“The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah … This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (verses 8, 10) - This quotation (in its entirety, extending all the way from verse 8-12) takes up

… but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them … Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. (verses 24-25, 27) - If you wanted to spot a priest in Old Testament times, wher

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness"; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. (verses 1-3) - What a mysterious character is Melchizedek. Yet the

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our be

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God, and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (verses 4-6) - Oh, how difficult is this passage. This is one of the places where we clearly need Script

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (5:12-14) - Our kids were so incredibly cute when they were little! I loved cuddling them, playi

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him … (verses 7-9) - These few verses plunge us into the depths of Christ’s passion. In Gethsemane he cried out in great agony to the

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. - A high priest is one who has

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. - I preach regularly. It’s a huge privilege and joy. The scripture comes alive as I study and (when I’m open) it speaks into my own life bef

“So I declared on oath in my anger,‘They shall never enter my rest’” … “Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts.” (verses 3, 7) - Today’s verses follow an extended quotation from Psalm 95 recorded for us in the last chapter (Hebrews 3:7-11). Such quotations from the Old Testament don’t show up haphazardly – when included by the biblical writers they are deliberate and intentional. How much more so when snippets of that longer citation are actually repeated – cl

So, as the Holy Spirit says:“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your heartsas you did in the rebellion,during the time of testing in the desert,where your fathers tested and tried meand for forty years saw what I did …” See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have c

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. (verse 1) - “Fix your thoughts on Jesus.” What a simple, profound statement. Let your mind settle on him. Consider him attentively. Stay focused there. That’s the calling. This same concept is brought forward again later by this very same writer. Having reviewed the heroes of faith, the great cloud of witnesses, the writer rallies

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (verses 17-18) - We often hear the admonition, “Walk a mile in their moccasins,” urging us to enter into the experience of another before judging them too rashly. It’s go

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? (verses 1-3) - We are presented here with an “a fortiori” argument – a “how much great than” comparison. And it has huge impact – huge consequences. The writer has spent the whole first chapter detailing th

… his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (verses 2-3) - The Sovereign Lord has spoken. He’s given his final Word. It’s Jesus, the Son. So, the writer of Hebrews now launches into a pointed description of th

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (verses 1-2) - “Let there be light!” These are the first spoken words in the whole of Scripture (Genesis 1:3). Word and light. Sound and sight. In the beginning. The Lord could have snapped his fingers. He could have simply willed the world into bein

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. (verse 14) - “Doing what is good.” Paul’s wording literally contains the phrase “good works” – these are the very things he is eager that we devote ourselves to doing. “Good works.” I grew up in a church tradition that didn’t focus on this phrase at all. Instead, we stressed (rightly, wonderfully) another aspect of Paul’s tea

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour … (verses 5-6) - When he was quite young, our third child couldn’t get enough of the water. Swimming, he loved. Even as a toddler, before he really knew how to keep himself afloat, I’d stand in the shallow end of the pool, hold him out at arm’s length, and then drop him, feet first, into the water. Down he’d go, completely submerged,

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (verses 11-14) - How do we live

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless – not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as