Digging Deeper Bible Reading

Monday, Hebrews 8:1 – 13

In chapter 8, we see in the very first sentence that what follows is the main point of what has been said previously.

God Himself had told Moses that the earthly tabernacle tent where the sacrifices demanded by the law were given was a “shadow,” or an incomplete vision, of what was in heaven.

If the covenant of Law established through Moses and the tabernacle had been perfect God would not have promised another, yet He did ( vs.8—see Jeremiah 31:31-34 ). God established the old covenant of Law to guide His children into repentance and reliance upon Himself for mercy and salvation, but He knew that this covenant would be misunderstood and misused. So, hundreds of years after Moses' death, Jesus established the new covenant by dying on the cross as the final Sacrifice for sin offered to the Father, fulfilling the entire obligation of the old covenant. As our eternal High Priest He has permanently established a covenant of grace, having fulfilled and exceeded the sacrifices offered for centuries by human priests.

Tuesday, Hebrews 9:1 – 28

The writer has before referred to the earthly tabernacle as only a shadow of the reality, which is in heaven. Our High Priest Jesus, unlike the high priests who entered the holy of holies on earth one time a year, has entered not the shadow but the reality of the heavenly tabernacle where His Father sits enthroned. He has entered by the perfect offering of His blood. If the offering of the imperfect blood of animal sacrifices was holy enough to present a foretaste of the final sacrifice, the offering of His holy and blameless lifeblood ( which is the final sacrifice ) is far more so. Only this sinless sacrifice can clean a conscience condemned by sin. Only through His work can we be freed to “serve the living God.” ( vs.14 )   He has offered this holy sacrifice “once for all” and established “eternal redemption.” ( vs.12 ) thus eliminating the need to return to daily sacrifices for sins already paid for on the cross!

In the second part of the chapter the author points out that the death of Christ was necessary to validate the new covenant. Just as in the old covenant blood (death) was required for sin, so it is in the new covenant. However, Chris t's death offered on the cross was all that was required to establish the covenant of forgiveness and grace. There is no need for further works for salvation.

All of this may seem obvious to those of us raised in the grace of God, but remember that the congregations to which the letter was written were newly converted Jews. There was a belief ingrained in them that the old covenant was still in effect; that to depart from the work of sacrifice might somehow prevent salvation. Thus, we see the detailed defense of the fulfillment of the old covenant of law and the establishment of the new covenant of grace through Chris t's death and Priesthood. As verse 28 assured the original readers, it now assures us: “ Chris t…having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” ( NASB )

Wednesday, Hebrews 10:1 - 18 

If we read the main phrases of verse 1 ( NASB ), we see the message that the author is sending to his Hebrew Chris tian brothers and sisters: “ For the Law…can never…make perfect those who draw near .” The writer of Hebrews then goes on to explain his statement. The sacrifices were a reminder of sin, not a healer of sin ( vs.3 ). He states in verse 4 that the blood of animal sacrifices could not erase sins. Only Jesus could do this because He was the only sinless sacrifice in history. He could take on our sins and be punished for them because He had no sin of His own for which to pay. In the moment on the cross when Jesus searched for His Father and could not find Him (“ My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me. ” [ Matt.27:46; Mk.15:34 ]), Jesus suffered the total separation from God that we all deserve. When from the cross Jesus said, “ It is finished ” ( Jn.19:30 ), He did not refer to His life, but to His mission of salvation for the world. Some say that Chris tianity is illogical, but it is not. There is nothing more logically completed than the salvation of the world by the Son of God.

Thursday, Hebrews 10:19 – 39

The writer begins the second part of chapter 10 with a logical pleading that his readers not lose their assurance of salvation found in the Savior. He has shown them the truth of salvation by grace without works of the law, so now they are able to “draw near” to God without fear, cleansed by the blood of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ. Trying to faultlessly obey the law draws attention to the self and its future above all other things, but the author entreats his readers to instead hold to their confession in Christ and spend their time focusing outward, encouraging one another to faith and good works.

Our writer then in verse 26 switches to a more ominous tone, warning the Hebrew Christians not to leave behind salvation by the blood of Christ. Verse 28 cites part of Hebrew law. One could add an “If” at the beginning of verse 28. “If” that were true, “How much more….”  

Verse 32 to the end of the chapter is an encouragement to these Christians to remember when they first believed, and to cling to that faith with which God had gifted them. They had suffered hardship and even the loss of property and respect because of their faith in those days. Surely they would not give up that faith now.

Friday, Hebrews 11:1 – 40

Chapter 11 is known as the chapter of the Bible most centered on the gift of faith. The writer mentions “faith” no less than twenty-three times in these forty verses. In addition, verse 32 mentions six more faithful individuals and “the prophets” about whom he could have gone on for at least another twenty-three “faith” citations.

 He connects the faith experiences of these Old Testament heroes to the fulfilled promise of salvation in Chris t (vs.26). They did not know that Jesus would be born of a virgin, live a life of servanthood, die on a cross for the sins of the world, and be resurrected from the dead. They did know that God would be the source of their salvation and that He demanded from them faith. They knew that God gifted them with that same faith. Thus the writer again disconnects Christian faith from the works of the Law. Many Jews believed that the heroes of old had pleased God by their actions and their circumcision ( the sign of the old covenant ), but the writer of Hebrews destroys that false confidence with his argument that their deeds resulted from their faith in God's promise.

We find some interesting things in the writer's words about living in faith. Sarah showed faith when she received the promise of a son in her old age.  She is often cited only for her lack of faith at first hearing the announcement ( Genesis 18 ).

There is also the truth that faith does not guarantee success, riches, and a trouble-free life, although some would like to cling to what is sometimes called “name it and claim it” faith. Many in the Old Testament were killed for their faith. Many suffered injury or ridicule, but many also “ conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire… .”  Lives lived in faith cannot be judged by the same measure the world uses to determine value or success. God measures a life by the ruler of faith—faith in His goodness and mercy showered upon us in Christ, the fulfillment of the promise made to the heroes of faith in times past

Saturday, Hebrews 12:1 – 29

Following the author's chapter concerning the faith of many Old Testament believers, he begins this chapter with “therefore….”   We have so many people of faith who testify to us about God by their lives and writings that we can be greatly encouraged to continue on the course of faith. To the early readers of this letter, part of the encouragement was to not return to the Law for salvation. It could not save. It could only condemn.

There was also the problem of rising persecution. Why was there persecution if faith was the path of salvation? Why didn't the hoped for peace and blessings flow ever more freely from God's hand? The author responds that when we are allowed to endure persecution, it is with the intent that we learn and grow in our faith.

Through history we have seen this. It has always been in the midst of persecution that the church has grown strong and that Chris tians have become more intent on seeking Christ. Even in the Old Testament, it was during persecution that the nation of Israel returned to her Lord.

We should not assume from the writer's words that it is our personal sin that brings persecution or that we are being punished for disobedience. Christ has already suffered our punishment and we stand cleaned by His blood before the Father.  However, none of us lives a perfect life of faith. God allows us to endure the persecution that rises in our fallen world so that we can grow stronger in our faith; stronger in our passion to seek God in our lives. Like the believers in the Old Testament, we tend to forget God; forget our great gift of salvation; forget to seek our Father's will when times are easy and problems are minimal.

      However, we need not fear times of persecution and trial. In verses 18-24 the author reminds us that Sinai, the mountain of fear that Moses walked, and that man could not touch without trembling, has been replaced by another. This mountain ( beginning in verse 22 ) is the spiritual Mount Zion . Jesus is our Mediator here and He brings us into the presence of the Father. We come with Him to the Father who loves us unendingly. Even when we realize that we have not been what we could be, we can still go to Him without fear.  This was an important message to the early readers of Hebrews who were tempted to return to salvation by Law.

      Though God's love for us is permanent, the chapter ends with the caution that our gift of salvation by faith must be taken seriously. Without the covenant of grace through Jesus, our God is a “consuming fire” to be feared. Sin is disastrous. Without our Lord Jesus to protect us, it would consume our eternity. Is it any wonder that we celebrate Thanksgiving and Chris tmas as festivals of joy in remembrance of our Lord's caring and love for us?

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