epistle to the hebrews —reality is ‘better’ san diego bible students convention bro. mark...

Epistle to the Hebrews —Reality is ‘better’

San Diego Bible Students ConventionBro. Mark Davis, Bro. Tom Gilbert, Bro. Kent Humphreys, Bro. Richard DoctorNovember 10, 2012

Epistle to the HebrewsReality is ‘better’This is the epistle of ‘better things.’ Paul writes of a ‘better’ spokesman ‘than the angels’ (Hebrews 1:4); also of ‘better things’ (Hebrews 6:9; 11:40; 12:24); ‘better promises’ (8:6); a ‘better hope’ (7:19); a ‘better testament’ (7:22) or covenant (8:6); a better ‘mediator’ (9:12-15); and a better ‘priesthood’ (7:23,24). Upon the altar (13:10), and in the tabernacle (9:11) are offered ‘better sacrifices’ (9:23). It is a better ‘ministry’ (8:6), leading to a ‘better country’ (11:16), even as the fulfillment, the complete work, is better than the blueprints.

J. Meggison - Hebrews

Epistle to the Hebrews• Hebrews 1:1-7 • Hebrews 1:8 • Hebrews 1-2 • Hebrews 2:17 • Hebrews 3 • Hebrews 4 • Hebrews 4:1 • Hebrews 4:11 • Hebrews 4:14 • Hebrews 4:16 • Hebrews 5 • Hebrews 6 • Hebrews 6- 7 • Hebrews 8-9 • Hebrews 10 • Hebrews 11 • Hebrews 12 • Hebrews 13

• He is better than the prophets • Special translation problem for this verse• He is better than the angels • How this verse sheds light on John 1:1 • He is better than Moses • He is better than Joshua; the Sabbath; the

priesthood • Earnest Admonition 1: Let us Fear• Earnest Admonition 2: Let us Labor • Earnest Admonition 3: Let us Hold Fast• Earnest Admonition 4: Let us Come Boldly• His better Priesthood • Going on to Perfection (Hebrews 6:1) • Melchisedec as a type of Christ • The better tabernacle - the better covenant • The Ransom sacrifice - "A body hast thou

prepared“• Faith and the Ancient Worthies • Consider Him • Closing thoughts

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Hebrews 1:1-7• Jesus is superior to the Prophets• Not only is Jesus God’s spokesman, he is Gods’

Son, heir of all things, the agent of creation• Jesus is superior to the angels• V. 5—which of the angels did God raise from the

dead?• V. 6—all the angels worship God’s Son• V. 7—angels are merely servants of God





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Hebrews 1:8 – translation • Context• Translations• Commentary • Noting that there is no explicit verb in the Hebrew

or Greek of either Psalm 45:6 (44:7 Septuagint) or Hebrews 1:8, perhaps the best translation would be, “Thy throne is the throne of God forever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom…”

This reading would seem to be consistent with Revelation 3:21, “as I also ... Sat down with my Father in his throne…” Beauties of the Truth-August 2012 (Bro. J. Parkinson)

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Hebrews 1-2 “He is better than the angels” – Heb 1:4 (“angels” 10 times)• Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any

time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

• Hebrews 2:2-5 “For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast…How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? …For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.”

• Hebrews 2:16 “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”

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Hebrews 2:17 and John 1:1

Alfred Marshall Diaglott (1968) Greek text - Nestle Aland recension – 1960s

“Towards God” means “In regards to — God”

NOT “with God”

Beauties of the Truth-November 2010





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Hebrews 3

• Moses was over God’s House as a servant• Jesus is over God’s House as a son• Christ is as superior to Moses as a son and heir

is to a servant• V. 6—”own” (KJV) is spurious; it is God’s house• Paul admonishes his readers to not harden their

heart like their ancestors and miss entering in to the “rest” God still promises



priesthood• Earnest Admonition 1: Let us Fear• Earnest Admonition 2: Let us Labor • Earnest Admonition 3: Let us Hold Fast• Earnest Admonition 4: Let us Come Boldly• His better Priesthood • Going on to Perfection (Hebrews 6:1) • Melchisedec as a type of Christ • The better tabernacle - the better covenant • The Ransom sacrifice - "A body hast thou prepared“• Faith and the Ancient Worthies • Consider Him • Closing thoughts

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Hebrews 4 – He is better than Joshua; better than the Sabbath; and better than all other priests• As in the Provocation (3:15)• If Joshua had given them rest (4:8)• Sabbath: God rested the Seventh Day (4:4)• Antitypical priesthood: A rest of faith for God’s

people (4:9,10 &14)

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Heb. 4:1—Let us Fear“This concept is specially suitable and timely for the Laodicean Church at this part of the age where there are scriptural warnings to the nominal Christian who is neither wholeheartedly nor really committed to the Lord, where the spirit of the world was not kept out of the church. These are buying peace by compromise. They are self-absorbed, self-satisfied, prosperous, often wealthy, and physically at ease. All this leads to these results: indifference, complacency, lukewarmness.” Beauties of the Truth-August 2012 -D. Skein





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Heb. 4:11—Let Us Labor• Greek word for “labor” is the same word as

“study” in 2 Tim. 2:15: “Study to show thyself approved unto God …”

• It means “be diligent” (train like an athlete)• We should labor to develop the faith that will

allow us to rest, to have the “peace that passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7)

• “Unbelief”= obstinate rejection of God’s will





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Heb. 4:—Let Us Hold fast• We have [Therefore]• A great high priest• Hold fast our confession• “Hold fast” is the opposite of “let ... Slip”

(Hebrews 2:1), and “fall away” (Hebrews 6:6).• “Let us hold fast the confession of our faith,

without wavering.. The action to which the apostle calls us is strenuous. We are to lay hold of the Kingdom of God tightly, with both hands. If we do not hold fast our confession, the enemy will take it away from us. This will not necessarily be by violence, but little by little, almost imperceptibly…”

Beauties of the Truth-August 2012 -D. Skein





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Heb. 4:16 — Let Us Come Boldly• “Here the apostle shows the superiority of the

privileges of Christianity above Judaism, for there only the high priest, and he with fear and trembling, was permitted to approach, and that not without the blood of the victim. And if in anything he transgressed, he might be expected to be struck with death. The throne of grace in heaven answers to the propitiatory or mercy seat, but to this throne all may approach with confidence in time of need through our great high priest…”

Beauties of the Truth-August 2012 -D. Skein





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Hebrews 5: His better Priesthood

• Hebrews 5:5 “So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, ‘Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.’ ”

• Hebrews 5:6 “As he saith also in another place, ‘Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.’ ”





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Hebrews 6: “Going on to Perfection” (Hebrews 6:1)

• Hebrew Christians are stuck on basic doctrines• He encourages his readers to go on to

“perfection” (KJV) or mature understanding, e.g. the types and shadows he is presenting

• If they “fall away” from the standing they have in Christ, it will be impossible to return to it

• Paul expresses his optimism for their progress• Promise to Abraham sealed with God’s oath





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Hebrews 6:20—Hebrews 7 : Melchisedec as a type of Christ • King and priest in type• Abraham paid tithes and was blessed• Levi in the loins of Abraham• Thou art a priest (made by and oath)• An unchangeable priesthood





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Hebrews 8-9: The better tabernacle and the better covenant

• Hebrews 8:2 “…the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”

• Hebrews 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.”

• Hebrews 9:24 “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:”


• He is better than the prophets • Special translation problem for this verse• He is better than the angels • How this verse sheds light on John 1:1 • He is better than Moses • He is better than Joshua; the Sabbath; the priesthood • Earnest Admonition 1: Let us Fear• Earnest Admonition 2: Let us Labor • Earnest Admonition 3: Let us Hold Fast• Earnest Admonition 4: Let us Come Boldly• His better Priesthood • Going on to Perfection (Hebrews 6:1) • Melchisedec as a type of Christ • The better tabernacle - the better covenant • The Ransom sacrifice - "A body hast thou


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Hebrews 10

• Christians have a better hope because Christ has established a better covenant based on better sacrifices—the sacrifice of his own body, specially prepared for this purpose

• But a body—We are not to understand this to mean the Church. R5719

• Jesus’ obedience and sacrifice set aside the Law and its sacrifices, and established in it place an arrangement whereby people become holy by doing God’s will, as LIVING sacrifices





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Hebrews11: Faith andthe Ancient Worthies

• Definition• Faith cometh by hearing• Without faith it is impossible to please him• By faith Abraham…• These all died in faith…• God having provided some better thing for us





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Hebrews 12: Consider Him

Hebrews 12:3 “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus” – In the Greek text the thought is ‘to consider attentively.’ Paul,…[gave] careful consideration to the manner in which faith wrought victory in the lives of the Ancient Worthies, and now he reminds us of the crowning example of faithfulness, even ‘Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.’ J. Meggison - Hebrews





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Hebrews 13

A Harmony with the Chart of the Ages

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May the Lord add His Blessing

epistle to the hebrews —reality is ‘better’ san diego bible students convention bro. mark...

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