Hebrews 7:1-4 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, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
 
TITHING is one of the most divisive subjects in the church. At best estimates, only two per cent of church members tithe. Most sermons and teachings on the subject are met with hostility, “Don’t tell me what to do with my money.” That kind of objection is a direct rejection of God and his commandments.
   But you say, “No commandment says to tithe.” Then look to Malachi 3:9 “You are under a curse – the whole nation of you - because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”  About 12 scriptures in the Old Testament refer to bringing the tithe of herds, produce and other devoted items to the storehouses of the Lord. This was to care for the Levites and to provide for the Tabernacle and Temple upkeep. It is clear from Malachi that God’s curse is on those who reject the tithe. And God’s abundant blessing is on those faithful to tithe.
   Hebrews affirms the tithe. His continued reference to Melchizedek teaches us that the great patriarch Abraham obeyed God’s tithing law even before God formed Israel and wrote the law. Abraham presented the tithe to the priest. Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20), who is an illustration of the eternal High Priest, Jesus.
   Hebrews is also telling the Jews that they no longer tithe to the Levitical priests. As Abraham tithed to a non-Levite, the new covenant directs the tithe to Jesus, who is of the tribe of Judah. Hebrews 7:12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law…16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life…22b Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
   When Jesus is your Lord and Savior, he is also your High Priest. The Holy Spirit has awakened your heart to believe in Jesus and to believe Jesus. If Abraham gave a tithe to an earthly priest, should we not tithe to our High Priest? The Jews were to bring their tithe to Lord through the Levites. Now we are to bring our tithes to the Lord through our faith in Jesus Christ. To reject the tithe is to reject God’s order for your life. It is also to reject God’s promises of blessing. Your tithing tells God, “I trust your promises.”  

Hebrews 6:19-20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
 
YOUR hope is anchored in Jesus, who has entered the inner sanctuary.
   When Israel constructed the Tabernacle and the Temple, God instructed they create an inner sanctuary separated with a curtain. This was the Most Holy Place. God dwelled there, and only Israel’s High Priest could enter once annually under strict cleansing rituals to make atonement for Israel’s sins.
   But now Jesus is your High Priest, who has entered the holy sanctuary of heaven on your behalf. Unlike the Israelites, you will one day enter into heaven because Jesus has atoned once and for all for your sins. You are clean in God’s redemptive law.
   This sure hope anchors your soul, firm and secure. A ship’s anchor is one of the most common images of Christ found in ancient Christian art. As you know, an anchor holds a ship down, ready for the next voyage. An anchor can stop a boat from running onto rocks or reefs. An anchor is a firm, secure safeguard. The image reinforces Hebrews 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 
   And there is something better when Jesus is your anchor. Jesus doesn’t hold you down, but you move upward as you follow him. You are secure from wanderings and disasters along the way. Because Jesus went before you into heaven, you can be sure your hope for heaven is secure with him. When Jesus commands, “Follow me.” you know it is safe to do so. He is the High Priest, whose atoning sacrifice tore apart the curtain: Matthew 27:51 At that moment (of Jesus’ death) the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. Then he arose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Acts1:9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. And you know he is returning: Acts 1:10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
   You know where Jesus has come from, what he did, where he went and that he is returning. Through the course of his life, Jesus has set the compass for your life. You can anchor your life onto his life because you have full access to the Holy God.   

Hebrews 6:16-18 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 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. 18 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.
 
ONE of the ways judicial courts confirm a witness’ testimony is to require them to swear an oath to a higher authority. The oath is to confirm what is said and puts an end to all argument. The witness is to be believed.
   When God called Abraham (see previous lesson), God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs. He needed to demonstrate to Abraham that he would fulfill his promises. This was for Abraham’s faith, Israel’s faith and for our faith today. We must know God does what he says.
   But as Abraham waited for the promise of a son, many descendants and possession of the land, his response was, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” (Genesis 15:9) We might say it this way, “Dear Lord, can I really trust you?” God’s answer was a ceremony of a blood oath: Genesis 15:9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” 10 Abraham brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abraham drove them away… v. 17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham and said, “To your descendants I give this land.” And God concludes this in Genesis 15:19-21 with a very specific description of the land.
   God promised. God confirmed the promise with an oath. There is none greater than God. He spoke his Word, and he demonstrated the power of his Word. Hebrews wanted the Christian Jews to look back on this to know God confirms his promises with a blood oath. Why?
   The cross is God’s blood oath to confirm Jesus is our Lord and Savior. God has spoken many promises. And he has done much to convince us his promises are true. There is no greater authority for his promises than the cross, resurrection and ascension. Our Lord has fulfilled his promises with an unchangeable oath. Confident of our salvation, we have fled from sin to take hold of the hope offered to us. Knowing God’s unchangeable Word, we may be greatly encouraged to know our future is in his hands.   

Hebrews 6:13-15 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
 
HEBREWS has just encouraged the church to remain faithful in their work for the Lord. Now he gives perhaps the greatest example of a man remaining faithful to the hope of God’s promise.
   Abraham, the physical patriarch of all Jews and the spiritual patriarch of Christians, needed to faithfully persist in the work God gave to him. His work seemed simple: to move to Canaan and to wait for the promise of an heir to become reality. That promise seemed impossible to an aged, barren couple. Abraham and Sarah, 75 and 65 years old respectively at the time of God’s calling, waited 25 years for God to bless them with a son, so one day Abraham would have many descendants.
   At times Abraham couldn’t see God in the waiting line. Abraham believed his head servant, Eliezer of Damascus, would become his heir. But God came to assure Abraham: Genesis 15:4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” Abraham’s waiting work required an increasing faith. Abraham learned with God’s help to live with faith into the hope of God’s promise. And Abraham believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. (Genesis 15:6)
   Then God confirmed his promise through a visual blood covenant described in Genesis 15:9-11, 17-18. (See next lesson.) Even after this, the patriarch tired of waiting. Sarah suggested Abraham create an heir through her slave Hagar. Abraham’s wavering from the waiting produced Ishmael, the patriarch of the Muslims. Abraham’s one step out of the waiting line has created great conflict between two people groups throughout the ages.
   Still God kept his promise. He guided and encouraged Abraham during the waiting time. Abraham needed to know God’s promise would come true. He needed to know his waiting would bring reward. Abraham’s work to move and to wait required great patience in his purpose, didn’t it? Waiting may be the most difficult task God gives us.
   The church in Hebrews needed to wait. We need to wait. Faith requires waiting. Waiting requires faith. God came to Abraham to assure him the promise of a new nation would be complete. Jesus has come to assure us the promise of a new creation will be complete.
   This is our hope and confidence. When you need help waiting, seek God’s counsel. In grace he has given us his Word. He has taught us to pray. He has given us the Helper to encourage us and to commit his truth to us. Our Lord was personally involved with Abraham; he is personally involved with you. He has promised you, and he will keep it. Be steadfast. Be righteous in your waiting time.
    
           

Hebrews 6:10-12 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
 
GOD gives you purpose, a mission in life, as a means to express your love for him and for others. Hebrews urges us to be diligent throughout our life, indeed, to the end of our life in order to make your hope sure. This does not mean our expectation of heaven is earned through our works. But our expectation of heaven becomes more sure in our heart as we work with Jesus. Working with Jesus, we will become more as Jesus. Our spiritual eyes will open to see his people through Jesus’ eyes. Our heart will love through Jesus’ love. Our mind will think as Jesus thinks.  
   Faith and patience are essential to your ongoing purpose. Faith, of course, strengthens your work. When you deeply believe in Jesus’ teachings, understand his sacrifice and submit to his lordship, your life becomes a revelation to others. In other words, you reveal Jesus to those around you when you persistently and purposefully work for him. Jesus said it this way in John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
   God’s love is a working love. We see it in the ways God has worked for us throughout history from creation to the ascension. His love is also a transforming love: Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
   Love renews. Faith builds. Hope sustains. Love, faith and hope are always tied together in Scripture. They are three strands of a cord that is impossible to break when we utilize them for our God-appointed purpose.
   Love God. Love what you do. Do what you love. And keep doing it because you love God. Diligently fulfill your calling, and you will have a more complete understanding of heaven’s glory that awaits you. You will more completely know Jesus Christ because you faithfully strive in his name to fulfill the purpose God has given you.

Hebrews 6:7-10 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case – things that accompany salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.  
 
 THE Hebrews writer has been striving to inspire a group of Jewish believers. He wants them to know they worship the Great High Priest, Jesus. The Lord God has laid a foundation from eternity past to build them into a secure faith that can never be destroyed.
   His image of a well-watered land that produces a good crop verses a land producing thorns and thistles is a teaching straight from Jesus’ parable of the seed and sower: Mark 4:7 “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” As the Lord, the Hebrews messenger urged the church to be good soil.
   Even though he has been reminding them of the essentials of their faith, Hebrews says he is confident they are a good soil church. He’s a good pastor to tell the church, “You are faithful to the Lord.” They do not fall away from their faith because they are true believers. They understand Jesus is Messiah, the Son of God, come to earth to save them. Jesus is the Supreme atonement for their sins. The law led to Jesus, and he has fulfilled it.
   What is the reason for their good work? It is love, isn’t it? Hebrews compliments the church for their love for God and for their neighbor. The church is fulfilling the two greatest commandments. Our just, righteous God will remember their love-inspired good work. This is a beautiful example of 1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
   It is always good to examine our faith works. How wonderful to celebrate the ways God gives us to show his love.
 

Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 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.
 
TO begin, this is one of the most difficult passages in Scripture to interpret. The main question that comes from these verses is, “Can one lose his salvation?” This writer has read numerous commentaries regarding this one long, complex sentence. There are many thoughts on its meaning. Sifting through the thoughts, understanding the context of the passage and knowing what other epistles say of the Christian life, here’s how we can understand this.
   First, the phrase those who have once been enlightened refers to a believing Christian. Then Hebrews describes the Christian experience. True believers are those 1) who have tasted the heavenly gift, which is salvation. 2) They have shared in the Holy Spirit. He lives within the Christian. We are united in him. 3) Christians have tasted the goodness of the word of God. We know how good it is to follow God’s commands and Jesus’ teaching. 4) We know about the powers of the coming age. We believe in God’s miraculous work to make all things new. Our sure hope is that Christ will come again in power to remove evil and establish his throne in the new creation.
   Then comes the challenging statement, 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. This seems to be a condemnation of people who leave the faith. And it also seems to say that a person who leaves the faith can never be restored. But there are many Scriptures to assure us of God’s hold on our salvation and his acceptance of our repentance. Read further and you’ll find a teaching that once we are saved, we are always saved: Hebrews 6:17 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. Our Lord will never reverse or neglect his Word to us. He is a promise maker and a promise keeper.
   The way we can understand this complex sentence is to see it as a teaching to assure the Christian Jews that their salvation is of God and cannot be reversed. Their sacrificial system was temporary. Jesus’ sacrifice is permanent. Remember, Hebrews is writing about Jesus, the High Priest. He is saying such a Priest will not allow the saved to fall away. For if they do, they would have to go through the entire process of salvation for a second time. Spiritually they would be crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
   True believers will not do this. True believers may have some times of struggling faith and fears. But they will not abandon Jesus. People of faith know Jesus has died for their eternal lives. He does not need to die again. Be secure in the wondrous gift God has given to you for your eternal life.

Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.
 
ONE of the challenges of teaching and preaching in a church is the different maturity levels within a congregation. Some will be new believers who need to hear and know the elementary teachings of Jesus. This relates to Jesus’ incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Each believer’s elementary knowledge must include the gospel truth that Jesus is the one atoning sacrifice for the sins of all who believe.       
   On the other hand, a long-time believer does not need to hear this repeatedly. To leave behind the elementary teachings does not mean we forget them. But mature believers must use these teachings as steps toward a firm faith resistant to temptation and false teachings. To go on to maturity is Hebrews’ exhortation that Christians seek a perfection of their faith in God. It is a striving toward completeness of understanding the Triune God. We do not simply say, “Jesus is my Savior.” But we confess this with the understanding of the Father’s, Son’s and Spirit’s work of salvation on our lives. We know how to defend this truth. Our faith leads us to sacrificial living when we are mature enough to understand the depth of Jesus’ submission to the cross for our souls.
   The Christians who had come from Jewish teachings, learning the law and the ways  of the Levitical priesthood, were holding too tightly to those “old covenant” or elementary ways.  The foundation of repentance in that system was the sacrifice of animals and offering grains. The priest laid hands on a goat once annually to atone for Israel’s sins. The Christian Jews needed to let go of that method. Holding too tightly to the old would keep t hem from the new. Tragically it would keep them from eternal life. God gave the worship laws as a foundation of redemption pointing to Jesus. Now that Jesus is our Redeemer, they are no longer valid.
   The Christian church is anchored in the Old Testament and is baptized in the New Testament. As a ship raises anchor to sail, our faith must raise from the basic teachings to move into a future toward perfection in God’s Word. Our future is Jesus’ redemptive power to overcome the world. If Christians only look back at what God has done, we will not gaze forward to understand and know God’s plan for our future.
   A mature faith understands why the world is as it is. And a mature faith knows the way the world will be under God’s redemptive power.
   A mature faith is God’s gift to the faithful. He promises when we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33) Seeking God is growing toward God. Seeking God is maturing in God. God permitting, we will do so. 
           

Hebrews 5:11-14 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 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! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
 
HEBREWS pauses in his teaching about Jesus the High Priest. He strongly encourages the church to mature in their learning, so they can teach the ways of righteousness, to distinguish good and evil. Teach God’s salvation. Teach people to know and obey God’s commands.
   Our Lord God is very adamant that each Bible learner be a Bible teacher. For example, in Deuteronomy Moses implores Israel that these commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
   The commandments are the way of righteousness. They teach you to distinguish right from wrong. If you don’t know the commandments, how can you teach them to your children, grandchildren, friends and others who must know? Hebrews does not say you ought to be teachers if you are gifted. The result of our learning is to teach. Know God. Tell others of God.
   But they seem to have a learning problem. They need to get beyond the instructions from sermons and Bible studies to put their faith into action. Too often Christians define the depth of their faith by the  number of Bible studies they attend or books they read about the Bible. These are good and necessary means of learning. But the mature learning comes in living the Word. Living the Word grows the Word in you.  
   It is very disheartening as a teacher to ask a basic question of God’s Word in a Bible class and get no response. People either don’t know or they have no confidence to answer the question. If they are not sure of a basic answer among other Christians, how can they be sure of the answer when someone confronts them with a challenge to the Bible’s truth? How can someone unsure of the Bible live into what the Bible teaches?
   It is impossible to live God’s Word if we do not know God’s Word. It’s impossible to be the church if we are continually drinking milk, complacent in our pews, when we should be eating the solid food of faithful work in God’s commandments.
   Jesus needed his apostle to know and live the truth. Otherwise the church would go nowhere. He needs you to do the same today. Otherwise the church will go nowhere. What do you do with what you know?