Category Archives: Hebrews

If a certain activity accomplishes its purpose or intent, there is no point in continuing it. The reason for the activity has been accomplished. For example, if we have succeeded in lifting an animal out of a hole by means of a rope, there is no reason to continue pulling on the rope. The rope has fulfilled its purpose. In the same way, if a particular activity cannot accomplish what we need done, simply continuing it will not help us make progress. In fact, it may be counterproductive. For example, if the entrance to the hole in which our animal has fallen has become obstructed so that it is now too small, merely continuing to pull on the rope will not free the animal from the hole. Instead, if we keep pulling we may very well injure the beast.

The same principles apply in spiritual things. God gave the Law of Moses to the Jewish people. In it He instructed them to do certain things. For example, God told the people to offer sacrifices for sin, year after year. Yet even though God commanded that these sacrifices be made, they were incapable of cleansing the people from their sin. To say it another way, the sacrifices were ineffective to meet the need. How can this be? The inspired book of Hebrews, chapter 10, verses 1 through 10 explains:

“For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a yearly
reminder of sins. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire, but you prepared a body for me; You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’” Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law), then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

In a previous section the book of Hebrews has already contrasted the place where sin sacrifices were made. The sacrifices required by the Law were made in a dwelling made by man. In contrast, Christ presented His sacrifice to God in heaven itself. In this passage, we see another contrast between the sacrifices. Those required by the Law had to be repeated endlessly, year after year. In contrast, Christ’s one sacrifice is sufficient for all people, for all time.

Hebrews points out that the sacrifices made under the Law were ineffective. If they had been capable of removing sin, there would have been no need to repeat them. However, the very fact that they had to be repeated time after time, proves that they were incapable of removing sin.

Why were the sacrifices offered at the Tabernacle ineffective? Because the Law and its requirements is only an image of reality. An image or picture is not without meaning for it tells us something about what it represents. However, it is a serious mistake to confuse the image for the actual thing it represents. A painting of a man is not the man himself. Suppose you take a picture of a man who has a wound. If you touch up the photograph so that the wound no longer shows, it does not treat the actual wound on the real man. In the same way, the animal sacrifices made in the earthly copy of the heavenly Tabernacle could not affect the spiritual reality. It took a heavenly sacrifice, presented in heaven itself, to pay for sin once for all.

If the sacrifices made under the Law were ineffective, then what was their purpose? They served as a reminder of sin. They illustrated the terrible consequences of sin. They showed that a life was necessary to pay for sin. They proved the impossibility of reconciling with God through our own efforts. No matter how many sacrifices were made; no matter how many bulls and goats were offered, people still had a sense of guilt. Their consciences still convicted them of the wrongs they had done.

The writer of Hebrews quotes from Psalm 40 in order to explain the solution to this problem. In this Psalm, King David prophetically writes as though Christ were speaking. He first acknowledges that the animal sacrifices were inadequate. Though God required them, they could not accomplish what God desired. To deal with the problem of sin God needed a body. And, since man was incapable of providing the body which was needed, God Himself, prepared it. Hebrews already pointed out that Jesus is the exact representation of God. Since God is perfect, any sacrifice provided by Him will also be perfect. Jesus stepped into history as a man in order to provide that perfect sacrifice. He came to do God’s will. He made a conscious choice to fulfill what God required.

The animals which were sacrificed under the Law had no choice in the matter. They could not know why they were being sacrificed. But Jesus sacrificed Himself voluntarily, knowing full well what He was doing. His whole purpose in coming into the world was to do God’s will. No one had to compel Him. He said, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord…” (John 10:17-18 NIV)

Because Jesus accomplished God’s will, the Old Covenant established by the Law of Moses with all of its sacrifices is no longer needed. The purpose for the Law and the sacrifices has been accomplished. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, God has established a New Covenant with all those who, like Jesus, wish to obey God’s will.

Each of us faces a decision. Will we follow the example of Jesus and do God’s will? Will we accept Jesus’ sacrifice so our consciences will be cleansed from our guilt or will we cling to an old, ineffective system which can never take our sins away? Will we enter the New Covenant which Jesus’ sacrifice has made possible?

Many people are offended by the teachings of Christianity. Perhaps the most objectionable teaching is that Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for ours. The Apostle Paul writes, “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,” (1 Corinthians 1:22-23 NIV)

Regardless of what anyone thinks; whether anybody likes it or not, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the heart of Christianity. Remove Christ’s death and there is nothing left. But why did Jesus have to sacrifice His life? Why is death necessary? Chapter 9, verses 16 through 22 of the inspired letter to the Hebrews gives two reasons why death is necessary. It says, “For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Moreover he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in the same way with the blood. According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.”

In previous verses the writer of Hebrews explained that Jesus is the mediator of a New Covenant between God and mankind. One of the benefits of the New Covenant is that those who participate in it will inherit eternal blessings. However, this raises a dilemma. How can those in the Covenant inherit? The Greek language, in which Hebrews is written, has only one word for both “covenant” and “will”. The passage we just looked at points out that a will does not come into effect until the person who made it dies. To say it another way, someone cannot receive an inheritance unless the person who gave it has died. Therefore, the New Covenant could not come into force without a death. No one could receive the promised inheritance without the death of the One who gave it. This is one reason Jesus had to die. Without His death, the New Covenant could not be enacted.

There is another reason death is necessary. “…apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.” To understand why, we have to consider the nature of sin. God is totally pure, holy and righteous. There is no trace of wickedness in Him. Because God is holy, our sin separates us from Him. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV) Another Scripture tells us that, “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23 NIV)

How can we be redeemed from the death we have earned by our sin? Only with another life. While giving the Law of Moses, God said, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (Leviticus 17:11 NIV)

This raises another question. How can the blood of animals atone for people whom God has made in His own image? The answer is that it cannot. A better sacrifice was needed. Hebrews chapter 9, verses 23 through 28 says, “It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own, or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.”

This passage contrasts the sacrifices made under the Old Covenant to the sacrifice of Christ. One difference between them is the place where the sacrifices were offered. The sacrifices specified in the Law of Moses were offered in a sanctuary made by man. In contrast, Jesus presented His sacrifice in heaven itself. This is the true sanctuary to which the man-made Tabernacle pointed. Thus, Jesus is always able to represent us before God because He is always in God’s presence.

Another difference between the sacrifices is the frequency with which they were made. Under the Old Covenant, sacrifices for sin had to be made every year. Since the life of no animal is as valuable as that of a person, these sacrifices could not really take away sin. As Hebrews will point out in a later chapter, they were merely an annual reminder of sin. They served to defer the penalty of sin for another year. In contrast, Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect. It paid for the sins of mankind in full. Since His sacrifice was perfect, it only had to be offered once. Jesus does not have to offer Himself again and again because His sacrifice has canceled our debt once for all. Jesus’ sacrifice is final. Just as people will not have an opportunity to restore their relationship with God after they die but will have to face judgment, there is no further sacrifice besides the one Jesus made for sin.

This leads us to another consideration. We know from Scripture that Jesus will someday return. For example, angels told His disciples, “…This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11 NIV) But if Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect, complete and final, then what is the purpose for His return? Hebrews assures us that it will not be to bear sin. He has already done that. This time He will return to give the promised inheritance, that is salvation, to all those who are in the New Covenant. The question is: Are you in the New Covenant? Have you accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf? Have you let Him pay your debt?

Some ideas and concepts are hard to understand. This is particularly true in regard to spiritual things. God is our Creator and is beyond our understanding. Nevertheless, it is important that we understand some things about Him. God wants us to know Him and He wants to restore the relationship which we have broken because of our sin. But how can we know God; how can our relationship with Him be restored if we are unable to understand spiritual concepts? How can we grasp the reality of sin and forgiveness? Sometimes we need an illustration to help us understand.

God entered into a covenant relationship with the Jewish people through the Law of Moses. The purpose of the Law was more than to tell them what God expected of them. The Law also provided for a sanctuary where the Jewish people were to worship and bring their sacrifices. This Tabernacle was an illustration, or picture, of the greater and more significant covenant God wants to make with us today through Jesus Christ. The inspired book of Hebrews, in the Bible, chapter 9, verses 1 through 15 explains it this way:

“Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lampstand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place. After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail. Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services, but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people. The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: 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? For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

Though the book of Hebrews does not discuss them in detail, each portion of the Tabernacle and its furnishings has meaning. They are pictures of greater realities. For example, from other places in Scripture we know that the Holy Place represents the church and the lampstand represents God’s Word.

Before going forward, it is necessary to clear up a point of confusion. At first it appears that verse 4 is saying that the golden altar of incense was located in the Most Holy Place. However, we know from the Old Testament that it was actually located in the Holy Place. Is there an error in Scripture? No, there is not. 1 Kings 6:22 clears up the problem. The altar of incense was in the Holy Place, but it belongs to, or is associated with, the inner sanctuary, that is the Most Holy Place. God made His presence dwell above the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place. Incense represents the prayers of God’s people which come before God’s throne. The priests were required to present incense on the altar each day. Since they were forbidden to enter the Most Holy Place, the altar had, of necessity, to be outside of the curtain which separated the Holy Place from the inner sanctuary.

Hebrews draws our attention to this curtain. What was its significance? It symbolizes the separation which exists between man and God. Under the Old Covenant the way into the Most Holy Place, which symbolizes heaven, was blocked. Only the High Priest was permitted to enter just once a year. He had to come carrying the blood of a sin offering which he offered both for himself and the people. But these sacrifices were insufficient. They could not cleanse the guilty consciences of sinners and thus remove the barrier between mankind and God.

It is only through Christ and the New Covenant that the barrier between God and us is removed. Jesus, who is sinless, offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice. The Gospels record that when Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two pieces. This showed that the way to heaven, the true Tabernacle, was now open. It is now possible for mankind to be reconciled to our holy and pure God.

Jesus’ sacrifice did more than open the way to heaven. The priests of the Old Covenant sprinkled the blood of the sin sacrifices on the people. This external act made people ceremonially clean but could not cleanse the inner person. The blood could not remove guilt from the conscience. However, Jesus’ sacrifice does cleanse our conscience. It does not merely defer the penalty for breaking God’s standards, it removes sin altogether. And, because Jesus’ sacrifice is perfect we can now serve God with pure hearts.

Hebrews points out that even though the Law required sacrifices to be made, they were ineffective in removing sin. Christ Jesus died, not only to offer the perfect sacrifice for those who enter the New Covenant, but to remove the sins of those who were under the Old Covenant. Old Covenant or New, it is only through Jesus that we can be reconciled to God. The question is: Have we accepted Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf?

In the first seven chapters, the writer of the inspired book in the Bible called Hebrews demonstrates that Jesus is superior to angels and Moses. Jesus has a higher position than anyone else. He is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. Jesus has also been appointed as our High Priest, and His priesthood is superior to the priesthood established under the Law of Moses.

In subsequent chapters, the book of Hebrews will show that in His role as High Priest, Jesus has offered a superior sacrifice for our sins. However, before doing so it talks about how Jesus’ ministry is superior to that of the priests of the Mosaic Law. Chapter 8, verses 3 through 6 say, “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.”

According to these verses, the Tabernacle and the ministry which occurred within it were only copies or shadows of a much greater reality. The Tabernacle which Moses built (and by extension, the Temple which Solomon built) was a representation or picture of heaven. The ministry which the priests performed within it was an illustration of the true worship and ministry which takes place in heaven. Just as a man is far superior to the shadow he casts, the heavenly sanctuary is far superior to the earthly one. Similarly, Jesus’ ministry is far superior to that of its earthly shadow, because He serves as High Priest before the very throne of God.

Because the Tabernacle is a representation of what is in heaven, Moses was warned to make everything exactly as he was shown. There was no room for deviation from the divine design. This applies not only to the physical structure of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, but also to the rituals and service which were performed in it. For example, God put two of Aaron’s sons to death because they offered incense in their own way instead of following the directions God had given them (Leviticus 10).

There is an important lesson in this. The Bible indicates that the church also is a representation of the heavenly sanctuary. If this is true, then we should be very careful that we do not deviate from the instructions given in the New Testament about the church. Do our churches conform to the example of the churches in the New Testament?

Not only is Jesus’ ministry superior, but the covenant of which He is the mediator is also superior to the covenant established by the Mosaic Law. One way in which it is superior is that it is founded on better promises. What are these better promises? In later chapters the book of Hebrews will explain that the Law of Moses could not remove sin. It could only postpone the penalty for sin. It is only in the New Covenant which God establishes with us through Jesus that sin is removed once for all – for those under the Law of Moses as well as us today. So, one of the better promises of the New Covenant is complete salvation. Another promise is being made complete. Only in Christ do we have the ability to become everything God wants us to be.

In verses 7 through 13, Hebrews points out some more differences between the Old Covenant under the Mosaic Law and the New Covenant which God grants us through Jesus. “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold, the days come,” says the Lord, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days,” says the Lord; “I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people. They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” In that he says, “A new covenant,” he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.”

Many people question why there was a need for a new covenant. After all, God was the One who gave the Law to His people through Moses. However, this passage points out that there was a fatal flaw in the old system. The Law was perfect, but people are not. No one except Jesus has ever been capable of fully keeping the Law. Since the Law had no provision for doing away with the consequences of sin and restoring a broken relationship with God, another system was needed. Because of this weakness, God promised through the prophet Jeremiah that He would establish a new covenant.

Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 to emphasize several important differences between the Old and the New covenants. The Old Covenant was external, in that it was based on commands and regulations. In contrast, the New Covenant is internal. It is written on our hearts and minds. In other words we keep the terms of the covenant not because of a command, but because we have been given a new nature and it is natural for that new being to do what is right.

Another difference is that those in the Old Covenant had to be taught who God is. When a baby was circumcised at eight days, he was considered a member of God’s people. Obviously, a baby has to be taught about God. In contrast, we have to understand who God is and yield ourselves to Him before we can enter the New Covenant. And, when we enter the New Covenant, we will know Him.

One of the most important differences in the New Covenant over the Old is that God does not remember our sins any more. Are you in the New Covenant? Have your sins been forgiven?

Why does anyone need to follow Jesus? Didn’t God already give His Law to us through Moses? Didn’t God already establish priests by the Law to intercede for us and to offer sacrifices to atone for our sins? Since this is so, why did God find it necessary to establish a different priesthood? Why did He appoint Jesus – a person who could not even be a priest under the Law – as our High Priest?

We saw in previous programs that God appointed Jesus as High Priest, not by means of the Law of Moses but, in the order of Melchizedek. God also established Jesus’ priesthood by an oath rather than by a rule regarding His ancestry. But in what ways is Jesus’ priesthood superior to the one which was established under the Law?

The inspired book of Hebrews, chapter 7, verse 23 through chapter 8, verse 2, explains it this way, “Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death. But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them. For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected. Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a servant of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.”

One way in which Jesus is superior to the priests appointed under the Law of Moses is that He lives forever. In contrast, all the priests in the Levitical priesthood died. For example, the Bible records, “At the Lord’s command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.” (Numbers 33:38-39 NIV)

From this passage we see that even though Aaron lived to be a very old man, he still died. It is the same with all the other priests who were appointed by the Law of Moses. They all died. It is obvious that a priest can no longer serve when he is dead. He can no longer intercede. He can no longer offer sacrifices. However, Jesus rose from the dead after His crucifixion. He lives forever, and because He lives forever, He can also serve as our Priest forever. Because His priesthood lasts forever, there will never be a time when Jesus cannot intercede on our behalf. Because He lives, He can complete the work of saving us from the consequences of our sin. The Apostle Paul writes, “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 NIV)

Another way in which Jesus is superior to the Old Testament priests is that He is holy, blameless and pure. The Bible records some of the sins of the priests. For example, God said to Eli, “Why do you scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?” (1 Samuel 2:29 NIV)

In contrast, the Bible repeatedly affirms that Jesus never sinned. He, Himself asked His accusers, “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?…” (John 8:46 NIV)

Because Jesus is sinless and pure, God exalted Him. As the book of Hebrews says, Jesus is seated at God’s right hand in heaven (Hebrews 1:3, 8:1). None of the priests appointed under the Law of Moses were ever exalted in this way.

This has another implication. The priests who came before Jesus had to offer sacrifices for their own sins as well as intercede for the people. However, no sinner can fully ransom the guilt of another. Psalm 49 says, “No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him – the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough – that he should live on forever and not see decay.” (Psalm 49:7-9 NIV) This is why, a few verses later, the Psalmist says, “But God will redeem my soul from the grave, he will surely take me to himself.” (Psalm 49:15 NIV)

What man cannot do for himself, God has done for him. The priests of the Old Testament were both mortal and sinners. They were incapable of presenting a perfect sacrifice before God which would pay for their own sin, let alone ours. But, as the book of Hebrews has already told us, Jesus, God’s Son, “…is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being…” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV) Because Jesus is God in the flesh, and because He is sinless, He is perfect. And, because He is perfect He could present the perfect sacrifice in payment for our sin. He could redeem us from sin while no other priest can. As Jesus, Himself said, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 NIV) Truly, God has redeemed those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice on their behalf, just as the Psalmist wrote. The question is: have we accepted Jesus as our priest and have we accepted His perfect sacrifice on our behalf?

There is still another way in which Jesus’ priesthood is superior to that of the Mosaic Law. It is the place in which He serves. The priests of the Old Testament served in a Tabernacle which the Israelites took with them while they traveled in the wilderness. Later, after they had entered the land God promised them, Solomon, at God’s direction, built a Temple in which the priests served. However, Jesus serves in heaven itself. The book of Hebrews calls this the “true tabernacle.” In contrast to the Tent, or Temple in which the earthly priests served, this Tabernacle was set up by God, not man. In fact, God intended for the earthly Tabernacle and Temple to serve as a picture or representation of the true, heavenly Tabernacle. The earthly Tabernacle was a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.

Mankind’s greatest problem is not poverty or the unequal distribution of resources. It is not the prevalence of disease. It is not even the pursuit of peace which seems to elude each generation. No, mankind’s greatest problem is separation from God because of sin. God is holy and righteous. There is no evil in Him. Evil cannot remain in His presence. When we sin; when we do evil, it separates us from God and we cannot enter His presence.

How can this gap between our holy God and we sinners be bridged? We need a priest to intercede for us. We need a priest to present an offering of atonement for our sin. The inspired book of Hebrews in the Bible assures us that God has appointed Jesus Christ as our priest. Jesus is sinless so He can come into God’s presence. During His life on the earth He also experienced the same things we do. Therefore He is able to understand and sympathize with our difficulties. This qualifies Him to intercede on our behalf. He also offered His own life as a sacrifice for us to reconcile us to God.

However, this raises a question. God had already established a priesthood in the Law of Moses. According to the Law, priests were to come from the tribe of Levi. How can Jesus be our priest since He does not belong to that tribe? The answer is that Jesus does not belong to the priesthood established under the Law of Moses. Instead He is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Chapter 7 of the book of Hebrews points out that Melchizedek is much greater than Abraham and his descendant Levi. Therefore, Jesus’ priesthood is also greater than that of Levi and the Mosaic Law.

But why do we need a greater priesthood? Why did God make the change? Chapter 7, verses 11 through 22 explains, “Now if there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law. For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest, who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an
endless life: for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’” By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.”

One of the problems with the Law of Moses was that it made nothing perfect. This is not to say that the Law was not good. It was. God gave it and it accomplished what God intended it to do. The Apostle Paul writes, “So, then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.” (Romans 7:12 NIV) The purpose of the Law was to identify sin and to demonstrate that we are incapable of living by God’s standards.

Though the Law identified our faults, it cannot correct them. Though the Law appointed a priesthood to offer sacrifices for sin, the book of Hebrews explains in later chapters that those sacrifices were not sufficient, they only delayed or put off the consequences of sin. They were like a promissory note which promised payment at a later time. Only in Jesus is our debt to God satisfied. Only Jesus was able to pay the price the Law demands for sin. So, Jesus became the perfect priest for both those under the Law of Moses and those who are not.

It was the Law of Moses which established and regulated the Levitical priesthood. However, Jesus is not a descendant of Levi. He does not trace his human ancestry through the first priest Aaron. Instead, Jesus comes from the tribe of Judah, in the line of King David. Since this is the case, it means that Jesus is our priest on the basis of something different than the Law of Moses. As Hebrews points out, if there has been a change in priesthood, there has also been a change in the underlying law or principle which establishes that priesthood.

What is that principle? On what basis did God make Jesus our priest? Those who became priests under the Law of Moses did so because of their ancestry, but Jesus has become our priest on the basis of His indestructible life. The writer of Hebrews quotes from Psalm 110 to establish this fact. There God declares that Jesus is a priest forever. By this declaration, God has set aside the Law of Moses and its priesthood and introduced a priesthood which will last forever. From this we see that all those who try to be reconciled to God through the Law, or any system which depends on human effort, are placing their hope on something which is no longer in effect. Jesus has fulfilled the Law. It has served its purpose. God has replaced it with something which can make us perfect, which the Law could never do. Because Jesus lives forever and His priesthood lasts forever, we have a better hope. When we place our hope in Jesus Christ, whom God has appointed our priest forever, it enables us to draw near to God. Do you have this hope? Are you able to come before the throne of God with confidence?

There is another difference between the priesthood established by the Law of Moses and that of Jesus. The descendants of Levi and Aaron became priests without any oath. But God appointed Jesus Christ as a priest by an oath. The writer of Hebrews again refers to Psalm 110 to establish this fact.

What is the significance of God’s oath? An oath is given in order to guarantee something. It confirms what is said. In this case, Jesus became a priest through God’s oath. Therefore Jesus, is the guarantee of the covenant which God makes with those who follow Jesus. This covenant is far superior to the covenant which God made with the Israelites through the Law of Moses.

God is holy and righteous. There is no evil in Him. How then can we, who are sinners, ever approach Him or come into His presence? In our own strength we cannot. We need someone to intercede for us.

The Bible tells us that God appointed Jesus to be High Priest. In His role as priest, Jesus Christ presented the perfect sacrifice on our behalf to atone for our sins. It is by means of Christ’s blood that we are able to enter God’s presence.

But had God not already established priests under the Law of Moses? How then, can Jesus be our priest? The inspired book of Hebrews in the Bible explains that Jesus did not receive His priesthood through the Law of Moses. Instead, God appointed Him as a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Who is this Melchizedek and what is his significance? Hebrews 7, verses 1 through 10 explains, “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils. They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham, but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives. We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes, for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.”

Before going forward, we need to clear up a difficulty. In verse one our Urdu translation indicates that Melchizedek remains God’s priest forever. This is true, as we shall see in verse three, but the actual Greek text in verse one refers to the priesthood of Jesus. What the text actually says is that Jesus remains a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

In order to explain who Melchizedek is, the writer refers to an incident in the life of Abraham which is recorded in the book of Genesis, chapter 14. A group of kings invaded the land where Abraham’s nephew Lot had made his home. They captured Lot and many others. Abraham learned of this and pursued the kings with his own armed men. He overtook the kings, defeated them and rescued all their captives. While returning home, Abraham encountered Melchizedek. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth part of everything he had captured from the invading kings.

Melchizedek was a priest of “God Most High.” What does the Bible mean when it says that Jesus is a priest like him? The name “Melchizedek” means “King of Righteousness.” When we say that Jesus is a priest like Melchizedek it means that He, too, is righteous. In fact, “Righteous” is one of Jesus’ titles (1 John 2:1).

Melchizedek was also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” This is another of Jesus’ titles. The prophet Isaiah foretold that Jesus would be called “Prince of Peace.” Sin separates us from God. Through His sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus has made peace between us sinners and our holy God.

Another way in which Jesus and Melchizedek are alike is in the duration of their priesthood. Our Urdu translation does not bring this out, but verse three says that Melchizedek remains a priest continually. On what basis does his priesthood last forever? There is no record of his death. Therefore, he is declared to still be alive. And, since he is alive and has never vacated the position God gave him, he retains his priesthood.

The same holds true for Jesus. The Apostle Paul writes, “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.” (Romans 6:9 NIV) Because Jesus lives forever, His priesthood will also last forever. As the writer of Hebrews will say later in the book, this clearly makes Jesus superior to the priests appointed under the Law of Moses. Their priesthood came to an end when they died.

But there are additional reasons why the priesthood of Melchizedek, and therefore Jesus’ priesthood, is superior to that of the Mosaic Law. The writer of Hebrews points out that blessings flow from the greater to the lessor. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and Abraham accepted his blessing. Therefore, Melchizedek is greater than Abraham. This means he is also greater than Abraham’s descendant Levi who became a priest through the Law of Moses. Since Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, He also is greater than Abraham and the Levitical priesthood.

Abraham acknowledged that Melchizedek was greater than himself by giving him a tenth of the plunder from his battle with the kings. Though Levi and the priests which came after him collected a tenth of the produce of the land from the rest of the Israelite people, it can be said that Levi, himself, paid the tenth to Melchizedek through his ancestor Abraham. This, too, shows that Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to that given to Levi by the Law of Moses. He who had the right to receive a tenth from everyone, paid a tenth to someone who was greater than himself.

There is another point to consider. The text indicates, in verse three, that Melchizedek was made like the Son of God, that is Jesus, not that Jesus was made like Melchizedek. To put it another way, Melchizedek and his role are an anticipation or reflection of a greater reality. If the image is so great, then how much greater must the reality, that is, Jesus and His priesthood be!

It is easy to become discouraged when it seems that there is no discernible return for our hard work. It is easy to lose heart when it takes a long time to receive what someone has promised us.

God has made many promises to the followers of Christ. Among them are rest from the burdens of this life, release from the guilt of sin, help in overcoming trouble and temptation, that we shall reign with Christ and that we shall be like Christ. Yet, we do not always see evidence that the promises are true. We try our best to live for Christ; we work hard to accomplish what God has asked us to do, yet the results are not always immediately visible. Because of this, we sometimes begin to doubt. We ask whether serving Christ is worth it – particularly when following Him exposes us to hardship or persecution.

The writer of the inspired book of Hebrews tells us that even though the fulfillment of a promise is not always immediate, it is still worth waiting for. In chapter 2 he reminds us that even Jesus had to suffer and die before He was crowned with glory and honor. In chapter 6 he reminds us that it takes faith and patience to inherit what God has promised us. He tells us to imitate God’s people who have set us an example of diligence. God will remember and reward the work we do for Him. If we become lazy or turn away from Christ, we will not obtain the promises.

One of the people who waited patiently for God to fulfill His promises is Abraham. It was 25 years after God promised him a son that Isaac was born. How many of us would be willing to wait that long? Would we not have begun to doubt God? Would we not have wondered whether the promise was true?

These questions are more important than we might think. For, the promises God made to Abraham were not for him alone. They also apply to the spiritual descendants of Abraham. One of the basic teachings of the New Testament is that God considers the followers of Christ to be Abraham’s descendants. For example, the Apostle Paul writes, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29 NIV)

How is this possible? The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the “seed” or descendant about which God made His promise to Abraham. We become followers of Christ by being baptized into Him. That is, Christ joins us to Himself. Because we are now part of Christ, the promise made to Abraham about Christ now applies to His followers as well.

However, this brings up another question: How did Abraham know the promise God made to him was true? How can we know that the promises God has made to the followers of Christ are true? Hebrews chapter 6, verses 13 through 20 says, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

According to this passage there are two reasons we can have confidence in the promises God has made to the followers of Christ through Abraham. One reason is that God sealed the promise with an oath. Even we humans consider oaths as binding. If someone takes an oath, it settles the question of whether he will do what he says. We take an oath in the name of someone who is greater than we are. Only that greater person has the authority to overturn our oath. In addition, when we take an oath, we call on the one by whom we swear to guarantee what we have said. If we do not keep our word, then we face retribution from the person by whom we swore. Since there is no one greater than God, He swore His oath to Abraham in His own name. The promise will always remain in force because there is no one greater than God to overturn it.

The second reason we can have confidence in God’s promise is the word “surely.” When God made the promise to Abraham, He did not say that He “might” or “maybe” bless. He said He “would.” People often say that God can do anything. But this is not true. There are things which God cannot do. One of those things is God cannot lie. To lie would be to deny His own character. Scripture says, “…God is light; in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5 NIV) To put it another way, we can have confidence in God’s promises because of God’s character. It is impossible for Him to lie, therefore we can believe what He said.

This confidence in the character of God gives us great hope. Even though we may have to wait to fully obtain God’s promises, we know for certain that He will fulfill them.

We have another reason for hope and confidence. We can be sure of God’s promises because we see them fulfilled in Jesus. He has gone before us to secure our salvation. The writer of Hebrews has already said that Jesus has become our High Priest. In accordance with the Law of Moses, the Jewish High Priests entered the presence of God, in the inner room of the Temple, once a year with an offering of sacrificial blood. The purpose of the blood was to make atonement for the sins of the people. However, our High Priest, Jesus, has not entered a man-made Temple, but heaven itself. The sacrifice He offers is not a bull or a goat, but His own blood. Not only does He offer the perfect sacrifice for our sins, He is the perfect Priest to meet our needs.

We receive many blessings from following Christ. Among them are being included in God’s household, help in overcoming temptation and the promise of eternal rest. However, these blessings come with a condition. We must continue to follow Christ.

There are many who wish for the blessings but also want to live their lives for themselves. In other words, they want the benefits of being in God’s family but do not want the responsibility. Still others think that they can retain the blessings of being in Christ, while rejecting Him. However, this is an impossibility. In chapter 6, verses 4 through 8, the writer of the book of Hebrews explains, “ For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly
gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame. For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.”

Before discussing the consequences of leaving Christ, the writer tells us what the results of following Christ are. In Christ we are enlightened. We are enlightened in two senses. First, Christ gives understanding. Without Christ we would not understand the seriousness of sin and we would not know God’s plan to redeem mankind from sin. Secondly, Christ enlightens by removing us from darkness. The Apostle Paul writes, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)…” (Ephesians 5:8-9 NIV)

Another result of following Christ is that we have “tasted of the heavenly gift”. No doubt this refers to forgiveness of sin. Paul writes, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8 NIV) The gift of forgiveness and reconciliation with God which we experience in this life is a small foretaste of the fellowship we look forward to when we will be with God in heaven.

When we follow Christ, we also share in the Holy Spirit. In other words, God places His Spirit inside of us to guide, direct and comfort. The Spirit also acts as our translator. He presents to God the longings, desires and concerns which we are unable to articulate or express. The Bible says, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Romans 8:26 NIV)

The followers of Christ have also “tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come”. We know by experience the good which obeying God’s word has produced in our lives. We also have been given the power to be victorious over temptation and sin. God gives us the power to change our nature and become like Christ. This good which we experience is only a small portion of what we anticipate. “…as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” – but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV)

If someone deliberately decides to reject Christ after having experienced all this, the writer of Hebrews says it is impossible for him to be brought back to repentance. In other words a deliberate choice to reject Christ after having been one of His followers is irreversible. After rejecting the nature that God gave him through Christ, he cannot be made new again. Having rejected the sacrifice Christ has already made on his behalf it is as though he were saying that Christ needs to be crucified again to provide an adequate sacrifice. Not only that, by rejecting Christ someone who formerly followed Him proclaims to the world that Christ is unable or is inadequate to save. He insults Christ by mocking the very thing Christ came to do.

The writer of Hebrews compares the followers of Christ to land. Land which fulfills its purpose by producing good crops receives God’s blessing. But land which produces only weeds in spite of receiving rain and sun in appropriate amounts is in danger of being cursed and burned. The same fate awaits those who turn away from Christ after receiving the blessings of following Him. As the writer explains in chapter 10, “Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10: 28-29 NIV)

However, God is not arbitrary. Though He will punish those who reject Christ, He will reward those who remain faithful to Him. Verses 9 through 12 of chapter 6 of Hebrews says, “But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this. For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them. We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end, that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.”

Living for Christ is not always easy. Sometimes we may have to suffer hardship, or even persecution for our faith. But the writer of Hebrews assures us that God will not forget our love for Him. How do we show our love for God? By helping His people. As Jesus told His disciples, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40 NIV)

In light of this, we need to remain diligent in helping our brothers in Christ. Diligence makes our hope sure. If we do not give up, but imitate the faith and patience of God’s people who have gone before us, we also will receive the promises God made to them.

The book of Hebrews demonstrates that Jesus is the greatest of God’s messengers. He is greater than the angels. He is greater than Moses. He is our High Priest who has offered the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. By means of His sacrifice, our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God is restored. Through Christ we have the promise of entering eternal rest. If all this is true, then why would some of the followers of Christ turn away from Him and go back to what they had known before? There are many reasons. One of them is carelessness – we don’t put forth the effort to grow and advance in our knowledge and understanding of our faith. In chapter 5, verses 11 through 14, the writer of Hebrews says, “About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing. For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. But solid food is for those who
are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.”

When a child is first born, it requires milk. However, as it grows, if a child never makes the transition from milk to other food it will become sickly and die. In the same way, a follower of Christ must grow in his faith if he is to remain healthy, spiritually. In the beginning, he will need to learn the basic teachings about Christ and salvation. In a short time, however, every follower of Christ should advance to the point where he is capable of telling others about his faith. As the Apostle Peter writes, “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV) Unfortunately, many people remain incapable of doing this even through they claim to have followed Christ for many years.

The writer of Hebrews points out that one consequence of not advancing beyond the basic teachings of Christianity is that it soon becomes necessary to learn even the basics again. If we are not advancing in our faith and in our knowledge of Christ, we will forget even the things we know. Jesus taught His disciples this principle, “…The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” (Matthew 13:11-12 NIV)

Another consequence of remaining a spiritual infant is that we will not be acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Infants and small children must be taught proper behavior. They must learn how to conduct themselves in society. They same is true for a new follower of Christ. The character of Christ is not yet formed in him. He will not live a righteous life because he does not yet know what righteousness is. However, over time, he should progress until his life reflects the character and nature of Christ.

Still another consequence of remaining spiritual infants is that we do not learn to distinguish good from evil. We do not know how to avoid evil because we do not recognize evil for what it is. Similarly, we do not know how to recognize what is good and pleasing to God. To learn to distinguish good from evil takes effort and practice. We must train our minds. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2 NIV)

What are the elementary teachings we must know before we can progress in maturity? In chapter 6, verses 1 through 3 the writer of Hebrews says, “Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection – not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. This will we do, if God permits.”

The writer lists 6 elementary or foundational teachings. When he says “leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ” he does not mean that we should abandon them, but that we should build on them or advance from them. The 6 teachings are:
1) Repentance. Repentance literally means “to change one’s mind.” We must learn to have a different view of those things which separate us from God, that is, cause spiritual death. We must learn to shun them.
2) Faith toward God. This is not merely an acknowledgment that He exists, but confidence in His character and His ability to fulfill what He has promised. As it says in a later chapter, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)
3) Teaching of baptisms. The Apostle Paul writes, “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4 NIV)
4) The laying on of hands. This speaks to our being set apart by God for service.
5) The resurrection. The Apostle Paul writes, “…if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:16-19 NIV)
6) Eternal judgment. The Bible says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV)

Each of us needs to ask ourselves what we believe about these 6 foundational teachings. Do we still have struggles or doubts in these areas, or are we ready to move on to maturity?