The Whole Picture - Hebrews 13:1-25

We’ve reached the end – the final chapter of the book of Hebrews. This book has taken us to an amazing depth and yet, I know we’ve only scratched the surface. “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow” (Hebrews 4:12). We may scratch the surface of God’s Word but the Word penetrates to the very core of who we are to separate us from the world, from the beings of death whom we once were, and take us into the presence of Holy God. Amen to that.

With this final section, the whole picture that we’ve studied throughout this series will come into focus. We’ll see the author’s whole thesis of his book boiled down into one statement. We’ll cross the bridge to enter the promise for which we all hope. Please start by reading Hebrews 13:1-25.

Click here for a printable handout for this section.

The book of Hebrews wraps up as do many New Testament books. The author encouraged us to draw near to God through faith, to run the race focused on Jesus, and live at peace with God and others. Now, he’s going to give us some very practical lifestyle choices that will help make those things a reality. Beneath that list, though, hovering below the surface, is a life transforming message that will rock our world. Let’s consider the surface list, however, before we dive beneath the surface.

The First List of Seven

Love (13:1)
Let it continue. It can’t continue if it never started within us. It never started if we don’t first recognize the love Jesus has for each one of us. He is our example of love and we are His witness of love to the world.

Hospitality (13:2)
Show it to others. Open your heart, your wallet, and your home. Share a meal, a moment, and a smile. Who knows – you may be taking in one of God’s holy angels.

Prisoners (13:3)
Remember them. This probably originally referred to those imprisoned for their faith but it spreads to all incarcerated. Yes, they might have made some mistakes in their life, but haven’t we all? In prison, walls separate them from the Christian influences of society; they’ll never hear unless we take the message to them.

Marriage (13:4)
It’s one guy and one girl with a sexual relationship only between the two of them that’s consummated after the wedding vows are made. It drips with corruption in our perverted world and yet God calls us to live a life where the marriage bed is undefiled. Our standards may have deteriorated but His remain the same.

Money (13:5)
Don’t love it; live free from its consuming pull on your life. If money is the love of our lives, then we'll never be satisfied. We'll always live lusting after more, discontent with what God has given us.

Satisfaction (13:5-6)
We could link together this point with the last one but we can find many areas in our lives to harbor discontentment besides our financial situation. We cheat on our spouses, gripe about our jobs, accuse our kids of not living up to their potential, and dream of bigger houses and nicer cars. All that we have is from God; He gives us exactly what we need for the life to which He calls us. Be content.

Leaders (13:7)
Remember them. People have given of their lives to instill God’s Word into your life. They did so out of love for God and to pay it forward as a recognition to those who invested in them. Honor those people who have made a godly impact in your life and try to live your life according to their example.

The Second List of Four

We’re going to skip Hebrews 13:8-14. We’ll come back to it in a minute. First, let’s skim through our second list of lifestyle qualities consistent with one who has drawn near to God.

Praise (13:15)
Offer it as a sacrifice. Don’t only stand up and sing on Sunday morning. Sacrifice your thoughts and words until every one honors Holy God. Praise Him in those moments of struggle and pain when words of anger would so much easily slip from your mouth. Yes, it’s hard. If it isn’t, then it’s not a sacrifice.

Goodness (13:16)
Do it. Be generous; share with others. This one is similar to praise –don’t only give a little. Give until it’s a sacrifice to do so.

Obedience (13:17)
God established authority in our world; He expects us to obey those He put over us. Yes, sometimes they call us to do something contrary to God’s Word. At those times, we have to walk away. We have to obey God’s Word over the words of man. However, in general, God expects us to obey our leadership.

Prayer (13:18)
You’ll never make it if you aren’t regularly, intimately talking to God in prayer. It’s not hard, complicated, rigid, or structured. It’s a relationship where you sit and talk; sometimes you talk and sometimes you listen.

Beneath the Surface

I almost divided this last chapter into two sections. This list we’ve considered is already a lot to take in. I know I’m not living that way and I’m guessing you probably aren’t either. Despite the length, I sense God calling us to push on. After all, if we can’t read a few hundred extra words then we probably aren’t ready to run the marathon race to which He calls us.

Buried almost in the middle of these two lists are some significant verses that don’t really seem to fit in. That doesn’t surprise me, however, because I’ve learned that Hebrew writing often places their main point right in the middle of a text. We tend to put the main idea at the beginning or perhaps even at the end, but Hebrew writing doesn’t. We could almost picture a Hebrew text as an ancient pyramid with both sides building to the peak right in the middle.

This case is no different. Right between a list of seven and a list of four, we find the author’s thesis statement of his whole book – the whole picture painted in one powerful statement. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Don’t be led astray” (Hebrews 13:8-9).

The world will come at you trying to persuade you to follow a different Jesus or convince you that Jesus has changed. They’ll lure you away with a new message that’s contrary to the pages of Scripture. DO NOT be led astray. Jesus won’t change and neither will His message.

I don’t believe it’s an accident that the pinnacle of the pyramid is between the lists of 4 and 7. Those two numbers have repeated throughout this book; every time they contained significance as four directed us to creation and seven pointed toward the heavenly. Here in chapter 13, we see Jesus’ eternal, unchanging message is the bridge that links together the created and the spiritual.

Jesus’ Eternal, Unchanging Message

Establish your heart in God’s grace, not in rituals (13:9)
“It is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited” (Hebrews 13:9). The author of Hebrews uses the dietary restrictions here as an example of the rituals of the Old Testament. Even then, the foods and rituals of the law didn’t provide salvation. They were only the parable. Even then, salvation came by faith in God alone.

Eat at God’s Altar; His Body the Bread (13:10)
“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have a right to eat” (Hebrews 13:10). Because we have chosen to draw near – because He has called us as priests in His holy and true temple – we have the right and privilege to eat from the true table of bread in the heavenly holy place. The earthly priests didn’t have that privilege even though they did weekly eat the bread from the table in the earthly temple. And remember, Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven. Click here and here to read more.

Go to the Sacrifice; His Blood the Cup (13:11-13)
Our hope is the heavenly sanctuary; our inheritance is with Jesus forever. These have been common themes throughout this study. Right now, though, the work is done outside the camp and outside the temple. We can’t go into the eternal temple until we have first gone outside the camp where Jesus shed His blood. Click here to read more.

“Let us then go to Him outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:13).

• We go to Him there because that is where He suffered. He told us in John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” We go to Him to suffer as He suffered because He is greater than us. May we never consider ourselves greater than Him.
• We go to Him there to be sanctified (13:12). It is there that He sets us apart from the world and consecrates us as holy unto Himself.
• We go to Him there to bear His disgrace. How can we be honored when He was shamed before the world? How can we be exalted when He was humiliated? How can we be praised when He was insulted?

Focus on the Eternal, Enduring City (13:14)
“For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come” (Hebrews 13:14). Like all those listed in Hebrews 11 – from creation to the flood, from the flood to the Law, and from the Law to the cross – we focus not on the city of this world but on the city which is to come. We are part of those listed in the history of faith and, with them, we have a part to play in God’s story. Like them, we seek a future homeland – not the land from which we’ve come but the land to which we’re going.

Conclusion (13:20-25)

We leave our middle pinnacle point to focus on the conclusion of the chapter, the book, and this study. It’s been an incredible journey through the book of Hebrews – one that has brought me into a greater intimacy with the Savior, a greater perspective on His eternal plan, a greater understanding of His sufficient sacrifice, and a greater hope of our future home. Finally, it’s given me a greater focus on the work I need to do and the life I need to live right here and right now. I hope you’ve shared in this growth process with me.

All these areas overwhelm me at times. However, “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you (or me) will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). I didn’t start this study on my own; I started it because of a compelling and prompting of the Spirit within me to draw near to Him through the study of the fullness and depth of His Word. And to that end, I know He will continue to work in my life – and in yours.

He alone has the power to raise Jesus from the dead and grant eternal life. It is with that same power that He promises to do all of these things and more within each one of us who draw near to Him. That is why the author of Hebrews leaves us with one final message which is where I also will end…

“Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus – the great Shepherd of the sheep – with the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

← Previous Section: Finding Peace through Grace

By Faith, from Creation to the Flood - Hebrews 11:1-7

With this section we begin a three part look at a well-known chapter in the Bible. We could probably spend months here but three weeks will have to suffice for us. Christians often refer to Hebrews 11 as "The Faith Chapter" as it recaps the stories of 12 Old Testament heroes of the faith. The author even tells us he would like to tell us more stories but he knew himself that his room was limited. Maybe someday we’ll all sit down together in heaven, grab a cup of coffee, and laugh together as we celebrate everyone’s individual stories of what they accomplished by faith. By then, we won’t be limited by time; we’ll have all of eternity to celebrate the outcome of our faith.




Click picture for a printable handout for this section

The author of Hebrews uses the expression “by faith” 21 times in this chapter. The math is pretty simple to know that 3x7=21. In Scripture, three represents divine perfection as seen in the Triune God. Seven represents spiritual perfection or that which God has made complete or perfect. Faith, therefore, is the combination of God’s divine perfection working in us to make us spiritually complete or perfect. That’s already an amazing thought!

I encourage you to start by reading Hebrews 11:1-7.

Faith is the Reality of our Hope

“Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

I wrote one time, “Hope isn’t a distant, vague dream; through Jesus, hope is realized - completed - finished - fulfilled.” Faith realizes our hope isn’t some wishful possibility; hope is the reality in which we live. Hope is to see God glorified, to be set free from death and decay, to experience eternity in heaven, to live in the freedom of salvation, and more. Click here to read about the full picture of biblical hope along with Scripture references to support each aspect. Check it out – couldn’t we all live with a little more assurance of hope?

His Pleasure; Our Approval

“Our ancestors won God’s approval by it. … Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:2, 6).

Pleasing God begins when we come to Him by faith. We please God when we let go of our own desires, opinions, and self-interests and allow a radical transformation to occur in our minds. “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2, emphasis mine). Remember when we looked at this verse a few sections ago? We learned our spiritual worship is our latreia service as priests in the true temple of God. I encourage you to go back and read it; it’s too much to recap here. We also learn from these verses in Romans that pleasing God requires a renewing of our mind. We no longer think like the world thinks; we no longer prioritize like the world prioritizes. We no longer strive as the world strives. Instead, we come to Him by faith as we realize that the hope we have in Him is reality. Eternity is the reality – not the struggles, goals, priorities, and philosophies of this world.

Faith transforms our thinking to focus on the reality before the throne of God. Faith builds a foundation for pleasing God. Finally, faith allows God to look down upon us and say, “Yes, she is approved.” Faith allows God to bear witness to the fact that ours was a life transformed by Him and for Him.

On God's Side

“The one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

The last two sections compared two different reactions to Jesus sacrificial death. In the first one, those who believe He died as the Messiah draw near to Him, hold on to the confession of their hope, and are concerned for one another. In the second one, those who reject Him as the Messiah arrogantly decide His death was no more than a premeditated murder as they reject Him as the Word made Flesh. They trample on Him, consider Him ordinary, and insult the grace He offers. Their outcome is fire and judgment.

Those who live by faith have picked on which side of this comparison they want to be. Faith is the side of the one who draws near to God and finds rest in the hope of the unseen. God says, “My righteous one will live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38).

By Faith, from Creation to the Flood

Hebrews has helped us understand and visualize God’s plan for all of creation – from beginning until the end. God’s plan since the beginning has been for us to come to Him by faith regardless of the time era in which we live. That’s why the list in this chapter of those who live by faith begins at creation and ends, well, at the end when He brings us all together in one eternal kingdom.

Creation (11:3)
Read the story of creation in Genesis 1.

I don’t think we’ll ever scientifically prove the processes of creation. Scientists and theologians argue back and forth relentlessly. The final argument, however, comes down to an acceptance of God’s creation by faith. Notice this interesting correlation within these verses… Faith is “the proof of what is not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is required to understand that God took what was unseen and with it, created what we now see. With the power of His spoken word, “what is seen has been made from things that are not visible” (Hebrews 11:3). Faith realizes the reality of the spiritual, heavenly, unseen world. Faith then goes one step further and recognizes that God used what is unseen to create the universe.

Abel (11:4)
Read the story of Abel in Genesis 4:1-12.

God’s acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice and rejection of Cain’s had anything to do with what they brought. He based His response on the hearts of those who brought the sacrifice. Abel came before God by faith. This pleased God and God accepted Abel’s sacrifice. We don’t know Cain’s motive but it’s a safe implication that Cain didn’t come before God by faith.

Abel was the first person to die in faith of the coming Messiah. He was the first murdered, the first persecuted for obedience to God, and the first to die with hope in an unseen eternity. As the first murdered among men, his blood still cries out to us by faith today waiting for redemption and resurrection.

Enoch (11:5)
Read the story of Enoch in Genesis 5:18-24.

We don’t know much about Enoch. We do know, however, that he walked with God in a special understanding and relationship. Jude 14-15 refers to him as a prophet who knew judgment would come upon the earth because of man’s wickedness. Indeed, he named his son Methuselah which means “when he is dead, it shall come.” Methuselah lived longer than any other man in history because of God’s grace but when he eventually died, the flood came upon the earth. God brought judgment for man’s wickedness.

We know that Enoch lived by faith. By faith, He looked at the sin of the world and knew that God couldn’t allow it to continue that way unchecked. A righteous God would require judgment. The same faith that knew God would judge also motivated Enoch to walk closely with God. Enoch walked with God on this earth until one day when God said, “Yes, you are approved. Come walk with Me in heaven.” God took Enoch - who was seen - and suddenly "he was not there because God took him" (Genesis 5:24). Or, as another translation says, "one day he disappeared" (NLT).

Noah (11:7)
Read the story of Noah in Genesis 5:28-9:29.

Almost 700 years after God took Enoch into heaven, in the year of the death of his son Methuselah, God sent judgment upon the earth in the form of a worldwide flood. God warned Noah about the judgment to come; by faith in the surety of God’s warning, Noah was motivated to prepare. Noah had never seen rain because it had never fallen upon the earth at that point in history. Even though he'd never seen rain, Noah had faith in the unseen. He built an ark to save his family and the entire animal kingdom.

By Faith, for Us

These stories aren’t our stories but I still see points to inspire us as we walk with God by faith.

By faith, we understand that more exists than what we see with our physical eyes. Faith is living in the reality of that spiritual, eternal kingdom.

By faith, we understand God used what we can’t see to create what we do see. Science can’t prove it; we must humbly accept it as part of God’s plan.

By faith, God is pleased with us and approves us for entry into His kingdom.

By faith, we realize that death here isn’t the end. It’s only a pause until the end of the plan when God brings resurrection to all who follow Him.

By faith, we can be part of those who draw near to Him and not part of those who face judgment.

By faith, God can protect us from coming judgment.

By faith, we recognize a righteous God requires judgment for sin and this should motivate us to walk with Him.

By faith, we recognize that judgment will come and we give our lives to preparing ourselves and those we love for that judgment.

← Previous Section: The Other Option on that Day    

Next Section: By Faith, from the Flood to the Law →

 

The Real Thing: Our new covenant purpose - Hebrews 9:11-28

Our last section taught us the priesthood and sacrifices of the old covenant were a parable meant to teach us about the reality of heaven. It’s important to remember a parable isn’t a made-up story used for teaching purposes. In its true definition, a parable is an earthly example used to teach a heavenly lesson. The earthly example may or may not have actually happened; in this case, it did.

Click picture for a printable handout for this section.

The passage for this section is long. We’ll break it up as we work through it verse by verse; however, I encourage you to read Hebrews 9:11-28 in its entirety before we start breaking it up.

The Real Thing

Reread Hebrews 9:11-12.

“But…” is an important word of transition. It shows us that what the author is about to write is contrary to what he just wrote. Jesus’ sacrifice was the real thing made in the real sanctuary before the real throne of the real God. His sacrifice wasn’t part of the parable. It wasn’t an earthly example to teach us about something heavenly. He literally and truly came before God in the Most Holy Place of heaven and sprinkled blood upon the altar to purify for sin; not His sin, though, but ours. Yours. And mine. The earthly high priest took the blood of an animal with him to purify for sin but not Jesus. He took His own blood from His sacrificed body. And finally, that was enough. He redeemed all mankind – from Genesis to Revelation.

This is the real thing so we better pay attention.

The Real Response

Reread Hebrews 9:13-14.

The blood of the animals sufficiently purified our flesh – our outer selves – although the high priest did have to repeat it on an annual basis. However, the blood of Jesus far supersedes that of goats and calves. We find real power in Jesus' blood – power to purify even our inner conscience.

Our consciences can become a messed up place. They are weak (1 Corinthians 8:7-12), seared (1 Timothy 1:4-5), and defiled (Titus 1:15). Jesus’ blood has the power, however, to redeem even the weakest among us; even those whose conscience is so cauterized that it feels no pain and so stained and contaminated that it no longer shows new filth.

The power that purifies us both inwardly and outwardly calls for a response on our part. Jesus’ shed blood before God’s holy throne empowers us to live a new covenant purpose – to serve the living God. We learned about this type of service in the last section. Latreuo service calls us into the Holy Place where we serve as priests of the Most High God in His kingdom. In that service, He calls us to continually shine our light out to the world, to regularly consume the bread of the word, and to daily stand before God in prayer and intercession. It’s all made possible by the power of the blood of Jesus.

The Real Covenant

Reread Hebrews 9:15.

Covenants involve a promise given, a time of hope, and a realization of the promise. We studied this earlier here and here.

Jesus mediated a new covenant; it was the seventh made between God and man. All seven covenants were part of one common goal which was the restoration of the relationship between God and man for all eternity. Adam and Eve severed that relationship when they sinned in the Garden of Eden. God’s whole plan and purpose since then has been to restore the relationship.

Adapted from The NIV Study Bible ©1985

The Real Death

Reread Hebrews 9:16-18.

When I first read these verses, I thought, “What on earth is this talking about? Why mention a will all of a sudden?” My research helped me answer the question, however, and the answer is powerful.

The author of Hebrews isn’t writing about wills all of a sudden. He’s been writing about them all along. The word used for covenant is the exact same word as the will mentioned in verses 16-17. In other words, a will and a covenant are the same thing.

A will goes into effect when the one who established the will has passed away. In the will, the deceased shares the inheritance each of their loved ones will receive. That is exactly what God did when He cut covenant with mankind – He made a will which would go into effect upon His death.

We’ve already studied that Jesus is completely God here and here. God cut covenant or established the will with mankind in an elaborate process to restore our relationship with Him and give us the inheritance He desires for us as His loved one. The problem, however, was He had to die for the will (covenant) to go into effect. Therefore, God became a man so He could die and we could receive our inheritance.

I don’t know about you, but to me that seems worthy of a response of priestly service on our part. A response of priestly service involves regularly shining our light, consuming His Word, and entering His presence in prayer.

The Real Blood

Reread Hebrews 9:19-23.

The earthly tabernacle required earthly blood but the heavenly tabernacle required something better – heavenly blood. Jesus couldn’t take the blood of goats and calves into the true holy sanctuary. He had to take His own blood as God who died to enact the will and bring the inheritance promised to mankind.

The Real Sacrifice in the Real Sanctuary

Reread Hebrews 9:24-28.

Jesus isn’t part of the parable. He died a real death to establish a real covenant. He shed real blood which He sprinkled before the throne in the real sanctuary. This is no earthly example; this is truth. This is reality. This is eternally, absolutely serious.

So real, so eternal, so absolute, and so serious, in fact, that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all mankind for all time – from Genesis through Revelation. In the parable, the high priest sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat year after year in order to atone for the sins of the people. With Jesus’ reality, His blood sprinkled on the mercy seat before God covers our sin once and for all.

People die once because of sin (Genesis 2:15-17). We don't die immediately and repeatedly after each individual sin. After our death, judgment comes based on our response to Jesus’ sacrifice. That’s the real point because Jesus also died once – not because He sinned but because of our sin. His death bore the weight of our sin once and for all. He doesn't need to die repeatedly after each of our individual sins. Therefore, when judgment comes, so will salvation for those who accepted Him.

The Real Truth

When you stand before God at some point, He won’t care about your excuses. “Oh, I would have done the whole Christian thing, but the church was full of hypocrites.” Or, perhaps yours is something like this, “I went to church but so-and-so made me mad and I left.” Maybe your excuses focus on the Word of God, “Yeah, I’d read the Bible except it’s all just made up by men who had no clue what life is like for me today.” You know what – God’s not going to care about your excuses.

He’ll look at you – the one for whom He lovingly gave His life – and say, “None of that matters. I sacrificed My blood so you could inherit eternity with Me. You let your excuses keep you from that very real truth. Depart from Me.”

Or, you have no excuse. You’ve realized you’re a sinner – your outer flesh is defiled, your inner conscience is seared. You’ll never live up to the level of perfection required by God’s holy law. Yet, you have also considered Jesus and realized the significance of His sacrifice and the grace He offers for those who accept Him. By faith, you’ve come to this moment before Him trusting only in the sufficiency of His blood to atone for your sin. And in that moment, He’ll look at you – the one for whom He lovingly gave His life – and say, “Your faith has made you well. Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 9:22, 25:34).

It’s a real choice and it’s all up to you at this point.

After writing this section, I came across this video produced by One for Israel. In it, they do a fantastic job presenting this very process...



← Previous Section: Our Old Covenant Purpose    

Next Section: Clean, Once and for All →

Our Old Covenant Purpose - Hebrews 9:1-10

I’m more excited about this week’s section than most we’ve done so far – and that’s something! I’ve loved all of this study so far. We become so engrossed in our own little reality in our own little time that we lose sight of the greater picture. This study reminds over and over, however, that God’s reality focuses on the whole picture, beginning with the fall of Adam and Eve and ending with a new heaven and a new earth sometime in the future. His reality includes a plan to redeem every person in every land in every era from the beginning until the end.

Click picture for a printable handout for this section.

Last week’s section revealed the old covenant plan had a fault due to our inability to live up to it. I asked a question a few weeks ago and I ask it again now, “If the old covenant – the Law, the sacrifices, the priesthood – had a fault, then why do it? Why not skip it and go straight from Melchizedek’s priesthood to that of Jesus the Messiah?”

We found the first answer when I posed my question the first time. We learned the old covenant was required in order to define and reveal sin for us. “For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law” (Romans 3:20; see also Romans 7:7-8 and Galatians 3:19).

The second answer is equally as important and we find it at the beginning of the passage for this section. I encourage you to start by reading Hebrews 9:1-10. The old covenant was necessary because it gave us the regulations required to atone for our sin. To reveal sin without offering a plan for atonement would be inadequate. In its completeness, the Law both defines sin and offers a way to make it right.

What are those regulations? (9:1)

Regulations are the acts required to make someone righteous. The regulations utilize great detail to show us both the ministry / worship required of us and the place where that worship should occur. We’ll look at them in a lot less detail here.

Regulations for Ministry
Some translations say “ministry” while others prefer the word “worship.” Either way, the idea here isn’t the normal words for ministry (diakonos from which we get deacon) or for worship (proskyneo from which we get prostrate). Hebrews 9:1 uses a far less common word, latreia, which means, “the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law.” More simply put, the old covenant gave us regulations for how to worship and serve in the Temple.

Regulations for the Earthly Sanctuary
The tabernacle was “a copy and shadow of what is in heaven” based upon a pattern given to Moses by God (Hebrews 8:5). The real thing is God's throne room in heaven.

The Law gave us the regulations to atone for our sin – both in the required acts of service and the location in which those acts were done.

Regulations for the Earthly Sanctuary (9:2-5)

When stripped of all the elaborate details, the sanctuary was an outer room called the Holy Place and an inner room known as the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was a square room half as big as the Holy Place.

The Holy Place contained the lampstand with the oil, the table with the loaves of bread, and the altar with the incense. The Hebrews passage lists the altar of incense in the Holy of Holies but the Old Testament lists it as “in front of the veil by the ark of the testimony where the High Priest could burn incense “every morning” and “at twilight” (Taken from Exodus 30:6-8). If the High Priest burned incense twice a day then the altar must have been in the Holy Place as the High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies one time per year. We’ll discuss the possible reasons why the author of Hebrews changed it in the application later.

The Most Holy Place, or the Holy of Holies, contained the Ark of the Covenant covered by the mercy seat. Two golden cherubim angels covered the mercy seat with outstretched wings. The Ark held a golden jar of manna (Exodus 16:31-36), Aaron’s staff that had budded (Numbers 17:1-11), and the tablet on which God engraved the Law (Exodus 25:16). This location was most holy because it was God’s dwelling place on earth. He told Moses, “I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites” (Exodus 25:22).

Regulations for Ministry (9:6-7)

The priests and high priest had very specific duties. The requirements were long and complex. Here, though, we’ll look only at the basic duties given in the Hebrews passage.

The priests entered the Holy Place daily. The oil in the lamp was to burn continually so it required constant care; they had to place fresh bread on the table before every Sabbath. The priests ate the removed bread in a holy place (Leviticus 24:1-9). The Law also required them to burn incense on the altar every morning and evening (Exodus 30:7-8).

The Holy of Holies was entirely different. The high priest alone could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. The rituals involved were deep and intricate. Regarding the Holy of Holies, though, he entered the room with blood from the bronze altar outside the sanctuary, incense from the altar of incense, and coals from the altar. The smoke from the burning incense would cover the mercy seat to protect the high priest while he sprinkled the blood from the sacrifice on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:11-14).

What’s the Point for Us? (9:8-10)

Ok, wow, that’s a lot of details and information. Actually, though, it’s nothing compared to the depth of detail given in the five books of the Torah! Perhaps, like me, you find it interesting because of a Spirit-given love for the Jewish people and their history. Or, maybe you like it because it’s part of the Word of God, although I admit, many Christians bore easily with the Old Testament Law. Why should we care?

We care because as long as the ancient tabernacle and later the Jewish Temple stood, “the way into the Holiest Place was still closed” (Hebrews 9:8 CJB). With the Messiah, that way is now open to us.

All of the regulations were physical representations of the true Holy Place before God; they were only to be “imposed until the time of restoration” (Hebrews 9:10). Or, to put it another way, they were “imposed until the time for God to reshape the whole structure” (Hebrews 9:10 CJB). With the Messiah, the time of restoration began.

One little word in verse 9 really helps us understand the significance of it all. The regulations were “a symbol for the present time.” The word symbol is the same Greek word we often translate as parable. A parable is an earthly example used to teach a spiritual, heavenly truth. The earthly tabernacle and temple ministry are an earthly example used to teach us about the true tabernacle and service before God’s holy throne in glory. That throne room is the Holy of Holies where Jesus entered with the blood of His own sacrificed body. “We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens – Jesus the Son of God… We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner… who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man” (Hebrews 4:14, 6:19-20, and 8:1).

As a parable, great significance hides in the details if we are willing to search it out. What can we learn from this elaborate parable?

We have three duties as priests to fulfill on a regular, ongoing basis.
We are followers of Jesus. Therefore, we are priests of the tabernacle in which He serves as high priest. “To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – the glory and dominion are His forever and ever” (Revelation 1:5-6; see also Revelation 5:9-10). The items in the Holy Place and the regular duties of the priests show us our similar duties.

The lampstand burned continually to shine light outward and provide illumination. Likewise, we need to continually shine God’s light out to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. Oil often symbolizes the Holy Spirit in Scripture. (Matthew 5:14, John 8:12, Ephesians 5:8).

The priests inwardly consumed the old bread on the table weekly after they replaced it with fresh loaves. Similarly, we come together once a week to consume the bread of life – the Word of God, the Word made Flesh (Matthew 26:26, John 6:31-58).

Finally, the priests burned incense on the altar every morning and evening. The smoke permeated the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Even more, it rose upward before God as a fragrant offering. The burning incense represented the prayers of the people (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-5). Our third duty as priests in God’s kingdom is to regularly and daily intercede before God on behalf of the people.

Remember the discrepancy between the book of Hebrews and the Old Testament regarding the location of the altar of incense? Let’s consider that now. Even in the days of the old covenant, the smoke from the altar entered the Holy of Holies to cover the mercy seat and protect the life of the high priest. In that regard, it has served a duty in both rooms since the beginning. However, I think there’s more here.

When Jesus died, God tore the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This tear revealed to us that the way into the Holy of Holies was opened for all people at all times; not only the High Priest on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 6:19-20). We no longer need a high priest to take the incense from the altar into the Holy of Holies for us along with the blood of the sacrifice. With Jesus’ final and sufficient sacrifice, we can boldly approach God’s holy place personally and individually. We can stand in His presence and offer up our own incense prayers for forgiveness, intercession, praise, and thanksgiving.

We have a high priest who atones for our sin and enables our connection with the holy, triune God.
The Holy of Holies contained only one piece of furniture but within it were three separate items. The Holy of Holies was an exact representation of one God comprised of three distinct persons. Unfortunately, the three elements of the triune God also revealed our human nature to sin against each individual One. Therefore, we also see the need to sprinkle the blood of atonement upon the mercy seat.

The manna was the bread of heaven which came down to offer life to the people. Jesus clearly taught us that He is the true bread of heaven (John 6:31-58). However, the Israelite people responded to the manna with gripes and complaints of ungratefulness. Likewise, in our sin nature, we respond to Jesus' gift of the bread of His body with ungratefulness.

The staff was the symbol of being a priesthood chosen by God. A staff also offers guidance. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13). Even more, He is the mark sealing us as a chosen priesthood (Ephesians 1:13). Aaron’s staff budded in response to complaints among the Israelite people. Others among the people felt they were more qualified to serve as priest. Yet God made Aaron's staff bloom to confirm that he was God's choice for the priesthood. Our sinful response to God’s guidance through the Holy Spirit is to rear the ugly head of pride and rebellion. We choose to control our lives ourselves rather than submit to the control of the Spirit who has marked us as His chosen one.

The tablet contained the Law – the standard of perfection of a Holy God (Leviticus 22:31-33). The fault with the old covenant wasn’t with perfect God; the fault was in our inability to live up to it. In the tablet, we see our final sin response – our failure and lack of perfection. We can never live up to God’s perfect standard.

We have a temple and a temple ministry.
This has been long; I know. Thank you for staying with me until now. This is the heart of why we care about the duties and requirements of the ancient tabernacle. The Jewish temple was destroyed 1,945 years ago. And yet, the temple still exists today as the dwelling place of God on earth. “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). The destruction of the temple ended the daily service of the priests and yet we are called to perform that very service – that latreia duty. “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).

Friend, you are the temple of God and He calls you to perform the regulated acts of the priests within your body. He has saved you by grace as our high priest Jesus sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat to atone for our ungratefulness, pride and rebellion, and lack of perfection. Now is the time for you to step into your daily duties as priest in His kingdom - shine your light continually in the darkness, consume the bread of Jesus and His Word on a regular basis, and enter God's holy presence in prayer to intercede for this hurting world. This is your spiritual worship; this is your latreia.


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Perfection: A Better Hope - Hebrews 7:11-28

We’ll wrap up our focus on Melchizedek with this section. It’s been intense, hasn’t it? Here’s where we’ve been…

•  Jesus’ eternal priesthood aligns with Melchizedek’s ancient priesthood, not Aaron’s priesthood under the Law. (Click here for more.)
• Melchizedek’s priesthood was superior to Aaron’s as a descendant of Levi. (Click here for more.)

We’ve considered significant and specific details of his life in the last two sections but really, we have to go through the last eight lessons to really comprehend his importance to the book of Hebrews and even more, his importance to God’s plan for all of us. The book of Hebrews gives Melchizedek as an example for us to understand Jesus’ priesthood, and therefore His position to atone for sin and offer salvation to all people.

I encourage you to start this section by reading Hebrews 7:11-28. It’s a long passage; we’ll jump around in it as we work through it. One of my favorite Bible study methods – especially with a long or complex text – is to ask questions of the passage. In those moments, I sit at the feet of Jesus as I ask Him questions about our topic. And in those moments, the Word made flesh never fails to answer through the wholeness of His Scripture. We’ll use this method to work through this section.

Click picture for a printable handout for this section

Why was Aaron’s priestly order insufficient for the Messianic priesthood?

It didn’t offer perfection; it didn’t bring to completion (Hebrews 7:11, 19).

Perfection is a triangular mountain focused within this long passage. Verse 11 begins the ascent with the Levitical priesthood’s insufficiency to bring perfection. Peaked right in the middle, verse 19 climaxes the insufficiency of the Law for perfection but makes the promise of a better hope. The last verse, verse 28, ends the descent with the culmination of that better hope in eternal perfection.

What is perfection? It seems like an unattainable goal.

Perfection – sometimes translated as completion – is a fulfillment or consummation. It is an “event which verifies the promise” (Strong’s). A promise or oath has to be given and then that promise has to be fully realized. In this case, God makes an oath; we live in hope until that oath is fully realized or consummated.

Aaron’s priestly order was insufficient because it couldn’t bring us to perfection or completion. It was inadequate because it required a mortal man to serve as high priest. This was weak, unprofitable, and perfected nothing (Hebrews 7:18-19).

Why didn’t God stick with Melchizedek’s priestly order?

It’s a complicated question. If Aaron’s order didn’t bring perfection and Jesus is a priest of Melchizedek’s order, then why didn’t God stick with that original order of Melchizedek and bring the Messiah through it? Why did He give the Law and institute a new priestly order through Levi and Aaron?

On its own, Melchizedek’s priesthood was also insufficient because the Law hadn’t yet come. God had to give the Law so we would know what sin is. Without a definition of sin, we would never be able to recognize our own sin which is a critical step in the whole redemption process (Romans 3:20, 7:7-8).

Jesus fulfilled the duties of a priest of Aaron’s order and Melchizedek’s order. However, that is where the similarity stops. A priest of Aaron’s order had to be a descendant of Aaron whereas a priest of Melchizedek’s order had to be a son of him who was righteous and be called on the basis of an indestructible life. That’s why Jesus is a priest of Melchizedek’s order rather than Aaron’s.

How can Jesus be our high priest?

I don’t have to be too smart to know that God can’t break the Law. He is absolutely sinless; the Law defines sin. I know He can’t go against what it says. So, if the Law says a priest must be a descendant of Aaron, then I have to ask, “How can Jesus be our high priest?”

I think this must be the issue with which the first-century Jews struggled. They knew Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. The author of Hebrews will answer it for us.

“When there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well” (Hebrews 7:12). Priesthood changed from Melchizedek to Levi and the law changed to the Old Testament Law from whatever was prior. A few millennia later, the priesthood changed from Levi to Jesus. With that change comes a change in the Law as well; God made that change.

God didn’t throw away the whole Law – He only annulled one specific command within that Law (Hebrews 7:18). The Law – made up of many commands – still remains as our definition of sin. Love your neighbor as yourself – this command still stands. Do not steal – still valid. Honor your father and your mother – still need to do that. The priest must come from Aaron’s priestly line – God says we’re done with this one. He has the authority to do that; we don’t.

What’s the point of all this? Why two complicated priesthoods?

We reach the pinnacle – the summit of the mountain to which we referred earlier. The Law was necessary but “the law perfected nothing.” Instead, “a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19). Remember our focus? Perfection – a restoration and completion of our relationship with Holy God.

The better hope is given by promise of an oath (Hebrews 7:20). An oath gives hope of a promised event; the hope is realized when brought to perfection and completion.

God made an oath to Abraham which we discussed in a previous section. The oath confirmed three prior promises which consisted of blessing, numerous descendants, possession of the land, and blessing for the whole earth through his descendants. That oath given to Abraham gives us “strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18).

Even more, God made an oath to Melchizedek hundreds of years later – even after Abraham, Levi, and Aaron had long since passed away. Through King David, “The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: ‘Forever, you are a priest like Melchizedek’” (Psalm 110:4). It is through this oath that “a better hope is introduced through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19).

What’s better about the hope through Jesus’ priesthood?

A Better Hope – Mercy versus Grace
Mercy and grace aren’t synonyms. Mercy is when we don’t receive punishment due us. Grace is a gift given above and beyond. Mercy doesn’t send us to hell as the punishment our sin deserves. Grace gives us the blessing of eternity in heaven with God.

Aaron’s priesthood offered mercy. Through it, the Law showed us our sin and gave us the hope to seize what was before us – an opportunity to be saved from the consequences of our sin. It set a standard and revealed we are inadequate on our own to live up to that standard. It established the necessity of sacrifice to atone for sin. Through the Law, the priesthood, and the sacrifices, we received mercy. We were saved from the punishment due us.

Jesus’ priesthood – in the order of Melchizedek – offers grace. Jesus’ final sacrifice on the cross gave us mercy under the Law to save us from hell. His resurrection – the power of His indestructible life as the Son of Righteousness – gave us grace to enter into eternity in the presence of Holy God as eternal and righteous persons ourselves.

A Better Covenant – Law versus New Covenant
The Law couldn’t get the job done. It could save from hell but it couldn’t bring us to perfection in eternal righteousness. Its sacrifices could give mercy but it couldn’t bring us to perfection, completion, or consummation in the presence of God.

The New Covenant combined the eternal righteousness of Melchizedek’s order with the spotless sacrificial Lamb required by the Law and Aaron’s order. That’s why Jesus lives forever as a our High Priest who…

• Is always able to save (Hebrews 7:25).
• Is always available for intercession (Hebrews 7:25).
• Is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted (Hebrews 7:26).
• Is a completed sacrifice once and for all (Hebrews 7:27).

It’s all complete in Jesus. He alone is the completion of the promise of the oath. He alone is the appointed Son. He alone has been brought into the presence of God so we might enter His presence as well. And amen, because that’s always been the goal since the time of Adam – to restore our relationship in His holy presence.

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Melchizedek Superior to Abraham - Hebrews 7:4-10

We learned in the last section that Melchizedek’s priesthood is as complicated as his name. However, we also learned that some of the more complex nuggets of his life shine light on some of the greatest truths in Jesus’ priesthood.

In the last section we considered six correlations between Jesus’ priesthood and Melchizedek’s. This wasn’t an exhaustive list; we actually could add more.

In this section we’ll shift our focus a little. Last time we studied how Jesus and Melchizedek are the same; this time we’ll consider why Melchizedek is superior to Abraham and even Levi. I encourage you to begin by reading Hebrews 7:4-10.



Click picture for a printable handout for this section.

Melchizedek Superior to Abraham

I also encourage you to review the story of Abraham and Melchizedek from Genesis 14. We studied it in the last section so I’m not going to review it here.

Abraham gave a tenth of the plunder to Melchizedek
“Now consider how great this man was – even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him!” (Hebrews 7:4).

When we give an offering at church, we do so voluntarily. No one requires us to place some money in the offering plate or setup a deduction from our checking account. We give for many reasons; one of them is because we recognize God’s superiority in our life. We recognize He is the giver of all we have, so, as an act of love and humility, we return a portion of it to His work in the kingdom.

Abraham, likewise, recognized Melchizedek was his superior. In response, he gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the plunder from his defeat of the eastern kings. Remembering from the last section, Abraham had defeated nine kings of that region. He probably possessed a lot of regional power at that moment. However, we see humility – not pride – in the recognition of his victory.

Melchizedek blessed Abraham
“Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior” (Hebrews 7:7).

Melchizedek’s blessing is a sign that he understood his superior position. James MacKnight wrote, “The blessing here spoken of… is not the simple wishing of good to others, which may be done by inferiors to superiors; but it is the action of a person authorized to declare God’s intention to bestow good things on another” (Guzik).

It’s also a sign that he served humbly rather than arrogantly. Melchizedek knew God was about to work a new plan. Only a few verses later, God cut covenant with Abraham thus ending the days of Noah’s covenant. Melchizedek humbly blessed the man who was to come after him.

Western culture tends to view those who come after us as superior to us. We exalt upcoming generations. However, a different mindset prevailed during Abraham’s time and even still today in the Middle and Far East. They viewed their ancestors – those who came before them – as superior to themselves. It was in this mindset that both Melchizedek and Abraham humbly recognized Melchizedek’s position of superiority.

Melchizedek Superior to Levi

The lineage of the priesthood was important within Jewish traditions. It keeps coming up as we continue to study Melchizedek. “But one without this lineage collected tenths from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises” (Hebrews 7:6). So here we go again…

The Levitical priesthood refers to the line of priests who descended from Levi, Abraham’s great-grandson. Remember – the eastern mindset honors those who come before, not the generations yet to be born.

Levi is in that still unborn category when this event took place. He was still within the seed of Abraham as even Isaac hadn’t yet been born. So, metaphorically speaking, even Levi paid a tenth to Melchizedek through the actions of his great-grandfather Abraham.

Why do we care today?

A lot of this seems pretty irrelevant for us today – especially those of us who aren’t Jewish. Yet, God gave His Word to all of us of all time. What can we learn from it for life in the 21st century?

First, the original Jewish recipients of this letter had a hard time letting go of their Jewish traditions and worship. They couldn’t see the whole picture – that God had a greater plan for the redemption of all humanity.

I wonder how often we do the same thing as Christians – especially American Christians. We focus so intently on our traditions, styles of worship, and minor differences that we can’t see God’s greater plan for reaching the world. We don’t recognize that other places and cultures do church differently. Sometimes we need to let go of how we think it looks when God works among us and recognize He may do a new work.

Second, Melchizedek gave a blessing and Abraham gave a tithe. Both of their actions recognized the superiority of the former priesthood as each humbly acknowledged his personal place in the greater plan.

Do our actions reveal our recognition of God’s superiority? Are we giving God a tenth of our plunder? If so, are we doing it humbly as we recognize all we have was from Him originally? That might be an old topic but here’s the next part - are we receiving the blessing? Abraham’s humility came not only in his tithe but also in his acceptance of the blessing. God wants to bless those who give to the work of the kingdom; are you willing to receive it? “’Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure’” (Malachi 3:10).

Third, God can do what He wants to do. God decreed that the Levitical priesthood required lineage from Levi; God worked within that framework during that time period. However, God has the freedom, power, and authority to work in a different way before and after the days of the Levitical priesthood. He made Melchizedek the priest of Noah’s covenant; He can make Jesus priest of the New Covenant.

We can’t always assume that we know how God will work among us. He may have done a great and powerful work in the past but that doesn’t mean He’ll do the same thing in the future. Our job isn’t to tell Him what to do; our job is to serve willingly in the work to which He calls us.

What else do you see in this profound exchange between Melchizedek and Abraham? How else does their exchange show Melchizedek’s superiority? Even more, what can we learn from this event all these thousands of years later?

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