Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Christ’s sacrifice is permanent. It makes forgiveness possible, gives access to God, and produces people who can endure in righteous living and in love for one another. It develops followers who can face and overcome persecution. Receiving Christ’s sacrifice is so important that anyone rejecting it will find no other means of paying for sins.

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK As was the writer’s custom after the most severe admonitions, the writer chose to conclude their warning with a distinct note of encouragement. The writer starts this section of the warning to provide some historical context in verses 32-34. Why is this important? The author points out that in the past the readers were under persecution and they hung in there. Now the writer is asking them to endure and persevere...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK This is the fourth warning passage in Hebrews (cf. 2:1-4, drifting; 3:7--4:13, disobedience; 5:11--6:20, degeneration). The warning passage in chapter 10 is very similar in form and in content to chapter 6. This danger or warning is against despising (and seems based off of Numbers 15:30-36). Verse 26 makes it clear that this is willful sin, the same concept as was taught in Numbers 15:30-36 (cf. Lev. 6:1-7 which simply...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK The shift into 10:19-39 is a big one and the remainder of Hebrews 10 is hortatory. Also, not only do we shift here in a major section but this is the breaking point in the book. Many recognize this because there is a move in some sense from doctrine to duty, from explanation to exhortation, from principle to practice. The author has established doctrines up to this point, and now they are going to come out with these...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Anyone who wants forgiveness of sin can find access by placing a repentant faith in the completed work of Christ. Christ’s sacrifice was God’s final answer to the universal problem of human sin. Those who have trusted Him need not fear, for they have been “perfected forever” (Heb. 10:14). Believers are “complete in Him” (Col. 2:10). We have a perfect standing before God because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK It was God who provided the sacrifice and not man. The quotation used in this section of Hebrews 10 is from Psalm 40:6–8, and it is applied to Jesus Christ in His incarnation (“when Christ came into the world”). The quotation makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant sacrifices. The word “sacrifice” used here refers to any of the animal sacrifices. Offering covers the meal offerings and the...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK The tenth chapter of Hebrews emphasizes the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in contrast with the imperfect sacrifices that were offered under the Old Covenant. Our Lord’s superior priesthood belongs to a better order—Melchizedek’s and not Aaron’s. It functions on the basis of a better covenant—the New Covenant—and in a better sanctuary, in heaven. But all of this depends on the better sacrifice, which is the theme of...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Brief Outline: chapter nine draws comparisons and contrasts between the Levitical ritual and the priestly work of Christ. The rituals of the old covenant were temporary, inadequate, and ineffective. The work of Christ was permanent, thorough, and sufficient to remove sin permanently. The Earthly Sanctuary and the Heavenly Sanctuary (9:1-15): The physical layout of the tabernacle and the rituals which took place within...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Christ’s sacrifice was better than sacrifices made under the Mosaic covenant because Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary, which was a copy; instead, He entered the true sanctuary, which is in heaven – the very presence of God. In Hebrews 9:25-26 Christ's death is seen as a one-time necessity. Christ’s sacrifice was better than sacrifices made under the Mosaic covenant because He did not offer an annual sacrifice...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK In the previous episode, we briefly touched on the interpretation issue found in Hebrews 9:16-17 concerning the word will or covenant. Today, I would like to spend a little more time on this partly because this also goes to one of the main tenets of this program and this is a consistent interpretation. How we read and study the Bible is so important and if we do not apply good interpretation practices, we will miss...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Death is necessary to validate the new covenant. The author has made it clear that Christ’s death has instituted a better covenant (vv. 11–15) which is superior to animal offerings (vv. 12–14). But the need for such a sacrifice has yet to be explored. So a key word in this section (v.16-28) is “necessary” (anankē, vv. 16, 23). In the process of exploring this point, the author clearly underscored the measureless...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK To set the context, let’s remember in 9:1-10, the author talks about a superior sanctuary. Now this superior sanctuary is kind of backwards and forwards. This sanctuary discussion points back to what we talked about in chapter 9:1-10 and even earlier, but we are not done with this topic. Certain aspects of the superior sanctuary will also kind of bleed its way through the section ahead of us. Honestly, a number of things...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK In verses 6-10 the service of the Tabernacle is discussed. Every morning and evening the priests entered the holy place to burn incense on the golden alter and trim the lamps. Every week on the Sabbath, the showbread was changed. A key verse in this paragraph is Hebrews 9:7 because it lists four limitations of the Old Testament sacrificial system. 1. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies. 2. Only once...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Hebrews 9 presents a detailed contrast between the Old Covenant sanctuary (the tabernacle) and the New Covenant heavenly sanctuary where Jesus Christ now ministers. This contrast makes it clear that the New Covenant sanctuary is superior. This section of Hebrews reminds readers that the regulations and practices in the tabernacle were ordained of God. If there was any inferiority in the tabernacle service, it was not...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK High level review: Chapter 7 of Hebrews emphasizes the prayers and perfect character of Jesus our High Priest. Chapter 8 summarizes the significance of these truths. These chapters serve as a foundation for new hope because Jesus was a new leader who authored a new covenant. A New Leader (vv. 1–6): Jesus was a new leader who worked in heaven at God’s right hand and offered an effective sacrifice for sin (vv. 1–3). The...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Before we examine the “better promises” of the New Covenant, we must settle another matter. We must not conclude that the existence of the New Covenant means that the Old Covenant was wrong or that the Law has no ministry today. Both covenants were given by God. Both covenants were given for people’s good. Both covenants had blessings attached to them. If Israel had obeyed the terms of the Old Covenant, God would have...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK In this section, we see verse four emphasizing the place where the Lord Jesus ministers. It is not on earth where priests already function. Furthermore, these priests, according to verse 5, serve in an earthly replica of the heavenly tabernacle. To prove this, the writer quotes Exodus 25:40 where Moses on Mount Sinai was shown the heavenly tabernacle. The earthly tent was merely a copy of the genuine one which Moses...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK In chapter 7, the writer had considered the superiority of the new priesthood. It follows that such a priesthood must have a superior priestly ministry. That it does is unfolded in 8:1-10:18. In the process, the letter reveals that the New Covenant underlies this newer priestly service. In Hebrews 8:1-5, the writer of Hebrews discusses the place of Jesus’ ministry. The “main point” of this section is the High Priesthood...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK The greatness of Melchizedek: A Biblical Example of a High Priest (7:1–10). Melchizedek is presented as a high priest who continually remained to minister to his people. His name carried with it the suggestion of righteousness, and his receiving tithes from and offering blessings to Abraham showed his greatness. The New Priesthood Supersedes the Old (7:11–14). Why did God’s people require a new high priest? The...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Having established Melchizedek’s greatness both personally and in comparison with Abraham and Levi, the writer was ready for a new point. This superiority was needed, since the Law was superseded. The inadequacy of the legal and Levitical systems had to be replaced by something better. To summarize what we will see in this next bigger section of Hebrews 7, we start by asking why does Christ, the priest after...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK Having established Melchizedek’s greatness both personally and in comparison with Abraham and Levi, the writer was ready for a new point. This superiority was needed, since the Law was superseded. The inadequacy of the legal and Levitical systems had to be replaced by something better. To summarize what we will see in this next bigger section of Hebrews 7, we start by asking why does Christ, the priest after...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK In verses 4 to 25 a logical argument is developed. The major premise is clear: the order of Melchizedek is greater than the Aaronic order. The minor premise states Christ is of the order of Melchizedek. So the conclusion is irrefutable: Christ is greater than Aaron or anyone in the Aaronic order. In spite of the controversy throughout Hebrews, the writer of Hebrews logically and simply puts forth the argument of how...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK The writer returned to the theme they had introduced in chapter 5 (vv. 1–10), but doubted that the readers would comprehend (cf. 5:11). In the conclusion of the most recent warning (5:11–6:20), the author had renewed the subject of the Melchizedek priesthood (6:19–20). Let’s talk about this mysterious individual, Melchizedek. A person about whom, I would say the majority of Christians know nothing. You talk about...

The Danger of Profession without Possession (vv. 1–8): The author of Hebrews called on the readers to abandon their practice of works which lead to death. The author gave one of the New Testament’s strongest warnings to those who professed their faith in Christ without any other evidence. The writer used an agricultural illustration to clarify the future expectation for those who produced no fruit in their spiritual lives. Evidences of Enduring with Faith in Jesus (vv. 9–12): Despite the...

Check out my children's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP9NZNK We use oaths to back up our statements because the promise of a human being is not reliable enough for trust. Jesus urged His followers to be so truthful that humans could trust their “yes” and “no” (Matt. 5:37). The writer of Hebrews followed normal human conventions of requiring an oath to support a promise. People who make official promises need to swear an oath by someone in order to settle the issue. Whenever...