Category: Hebrews

With a True Heart

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Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

‘Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.’ Seven commands for believers: To draw near to God (10:22). To have a pure conscience. To have clean bodies. To have unwavering faith (10:23). To provoke others to good works (10:24). To assemble with other Christians (10:25). To exhort one another daily (10:25; 3:13).

‘Draw near’ – Four ways to draw near to God: By boldness (10:19; 4:14-16); By the blood of Jesus (10:19); By a new and living way (10:20); By the high priesthood of Christ (10:21).

‘A true heart’ – An honest, earnest, sincere heart.

‘Full assurance’ [Greek: plerophoria] full conviction; certain (10:22; 6:11; Col. 2:2; 1Thess. 1:5).

‘Hearts sprinkled’ – Not the body sprinkled by the water of separation, as under the law (Num. 19:2-10), but our hearts—the inner man—sprinkled by the blood of Jesus (10:22; 12:24; 1Pet. 1:2). This is accomplished by faith in the blood (Rom. 3:24-25).

‘Conscience’ [Greek: suneidesis] is joint knowledge of God and man; knowledge of our acts, state, or character as to right and wrong; the faculty, power, or principle which decides the lawfulness of our actions and affections, and approves or condemns them; the moral faculty or sense; consciousness of actions; the eye, judge, and guide of the inner man. Used 32 times. The word “conscience” is not found in the Old Testament.

‘Bodies washed with pure water.’ Our bodies are bathed, referring to the actual cleanliness of the body rather than to baptism (Lev. 15:8-27; 17:15-16).

A New and Living Way

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Hebrews 10:19-21 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he had consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God

‘Boldness’ [Greek: parrhesia] liberty; full access to heaven. The practical teaching of the epistle begins here (Hebrews 10:19-13:25). It is a grand conclusion to the doctrinal arguments of Hebrews 1:1-10:18.

‘Enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.’ The high priest of the law could go only once a year into the holiest place on earth, but by the blood of Christ, the least saint can have daily access to the holiest place in heaven.

‘New and living way.’ It is a newly made way and a living way. It is so-called because Christ was newly slain and because He, being the way to God, is alive forevermore (John 14:6; Rev. 1:18). He is now alive within the veil (7:25).

Remission

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Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 

‘Now where remission of these is.’ Where sins are remitted, there is no need for an offering for sins any longer. Thus Paul concludes his argument of the priesthood of Christ, begun in Hebrews 5:1. Christ’s offering is efficacious for all past, present, and future sins, but on condition of proper confession of sin and meeting the terms of continued grace (1Jn. 1:9; Rom. 10:9-10).

‘No more offering for sin.’ Christ is better than Old Testament sacrifices: Christ’s sacrifice ratifies the new covenant based upon better promises (8:6-13; 9:15-22; 10:16). Christ makes a way of personal approach to God (9:8; 10:19-23). Christ makes perfect (9:9; 10:1-14). Christ ministers realities (9:11; 8:5; 10:1). Christ makes entrance to heaven (9:12). Christ obtains eternal redemption (9:12-15). Christ purifies the soul (9:12-14). Christ gives eternal inheritance (9:15). Christ opens a heavenly ministry (9:24). Christ ends the many sacrifices (9:25-28). Christ assures justice (9:27; 10:26-31). Christ abolishes the law of Moses (10:9; Col. 2:14). Christ sanctifies all believers (10:14). Christ takes away sins (10:10-18). Christ makes atonement complete (10:12-14). Christ defeats enemies (10:13; Col. 2:14-17). Christ forgets forgiven sins (10:17). Christ remits confessed sins (10:18). Christ gives boldness of approach to God (10:19-23; 4:14-16). Christ gives man an eternal High Priest (10:25-39; 6:20; 7:11-21).

My Laws Into Their Hearts

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Hebrews 10:15-17 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 

‘This is the covenant that I will make …’ This is the 21st Old Testament prophecy in Hebrews (10:16-17; Jer. 31:33-34). The new covenant was not to be the same as the old, but an entirely new contract to take the place of the law of Moses. To say that the new is the same as the old covenant, the only difference being that the one was written on tables of stone while the other was written on tables of the heart, is erroneous to the extreme. An old contract written anew on some other material does not make it a new contract. It is the contents that make a difference, not the place where it is written. Jeremiah 31:33-34 states that the new contract was not to be the same as the old one made by Moses—”Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them … out of Egypt.” The two contracts could never be the same because of the differences in their terms, conditions, and blessings.

‘I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.’ The nature of the gospel system: I will put My laws in their mind (8:10). They will be fully enlightened and have perfect knowledge of truth. I will write them in their hearts (8:10). All their affections, passions, and appetites shall be purified so that they shall willingly obey My Word. I will be their God, and they shall be My people (8:10). I will make them new creatures and unite them to Me forever (2Cor. 5:17). They shall all know Me from the least to the greatest of them (8:11). I will be merciful when they commit injustices against God or man (8:12). I will forgive their sins and lawlessness, remembering them no more (8:12). All this implies genuine repentance and forsaking of sin (Zech. 12:10-13:1; Rom. 11:25-29).  

Them That are Sanctified

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Hebrews 10:13-14 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he had perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 

‘From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.’ By His sacrifice, Christ defeated all satanic powers (Col. 2:14-17). Now He needs only to await the time of their complete submission and punishment (1Cor. 15:24-28; Heb. 2:5-15; Eph. 1:10). In the meantime He is calling out a heavenly people whom He will make kings and priests to reign over all coming generations in the Millennium and the new and eternal earth (Acts 15:13-18; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:8-10; 20:4-6; 22:4-5).

Many religions of today declare men [husbands] as the wife’s king, priest – and sometimes even prophet – of their homes. This is unscriptural and testifies of great vanity for no one was called apart from others (Gal. 3:26-28) in this era, except for all to serve God through Christ by living as He did on earth (1Pet. 2:21-23). We are called to SERVE (Matt. 20:27-28; 23:11; 24:45-48; 25:21-30; Mark 9:35; 10:44; Luke 12:37; 22:26; John 12:26; 13:16) not to rule or be worshipped and obeyed in all things (except in relations as commanded by Scripture and God) as some claim from various Scriptures that they apply to themselves. Saints will reign as kings and prophets during the Millennium (Rev. 19:11-20:7); as Revelation clearly states and to claim those titles now is ungodly. The qualification is to be a born-again Christian – the only kind of Christian that the Word mentions – and live up to Biblical standards (Matt. 13:38-49; 18:3; John 3:3-5; 2Cor. 5:17-18; Rom. 6:7, 18, 22; 8:1-13; Gal. 5:19-24; Eph. 4:24; 1Jn. 2:29; 3:8-10; 5:1-4, 18; Heb. 12:14). The kingdom of heaven is the coming (still outstanding) kingdom of the 1000 years (a Millennium) and it will be on earth and saints will reign on earth, not in heaven: “the kingdom UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN shall be given to the saints … The Lord shall be king OVER ALL THE EARTH … we shall reign ON THE EARTH” (Dan. 2:35, 44-45; 7:13-14, 18, 26-27; Zech. 14:1-21; Matt. 25:31-46; Isa. 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 11:15; 20:1-10).

One Sacrifice For Sins For Ever

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Hebrews 10:11-12 And every priest stood daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God

‘And every priest stood daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.’ In summing up his arguments for the abolishment of the law and the establishment of the new covenant, Paul emphasizes two things: The utter helplessness and emptiness of the earthly priests standing daily to minister sacrifices that can never take away sins. The infinite power of the one sacrifice of Christ that cleanses from all sin, defeats the enemies of God and perfects all believers forever (10:12-14).

‘Sat down on the right hand of God’ – After Christ made His supreme sacrifice His work for sins was finished. He could then sit down and wait to see His work completed in the lives of believers who would be freed from sin and delivered from their enemies (10:12-14; 1:3; 12:2; Ps. 110:4). The continual daily sacrifices proved the imperfection of such sacrifices. Christ’s one sacrifice proved its completeness, hence He could sit down, instead of continuing to offer Himself as the priests of the law who offered sacrifices daily (10:12-14).

He Takes Away the First

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Hebrews 10:7-10 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou would not, neither had pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

‘Volume of the book’ [Greek: kephalis] roll of the book. Books were written on skins and rolled up on two wooden rollers. In Jewish synagogues, the Pentateuch is still written on scrolls.

‘Would not, neither had pleasure therein; which are offered by the law.’ God did not will to redeem man by animal sacrifices but by a human sacrifice of infinite merit. To this end, He prepared a body for the eternal logos who came to do the will of God and die for the sins of the world (10:7-9; Gal. 1:4; 1Pet. 2:24).

‘He takes away the first, that he may establish the second.’ This could be understood in two ways: He takes away the first sacrifices to establish the sacrifice of Christ (10:12). He takes away the old covenant to establish the new covenant.

‘By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.’ By the will of God in preparing Christ as a sacrifice we are sanctified and perfected WHEN we repent and choose not to sin anymore (10:10-14; cp. 1Thess. 4:3-7; 2Thess. 2:13). Christ did not die so that we can stay in sin and just apologize when the need arises. He came to set us free so that we do not have to live in sin – that means not to sin anymore (Rom. 6:1-23; 1Jn. 1:24). We might from time to time still have negative thoughts and feelings and bad attitudes (2Cor. 10:3-6), but we need to get into the right standing (forgiven) as soon as possible so that we will not be cut off from His grace (Heb. 10:26). Read Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:28-32; 1Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:17-31; 5:3-7, 11-12, 18 and Colossians 3:5-10 for examples of sins that condemns man’s soul.

No Pleasure

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Hebrews 10:4-6 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he came into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering thou would not, but a body have thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou have had no pleasure. 

‘Not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.’ The Law couldn’t take away sins, make perfect, or purify the heart. Why some religious groups insist on going back under the law in some points is only explainable by 2Corinthians 4:4; 11:14-15; 2Timothy 4:1-4 and 2Thessalonians 2:8-12.

‘Sacrifice and offering thou would not, but a body have thou prepared me …’ This is the 20th Old Testament prophecy in Hebrews (10:5-9; Ps. 40:6-8). This was fulfilled during the first advent of Christ. Obedience is the great lesson here. It was not God’s will for animals to be offered to redeem man, but that a human victim of infinite merit should be offered for his redemption. That there might be such a victim, a body was prepared so God could be manifest in flesh and take man’s place (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Matt. 1:18-23; Rom. 8:3-4; Heb. 2:9-18; 10:5-9). Christ came to be just such a sacrifice (10:5-9; Ps. 40:8).

‘Prepared me’ – this refers to being perfect (2Cor. 13:11) The Greek word katartizo means to adjust; put in order again; restore; repair; and settle by mediation. Translated “mend” (Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19); “restore” (Gal. 6:1); fit (Rom. 9:22); “prepare” (Heb. 10:1-39); “frame” (Heb. 9:3); “perfectly joined together” (1Cor. 1:10); “be and make perfect” (Matt. 21:16; Luke 6:40; 1Thess. 3:10; 2Cor. 13:11; Heb. 13:21; 1Pet. 5:10).

A Shadow of Good Things to Come

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Hebrews 10:1-3 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 

‘Shadow of good things to come.’ The law gave only a faint outline of good things to come (8:5; Col. 2:14-17).

‘Image’ [Greek: eikon] form, a figure; image; likeness. Here it means outward and bodily image (Matt. 22:20; Mark 12:16; Luke 20:24; Rom. 1:23; 1Cor. 11:7; 15:49; 2Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15; Rev. 13:14-15; 9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). It is used only three times of moral and spiritual likeness (Rom. 8:29; 2Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10).

‘Can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.’ There are fifteen things noted in Scripture that the Law could not do: Justify (Acts 13:38-39; Gal. 2:16). Free from sin and death (Rom. 8:2). Free from condemnation (Rom. 8:1-4). Redeem (Rom. 3:24-31; Gal. 3:13-14). Give inheritance (Rom. 4:13-14). Bring righteousness (Rom. 8:4). Impart the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2). Perform miracles (Gal. 3:5). Free from the curse (Gal. 3:10-14). Impart faith (Gal. 3:12). Impart grace (Gal. 5:4). Make perfect (Heb. 7:19). Control sin in man (Rom. 7:7-23; 8:2). Keep man from sin (Rom. 7:7-23; 8:7). Enable a man to obey (Heb. 7:18).

After This the Judgment – Part 3

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Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

‘Bear’ [Greek: anaphero] Translated as “offer up” (7:27; 13:15; Jas. 2:21; 1Pet. 2:5); “bear” (9:28; 1Pet. 2:24); “lead,” “carry,” and “bring up” (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 24:51).

‘Look’ [Greek: apekdechomai] wait for (Rom. 8:19, 23, 25; 1Cor. 1:7; Gal. 5:5) and look for (9:28; Php. 3:20; 1Pet. 3:20).

‘Second time without sin unto salvation.’ This refers to the second coming when Christ will come to earth without being a sin offering to save men. He will come the next time to reign and put all enemies under His feet. The time of the Second Coming according to Scripture: Immediately after the tribulation (Matt. 24:29; 25:31; Rev. 11:1-19:21). At the beginning of the Millennium (Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-10). After the Antichrist reigns 31/2 years (Rev. 13:5; 19:11-21; 2Thess. 2:7-8). At the end of this age (Matt. 13:38-43, 47-50; 24:3, 29-31; 25:31-46). After the ten kingdoms are formed inside the old Roman empire (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:23-24; Rev. 13:1-18; 19:11-21). In the days of terrible moral conditions as in the days of Lot and Noah (Matt. 24:37-51; Luke 17:22-27; 2Tim. 3:1-13; 4:1-4; 2Pet. 2:1-22; Jude 1). After the congregational period (2Thess. 2:7-8; Acts 15:13-18; Jude 1:14; Zech. 14:5). When Jerusalem is surrounded by armies and half the city is taken (Zech. 14:1-5, 14-21; Joel 3:1-21). After the resurrection of the righteous dead and 1,000 years before the resurrection of the wicked (Rev. 20:1-15; Zech. 14:5; Jude 1:14). After all of Revelation 4-19 is fulfilled (Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-10). At the time satan is bound before the Millennium (Rev. 20:1-7). When Israel is restored and converted Christ takes the throne of David to begin His reign over Israel forever (Isa. 9:6-7; Hos. 3:4-5; Luke 1:32-33; Ezek. 36:23-28; 37:16-28).