10

7. Week Seven: November 15 thru November 21, 2010 39

Jesus: Worth Sticking With
Hebrews 5:11-6:20
8. Week Eight: November 22 thru November 28, 2010 45
Jesus: Other Access Falls Short
Hebrews 7:1-8:6

9. Week Nine: November 29 thru December 5, 2010 51

Jesus: a New Covenant in His Blood
Hebrews 8:7-9:28

10. Week Ten: December 6 thru December 12, 2010 59

Jesus: Imitated, Never Duplicated
Hebrews 9:1-11

11. Week Eleven: December 13 thru December 19, 2010 63

Jesus: 'A Body You Have Prepared for Me'
Hebrews 10:1-18

12. Week Twelve: December 20 thru December 26, 2010 67

Jesus: Worth Living For
Hebrews 10:19-39

13. Week Thirteen: December 27, 2010 thru January 2, 2011 73

Jesus Was Worth Living For
Hebrews 11:1-12:2

14. Week Fourteen: January 3 thru January 9, 2011 81

Jesus' Consuming Passion is Our Holiness
Hebrews 12:2-29

15. Week Fifteen: January 10 thru January 16, 2011 89

Jesus' Family, Worth Your Energy
Hebrews 13

Bibliography I

Appendices
Appendix One: Sample Observation II

Prepared by Timothy Schmoyer, 2010. www.WhitehallBFC.org

Bethany Bible Fellowship Church 610.434.8661

3300 Seventh Street
Whitehall, PA 18052
 Invitation to Study
I’d like you to think of reading God’s Word as going to the pool.

Sometimes friends just hang out in the shallow end, wading and relaxing while sharing good
times. This is like the encouragement we find from a casual conversation about a text. Other
times we challenge each other to a splash contest off the diving board. This is like the fun had
through a memorization contest or a thru-the-Bible reading, you’re in the deep end but then you
quickly swim off to the side to jump again. Yet other times, like the apostle Peter, we step off
the sidelines and into the water and find ourselves walking not in, but on, the water. This is like
those times of miracle where the truth of God’s Word lifts you up out of where you are in your
spiritual journey and takes you to the next level. Then there are those times of training for a
swimming race or training for your lifeguard certification where you find yourself treading
water and you realize that it builds endurance as you keep your head above water in the deep
end for an extended period of time.

This is the type of spiritual pool time that we are embarking on for the next four months. There
are times for encouragement in your spiritual walk. There are times for fun. There are times for
the miraculous. Now is the time for training. Now is an extended period of training that will
build endurance. We’ll be in deep waters for the next for months; most scholars consider
Hebrews to be one of the most theologically deep and significant books in the Scripture, while
all language experts label Hebrews as the most linguistically complex book of the Greek New
Testament.

This book will be our guide throughout our study of Hebrews. Each section is in preparation for
our Sunday sermon. For instance, Section One is on Hebrews 1:1-3. The text is the basis for a
sermon on October 3, but you will be studying it September 27 through October 3. In each
section, there are a variety of activities. You can do the entire section as one day’s devotions or
you can break it up into a full week of study. Regardless how you use this guide, you will find
yourself connecting with God’s Word in deeper ways than if you simply listen to a sermon on
Sunday.

Welcome to deep waters! I hope you’re up to the challenge. I know you can do it. Together
we are going to grow in our knowledge of God’s plan for this world. We are going to grow in
the spiritual discipline of study. We are going to see God in a deeper, more complete way.
We will be amazed at all the places we’ll go.

Join me, won’t you?

Serving the Lord Jesus, the heir of all things, through whom God made the universe,

Pastor Tim

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 Introduction to This Guide
Introduction
Each section begins with a question or thought to get your mind started. Read the introduction
and then pray for God’s grace and guidance on your time in His word.

Bible Memory
After the introduction, you’ll find the Scripture verse that we will memorize together. Work on
remembering this verse and we’ll recite it together on Sunday. Why not say the verse together
with your family at the dinner table each night?

1. Observation
The next element in each section is the text of Hebrews that we want to look at. It will be in the
New American Standard translation. The text will be spread out so that you can mark up the
text with your own comments and observations.

Your primary concern in this element of the section is to observe what the writer is saying.
Observe any repeated words or phrases. If a word pops up over and over, circle it, block it,
use symbols to make its presence apparent. Draw lines between related words or ideas. Notice
the main idea of the section. You can see more examples of this in Appendix One.

In your observations, it is helpful to take note of Who, What, Where, Why, When.

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2. Interpretation
After we observe what the text says, we need to ask what the text means. Most of this work will
be reading some commentaries and then evaluation questions.

When reading commentaries, some of them may be easier to understand than others. You do
what you feel comfortable doing. I don’t want this series to become discouraging. At the same
time, I do want to encourage you to push yourself beyond your normal routine in Biblical study;
so read, push, and grow!

As far as the questions in this section, go as far as you can in answering these questions in detail.
It may be helpful to use a concordance like Strong’s. A Concordance lists every word used in the
Bible in alphabetical order and records every verse that word is used in. Using a Concordance
will help answer a question in more detail than on your own.

3. Application
In this last section, you will be answering the most vital questions. Questions about how to live in
response to God’s Word. Think and pray about what it means to live in response to the truths of
God’s Word.

Extra Credit
Some sections have some additional thoughts and articles. They will be related to the section
you are working in. Feel free to read over these or not to read over these. It’s not like we’re
keeping score, but these thoughts will certainly be of benefit to you.

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 Introduction to Hebrews
The letter to the Hebrew Christians is unique among the rest of the New Testament Scriptures in
many ways. Its language is quite complex compared to the other writings. Its quotation and
reference to the Old Testament is extensive. Its audience is one race rather than one city or
region. We cannot pick up any text and just begin reading without considering it original
audience and their concerns, their world, their progress in faith. Otherwise, we will see things
that are part of our world and culture but are not in the text.

The Purpose of Hebrews

This book in our Bibles is called “Hebrews.” In the Greek manuscripts we have, it is called “e
Pros Ebraious Epistole” or “The Letter to Hebrews.” But these titles were not written on the
original copies, most scholars believe. Throughout the proceeding generations, the titles became
part of the photocopy process just like the chapter and verse markers. So it is significant to ask,
why did the men who read and copied this letter call it “the letter to Hebrews”? According to
George Guthrie, there are three indicators in the letter that validate it as a letter to Jewish
Christians.

First “the author assumes his audience has an extensive knowledge of the Old Testament.
Of all the writings of the New Testament, none is more saturated with overt references to
the Old Testament.”
Second, “the author uses theological concepts that were popular in the Greek-speaking
synagogues” of the Jews in “the first century. These include a veneration of Moses as one
having special access to God (3:1-6), angels as the mediators of the older covenant
revelation (2:1-4)” among them.
And third, “a potential danger to this community seems to lie in the temptation to reject
Christianity and return to Judaism proper.” (Guthrie 19-20)

For these reasons, we can say with firm certainty that the original audience was racially-Jewish
believers in Jesus. There are several warnings throughout the letter against the readers giving
up on Jesus and leaving His Church. They are urged again and again to hold fast to belief in
Jesus as Messiah (4:14, 6:9-20, 10:23). They are also encouraged to maintain a clear
distinction from their old faith in a Judaism that does not recognize Jesus as Messiah (13:13-14).

If, then, this letter is written to first century Jewish Christians who were being persecuted and
reverting to Judaism, what are we supposed to glean from this letter? What of value can be
had for twenty-first century Christians that are primarily Gentiles? The words of comfort to those
suffering Christians still comfort us and inspire us today. “God, after He spoke long ago to the
fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in
His Son” (1:1-2). God spoke to those hurting Jewish followers of Jesus through His Son. God has
spoken to us as well through His Son. The lessons of His once-for-all-time sacrifice (10:10-14)
seems to me more significant for us than for them. A religion that is two-thousand years old still
has the same miraculous power today in freeing sinners from their guilt and changing their lives
for good.

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Date
The most likely date for this book is under a second wave of persecution of Christians in Rome
which was brought on by Caesar Nero from the mid-60’s to early-70’s AD. An earlier
persecution initiated by Caesar Claudius in 49 AD. There are several reasons for this dating
according to Guthrie.

First “they had bee Christians for a while” (5:11-6:3).

Second, “these believers had faced and persevered in a time of serious persecution in the
past” (10:32-34).
Third, “they had yet to suffer martyrdom for the faith (12:4) but were now facing a more
severe time of trial (11:35-12:3, 12:7, 13:3, 13:12-13).” (Guthrie 22).

Author
Of the books of the New Testament, Hebrews is the most puzzling when it comes to the question
of who wrote it. Consider how Paul opens his letter to Titus: “Paul, a servant of God and an
apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect” (Titus 1:1, NIV). Or perhaps Peter’s First
Epistle: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect” (1 Peter 1:1, NIV). But this author does
not identify himself. Some popular suggestions include Paul, Luke, Clement of Rome, Barnabas,
Aquila and Priscilla, Jude, and Apollos.

We can know for sure that it was not Timothy, for he is referred to as “our brother Timothy” in
the text (13:23).

Some, Harnack first among them, suggest that it was Aquila and Priscilla who wrote it for in
Hebrews 13:24 we read “Those from Italy greet you” (NASB) and we know that this ministry
family was from Rome (Acts 18:2) in Italy and was banished during the reign of Caesar Claudius
in 49 AD. After that persecution ended, they returned to Rome and hosted a house church
(Romans 16:3). And so, perhaps Aquila and Priscilla close their book “we all from Italy greet
you”. Bruce recalls the position of Harnack in his commentary, citing the frequent switch in
Hebrews between “we” and “I” among other reasons (Bruce xl ).

As to suggesting Clement of Rome, modern scholar F.F. Bruce points out the obvious shortfall of
his candidacy. He writes in his commentary on Hebrews “we can be quite sure that he himself
[Clement] was not the author, although it has been suggested at various times that he was. In
spite of Clement’s familiarity with the epistle, he ‘turns his back on its central argument in order
to buttress his own arguments about the Church’s Ministry by an appeal to the ceremonial laws
of the Old Testament.’” (Bruce xxxv-xxxvi).

Paul is unlikely for the mere fact that his writing style is so vastly different than his other letters.
Many have wondered if it was Paul, why wouldn’t he have said so? John Calvin quips “for those
who say that he [Paul] designedly suppressed his name because it was hateful to the Jews, make
no relevant case. Why, then did he mention the name of Timothy? By this he betrayed himself.”
Calvin is of course joking in this whole section. To say Paul wrote the letter but didn’t attribute it
to himself for the sake of the readers who wouldn’t have listened to ‘the hated apostle to the
gentiles’ is nonsensical. The body of material in this book is so clearly intended for Jewish
followers of Jesus, Paul wasn’t hated by Jewish Christians, but by non-believing Jews. Calvin

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then brings up an observation that truly helps answer the question of authorship. “The writer
himself confesses in the second chapter that he was one of the disciples of the apostles, which is
wholly different from the way in which Paul spoke of himself.” (Calvin 1) See 1 Corinthians 9:1-
5, 15:5-11, 2 Corinthians 12:11, Galatians 2:8, 1 Thessalonians 2:7 for more on Paul’s assertion
as an apostle.

When Calvin says “the writer himself confesses in the second chapter that he was one of the
disciples of the apostles” he must be referring to 2:3 where we read “After it was at the first
spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard” (NASB). Were it an
apostle who wrote this letter, he would not have lumped himself in with the “us”, but the “those
who heard”. It is safe to rule out the thirteen apostles as candidates for authorship of this book.
Who, then, did write it? That is a question we will have answer to in glory.

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September 27, 2010 thru October 3, 2010

God has spoken

by His Son
Hebrews 1:1-3

Introduction
How has God made Himself known to you?

Memory Verse
Hebrews 1:2

In these last days

God has spoken to us in His Son,
whom He appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the world.

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many

ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things,

through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact

representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had

made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

2. Interpretation
Commentator Thomas Long notes that the
phrase in verse 1 "in many portions and in
BACKGROUND: The eloquence of the many ways" is better rendered "in many
fragments and in many fashions" indicating
original Greek text sounds like a carefully that God spoke in episodes and not in an
constructed speech rather than the literary ongoing way (Long 8). This can be seen in 1
Samuel 3:1 where we read "the word of the
roughness of a letter from a missionary to Lord is rare."
his church family. Unfortunately for us,
English readers, this observation is much
more apparent in the Greek language of the
author, but it is still noticeable in voice and
tone in the content of the English translation.
The literary refinement employed by the skill
of the author sets the stage for the message
of the book which is more of a sermon than
a letter.
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Even in Biblical times, the word of the Lord was rare. Think of fragments... list three occasions
where God spoke to someone directly in Scripture. Give the reference.

1.

2.

3.

What are some of the ways you can recall that God used the prophets? What methods did
they use to communicate the word of the Lord?

Fashions... List three ways God revealed Himself in Scripture aside from the spoken word. Give
the reference.

1.

2.

3.

Write down the timeline of Jesus’ ministry according to 1:2-3.

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3. Application
The Old Testament saints believed even though they only had fragments of God's Revelation.
We have their stories preserved in Scripture AND we have the complete revelation, His Son (v2).
Yet we can often feel that He is not so present or attentive. On what occasions have you felt as
if God was absent? What can we do when we feel this way? What hope does 1:1-3 offer us
when in this quiet period of life?

How does God speak to you today?

Many scholars (LONG) believe that verse 2-4 was the author's quoting of an early Christian
hymn praising Jesus' character and accomplishment. Now it's your turn to write a praise hymn to
Jesus. Write down what you admire about Him. Don't force yourself to rhyme if that isn't your
strength, just express your thanksgiving.

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 EXTRA CREDIT

Metzger, John. “Have We Gentilized the Word of God?” VOICE: An Independent Church Journal. Sept/
Oct 2010: 18-19. Print.

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 EXTRA CREDIT

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October 4, 2010 thru October 10, 2010

Jesus: Greater
Than Angels
Hebrews 1:4-2:4

Introduction
Have you ever thought you had an encounter with an angel? Write about it here.

Memory Verse
Hebrews 1:5

To which of the angels did God ever say,

‘You are my Son; today I have become Your Father’?
Or again,
‘I will be his Father, and He will be My Son’?

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name

than they. 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 A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?

6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, "AND LET ALL THE ANGELS

OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.” 7 And of the angels He says, "WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS,

AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” 8 But of the Son He says, "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS

FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.

9 "YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR

GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.”

10 And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE

HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; 11 THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND

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THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT, 12 AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM

UP; LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR

YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END.” 13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, "SIT AT

MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"? 14 Are

they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit sal-

vation? 2:1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that

we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and

every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we

neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed

to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by

various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

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 2. Interpretation
There are seven Old Testament quotes comparing angels with
Jesus (NAVPress). What difference is mentioned in each quote?

1.

BACKGROUND:
2.
“Because of the
Talmudic writings and 3.
popular rabbinical
interpretations and 4.

ideas, the Jewish

5.
people at the time this
epistle was written had
6.
begun to embellish the
basic Old Testament 7.
teachings about
angels. Most Jews
believed that angels
were very important to 3. Application
the Old Covenant.
In 2:4, the author lists a variety of ways in which God proves His
They esteemed these
power. Commentator N.T. Wright asks us “what evidence is there
creatures as the in your own life and in your church that the gospel message is true
and powerful?” (Wright 13)
highest beings next to
God. Many believed
that ‘Let Us make men
in Our image’ (Gen
1:26) refers to the
angelic council.”

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October 18, 2010 thru October 24, 2010

Jesus: Made Like

His Brothers
Hebrews 2:5-18

Introduction
The author moves his attention from Jesus, greater than angels to Jesus, made like His brothers.
In this section you'll find how Jesus steps down from heaven to gladly associate with us, befriend
us, and call us His own family.

List out the many ways that Jesus has helped you during your life in Him.

Aside from salvation, what would your life be like if Jesus had not helped you?

Memory Verse
Hebrews 2:9

But we see Jesus,

who was made a little lower than the angels,
now crowned with glory and honor
because He suffered death,
so that by the grace of God
He might taste death for everyone.

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But

one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE

SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? 7 "YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A

LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND

HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; 8 YOU HAVE PUT

ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET "For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing

that is not subject to him But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see

Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffer-

ing of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death

for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all

things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

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11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which

reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, "I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO

MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” 13 And

again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM "And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM

GOD HAS GIVEN ME.” 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself

likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had

the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were

subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives

help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all

things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to

make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which

He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

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 In verses 5-8, the writer recalls a Psalm about God's care for hu-
manity. Read v6b-8a. Then read Psalm 8:4-6 and note any dif-
ferences between the two.

BACKGROUND: In this
section, “the writer
gave four reasons that
explain why our Lord’s
humanity was neither a This Psalm is about what God does for all humanity. The writer of
Hebrews uses it to say in verse 8b, the statement that "you put
handicap nor a mark
everything under his feet" is not yet true. But how is it currently
of inferiority” to the true (v9)?
angels (Wiersbe 37).

Man is certainly lower

than the angels; we do
not see men having
dominion over the
creation the way God What did God do to bring many sons to glory (v10)?
intended in creation
(Gen 1:28). “But we
see Jesus!” “He is
God’s answer to man’s
dilemma. When our
Lord was here on
earth, He exercised
2. Interpretation
that lost dominion. As
the last Adam (1 Cor. Why did Jesus need to be "made perfect through
suffering" (v10)? Was He not already perfect?
15:45), Jesus Christ
regained man’s lost
dominion.” (Wiersbe
37).

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Why is it important that Jesus was God AND man? (v14, 17) Why could He have not done
these things if He weren't both God and man?

3. Application
When you are tempted, in what ways does it help to know that Jesus faced that temptation?

Think of a temptation you are wrestling with this week. Close you eyes and picture Jesus facing
that temptation. How does He escape it? What does He say to it? Now put yourself in that
temptation and picture yourself doing exactly what you pictured Jesus doing.

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October 25, 2010 thru October 31, 2010

Jesus: Greater
Than Moses
Hebrews 3

Introduction
Have you ever watched a house being built? Although the finished product is impressive how
much more impressive are the brains and brawn which built the house. As you read chapter 3,
look for who is building and what is being built.

Memory Verse
Hebrews 3:9

Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses,

just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High

Priest of our confession; 2 He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all

His house. 3 For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the

builder of the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but

the builder of all things is God. 5 Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a

testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; 6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over

His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm

until the end. 7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, 8 DO

NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE

WILDERNESS, 9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS

FOR FORTY YEARS. 10 "THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID,

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'THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS'; 11 AS I

SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST. '" 12 Take care, brethren, that

there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.

13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today, " so that none

of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ,

if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15 while it is said, "TODAY IF

YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.” 16

For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt

led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who

sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not

enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to en-

ter because of unbelief.

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 How are Jesus and Moses similar?

BACKGROUND:”True,
the whole world is How are Jesus and Moses different?

God’s house; but in a

special sense the
Church is God’s House,
for in a special sense
God brought it into 2. Interpretation
being. That is a What is the unbelief referred to in v16-19?
picture the New Refer to Numbers 14-15 to job your memory
Testament loves (cp. 1
Peter 4:17, 1 Timothy
3:15, and especially 1
Peter 2:5). That
building of the Church
will stand indestructible
only when every stone
is firm; that is to say,
when its every member
is strong in the proud 3. Application
and confident hope he Verse 13 exhorts believers to encourage each other daily. We
has in Jesus Christ. often wait until Sunday to talk to each other.
Each one of us is like a Who can you encourage in the Faith this week outside of Sunday
stone in the Church; if morning? It could be by letter, email, phone call, lunch date. List
who and how you will encourage this week.
one stone is weak, the
whole edifice is
endangered” (Barclay
32).

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November 1, 2010 thru November 7, 2010

Jesus: Rest We’ve

Been Looking For
Hebrews 4:1-13

Introduction
When you hear the word “rest”, what comes to mind? Do you conjure up images of a beach and
calm waves, the quiet caws of seagulls in the distance and iced tea in a glass? Or do you
picture a lazy family hang out in the living room on a rainy Saturday afternoon? What is rest to
you?

Now let’s talk about rest for your soul.

Memory Verse
Hebrews 4:9-10

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest

for the people of God;
for anyone who enters God's rest
also rests from his own work,
just as God did from His.

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may

seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as

they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in

those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE

IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST, "although His works were finished from the

foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD

RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; 5 and again in this passage, "THEY

SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who

formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again

fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said

before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” 8 For if Joshua

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had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a

Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also

rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so

that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of

God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the

division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and

intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open

and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Notice several warnings (v1, 11, 12-13). Write down the emphasis of these warnings.

Notice the quotation in v7. It is from Psalm 95, which itself is a quote from Numbers 13. Why
did the Israelites under Joshua not enter God’s rest? What did they enter, though?

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 2. Interpretation
There are several ways to define the rest Hebrews is speaking
about. What are some possible interpretations of rest mentioned
in the text?
The book is written to
Jews who received
Jesus by faith but had
begun slipping out of
the church and back
into Judaism. God had In verse 3, what do we need in order to enter God's rest?
never intended for
Judaism to become
what it had become by
Jesus' day. It had
devolved into a set of
do's and don'ts that In verse 8, what is not entering God's rest?
were complicated and
oppressive. This text
warns the Jewish
Christians that going
back to Judaism will
not get them anywhere
In verse 9-10, when I am in God's rest, what am I resting from?
spiritually. Though
externally it may turn
down the heat of
persecution, internally
Judaism did not get
Joshua's generation,
How does v12-13 describe God's character?
David's generation,
nor our generation
into God's rest. But,
"we who have believed
enter that rest" (v3).

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3. Application

How is belief a restful thing? How are you more at rest now than before you had faith?

Imagine the rest that awaits us in glory! (v6, 11) What will that ultimate rest be like?

How does the closing phrase of this section (v13b) challenge and motivate you?

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November 8, 2010 thru November 14, 2010

Jesus: Our Perfect

High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Introduction
What is the job of a priest? In this week’s study, we’ll see that the only man that could do the
full and complete job of a priest is Jesus. He is our perfect high priest. “It is Finished!”

Memory Verse
Hebrews 4:14

Therefore, since we have a great high priest

who has gone through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

4:14 Therefore, since 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 One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet

without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we

may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 5:1 For every high priest taken from

among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both

gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he

himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for

sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives

it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to

become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN

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YOU"; 6 just as He says also in another passage, "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVERACCORDING TO

THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” 7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and

supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was

heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things

which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the

source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order

of Melchizedek.

Jesus is described as our high priest. In Old Testament Judaism, what was a high priest’s special
duty? Read Leviticus 16:29-34.

Who was Melchizedek? Read Genesis 14:17-20 and write down who he was and what he did
for Abram.

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 Read Psalm 110 which is a Messianic psalm prophesying
about Jesus. The “He” in the psalm refers to Jesus. Look for
the mention of Melchizedek and write down how Jesus is
connected to Melchizedek.

Notice the priestly character

of Jesus in 5:2. The priest
“is able to deal gently with These two references are the only Old Testament mentions of
those who are ignorant and Melchizedek. Such little information yet the writer of Hebrews
makes a big deal out of him for the next couple chapters!
are going astray.” Noted
translation expert, W.
Robertson Nicoll, renders it
2. Interpretation
“’as one who is able to How is Jesus like the high priest?
moderate his feeling.’ As the
etymology shows, it means
‘to be moderate in one’s
passions.’ ... Aristotle [used
this same word to oppose]
the απαθεια [apathetic] of What two orders of priesthood are mentioned in this section?
(5:4, 5:10)
the Stoics. [This trait is] not
without feeling, but feeling
in moderation. … If the
priest is cordially to plead
with God for the sinner, he
must bridle his natural Remembering the backdrop of this letter, why is it significant
disgust at the loathsomeness that Jesus is not of the priesthood in 5:4, but of the order in
5:10?
of sensuality, his impatience
at the frequently recurring
fall, his hopeless alienation
from the hypocrite and the
superficial, his indignation
at any confession he hears
from the penitent.” (Nicoll, Be sure to do some good meditating about Melchizedek,
because as we see in 5:11, he will be discussed later in the
286).
letter.

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3. Application
People are always looking for ways to connect themselves to famous and important people
around them. We long to be able to say “see! They are just like me!!” Did you ever watch a TV
blooper show where they show mistakes and mix ups of baseball players or movie actors? We
love to laugh at them, but we also love to realize that these famous and important people aren’t
so different than us. They really are human!

But when we approach the most important person of all, Jesus, we can be assured that He can
identify with us. Read Hebrews 4:15 again. Jesus understands what it is like to be tempted! To
have a hard time obeying! Although He was perfect and did not sin Himself, He understands.
Therefore, when we do sin, we do not need to cower in fear when approaching Him, but can
confidently (4:16) and humbly ask His forgiveness knowing He understands.

What unconfessed sin do you have in your life? In what area of obedience are you struggling?
Write a prayer now with confidence that Jesus is our high priest who can sympathize.

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November 15, 2010 thru November 21, 2010

Jesus: Worth
Sticking With
Hebrews 5:11-6:20

Introduction
As these Hebrew Christians were contemplating whether to stick with Jesus or take the easy route
of reverting back to Judaism, the author invites them to think about growth. Sticking with Jesus
will take you to higher levels of spiritual maturity than blending in with the crowd will take you.

Notice as you read this section the many images of growth in natural settings.

Memory Verse
Hebrews 5:14

solid food is for the mature,

who by constant use
have trained themselves
to distinguish good from evil.

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull

of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for some-

one to teach you the elementary 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 not accustomed to the

word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of

practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. 6:1 Therefore leaving the

elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation

of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and

laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will

do, if God permits. 4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted

of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the

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good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is

impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of

God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and

brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from

God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up

being burned. 9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that

accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not unjust so as to

forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and

in still ministering to the saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence

so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but

imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 6:13 For when God

made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

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14 saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.” 15 And so, having

patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves,

and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 In the same way

God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His

purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible

for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the

hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and

steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for

us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

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 INSIGHT: One of the most controversial sentences in all of
Scripture is 6:4-6.

Many claim this verse as evidence that you can lose your salvation. If that were the
case, then v6 is saying that you can never be renewed to repentance. But no one who
uses v6 to claim salvation is losable also uses v6 to claim you can never regain it. For if
the one who “has fallen away” (v6) is a truly born again believer who sins and by
penalty forfeits their eternal life, then the writer is saying for that same person “it is
impossible to renew”. Once you lose it, you cannot have it back. There is no
commentator or denomination of church in existence that teaches once lost, salvation can
never be regained. Sadly there are many who teach and many who are taken in by the
teaching that you can lose your salvation.

Equally many claim that this verse is speaking of unbelieving worshippers who fall out of
attendance at church. This interpretation is just as wrong as the first on because v6 says
it is impossible “to renew them again to repentance.” You can’t “renew” what isn’t there
to begin with. You can’t do something “again” that that you haven’t done for a first time.
Interpreting this set of verses in this way is reactionary and it misses the real and valid
warning of the section.

More likely the author is speaking about foundations (v1). You cannot rebuild the
foundation of your walk with Jesus. You can continue from where you are. He can and
will forgive every sin you do after salvation just as much as He does for sins committed
before salvation. But there will always be earthly consequences for sins committed after
salvation. This set of verses is an invitation to stop living in a cycle of sin, tragedy,
repentance, restoration. It is a rally to live maturely at all times, rather than on a roller
coaster.

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2. Interpretation
In 5:11, why do Christians become dull of hearing?

In 5:12-14, what distinguishes the infant from the mature?

In 6:4, what does “enlightened” mean? And what does “tasted the heavenly gift” mean?

In 6:8, how is the imagery of thorns and thistles used elsewhere in Scripture? See Genesis 3:18,
Matthew 7:16 and also Matthew 3:10.

3. Application
In 6:9, if the writer is “convinced of better things concerning them” why does he “speak this
way”? How do you feel when the preaching hits home in a hard way?

When you begin to feel that 6:6 has deflated your hope of eternal life, what hope does the
writer lead you to in 6:19-20?

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November 22, 2010 thru November 28, 2010

Jesus: Other Access

Falls Short
Hebrews 7:1-8:6

Introduction
Did you ever eat store brand Cheerios? Other store brand products may be comparable, but
there is Cheerios™ and there is oat circles. The competition isn’t on the same plane. In this
week’s lesson, we’ll see the plane that human religion is on and we’ll see the plane that Jesus
brings His followers to.

Memory Verse
Hebrews 7:25

Therefore He is able to save completely

those who come to God through Him,
because He always lives to intercede for them.

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he

was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham

apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of

righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is 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, he remains a priest perpetually. 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom

Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of

Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the

people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one

whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one

who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In this

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case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he

lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for

he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11 Now if perfection was

through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further

need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be

designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of

necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things

are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is

evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke

nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the

likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical

requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him,

"YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” 18 For, on the
47
one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and

uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in

of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without

an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the

One who said to Him, "THE LORD HAS SWORNAND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 'YOU ARE

A PRIEST FOREVER'"); 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better

covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they

were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues

forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those

who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For

it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners

and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up

48
sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for

all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but

the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

8:1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken

His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the

sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is

appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have

something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are

those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly

things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE,

" He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN

YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as

He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
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 2. Interpretation
How is Melchizedekian priesthood of a higher order than Levitical
priesthood in 7:1-11?

CHURCH HISTORY:
In this section of
verses lies a very
interesting image of
Levi as a seed acting
out from within his How does God make the switch of priesthood from the Levitical
great grandfather order to the Melchizedekian order in 7:12-22?
Abraham. It might
seem strange. It
might seem crude. But
in Church history, it
played an important How does Jesus’ priesthood rise above the accomplishments of the
Levitical priesthood in 7:23-8:3
role in the formation
of the Christian
Doctrine of Original
Sin. Augustine used
7:9-10 to show that
we acted out along
with Adam when he
sinned. We are Reading 8:4-6, why is the sanctuary that Jesus provides greater
than that of the Jewish Temple?
culpable for his sin
because we were in
him and we were
gladly eating right
along with him, just as
here, Levi paid a tithe 3. Application
to Melchizedek while What rules and rituals do you rely on to make you feel like a
inside the loins of good Christian? What does 7:12 and 7:18-19 say about the
Abraham. See also comfort and reliance of obeying rules?
Romans 5:15-19.

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 EXTRA CREDIT

Square Paradigm
A tool for assessing the importance of
Old Testament commands today.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 Romans 8:1-3

Anti-Nomians
Legalizers

Romans 14:5-7

Matthew 5:17-20 Galatians 3:1-10

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