The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

Strength by Grace

Hebrews 13:7-16 

Outline 

Our author has presented a number of examples of the faithful and the faithless in this love letter. Be like the faithful who ran the endurance race all the way to the appointed end well. Don’t be like faithless Israel as they grumbled in the wilderness longing to return to Egypt.  As we come to the letter’s end and the final two lessons, we are encouraged to imitate our preachers and teachers that have died well. Even though our author may not be limiting our heroes of the faith to dead people, the request is that we consider the “outcome” of their life of faith. Therefore it could be suggested that most of your study of the faithful be of those who have died but their faithful life is preaching and teaching still.

It is encouraging to learn of our leaders that grew in faith to the very end of their days. However, we have a perfect example in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our earthly leaders come and go, but Jesus is unaffected by mortality. Nothing hinders our perfect leader from providing counsel, encouragement and strength by His Grace. With these examples, we should not be easily led astray by strange teachings.

It is good for the heart to be strengthened by Grace. This Grace is available only by the blood of our perfect sacrifice, namely Jesus. The name of Jesus is great and greatly to be praised. Let us do good, share what we have, and offer up the sacrifice of praise because Christ alone is worthy!

Remember 

Your Leaders (vs 7)

Preachers and Teachers of the Word

Consider the outcome of their life

Imitate their faith 

Jesus Christ (vs 8) 

            The same:

Yesterday (with Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul)

Today (You are in the same relationship)

Tomorrow (You will be in the same relationship)

A Strong Heart (vs 9) 

No strength by foods

ALL strength by Grace

So, don’t be led astray

How do we eat Grace? 

            We go to the altar – the cross (vs 10)

We are not like the Priest on the Day of Atonement (vs 11)

Jesus fulfilled the Day of Atonement (vs 12)

Therefore, Move (vs 13,14) 

Outside the camp – away from comfort

To the place of sanctification

For we have no city here

Pleasing God (vs 15,16)

Through Him (Jesus)

Do Good, share

LIFE APPLICATION

Joy in Responsibility

Not building paradise on Earth

Seek the City that is to come

The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

Encouraging the Faithful

Hebrews 13:1-6 

Outline 

In order for the hears of this letter to have confidence necessary to perform its commands and requirements, our author presents the strongest statement in the letter regarding our relationship with God and His promises toward us. The closing argument, as we come to the final paragraphs, states that the faithful have everything necessary to pursue peace and holiness in this life because our God will never leave us or forsake us. Our God is a constant source of help in time of need. No matter what man has to offer us, trouble, persecution, or even death, our God is so great that He is working everything for our good.

Therefore, we can live a life that does not reflect the broken values of this world. In other words, we can live a life that stands out. Not just being different for the sake of being different, but projecting our love for God and our confidence in our God. This life will show God’s true value to the world.

The final chapter paints a portrait of what it looks like to live a life that worships God in reverence and awe. When we are very grateful that we belong to a family within a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, joy abounds in the responsibility to which we are called.

The Family of God 

Let brotherly love continue (vs 1)

Know that you are sons and daughters (3:5-6)

Encourage each other (3:12-13)

Show hospitality to strangers (vs 2)

Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37)

Missionary helper (Acts)

Entertaining angels (Genesis 18; Judges 6, 13)

Remember those in prison (vs 3)

Care for each other (10:34)

One body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

Defining Attributes 

Marriage held in honor (vs 4) 

            Let the marriage bed be undefiled (8:8-12)

Covenant keepers

Be content with your life (vs 5) 

            Free from the love of money (Matthew 6:25-34)

Your treasure is in heaven

For, this is the Truth (vs 6) 

God will never leave or forsake

The Lord is my helper

What can man do to me?

LIFE APPLICATION 

Joy in Responsibility

Vs

Anxious in Circumstances

The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

The Faithful have a Mediator

Hebrews 12:18-29 

Outline 

Addressing the final verses of chapter 12 allows us to view the race, not from the best seats in the house, but from the track as athletes instructed and motivated to run well. We can throw off everything that hinders, run on the straight path, knowing that God is working in the details of the race. Understanding that God is for us and actively doing ALL things for our ultimate good will find us responding in positive purpose. In other words, God never tells us to run without giving ample instruction and motivation.

Our author fully expects this letter to change our lives. He expects his readers, who are growing older and drifting at times, to be energized and run the marked path with skill to the very end. Enduring even amid pain and suffering. Never hesitating… Looking to Jesus, our Mediator, for the joy that comes knowing at the end of the race is an unshakable Kingdom. Don’t be like Esau who traded it all for a single bowl of soup.

In verses 18-29 we see Jesus as Mediator of the New Covenant. Our author skillfully contrasts the fearful reaction of the people hearing the voice of God at Mt. Sinai, with the Blood of Christ that speaks a better word from Mt. Zion, the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, that makes the angels and saints celebrate.

The Race is NOT run at Mt. Sinai (vs 18-21) 

A fearful place

Un-mediated Glory of God

Voice heard caused the people to say “No more”

Even Moses was trembling

The Race is run at Mt. Zion (The Blood Bought Kingdom vs 22-24) 

Not really geographical

Mediated Glory

The voice is the Blood speaking

The hearers celebrate

Don’t refuse the One speaking (vs 25-28) 

The Day is coming when the voice will shake earth and heaven

Be grateful for an unshakable Kingdom

God is a Consuming Fire (vs 29) 

For those like Esau – the Fire will destroy

For those like the Faithful – the Fire will refine

LIFE APPLICATION

Joy in Responsibility

Hold on to only the Unshakable

The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

Faithful Exhortation

Hebrews 12:12-17 

Outline 

As we grow ever closer to the end of the letter our author’s intention is clear; draw near to God, run the race, finish well. Our text is an exhortation with its basis founded in the preceding verses. The race which all Christians are called to run is nothing less than living out the Christian life through faith, with endurance, amid hostility. The great encouragement offered is the understanding that God is in control. Hostile enemies come against us but we need not wonder regarding the outcome. God disciplines every true child. This discipline has a most profound purpose; our holiness, without which none will see God.

We come to the stark realization that the commands in this letter are not offered as a means to gain God’s favor or coax God toward our benefit, but an exhortation based on the fact that God is already at work in our life, and that is all the encouragement necessary to finish the race with joy.

Now we know that God is for us and actively working, don’t fail to receive this grace. This grace will make strong, drooping hands and weak knees. This grace will make your path straight. Like a runner beginning to fade in the home stretch, we as Christians need encouragement. We need to know its all worth the effort. We need to know that just as Jesus went to the cross for the joy set before him, we too can finish well with the same joy. We have a race that is steeped with responsibility. It can only be run by faith, trusting that God is doing, and will do, all that he promised. Joy can only be found in this responsibility.

The Truth about God Matters 

What gives strength to drooping hands and weak knees? (vs 12)

God loves those he disciplines (vs 6-7)

What makes our path in life straight? (vs 13)

Through discipline we share His holiness (vs 10b) 

How do we pursue peace and sanctification? (vs 14) 

            Join God in his work in our life (vs 11)

How do we not grow bitter? (vs 15)

Understand that all Christians run this race (vs 8)

How do we understand the picture of Esau? (vs 16-17) 

            No desire for God leads to death

LIFE APPLICATION

Joy is only found in Responsibility

Find what God is doing and join Him

The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

The Suffering Faithful

Hebrews 12:3-11 

Outline 

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. To truly know God in His fullness, one must take in the whole story; from Genesis to Revelation. If you have taken the complete journey, I feel safe saying, you have experienced a full range of emotions in this most extraordinary view of who God says He is.

For most, taking hold of the promises in God’s Word that reveal love, joy, peace, and rest without the mention of suffering is automatic. Many, however, bulk at the idea of love, joy, peace, and rest coming through suffering. The idea of God working in the lives of His people in sovereign purpose through suffering, ultimately for good, will receive a fair amount of resistance.

The book of Hebrews, in particular our current text, is a very sober look at pain and suffering in the Christian life and the endurance in takes to finish the race well. This view of God is not one that most naturally gravitates toward.  One commentary states it like this…In other words, the more easy and pain-free your life has been, the less you will cherish the kind of spirituality taught in this book. And the more you have suffered, the more you will cling to the precious teachings of this book – if you are willing to believe them. 

We will study this text with three primary objectives: Identify and confirm the pain and suffering in this text / Identify where the pain and suffering comes from / Identify if there is a purpose or design in the pain and suffering.

Seeing and Understanding the Suffering

Suffering can cause you to lose heart (vs 3)

This suffering was experienced by Jesus, and you will experience it also (vs 3)

Suffering is bad and could get worse (vs 4)

Current suffering seems sorrowful with little hope (vs 11) 

Where the Suffering is Coming From 

The hostility of sinners (vs 3-4)

God’s Discipline (vs 5-7)

Do not forget the understanding of discipline

God is not passive in suffering

God’s Loving Design in Suffering 

Our suffering is the effect of God’s love toward us (vs 6)

In suffering we are being treated as a child that is loved ( vs 7)

Suffering is for our good, our holiness, our peace, our righteousness (vs 10-11)

LIFE APPLICATION

To KNOW God is to KNOW self

Learning the art of “sorrowful yet always rejoicing”