Hebrews Chapter Four

(Continued from: "Chapter Three: God Warned That Jesus would be More Important than Moses")

In the introduction, we saw the troublesome Hebrews passages –and some of the lies that are based on them– which are used to frighten and manipulate us into changing our behaviors by threatening our Christian security. My desire is that you will be set free from the control of legalistic teaching as you relate those passages to the Hebrews' history. Here they are again, but I've highlighted some of the terms that we've encountered so far in our study.

Hebrews chapter six . . .

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. (Hebrews 6:7-8)

Then the one from Hebrews chapter ten . . .

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Revealing the Truth –Debunking the Lies

So far, we've read the first three chapters –and their Old Testament references. Here's a summary of those chapters along with some reminders from Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. (Please read the rest of the referenced passages when time permits. They provide a wealth of insight into the history of the Hebrews –and context to the whole New Testament.)

Enlightened:

Other than the sun and moon, fire was the main source of light. Some memorable examples that the Hebrews saw were: the column of bright fire in the night (Exodus 13:21-22); the fire on top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19); and the fire that consumed the rebels among them (Numbers 11:1-3). Each one of these was a display of God's glory to "enlighten" the people.

Tasted:

The Hebrews ate manna day-after-day while in the wilderness. It tasted like wafers with honey and contained all of the nutrients necessary for life. Moses explained the likeness of the life-giving manna (Exodus 16:11-18, 31) to God's word (Deuteronomy 8:1-4). Yet, even after they "tasted" both, they didn't really trust God for their physical or their spiritual well-being.

Partakers (take part or share in):

The Holy Spirit rested on Moses so that he could fairly judge the people's disputes. But hearing complaints from every family was a huge burden so he selected seventy elders to take part in this responsibility. God put His Spirit on the seventy –making them "partakers" (sharers) of the Holy Spirit –and of the burden (Numbers 11:4-6, 10-17).

Powers:

Supernatural events occurred before their eyes –God inflicted the ten plagues upon the abusive Egyptians (Exodus 5-12). Then He parted the sea for the Hebrews to escape slavery and He closed it again to destroy their enemies (Exodus 14:21-28). These were demonstrations of "powers of the age to come" when Jesus would offer an escape from the corruption of sin and the eradication of death.

Sinning Willfully:

Moses led the Hebrews right up to the entrance of the Promised Land. Caleb and Joshua entered –they witnessed its goodness –they reported that the land could be easily taken (Deuteronomy 1:22-38, Numbers 14:5-11). But even after seeing the light of God's glory, tasting the manna and His word, sharing the Holy Spirit, and seeing the miracles, that stubborn people "willfully sinned" –they intentionally refused to trust God and enter His rest.

Being enlightened by God's glory, having tasted His word, being a partaker of the Spirit, and seeing the powers of the age to come all had one purpose. It was to bring a lost person to his knees by seeing that God is both just and merciful. Willfully sinning was deliberately rejecting God's gospel-message which was presented through His Son.

God's Plea to Enter His Rest

As a nation, the Hebrews rebelled against God's message of physical salvation –life in the Promised Land– that He expressed through Moses (Deuteronomy 12:8-10). In the very same hardhearted way, many Hebrews of the first century watched their Messiah come into their midst and yet they rebelled against God's message of spiritual salvation –eternal life in the Kingdom of God– spoken through His Son. They were furious with the message and with the Messenger who brought it. According to Him, their salvation was not dependent upon their ancestry nor upon their religiously keeping the Law with its Levitical priests.

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Hebrews 4:1-2)

"For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also." Isn't that a curious statement? We modern-day Christians usually think that the gospel was first preached in New Testament times by Jesus, or John the Baptist, or the apostles. However, God selected Abraham to father a race of people that would be living examples of the gospel to the entire world those many years ago.

The gospel –then and now– proclaims that the only way to be acceptable to God is by trusting –having faith– in Him and His works. But hearing and knowing the gospel are not enough. The Old Testament Hebrews heard it and still failed to trust God by following Joshua across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The phrase in verse one, "you may seem to have come short of it," equates their failure to follow Joshua, to the New Testament Hebrews' failure to follow Jesus into eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST." (Hebrews 4:3-5)

God's unrelenting judgment against those who refuse to trust Him –described in Psalm 95– is repeated here twice again, "They shall not enter My rest." This time it's accompanied with the quote from Genesis two, "and God rested on the seventh day from all His works," illustrating that His rest has been available to all who have put their trust –had faith– in Him since the creation.

The faith that's required to achieve salvation (eternal life in the Kingdom of God) must be pure. Religious works are contingent upon a person's efforts and tenacity –not upon faith in God. The motivations of the heart are examined in Romans 14 and end with a grim conclusion –anything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:22-23).

Let's consider the metaphor of a chain composed of links where some of the links are faith in religious works and others are faith in God. It doesn't matter how many of each type there are, the single weakest link determines the strength of the chain. If a person's eternal security with God is connected by this chain, it will be lost the moment the person fails.

Jesus described it allegorically through the annual Feast of Unleavened Bread (established on the evening of the Exodus). The result of adding just a little leaven (works –or sin) to simple bread dough (faith) causes the whole loaf (person) to be puffed up (self-sufficient). Likewise, the tiniest reliance on good deeds –or the avoidance of bad ones– makes faith in God totally useless. Those who live by their works will never enter the Kingdom.

Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:6-11)

This is the third time that Psalm 95 is quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." It's God's emphatic last warning to come out of the desert-wilderness and into His rest. The psalm says to recognize, praise and give thanks to the Rock of Salvation, the Shepherd, the Creator of all. If the people had paid attention to the prophesies in the Scriptures –like those we've been reading– they would have received Jesus as the Son. To this day God pleads with the Hebrews –and all who will listen– to obey Him by following His Son.

The People's Rebellious Nature

We've seen that God had prepared a special reward for those who love Him long in advance. For a visual picture, those who followed Joshua entered the Promised Land. For the spiritual reality, those who follow Jesus enter eternal life in the kingdom of God. It would be a long and iterative process to convey His compassion so that they would respond with trusting, loving hearts.

He began with a leader and a spokesman –Moses and Aaron– who opened the Hebrews' eyes to the fact they were slaves to the Egyptians. A dividing line was drawn between the two peoples with the ten plagues inflicted upon Egypt showing God's favoritism for the Hebrews. They saw His protective nature when the sea was parted for them and flowed back over their enemies. Still, the people failed to perceive His love (Exodus 14:26-31).

Then He challenged them. First, they were without water for three days. Rather than ask Him and receive His provision, they grumbled. Nonetheless, He quenched their thirst (Exodus 15:22-25a). Then they were without food, and still they didn't appeal to Him. Out of love He gave them manna. The people remained ungrateful and whined for meat. That's when He gave them quail (Exodus 16:11-18,31).

Moses constantly reminded the people to trust God for everything –but their grumbling worsened. They rationalized that since Moses had spoken with God so whenever there was a complaint to be aired, the people went to him to find out "God's will" for each little problem and from every family. He was overwhelmed with the endless task of judging their disputes (Exodus 18:13-16).

The people didn't respond to God's loving-care shown through His faithful leadership, protection and provision. They just griped and complained more. So God had Jethro –Moses' father-in-law and priest to a foreign god– suggest the solution: Moses would only take the major disputes before God. He would teach God's laws and decrees to the people so that each individual would know "God's will." And he would establish a system of judges to resolve the lesser arguments (Exodus 18:17-23).

God called Moses to come up and meet with Him on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:3-6). His intent was to show that Moses was the only one who was trustworthy to speak to God as the people's representative –and to speak to the people as God's representative. He was God's first mediator. Moses went up the mountain as he was –he didn't have to change clothes or wash or anything else special. He was totally acceptable to God. But no one else –not so much as an animal– could even touch the mountain or else they would certainly die because of their unclean, unrighteous, sinful nature. Upon his return, Moses told the people that God was going to make His presence –and His will– known to them. They unanimously agreed to do all that the Lord said for them to do (Exodus 19:8-9).

Moses was told to consecrate –ceremonially cleans– the people. For two days they were to wash, remain abstinent, and not touch the mountain (Exodus 19:10-17). On the third day, Moses led them up to –but not onto– the mountain and God came down to them. He descended in fire –and the mountain was covered with smoke and quaked violently (Exodus 19:18-20).

God called Moses –and Aaron– to come up to be with Him and there He explained His will for the people –beginning with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). When God spoke to Moses, "All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking." They were frightened and told Moses that he should go talk to God and just report back what was said. That way they could stay at a safe distance (Exodus 20:18-21). God continued to lay out His will –with examples about servants and personal injuries (Exodus 21); property and social responsibility (Exodus 22); justice and mercy; rules regarding the Sabbath; the three main festivals; and the conquest of the land (Exodus 23).

Moses returned and recounted all of it to the people so they would know God's will and their judges would know how to settle the disputes. He wrote it all down, and again the people agreed to do all that the Lord said (Exodus 24:3-4). He built an alter and made blood sacrifices –that was the day that the Law went into effect. Then Moses read God's words to the people –and for the third time they agreed to do all that God said (Exodus 24:7-8). Afterwards, God had Moses bring Aaron and 72 others to have a meal in His presence (Exodus 24:9-11). That many witnesses would deflate any claims about Moses not really getting the Law from God.

To make it perfectly clear –and ensure there was no error in transcription– God had Moses return to the mountain and receive tablets on which God Himself wrote the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:12-17, Deuteronomy 9:9-10). Moses was gone only forty days and within that short time the people made and worshiped a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-6, Deuteronomy 9:11-12,16-17). They had clearly heard God's will –and they agreed to do it! Moses was furious and broke the tablets.

God responded, saying that He was angry enough to wipe out the people and start over again. A frightened Moses quickly realized how much he still loved his people (Exodus 32:7-10, Deuteronomy 9:13-14). So he appealed to God for mercy on their behalf (Exodus 32:11-14, Deuteronomy 9:25-29). And Moses was allowed another trip up the mountain. This time, he was given the plans for the Ark of the Covenant. God wrote the Law on a second set of tablets. Then Moses built the ark, put the new tablets inside and returned to the people. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5).

Mere Words and Outward Actions Aren't Sufficient

Everywhere the people went, the Ark of the Covenant was prominently carried in front of them –it contained the tablets of the Law, a gold jar of manna and Aaron's rod that budded, produced flowers and bore ripe almonds. It was a demonstration of God's perfect guidance; His sufficient provision; and His promise of new life.

The Hebrews set up the Tabernacle in the center of every place they lived. They attended worship services every Sabbath. Their priests wore holy garments. There were choirs and baptisms and sermons. They dedicated their children. They sacrificed both the first and the best of their livestock (and later their grain). They kept the sacred feasts –with extra attention paid to Passover. They gave tithes and contributed to special collections. Their whole lives were governed by the Law. All of these outward actions appeared to be godly, but their hearts were a totally different matter –they refused to enter His salvation on His terms.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

God looks deep into each and every person's heart to determine their eternal destination. He knows whether the words of their mouth and the actions of their body are in agreement with a heart that trusts God for life's provision. He sees the difference between the person who follows His Son by faith into eternal life –and the person who thinks he knows a better way. Through the Law, the people were supposed to see how far their hearts were from God.

Chapter three began with a reminder to the audience of this letter –those Hebrews who confessed that Jesus was their Apostle and High Priest. ("Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. . .") In that chapter, we looked at the allegory of the Exodus and the entrance to the Promised Land. Moses led the people to the Promised Land, but they had to follow Joshua to enter it.

There, Moses was likened to the Law which shows a person's lost, sinful, dead state and need for eternal life. Joshua was likened to faith –trust in God's grace– the way into the kingdom of God. And Jesus is the fulfillment of Joshua. Moses (the Law) couldn't enter because the Law gives power to sin (1 Corinthians 15:56-57) and sin is powerless without the Law (Romans 7:7-8). Joshua (faith) did enter the land. It's by faith that Jesus brings peace and abundant, fulfilled, eternal life to His followers. A person cannot follow both the Law and faith. One must remain on the outside –and die– while the other enters in –and lives (Romans 7:4-6).

Now here we are at the end of chapter four –and we see an appeal for the people to act upon what they said they believed.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

The high priest lived among people. He knew the demands of the Law and experienced the temptations and troubles of life along with everyone else. He was also sensitive to God's faithful, loving-kindness. Before the high priest went into the Holy of Holies, he first made a ceremonial, sacrificial offering for his own sins. Then he went in and made another ceremonial, sacrificial offering –this time for the sins of the people –pleading for God's merciful forgiveness.

Similarly, Jesus lived among the Hebrews. He knew the Law and all that was required to obey it –and to fulfill it. He began His ministry spending forty days in the desert where Satan tempted Him in body, soul and spirit to break the Law. He also faced temptation from His people –His own creation– who insulted and rejected Him. Because He didn't give in to any sin, He didn't need a sacrificial offering for Himself –He was qualified to enter heaven –the true Holy of Holies– as the Great High Priest. Then with His own blood as the true sacrificial offering, He obtained forgiveness of all sins –for all people –for all time.

The word "Great" in His title of "Great High Priest" explains that He is the fulfillment of all that the high priest would ever accomplish. There is no longer any need for men to continue in that role. The Old Covenant high priests and the Law they administered showed man's sinful nature. They were only the foreshadow of His role as the ultimate mediator –the One who resolved all of the conflicts between God and man.

The first Joshua led his people into the Promised Land, a place where he had been before. This Joshua –Jesus– leads His people into eternal life in the kingdom of God –resting in His very presence. It's a place where Jesus had been before and where He is now.

 

Continue reading: "Chapter Five: The Role of the Priesthood"