1:2 — In these last days [God] has spoken to us in His Son.
Hebrews is addressed to Jewish Christians who were facing terrible persecution within their communities because of their confession of Christ. The author affirms that they are not following a different religion, but the completion of the true faith in the Lord. God has always spoken to His people through the prophets and other faithful individuals who have communicated His message. However, when it came to providing for and explaining the salvation He has given on the Cross, the Lord came Himself.
1:3 — He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature . . . When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
There is only one God. Believers in Jesus Christ should never forsake this foundational belief—they understand it in a deeper manner. Jesus is far better than just a great teacher or a mighty prophet. He is the Lord Himself. In fact, He is “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). If you want to understand what God is like, look to Jesus (John 1:1, 14–18; 14:9). And as Jesus sits at the right hand of the Majesty—the place of honor—He faithfully represent us (Heb. 2:17, 18; 4:14–16).
1:8 — Of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.”
By contrasting how God refers to the angels and how He addresses Jesus, the author shows our Savior’s superior and exalted position. Repeatedly, the Lord Himself identifies Christ as an integral Person of the Godhead (Deut. 32:43; Ps. 2:7; 45:6, 7; 102:25–27; 110:1; Is. 61:1–3, etc.). Jesus is God in the flesh (John 10:30; Phil. 2:5–11). He is to be worshiped as Lord, praised as Creator, recognized as Ruler, and glorified as our only Savior.
1:14 — Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
In Greek, the word angel actually means “a messenger, envoy, or one who is sent by God.” We may not see most of their activity, but the Lord has given His angels the job of ministering to us—of bringing us His message, grace, and protection. We may never know how often an angel spared us from injury, guided us to safety, or engineered some success. However, we can know that they did so as vessels of God’s perfect provision for us (Ps. 103:19–21). Therefore, they do not receive the glory—He does.
2:3 — How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
Our salvation is the gift of eternal life to us through Christ. Every sin we have committed has been forgiven. Yet there may be times when we will drift away from the Lord because we fail to walk in the center of His will. When we focus on anything other than God, we drift away from His purpose for us and hasten our path to destruction. We neglect the great gift He has given and the wisdom available to us as believers.
2:10 — It was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
As our Lord, Jesus was already perfect, and as our sinless Savior, He was completely without fault. So how could suffering possibly improve Him? Because it was through His pain and sorrow that—although complete in knowledge and wisdom—He was perfected in His understanding of how limited we are, how difficult our lives can be, how desperate we are when we lack something we need, and how hopeless our separation from God truly is. He knows how best to sanctify us—or transform us into His image—and has become the ideal example for us to follow (Is. 53:3–5).
2:14 — That through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
The consequence of sin is death—eternal separation from God (Rom. 6:23). In order to pay the penalty that sin requires, Jesus died on the Cross. He was God’s perfect sacrifice and the atonement for our transgressions. Through death, He defeated the enemy and triumphed over the grave (James 1:15). We have eternal life and the opportunity to have an intimate relationship with God because Jesus died for us.
2:17 — He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest.
In the Old Testament, God’s people relied on imperfect priests to represent them before His throne. These priests were limited because they did not fully understand God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Jesus Christ became man so He could identify with us as our faithful High Priest. Jesus left heaven and became a man not only to become the sacrifice for our sins but also to experience what we feel and to know exactly what it’s like to be one of us. That’s what makes Him our great Advocate and our absolutely perfect representative on the throne of grace.
2:18 — Since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Jesus knows what it feels like to be tempted. He understands our weaknesses, pains, insecurities, and fears, and He wants to help us break free from them and from the unforgiveness we feel towards ourselves. We can never say to Him, “You don’t know what it’s like to be me,” because He does. In fact, we know less of the pain of temptation than He does because He never gave in to it.
What the Bible Says About
Hebrews 3:1 tells us, “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” This verse overflows with hope and assurance for the believer.
First, note that it’s addressed to the “holy brethren.” This refers to anyone who has trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The word holy signifies that believers have been set apart for God. Because of who you are in Christ, God loves you. Your profession, salary, appearance, or nationality does not define you. Only your status as a child of God gives you the special identity you enjoy.
As one of the “partakers of a heavenly calling,” your destination is heaven. Your heart resides with Christ, where your home is. Knowing where your home is means you aren’t searching for earth—this temporary dwelling—to satisfy you. Regardless of what happens around you, you can rejoice because this life does not hold you—God does.
By knowing who you are in Christ, you can deny all the false messages of the world. Many strident voices will try to convince you that you’re not pretty enough, smart enough, or successful enough. But your identity in Christ alone completes you! You can add nothing to it, and this world’s detractors can take nothing from it.
The final phrase of Hebrews 3:1 reminds us that Jesus is our “Apostle and High Priest.” The first title signifies that Jesus represents God to us. When we want to know what God is like or how God would act in a given situation, we look to Jesus. The second title signifies that Jesus represents us to God. God looks at His children through the eyes of His blameless and holy Son.
The command in this verse tells believers to “consider Jesus.” The word consider means “to observe or think.” We are to observe Christ, meditate on His Word, and imitate what we see.
Let the assurance of your identity, home, and Lord inspire you to explore new depths of God and serve Him with all your heart. You won’t be disappointed!
See the Life Principles Index for further study:
3:3 — He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.
Moses was one of the most celebrated leaders in biblical history. God worked through him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt and then to lead them to the threshold of the Promised Land. However, Jesus is greater than Moses because He is God in the flesh. He existed before Moses. He formed him and empowered him to triumph over Pharaoh. Jesus is exalted above Moses because the deliverance He offers is eternal.
3:6 — We hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
Those who truly accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord must persevere in their faith until the end, no matter what happens. One of the hallmarks of a genuine relationship with God is the commitment to remain faithful to Him through everything because of the conviction that He is sovereign and able to work all things to the good of those who believe in Him, regardless of the situation.
3:12 — Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
The writer reminds us of the dire consequences of unbelief by recalling the generation of Israelites who died in the wilderness rather than trust God to give them the Promised Land (Num. 13:25—14:38; Deut. 1:21–38; Ps. 95:7–11). Though we do not lose our salvation through unbelief once we’ve accepted Christ as our Savior, we will miss out on the very best God has for us. Eventually, our lack of trust in Him will hinder our growth and relationship with the Lord and will ultimately result in frustration and heartache.
3:13 — Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith. None of us can progress in our relationship with the Lord or stay true to Him without the help and encouragement of fellow believers. We need others to support us and keep us accountable so that sin will not find a foothold in our hearts. In fact, we need this kind of healthy interaction every day because we require constant reminders of God’s unfailing love to us.
3:18 — To whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?
There is a clear connection between unbelief and disobedience. When we refuse to submit to God’s call, it is always because we do not believe either His promises of blessing or His warnings against rebellion.
4:6 — It remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience.
The author equates those who doubt the Lord’s provision of the Sabbath (Ex. 20:10)—who decline to rest because of unbelief—to those who refuse to accept His perfect gift of salvation. This faithlessness comes from the idea that if we work harder, we will become more acceptable to the Lord and do better for ourselves. However, God is clear: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam. 15:22). He values your obedience, submission, and faith above your service.
4:12 — The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword . . . and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Bible lives, both because the Lord brought it into existence and because His Spirit brings its message to life in our hearts. It has His power to transform our lives and to keep us steadfastly anchored to Him when the storms of life strike. No other book in history has the inspiration, truth, and power of the Word of God.
4:14 — We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
We have no reason to doubt Jesus as our High Priest because He has been there—He has seen what is ahead for us in eternal life. Whereas other priests can only conjecture about what heaven is like, Jesus not only lived in the kingdom to come, but He created it. He is God. His knowledge, power, wisdom, presence, and love for us are perfect. Though other priests were merely a foreshadowing of His coming and were required to refer to the law about remaining in right standing with God, He makes us acceptable before Him and is the perfect example for us of how to have a relationship with Him.
4:15 — We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Do you realize the privilege we have in being able to go to God in prayer? As believers, we have the absolute freedom to approach the Lord at any moment to ask for His wisdom, comfort, and power, and it is all because Jesus is our High Priest—our faithful Savior and representative. Because Jesus knows what it feels like to be tempted in every way just as we are, He is sympathetic toward us and knows how to move us on to maturity. His desire is to guide us through our troubles in a way that glorifies Him and makes us into effective ambassadors for His kingdom.
4:16 — Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Mercy means that God does not give us what we deserve. That is, our sinfulness warrants His judgment, but because of Jesus Christ, He is compassionate and forgiving toward us (Rom. 8:1). Grace means that He gives us what we do not deserve. We aren’t worthy of the Lord’s love, favor, and salvation, but He has given them to us freely because of Christ. God wants us to come with confidence into His presence—not timidly, anxiously, or in fear of how He might respond. He wants to help us, and He has everything we need to confront any challenge we might face. So never be afraid to approach the Father in prayer. He loves you and wants you to draw near, and because of His great mercy and grace, you can.
5:4 — No one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God.
Serving God in some specific area is never something we can choose for ourselves. He must call us, and we must respond in obedience. The author of Hebrews cites the example of Aaron, who belonged to the tribe of Levi (Num. 3). Only those from his specific family line could serve as priests of the Lord. When other tribes tried to usurp this honor, they made the Lord very angry (1 Kin. 12:31—13:5; 14:7–11).
5:5, 6 — Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him . . . “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
How can Jesus be our High Priest if He is from the tribe of Judah and not Levi (Heb. 7:14)? Because He is chosen and appointed to be, just as Aaron was. Yet His priesthood is superior to Aaron’s because He is also our King and has no earthly succession—much like the king of Salem, Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18–20; Heb. 7).
5:7 — He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard.
This verse immediately recalls Jesus’ petition in the Garden of Gethsemane. With great passion He shared in our humanity—not wanting to suffer the pain and disgrace that awaited Him (Luke 22:39–43). Yet in that moment, He also demonstrated His perfect obedience—even to death on the Cross (Phil. 2:8). Because of His faithfulness, He triumphed over death (1 Cor. 15:54, 55).
5:8 — Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
Being obedient is not difficult when it is not costly. However, when it requires the sacrifice of all we have and are—when it requires our very life—that is a different story altogether. In heaven, as part of the Godhead, Jesus never experienced any lack—there was no reason for Him to suffer or fear because everything existed for His pleasure. But when He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7), He accepted all the pain, affliction, and neediness that we experience. This was when His obedience was perfected. He sacrificed and suffered everything for us.
5:9 — He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.
Does our obedience gain us a Savior? No. Nothing we do can ever earn our salvation. Yet all those who truly believe in Him will obey His leadership.
5:14 — Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Spiritual maturity comes not merely by hearing God’s Word, but by putting it into practice. As we obey God and He transforms our character into the likeness of His own, our spiritual discernment grows stronger. We think more like He does. We hear Him more clearly, we increasingly obey the promptings of His Spirit, and we are progressively more able to make decisions that honor Him.
6:10 — God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name.
God never forgets what you do in obedience to Him. In fact, one day you will stand before the judgment or Bema seat of Christ and be rewarded for all the things you have done out of love and obedience to Him (1 Cor. 3:11–15; 2 Cor. 5:10).
Answers to Life’s Questions
How can I be the kind of faithful person God honors?
Do you want to see the favor of God blossom in your life? If you do, the writer of Hebrews has some advice for you: “Show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (6:11, 12).
The author has in mind someone like the Old Testament saint Abraham, who displayed great faith and patience. When God called Abraham (Abram) to leave his homeland for a place unknown, he left and followed the Lord. He did not know where he was going. He only knew that he was committed to obeying the One who called to him. Genesis 12:4 displays his diligence: “So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him.”
God told Abraham he would have a son, even though his wife Sarah was already 90 years old (Gen. 17:17–19). Nothing is too difficult for the Lord! A year later, God faithfully fulfilled His promise, and Sarah bore Abraham a son.
When the boy was only a young lad, God directed Abraham to sacrifice the son for whom he had waited 25 years. What a heart-breaking command this must have been. Had Abraham heard the Lord correctly? He loved his son more than any earthly thing or being, but he knew that the greater test was the level of his devotion to God. Abraham was determined to obey the Lord. But God stopped him before he could make the sacrifice, and He provided a ram instead. This was a defining test of faith, and Abraham passed with flying colors. As a result, God blessed him for his devotion (Gen. 22:1–18).
We are to mirror Abraham’s faithfulness. In our attempts to pursue God with diligence, we need to take stock of everything we do:
• Set clear goals. Olympic athletes don’t begin with a vague dream of becoming an Olympian. Each step of the way requires them to work for a faster time, a higher jump, or an improved technique.
• Be patient. When Pablo Casals reached age 95, a young reporter asked him, “Mr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?” Casals answered, “Because I think I’m making progress.” He never stopped practicing or reaching for even greater goals.
• Be willing to take risks. God asks that we trust Him, despite our limited understanding. As the saying goes, a turtle makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.
• Be persistent. If God has given you a clearly defined goal and you sincerely believe it to be His will, don’t let doubt or discouragement defeat you. Keep trusting and believing. Never give up!
• Be flexible. Remember that the process is the greatest learning experience we have. Learn from your mistakes and move on. Flexibility enables you to change as God changes you.
If you want God to honor you, then be the kind of person who honors Him by consistently acting on your faith.
See the Life Principles Index for further study:
6:12 — So that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Your inheritance is the same as those faithful saints of old, but you must trust God to take you through every obstacle in your path, just as they did. Like the biblical believers who have preceded you, you’ll find that no challenge is a match for the amazing power of God. There are great blessings ahead if you’ll diligently do what He says.
6:18 — It is impossible for God to lie.
We can be absolutely sure of God’s promises to us because of His holy, unfailing character (Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2). He will never lead us astray but will always be truthful to us and guide us in the very best way possible.
6:19 — This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.
In the temple, an extremely thick veil stood as a barrier between the priests and God’s presence. Only the high priest was permitted to pass through it on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). However, when Jesus died on the Cross, the immense veil tore in two—from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45)—showing that He had removed the barrier between Himself and us (2 Cor. 3:16; Heb. 10:19, 20). As believers, this is the assurance that keeps our soul steady. No matter what may happen, we enjoy the everlasting presence of our God, and nothing can separate us from Him ever again (Rom. 8:38, 39).
7:1 — Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham . . . and blessed him.
This verse refers back to the account in Genesis 14:18–20, when Melchizedek blessed Abraham and reminded him that his victory was from God, and not of his own doing—just as our salvation is. There are important parallels between Melchizedek and Christ. Melchizedek was a priest and king even before the nation of Israel was established. He was also from Salem, which became Jerusalem. Likewise, Jesus is our High Priest and the King of kings. His earthly ministry took place in Jerusalem, where He also died on the Cross to save us from our sins.
7:2 — To whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
When the Israelites gave their tithes and offerings, they did so by law (Lev. 27:30–32). However, when Abraham did so, it was before the law existed, so he acted out of thankfulness and from his own free will. In this, the offering to Melchizedek parallels Christ because we are no longer under the law. We submit ourselves to Him out of love and gratefulness of heart for the grace He has given us through His death on the Cross.
7:11 — If perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise?
The reason the old sacrificial system and priesthood were unable to bring us to perfection was that they were not permanent—people were required to keep going back to the priest to make offerings because they would sin again. However, Christ came to forgive our sins “once for all” (Heb. 10:10). On the Cross, Jesus Christ forgave every sin we’ve ever committed or will ever carry out—past, present, and future (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:22–28; 9:24–28; 10:12, 14).
7:19 — (The Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
The law can only show us God’s righteous demands, but it has no power to help us comply with His holy standard (Rom. 7:7). Our only hope of salvation is through faith in Christ, who fulfills the law on our behalf and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
7:25 — He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
As the high priest went before God to make atonement for their sins, the Israelites always felt uncertain about whether he would succeed. Small bells on the hem of his garments indicated whether he had survived being in God’s holy presence. If the bells stopped ringing, the people knew that the priest had died, thus failing to make the acceptable sacrifice. Thankfully, there is never a question about whether we are accepted. Jesus Christ always represents us perfectly before the throne of God.
7:26 — It was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.
As our perfect High Priest, Jesus never fails. He knows exactly how to minister to us in the way that will most benefit us and effectively bring us to maturity in Him. He makes no mistakes and always has our best interests at heart.
7:27 — He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
The priests of the old system were sinners who had to make sacrifices for themselves on an ongoing basis. None of them came close to helping us as Christ did. Jesus did not have to atone for His own sin because He never sinned. Because of this, He only needed to atone for us once—not many times. He is our living, all-sufficient, eternal Savior who laid down His life voluntarily at the Cross. He saves us once and for all.
8:1 — We have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.
To be seated at “the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” is to occupy the most powerful position anywhere—it is the place of absolute honor. Jesus intercedes for us as our Savior, Lord, friend, and fellow heir, and He ministers to us perfectly forever.
8:5 — A copy and shadow of the heavenly things.
The Old Testament tabernacle and temple and all of the feasts, ceremonies, celebrations, and solemn memorials, were given to us to foreshadow what Christ would do. None of the biblical requirements that the ancient Israelites observed were in vain—all pointed to what Jesus accomplished and were meant to encourage, not enslave, us.
8:6 — He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
The old covenant, which was received by Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:1—24:3), was conditional. In order to receive God’s promises, the people would have to obey the Lord and keep His commands (Deut. 28). However, the Lord established a New Covenant and wrote His laws upon the hearts of those who accepted His Son as Savior. Jesus enacted this new, better covenant through His death on the Cross and resurrection.
8:13 — When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
At the time Hebrews was written, the temple in Jerusalem apparently still existed. In A.D. 70, however, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, which meant the Jews could no longer comply with the requirements of the old system (Deut. 12:5–9; 16:6).
9:7 — The high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.
The Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26–32; Num. 29:7–11) was the one day in the year that the high priest made a sacrifice for the sins of Israel. He took two goats and sacrificed the first on the altar as atonement—or covering—for their transgressions. The second symbolically became the scapegoat (or sin-bearer) for the sins of the nation of Israel. These sacrifices only covered the sins made unintentionally, in ignorance of the law. The sins committed deliberately had no atonement. However, when He died on the Cross, Jesus Christ became our ultimate Sin-Bearer—covering all our transgressions, whether intentional or otherwise (Is. 53:4, 5).
9:14 — How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The blood of Christ does not just cleanse us outwardly, covering our transgressions ceremonially as the Old Testament sacrifices did. It purifies our very nature—completely freeing us from sin’s grasp and transforming us from within (Rom. 6:5–18). When we accept Christ as our Savior, we no longer have to live with unresolved guilt. Jesus wipes our accusing consciences clean with His blood, enabling us to serve Him with joy and without the slightest remnant of shame.
9:22 — All things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Blood is sacred, since it is the very life of human beings made in God’s image. However, due to our link with original sin through Adam and Eve, our blood was tainted and God sentenced us to death (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12–15; 1 Cor. 15:22). But Christ’s sinless, perfect, eternal blood was shed for the salvation of the world. This changed everything. Through His blood, our iniquities are washed away, and we receive everlasting life (Lev. 17:11; Rom. 3:25; 5:9; Eph. 1:7; 2:13; Col. 1:20).
9:24 — Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself.
When the tabernacle and temple were built, God’s glory descended upon them, and He made His presence known to the people of Israel (Ex. 40; 2 Chr. 5). However, His glory did not remain there always because those structures were never His true dwelling place. They were mere copies of the true sanctuary to come—the one which is in heaven. Christ’s presence in the kingdom ensures that one day we will be there with Him as well (Ps. 15; John 14:1–3; Rev. 21:1—22:7).
9:26 — At the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
No longer is it necessary for someone to make sacrifices for our sins year after year. Now we are completely forgiven of the penalty of our offenses through the sufficient, substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Because of His love for us, Jesus lifts this burden of our transgressions off of us and takes them on Himself—completely annulling the shackles of sin and the sting of death.
9:27 — It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.
None of us can avoid death and judgment. Unless we’re alive when the Lord returns, all of us will die, and every person in history will answer to Him for how they lived. When we stand before His absolute holiness, we will not be able to say anything in our own defense. Like Isaiah, we will understand our utter sinfulness (Is. 6:5). Then the only question will be whether we trusted in Jesus to be our Savior and forgive our sin, or whether we’ve chosen to pay our sin debt on our own to our eternal condemnation.
9:28 — Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many.
The greatest burden of all is our sin, because it keeps us in bondage, fragments our thinking, blinds us to the truth, discourages us, and prevents us from becoming all that God created us to be. Our sin enslaves us, no matter what it is—even if it doesn’t include addictions. It also separates us from the Lord because He is holy and despises ungodliness. Yet Christ is our great Sin-Bearer, because through Him we have forgiveness and freedom from our sin.
10:1 — The Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never . . . make perfect those who draw near.
Without the law, we would not know what sin is or understand our need for the grace and forgiveness of our Savior, Jesus. However, the law only foreshadowed the salvation that Jesus wanted to accomplish within us—it was never meant to be our final goal.
10:4 — It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
God instituted the sacrificial system and the priesthood to demonstrate His holiness and the deadliness of sin. After Adam and Eve disobeyed Him in the Garden, their eyes were opened to the nature of sin, and they hid their nakedness under the covering of fig leaves. Through the shedding of blood, God in His graciousness provided soft animal pelts to cover them (Gen. 3). Before Jesus came, innumerable animals were slain in sacrifice for people’s sins. But only His death as the unblemished Lamb of God provided an eternal covering.
10:10 — We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
What Jesus accomplished on the Cross was enough to save us. Nothing has to be added to it, nor are we required to accept Him as our Savior multiple times. Jesus has redeemed us “once for all.” So stop worrying about losing your salvation or having to earn it. As Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).
10:14 — By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
Our salvation is both a completed fact and an ongoing process. Through faith in Jesus, we are justified—or in right relationship with Him having been forgiven of our sin (Rom. 5:1). And by the power of His Spirit, He enables us to become more like Him, whose righteousness we received (Rom. 8:29).
10:19, 20 — We have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.
The importance of what Christ accomplished on the Cross cannot be understated. Before His death, we were utterly separated from God. No one approached Him in the Holy of Holies but the high priest at the appointed time, because if they did, they would be struck dead (Ex. 33:20). Jesus abolished the veil that separated us from God (Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). And He provides a way for us to be reconciled to Himself (John 1:1, 14–18; 14:9; Heb. 1:3). Now we not only see the Lord, we can abide in His presence (1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 1:13; 4:30).
10:23 — Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
The close-knit Jewish community shared ancestry, land, and traditions. However, when Jews began to believe in Jesus as their Savior and Messiah, they were disowned and persecuted by their loved ones and neighbors. The new believers saw their relationships and sources of security utterly fail. The author of Hebrews encouraged them with the fact that even though everyone else had turned against them, God is faithful, reliable, trustworthy, and unchanging. Therefore, we can always be confident in our hope because we know He will not abandon us.
Answers to Life’s Questions
How can I claim God’s promises?
By some counts, God has issued more than forty thousand promises in the Bible. That’s a lot of promises! But sometimes it can be difficult to determine how to properly respond to His awesome assurances.
The first thing to keep in mind is that the Bible contains two kinds of divine promises.
1. Limited promises
God has made many promises to specific people living in particular circumstances for explicit purposes. These promises are definitely not “one size fits all.” If you try to “claim” these promises for yourself, you’re headed for trouble.
For example, the resurrected Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem “for what the Father had promised,” and that as they did, they would “be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4, 5). It would be foolish for you to travel to Jerusalem and wait there to receive this promise, since Jesus already fulfilled it that first Pentecost. Today, the Spirit baptizes every believer into the body of Christ and takes up residence within us at the very moment we trust in Christ. Jesus gave this promise to a specific group of people at a particular time for an explicit purpose—it isn’t for anyone else to claim.
2. General promises
God has made many universal promises, applicable to all His children throughout all of history. For example, He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). He also promised many times to return for us (John 14:3). These promises pertain to all believers across all of time. Yet general promises can also be of two types.
(a) Conditional promises. Texts like Psalm 37:4, Philippians 4:19, and others contain conditional promises; to receive the benefit offered, you must meet some condition. Conditional promises require something of the believer.
In Philippians 4:19, the condition is that we be in Christ; the believer must be living for Him and in total submission to His will. The same holds true for “delighting” in the Lord, as stated in Psalm 37:4. Clearly a relationship comes before a request.
(b) Unconditional promises. Unconditional promises require nothing of the believer. The promises mentioned above in Hebrews 13:5 and John 14:3 are of this type. God will fulfill these promises because He has pledged to fulfill them. Nothing anyone does can alter His commitment or change His plans. He will keep these promises, not because of anything we do, but because of His own faithfulness.
See the Life Principles Index for further study:
10:24, 25 — Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together.
It is crucial for believers to gather for corporate worship, instruction, encouragement, and service. God simply did not design us to “go it alone” in our Christian faith or grow in isolation. Our participation in a local church not only protects our personal fellowship with the Lord (Heb. 3:13), but it is a vital aspect to how He matures us and transforms us into His image.
No Christian has ever been called to “go it alone” in his or her walk of faith.
The writer of Hebrews knew that his audience, made up mainly of Jewish believers who had just come to faith, was struggling with how to incorporate their Jewish heritage into their walk with Christ. The author therefore spends a great deal of time explaining that Jesus Christ prepared the way for uninterrupted fellowship with the Father. He is our great High Priest. His death provided the way for individuals to have personal access to God without going through a human agent.
At times, this principle was difficult for the Jewish Christians to accept. They were accustomed to participating in a variety of ceremonial washings and offerings to be cleansed from their sins; immediate access to God apart from those things was something new. But the writer assured them that since Christ died for their sins and rose from the dead, they could now go directly to the Father with their prayers and needs. The author also knew the challenge facing these converts to remain faithful to their new faith. So he exhorted them to “hold fast . . . without wavering” (Heb. 10:23)
He instructed his readers to help one another hold fast to their faith in God. He knew they would be tempted by trial and persecution to drift from the truth that God had plans for their lives. So he said, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24). The Greek term translated “stimulate” literally means “to irritate” or to pressure one another to consider what the Lord has done in the past. He is faithful and does not abandon the work of His hands. We are His creations, and when we encounter difficulty, sorrow, rejection or any other distress, we can know without doubt that God will provide the wisdom and resources we need. Even in times of joy, He is blessed by happiness and contentment. In essence, the author was instructing his readers to spur one another along, to refuse to become ensnared by negativity, and to take responsibility for their lives in Christ as well as one another.
With this backdrop, the author made it clear that they should not stop meeting together (Heb. 10:25). They needed one another, just as we need other believers. To give up meeting together would spell disaster because it would provide Satan an opportunity to draw them away from the Lord. In meeting together, they found the mutual encouragement to keep going. The same is true for us.
God wants us to regularly meet with other believers. He wants His people in church! Many believers don’t take this admonition seriously because they don’t know the reason behind it. I have often heard this refrain: “I can worship God at home. I don’t need to go to church.” Many believers believe the sole reason we meet together is to worship—and understandably so. After all, we call it a worship service.
If worship were the only reason we are commanded to meet, then those who claim they can worship at home would have a strong argument. But worship is not the sole reason. Nor is it so that we can be taught God’s truth. We can turn on our radios and televisions and hear good Bible teaching. On the surface, it seems that anything we can do at church we can do just as well at home, alone.
So why are we commanded to meet? Why go to church?
The writer of Hebrews says it is to safeguard against drifting. We are the body of Christ, and when we are with other believers, we are doing what comes naturally and what we will do for eternity—being together in His presence. We make up the church, and together we provide strength for one another through prayer, fellowship, and encouragement.
Enemy forces are always at work around us, seeking to blow us off course. Sheer individual commitment is really not enough to keep us in line. We need the presence and accountability of other believers who love us and are willing to laugh, cry, and check on us. At times, when we feel as if our faith makes no difference—or we see no fruit in our lives, and we don’t think our testimony makes a difference—it does. When we surrender our lives to Christ, He uses us in countless ways, ways we may never know.
In the atmosphere, worship, and fellowship in God’s house, we discover that we are not alone. We hear others talk about how the Lord has miraculously provided for them. One may describe the pain he has suffered as a result of a loss. A new believer may tell her story of redemption, rejoicing in God’s grace. As we listen to others recount God’s work in their lives, something happens inside of us. We are spurred on to faithfulness and to praising God for His goodness.
The accountability and encouragement found in church anchor us against the tides that work to sweep us away. To neglect the regular assembly of fellow Christians is to miss out on this essential element in the development of our faith.
Throughout the Bible, we find that one of God’s principle desires is to have a close relationship with each one of us. By becoming active in a local church, you safeguard yourself against missing out on all that God has for you. Your participation in a body of other believers safeguards your personal fellowship with God. Remember, when you drift away from the family of God, it is only a matter of time until you drift away from fellowship with God.
Regular church attendance should never be viewed as something you do to gain God’s merit. We are not saved by good works. Instead, it should provide the catalyst for spiritual growth. Make sure the church you attend teaches the Word of God without compromising His truth. If yours doesn’t, I recommend you visit another church. Find one that accurately teaches the principles in Scripture while demonstrating God’s love, forgiveness, and grace. Remember that you also have a responsibility to actively use your spiritual gifts for the benefit of other believers.
See the Life Principles Index for further study.
10:29 — How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God?
People trample Christ underfoot and insult the Spirit of grace by unbelief (Matt. 12:30–32; John 3:16–18; Rom. 2:8). This does not refer to a believer’s weak moments of doubt or if a Christian stumbles in sin. Rather, this verse is referring to unbelievers who completely reject Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross as God’s provision for salvation.
10:35 — Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
In order to get you off track, Satan wants to get you to doubt your eternal security in Christ and His faithfulness to fulfill His promises. Since he could not stop you from being saved, he will try to prevent you from doing God’s will and receiving your reward. Don’t let him. Be faithful to the Lord because obedience to Him always brings blessing.
11:1 — Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith is confidence that the Lord will do what He has promised. It is not simply wishful thinking. It is the absolute conviction that God is not only willing, but also able, to accomplish all He has pledged to us, regardless of how our circumstances may appear or what obstacles may have to be overcome. As the saints of old learned, your confidence in Him is never in vain, for “He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23).
11:6 — Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Why is faith necessary to please God? Because we cannot serve Him unless we are convinced that He not only exists, but also that His plans for us are “good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). We must trust the Lord enough to walk in the center of His will, even if His commands seem unreasonable, impossible, or don’t make any sense to us. Like the biblical heroes of old, we bring even the smallest decisions to Him, knowing He will lead us in the best way.
11:13 — All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance.
Abraham died having seen some, but not all, of God’s promises fulfilled. He received the son the Lord had promised in Isaac (Gen. 15:4; 21:1–5), but he was not able to see the accomplishment of God’s pledge: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 22:18). This covenant was realized through Jesus (Acts 3:25, 26; Rev. 5:9; 7:9, 10). Because of Christ, every person on earth has the blessing of being able to know God. Like Abraham, we must look beyond what we can see to what the Lord sees, because He will certainly fulfill all His promises to us as well.
11:25 — Choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
Moses was faced with a difficult challenge when he chose to obey God. The opulence of Egypt offered great pleasures. However, Moses learned that any sinful enjoyment quickly passes and leaves the sinner feeling more empty and unsatisfied than before. We also see the terrible afflictions Moses faced in remaining obedient to the Lord. However, Moses found that the reward for godliness always surpasses any pleasure in sin.
11:26 — Considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
Moses did not see Christ before he died—neither did Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Joshua, or David. Yet all of them chose God over the riches of this world. They trusted the Lord and welcomed His promises—including His assurance of salvation—“from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Heb. 11:13).
11:27 — He endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
As He did with Moses, God sometimes stretches our faith by not allowing us to see how He will deliver us from certain difficulties. Rather, He may allow our vision to be filled with problems and obstacles so that our level of faith in Him is revealed. In such times, wait patiently and endure by being steadfast in your faith.
11:39 — All these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised.
The saints mentioned in Hebrews 11 persevered in their faith, even though they never saw their greatest hope—salvation through Christ—fulfilled while they were on earth. They could have despaired through unbelief or doubt, but they didn’t. They had an unwavering trust in God because they “considered Him faithful who had promised” (Heb. 11:11). The Lord always honors confidence in Him. This is why we can look forward to meeting Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and the other faithful saints in heaven (Rom. 4).
12:1 — Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 11 is filled with excellent examples of faith for us to draw strength and courage from when our walk with the Lord becomes difficult. Like them, we must let go of anything that hinders our relationship with God and, as Paul says, “Count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:8). We cannot succeed in this race with the passions of this world weighing us down. We must run wholeheartedly for Christ—or not at all.
12:2 — Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.
Jesus endured the pain, scorn, sorrow, rejection, and betrayal of the Cross for the joy set before Him. It was enough to keep Him focused and stop Him from answering His accusers. What was this overcoming joy? Us. Jesus looked forward to fulfilling the purpose for which He came, which was to restore our relationship with Himself.
12:6 — “Whom the LORD loves He disciplines.”
Sometimes the Lord allows difficulty in our lives to deepen us, train us, and strengthen areas of weakness that need work. Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness. He disciplines us because He loves us—because He wants us to experience abundant Christian life at its very best.
12:11 — All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
No one likes to be disciplined. It is never pleasant, because it requires a change in our perspective, goals, behavior, and attitude. Deeply entrenched sinfulness and destructive habits are rooted out, and our earthly sources of security are destroyed. This is all very painful and difficult. But if we cooperate with God when He corrects us, we will become more like Him, and great blessings will result.
12:15 — See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.
We are responsible to show the grace of God to everyone we meet, ridding ourselves of unforgiveness, letting go of our feelings of resentment, laying down our “right” to get even, and allowing God to deal with the person who has hurt us. We must choose forgiveness. We don’t want to lead anyone away from God or build a wall of bitterness and regret between our hearts and the Lord. We must always choose to show His mercy to others so we can truly be His representatives in the world.
12:28 — Since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.
Every earthly security we rely upon can be shaken. However, God wants us to stop trusting the transitory defenses of this world and wholeheartedly devote ourselves to Him. He is completely unwavering and immovable, and His is the only kingdom that will endure. When we build our lives on the foundation of His love, truth, and faithfulness, He will hold us steadfast and every fear will fade.
13:5 — He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”
Nothing in the world can give you the confidence and security that you need. Only God can do this. He is only One who can promise that His presence will be with you eternally, no matter where you go or what you do. Therefore, do not fear whatever challenge may come. Keep your eyes on Him. He will certainly lead you in the very best way possible.
13:8 — Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Jesus is immutable, which means that He is completely consistent—He does not change. He is “the eternal God” (Deut. 33:27), whose “ways are everlasting” (Hab. 3:6), and who says, “I, the LORD, do not change” (Mal. 3:6). Jesus remains the same forever. This is why we can have confidence in Him, because just as He was faithful to Moses, David, and Paul, He will work powerfully for us when we trust and obey Him.
13:13 — Let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
On the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26–32; Num. 29:7–11), the high priest sacrificed one goat as atonement for Israel’s transgressions and drove out a second goat as the symbolic sin-bearer of the nation. Likewise, Jesus became our Sin-Bearer and was driven out of the city to die on the Cross. But His death was not disgraceful. Instead, it was sacrificially noble and an opportunity for rejoicing. Your true identity is in Him—the One who bore your disgrace at Calvary. So represent Him well, and whenever you suffer because of your obedience to Him, be glad that you also identify with Him (Mark 13:13; John 15:18–20; Acts 5:41; Phil. 3:10, 11; 1 Pet. 4:12, 13; 1 John 3:13).
13:17 — Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.
In every aspect of our lives we are confronted with some type of authority. This is because it is through our leaders that God teaches us to obey Him.
13:20, 21 — The God of peace . . . equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight.
It is God working in us that enables us to do anything worthwhile for His kingdom. We obey the Lord, submit to His will and purpose, rely on His Holy Spirit who dwells within us for our every need, and please Him by giving Him all the honor and glory.