FIRST QUARTER 2022
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #1
JANUARY 1, 2022
“THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS AND TO US”

 

Paul would often preach, as he traveled from town to town, in the local synagogues. He would address both Hebrew Christians and Hebrew seekers. In addition, gentile believers would want to come and hear as well (Acts 13:15-42). It is thought that the book of Hebrews represents a rather complete and typical discourse that Paul would give in the synagogues covering both elementary and advanced themes (Hebrews 5:12-6:3).

 

This week’s lesson attempts to give us an overview of Paul’s audience. Many of the people Paul would address knew the Holy Spirit’s power and presence in their lives as they came to understand the truth as it is in Jesus (Hebrews 2:3,4). And much like ourselves they also experienced struggles and discouragement of various degrees. It was not popular or fashionable at that time to be a follower of Jesus and it came at great cost to many of the believers. (Hebrews 10:32-34).

 

The stress on their daily lives took a toll and created the tendency for them to become weary of well doing, to yield to the pressures of family and society, and to lose their distinctiveness. In Jesus words they were becoming salt without the flavor (Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50, Luke 14:34,35). Or in another place Jesus called it losing their first love (Revelation 2:4).

 

And so, Paul would urge then to not give up and to push on with endurance lest they fail to receive the promise (Hebrews 10:36). And a corollary to this is that they were at risk of receiving the elementary teaching about Jesus but fail to go on to deeper understanding necessary for the endurance and experience they would need (Hebrews 5:12-6:3).

 

I believe that most of us can see that these same two struggles are very real and present in God’s church today. Therefore, it should be very evident that Paul’s letter to the Hebrews is a letter for us as well. The themes and truths dwelt upon are no less important for us who also lack endurance and have a tendency to become satisfied with the milk of the gospel, avoiding the solid food necessary to grow up into the measure and fullness of the stature of Christ.

 

In the lesson for Thursday the author concludes that Paul exhorts the Hebrews with three things.  First to hold fast to their confession and to fix their eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 1-12). Second, he exhorts them against sexual immorality and covetousness (Hebrews 13:4-6). And third he exhorts them to observe and obey their leaders (Hebrews 13:7,17). And while Paul does make short mention of avoiding sexual immorality and covetousness and giving heed to leaders these were really just quick passing comments mentioned at the very end of his discourse. I would contend that Paul’s entire and single exhortation is one thing and that is to know Jesus, the High Priest of our confession, and to allow Him to live out His life within us.

 

I believe, therefore, that it would be accurate to say that Paul’s entire discourses in the synagogues was the gospel. This being true then, the themes that were taught and dwelt upon would be essential for a correct understanding of the gospel and for the motivation, strength, and endurance that the Hebrew believers then and all believers now would need. The solution to sexual immorality and covetousness is not only to be exhorted to avoid them but by knowing and receiving Jesus. This is why almost the entire book of Hebrews is unpacking these truths about Jesus to lead us to the heart change that only Christ Himself can do.

 

As we unpack these themes this quarter, my prayer for each one of us is that we will know more fully the immeasurable love of God unfolded in Jesus through His incarnation, His life and death, His high priestly service and His faith. And furthermore, that we would know and experience Jesus and allow His living faith to abide in our heart and life today.

 

~ Kelly Kinsley

 

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance (ὑπομονή hypomonē; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: — enduring, patience, patient continuance), so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

 

“For yet a little while,

And He Who is coming will come and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith;

But if anyone draws back,

My soul has no pleasure in him."

 

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:19-39)

 

“Here is the patience (ὑπομονή hypomonē; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: — enduring, patience, patient continuance). of the saints.  Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”  (Revelation 14:12)

 

“In the confidence of this true faith, let every believer in Jesus take a long breath of restfulness forever, in thankfulness to God that this thing is accomplished, that transgression is finished in your life, that you are done with the wicked thing forever, that an end of sins is made in your life and that you are free from it forever, that reconciliation for iniquity is made, and that you are cleansed from it forever by the precious blood of sprinkling, and that everlasting righteousness is brought into your life to reign forevermore, to uphold you, to guide you, to save you in the fulness of that eternal redemption which, through the blood of Christ, is brought to every believer in Jesus our great High Priest and true Intercessor.” A.T. Jones, CWCP 128.3