Chapter 6

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Here the elementary tenants of Christianity are expressed as the milk that the newborn Christian receives at the beginning of their faith. In the earliest public sermon recorded in the Acts of Apostles, Peter encourages his hearers, "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." ... Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." (Acts 2:38-40) In Hebrews these basic things are again spoken of. 1.) The doctrine of Christ - This includes the acceptance of Jesus as the messiah, the son of God, who is Lord and Savior. 2.) The repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God - This is the original repentance and faith toward God with proceeds baptism. 3.) The doctrine of Baptisms - The baptisms here are likely the water baptism and the baptism of the spirit. 4.) The laying on hands - This was the symbolic act by which the baptism of spirit was administered to new believers. 5.) The ressurection of the dead and of eternal judgment - This is the resurrection is the basic hope of the faithful as opposed to the judgment that exists for the wicked.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

The hope that is spoken about is Jesus (see 1 Tim 1:1). Our belief and hope in Jesus stretches beyond the earth into the very place where he now rests, at the right hand of God. This behind the veil in the holiest of places.

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Chapter 5

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Chapter 4

1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief

.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

In former times the throne of grace was represented by the ark of the covenant. The lid that rested on the ark was called the "mercy seat". It was here that the blood of atonement was sprinkled by the High Priest once a year. The blood upon the seat represented a merciful covering over the sins of the nation of Israel. In those days only the High Priest could approach the "throne of grace" and but once a year. The "throne" was in the placed in the Most Holy area of the Tabernacle and Temple, sectioned off by a thick curtain barring approach. At the time of Jesus' death, the great curtain was ripped in half, symbolizing that the way to the most holy, access to the Almighty God himself in Heaven was now open. With this in mind the author of Hebrews invites us to approach the throne of grace, not in a spirit of fear, but in a spirit of boldness. This is not presumptuous but rather reveals our confidence in what we have been gifted through the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 3

1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Partakers -- of the heavenly calling, gifting of the holy spirit, sharing of partaking of Christ which we symbolize by eating the bread Mark 6:52 - for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened They wanted spectical miricles and wonders. Yet that is not what they required. The simple miricle of the loaves showed them beautifully that God would provide all they needed through his son. Manna in the wilderness Jesus provided bread - and disciples were hardened because they didn't believe the other people find -- they immediately asking for a sign you are just coming to eat the only work you need to do is believe (rest in the son of God) Jesus as the shepherd was leading them to that place of rest they refused to accept it they no longer went about with him. (John 6) They symbolically divided -- the progeny of wicked generation because they -- Mar 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Partaking of the heavenly calling is directly tied to belief and accpetance of Christ. He is the bread of our salvation. (Rms 10:9) We also partake of the wine, symbolicly making our life force, Jesus instead of our Flesh. His blood replacing ours.

2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

When it says that Moses "faithful in all God's house" it is with reference to the house, or nation, of Israel. (Numbers 12:7; Num 20:29) Moses served on behalf of the people before God. He also testified of the coming of Jesus - God's Son. Jesus himself brings this out when he says, "If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me." (John 5:46) Moses, spoke directly to God and even could see his form. However, Moses, as a great as he was, was not a son but a servant. The son in the household is always greater than the servant.

Also the house that Moses built pointed to Christ. But the one that Jesus built was actually built upon him. Jesus being the cornerstone brought about a better house, a perfect one. Moses foundation was the law, and altough testifying to Christ it did not have a foundation for salvation.(1Cor. 3:10,11)

6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

When Jesus died he became the builder of God's house. "For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:6) We are built upon that cornerstone, to become a living home for Jesus. "ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5) He is the builder of his house, it being joined together by him and the spirit that he pours out to his children. "In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord," (Eph 2:21)

7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

Jesus says that we should not test (tempt) God. "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." (Mat 4:7) "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents." (1Co 10:9)(Ex 17:2) If we test God and Christ, than it is out of a hardening of our hearts. For is he not proven by powerful works, not only the ones recorded in the Bible, but in our own lives? We must soften ourselves to his love in Christ, believe it and know its power.

10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

Joh 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. Deu 7:19 The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. They erred in their hearts. For they denied God's power and love. He gave them all they needed, and yet they were not satisfied. They wanted miraculous signs before believing, putting stipulations on their faith, and limiting their love.

11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

When God refers to his "rest" he is speaking of the seventh day of the creation week. Mankind (Adam) was created in the sixth day, but as a result of disobediance toward God never entered into the seventh day of God's rest. In placing Adam in the Garden of Eden, God declared that the man could eat from every tree within the garden with the exception of the "tree of knowledge of good and bad". Go told Adam, "for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:17) Adam did eat from the tree and after living to be 930 years old he died. (Genesis 3:6; Gen 5:5) The question that then arises is, was God lying to say that Adam would die in the day of eating of tree and yet he lived to be 930 years of age? No. The key is to understanding God's usage of the term "day". Peter tells us, "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8) Since Adam died at the age of 930, this is the fulfillment of God's exact word. Adam died during the sixth, thousand-year, creative "day" - he never did cross over into God's seventh day of rest.

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Here is called attention the consequence of unbelief. It is equated with sin and a departure from God. The unbelief of the Hebrews directly lead to their being broken off from the true vine of God. (Romans 11:20, 21) Unbelief grossly limits the operation of God's power in our lives. Jesus continually pointed out how unbelief stood between our being the recipients of miracles. (Mark 6:6; Matt 13:58; Matt 17:19,20) Jesus calls those who were always seeking signs a "wicked generation" it calls back to the generation that perished in the wilderness. Your eyes have seen the great trials, the signs, and those great miracles. Yet Jehovah has not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until today. And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not become old on you, and your shoe has not become old on your foot. You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am Jehovah your God. - Deut 29:3-6

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

The author here quotes from the 95th Psalm. There we, as God's people, are compared to the sheep of his pasture. The Good shepherd leads his sheep out of bondage to good pasture. (Psalm 23:1-3) We need to hear his voice and follow him. We can't be like the Israelites who proved to be rebellious and prone to wandering so that they could never be lead to their place of rest in the lush pastures of the promised land. The History of the Jewish Nation proved them to have a hard hearts likes stone as they continued to fall away in unbelief and rebellion. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of a time of a changed condition by God saying, "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh," (Ezekiel 11:19) Belief is a condition of a soft heart and it can be compared to a fertile soil in which God's spirit can implant the seed of His Word. This also relates to what is called the "circumcism of the heart" which is the opposite of being hardned and stiffnecked. (Deu 10:16) Today those who believe in Jesus and receive this circumcism manifest the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy. Paul speaks thusly saying, "it having been made plain that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, not having been written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but in fleshly tablets of the heart." (2 Cor 3:3) Mat 13:5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth. And they sprang up immediately, because they had no deepness of earth.

16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

God delivered the nation of Israel out of slavery and brought them out of Egypt as a collective son. They received the baptism of water and spirit, as they walked through the parted red sea under God's cloud. (1 Cor 10:2) They were "saved" and yet they still died in the wilderness due to their sin. Equally those of us who have been saved in Christ should pay heed of the consequences of not continuing to walk according to belief, for disbeief in Jesus, calls God a liar. (1Jo 5:10)

18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

The Isrealites disbelief led them to do terrible sins against God. (2Ki 17:9-14) Their hearts had become hardened because they did not love God and did not believe in his love for them. With this hardened heart, they resisted their heavenly Father and had to be left to fall in the wilderness. For us to draw near to God, and to enter into his rest we must believe in his Word. "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Heb 11:6) We must not only believe is God's promises to his children, but our belief has to be in the manisfestation of those promises, in Jesus Christ. (Rom 10:9)

Chapter 2

Warning to Pay Attention

1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

The message "to the Hebrews" contains repeated admonition to hold on to faith and not slip backwards in the face of persecution and opposition. Key in this exortation is recognizing the primacy of Jesus in our individual faith. Later in Hebrews he is compared to anchor that keeps us firm and steady. (Hebrews 6:19)

Fundamental in "the things which we have heard" are the teachings of Jesus that have been made available in the gospels. Jesus says, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." (Matthew 7:24,25) We must hold our minds to what we has been taught, not drifting away from the cornerstone of our hope and faith.

2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

In chapter one the author shows the superiority of Jesus over angels. With this basis he now goes on to show how the message that Jesus delivered was much greater than those conveyed by angels.

We know that the words spoken by angels, the Mosaic law, are true. (Acts 7:53) If it was made steadfast and an accounting was held, who could stand? Understanding that we could not be saved through the law, but instead comdemned, than how shall we escape if we treat carlessly the salvation set before us? Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Instead we see that this salvation was not brought to us through the words of Angels, but spoken and provided by Jesus, the living Word of God.

In Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount", he shows the true fulfillment of the law given by angels. He speaks with authority and brings a superior standard of living that is greater than the Law. The words conveyed to Moses became the Law Covenant, the words that Jesus speak constitute the new way of life under the New Covenant.

4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

This verse reminds us of the promise Jesus gave to his diciples that he would send them a helper. Fufilling the Prophecy in Joel and restated in Acts 2:17-21. "And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke." (Act 2:19; 4:30)

In Jewish law every matter was established at the mouth of two or three witnesses. Jesus said "I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me." (Joh 8:18) Jesus needed no witness for his words are truth. But he does have witness from the Father and the Holy Spirit. (Act 15:8) When the Jewish religious leaders did not believe Jesus on account of his words, he suggested that they believe him on account of his works - his miracles. Many of the people did so. (John 10:38,41,42)

In a similar way the Holy Spirit provides witness to us that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). Through such testimony we are given assurance from the Father and Jesus that have such a salvation. (Col 1:5) We are given signs and wonders, miracles and gifts to comfirm to us our inheritance. (Eph 1:11)

Jesus Made Like His Brothers, Perfected Through Suffering

5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

Man has been given dominion over the earth by God (Genesis 1:28) However man was made a little lower than angels. Therefore the world was made in subjection to angels. It was later divided according to their number and they acted as princes over it. (Deut 32:8) Not so with the world to come. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2Pe 3:13; Is 65:11). All authority has been Given to the Son of God

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

This passage quoted from the 8th Psalms that is speaking about the Creator's words in Gen. 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

We are in awe of his creation, the power and beauty of it, yet he originally gave mankind authority to reign over it all. As verse 8 points out, "But now we see not yet all things put under him." Although man dominates the earth and uses it to his desire, can we truely say he is King over it? Is it in complete subjection to him? No. When Adam fell in sin he lost his authority and his proper dominion over it. Mankind began to dominate over one another and ruin the earth through violence. It is death that ruled as king and held mankind in bondage. (Romans 5:14)

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus, lessened his glory and was made a man, lower than angels, to restore to humankind their sonship and inheritance. He continually reffered to himself as "the son of man". By removing the chains of death on us, he took it upon himself to carry our sins and experience death for us. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2Co 5:21)

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

It has been the purpose of God to restore to himself those he chose as Children. "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." (Rom 8:19) He also provided a way to restore his sons to glory, Jesus. Jesus is the author of our salvation, instructing us, through his words and deeds, the means of perfecting our faith.

Of note is that Jesus is said to have been made perfect through sufferings. In Scripture the word "perfect" has more of a meaning as being "complete" rather than the more contemporary understanding of "perfect" as being without sin/defect. Jesus was without sin but he was not complete until he fulfilled that for which he was sent into the world, to manifest obedience in death for the sake of humanity. It is at his death that his last words are, "It is finished."

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Jesus was destined to be firstborn among many brothers. When we are born again and made into the image of God we enter this family (Romans 8:29) It is in Jesus that his brothers receive the same authority that he has been given. In Revelation Jesus says, "To him that overcomes, I will give authority over the nations ... just as I have received from my father." and "I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with the Father on his throne" (Rev 2:26,27;3:21) This includes authority even the angelic creation. (1 Cor 6:3)

Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Jesus is eternal father. Through is death he produced offspring, just as when a seed germinates in the ground. "Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit." (Joh 12:24) We are Christ's fruitage, or children, and our trust can be placed in him, for nothing will uproot us from our Father. "My Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." (Joh 10:29)

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

In fulfillment of the prophecy given by Isaiah Jesus came "To proclaim liberty to the captives ... To set at liberty those who are oppressed;" (Luke 4:18) By means of Jesus death oppressed mankind now has an open door leading to liberty from the chains of death. "That the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Rom 8:21)

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

This verse testifies to the prehuman existance of Jesus. As Philipians 2:6 and John 1:1 bring out, Jesus was in the form of God, from the beginning. Yet he did not hang on to that superior nature, nor did he take the form as angels, he was born into this world as a "son of man" to complete a mission of salvation and redemption.

In his letter to Galatians, Paul builds the case Jesus is the singular seed of Abraham brought forth through God's covenant with the patriarch and that this covenant superscedes the law covenant. (Gal 3:16,17) Jesus was mothered through a natural descendant of Abraham but his sonship comes predominantly through his superiority at doing the works of Abraham. When the Judean adversaries of Jesus stated that they were "children of Abraham", he retorted, "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham." (John 8:39) What are the works that would indentify a true child of Abraham? Primarily it is to manifest faith and belief. (Gal 3:6; John 6:29) Jesus manifested a faith far beyond any man that ever walked this Earth. As we progress through Hebrews we will be confronted with urgent appeals to manifest such faith.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Under the Aaronic priesthood, the High Priest played the role of ministering before God in the most-holy and making atonement between the Almighty and people. In order for Jesus to fulfill this role, and mediate between humans and God, he had to experience humanity.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Jesus is our advocate

Chapter 1

God Has Spoken by His Son

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

The Word of God has always been the means by which Almighty God communicated with humans. In Old Testament times the Word of God was communication by the prophets in various ways such as through word, writing, visions, dreams, songs, and signs. In the first-century AD the Word of God was revealed in bodily form ("in the flesh") of Jesus of Nazareth. (John 1:1,14) As the embodied Word of God, Jesus only spoke the words of his Heavenly Father. He says, "I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." (John 8:28, NIV)

As the Word of God, Jesus was also the generator of all things. In the creation account of Genesis chapter one God speaks and through his word all things spring into existance. Colossians 1:16, NIV says, "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible ... all things were created by him and for him."

The 2nd verse says that Jesus was the creator of worlds. The scope of this includes the heavens and the earth, the invisible and the visible. However, it is much more. To further understood more clearly what is meant by the plurality of words by replacing the word with a synonym such as age or period. "Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (2 Peter 3:6) Through Jesus, all worlds, past, present, and future are created - the worlds of old, the worlds at present, and the new heavens and earth to come.

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

This verse echoes what is written of Jesus in Colossians 1:15,17: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ... He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (NIV)

While on earth, Jesus reflected the intense brightness and glory of his Father. John writes, "we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father" (John 1:14) Yet even then such magnificant glory pales compared to the glory that he received when he came into his kingship. Jesus gave a preview of this glory to three of his apostles when he was transfigured before them and, "his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." (Matthew 17:2, NIV)

It is by means of the authority given to Jesus that he purges our sins. While on earth Jesus showed his authority to forgive sin and backed it up through his healings. (Matthew 9:2,6) This was just on a small scale to the atoning work that Jesus peformed at his death. Of him, it is written, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14, NKJV) Our purification takes place by means of a cleansing or blotting out. It is not a covering over, but a complete elimination.

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

When it says that he has inherited a name, the implication is that the name was formerly possesed by another party, a relation - in this case God the Father. Philippians 2:9, NIV says of Jesus, that "God gave him the name that is above every name." In the Revelation of Jesus he speaks of this "new" name, a name that only he knows. (Rev 3:12; Rev 19:12)

It is through this name that we inherit life. Joh 20:31 says "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (Mat 25:34, Rev 21:7)

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

The author here quotes verse 7 of the second psalm which speaks of God's messianic king. Jesus is at the right hand of majesty, and all nations of the earth have been given to him. He rules them from Zion, the Holy Mountain of God. This is not an earthly location but a heavenly one. (See Hebrews 12:22) The apostle Paul similarly links the fulfillment of this Psalm to Christ Jesus at Acts 13:33.

In the NT God declares Jesus to be his son. (1) Before his conception. (Luke 1:32,35) (2) At his baptism. (Matthew 3:17) (3) At the transfiguration. (Matthew 17:5) (4) At his resurrection. (Acts 13:33)

In the Jewish Scriptures angelic beings were sometimes known as "sons of God". (Genesis 6:2) Yet by quoting the Psalm the author of Hebrews here implies a different, more intimate relationship which he further elaborates upon.

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

The author here quotes Psalm 104:4. The angels are ministers and servants before Almighty God. At the time when Hebrews was written a household would be made up of blood relations and servants. The slaves of the household would not have a share in an inheritance that the children would receive. The son would receive the inheritance over all of his Father's household, including the servants. (Compare Galatians 4:1-7)

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

The 8th verse of the second psalm says, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." (Psalms 2:8) Being delcared as his son, and exalted to his right hand, Jesus inherits all that is his father's. We can see how this makes his relationship with his father unique; for what angel is said to own what is the Father's?

It is with the scepter of righteousness that he measures the kingdom. "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet" (Isa 28:17) His rule will be measured by his righteousness. "Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity." (Psa 98:9) The scepter is given to him by his father, and therefore the standards of righteousness are also from him. It is his annointing to wield that power with his Fathers name.

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Isa 59:17 "For He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head. And He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was covered with zeal like a cloak." Jesus Christ is "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" and is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Revelation 22:13; Hebrews 13:8)

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

With fleshly kings and governers of the earth God made clear that their position and authority was only by his appoitnment. God, through the prophet Daniel, made this clear to Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the Babylonian empire, when he said, "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." (Daniel 4:25). Likewise, to the Roman governer Pontius Pilate Jesus said, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19:11, NIV) They were his servants, and tools in his hand. This was true of the Assyrian empire that God described as a rod in his hand. (Isaiah 10:5) Just as their are earthly governments within the heavenly realm there also exist "principalities and powers" (See Colossians 1:16) But, no matter how powerful these may be they are mere servants under Sovereign God.

To the Romans, Paul writes, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) In this way, angels, good and bad, are but servants to the heirs of the household of God. Jesus, in contrast to angels is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" and has "all authority in Heaven and on earth." (Revelation 19:16; Matthew 28:18)