INTRODUCTION
WHEN WAS THIS EPISTLE WRITTEN?
This Epistle was evidently written as the ancient Hebrew economy was passing away in the growing glory of the Christian Church. Perhaps Jerusalem had already fallen under the arms of Titus.
TO WHOM WAS IT ADDRESSED?
It was addressed to Hebrew Christians, who were settled in a definite locality. See Heb_13:23. The writer is not certainly known. Luther thought that it was written by Apollos, and this view has had several learned advocates. But many ascribe it to the Apostle Paul, which was the opinion of the early Fathers.
WHAT WAS THE WRITER’S PURPOSE?
The object of this noble treatise is to counsel those to whom it was addressed to bear their persecutions with equanimity, and to forego, with contentment, the external attractions of the Temple service, because of the transcendent glories of Christianity surpassing those of the Mosaic ritual. The penalties of apostasy would therefore be the more terrible as the claims of Christianity were the more compelling.
OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
THE NEW AND BETTER COVENANT
FAITH, THE COMMON FACTOR OF THE TWO COVENANTS
The Summons to Faith under the New Covenant
26. What are the present privileges of the Christian?
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm,
and to the blast of a trumpet and a sound of words [such that] those who heard it begged that nothing more be said to them. [Exo_19:12-22; Exo_20:18-21; Deu_4:11-12; Deu_5:22-27]
For they could not bear the command, “IF EVEN A WILD ANIMAL TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED [to death].” [Exo_19:12-13]
In fact, so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, “I AM FILLED WITH FEAR and trembling.” [Deu_9:19]
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering],
and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory],
and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance]. [Gen_4:10]
See to it that you do not refuse [to listen to] Him who is speaking [to you now]. For if those [sons of Israel] did not escape when they refused [to listen to] him who warned them on earth [revealing God’s will], how much less will we escape if we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven? [Heb_2:1-4]
His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE [starry] HEAVEN.” [Hag_2:6]
Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken–that is, of that which has been created–so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. [Psa_102:26]
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe;
for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire. [Deu_4:24]
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
on
Hebrews 12:18-29
HEARKEN TO GOD’S LATEST WORD
Sinai rocked with earthquake and burned with fire. None might touch it without incurring the death penalty. How much better our Christian heritage! Not a lonely mountain, but a city and commonwealth of holy souls. Not bands of worshipers gathered from the land of Canaan, but hosts of angels, the spirits of just men; and our blessed Lord Himself. For the blood of animals, the blood of Jesus; for the Old Covenant, the New; for Abel’s death beside his altar, the Savior’s death on the cross.
Notice the writer does not say that we shall, but that we are come, Heb_12:22. Already, in our holiest moments, we are part of that great throng to which so many of our beloved have gone. Around us the most stable structures are being tested and some are crumbling to the ground. As they fall they show that their service was transient. But as the scaffolding is taken down, the true building-the City of God-emerges.
Choose a Sermon on
Hebrews
by
Pastor Jeff Arthur.
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