Sunday Evening Bible Study

January 21, 2001

Introduction

We are reading a letter written to Jewish believers.

People who understand the intricacies of the Old Testament Law and sacrificial system.

People familiar with the priesthood of Aaron.

We're now going to see a challenge to that priesthood.

Earlier the writer had basically done an exegetical study of Psalm 95 (“don’t harden your hearts …”). Now the writer is going to do a study of Psalm 110:4

The writer has already mentioned several times that Jesus was a priest because of what David wrote in Psalm 110:4

(Heb 5:6 KJV) As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

This idea was repeated in 5:10 and 6:20.

Hebrews 7 – A Priest after Melchizedek

:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

Melchisedec – Melchisedek – “king of righteousness”

met - sunantao - to meet with

slaughter - kope - the act of cutting, a cut; a cutting in pieces, slaughter

blessed - eulogeo - to praise, celebrate with praises; to invoke blessings; to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers; to ask God’s blessing on a thing

Melchizedek is only mentioned two times in the Old Testament:

The second time is when David said that the Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. This is what the writer to the Hebrews has already quoted:

(Psa 110:4 KJV) The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

The first time is the when the actual person appeared in history.

A group of kings had invaded the land of Canaan and they took captive the people of the city of Sodom, including Abraham’s nephew, Lot.

Abraham mounted his own army, using his own servants, and pursued these kings, beating them in battle and releasing all the captives.

It’s at this point that Melchizedek appears:

(Gen 14:18-20 KJV) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. {19} And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: {20} And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

This is all we know of this person.

Salem is thought to be an early name for the city of Jerusalem.

:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

a tenth - dekate - a tenth part of anything, a tithe

gave - merizo - to divide; to separate into parts, cut into pieces; to divide into parties, i.e. be split into factions

being by interpretation - hermeneuo - to explain in words, expound; to interpret; to translate what has been spoken or written in a foreign tongue into the vernacular

righteousness - dikaiosune - in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God; integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting

The name “Melchizedek” has two parts - “Melchi” means “king” and “zedek” means “righteousness”.

Salem - Salem - “peace”; the place where Melchizedek was king and thought to be the ancient name of Jerusalem

peace - eirene - a state of national tranquility; peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord; security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)

The writer has drawn some lessons both from the man’s name (Melchizedek) as well as his title (King of Salem).

Melchizedek was both a priest and a king. Just like Jesus.

:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

without father - apator - whose father is not recorded in the genealogies

without mother - ametor - born without a mother

without descent - agenealogetos - one whose descent there is no record of, without genealogy

beginning - arche - beginning, origin

life - zoe - life

end - telos - end; termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time)

make like unto - aphomoioo (“from” + “to be made like”) - to cause a model to pass off into an image or shape like it; to express itself in it, to copy; to produce a facsimile; to be made like, render similar

abideth - meno - to remain, abide

priest - hiereus - a priest, one who offers sacrifices and in general in busied with sacred rites

continually - dienekes - continuously, continuous

It may be that the writer is trying to say that because Melchizedek didn’t have a recorded birth or death, that he is a picture of a person who lives forever, like Jesus.

It may be that the writer is alluding to the possibility that Melchizedek might have been Jesus Himself, in a “pre-incarnate” form.

Jesus did say,

(John 8:56-58 KJV) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. {57} Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? {58} Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Could Jesus have been referring to Melchizedek? Possibly.

:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

consider - theoreo - to be a spectator, look at, behold; to view attentively, take a view of, survey; to view mentally, consider; to see; to ascertain, find out by seeing

how great - pelikos - how great, how large; in a material reference (denoting geometrical magnitude as distinguished from arithmetical); in an ethical sense: how distinguished

spoils - akrothinion - top of the heap, the first fruits; best of the spoils or crops; the Greeks customarily selected from the topmost part of the heaps and offered this to the gods

There must have been something special about this man. After rescuing the people, Abraham was offered a reward by the King of Sodom. He refused it. He would not become enriched by this leader of wickedness. Yet here Abraham pays a tenth to Melchizedek.

:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

The tribe of Levi was the tribe charged with doing the priestly duties. They were paid through the tithes of the nation of Israel:

(Num 18:26 KJV) Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.

Both the tribe of Levi, as well as all the Israelites are descendants of Abraham. Abraham’s son was Isaac. Isaac’s son was Jacob, and Jacob was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.

:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

descent - genealogeo - to recount a family’s origin and lineage, trace ancestry; to draw one’s origin, derive one’s pedigree

received tithes - dekatoo - to exact or receive the tenth part; to pay tithes

promises - epaggelia - announcement; promise; the act of promising, a promise given or to be given; a promised good or blessing

blessed - eulogeo - to praise, celebrate with praises; to invoke blessings; to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers

:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

contradiction - antilogia - gainsaying, contradiction; opposition, rebellion

less - elasson - less

better - kreitton - more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous; more excellent

is blessed - eulogeo - to praise, celebrate with praises; to invoke blessings; to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers; to ask God’s blessing on a thing

The writer is saying that it is a commonly understood fact that a greater person bestows blessings on a lesser person. Therefore, Melchizedek was a GREATER person than Abraham.

:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

that die - apothnesko - to die

it is witnessed - martureo - to be a witness, to bear witness, i.e. to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, or that he knows it because taught by divine revelation or inspiration

he liveth - zao - to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)

In normal, every day circumstances, Levites are people who die. But in the story of Abraham and Melchizedek, Melchizedek received tithes and he is a person of whom it is witnessed that He liveth. How? Psalm 110:4 says that He is a priest for ever.

:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

loins - osphus - the hip (loin); to gird, gird about, the loins; a loin, the (two) loins; the place where the Hebrews thought the generative power (semen) resided

met - sunantao - to meet with; of events: to happen or befall

In a sense, because the Levites are direct descendants of Abraham, they were “in their father’s loins” at the time that Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek.

The writer is trying to make a point that this would show the superiority of the Melchizedek priesthood over that of the priesthood of Levi.

:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

perfection - teleiosis - a completing, a perfecting; fulfilment, accomplishment; the event which verifies the promise; consummation, perfection

received the law - nomotheteo - to enact laws; laws are enacted or prescribed for one, to be legislated for, furnished with laws; to sanction by law, enact

Point:

David wrote of the Messiah being of the priesthood of Melchizedek after the priesthood of Aaron had been established.

If the priesthood of Aaron was all that was needed, then why would David have said that another priest after Melchizedek would arise?

:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

being changed - metatithemi - to transpose (two things, one of which is put in place of the other); to transfer; to change; to go or pass over

a change - metathesis - transfer: from one place to another; to change; of things instituted or established

:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

pertaineth - metecho - to be or become partaker; to partake

gave attendance - prosecho - to bring to, bring near; to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive

altar - thusiasterion - the altar for slaying and burning of victims used of

Melchizedek did not come from the tribe of Levi. Levi was Abraham’s great-grandson.

:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

evident - prodelos - openly evident, known to all, manifest

sprang - anatello - rise; to cause to rise; of the earth bring forth plants; to rise, arise, to rise from, be descended from

Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, just as prophesied concerning the Messiah.

Priests were to be descendants of Aaron, who was of the tribe of Levi. Those who were of the tribe of Levi, but not descendants of Aaron were called “Levites”, and they helped with the work in the temple but were not allowed to do specifically priestly things.

:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

far more - perissoteron - exceeding some number or measure or rank or need

evident - katadelos - thoroughly clear, plain, evident

similitude - homoiotes - likeness

Even though Melchizedek wasn’t of the line of Aaron, it was clear through David’s writing that there would be another priest one day of the likeness of Melchizedek.

:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

carnal - sarkikos - fleshly, carnal

Priests became priests through the flesh, because they simply inherited the position from their fathers.

power - dunamis - strength power, ability

endless - akatalutos - indissoluble, not subject to destruction

The authority of Jesus comes from the power of His endless life.

How do we know He has an “endless” life? next verse …

:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

for ever - aion - for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity

It’s the “for ever” part that hints at Jesus’ eternal nature, His endless life. Quoting again from Ps. 110:4.

:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

disannulling - athetesis - abolition, disannulling, put away, rejection

going before - proago - to lead forward, lead forth; to go before; preceding, prior in time, previous

weakness - asthenes - weak, infirm, feeble

unprofitableness - anopheles - unprofitable, useless

The Law of Moses is the “preceding” command that is set aside because it was “weak” and “unprofitable”.

Note:

The Mormons make a big deal about their claim to have the “restored” Levitical priesthood of Aaron.

Now that you are understanding Hebrews 7, you realize that it's foolish to try to restore something that was not only imperfect, but something that God had done away with.

:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

made … perfect - teleioo - to make perfect, complete; to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end; to complete (perfect); add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full

bringing in - epeisagoge - a bringing in besides or in addition to what is or has been brought in; used of the introduction of a new wife in the place of one repudiated

better - kreitton - more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous; more excellent

we draw nigh - eggizo - to bring near, to join one thing to another; to draw or come near to, to approach

Point: The Law has a purpose. Its purpose is to show us our need for a Savior. Its purpose is to bring conviction on us for our sin.

(Gal 3:24 KJV) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

(Rom 3:20 KJV) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But the Law doesn’t make a person perfect, it only points out their problems.

Jesus is the “better hope” and He is the one who is able to actually bring us close to God. Jesus is “brought in” to take the place of the Law.

:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

an oath - horkomosia - affirmation made on oath, the taking of an oath, an oath

:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

sware - omnuo - to swear; to affirm, promise, threaten, with an oath; in swearing to call a person or thing as witness, to invoke, swear by

repent - metamellomai - it is a care to one afterwards; it repents one, to repent one’s self

The Levitical priests weren’t made priests with the swearing of an oath, but Jesus was. Jesus was made a priest when God swore an oath and declared Him to be a priest.

:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

so much - tosoutos - of quantity: so great, so many

better - kreitton - more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous; more excellent

covenant - diatheke - a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will; a compact, a covenant, a testament

surety - egguos - a surety, a sponsor

:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

many - pleion - greater in quantity; the more part, very many

suffered - koluo - to hinder, prevent forbid; to withhold a thing from anyone; to deny or refuse one a thing

to continue - parameno - to remain beside, continue always near; to survive, remain alive

With the Levitical priests, there were many priests and many generations of priests because a human priest can only live for so long. And then they die.

:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

he continueth - meno - to remain, abide

Same word used in the quote of Psalm 110:4, “he abideth a priest forever”.

ever - aion - for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity. Here it is literally, “unto eternity”.

unchangeable - aparabatos - unviolated, not to be violated, inviolable; unchangeable and therefore not liable to pass to a successor

The priesthood of Jesus, after the order of Melchizedek, isn’t going to change or be passed on from one person to the next because Jesus lives forever and will never give up His job.

:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,

to save - sozo - to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction

to the uttermost - panteles (“all” + “end”) - all complete, perfect; completely, perfectly, utterly

is able - dunamai - to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful

that come unto - proserchomai - to come to, approach; draw near to; to assent to

Lesson

A Secure Salvation

When Jesus saves us, He doesn't do a half-way job.

He doesn't just save you from 25 sins, or only four years' worth of sins. He saves you from all of them. Saved from everything.

You may feel like you've really done the worse thing that could ever be done.

Yet Jesus is able to save you.

1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

You don't have to be afraid of ever being separated from God again.

Illustration

In the late 1800s, Charles Berry, an English preacher, became the pastor of the great Plymouth Church in Brooklyn. One day Berry described how earlier he had come to Jesus Christ.

There had been a time in Berry’s early ministry when he preached a very thin gospel-really no gospel at all. As did the Corinthians, he looked upon Jesus as merely a noble teacher but not as a divine redeemer.

Late one night during his first pastorate, as he sat in his cozy study, there came a knock. He opened the door and found a typical Lancashire girl with a shawl over her head and clogs on her feet.

“Are you a minister?” she asked. Getting an affirmative answer, she went on breathlessly. “You must come with me quickly. I want you to get my mother in.”

Thinking it was a case of some drunken mother out in the streets, Berry said, “You must go and get a policeman.”

“No,” said the girl, “My mother is dying, and you must come and get her into heaven.”

Berry got dressed and followed her for a mile and a half through lonely streets in the night. He knelt at the woman’s side, and he began telling her how good and kind Jesus was and how he’d come to show us how to live.

Then the desperate woman cut him off. “Mister,” she cried, “that’s no use for the likes of me. I’m a sinner. I’ve lived my life. Can’t you tell me of someone who can have mercy upon me and save my poor soul?”

“I stood there in the presence of a dying woman,” said Berry, “and I realized I had nothing to tell her. In the midst of sin and death, I had no message. In order to bring something to that dying woman, I leaped back to my mother’s knee, to my cradle faith, and I told her the story of the Cross and of a Christ who is able to save to the uttermost.” The tears began to run down the woman’s cheeks.

“Now you’re getting it,” she said. “Now you’re helping me.”

Berry concluded the story by saying, “I got her in, and blessed be God, I got in myself.”

-- Gordon MacDonald, "The Centerpiece of the Gospel," Preaching Today, Tape No. 137.

Illustration

Steve Winger from Lubbock, Texas, writes about his last college test a final in a logic class known for its difficult exams: To help us on our test, the professor told us we could bring as much information to the exam as we could fit on a piece of notebook paper. Most students crammed as many facts as possible on their 8-1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper. But one student walked into class, put a piece of notebook paper on the floor, and had an advanced logic student stand on the paper.

The advanced logic student told him everything he needed to know. He was the only student to receive an "A." The ultimate final exam will come when we stand before God and he asks, "Why should I let you in?" On our own we cannot pass that exam. Our creative attempts to earn eternal life fall far short. But we have Someone who will stand in for us.

-- Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 4.

:25 seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

ever - pantote - at all times, always, ever

to make intercession - entugchano - to light upon a person or a thing, fall in with, hit upon, a person or a thing; to go to or meet a person, esp. for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication; to pray, entreat; make intercession for any one

The ordinary Levitical priests weren’t eternal like Jesus is. Because Jesus is a priest “for ever”, because He lives forever, He is able to act as our priest forever and make sure that our relationship with God is secure.

Lesson

Eternal Advocate

1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Marriage counseling - it's hard not to take sides. When one person tells you their side of the story, they sure sound convincing. But it's kind of hard to tell which side is the correct one.

Satan is constantly accusing you before the Father. But Jesus is always taking your side with the Father.

And He's always on duty! Jesus isn't just available from 9-5. He's always available.

:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

became - prepo - to stand out, to be conspicuous, to be eminent; to be becoming, seemly, fit

“it was fitting” (NAS); “meets our need” (NIV); “he is the kind of high priest we need” (NLT)

holy - hosios - undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious

harmless - akakos (“not” + “bad”) - without guile or fraud, harmless, free from guilt; fearing no evil from others, distrusting no one

We sing, "You are beauty and light, no darkness at all" You don't have to worry about finding out some kind of secret fault in Jesus. When we look to people to be our priests and not to Jesus, we're going to be disappointed because we're going to eventually find faults and sin in their lives.

I like the idea of harmless. You don't have to be afraid when you're around Jesus. He's not going to hurt you.

Some people have grown up in abusive situations. They have grown to mistrust people, expecting to eventually be ripped off by them.

Not so with Jesus.

undefiled - amiantos - not defiled, unsoiled; free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or its force and vigour impaired

separate - chorizo - to separate, divide, part, put asunder, to separate one’s self from, to depart. Jesus was separate from sinners in the sense that He didn’t take part in their sins. But this doesn’t mean He didn’t spend time with sinners.

higher - hupselos - high, lofty; exalted on high

Could this refer to Jesus being greater than angels (which was the point of the first chapter)?

:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

needeth - anagke - necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by law of duty regarding to one’s advantage, custom, argument. Here it is literally, “who does not have according to the day a need”.

offer up - anaphero - to carry or bring up, to lead up; to put upon the altar, to bring to the altar, to offer

once - ephapax - once, at once; all at once; once for all

(Heb 7:27 NASB) …because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

The Levitical priests had to offer up sacrifices for their own sins first, then for the sins of the people. They needed to do this every day.

Jesus, because He is without sin, did not need to offer up a sacrifice for Himself. All He needed was to offer up a sacrifice for the people.

He only needed a single sacrifice for the sins of the people because His own life was enough to pay for all the sins of the world.

:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

maketh - kathistemi - to set, place, put; to set one over a thing (in charge of it); to appoint one to administer an office

infirmity - astheneia - want of strength, weakness, infirmity

oath - horkomosia - affirmation made on oath, the taking of an oath, an oath

since - meta - with, after, behind

for evermore - aion - for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity

who is consecrated - teleioo - to make perfect, complete; to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end; to complete (perfect)

The contrast is drawn between the Law and the Oath. What is the Oath? It’s is God’s oath in Psalm 110:4, the passage that has just been taught on.

Why is Jesus better than the Levitical priests? (10 reasons)

1) :4-7 Melchizedek is greater than Abraham because he did the blessing.

2) :8-10 Melchizedek is greater than Levi because Levi was inside Abraham when he paid tithes to Melchizedek.

3) :11 God never planned for the Levitical priesthood to be the final priesthood.

4) :15-17 Jesus is a better high priest because He lives forever.

5) :18-19 The Law can't make you perfect, Jesus can. Jesus is better.

6) :20-22 Jesus was made a priest by God swearing an unchangeable oath (a better situation than Levitical priests)

7) :23-25 Jesus doesn't need a replacement. He doesn't die like other priests.

8) :26 Jesus has better personal qualifications than any other priest.

9) :27 Jesus doesn't need to take care of His own sins. He doesn't have any.

10) :27 Jesus was able to pay for all your sins with one single sacrifice. His own life.

Hebrews 8 – The New Covenant

:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

the sum - kephalaion (“head”) - the chief or main point, the principal thing

Majesty - megalosune - majesty; of the majesty of God

set on the right hand -

The writer has been expounding on Psalm 110:4, but probably has the entire Psalm in mind because here he is drawing from the first verse:

(Psa 110:1 KJV) A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

This entire Psalm was recognized as a Messianic Psalm. Jesus even used it to challenge the Pharisees (Mat. 22:41-46).

:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

sanctuary - hagion - reverend, worthy of veneration; of things which on account of some connection with God possess a certain distinction and claim to reverence, as places sacred to God which are not to be profaned

minister - leitourgos - a public minister, a servant of the state; a minister, servant; of the temple; of one busied with holy things; of a priest

tabernacle - skene - tent, tabernacle, (made of green boughs, or skins or other materials); of that well known movable temple of God after the pattern of which the temple at Jerusalem was built

true - alethinos - that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine

pitched - pegnumi - to make fast, to fix; to fasten together, to build by fastening together

Point: The writer is going to make a point that the earthly rituals of worship were based upon things that were going on in heaven. On earth there is a “tabernacle”, but it is only a model of the real “tabernacle” in heaven.

:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

it is of necessity - anagkaios - necessary; what one can not do without, indispensable

this man - touton - this; “this one”

Just as priests had gifts and sacrifices to offer, Jesus must also have something to offer. What is it? The writer won’t get around to answering that question until chapter nine (9:14).

:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

(Heb 8:4 NASB) Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;

Jesus wouldn’t fit the requirements of a priest according to the Law.

:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

example - hupodeigma - a sign suggestive of anything, delineation of a thing, representation, figure, copy; an example: for imitation

shadow - skia - shadow; an image cast by an object and representing the form of that object

admonished - chrematizo - to transact business, esp. to manage public affairs; to give a response to those consulting an oracle, to give a divine command or admonition, to teach from heaven; to be divinely commanded, admonished, instructed; to be the mouthpiece of divine revelations, to promulgate the commands of God

to make - epiteleo - to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete

pattern - tupos - the mark of a stroke or blow, print; a figure formed by a blow or impression; of a figure or image; an example

showed to - deiknuo - to show, expose to the eyes

The writer is quoting again from the Law, when Moses was given instructions on how to make all the pieces of the tabernacle:

In describing the pattern for the candlestick:

(Exo 25:40 KJV) And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.

The tent itself:

(Exo 26:30 KJV) And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.

The altar:

(Exo 27:8 KJV) Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.

Lesson

Shadows of heaven

If you do a study of the tabernacle and it’s furniture, you will see many of the things show up elsewhere in Scripture, being described in heaven.

:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

more excellent - diaphoros - different, varying in kind; excellent, surpassing

he obtained - tugchano - to hit the mark; of one discharging a javelin or arrow; to reach, attain, obtain, get, become master of

ministry - leitourgia - a public office which a citizen undertakes to administer at his own expense; biblical usage; a service or ministry of the priests relative to the prayers and sacrifices offered to God

This word, or forms of it are sprinkled all throughout Hebrews:

Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Heb 8:6 ¶ But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Heb 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

mediator - mesites (“middle”) - one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant; a medium of communication, arbitrator

covenant - diatheke - a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will; a compact, a covenant, a testament

better - kreitton - more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous; more excellent

promises - epaggelia - announcement; promise; the act of promising, a promise given or to be given; a promised good or blessing

established - nomotheteo (“law” + “place”) - to enact laws; laws are enacted or prescribed for one, to be legislated for, furnished with laws; to sanction by law, enact

:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

faultless - amemptos - blameless, deserving no censure, free from fault or defect

sought - zeteo - to seek in order to find

With the priesthood, the question was raised, “Why a new priesthood after Melchizedek if the Aaronic priesthood was good enough?” The answer was that the Aaronic priesthood wasn’t good enough.

Now with the “covenants”. If the Law of Moses was enough to get you into heaven, then why would there be something prophesied about called a “new covenant”?

:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

finding fault - memphomai - to blame, find fault

I will make - sunteleo - to end together or at the same time; to end completely; bring to an end, finish, complete; to accomplish, bring to fulfilment; to effect, make, (conclude); to finish

covenant - diatheke - a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will; a compact, a covenant, a testament

Lesson

The New Testament

This is the meaning of the words “New Testament”. The New Testament is God’s new covenant, God’s new agreement with mankind.

This wasn’t an idea that was cooked up by the New Testament followers. There was a prophecy in the Old Testament about God making a New Covenant with mankind.

The writer is quoting from:

(Jer 31:31-34 KJV) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: {32} Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: {33} But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. {34} And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

too them - epilambanomai - to take in addition, to lay hold of, take possession of, overtake, attain, attain to; to lay hold of or to seize upon anything with the hands, to take hold of, lay hold of; metaph. to rescue one from peril, to help, succour

:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

covenant - diatheke - a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will; a compact, a covenant, a testament

I will make - diatithemai - to arrange, dispose of, one’s own affairs; to dispose of by will, make a testament; to make a covenant, enter into a covenant, with one

“the covenant I will covenant with …”

I will put - didomi - to give; to give something to someone

mind - dianoia - the mind as a faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring; understanding; mind, i.e. spirit, way of thinking and feeling

hearts - kardia - the heart

Note: This is the distinction in the New Testament, where it is not up to man to remember and perform every law. The emphasis in the New Testament is not on what man does, but on what God does. God even puts His laws in our hearts. He changes us from the inside out.

:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

neighbor - plesion - a neighbour; a friend

know - ginosko - to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel; to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of

shall know - eido - to see; to perceive with the eyes; to perceive by any of the senses; to perceive, notice, discern, discover; to know; to know of anything; to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive

There will be a day when there will no longer be a need for witnessing because everyone will know the Lord. There is a sense in which this has not yet happened.

:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

merciful - hileos - propitious, merciful

unrighteousness - adikia - injustice, of a judge; unrighteousness of heart and life; a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness

sins - hamartia - sin; to be without a share in; to miss the mark; to err, be mistaken

iniquities - anomia - the condition of without law; because ignorant of it; because of violating it; contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

remember - mnaomai - to remind; to be recalled or to return to one’s mind, to remind one’s self of, to remember; to be recalled to mind, to be remembered, had in remembrance; to remember a thing; be mindful of

Lesson

God forgets our sins.

Sometimes it’s pretty hard to forget a person’s sin. We can try to forgive, but it’s hard to forget.

Illustration

A newly ordained preacher and his young wife were talking about being more considerate of each other. The good wife promised that she would stop being so critical of his sleep-inducing sermons. He, in return, promised to honor her privacy and stop looking through her dresser drawers. The preacher was true to his word, and never looked through his wife’s dresser drawers; the good wife was never openly critical of her husband’s sermons; and their marriage progressed smoothly. After 50 years, their children gave a great party to celebrate the golden anniversary of the preacher and his wife. Many people came to congratulate the happy couple, and brought lovely gifts. That evening, as they were putting the gifts away, the preacher saw that his wife had left one dresser drawer slightly open. He tried as hard as he could to withstand the temptation, but he finally opened the drawer and looked inside. There he found 3 eggs, and $10,000.00, in bills of varied denominations. He was greatly puzzled by this, and went to question his wife. “Oh,” she said. “Well, you remember when we spoke of being more considerate with each other all those years ago?” The preacher, feeling profoundly guilty, answered “yes.” “Well,” she continued, “I promised to stop criticizing your boring sermons, but every time you gave a sermon that was a real snoozer, I put an egg into that drawer.” The preacher smiled. “Well, that’s not so bad. 50 years of sermons and only 3 eggs! But what about all that money?” His wife quietly responded, “Every time I got a dozen eggs, I sold them.”

The good news is, God doesn’t keep ANY marks on how many times you’ve sinned, if your sins have been forgiven.

Because Jesus has paid the price for our sin, our sin is forgiven.

When God buries our sins in the deepest sea, He posts a sign which reads: No Fishing!

:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

made … old - palaioo - to make ancient or old; to become old, to be worn out; of things worn out by time and use; to declare a thing to be old and so about to be abrogated

which decayeth - palaioo - to make ancient or old; to become old, to be worn out; of things worn out by time and use; to declare a thing to be old and so about to be abrogated

waxeth old - gerasko - to grow old; of things and institutions: to fail from age, be obsolescent

ready - eggus - near, of place and position; of times imminent and soon to come pass

vanish away - aphanismos - disappearance; destruction; from aphanizo - to snatch out of sight, to put out of view, to make unseen; to cause to vanish away, to destroy, consume

The reason that God talked about a “new” covenant was because the “old” covenant would be finished.

Hebrews 9 Jesus fulfills the pictures of the priesthood

:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

first covenant – The Law of Moses

ordinances - dikaioma - that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law; what has been established, and ordained by law, an ordinance

divine service - latreia - service rendered for hire; any service or ministration: the service of God; the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law; to perform sacred services

sanctuary - hagion - reverend, worthy of veneration; of things which on account of some connection with God possess a certain distinction and claim to reverence, as places sacred to God which are not to be profaned; set apart for God, to be as it were, exclusively his

worldly - kosmikos - of or belonging to the world; earthly

The old covenant had a place on earth to conduct worship.

:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary.

tabernacle - skene - tent, tabernacle, (made of green boughs, or skins or other materials); of that well known movable temple of God after the pattern of which the temple at Jerusalem was built

The tabernacle was a tent that was 45 feet long, 15 feet wide, and was divided into two sections. The first section was 30 feet long, and was called the “holy place”, or here as “the first”. The second section was 15 feet long, and called the “holy of holies”.

candlestick - luchnia - a (candlestick) lamp stand, candelabrum. The Menorrah had a central stem, with six branches (seven lamps altogether) coming out from the sides, fashioned all from one piece of gold.

In the Holy Place was the Menorrah (candlestick), an oil lamp, along with the table with the showbread on it. In front of the curtain that lead to the back room was the altar of incense.

table - trapeza - a table; a table on which food is placed, an eating place; the table in the temple at Jerusalem on which the consecrated loaves were placed

The table was made of wood, overlayed with gold. It was 3 feet long, 1 1/2 feet wide, and 1 1/2 feet high.

On it was placed twelve loaves of unleavened bread, two rows of six loaves. The bread was put out once a week, along with frankincense, a type of perfume.

showbread - prothesis - a setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view, the shewbread; twelve loaves of wheaten bread, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel, which loaves were offered to God every Sabbath, and separated into two rows, lay for seven days upon a table placed in the sanctuary or front portion of the tabernacle, and afterwards of the temple

sanctuary - hagion - reverend, worthy of veneration; of things which on account of some connection with God possess a certain distinction and claim to reverence, as places sacred to God which are not to be profaned; “holy place”

:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

veil - katapetasma - a veil spread out, a curtain; the name given to the two curtains in the temple at Jerusalem, one of them at the entrance to the temple separated the Holy Place from the outer court, the other veiled the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place

holiest of all – literally, “holy of holies”

:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

censer - thumiasterion - a utensil for fumigating or burning incense; an altar of incense

This was the “altar of incense”. (Exodus 30)

It was 1 ½ feet long by 1 ½ feet wide, and 3 feet high. It was made of wood, overlayed with gold. It was solely for the purpose of burning incense upon.

It was a picture of the people’s prayers rising before the throne of God.

ark - kibotos - a wooden chest or box; in the NT the ark of the covenant, in the temple at Jerusalem

golden pot – the Israelites were to keep a pot with manna in it to remember how God had fed them in the wilderness with this strange stuff called “manna”. (Ex. 16:33-34)

that budded - blastano - to sprout, bud, put forth new leaves; to produce

Aaron’s rod was kept with the ark as a way of remembering that God had chosen Aaron and his descendants to be priests. The story is found in Numbers 17.

tables - plax - a flat thing, broad tablet, plane, level surface (as of the sea)

Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant. By Solomon’s day, the pot of manna and the rod of Aaron were apparently missing.

1Ki 8:9 [There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

cherubims - cheroubim - cherubim, two golden figures of living creatures with two wings; they were fastened to the lid of the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies (both at the sacred tabernacle and of Solomon’s temple) in such a manner that their faces were turned towards each other and down towards the lid, which they overshadowed with their expanded wings. Between these figures God was regarded as having fixed his dwelling place.

shadowing - kataskiazo - to overshadow, cover with shade

mercyseat - hilasterion - relating to an appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation; used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory

This was a picture of God’s throne, a place of mercy, a place covered with angels.

particularly - meros - a part; one of the constituent parts of a whole; any particular, in regard to this, in this respect

:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

were thus ordained - kataskeuazo - to furnish, equip, prepare, make ready; of one who makes anything ready for a person or thing; of builders, to construct, erect, with the included idea of adorning and equipping with all things necessary

the service - latreia - service rendered for hire; any service or ministration: the service of God; the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law; to perform sacred services

accomplishing - epiteleo - to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete; to take upon one’s self; to make an end for one’s self; to leave off; to appoint to, impose upon

first tabernacle - the “holy place”.

Every day certain things were to be done. Every day a priest would go inside and clean and refill the oil lamp. Every day incense would be burned on the altar of incense at the time of prayer. Once a week the bread would be changed on the table of showbread.

:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

the second - “the holy of holies”

once - hapax - once, one time; once for all

errors - agnoema - a sin committed through ignorance or thoughtlessness

This was the ceremony that was done on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Only the high priest was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies, and only once a year (Lev. 16).

It was in the Holy of Holies where God met with man.

(Exo 25:22 KJV) And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

signifying - deloo - to make manifest; to make known by relating, to declare; to give one to understand, to indicate, signify

made manifest - phaneroo - to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way; make actual and visible, realised; to make known by teaching; to become manifest, be made known

Note: The way to God was not open to men while the tabernacle was standing. There was a veil that covered the entrance.

But when Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

(Mat 27:51 KJV) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

figure - parabole (“parable”) - a placing of one thing by the side of another, juxtaposition, as of ships in battle; a comparing, comparison of one thing with another, likeness, similitude; an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated; a parable: an earthly story with a heavenly meaning

present - enistemi - to place in or among, to put in; to be upon, impend, threaten; close at hand; present

could not - dunamai - to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful

conscience - suneidesis - the consciousness of anything; the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other; the conscience

perfect - teleioo - to make perfect, complete; to complete (perfect); add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full

him that did the service - latreuo - to serve for hire; to serve, minister to, either to the gods or men and used alike of slaves and freemen; in the NT, to render religious service or homage, to worship; to perform sacred services, to offer gifts, to worship God in the observance of the rites instituted for his worship; of priests, to officiate, to discharge the sacred office

The fact that a veil remained over the entrance to the Holy of Holies was a picture of the fact that not only was the way not yet made open, but that the sacrifices themselves weren’t able to make these worshippers perfect. It’s only after the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that the way into the Holy of Holies was opened.

:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

meats - broma - that which is eaten, food

drinks - poma - drink

divers - diaphoros - different, varying in kind; excellent, surpassing

washings - baptismos - a washing, purification effected by means of water; of washing prescribed by the Mosaic law (#Heb 9:10) which seems to mean an exposition of the difference between the washings prescribed by the Mosaic law and Christian baptism

ordinances - dikaioma - that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law; what has been established, and ordained by law, an ordinance

carnal - sarx - flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts; the body; the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature"; the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God

reformation - diorthosis (“through” + “straighten”) - in a physical sense, a making straight, restoring to its natural and normal condition something which in some way protrudes or has got out of line, as broken or misshapen limbs; of acts and institutions, reformation

imposed - epikeimai - to lie upon or over, rest upon, be laid or placed upon; of men, to press upon, to be urgent

These were some of the rituals that a Jewish person could go through.

:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

greater - megas - great; things esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance

more perfect - teleios - brought to its end, finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness; perfect. Comparative form.

Jesus didn’t perform His sacrificial ritual in an earthly temple, but a heavenly one. He entered into the tabernacle in heaven, the real thing.

:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

goats - tragos - male goat

calves - moschos - a tender juicy shoot; offspring; a calf, a bullock, a heifer

once - ephapax - once, at once; all at once; once for all

redemption - lutrosis - a ransoming, redemption; deliverance, esp. from the penalty of sin

having obtained - heurisko - to come upon, hit upon, to meet with; to find by enquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience; to find out for one’s self, to acquire, get, obtain, procure

:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

bulls - tauros - a bull or ox

ashes - spodos - ashes: placed on sackcloth as a token of grief

an heifer - damalis - a young cow, heifer; of the red heifer with whose ashes, by the Mosaic law, those were to be sprinkled who had become defiled

sprinkling - rhantizo - to sprinkle; to cleanse by sprinkling, hence to purify, cleanse

the unclean - koinoo - to make common; to make (Levitically) unclean, render unhallowed, defile, profane; to declare or count unclean

Numbers 19

A special red heifer was offered and burnt, and the ashes were kept.

If you were to come into contact with a dead body, you became “unclean”. This meant a ceremonial uncleanness which kept you from worship, from offering sacrifices until you were cleansed.

To be cleansed, you would go to the priest, who would mix the ashes with water and sprinkle you with them.

sanctifieth - hagiazo - to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow; to separate from profane things and dedicate to God; to purify

purifying - katharotes - cleanness, purity; in a Levitical sense

There was a type of ritual cleansing that happened with these different types of rituals.

:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

without spot - amomos - without blemish; as a sacrifice without spot or blemish; morally: without blemish, faultless, unblameable

purge - katharizo - to make clean, cleanse; to free from defilement of sin and from faults; to purify from wickedness; to free from guilt of sin, to purify; to consecrate by cleansing or purifying

conscience - suneidesis - the consciousness of anything; the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other; the conscience

to serve - latreuo - to serve for hire; to serve, minister to, either to the gods or men and used alike of slaves and freemen; in the NT, to render religious service or homage, to worship; to perform sacred services, to offer gifts, to worship God in the observance of the rites instituted for his worship; of priests, to officiate, to discharge the sacred office

Lesson

Jesus offers a clean conscience.

When we accept with faith what Jesus has done on the cross, His blood can actually clean our conscience.

How does this occur? How can I have my conscience cleansed?

Only through faith. Only through trusting in Him.

Illustration

The other day one of the brothers in the church shared with me how he had dreamt of meeting Jesus. In his dream, Jesus told him that he was forgiven. And for the first time in his life, he actually felt as if he was forgiven. He said he felt a cleansing go through his body and he KNEW he was forgiven. When he woke up, he knew it was true.

You don’t have to have a dream of Jesus to receive His cleansing, you only need to believe it’s true and receive it in your heart.

(Rom 8:31-34 NLT) What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? {32} Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else? {33} Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with himself. {34} Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us.

:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

mediator - mesites - one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant; a medium of communication, arbitrator

redemption - apolutrosis - a releasing effected by payment of ransom; redemption, deliverance; liberation procured by the payment of a ransom

transgressions - parabasis - a going over; metaph. a disregarding, violating; of the Mosaic law

This is the mechanics of the whole thing. Jesus is the mediator who has come to pay the price required to take care of our sins.

:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

testament - diatheke - a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will; a compact, a covenant, a testament

This word has been used mostly in the sense of a “covenant”, but it also speaks of a “will”, as it does here.

testator - diatithemai - to arrange, dispose of, one’s own affairs; of something that belongs to one; to dispose of by will, make a testament; to make a covenant, enter into a covenant, with one

A “Last Will and Testament” doesn’t mean anything until the person who has made out the will dies.

:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

of force - bebaios - stable, fast, firm; metaph. sure, trusty

strength - ischuo - to be strong; to have power; to be serviceable

:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

was dedicated - egkainizo - to renew; to do anew, again; to initiate, consecrate, dedication

:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Just as the New Covenant of Jesus was inaugurated with the shedding of Jesus’ blood, the Law of Moses also was started with the shedding of blood. The writer is referring to:

(Exo 24:6-8 KJV) And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. {7} And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. {8} And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

hath enjoined - entellomai - to order, command to be done, enjoin

:21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

of the ministry - leitourgia - a public office which a citizen undertakes to administer at his own expense; a service or ministry of the priests relative to the prayers and sacrifices offered to God

sprinkled - rhantizo - to sprinkle; to cleanse by sprinkling, hence to purify, cleanse

:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

almost -

Blood is usually the means of dealing with sin, but not always.

There is one bloodless sin offering. A very poor person could bring an offering of flour instead.

Le 5:11-13 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put [any] frankincense thereon: for it [is] a sin offering. 12 Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, [even] a memorial thereof, and burn [it] on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a sin offering. 13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and [the remnant] shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.

Since there was one exception, for a poor person who couldn't even afford two turtledoves (very affordable), the writer says "almost".

shedding of blood - haimatekchusia - shedding of blood

remission - aphesis - release from bondage or imprisonment; forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty

Lesson

Forgiveness requires blood.

Sin requires that a life be poured out. Blood is the symbol of life:

(Lev 17:11 KJV) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

I find it extremely interesting that when the Mormons have communion, they use bread and water. Why no wine or grape juice? They’ve removed the symbolism of the blood.

Some people are turned off by the use of “blood” in our salvation. But it was necessary.

:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

necessary - anagke - necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by law of duty regarding to one’s advantage, custom, argument

patterns - hupodeigma - a sign suggestive of anything, delineation of a thing, representation, figure, copy; an example: for imitation

In the earthly form of worship, people experienced a kind of cleansing through the ritual of sacrifice and the shedding of blood. But the real cleansing, the cleansing that came in heaven had to come from something better than the blood of goats, the blood of Jesus Christ.

:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

figures - antitupos - a thing formed after some pattern; a thing resembling another, its counterpart

to appear - emphanizo - to manifest, exhibit to view; to show one’s self, come to view, appear, be manifest; to indicate, disclose, declare, make known

in the presence - prosopon - the face

:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Jesus had a far better sacrifice to offer than what the average high priest had to offer. He did not have to go in year after year, but only had to offer His own blood once.

:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

appointed - apokeimai - to be laid away, laid by, reserved; reserved for one, awaiting him

Lesson

There is no second chance

The eastern idea of reincarnation is a horrible lie. You only get one chance in life.

After you die, you will face God in judgment.

Illustration

A woman finds herself outside the Pearly Gates, where St. Peter greets her. “Am I where I think I am?” she exclaims. “It’s so beautiful! Did I really make it to Heaven?” St. Peter replies, “Yes, my dear, these are the Gates of Heaven. But you must do one thing before you can enter.” Very excited, the woman asks what she must do to pass through the gates. “Spell a word,” St. Peter replies. “What word?” she asks. “Any word,” answers St. Peter. “It’s your choice.”  The woman promptly replies, “The word I will spell is love. L-o-v-e.” St. Peter congratulates her on her good fortune in making it into Heaven and asks her if she will take his place at the gates for a moment while he runs an errand. “I’d be honored,” she says, “but what should I do if someone comes while you are gone?” St. peter instructs her to require any newcomers to spell a word, just as she had done. So the woman takes St. Peter’s chair and watches the beautiful angels soaring around her, when lo and behold, a man approaches the gates. It is her husband! “What happened?” she cries. “Why are you here?” Her husband explains, “I was so upset when I left your funeral that I got into an automobile accident. Now I am here, ready to join you in Heaven.” “Not just yet,” the woman replies. “First you must spell a word.” “What word?” he asks. “Czechoslovakia.”

We have lots of funny stories like that, don’t we?

The problem is, the “judgment” we face in heaven has nothing to do with spelling Czechoslovakia.  It has to do with your sin.  What have you done with your sin?  And because only Jesus can take away your sin, the bottom line is, “What have you done with Jesus”?

(John 3:17-18 KJV)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. {18} He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

he shall appear - optanomai - to look at, behold; to allow one’s self to be seen, to appear

them that look - apekdechomai - assiduously and patiently waiting for