The Book of Hebrews was written to Jewish-Christians who were undergoing persecution for their belief that Jesus was Israel’s long-expected Messiah. They were being persecuted by both unbelieving Jews and idol-worshiping Roman Gentiles. These socially-isolated Jewish-Christians were tempted to turn back from following Jesus, and reverting to living under the Covenant of Moses (Exodus 20:1-40:38).
As a result, the Hebrews writer continually exhorts the Jewish Christians to persevere. For example, in Hebrews 3:12 we read these words: “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God”. These kind of exhortations are common throughout the Book of Hebrews.
The Basis Of Persevering Hope
The basis for this call to perseverance, and for the Christian’s hope, is that Jesus Christ and the New Covenant are the fulfillment of all the types and shadows of the Mosaic and Abrahamic Covenants. For example, in Hebrews 1, the writer shows how Jesus is superior to the angels. Angels worshiped Jesus, God’s Son, when He came into the world (Heb. 1:6). Angels are ministering servants (Heb. 1:7), but Jesus is explicitly called God (Heb. 1:8), by the author of Hebrews.
It seems that the Jews were placing too high of an importance on angels. They are important, they are ministering spirits sent from God’s presence (Heb. 1:14), but they should not take precedence over Jesus. It is not them who will rule the world in the age to come, but it is Jesus and those humans who have been redeemed in Him, who will reign over creation (Heb. 2:5-13). In Hebrews 2, the author fully sets forth the humanity of Jesus. He is fully God (Heb. 1) and fully human (Heb. 2). Since death came through a human (Adam), death had to be destroyed through a human (2:14-15; Romans 5:12-21).
Jesus has broken the hold of fear that the devil possessed over man through the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15). In Jesus’ death and resurrection, he broke the authority of death. He brought immortal life to light, and was raised above the devil, and above all principalities and powers (Eph. 1:20-23). And Christians have been raised up with Christ, and are seated with Him in the heavenlies, above all the powers of darkness (Eph. 2:4-7).
The basis of the Christian’s persevering hope is not only the superiority of Jesus over angels, but also his superiority over Moses (Heb. 3:1-19). Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house. But Jesus is faithful as a son over God’s house (Heb. 3:5-6). And we are Christ’s house, if we hold on to our courage and hope in Him (Heb. 3:6b).
Furthermore, Jesus’ priesthood is superior to the priestly ministry of Aaron and his descendants (Heb. 5-8). Jesus did not die and stay dead, but He rose from the grave on the third day and lives forever. Therefore, His priesthood goes on forever and He is able to save us to the uttermost (Heb. 7:23-25). His priestly ministry is eternal. Therefore, our relationship with God and our salvation in Christ is never in doubt.
Let Us Keep Coming Boldly To Jesus
Because Jesus has fully identified with our humanity, and because he suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Heb. 2:16). “Although he was a son. he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb. 5:8-9). Because Jesus is able to sympathize with human weakness, we are exhorted to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need, from our heavenly high priest” (Heb. 4:16).
The believer in Christ has a rich inheritance in God’s Son and his high priest ministry. There is no better word I can leave you, dear brother and sister, than the Hebrews writer’s words to a battle-weary people; “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Heb. 2:1). Yes, let us not forget the great hope and the great love that is in the Lord Jesus.
QOTD: Are you going on to maturity in your relationship with the Lord, feeding on the solid food of the Word, or are you still a spiritual babe, satisfied with the dribbles of the Word (Heb.5:11-6:3)?
2 Comments
I know at one time when asked if I thought if I was going to heaven I would answer with I hope so….I think so but I did not know for sure. I would tell them I am doing this and that good thing, I am trying to be a good person but I had no assurance. But Jesus has changed that completely. It has nothing to do with me. He has taken away the fear and power of death by the cross, His death, burial and resurrection.I now have the assurance of a place being prepared for me in heaven where I will spend eternity with Him. What a blessed hope for all who place their trust in Him and accept His gracious call to be their Lord and Savior.
Praise the Lord, Louise. We have an anchor for the soul, firm and secure, that goes into the very presence of God, where Jesus has gone before us, to exercise his eternal high priestly ministry (Heb. 5:19-20).
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