Understanding the Book of Hebrews

Michael Pearl

Description

A Word-by-Word Commentary on the most thorough discussion of faith found in the Bible. God, as salesman of the truth, takes the responsibility to present himself in a way that causes you to know your need of him, believe his promises, and forsaking all others take him only. If you look at your faith you will look in vain. If you look to him, knowing you have insufficient faith, and you do not consider your faith or the lack thereof, he will receive you as you are, having less faith than a grain of finely ground pepper. He will then call you his own. Then your faith is not in your faith; it is in his faithfulness. Then you have entered the world of biblical faith-all praise to him and no brag on our part.Excerpt: 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." The just shall live by faith is taken from Habakkuk 2:4-a seventh century BC prophet anticipating this present grace dispensation. It is quoted in the New Testament three times: Here in Hebrews 10:38, in Rom 1:17, and in Gal 3:11. When we look at the original we find clarity in our interpretation, for it contains one word omitted in the three NT quotes, although it is implied. It is the word his; "the just shall live by his faith." There has been an almost universal misunderstanding of these four passages. Most students interpret the passages, especially in Romans and Galatians, to be saying what is otherwise true, that by faith one is justified from sin by the atoning work of Christ. That is true in other passages, but the subject here is not new birth justification; it is manner of one's daily walk. To paraphrase the text: Just people will live their lives by the means of faith. Or to put it another way, we continue to relate to God by faith alone. It is not a formula for being justified from our sins; it is a formula for how those who are indeed just will live their lives....

Sujets

• Christianity
• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: No Greater Joy Ministries
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781616441258
• Langue: English

Extrait

UNDERSTANDING
THE BOOK OF
HEBREWS
A WORD-BY-WORD COMMENTARY
MICHAEL PEARL
Copyright © 2021 by Michael Pearl
This book is also available as an Audiobook MP3 CD through No Greater Joy Ministries and is also available digitally from all major online retailers such as Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play.
Print Book ISBN: 978-1-61644-124-1
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61644-125-8
ePDF: 978-1-61644-126-5
First Printing August 2021: 10,000
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021910907
Understanding the Book of Hebrews may be purchased at special quantity discounts for sales promotions, gifts, fundraising, book clubs, or educational purposes for churches, schools and universities. Visit www.NoGreaterJoy.org for information on this and other products produced by No Greater Joy Ministries, Inc.
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All scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, the written Word of God to English-speaking people.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the contributing writer or the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
1. Hebrews 2. Faith 3. Bible Commentary 4. Calvinism 5. Arminianism 6. King James Version 7. Security of the Believer 8. Bible 9. Bible Study
I. Pearl, Michael II. Understanding the Book of Hebrews
Cover, interior design and layout by Megan Leid
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Foreword
Understanding the Book of Hebrews
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Hebrews 1
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 3
Hebrews 4
Hebrews 5
Hebrews 6
Hebrews 7
Hebrews 8
Hebrews 9
Hebrews 10
Hebrews 11
Hebrews 12
Hebrews 13
Concluding Thoughts
Foreword
Faith is indeed the primary subject in the Bible. The lack of it is the defining element of fallen man. The first sin sprang from a lack of faith toward God. Every Old Testament story has at its heart God’s attempt to bring men to faith. By faith we mean a simple confidence in the worthiness of God and his word—a positive mental attitude toward him and his program, an acceptance of his dominion . The New Testament theme is faith from beginning to end, faith appearing 245 times and believe appearing 244 times in the New Testament alone. In chapters 10–12 the writer of Hebrews will come to the most thorough discussion of faith found in the Bible.
Understanding the Book of Hebrews
Background
The Book of Hebrews is addressed to Hebrews/Israelites/Jews of the first century who had confessed Jesus to be the promised Messiah, had been baptized, and were part of the church. They suffered great conflict without and within. Without were their fellow Jewish brethren who officially persecuted any Jewish believer, and then there was the Roman government coming after Christians in general. But more to the issue of this book, some of them suffered inner conflicts, second-guessing their move to faith in Christ. Due to threats from authorities and isolation from their families, there was strong inducement to deny Christ and return to the Law of Moses. Apparently some had already drawn back.
Overview of the First 10 Chapters
Chapters 1 through 10:34 are written to remind the Hebrews of the transcendence of Jesus and the new covenant set against the old covenant. The first ten chapters are interspersed with exhortations to continue in the faith, and the subject is taken up exclusively in 10:26 and carries through chapter 11 into chapter 12.
Summary of the Main Points Concerning the Eminence of Christ
1:2
God spoke to us by his son.
He is heir of all things.
He made the worlds.
1:3
He is the brightness of God’s glory, the express image of his person.
He upholds all things by the word of his power.
By himself he purged our sins.
Sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
1:4
He is better than the angels and has obtained a more excellent name than they.
1:5
He is the Son of God.
1:6
He was brought into the world as God’s firstbegotten.
The angels worship him.
1:8
God addresses Jesus as God.
His kingdom is righteousness.
1:9
He loves righteousness and hates iniquity.
God anointed him with the oil of gladness above his fellows.
1:10
He laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of his hands.
1:11–12
Even as the heavens and earth perish, he remains the same and his years will never fail.
1:13
God invited him to sit on his right hand.
His enemies will become his footstool.
2:9
He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.
He was crowned with glory and honor.
He tasted death for every man.
2:10
All things are for him and by him.
He brought many sons into glory.
As captain of their salvation he was made perfect through sufferings.
2:11
He is one with those who are sanctified.
He is not ashamed to call us brethren.
2:12
He will declare God’s name among the brethren.
In the midst of the church he will sing praises unto God.
2:13
He put his trust in the Father.
The Father gave the sanctified to him.
2:14
He partook of flesh and blood.
He destroyed him that had the power of death.
2:16
He took on the seed of Abraham.
2:17
He was made a high priest so as to provide reconciliation.
2:18
He was tempted.
3:1
Consider him as the High Priest of our profession.
3:3
He was more worthy than Moses.
3:3–4
Jesus is the creator of all things.
3:11
Jesus is that rest God promised.
4:14
We have a great high priest passed into the heavens.
5:1
He is superior to carnal high priests.
5:5
God made him a high priest.
5:8
He learned obedience through the things he suffered.
6:20
Our priest is entered into the veil.
7:1
Melchisedec was a special priest with special credentials not related to Moses.
7:15
Jesus is of the same order.
7:22–24
Jesus is made a surety of a better testament. Unchangeable priesthood.
7:25
Saves to the uttermost, for he never dies.
8:1–2
Our high priest is set on the right hand of the majesty on high—true tabernacle.
8:3
Priests offer gifts and sacrifices; so does this man.
8:5
Earthly priests are pictures of Christ.
8:6
He has a more excellent ministry of a better covenant established on better promises.
9:11
Christ is high priest in a greater and more perfect tabernacle.
9:12
By his own blood he obtained eternal redemption for us.
9:14
The blood of Christ will purge your conscience of dead works.
9:15
He is the mediator of the New Testament.
9:24
Christ is entered into heaven itself with his blood on our behalf.
9:26
He appeared once to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
9:28
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.
9:28
He will appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
10:5
God prepared a body for Jesus so he could be a sacrifice.
10:10
We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
10:12
After offering one sacrifice for sins forever, Jesus sat down on the right hand of the Father.
10:14
By one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified.
10:20
He consecrated a new and living way for us to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
10:21
He is high priest over the house of God.
10:23
He is faithful in his promises.
12:3
He endured a great contradiction of sinners.
12:24
Jesus’ blood speaks better things than that of Abel.
13:8
Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
13:12
That he might sanctify the people, Jesus suffered without the gate.
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners [different times and in a variety of ways] spake in time past unto the fathers [forefathers as recorded in the Old Testament] by the prophets,
The book of Hebrews is written to Hebrews—Israelites/Jews who partake of the finished work of Christ. For that reason the author assumes his readers have an intimate knowledge of the Old Testament, thus are aware of the manner in which God had spoken to the Hebrew prophets in various ways. Their faith was based on a firm conviction of divine revelation as recorded in the Holy Scriptures.
1:2 Hath in these last days [recently] spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed [to be assigned or placed by another] heir of all things…
…last days…
Jesus is the focal point of all prophecy, the final revelation of God to the Hebrews.
…by his son…
Offers a contrast. Historically he has spoken by the prophets; he now, in these last days, has spoken by his son —a far superior spokesman.
…by whom also he made the worlds;
While extoling Jesus as the center of all that is future, he throws in the fact that he is also the sole creator of the worlds. In Genesis 1:1 when it says “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” that God is Jesus. Jesus created the heaven and earth and Adam and Eve and all the plants and animals.
Colossians 1:16–17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him : And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
See also John 1:3; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 3:3–4; Revelation 4:11.
…worlds…
This is a striking use of the plural. Jesus didn’t make just one world; he made worlds —plural. This is either an acknowledgement that this world is