(The authorship of the epistle to the Hebrews is in dispute mainly because the author was not specifically named within the letter. In the oldest manuscript, this epistle followed Paul's letter to the Galatians with the title "To the Hebrews," indicating that it was part of the Galatian epistle. Remember, Paul stated in Galatians 6:11 he had written a large letter, yet Galatians was not that large, but would be if it included Hebrews. Also Galatians ended (Galatians 6:16) with a mention of "the Israel of God" which would have been an appropriate introduction for the epistle to the Hebrews. The belief was that Paul did not mention his name in this half of the letter because it would help Paul's points be better accepted by the Jews. Some say that Paul never wrote to the Jews, however, Peter mentioned that Paul did write an epistle to the Jews (2 Peter 3:15-16). If this epistle was part of the letter to the Galatians, this letter would have been written by Paul around 68 AD from Rome during his time in prison. (Hebrews 13:24 stated this letter was written from Italy. Hebrews 13:19, 23 alluded to imprisonment and mentioned Timothy.) Remember, Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians (in Greek) to encourage new believers not to listen to false teachers who were attempting to convince the Galatians they needed to be under the Law in order to have Salvation. This epistle to the Hebrews was written (in Hebrew) to prove to the Jews that the Law had come to an end and to confirm that Jewish Christians were included into the new covenant. We will also see many other similarities between this epistle and other epistles written by Paul. Tradition stated that Luke translated this epistle from Hebrew to Greek.)
Hebrews 1
1 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,
(Paul opened this letter to the Jews by referencing how God spoke to His people as documented in His Word: through prophets. However, Paul also added the qualifier that God was not limited to always using the same manner. Paul stated God used various ways.)
2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;
(Paul placed Jesus in the line of the prophets God used to speak to His people. Paul called this latest Prophet God's Son and taught some Doctrine: Jesus is heir of all things and God created the worlds by Jesus.)
3 who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
(Doctrine: Christ is the "very image of his substance" - Christ is Right and Just in His Nature, just as God the Father is Right and Just in His Nature. Christ purged our sins and sat down on God's right Hand.)
4 having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.
(In Romans 9, we saw a critical perspective to have in order to understand Paul is how Paul preached sermons. Paul had a two step method for presenting his sermons:
-1st Step: Present the premise (effect) and reason (cause).
-2nd Step: Support it with scripture, usually three verses.
Paul used this first sentence, as his premise, to transition the Jewish Christians from believing that God spoke through prophets to God spoke through the last and greatest Prophet: One better than the angels.
Paul's reason for his premise was that Jesus was a Prophet that was greater than the angels. The Jewish believers knew that prophets (e.g., Daniel) were humbled in the presence of angels. As was proven with Paul's previous epistles and his sermons recorded in the Book of Acts, Paul followed up his premise and reason by referencing supporting scriptures...)
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?
(We have seen that Paul did reference many books of the scriptures when he supported his premises. However, we have seen the three most often referenced by Paul were the Books of Psalms, Deuteronomy, and Isaiah. Here, Paul supported his premise with Psalm 89:26. God has not said to any angel "Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee" or " I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son." God said these things about Jesus.)
6 And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
(Paul referenced Deuteronomy 32:43. Christ was the firstborn into the world and God said to let all angels worship Him. Christ being the "firstborn" was not a reference to when He was born of Mary. In this case, it meant Christ was the first-begotten.)
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire:
(Paul referenced Psalm 104:4 to prove the excellency of the angels, thereby making Jesus even more excellent.)
8 but of the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
(Paul referenced Psalm 45:6-7. God the Father, speaking to Jesus, said: "Thy throne, O God, is for ever..." God the Father called Jesus God! God testified of Jesus as God. The following three verses were a reference to Psalm 102:25-27.)
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands:
(Doctrine: Christ laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are a work of His Hands.)
11 They shall perish; but thou continuest: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
(Doctrine: Christ is eternal.)
12 And as a mantle shalt thou roll them up, As a garment, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, And thy years shall not fail.
(Doctrine: We will change but Christ will remain the same. Christ will always be Right and Just. Believers will change by losing their natural man/fleshly nature.)
13 But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?
(Paul referenced Psalm 110:1. God has not said to an angel, "Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet," but He has to Christ.)
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?
(Theme of Chapter1: Paul established that Christ was greater than all the previous prophets and greater than the angels through the method we have previously seen from Paul: premise, reason, and support from multiple scriptures.)
Hebrews 2
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them.
(We ought to be more receptive and do what we have heard (from Christ) since we know that He is God in His Nature: Right and Just.)
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;
(Rhetorical if/then Question: If the word spoken by angels was steadfast (stable, firm, non-contradictory), and Justice is at work, how will we escape if we neglect the Salvation which was brought by our Lord? Answer: We will not, no one will.)
4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
(Doctrine: God confirms His Word with signs, wonders, manifold powers, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.)
5 For not unto angels did he subject the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one hath somewhere 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 honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:
(Paul referenced Psalm 8:4-6.)
8 Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.
9 But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.
(Premise: Jesus was also made a little lower than the angels (while on earth) that by the grace of God, He would taste death for every man. If Christ had not been made lower than the angels, He would not have been able to die. Jesus died for the sins of everyone. Salvation is available to all. Next, Paul presented his reason.)
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
(Doctrine: All things were not only made through Christ, all things were made for Him. All of this was made so that a Bride could be created that would be able to marry Jesus.)
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
(A conclusion from Paul's premise and reason: Believers are one with Christ.)
12 saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise.
(Paul referenced Psalm 22:22.)
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me.
(Paul referenced Psalm 18:2 and Isaiah 8:18.)
14 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
(Christ came in the flesh so that through death He would destroy the devil, who had the power of death. Christ was able to do this for everyone who is also in the flesh...us!)
15 and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.
(Paul began summing up his first argument: Jesus took on the nature of man (He had a freewill), not the nature of angels.)
17 Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
(Jesus took on our nature so He could better minister to us and make reconciliation for us, so that He could act as our High Priest.)
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
(Jesus can minister to us because he suffered temptation and is able to succor (help) those who are being tempted.)
(Theme of Chapter 2: Paul concluded that Jesus alone was able to save us and minister to us because He experienced everything we experience.)
Hebrews 3
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus;
(Now that we know Jesus is God and that He became flesh to succor all of us, we ought to consider the Apostle and High Priest: Jesus Christ.)
2 who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.
(Christ was faithful to God towards the church just as Moses was faithful to God towards Israel.)
3 For he hath been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as he that built the house hath more honor than the house.
(Doctrine: Christ is more than Moses.)
4 For every house is builded by some one; but he that built all things is God.
(Even the "house" that Moses built was built upon Christ's creation.)
5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken;
6 but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.
(We are Christ's "house" if we hold fast (retain, stand firm) our boldness (confidence) and the glorying of the hope (faith) firm to the end. Paul then referenced Psalm 95:7-11.)
7 Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tried me by proving me, And saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;
11 As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
(A warning to not do as the fathers of Israel did but we ought to hear the Holy Spirit's voice, humble ourselves, and justify God.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:
13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:
(Exhort each other daily.)
14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:
(We will partake with Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end.)
15 while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
(Paul referenced Psalm 95:7-8, like he did in verses 7 and 8 of this chapter. Paul's exhortation was for us to hear God's Voice today! Live by grace each day.)
16 For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses?
(Those who could not enter the Promised Land did not because of unbelief: the individual chose not to believe. Likewise, exclusion from heaven will be because of unbelief: the individual choosing not to believe.)
17 And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient?
19 And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.
(Theme of Chapter 3: Christ is greater than Moses. The same conditions God used with Moses (the Law) are being used with Christ: exclusion from paradise is the responsibility of the individual to believe.)
Day 348
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