INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF HEBREWS.

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

Date The content of the letter makes it clear that it was written before A.D. 70, which the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple brought an end to the Jewish sacrificial system The author consistently uses the present tense (“is,” “are”) f the temple and the priestly activities (e.g. Heb. 5:1, 8:4, 9: 25, 10:11)

THE PURPOSE After accepting Jesus as their Messiah, the Jewish Christians continued to be zealous for the temple rites and sacrifices, thinking that their beloved city was about to become the capital of the world (Luke 19:11 cf. 24:21; Ac.1:6)

THE PURPOSE The book was thus written to prepare them for the shock of their life – the destruction of their beloved city, Jerusalem, and the cessation to temple rites

THE PURPOSE The letter was written to explain to the Jewish Christians that animal sacrifices, to which they were so attached, were no longer of any use That the killing of a bull or a lamb could never take away sin

THE PURPOSE Those sacrifices were never intended to be forever; they were a sort of “type” of the coming sacrifice of Christ, and now that Christ has come, they had served their purpose God’s people must look only to Christ for redemption and salvation

In summary: purpose of Hebrews
THE WRITER WANTS TO PROVE THAT CHRIST IS CLEARLY SUPERIOR TO: The angels through whom the Law was given (Acts 7:53) Moses, their Lawgiver (Heb. 3) their Levitical priesthood (Heb. 4:14-10:18)

THE MAIN POINTS OF HEBEWS CHPAPTER 1
Jesus’ superiority over prophets as spokesman - 1: 1-3 Jesus’ superiority over angels by virtue of His deity - 1: 4-14

JESUS’ SUPERIORITY OVER PROPHETS AS SPOKESMAN -‐ HE 1:1-3
Jesus is superior to the prophets because God does not speak through the prophets today but Jesus (1)

JESUS’ SUPERIORITY OVER PROPHETS AS SPOKESMAN - HE 1:1-3
SEVEN THINGS THAT DESCRIBE THE SON, JESUS AS SUPERIOR OVER THE PROPHETS (2-3) 1. He is the appointed heir of all things 2. Through Him God made the worlds 3. He is the brightness of God’s glory

JESUS’ SUPERIORITY OVER PROPHETS AS SPOKESMAN - HE 1:1-3 CONT’D
SEVEN THINGS THAT DESCRIBE THE SON, JESUS AS SUPERIOR OVER THE PROPHETS (2-3) CONT’D 4. He is the express image of God’s person 5. He upholds all things by the word of His power 6. He purged our sins 7. He is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high

JESUS’ SUPERIORITY OVER ANGELS BY VIRTUE OF HIS DEITY - HEB. 1:4-14
FIVE WAYS THAT JESUS IS SUPERIOR TO THE ANGELS. (4-14) 1. He is the “Son”, angels are not 2. He is “the firstborn” who receives worship from angels 3. He is “God” enthroned and anointed, angels are merely servants

JESUS’ SUPERIORITY OVER ANGELS BY VIRTUE OF HIS DEITY - HEB. 1:4-14
FIVE WAYS THAT JESUS IS SUPERIOR TO THE ANGELS. (4-14) CONT’D 4. He is “LORD” the eternal Creator 5. He is “sovereign” seated at the right hand of God, angels are ministering spirits

The main points of HEBREWS chapter 2
A warning against drifting through neglect - 2: 1-4 Jesus’ superiority over the angels by virtue of His humanity - 2: 5-18

A warning against drifting through neglect - Hebrews 2:1-4
To avoid drifting away is to give earnest heed to the things we have heard (1) What proves that we cannot escape judgment if we neglect our great salvation is that Disobedience to angels was punished, much more so if we neglect the Lord Himself (2-3)

A warning against drifting through neglect - Hebrews 2:1-4
What makes this Salvation: (3-4) Revealed By the Lord Himself Confirmed by those who heard Him (i.e. the apostles) God bearing witness through signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit

1. To taste death for every one 2. To bring many sons to glory
Jesus’ superiority over the angels by virtue of His humanity - Hebrews 2:5-18 Eight reasons Jesus was made lower than angels (became flesh). (9-18) 1. To taste death for every one 2. To bring many sons to glory 3. To be made perfect through sufferings 4. To destroy the devil who had the power of death

5. To release those subject to bondage through fear of death
Jesus’ superiority over the angels by virtue of His humanity - He 2:5-18 Eight reasons Jesus was made lower than angels (became flesh). (9-18) CONT’D 5. To release those subject to bondage through fear of death 6. To give aid to the seed of Abraham 7. To be a merciful and faithful High Priest 8. To aid those who are tempted, having suffered temptation Himself

Main points of HEBREWS chapter 3
Jesus’ superiority over Moses - 3: 1-6 A warning against departing - 3: 7-19

Jesus’ superiority over Moses - He 3:1-6
MOSES AND JESUS COMPARED: (3-6) Moses: faithful and a servant in the house of God Jesus: faithful and a Son over and builder of the house of God Moses: counted worthy of Glory Jesus: Counted More Glorious

Jesus’ superiority over Moses - He 3:1-6
MOSES AND JESUS COMPARED: (3-6) CONT’D Jesus Over Moses: Because The builder is more than the House Who Are Christ’s House? Te New Testament Christians Condition To Remain Christ’s House? IF We Hold Fast the Confidence till The End

A warning against departing -‐ He 3:7-19
THE EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS (7-11) Israel Hardened Their Hearts.. Heb Is From Ps. 95:7-11 Therefore They Did Not Enter God’s Rest... Num 14:22-24, cf. Ps. 106:13-33 In which the Holy Spirit warned Israel not to be like the fathers in the wilderness A warning which the Hebrew writer found just as necessary in his day In the wilderness, the Israelites had... Hardened their hearts in rebelling against God Tested (tried) God with their lack of faith This they did many times during the forty years of wandering, but especially... At the beginning, with the incident at Massah (tempted) Meribah (Water) cf. Exo 17:1-7 The rest (of which there were 603,548 men) died in the wilderness

THREE THINGS THAT CAN LEAD THE CHRISTIAN TO FALL AWAY? (12-13) Developing an evil heart of unbelief Departing from the living God Becoming hardened through the deceitfulness of sin

THREE THINGS THAT CAN PREVENT APOSTASY? (12-14) Beware of unbelief Exhort one another daily Hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end Israel’s Example of Unbelief Revisited: (16-19)

Main points of Hebrews chapter 4
The promised rest 4:1-10) A warning against disobedience( 4:11-13) Our great High Priest (4:14-16)

The promised rest - Hebrews 4:1-10
THE THREE RESTS: Sabbath Rest (He 4:4 cf. Exo 16:23; Gen 2:2) Canaan Rest (He 4:8 cf. Deu 3:20; 12:9-10; Josh 1:13-15) Heavenly Rest (He 4:9-10) SABBATH When first introduced to the nation of Israel, it was spoken of as “the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the LORD” - Exo 16:23 This was the seventh day rest, patterned after God’s own rest following the creation - Gen 2:2 It was encoded into the Law given on tablets of stone - cf. Exo 20:8-11 It was not given to the nation’s fathers (i.e., ancestors such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) - cf. Deu 5:2-22; Neh 9:13-14 It was given to Israel as a weekly remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt – Deu 5:12-15 BUT Done away – Col. 2:14-16

The Three Rests Cont’d: There is a “rest” which remains for us: The Heavenly rest

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO ENTER THE HEAVENLY REST: The Word Mixed with Faith (2,12) Obedience (11) Fear and Diligence (4:1,11)

A warning against disobedience - He 4:11-13
A WORD TO THE DIOBEDIENT: We Shall Give Account To The One Who Sees All (13)

Our great High Priest - He 4:14-16
HIS INTRODUCTION (14-16) We Have A Great High Priest, Jesus The Son Of God He Sympathizes With Our Weaknesses, Because He Was Tempted We Can Approach God’s Throne Boldly, Obtain Mercy And Grace In Time Of Need

FIRSTBORN CONCEPT

FIRSTBORN CONCEPT The dedication of the firstborn of men and beasts was probably a primitive nomadic custom, and therefore earlier than the offering of first-fruits, which could not arise until the Israelites had settled into Canaan The origin of the belief that a peculiar value attached to the firstborn cannot be definitely traced The word ‘firstborn’ could be used figuratively of Israel as the firstborn of Jahweh among the nations (Exo. 4:22, cf. Jer_31:9)

FIRSTBORN CONCEPT The law of the dedication of the firstborn is found in (Exo_13:11-16; Exo_22:29 b, Ex. 22:30; Ex. 34:19) It is not impossible that in very primitive times firstborn sons were sometimes actually sacrificed (cf. 2Ki. 3:27, Mic. 6:7), but the practice soon grew up of ‘redeeming’ them by money or payments in kind

Redeeming firstborn Firstborns of unclean animals were redeemed with money (Ex. 13:13; 34:20), Similar was done for firstborn for humans but was substituted with the Levites to the sanctuary (Num. 13:11-13; 3:15 The custom of redeeming the firstborn son is preserved among the Jews to this day. After thirty days the father invites the “Kohen,” i.e. a supposed descendant of Aaron, to the house. The child is brought and shown to the “Kohen,” and the father declares the mother of the child to be an Israelite. If she is a “Kohen,” redemption is not necessary. The “Kohen” asks the father which he prefers, his child or the five shekels; the father answers that he prefers his son, and pays to the “Kohen” a sum equivalent to five shekels. After receiving the redemption-money, the “Kohen” puts his hands on the child's head and pronounces the Aaronite blessing (Num_6:22-27)

Rights and privileges of firstborn
The firstborn enjoyed the birthright. He succeeded his father as head of the family, and took the largest share of the property (Deut. 21:17) In 2Ch. 21:3 the principle of the birthright is extended to the succession to the throne. If a man died without children, the heir was the firstborn of his widow by his brother or next-of-kin (Deut. 25:5-10).

IN THE NT THE TERM ‘FIRSTBORN’ IS USED OF:
CHRIST: – Rom. 8:29 CF. Heb. 2:12-14 (among many brethren); Col. 1:15 (every creature); Col. 1:18 CF 1 Cor.15: 20 (the dead), Rev. 1:5 (resurrection) CHRISTIANS who have died (Heb. 12:23) In Heb. 1:6, Jesus is described as the firstborn as used in the Hebrew sense by way of preeminence The passage is designed to prove a specific point that the Son of God, the author of Christianity is superior to the Angels

Our great High Priest - He 4:14-16
SUBJECT INTRODUCED (14-16) We Have A Great High Priest, Jesus The Son Of God He Sympathizes With Our Weaknesses, Because He Was Tempted We Can Approach God’s Throne Boldly, Obtain Mercy And Grace In Time Of Need

The main points of HEBREWS chapter 5
Christ’s qualifications as High Priest (Heb. 5:1-10) A warning against dullness (Heb. 5:11-14)

Christ’s qualifications as High Priest - HeB. 5:1-10
Qualifications necessary to serve as high priest? (5:1-4) He must be human (1) He must be Humane (2) He must have a sacrifice (3) He must be appointed by God (4)

Christ’s qualifications as High Priest - He 5:1-10
Duties of the high priest? (1-2) To offer sacrifices for sin (1) To have compassion on the ignorant and straying (2)

Christ’s qualifications as High Priest - HeB. 5:1-10
He was appointed by God (5-6,10) He was a man (5:7-8 cf. Gal. 4:4 He is able to sympathize (8 CF. 4:15) He offered himself as a sacrifice (7-8)

A warning against dullness - HeB. 5:11-14
The writer’s difficulty: The audience dullness of hearing (11) The writer’s expectation: readers should have been able to teach others (12) The writer, having used the expression “after the order of Melchizedek, remembers that his readers will not be likely to understand it careful explanation. So he pauses in his argument to rebuke them for their backwardness in religious knowledge Christian differ in the degree of their spiritual knowledge. This is because some are BABIES and some are FULL-GROWN

A warning against dullness - He 5:11-14 CONT’D
WHAT THEY NEEDED INSTEAD (12-13) Milk and solid food Why?: they were unskilled in the word of righteousness

A warning against dullness - He 5:11-14 CONT’D
CHARACTERISTIC OF THOSE CAPABLE OF HANDLING “MEAT” OF THE WORD ARE: (14) Those Of Full Age Who By Reason Of Use Have Their Senses Exercised To Discern Good And Evil

The peril of not progressing - Heb. 6:1-12
Main points of chapter 6 The peril of not progressing - Heb. 6:1-12 The certainty of God’s promise - Heb. 6:13-20

The peril of not progressing - He 6:1-12
NO Standing Still In Religion; It Is Impossible To Maintain A Halt In The Christian Life; To Stand Still Is To Fall Away Six Teachings Bible Considers Elementary Principles Of Christ? (1-2) Repentance & Faith toward God Laying on of hands and baptisms Doctrine of Resurrection of the dead and Eternal judgment Dead Works – Eph. 2:1,5; Eph. 4:20-32 Laying on of hands – Setting one aside to God's chosen task (cf. Num. 27:18; Act 6:6; Act. 13:3) Identifying with a sacrifice: priest (cf. Exo. 29:10; Exo. 29:15; Exo. 29:19; Lev. 16:21; Num. 8:12); laypersons (cf. Lev. 1:4; Lev. 3:2; Lev. 3:8; Lev. 4:4) Identifying with a stoning victim (cf. Lev. 24:14 Praying for blessing (cf. Mat. 19:13; Mat. 19:15) Praying for healing (cf. Mat. 9:18; Mar. 5:23; Mar_6:5; Mar_7:32; Mar_8:23; Mar. 16:18; Lk. 4:40; Lu. 13:13; Act 9:17; Act_28:8) Praying for receiving the Spirit (cf. Act. 8:17-19; Act 19:6 Ordination – Acts 6:6; 13:2-3; 19:6 Confirmation – 8:17 Baptisms: Perhaps rather, “of ablutions” (Heb_9:10; Mar_7:3-4), From the use of the plural (which cannot be explained either physically of “triple immersion,” or spiritually of the baptisms of “water, spirit, blood”); and Because baptismos is never used of Christian baptism, but only baptisma. But the word probably implies the teaching which enable Christian catechumens to discriminate beween Jewish washings and Christian baptism.

The peril of not progressing -
HeB. 6:1-12 CONT’D Five Blessings Experienced By Those Who Had Fallen Away (4-5) Once enlightened Once Partakers of the Holy Spirit Once Tasted the heavenly gift Once Tasted the good word of God Tasted the powers of the age to come

The peril of not progressing - HeB. 6:1‐12
The Condition Of Those Who Persist In Their Fallen State (6) There Is No Way To Bring Them Back Nailing The Son Of God To A Cross And Insulting Him In Public Some Encouragement for the faithful, persistent Christians (7-10)

The peril of not progressing - HeB. 6:1‐12 CONT’D
Qualities Desired Of Faithful, Persistent Christians (11-12) Diligence 11 Not Sluggish (lazy, idle) – 12 Imitate the faith and patience of those who inherit the promises 12

The certainty of God’s promise - HeB 6:13‐20
Two Immutable Things Upon Which Our Hope Lies (13-20) God’s Promise And God’s Oath Both In Which It Is Impossible For God To Lie

Main points of HEBREW chapter 7
THE GREATNESS OF MELCHIZEDEK: HEB. 7:1-10 THE NEED FOR A NEW PRIESTHOOD: HEB. 7:11-19 THE GREATNESS OF JESUS’ PRIESTHOOD: HEB. 7:20-28

The greatness of Melchizedek - He 7:1-10
What Melchizedek And The Son Of God Appear To Have In Common (1-3) Both Without Father & Mother Without Genealogy Having Neither Beginning Of Days, Nor End Of Life Remaining As Priests Forever

The greatness of Melchizedek - HeB. 7:1-10 CONT’D
Why Is Melchizedek Greater Than Both Abraham And Levi (4-10) Abraham Was Blessed By Melchizedek, And The Lesser Is Blessed By The Greater Melchizedek Received Tithes From Abraham And From His Descendant Levi (So To Speak)

TITHE SPOILS IN WAR: EVIDENCE IN EGYPT
To this information concerning spoils in war Maspero adds that the portion given to the gods was a tenth of the whole. Thus the gods of the side which was victorious shared with it in the triumph, and received a tithe of the spoil as the price of their help;” (Lansdell, H. “The Scared Tenth)

TITHE SPOILS AT WAR: EVIDENCE IN EGYPT
Speaking Of Ahmosis, A Military Leader In The Time Of The Last Pharaoh Who Went To Battle In Person, Maspero Says: “A Revival Of Military Greatness Was Followed By An Age Of Building Activity. Claims Of The gods Had To Be Satisfied Before Those Of Men, Etc. ... A Tenth Therefore Of The Slaves, Cattle, And Precious Metals Was Set Apart For The Service Of The gods, And Even Fields, Towns, And Provinces Were Allotted To Them, The Produce Of Which Was Applied To Enhance The Importance Of Their Cult Or To Repair And Enlarge Their Temples” (Lansdell, H. “The Scared Tenth)

Tithe on spoils IN war: evidence in Babylon
Also Of Spoils Of War Professor Maspero Says On Ancient Chaldeans : “As soon as he [the king] had triumphed by their [the gods ] command, he sought before all else to reward them amply for their assistance. He paid a tithe of the spoil into the coffers of their treasury ; he made over a part of the conquered country to their domain ; he granted them a tale of the prisoners to cultivate their lands, or to work at their buildings”

Dr. Sayce (Professor of Assyriology at Oxford) said “Tithe was a Babylonian institution… The temple and priests were supported by the contributions of the people partly obligatory and partly voluntary. The most important among them were the tithes paid upon all produce. The tithes were contri buted by all classes of the population, from the king to the peasant ; and lists exist which record the amounts severally due from the tenants of an estate.

Dr. Sayce added “…The tithes were paid for the most part in corn. Thus we find a Babylonian paying about 1 1 bushels of corn to the temple of the Sun-god [at Sippara] as the tithes required from him for the year. The tithes paid to the same temple by Nabonidus, just after his accession [555 B.C.] amounted to as much as six manehs of gold, or ^ Voluntary gifts were common, and were often made in pursuance of a vow or in gratitude for recovery from sickness. Among such gifts various articles of dress were included, with which the images of the gods were adorned”

"This Offering Of Tithes Was No New Thing. In His Babylonian Home Abram Must Have Been Familiar With The Practice. The Cuneiform Inscriptions Of Babylonia Contain Frequent References To It. It Went Back To The Pre-semitic Age Of Chaldsa, And The Great Temples Of Babylonia Were Largely Supported By The Esrd Or Tithe Which Was Levied Upon Prince And Peasant Alike. That The God Should Receive A Tenth Of The Good Things Which, It Was Believed, He Had Bestowed Upon Mankind Was Not Considered To Be Asking Too Much. (Dr. Sayce ( LANSDELL, H; “The Tithe in Scripture”)

There Are Many Tablets In The British Museum Which Are Receipts For The Payment Of The Tithe To The Great Temple Of The Sun-god At Sippara, In The Time Of Nebuchadnezzar And His Successors. From One Of Them We Learn That Belshazzar, Even At The Very Moment When The Babylonian Empire Was Falling From His Father's Hands, Nevertheless Found An Opportunity For Paying The Tithe Due From His Sister.“ (Professor Sayce)

CUNEIFORM

The greatness of Melchizedek - He 7:1-10 CONT’D
Why There Was A Need For A Change In The Priesthood (11): The Law Which Established The Levitical Priesthood Made Nothing Perfect c.f. Heb. 9:6-9

The need for a new priesthood HeB. 7:11-19
What was required for there to be a change in the priesthood (12,18): The Law Had To Be Changed, Indeed, Annulled

The need for a new priesthood HeB. 7:11-19 CONT’D
Evidence Showing That The Law Has Been Changed (13‐17) The Priest (Jesus) Came From The Tribe Of Judah Not Levi As Required By The Law The Priest (Jesus) Has The Power Of Endless Life, As Foretold In Ps 110:4

Some qualities of Jesus’ priesthood (20-28)
THE GREATNESS OF JESUS’ PRIESTHOOD HE 7:20-28 Some qualities of Jesus’ priesthood (20-28) Holy, Harmless, Undefiled, Separate From Sinners Offered Up Himself Once For All Able To Save To The Uttermost Has Been Perfected Forever By The Oath Of The Lord Always Lives To Make Intercession Surety Of A Better Covenant An unchangeable priesthood

Main points of HEBREW chapter 8
THE NEW MINISTRY OF CHRIST - HE 8:1-6 THE NEW COVENANT OF CHRIST - HE 8:7-13

The new ministry of Christ - HeB. 8:1-‐6
His location as our High Priest: Seated at the right hand of God (1-) He ministers in The sanctuary and true tabernacle build by God (2) What Jesus couldn’t have been if He were to be on earth: Priest (4)

The new covenant of Christ - He 8:7-13
The Need To Replace The First Covenant With The Second: The First Was Not Faultless; There Was Fault With Those Under The First (7-8)

The new covenant of Christ - HeB. 8:7-13 CONT’D
8 Characteristics Of God’s New Covenant As Foretold By Jeremiah (10-12) God’s laws will be in their minds and written on their hearts He will be their God, and they shall be His people None shall teach his neighbor to know the Lord, for all will know Him He will be merciful, and remember their sins no more

The new covenant of Christ - HeB. 8:7-13 CONT’D
The status of the of the Old covenant on the arrival of the new covenant (13): It had been made obsolete, old, and ready to vanish away

The main points of chapter 9
The earthly sanctuary and its service -‐ He 9:1-‐10 The heavenly sanctuary and its sacrifice -‐ He 9:11-‐28

The earthly sanctuary and its service -‐ He 9:1-‐10
The two parts of the earthly tabernacle and what they contained (2- ‐5) Holy place: lampstand, table of showbread, altar of incense (cf. Exo 30:1-‐7) Holiest of All: ark of the covenant, with the items in it, and the mercy seat The limitations of the earthly tabernacle and its services? (9-‐10) Symbolic, and could not make one perfect in regard to the conscience Imposed only until the time of reformation

The heavenly sanctuary and its sacrifice -‐ He 9:11-‐28
What was Christ High Priest is of: (11,24) Of good things to come Of the greater and more perfect tabernacle (heaven) The nature of what Christ offered as sacrifice (12,14) His own blood Offered without spot What Christ’s sacrifice accomplished (12,14-‐15,26,28) Eternal redemption (even for transgressions under the first covenant) Cleansing consciences from dead works to serve the living God To put away sin, once and for all

The heavenly sanctuary and its sacrifice -‐ He 9:11-‐28
The effectiveness of the covenant (testament) (15-‐17) Not until Jesus died on the cross What is appointed for men now that the New covenant is in force (27) To die once, and then the judgment Those whom Christ will appear to a second time for salvation (28) Those who eagerly wait for Him

Main point of chapter 10 The superiority of Christ’s sacrifice -‐ He 10:1-‐18 Exhortation to draw near and hold fast -‐ He 10:19-‐25 A warning against despising -‐ He 10:26-‐39

The superiority of Christ’s sacrifice -‐ He 10:1-‐18
Why animal sacrifices were insufficient (1-‐4) They did not make one perfect Because they could not take away sins Jesus came to do the will of God (9) He took away the first (covenant) that He may establish the second (covenant) What distinguishes Christ’s sacrifice from those of OT priests (11-‐14) He offered one sacrifice for all time Capable of perfecting those being sanctified

Exhortation to draw near and hold fast -‐ He 10:19-‐25
5) The three-‐fold exhortation based on what Jesus has done (22-‐24) Let us draw near Let us hold fast Let us consider one another What we should not forsake based on what Jesus has done (25) The assembling of ourselves together What’s meant by “sin willfully and the consequence of doing so (26-‐27) To knowingly persist in sin (i.e., presumptuous, rebellious sin) No sacrifice for sin, certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation

A warning against despising -‐ He 10:26-‐39
What one is guilty of when they persist in sin, and the need to be afraid (29-‐31) Trampling the Son of God underfoot Counting the blood by which one is sanctified a common thing, insulting the Spirit of grace -‐ God will judge His people, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Three things needed to receive the promise of God (35-‐39) Confidence Endurance Faith

Main points of this chapter
Faith defined -‐ He 11:1-‐3 Faith exemplified -‐ He 11:4-‐40

Faith defined -‐ He 11:1-‐3
Definition of Faith (1) Confidence in what we hope for, assurance about what we do not see (cf. NIV) Faith and the creation of the worlds (3) They were framed by the word of God, they were not made by things visible

Faith exemplified -‐ He 11:4-‐40
Some OT heroes of Faith (4-‐32) Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Israel, Rahab Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets What these “heroes of faith” looked forward to receiving (13-‐16) The promises, especially regarding the heavenly country and city prepared by God

Some of the amazing things done by faith. (33-‐35) Subdued kingdoms Worked righteousness Obtained promises Stopped the mouths of lions Quenched the violence of fire Escaped the edge of the sword Became valiant in battle Turned armies to flight Women received their dead raised to life again

Some of the things these people of faith endured (35-‐38) Torture Mocking Scourging Chains of imprisonment Stoned Sawn in two Wandering destitute in mountains and caves Afflicted, tormented

8) What these “heroes of faith” obtained, they did not, and Why (39-‐40) A good testimony The promise (i.e., the Messianic promise) That they might be made perfect together with us (i.e., salvation, the heavenly city)

Main points of chapter 12 The need for endurance and discipline -‐ He 12:1-‐17 Contrast between Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion -‐ He 12:18-‐24 A warning against defying -‐ He 12:25-‐29

The need for endurance and discipline -‐ He 12:1-‐17
How to run the race of faith (1-‐3) Lay aside every weight (esp. the sin of unbelief) Look to Jesus for inspiration How to view the striving experience hostility against sin, and how we should view it? (4-‐9) As chastening from a loving Father who knows it is for our good

The need for endurance and discipline -‐ He 12:1-‐17
4) What chastening from God accomplish (10-‐11) Partaking of His holiness, and the peaceable fruit of righteousness What to pursue As we run the race of faith, and how (12-‐17) Peace and holiness Careful not to fall short of God’s grace (like Esau did)

Contrast between Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion -‐ He 12:18-‐24
What we have come to as Christians (22-‐24) Mt. Zion and the heavenly Jerusalem God the Judge of All An innumerable company of angels Spirits of just men made perfect General assembly, church of the firstborn Jesus, Mediator of the New Covenant The blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than Abel

A warning against defying -‐ He 12:25-‐29
Four reasons we should not refuse Him who speaks from heaven? (25-‐29) He will one day “shake” and “remove” earth and heaven We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken We can have grace by which to serve God with reverence and godly fear God is a consuming fire

Main points of chapter 13 Moral and religious exhortations -‐ He 13:1-‐19 Benediction, final exhortation, and farewell -‐ He 13:20-‐25

Moral and religious exhortations -‐ He 13:1-‐19
Some moral exhortations to Christians (1-‐5) Let brotherly love continue -‐ The honor of marriage Entertain strangers -‐ Do not covet Remember the prisoners -‐ Be content

Moral and religious exhortations -‐ He 13:1-‐19
Some religious exhortations to the Christian (7-‐19) Remember those who rule over you Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines Be willing to bear reproach with Jesus Continually offer the sacrifice of praise, giving thanks Do good and share Obey those who rule over you, be submissive Pray for others What should we be looking for (14) The city that is to come (cf. He 11:10,16)

Benediction, final exhortation, and farewell -‐ He 13:20-‐25
The author’s pray for his readers (20-‐21) For God to make them complete in every good work to do His will For God to work in them what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ The final appeal (22) Bear with this word of exhortation which he has written in few words

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF HEBREWS.

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