Daily reading
Today’s reading is: Heb. 10:19-13:25
Video
Hebrews Chapter Ten
(Outline continues from yesterday)
- In the Levitical priesthood, only the high priest could approach God’s presence, but our high priest (Christ) takes each of us into the heavenly holy place (Heb. 10:19-22).
- In chapter four, holding fast to our confession means maintaining a confident prayer life before the throne of grace (Heb. 4:14-16).
- In chapter ten, holding fast to our confession means mutual-reciprocal encouraging and stimulating one another with our eyes firmly fixed on the Episunagōgē (Heb. 10:23-25; 2nd Thess. 2:2).
- The priestly functions of encouragement and works stimulation are vital for believers to help avoid willful sinning and defilement of the priesthood (Heb. 10:26-31).
- The judgment of willful sin under the Levitical priesthood was a serious matter (v.28; Num. 15:30-31).
- How much more severe is the judgment of willful sin under the priesthood of Christ! (v.29)
- The author of Hebrews reminds his readers to think back to the first love of their first deeds, and remain steadfast to the Lord (Heb. 10:32-39 cf. Rev. 2:5).
Hebrews Chapter Eleven
- Hebrews 11 is the Hall of Fame of faith.
- Faith is the means by which physical, temporal creatures function in the spiritual, eternal realm (Heb. 11:1).
- Many other things may have changed between the old dispensation and the new, but faith is the same in every age (Heb. 11:2).
- The heroes of faith in the Old Testament are then detailed (Heb. 11:4-38).
- Old Testament faith looked ahead to New Testament faith (Heb. 11:39-40).
Hebrews Chapter Twelve
- The Hall of Fame of faith pales in the glory of the leader and completer of faith—Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:1-2). Occupation with Christ empowers believers to endure any earthly affliction (Heb. 12:3; 3:1).
- Focusing on the obedience of Christ to God the Father empowers believers to submit to our Father’s Divine discipline (Heb. 12:4-11).
- With the Father’s discipline in mind, believers can serve one another in peace & grace (Heb. 12:12-17).
- Israel approached an earthly mountain of fear, but the Church approaches the heavenly mountain of God (Heb. 12:18-24). The message of the first mountain was crucial to obey, but how much more the message of the second mountain! (Heb. 12:25-29).
Hebrews Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter 13 is the practical application for the priesthood of the Church to function in peace and grace with one another.
- The priesthood of the Church is characterized (Heb. 13:1-5) by:
- φιλαδελφία philadelphia love (v.1).
- φιλοξενία philoxenia hospitality (v.2).
- Bodily unity (v.3).
- Sexual fidelity (v.4).
- Financial generosity (v.5).
- The priesthood of the Church imitates faithful teachers and rejects false teachers (Heb. 13:7-9).
- The priesthood of the Church ministers spiritual sacrifices that are far beyond the shadow ministry of the Old Testament (Heb. 13:10).
- Our priesthood offers up continual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving (Heb. 13:15).
- Our priesthood offers up continual sacrifices of doing good and sharing (Heb. 13:16).
- The priesthood of the Church imitates Christ, bearing His reproach outside the camp, and seeking the city which is to come (Heb. 13:12-14).
- The priesthood of the Church functions in obedience to their leaders (Heb. 13:17).
- The priesthood of the Church engages in prayer for their leaders’ ministry and freedom (Heb. 13:18-19).
- The priesthood of the Church is perfectly equipped for every good work according to His will (Heb. 13:20-21).
- The author of Hebrews concludes with an appeal to heed his brief word of exhortation, a call to anticipate his arrival with Timothy, and a grace greetings from believers in Italy (Heb. 13:22-25).