Summer 2013
“Christ” He did not hold on to his heavenly state (Phil. 2:6-8) He came to earth, but did not campaign for the office of high priest Psalm 2:7 Psalm 110:4 These passages affirm his sonship, his priesthood and his call from God In Hebrews the connection of sonship/kingship/messiaship/priesthood is made Hebrews also explains how Jesus could be high priest without being a descendant of Aaron
5:7-10—”Hymn of the high priest” In the “days of His flesh” He had/has other days that are not “fleshly days” He offered up “prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears” His prayer in Gethsemane Was His prayer answered? Yes!
Two-fold petition in His prayer Physical deliverance Humble submission to the will of God Perfection through suffering (2:10) Sonship didn’t spare Him from suffering Learning and suffering emathen – he learned epathen – he suffered “perfect through suffering” Perfectly (completely) qualified
Christ was the one designated by God as “a high priest after the the order of Melchizedek” A new order of priesthood Necessitates the ending of the old order, the Aaronic order
1. Christ supersedes all previous high priests, and He can deal gently with us. He suffered. And through His suffering He was made perfect. 2. Not every prayer will be answered “Yes”. 3. God’s love is not always what one would expect. He loves us unconditionally. His love includes divine wisdom.
Five announcement themes in Hebrews Christ, Superior to the angels (1:4) Christ, a merciful and faithful high priest (2:17) Christ, a priest like Melchizedek (5:10) People of faith (10:39) Peaceful fruit of righteousness (12:11) Distinctive features of the middle section Exhortation: on to mature teaching (5:11-6:20) Christ, like Melchizedek (7:1-28) Christ, the source of eternal salvation (8:-10:18) Exhortation: a call to draw near (10:19-39)
Three exhortations so far: Exhortation against drifting from God’s word (2:1-4) Exhortation against disbelieving God’s word (3:7- 4:16) Exhortation against dullness toward God’s word (5:11-6:20) The danger of their condition Might lead them to apostasy (3:12) Irreversible consequences to apostasy (6:4-8) Not likely a sudden departure, but a bit by bit slip into a state of spiritual apathy
The original readers had been Christians for a long time and should be able to receive “advanced” instruction To think and act maturely Yet, they were like children and needed to be taught the elementary principles all over again (milk) Solid food is for grownups stereos is the Greek word for “solid” Mature Christians need “stereo food”
Who are the mature? Those who have their powers of discernment trained By constant practice Can distinguish good from evil “practice” – gegymnasmena Milk has its value, but these Christians need “stereo food”—a fuller, deeper, maturing vision of Christ, our high priest
Two-fold exhortation Let us leave And go on If they will understand the meaning of Christ’s priesthood and his sacrifice, this will be enough to keep them from apostasy They must decide: Is Aaron (and his descendants) or Christ high priest? Who offers the real sacrifice for sins?
Six basics that need no further emphasis Repentance from “dead works” Faith in God Washings (baptisms) Laying on of hands Resurrection of the dead Eternal judgment
“Impossible” to bring some back to repentance Those “once enlightened” Who have “tasted the heavenly gift” Have shared in the Holy Spirit Have “tasted the goodness of the word of God and of the age to come” And have then “fallen away” Why? They crucify again the Son of God They don’t just disbelieve Him, they denounce and disgrace Him before the world
Apostasy illustrated by two kinds of soil Well-watered and cultivated Receives a blessing from God Worthless soil of “thorns and thistles” Near to being cursed To be burned Apostasy Not the same as “falling short”, but not falling away It is to “deliberately” keep on sinning “Wobbling” Christians need to face the peril of their situation
Summer 2013