What is this? On this page you will find "Who, What, Where, Why, When, How" questions to to help you either personally study these chapters or aid you in leading a discussion. Note that the 5W/H questions focus on observation of the text. The better you are able to carefully observe the text, the more accurate will be your Interpretation.
The questions are generally very simple and are stated in such a way as to stimulate you to observe the text to discern the answer. As a reminder, given the truth that our ultimate Teacher is the Holy Spirit, begin your time with God with a prayer such as Psalm 119:12+ "Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes." (you can vary it with similar prayers - Ps 119:18, 26, 33, 64, 66, 68, 108, 124, 135, 171+, etc) A few questions have no answers and are left to your observations and the illuminating/teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. Some qualifying thoughts - (1) use "As is" (2) Some questions may not be the best question for a given verse and my guess is that on some verses you will think of a far superior 5W/H questions and/or many other questions.
Dr Howard Hendricks once gave an assignment to his seminary students to list as many observations as they could from Acts 1:8+. He said "So far they’ve come up with more than 600 different ones! Imagine what fun you could have with 600 observations on this passage. Would you like to see Scripture with eyes like that?" (P. 63 Living by the Book - borrow) With practice you can begin to read Scripture like that! And needless to say, you will likely come up with many more observations and questions than I have recorded below. Indeed, I pray that the Holy Spirit would lead you to discover a veritable treasure chest of observations and questions! In Jesus' Name. Amen
Why am I doing this? Mortimer Adler among others helped me develop a questioning mindset as I read, seeking to read actively rather than passively. Over the years I have discovered that as I have practiced reading with a 5W/H questioning mindset, it has yielded more accurate interpretation and the good fruit of meditation. In other words, consciously interacting with the inspired Holy Word of God and the illuminating Holy Spirit has honed my ability to meditate on the Scriptures, and my prayer is that this tool will have the same impact in your spiritual life. The benefits of meditation are literally priceless in regard to their value in this life and in the life to come (cf discipline yourself for godliness in 1Ti 4:8-10+.) For some of the benefits of meditation see Joshua 1:8+ and Psalm 1:2-3+. It will take diligence and mental effort to develop an "inductive" (especially an "observational"), interrogative mindset as you read God's Word, but it bears repeating that the benefits in this life and the rewards in the next will make it more than worth the effort you invest! Dear Christian reader let me encourage you to strongly consider learning the basic skills of inductive Bible study and spending the rest of your life practicing them on the Scriptures as you live them out in your daily walk with Christ.
Although Mortimer Adler's advice is from a secular perspective, his words are worth pondering...
Strictly, all reading is active. What we call passive is simply less active. Reading is better or worse according as it is more or less active. And one reader is better than another in proportion as he is capable of a greater range of activity in reading. (Adler's classic book How to Read a Book is free online)
John Piper adds that "Insight or understanding is the product of intensive, headache-producing meditation on two or three verses and how they fit together. This kind of reflection and rumination is provoked by asking questions of the text. And you cannot do it if you hurry. Therefore, we must resist the deceptive urge to carve notches in our bibliographic gun. Take two hours to ask ten questions of Galatians 2:20+ and you will gain one hundred times the insight you would have attained by reading thirty pages of the New Testament or any other book. Slow down. Query. Ponder. Chew.... (John Dewey rightly said) "People only truly think when they are confronted with a problem. Without some kind of dilemma to stimulate thought, behavior becomes habitual rather than thoughtful.”
“Asking questions is the key to understanding.”
--Jonathan Edwards
That said, below are the 5W/H questions for Hebrews chapter 1. This page will also include questions and charts that correspond to the Precept course on Hebrews Part 1.
Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
HOW is this epistle’s opening different from most NT epistles (including Paul’s)? Begins with GOD. ALL 13 of Paul’s epistles begin with “PAUL…” (Only Genesis and John begin with focus on GOD) (Addendum question - What does that suggest about who wrote Hebrews? Many are dogmatic that it was Paul, but others are more uncertain reminding me of Paul's promise in 1Cor 13:12+ that "now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." (See note by William Barclay)
WHAT is first time phrase/word? AFTER (just to make sure they observe it)
WHAT is the next time phrase? LONG AGO
WHAT does LONG AGO mean or imply? In context = OT
WHO did the prophets address? The fathers.
WHO are the FATHERS & WHAT is the implication? OT Jewish fathers (could be the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob but cannot be dogmatic). Supports target audience is Jewish.
(TEST YOUR SKILL @ observation) What is a KEY WORD in Heb 1:1-2? IN = 5 times.
(EXTRA CREDIT) WHEN did God first speak in Bible? Genesis 1:3 – “Let there be light”
WHAT kind of revelation does this (God speaking) describe (natural or special)? Special revelation
WHAT does the first IN signify? In other words, WHAT does it mean that God spoke IN the prophets? Spirit of God INspired their writings – GOOD XR = 2Pe 1:21+ "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." Also 2Ti 3:16NIV+ = "All Scripture is God-breathed..."
WHAT does "IN MANY PORTIONS" (polumeros) (Note other translations slightly different - ESV, NIV = “at many times”) describe? God spoke at different times over an extended period of time.
HOW coherent or interrelated were God’s words despite being spoken over "many times"? Coherent, not contradictory or confusing. (EXTRA - WHAT doctrine regarding revelation does this support? Verbal plenary inspiration = every word divinely inspired for it to be so coherent over time).
WHAT does IN MANY WAYS (polutropos) signify? WHAT are some examples of the WAYS? Elijah in a still, small voice, Moses in the burning bush, etc, Also includes different genres – historical books, poetry, prophecy, etc
Hebrews 1:2 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.
WHAT is the obvious time phrase? Last days
WHEN (WHAT) is the Last Days? (LAST = eschatos gives us eschatology = study of last things) In context = when God has spoken in His Son. He began to speak thru His Son when His Son was incarnate (Jn 8:38+). MOST commentaries feel it is the time that began at His First & ends at His Second Coming.
WHAT is the tense of the verb HAS SPOKEN & how does this relate to divine revelation? aorist tense in context = Past tense = completed action emphasizing finality & completeness. Upshot? No more Biblical revelation. Canon is closed.
WHAT does this teach about Jesus’ SUPERIORITY TO THE PROPHETS OT men who were revered by the Jews? The prophets received only fragmentary revelation, but in the Son is full and final revelation
WHAT does it mean that God HAS SPOKEN in His Son? HOW would you explain that to someone? When He was on earth He spoke the Words His Father gave Him to speak (Jn 8:28+).
WHAT about those people who say they have “NEW revelation”? They don’t! They are false. Beware of those who say "I have a word from God!"
HOW does God speak today? Primarily He speaks through His Word illuminated by His Spirit but He does not give new revelation.
WHAT was the Son’s inheritance? EVERYTHING!
HOW might that affect us? We are heirs OF EVERYTHING because we are fellow heirs with Christ in Ro 8:17+!
WHAT did the Father do THROUGH the Son? Made the world (LITERALLY = made the ages = upshot is He created BOTH matter & time!)
WHAT does this tell us about Who was involved in creation? Father and Son were involved (cf Spirit Ge 1:2+ - ultimately the Trinity)
WHAT parallel truth did we learn in Colossians 1:15-18+? (READ SCRIPTURE)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For (term of explanation - explains "firstborn" does not mean first created like Jehovah's Witnesses teach) by Him all things (HOW MANY?) were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities (WHO ARE THESE DESCRIBING? ANGELIC POWERS)–all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Hebrews 1:3 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,
WHAT is the first description of Jesus in Heb 1:3+? Greek = apaugasma – OUTSHINING, EFFULGENCE – NAS translation better than RSV = “He is the reflection of God's glory.” The moon reflects the sun. But here the Son is not a reflection but an outshining. The Son has intrinsic glory!
WHAT is this describing? WHAT is radiance? Jesus is the very manifestation of God (Jn 10:30+) or as Nicene Creed says "GOD OF GOD, LIGHT OF LIGHT, VERY GOD OF VERY GOD."
WHAT is glory (doxa)? A proper opinion – the manifestation of all the divine attributes of God are seen in Jesus
WHO do you see when you see Jesus? God the Father
HOW do John 14:9+ help explain this truth? (READ Jn 14:9+).
WHAT is the second description of Jesus in Heb 1:3+?
WHAT is exact representation? charakter - A die presses its exact image into the coin, so the coin shows what the die is like. In the same way, Jesus shows us what God is like.
WHAT is the 3RD description of Jesus in Heb 1:3+? Upholds (present tense = continually) ALL (how many/much?) things by the word (rhema = spoken word) of His power (dunamis) cf Lk 1:37ASV+ "For no word (rhema) from God shall be void of power (adunateo)
WHAT does Jesus do with His creation? Upholds it continually!
HOW? By His spoken Word (rhema) = it has intrinsic power (Heb 4:12+ it is "living and active")
WHAT attribute of Jesus? Omnipotence
HOW does this compare with Col 1:17+? “in Him ALL things hold together”
QUOTE - Consider the dilemma of the nuclear physicist when he finally looks in utter amazement at the pattern he had now drawn of the oxygen nucleus.... For here are eight positively charged protons closely associated together within the confines of this tiny nucleus. With them are eight neutrons—a total of sixteen particles—eight positively charged, eight with no charge.Earlier physicists had discovered that like charges of electricity and like magnetic poles repel each other, and unlike charges or magnetic poles attract each other. And the entire history of electrical phenomena and electrical equipment had been built up on these principles known as Coulomb's law of electrostatic force and the law of magnetism. What was wrong? What holds the nucleus together? Why doesn't it fly apart? And therefore, why do not all atoms fly apart?
APPLICATION - HOW can we apply this truth to our life when it feels like it is falling apart?
WHAT is the 4TH description of Jesus in Heb 1:3+?
WHAT does made purification of sins refer to? (Note verb is past tense, completed act) The Cross (Jn 19:30+ It is finished = tetelestai)
WHY did He sit at the right hand of the Majesty? Father honored the Son - Work of redemption finished – Father “highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name”
Php 2:9+ (IF YOU HAVE TIME MIGHT READ Phil 2:5-11+ and ask what does “FORM” mean = morphe = emphasizes external is same as internal – speaks of nature THUS Php 2:6+ = “FORM (morphe) of God” = nature of God or FULLY GOD & in Php 2:7+ “FORM (morphe) of a bond-servant” = FULLY MAN)
WHAT does the verb “SIT” imply? Work of redemption finished -- The Levitical priests could not sit down when they offered the blood sacrifice on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of holies (Lev 16:14-17+) because there was no chair & mainly because the work of atonement was never accomplished with the blood of bulls and goats which could never take away sins (Heb 10:11+)!
Hebrews 1:4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
WHAT is the comparison between? Jesus & angels
(HARDER QUESTION – MAY WAIT UNTIL CHAPTER 2) WHEN did He become better than the angels (CHECK CONTEXT = SAT DOWN AT RIGHT HAND…)? In context when He was exalted, He became better. For a little while He was lower than the angels (Heb 2:9+) – that is for 30+ years as a Man He was a little lower explaining why He then became “much better than the angels.”
WHY is Jesus better than the angels? Inherited a more excellent Name.
Hebrews 1:5 FOR to which of the angels did He ever say, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU” (Ps 2:7)? And again, “I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME (2Sa 7:14)”
WHAT is the term of explanation? For (gar)
WHAT is the writer explaining? Why Jesus has more excellent Name than the angels
WHO is “HE” in these passages? God the Father (Same in Heb 1:5, 6, 7, implied in Heb 1:8)
WHAT does the writer appeal to in order to support his argument that Jesus has a MORE EXCELLENT NAME? OT Scriptures
HOW can you tell which parts of the text are OT quotations? All caps but only in the NASB
WHAT is he quoting? From Psalm 2 and from 2Sa 7:14
WHO is speaking in these Old Testament quotes? God
WHAT is the first argument that Jesus has a more excellent name than angels? God calls Jesus SON, His only Son – God never calls an individual angel SON! ("sons of God" as in Job 38:7 but never the Son of God)
WHAT is next related argument? God reiterates He is Father and Jesus is His Son (quoting Davidic Covenant) Implication is God never says He is Father of angels.
Hebrews 1:6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.” (Ps 97:7, a few favor Dt 32:43)
WHAT does this passage from Ps 97:7 prove? God COMMANDS Jesus to be worshipped by angels. Angels are not to be worshipped = Revelation 19:10 - And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
WHAT is FIRSTBORN and how do the cults misinterpret this, e.g., Jehovah’s Witnesses who teach Jesus was the first to be born? READ Col 1:15, then Col 1:16. First born is not about TIME but about POSITION! The pre-eminent one! Remember Esau was “firstborn” but Jacob got the inheritance.
TEACHING POINT ABOUT HOW TRANSLATIONS CAN LEAD TO DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS – Regarding placement of “AGAIN”. KJV = "And AGAIN, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world" This suggests 1st Coming. Note – ESV is like KJV “And AGAIN, when He brings the firstborn into the world.” NAS suggests 2nd Coming.
Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” (Ps 104:4) (
WHY is the Son superior to the angels? (1) He made (created) them (2) they are His possession = “HIS angels” and (3) they serve Him not vice versa
HOW should winds and fire be interpreted – literal/figurative? Most take figurative – fast like wind/destructive like fire. A few writers in past have said angels can be turned into wind, but most do not agree today.
Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son He says, “YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.
WHY is the Son superior? God says…
(1) He has a throne – no angel ever described with a throne (angels are in the throne room but never seated on the throne). Speaks of Jesus’ authority and sovereignty
(2) The Father definitively calls the Son “GOD”NOTE: Jehovah’s Witnesses mistranslate Hebrews 1:8 as “God is your throne forever and ever" and thus obscuring the truth of the text that Jesus is God!
Robert Bowman comments that to Jehovah's Witnesses' knowingly mistranslate Hebrews 1:8 - "The second way in which the New World Translation (NWT) has systematically abused the Divine Names or titles is its handling of texts in which Jesus is called God. In nine Bible texts Jesus is definitely called God (Isa 9:6, Jn 1:1, 18, Jn 20:28, Ro 9:5, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8, 2Pe 1:1, 1 Jn 5:20, possibly also Acts 20:28). Of these, the New World Translation translates four so that Jesus is NOT CALLED GOD AT ALL (Ro 9:5, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8, 2 Peter 1:1) and two so that He is "a god" or "god" (little "g") (John 1:1, 18). The remaining 3 texts are not mistranslated, but are interpreted so that either Jesus is not called God at all or He is called God only in some lesser sense. In short, the NWT translates texts that call Jesus God in such a way as to keep the text from making that identification." (BORROW Understanding Jehovah's Witnesses : why they read the Bible the way they do)
WHAT was Jesus’ own claim in Jn 10:30-33 (READ) and WHAT was the response? Oneness with God therefore claiming deity which Jews recognized by attempting to stone Him!
(IF YOU HAVE TIME) WHAT does Isaiah 9:6 teach about the Son? He is “Mighty God”!
Hebrews 1:9 “YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.”
WHY the “therefore”? Bc Jesus loved righteousness and hated lawlessness
WHO is “GOD, YOUR GOD”? The Father
WHO are the companions Jesus is over? In context = angels
Hebrews 1:10 And, “YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; (Ps 102:25-27 quoted in Heb 1:10,11,12)
WHY is Jesus superior to the angels in this verse? He is Creator
Hebrews 1:11 THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT,
WHAT happens to creation? WHAT’s the term of comparison/simile? “like a garment”
WHAT is “but” contrasting? Jesus will “REMAIN”
Hebrews 1:12 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.”
WHAT will the Son do to His creation? Discard it and change it (new heaven, new earth)
WHAT else do we learn about the Son? Immutable, eternal
Hebrews 1:13 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”? (Ps 110:1)
WHAT is the description of Jesus? At right hand of His Father – place of authority and as victor over all.
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
WHAT are angels? Ministering spirits
WHO sends them out? God/Jesus
TO WHOM do they render service? believers
WHAT are some examples of render service? Angel shut lion’s mouth in Daniel, etc.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
ENTER HIS REST TODAY
Goal: Overview of Heb 3 & 4 = GUARD YOUR TIME – POTENTIALLY A LONG DISCUSSION
You want them to see the teaching that continuance in the faith is a sign of salvation
Remember that the following truths are inseparably linked:
- faith & obedience
- unbelief & disobedience
The msg is that we enter His rest only thru faith & obedience
Our purpose will not be to define "rest" but to define qualifications for entering His rest.
Rest is desirable & to be sought after.
What is God trying to teach in Heb 3,4? For leader only!
He is teaching truth about salvation thru the comparison of the experience of the children in the wilderness and how one enters His rest. (THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT THE STUDENTS TO GRASP).
FIRST COLUMN (SEE CHART ABOVE) – THE REST REVIEWED
What is the main theme in the Hebrews 3-4?
Rest: there is a rest.
What did we learn about this rest? What did we see about the children of Israel regarding this rest?
They missed REST (WHY?)
- bc of disobedience,
- bc of unbelief
NOTE - Keep before the class the idea that the rest that the children of Israel missed will be constantly compared with the rest that he is calling the readers to.
- This REST is provided by God Heb 4:1
- It is a REST that is promised Heb 4:1
- It is a REST that remains for the people of God 4:1
- A REST that is obtained by belief 4:2,3
- This REST was rejected by those who heard the good news
- This message was not united with faith, which brought about the unbelief which caused them to miss the REST
- The REST can be missed by sin & unbelief Heb 4:11 (cf Heb 3:12)
- Sabbath REST Heb 4:9
- This REST did not come about thru Joshua Heb 4:8, Josh 23:1 (the promised REST was something more than LAND – it was about a PROMISED LIFE)
- REST that some will not enter
- REST from our works Heb 4:10
- CONCLUSION = Heb 3:11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, 'THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'"
HERE ARE PASSAGES YOU WILL WORK THROUGH:
Heb 3:18 And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His REST, but to those who were disobedient? (NOTE – Compare Heb 3:19 which tells us what disobedience equates with = UNBELIEF!)
Heb 4:1 Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His REST, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.
Heb 4:3 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.
Heb 4:5 and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST."
Heb 4:8 For if Joshua had given them REST, He would not have spoken of another day after that.
Heb 4:9 There remains therefore a Sabbath REST for the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For the one who has entered His REST has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Heb 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that REST, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.
REMEMBER THAT THE Purpose today is not to define "rest" but to understand the qualifications for entering that rest.
NOTE - As you make this list keep discussion as basic as you can, focusing on what can be seen thru simple observation of the text.
Once you have pursued the thought of "rest" ask if anyone saw the chapters from a different perspective?
Some may see the msg: Warning to not harden your heart
What did we see about that warning? What does the word “today” indicate?
"Today" = an urgency re this warning
Some may see the message as "hardening":
Israel heard but the msg but it was not united w/ faith
Their heart became hardened thru sin & disobedience
Others may see the primary message is that continuance in faith gives assurance of salvation
That message is seen especially in Heb 3:6,14, Heb 4:14 = “hold fast”
If this comes up just list & tell them we will deal with later in course
They need to pick up on the idea that the warning that is given 4x is issued to "anyone among you" (Hebrews 3:13, 14, Hebrews 4:1, Hebrews 4:11 = “any one”)
You could list what they see about ANY ONE (ANYONE) in Hebrews 3:13, 14, Hebrews 4:1, Hebrews 4:11. In short the WARNING in Hebrews 3-4 applies to ANYONE (including your students)…
We have tried to establish that although he is writing to a Christian audience, there is evidence that among those who are calling themselves believers but who are not true believers...
Now look at the warning TO "anyone" –
WHAT characterizes “ANYONE” in the following passage?”
Heb 3:12: “ANY ONE” - evil, unbelieving heart
Heb 3:13: “None of you” (= ANY ONE”) - hardened by deceitfulness of sin
Heb 4:1: “ANY ONE” - less they miss the promise that remains of rest
Heb 4:11: “so that no one” (= “ANY ONE) - be diligent lest they fall thru disobedience
BELOW ARE THE FULL PASSAGES ON “ANYONE” (ANY ONE):
Heb 3:12 Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any NONE (CF “ANY ONE”) of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 4:1 Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.
Heb 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one (anyone) fall through following the same example of disobedience.
Now all of these above can be listed under the subject of "rest" in the first column.
SECOND COLUMN = THE COMPARISON
Now go back and do a verse by verse walk thru...might preface by telling them the writer is using comparison in both chapters (Heb 3-4) to prove his point...
WE WILL COMPARE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WITH HIS READERS WHO HAD HEARD THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS
YOUR GOAL IS TO GET THE CLASS TO SEE the comparison and the WARNING from looking at the children of Israel in the wilderness who missed the rest in the Promised Land with the Christian readers who had heard the good news but some of whom were in danger of missing the rest of the PROMISED LIFE in Christ.
This IS key for your class GRASP AND to remember.
Read Hebrews 3:1: Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession
What is the connection with the previous?
We cannot understand the difficult passages unless we understand what the author is trying to do in entire book.
Hebrews 1 & 2 have revealed Jesus as the Apostle & High Priest (Apostle = He spoke in chap 1 and our merciful & high priest in chap 2).
It is imperative to focus on Jesus... better than angels.
Hebrews 3 focuses on Jesus and Moses. Review it.
Who is He compared with in Hebrews 3,4?
Moses-Jesus is better than Moses.
What do we learn about Moses and Jesus in Hebrews 3? (Look at Heb 3:2- 6)
1). Heb 3:2 Faithful to God Who appointed Him
Moses also faithful in all his house (SO BOTH WERE “FAITHFUL”)
2). Heb 3:3 Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses
3). Heb 3:3,4 Jesus is builder of house
Moses is part of the house
4). Heb 3:5,6 Jesus is faithful as Son
Moses faithful as servant Nu 12:7 = “My servant Moses”
NOW DISCUSS THE CROSS REFERENCE IN ACTS 7:1-53
DON’T TRY TO COVER EVERY VERSE BUT JUST THOSE IN Acts 7 THAT ARE COMPARISONS BETWEEN MOSES AND JESUS: You can set the context by asking whose speaking and to whom he is speaking.
Why would author need to show the superiority of Moses over Christ?
Writer of Hebrews presents Jesus as Deliverer (from slavery of fear to death...)
Jews had seen Moses as their deliverer (and historically he was Israel’s “deliverer”) but we saw
- Jesus is better than Moses
- Worthy of more glory than Moses
NOW - Work through Acts 7 beginning at Acts 7:34
Acts 7:34-35 What did Moses deliver Israel from? Moses is deliverer from slavery in Egypt
Heb 2:15 What did Jesus deliver us from?
Jesus: delivered from fear of death which we were enslaved to (power of death, from world)
Acts 7:36 What did Moses do in delivering Israel? Moses performed signs & wonders for 40 years
What about Jesus? Jesus performed signs & wonders for 3 years
Acts 7:37 What did Moses prophesy? God would raise up a prophet
Who is Jesus? Jesus is the prophet Dt 18:15,18 (Listen to Him - I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.]
Acts 7:38 What did Moses receive from God? living oracles to pass on
What did Jesus receive Heb 1:2? God in these last days has spoken in His Son
Acts 7:39 Moses was misunderstood=How was misunderstood (3 descriptions) “Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
- unwilling to be obedient to him
- repudiated him
- in their hearts turned back to Egypt
REMIND THEM - God had raised Moses up as deliverer
What about Jesus? What did we see in Jn 1:11 last week? Jesus was misunderstood
Acts 7:51 What does this verse explain about Israel’s heart problem in Old and New Testament?
- Stiff-necked
- Uncircumcised heart and ears
- Always resisting Holy Spirit
- Just as OT fathers did
REMIND THEM - As we move thru Hebrews Jesus will constantly be shown to be SUPERIOR. (to prophets, angels, Moses, later to Aaron, etc.).
NOW look at "hold fast" in Heb 3:6...
House we will look at more next week
But compare to Heb 3:14 as a clue...
If we hold fast it shows we are truly saved...he does not show it is the means of salvation
He shows thru the belief & unbelief (disobedience) of the children of Israel that they did not hold fast
3rd time "hold fast" even though it is an indication of salvation, there is still a need for the exhortation of the believers to hold fast to Him Heb 4:14.
[DON’T LET THEM BECOME CONFUSED ABOUT PERSEVERANCE – IT IS NOT A WORK OF MAN BUT A WORK OF GOD’S SPIRIT IN A SAVED MAN – In other words, the question is not one of the retention of salvation based upon a PERSONAL FLESHLY ENABLED continuation of faith, but of the possession of salvation as evidenced by a SPIRIT ENABLED continuation of faith.]
SUMMARIZE THE MESSAGE to this point: Begins Heb 3 with an imperative to consider Jesus, then compares Jesus & Moses & then defines what belonging to Him (CHRIST) really means = holding fast
THIRD COLUMN: THE WARNING
What does author do at this point?
Moves into a warning & deals with the children of Israel (we covered briefly earlier)
How many times? 3 = Heb 3:8, Heb 3:15, Heb 4:7
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS
What is the repeated time phrase and what does it convey?
Today = conveys a sense of urgency (you are not guaranteed tomorrow!)
Have you heard?
Hebrews 2:1,3 makes it clear they have heard the msg
Now the writer shifts to the OT passages to emphasize the Jews had heard
Beginning w. Heb 3:7 he is quoting Ps 95:7,8
Ps 95:8 What is the warning? What is the event called?
Ps 95:8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
What was the trial God sent? Let’s look at Exodus 17 & Nu 20 to understand Ps 95:8 and the parallel Hebrews passages not to harden their hearts….
Briefly - Exodus 17:1-3, 6 – What happened to Israel after they were delivered from Pharaoh and bondage? Tested with “no water”
How respond? (1) quarreled (2) tested God
Exodus 17:1 Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water that we may drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, "Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"..................
How did God respond to their quarreling and testing? Used Moses to provide water
6 "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike (cf Isa 53:4) the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he named the place Massah (Heb = “testing”) and Meribah (Heb = “quarrel,” contend, strive) because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us, or not?"
What happened a second time in Numbers 20? No water
How Israel respond? Contended with Moses
How did Moses respond? Struck rock > water BUT Disobeyed God > would not enter Promised Land.
Numbers 20:2 And there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron. 3 The people thus contended with Moses and spoke, saying, "If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!................................................
Nu 20:11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. 12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."
Nu 20:13 Those were the waters of Meribah (DON’T BE CONFUSED - SAME NAME BUT DIFFERENT LOCATION = KADESH & THUS A SEPARATE EVENT), because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them..
What happened to the people?
- Contended, grumbled, complained bc NO WATER.
- Accused Moses of bringing to wilderness to kill them
What did the children of Israel forget that had just happened at the Red Sea?
- God's deliverance up to this point [wonders & signs at Red Sea Ac 7:36]
- Named Massah & Meribah bc they tested the Lord
Remember that ability to understand this comparison to the warning that he is issuing those who may fail to enter the rest is related to the ability to grasp the truth in the OT è hardening of heart in both Old and New had dire consequences.
You could summarize - Remind them that the passages in Exodus 17:1,7 & Numbers 20:1,13 show a
- lack of faith & unbelief
- disobedience
- hardness of heart (Ps 95:8)...
KEY POINT: these were not sporadic events but were characteristic of their lives & behavior from time they came out of Egypt. It was their WAY OF LIFE to be disobedient, a way of life which was evidence of their unbelief.
Result was that they would not enter His rest
These verses are key to understanding the msg in Heb 3 & Heb 4.
He moves from the illustration about the children of Israel into a warning
Heb 3:9 What do we learn about Israel’s disobedience?
Tried & tested God – saw His works 40 years! (NO EXCUSE!!!)
Heb 3:9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
Heb 3:10 How did God respond? Why? What time phrase?
Angry/they went astray (ALWAYS) & did not know His ways.
Heb 3:10 THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’;
Heb 3:12 What is the warning?
Take care lest anyone have an evil, unbelieving heart in falling away (Note "anyone" = There might be someone who has such a heart among them)
REMINDER - Keep taking them back to idea of unbelief & disobedience & belief & obedience. It is vital to show them that the evidence of unbelief is disobedience
MY COMMENTARY: One of the biggest hurdles is that intellectual belief equates with salvation but obedience is the evidence. There are many who say they believe but their lives are filled with disobedience (the evidence of unbelief).
Heb 3:13 What is a “preventative” against getting a hardened heart?
Heb 3:13 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.
Heb 3:14 What is writer explaining?
Evidence of a genuine believer > Necessity to “hold fast” > Long term Obedience is the evidence of belief
Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
Heb 3:16-19 Who provoked God? Who was He angry with? Who did not enter rest?
Be sure they see the “definition” of unbelief in Heb 3:18-19. Record this “definition.”
- Heb 3:18 = disobedient
- Heb 3:19 = unbelief
FOURTH COLUMN – THE REST REMAINS
Hebrews 4:1 "therefore"
Let us fear! WHY?
(1) Fate of Israel > Provoked God w/ sinèdied & did not enter rest
(2) Yet still a promise remains of entering & he is saying don't miss it
(3) Lest ANY ONE come short of entering God’s rest
What is comparison in Heb 4:2?
Both had good news preached to them (Gospel even in OT = Gal 3:8)
What is the contrast in Heb 4:2-3?
Israel in OT had GOOD NEWS preached but it was not united with faith
We = Believed and enter God’s rest
(What is a key word in Heb 4:1,6, 9?) If a rest remains what does that tell us?
It was not fulfilled by entry into the Promised land but this rest is still available
Heb 4:2, Heb 4:6 What specifically did they hear in the OT?
good news preached to them
What is the good news?
the gospel = the msg about Jesus Christ
(THEY DID NOT HAVE THIS NEXT QUESTION OR SCRIPTURES BUT SOME STUDENT MIGHT WONDER HOW THE GOSPEL COULD BE PRESENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT)
How would that be possible before Christ even came?
- Gospel was preached to Abraham Gal 3:8
- Abraham believed and “entered that rest” Ge 15:6
The gospel was prefigured in the OT in (1). Blood of Passover Lamb on doorposts, (2). Rock from which they drank (1 Co 10:4) and (3). Looking to the bronze serpent & living (Nu 21:8) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he shall live."
Heb 4:6 What happened to the children of Israel in the OT?
they heard the good news>failed to enter (WHY?) > DISOBEDIENCE
(WHAT have we seen equates with DISOBEDIENCE?) Unbelief
Heb 4:7-8 What does he warn the readers about in these two passages?
- Today = there is still a rest available
- Do not harden your hearts
- If that rest had been given thru Joshua, Heb 4:8 they would not spoken of another day after that
- NLT helps understand – “Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come.” (Heb 4:8NLT)
How is rest described in Heb 4:9?
Sabbath rest (will discuss more in Lesson 12)
What does he tell about the one who has entered His rest? Heb 4:10
also rested as God did from His (we will study this later)
Heb 4:11 What is the exhortation? (bc of failure of children to enter & his readers potential of failing to enter for same reason)
- be diligent to enter that rest (believe/obey)
- lest anyone fall following children of Israel’s pattern in OT
What is context of Heb 4:12,13? Any different light on the meaning of this famous verse Heb 4:12 (which most people take out of it’s Hebrew 4 warning context)? (Notice it begins with “for” so is clearly explaining something he has just stated.)
- the word of God (= previous warning passages) is our judge (will also discuss later)
- Word judges our thoughts and intentions
Heb 4:14,15 What is he showing in conclusion (“therefore”)?
- We have a great high priest we are
- Hold fast our confession (Think – perseverance)
- Draw near to the throne of grace
What is crucial takeaway of this lesson?
- faith & obedience are inseparably linked, Unbelief & disobedience are inseparably linked
- the rest that he is referring to is entered only by faith & obedience
- it is not just hearing (intellectual assent) but hearing mixed with faith with the result being obedience and holding fast
- Continuing in the faith is sign of salvation
What is the application for all of us? We all need to examine ourselves.
- If our life is filled with the fruit of disobedience, then it is a strong possibility we are not believers even though we may have “accepted Christ” at some point in our life.
- If our life shows evidence of faith & obedience and we are holding fast then we can be confident that we are those who have entered His rest
- The old hymn says “Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to Trust and Obey.”
Be in prayer for your class and those who may be on the “edge”…
- These chapters tell us what true salvation is
- We need to be aware that if we are His we will hold fast
- Failure to Believe is not ignorance but stubbornness/hard hearted
- Those who refused to obey God & were refused His rest.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
HOLDING FAST UNTIL THE END
Goals:
- Understand from Hebrews 3:6,14 that continuance in the faith is a sure sign of salvation
- Or as stated in Hebrews 3, holding fast is evidence of genuine belief
- The experience of children of Israel illustrates this truth.
- This teaching shows that there is no place in Scripture for the dangerous teaching of easy believism -- If someone thinks they can at one time believe in Jesus and then drift away from Him the rest of their life and still land safely on heaven's shores, they are "dead" (spiritually) wrong! Such a person was never a true follower of Christ.
- The corollary is "once (truly saved), always saved" because Jesus will not lose any of His sheep.
Read
Hebrews 3:6+ 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.
Hebrews 3:14+ For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,
Hebrews 3:2-5 - What do we learn about "house"?
- His (God's) house
- Moses faithful in house
- Built by someone
- Jesus builder of all
- Jesus counted worthy of > glory than Moses just as much as builder is worthy of > glory than the house...
What does this show?
- Jesus is Builder & Moses is part of house
- Jesus is faithful as a Son
- Moses was faithful as a servant
After all these things in Hebrews 3:6, the author states "we are members of His house if we hold fast" - You might consider discussing the verb Hold fast (katecho) pointing out that it is a nautical term used in Acts 27:40+. Katecho means steer toward, land at, hold one's course toward. How does that fit with Heb 3:6, 14 "until the end? (See note on all "nautical terms" in Hebrews).
The faithfulness of Jesus is key to understand what continuance (or perseverance) in the faith is about.
We see that there is some link between being faithful and being part of His house...
- Moses was faithful in the house as a servant
- Moses is part of the house
- We are His house if we hold fast ties together the idea of hold fast & faithfulness
SUM UP - So what we have seen:
House is God's, Builder > honor than house, House built by someone, God is builder of all, Moses part of house, Moses faithful in His house as servant as testimony of things to be spoken later, then Christ's faithfulness.
Now, how do we understand this? How does it fit with Hebrews 3:6?
This will become more clear as we look at the Cross reference and understand "we are His house":
What do we learn Eph 2:11-22+? Continue list of house:
- Gentiles brought near by blood of Jesus
- Reconciled in Christ's body
- Gentiles now have peace with God
- No longer strangers & aliens
- fellow citizens, members of God's household
In Sum:
- Jew & Gentile are members of God's household
- Built on the foundation of apostles & prophets
- Christ is the Cornerstone
How does this tie in with Heb 3 "we are His house if we hold fast"? "whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end."
Eph 2 tells us Jews & Gentiles brought together in one body, members of God's household, built on foundation...we saw in Heb 2:3,4+ shows that these believers also came to faith based on the testimony of the apostles & prophets
You want them to see that God is using an analogy (house) to teach us truth about what it means to belong to Him.
You might draw out the house - Draw the Cornerstone, then the foundation of the apostles & prophets (their teaching), and then individual believers (Jew and Greek) then being fitted together into a holy temple in the Lord
He is showing that we the believers represent HIS HOUSE, the dwelling place for His Spirit (Eph 2:22)
Help them to see that thru this HOUSE analogy ("whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.") as a picture of our being a part of the house and belonging to Jesus Christ (Who is over the house).
What is the relationship to Heb 3:6?
IN OTHER WORDS -- How can we know whether we are part of this building being fitted together into a holy temple?
We can know for sure whether or not we are part of this house discussed in Eph 2, part of this building being fitted together growing into a holy temple if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
Who is His house?
We are: the body of believers
How do we know?
We know individually if we hold fast
Now look at 1 Pe 2:4-5+ -
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Pe 2:4-5+ What are believers called and what is happening to them?
- Believers are "living stones"
- Being built up as a spiritual house
1 Pe 4:17+ What are we reminded of?
- judgment begins at the household of God - He is speaking of chastening and discipline (NOT punitive but purifying and cleansing -- trials and afflictions that God allows in our life to purify us).
What will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel?
- There is a judgment for the household of God - genuine believers (What were the Hebrew Christians experiencing?)
- There is also a warning for those who don't even obey the gospel (cf Jn 3:36+) (These are unbelievers).
1 Peter 2 Reminds us that we are living stones, part of His house. In a sense 1 Pet calls us to examine ourselves to see whether or not we are in the faith, when it reminds us that judgment begins with the household of God. (E.g., Am I being disciplined as a child of God?)
So what is the house? Or who composes God's house?
- Believers make up His house
What is the message which linked with the truth in Hebrews 3:6?
We prove ourselves to be His house if we hold fast
GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ON COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF "HOUSE" IN THE BIBLE...
What is the problem today? Why do we need to deal with this? What do most people think of when they hear His HOUSE?
- For the most part we have misunderstood what His house is.
- We have seen His house in terms of a building, even warning kids "Quiet because you are in the house of God"!
- If one has the understanding of HOUSE as a building, then Hebrews 3:6 loses its true significance.
- We as individual believers make up that house
Other verses will help understand "house."
What do Ro 16:5 and Col 4:15 teach about house?
- Refer to the church that is in their house
Heb 10:21 Who is over the house?
- Great High Priest is over the house of God
- This is important to understand because other verses show Jesus as the Cornerstone, but here we see He is our great High Priest over the house of God (It's like He is at the "bottom" and "top" of the spiritual house!)
Take a moment now to sum up what we have discussed by having someone state what it means to be a part of the house of God
- Basically if we are believers we are part of His house
- Jews and Gentiles who believe make up God's house
- Jesus is both the Cornerstone and the High Priest of the house
- God's house is built on the teachings of the apostles and prophets
- Finally, we show that we are truly part of His house by continuing (persevering) in the faith
Explain - The evidence of the fact that the Hebrew readers of this epistle were truly saved, is that they retained their profession of faith in Messiah despite of and under the stress of persecution, not going back to the First Covenant sacrificial system and works mindset of the Pharisees.
What is the teaching about belief in Luke 8:13+?
Lu 8:13+ “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
Mt 13:20-21+ The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
(Related passages -
Mark 4:16-17 “In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
Matthew 24:13 (MOST RELEVANT TO THE TRIBULATION) “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
Now Parallel Heb 3:6 with Heb 3:14 -
Heb 3:14 What is the promise for those who hold fast to the end?
- We are partakers of Christ (Partakers = metochos = signifies one who participates with another in a common activity or possession.)
- NIV & ESV has "we have come to share in Christ" NLT paraphrases it "we will share in all that belongs to Christ")
Let's look at cross references to glean what it means to be partakers of Christ...
How does Jn 6:48-51 help us understand the phrase "partakers of Christ"?
Jn 6:48-51+: I am the bread of life. 49 “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 “This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
This verse is not easy to understand. The background notes will help understand what Jesus is saying in John 6. You may have to lead your students through some of these points to help them understand how John 6 illustrates believers as "partakers."
- Jesus was saying that life belongs to the one who eats His flesh
- The Jews understood this picture of covenant
- Eating the other's flesh symbolized you were taking on the IDENTITY of the other person
- It symbolized you were taking their life totally into your life
- This is the same idea in Covenant - when we enter the New Covenant, we enter into to total oneness with Jesus
- To eat Jesus' flesh involves a total partaking of Who Jesus is
- Two lives become one, intermingled, held in common (again this is the truth of covenant - see Oneness of Covenant)
- To partake of this life means that one’s spiritual hunger and thirst will be fully satisfied.
- When you partake of His life, when you accept His life, you are saved (Of course one does this by believing in Him).
- One could paraphrase Jesus' words -- “Just as you take food and drink within your body and it becomes a part of you, so you must receive Me within your innermost being so that I can give you life.”
- Because of what Yeshua said here the Jews were grumbling (Jn 6:41-42+) and their grumbling ended with them NOT holding fast but no longer walking with Him (Jn 6:66+). Thus this passage gives an illustration of not holding fast and not becoming a partaker of Christ!
- Jewish understanding allows for symbolic interpretation of “food and drink.” To eat the flesh of the Son of Man is to absorb his entire way of being and living. The Greek word “sarx” (“flesh”) is also used to refer to human nature in general, to the physical, emotional, mental and volitional aspects of human existence. Yeshua wants us to live, feel, think and act like Him; ]
Jesus is the Bread and we must partake of Him (believe in Him by grace through faith)
Being a partaker of Christ means we have partaken of all of Who He is (this is covenant, identification with Christ)
Heb 3:14 says the same thing...we know that we are partakers if...we hold fast.
Now let's look at Jn 14:16-20+
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
How does this show believers are partakers with Christ?
- Jesus is in us by His Holy Spirit abiding in us
- Partakers then means that we are being indwelt by Him
Jn 14:23,24+. What does this teach about how believers are partakers of Christ?
Jn 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word (aka "obey"); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.
- If we obey His Word, the Father and Son will make us His abode, another aspect of
What does Ro 8:9-11+ teach about how believers are partakers of Christ?
Romans 8:9-11+ However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.
- Partakers = have the Spirit of Christ in us, dwelling in us.
Ask them to sum it up (so we are not just accumulating facts) -- What does it mean that we are partakers of Christ in Heb 3:14?
- We can know that we have partaken (possessors) of His flesh & blood,
- We can know that the Spirit of Christ abides in us
- IF we hold fast...holding fast proves we are partakers with Him.
What do we learn about partakers of Christ in Eph 5:30-32
Ephesians 5:30+ because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
- Believers are members of His body - another facet of partaking of Christ.
- As a husband and wife are joined and become one flesh
- Christ and His church (His bride ~ believers) are one with Christ
- Oneness of Christ & His bride, the church (partakers, sharers)
- establishing such close intimacy as to be called in the Scripture, oneness-unity rather than union.
How does this relate to Heb 3:14?
Heb 3:14 offers us the proof that we are members of His body, partakers of His body, IF WE HOLD FAST.
1 John 2:19+ - What does John teach about the person who does not hold fast?
1 Jn 2:19+ They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.
- If we do not hold fast it shows that we were never His at all
- It is not showing that we lose our salvation but that we never had it to begin with
- Genuine Christians carry on in the faith (cf. 2 Jn 9).
Jn 8:31+ What is one sign that a person is holding fast?
John 8:31+ So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If (3rd Class Condition = "if you abide" possible but not a given) you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
- Abiding in His Word shows that we are truly His disciples
Make sure they see the relationship between Jesus & His house. Some of the observations they may recall include...
- He is the cornerstone of the house,
- all is built upon HIm,
- He is the High Priest over the house
- Believers are His house,
- Believers are partakers,
- Believers are have His Spirit,
- IF WE HOLD FAST
This may seem redundant but keep drawing them back to what Scripture teaches...
- [Yes "once saved always saved" (eternal security; cannot "lose" salvation) BUT this person's life will show (1). By present obedience, abiding in His word & (2). By steadfast holding on to the end. ]
- There is no place for easy believism
- Holding fast is a proof of true salvation
Heb 3:7, Heb 4:1-3 God reminds us of the rest that Israel missed,
- bc of unbelief & disobedience,
- a rest that was refused
- bc the good news was heard & not mixed with faith.
- The day of trial ("no water" Ex 17:1-7) came and they DID NOT HOLD FAST!
- The WARNING: there remains a rest & it could be missed.
For this week's purposes how do we know that we will not miss this rest? (Yes we are reiterating this same truth).
- We know if we hold fast. That's the proof in Hebrews 3:6, 14.
What we are to do when our "day of trial in the wilderness" comes (Heb 3:8)? If holding fast is the proof, how do we hold fast when tried like Israel?
How does Heb 2:17,18 help us to "hold fast"?
- Merciful & faithful High Priest
- He was made like His brethren in all things (He knows rejection, intense temptation, being misunderstood, etc)
- He has suffered in that which He was tempted and He is able to come to the aid of those who are (being) tempted
How does Heb 4:14-16 relate to the time of trial or testing?
- Our house has a high priest...
- therefore let us hold fast.
- Jesus is the provision:
- He knows our weakness:
- He was tempted in all things yet w/o sin
- We are told to draw near to Him
- We can weather the temptations and trials bc we can turn to our High Priest. He will hold us.
Let's go back to the children of Israel's example -- we want the group to see the parallels that Israel did not hold fast and therefore they missed entering Canaan "Rest". But they also missed salvation because even though they had the good news preached it was not mixed with faith. He shows by the illustration of the children of Israel, we prove we are His if we hold fast, but they proved they were not His because they did not hold fast.
Let's look at why they failed to enter from Cross References...
What do we learn about the REST they were to enter in Ex 3:1,8+?
Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (3:8) “So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
- God says He will deliver them from bondage in Egypt and take them into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey,
8 "So (they had cried out from bondage, groaning, affliction & bc God's covenant w/ Abraham, He heard their cry in Ex 2:24...we need to cry out...we too are seed of Abe: What a picture of OUR HIGH PRIEST able to come to the aid of those being tested / tempted (Heb 2:18)!!!)
What did Israel do in Ex 2:23-24?
Exodus 2:23-24 Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. 24 So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- They cried out
- God remembered
What did He tell Moses to do in Ex 3:16,17?
- To gather the elders of Israel & tell them that God would bring them out of Egypt into Canaan, a land flowing with milk & honey.
- Ex 3:17 So I said, I (God) will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt ... to a land flowing with milk and honey.
- All this is an OT picture or symbol of a NT truth in Hebrews 3
What do you see in Dt 6:23+?
Dt 6:23+ He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.’
- God brought Israel out of bondage in order to bring them into the promised land and freedom
Numbers 13 and Numbers 14
We could not look at all the verses dealing with the Children of Israel but these two chapters give a good summary of the coming out of Egypt and not going in (cf Dt 6:23)
Summary from Numbers 13 and Numbers 14:
- At the border of the Promised Land
- 12 sent to spy out the land
- 10 brought a bad report
- Caleb & Joshua said they should go in & possess
- 10 said they could not bc of the inhabitants (Giants)
- What we see over & over in the History of the children of Israel is that THERE WAS NO HOLDING FAST but disobedience and unbelief (Heb 3:18-19+).
- Congregation wept. Wanted another leader.
- Wanted to return to Egypt.
- Leaders distressed and believe God & try to convince people.
Result?
- people want to stone them = NO HOLDING FAST
- God appears & desires to destroy them.
- Moses intercedes they not be destroyed bc of God's name at stake
What are some of the truths in this account that help us see the habitual disobedience of the children of Israel?
See Nu 14:22-24 for good summary
“Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, 23 shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. 24 “But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.
- Says they put God to the test 10x (Nu 14:22)
- did not listen to His voice (Nu 14:22)
- God says that they will not see the Land of Canaan.
- He says Joshua & Caleb will bc they have a different spirit and have followed Him fully.
NOTE - Make sure that although Moses did not enter the Promised Land, they remember how he is described in Heb 3?
- He was faithful in His house and his disobedience was not a way of life, always going astray in his heart, not HABITUAL DISOBEDIENCE.
- So Moses did not miss salvation. Joshua, Caleb & Moses were faithful.
What did God call the children of Israel?
- An evil congregation
How do we see their continual disobedience?
- Even after God pardons them,
- they turn again to go into the land in their own strength
- Thus we see the habitual disobedience of the children of Israel!!!
How is Israel an example to us? How does it fit with Heb 3:6,14?
Read 1 Cor 10:6, 11+ - Now these things happened as examples for us, so that (WHY?) we would not crave evil things as they also craved. (10:11) Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
- These things happened as an example
- They were an example and written for our instruction
What spiritual advantages did Israel have in the wilderness?
Read 1Co 10:1-5 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.
In spite of their spiritual advantages, what's the summary of the evil congregation of the children of Israel in 1 Co 10:6-10?
- Craved evil things
- Idolaters (run own life)
- Acted immorally
- Tried the Lord
- Grumbled
What is Paul's warning in 1Co 10:12?
- Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
What is the message to us? What are we in danger of if we do not take heed?
- If these things are true in our life which were true in the children of Israel, then we are not standing and we will fall.
- We are not talking about sporadic missteps but about continual disobedience manifest by these sins.
How do these truths tie in with Heb 3:6,14?
- See 1 Co 10:1,4 describing their advantages: the exodus then was a picture of salvation but it is not telling us that everybody who came out entered in.
But what reminder in 1 Co 10:13?
- No temptation comes that is not common to man
- No temptation will come that is beyond what we are able to bear bc God is faithful & will provide the way of escape that we may be able to endure.
What is the tie with Heb 3,4?
- These chapters make it clear we are His if we hold fast
- t reminds us that we have a great high priest
- 1 Co 10:12 if any of these things are in your life in a habitual way, then you are not standing & you will fall
- If you belong to Him the temptation will not be too great bc God has provided a way of escape
- The parallel: we are His house if we hold fast.
Were the children of Israel His house?
- Not all of them were bc not all of them held fast.
- Not all held their confidence and boast of their hope firm until the end. Joshua did. Caleb did.
- Moses was faithful in His house.
- The children of Israel show us habitual disobedience.
- We see that they heard the good news but hearing is not sufficient. The response is critical. It must be mixed with faith.
- The message: THE ONE WHO THINKS HE STANDS NEEDS TO TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL!
God has given us a yardstick by which we can measure whether or not we are really His by showing us in Heb 3:6,14 the SIGN and by showing in 1 Co 10 what it means to HOLD FAST,
- not to continue to crave evil things,
- not to continue in idolatry (not to continually running our own lives),
- not to be habitually immoral,
- not to habitually test the Lord,
- not to habitually grumble.
Holding fast, continuance, going on in the faith is a sign of true salvation.
The fact that I belong to Him is not evidenced by a one time commitment.
The fact that I belong to Him is evidenced by
- my present day continuing,
- my present day holding fast,
- my present day exhibiting by my life that I am a partaker.
And the answer is there about what we are to do when temptation comes:
- God will provide the way of escape.
- We have a Great High Priest.
- So Hold fast.
- There is no place for easy believism.
Hebrews 3,4 and the OT example make it very clear that the way is narrow (Mt 7:14) and yet we can know that we are walking the narrow way if we are holding fast firm until the end.
Pray for God to seal these truths in your heart and that we can effectively and powerfully lead our groups thru this discussion. Pray that if there are any in the group who are not holding fast, that this lesson will be used by God to reveal to them where they are and to show them what they need to do.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHT - One needs to understand what the writer artfully used Old Testament Israel as an example to the Jewish readers. In simple terms, even his readers knew that Israel had a remarkable exodus from bondage to freedom and yet when TEMPTATION/TESTING came (as allowed by the sovereign Lord), the majority of the nation failed to HOLD FAST. We see multiple examples of Israel failing to HOLD FAST. The writer is warning his Jewish readers, do not do what their ancestors did, do not harden their hearts because if they do, they will not HOLD FAST to the end.