Day 350: Hebrews 11-13

(The previous post concluded with the Theme of Chapter 10: Paul concluded the premise he began in chapter 5. Christ's one time sacrifice was able to remit all sins: past, present, and future...for everyone. The sacrifices of animals during the Law were representations of the actual one time sacrifice. Paul began exhorting believers to walk in all of these benefits and the key attribute necessary to make progress in our fellowship with God is faith.)

Hebrews 11

(This chapter is often referred to as containing the "Faith Hall of Fame." It started out perfectly by giving God's definition for faith.)

¹ Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

(Doctrine: The definition of faith was "a belief in something you cannot see, either because it is invisible or it has not yet happened." Faith is proven in actions. The actions are the effects of faith. Faith is built by two causes: understanding and experience.)

² For therein the elders had witness borne to them.
³ By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.

(This was a reference to Genesis 1. In verse 3, "word" was rhema - "the powerful and revelatory spoken word of God without precedent." This would be invisible. Through faith we understand that the worlds (visible) were framed by the Word of God (invisible). God spoke the physical things into existence, and all the physical things that we see are actually made up of vibrations: invisible things.)

⁴ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.

(This was a reference to Genesis 4. Abel - By faith offered God an excellent sacrifice.)

⁵ By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:

(This was a reference to Genesis 5:22-24. Enoch - By faith did not see death but was translated: raptured.)

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

(An Application of Faith: Without faith it is impossible to please God. Why? Those who come to God must believe that God exists (belief in something that is not visible) and that He Rewards those who diligently seek Him (belief in something that has not yet happened). Paul confirmed the definition of faith with this application. Paul continued listing people who were examples of faith to us...)

⁷ By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

(This referenced Genesis 6. Noah - By faith built an ark (actions) being warned of God of something that had not yet happened (the flood). Noah became heir of the Righteousness by his faith.)

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

(This referenced Genesis 12. Abraham - By faith obeyed God when he was called by God to go to the place of his inheritance. Abraham's actions proved he believed something he could not see that told him he would receive an inheritance he had not yet received.)

⁹ By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
¹⁰ for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
¹¹ By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

(This referenced Genesis 21. Sarah - By faith received strength to conceive the child of promise (Isaac) even though she was "past age.")

¹² wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.
¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

(Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah died without receiving their promises but only seeing them far off.)

¹⁴ For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.
¹⁵ And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

(All of these people were focused on a heavenly (spiritual) country, not the physical land they were from. Paul was focusing the Jewish Christians on heaven instead of the earthly Promised Land.)

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
¹⁸ even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:
¹⁹ accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.

(This referenced Genesis 22. Abraham - By faith offered Isaac.
Experience: Abraham knew God would fulfill His promise.
Understanding: Abraham figured God would raise Isaac from the dead if Abraham sacrificed Isaac.

In Genesis 22 of this commentary, we saw that Abraham told the servant boy that he and his son (both of them) would return, which was further proof of Abraham's faith.)

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

(This referenced Genesis 27. Isaac - By faith blessed Jacob and Esau concerning events that had yet to happen.)

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

(This referenced Genesis 48. Jacob - By faith blessed the sons of Joseph and worshipped God when he was dying.)

²² By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

(This referenced Genesis 50:24-25. Joseph - By faith spoke of the Exodus and gave commandment concerning his bones.)

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

(This referenced Exodus 2. Moses - By faith, his parents hid him three months.)

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
²⁵ choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

(This referenced Exodus 2. Moses - By faith refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter but chose suffering of affliction with God's people.)

²⁶ accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.
²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

(Moses had a revelation of Jesus, then by faith forsook Egypt without fear of the wrath of Pharaoh. Moses endured as seeing God who is invisible.)

²⁸ By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

(This referenced Exodus 12. Moses - By faith Moses kept the Passover.)

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.

(This referenced Exodus 14. Israel - By faith Israel passed through the Red Sea.)

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.

(This referenced Joshua 6. Joshua - By faith the walls of Jericho fell after seven days.)

³¹ By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

(This referenced Joshua 2. Rahab - By faith she received the spies.)

³² And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:

(Gideon (Judges 6), Barak (Judges 4), Samson (Judges 13), Jephthah (Judges 11), David (1 Samuel 17), Samuel (1 Samuel 3), and the prophets.)

(Verses 33-38: sufferings of the faithful. The references for these following actions that proved faith follow each verse respectively.)

³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

(Joshua 12, Genesis 15:6, Numbers 14:30, Daniel 6.)

³⁴ quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.

(Daniel 3, 1 Samuel 17, Hebrews 11:11, 2 Samuel 23:8-23, 1 Samuel 17:51.)

³⁵ Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

(1 Kings 17:17, Genesis 39:20.)

³⁶ and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

(Jeremiah 37:16, Jeremiah 38:6, 1 Kings 22:27.)

³⁷ they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

(2 Chronicles 24:21, ("sawn asunder" had no reference), Genesis 39:1-17, 1 Samuel 22:18, 2 Kings 2:8,13.)

³⁸ (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.
³⁹ And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,

(These also had not received the promise but still obtained a good report through faith.)

⁴⁰ God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

(Theme of Chapter 11: Faith. The definition of faith was "a belief in something you cannot see, either because it is invisible or it has not yet happened." Faith is proven in actions. The actions are the effects of faith. Faith is built by two causes: understanding and experience. Paul gave numerous examples of people in the scriptures that demonstrated faith.)




Hebrews 12
¹ Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

(This verse was used to state that those who had died before us watch what we do ("so great a cloud of witnesses"). One reason this may be so was that people who have died would not know less, they should not be prevented from learning from us, since we have the ability to learn from them.)

² looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(This can bee seen as a continuation of Paul's examples of faith, Jesus being the greatest example. Notice, it required faith for Him to endure the cross. Why? The "joy that was set before Him" was something that had yet to happen.

Yet to happen = Joy set before Him.

Run with patience the race (our life) that is set before us while looking unto Jesus who is the author (the chief leader, prince) and finisher (perfecter) of our faith. Jesus, in heaven, saw the joy set before Him and endured the cross. What joy could Jesus not have possessed in heaven that He would have to endure the cross in order to receive? His Bride!)

³ For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.

(Do not forget the abuse Jesus took while He was on earth. It was much more than any of us will ever endure.)

⁴ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
⁵ and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;

(Paul referenced Proverb 3:11-12 to encourage us to not despise the chastening of God and not to faint at His rebuke: it is for our long term benefit. It is a good thing!)

⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

(God chastens those He loves and scourges every son He receives. God cuts us back so we can grow more: John 15.)

⁷ It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?
⁸ But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

(All sons of God will be chastised by Him. If you are not chastened, then you are not a child of God. How does God "chastise" His children? By confronting in love! If I don't embrace the confrontation of God, I'm not embracing being His son!)

⁹ Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

(Wise people revere the parents that chasten them for their long term benefit. If we are wise, we ought to revere God more than earthly parents.)

¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

(Earthly parents receive some benefit for chastening their children. However, God chastens us for our profit, for our holiness.)

¹¹ All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.

(In the short term, chastening is not joyous but in the long term, it brings forth the fruit of Righteousness.)

¹² Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;
¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.
¹⁴ Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

(Premise: Follow after peace and sanctification because it leads to Salvation.)

¹⁵ looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;

(Reason: If you do not look diligently to the Lord, you will fall short (fail) of grace. If grace was irresistible, how could you fail it?)

¹⁶ lest there be any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.

(Paul referenced Genesis 25:27-34 to support his premise.)

¹⁷ For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears.

(Paul referenced Genesis 27:1-46 to support his reason. Esau had no repentance (change of mind) in regards to his decision to not follow the divine influence upon his heart with his earlier bad decision. Esau failed grace and there was no way to fix it. If grace was "unmerited favor" there would always be a way to fix it.)

¹⁸ For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
¹⁹ and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;
²⁰ for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;
²¹ and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:

(Believers do not come to Mount Sinai and the law of bondage. Believers come to Mount Zion which is grace.)

²² but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,
²³ to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
²⁴ and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.

(Jesus is the Mediator of the new Covenant.)

²⁵ See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:

(Premise: Refuse not Him that speaks (Jesus through the Holy Spirit) to you from heaven. This was grace.

Reason: If you refuse grace you will not escape God's wrath.)

²⁶ whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.

(Paul referenced Haggai 2:6.)

²⁷ And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.

(This was a New Testament prophecy about the heavens and earth being removed. Then Paul's conclusion "those things which are not shaken may remain" referenced Christ's government from Isaiah 9:6-7.)

²⁸ Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:

(By grace we may serve God acceptably with reverence and awe. Then Paul referenced Deuteronomy 4:14...)

²⁹ for our God is a consuming fire.

(Theme of Chapter 12: Grace. Refuse not Him that speaks (Jesus through the Holy Spirit) to you from heaven.)




Hebrews 13
¹ Let love of the brethren continue.
² Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

(Do not forget to entertain strangers because some may be angels.)

³ Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are illtreated, as being yourselves also in the body.

(Remember those who are suffering because you are also in the body and connected to those who are afflicted, even if you are not physically present with them.)

⁴ Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
⁵ Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.

(Let your conduct be without love of the physical. Be content with what you have because God will never leave or forsake you…)

⁶ So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?

(…so that we may with good courage (confidently) was a reference to Psalm 118:6, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?")

⁷ Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.

(Consider those who have led you in the faith and have spoken God's Word to you. Follow them and consider (think hard about) how they lived their life faithfully to the end. All of the commands given in this chapter can be found in other epistles from Paul.)

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever.

(Christ is unchanging. He is always completely Right and always completely Just.)

⁹ Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.

(Do not be carried away with strange (foreign to the truth) doctrine for it is good that the heart is established with grace. Again, this was a main theme for Paul's pastoral epistles.)

¹⁰ We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.

(Paul contrasted some key differences between the covenants. Our Covenant results in benefits from Christ's sacrifice. The previous Covenant did not result in benefits, it resulted in lack of detriments.)

¹¹ For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp.

(The previous Covenant burnt the sacrifices outside the camp.)

¹² Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.

(Our Covenant had Jesus sacrificed outside the city.)

¹³ Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
¹⁴ For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.

(This was poetic: We should not seek the present physical city and attempt to remain comfortable. We ought to seek a spiritual city to come (the new Jerusalem) by choosing to share in Jesus' discomfort.)

¹⁵ Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.

(Our sacrifice: The fruit of our lips praising and thanking God. Words are important.)

¹⁶ But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

(The word "communicate" was koinonia, which was usually translated as fellowship. Paul reminded believers of two "sacrifices":
1) to do good (Righteousness as an effect of the First Command) and
2) have fellowship with others (Second Command).
The translation emphasized communicating with each other using words...after all, the previous verse stated our sacrifice to God was made up of words.)

¹⁷ Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.

(Obey those who lead you because they have your best interest at heart.)

¹⁸ Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.

(Paul was the only New Testament writer who asked for prayer.)

¹⁹ And I exhort you the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

(Remember, this letter was written from prison. Paul wanted prayer in order to get out of prison.)

²⁰ Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,

(Jesus is the Great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant.)

²¹ make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(God works in His believers through the Holy Spirit: grace.)

²² But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written unto you in few words.
²³ Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

(Paul was the only epistle writer to mention Timothy.)

²⁴ Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

(Paul was in Italy (Rome) when he wrote his letter to the Galatians.)

²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.

(Theme of Chapter 13: After the two previous chapters summarized faith and grace, respectively, Paul summarized the behaviors of believers.)

(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 saw many other similarities between this epistle and other epistles written by Paul. Tradition stated that Luke translated this epistle from Hebrew to Greek.)

Day 351