The Old Law, in its entirety, was a “shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things” (verse 1). By its very nature, a shadow (or type) is inferior to the real thing (the fulfillment or anti-type). A picture of a loved one is nice, but the real person is much better.

The animal sacrifices of the Law of Moses were a type, which foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the world.

It was stated repeatedly, in the book of Leviticus, that when these sacrifices were offered by a penitent believer, his sins would be forgiven. (See Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:10, 13, 16, 18; 6:7 for examples.) Yet, here in Hebrews, the author states that these sacrifices could never “make those who approach perfect” (verse 1). And that “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (verse 4). It also says that “sacrifices and offering You (God, rh) did not desire” and “in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure” (verses 5-6). How do we reconcile these thoughts?

We do so by understanding the difference between forgiveness and remission.

The forgiveness of the Levitical sacrifices was conditional. This is seen in the phrase, “in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year” (verse 3). The reason animal sacrifices could never take away sins (permanently) is that sin is a rebellion of humanity against God. When people, created in God’s image, violate His will, that sin separates them from Him (Isaiah 59:1-2). Human death must occur to atone for that rebellion. Jesus, the perfect combination of humanity and deity, bridged that gap by dying, not for His own sins (because He had none), but for the sins of others (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

God reconciled humanity (made us friends with Him again) through Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament sacrifices were a test to show who was willing to obey God. When Jesus died on the cross, their sins were finally and forever taken away. That’s what remission of sins means. On this side of the cross, because Jesus has now died for the sins of the world (John 1:29), when we repent and are baptized in the name of Christ, we have the (permanent) remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

--Roger Hillis

The earthly tabernacle was a glorious structure. Its beauty is described in Exodus 25-40. It consisted of two sections, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Each section contained important items for Old Testament sacrifices and worship of Jehovah.

Jesus came to establish “the greater and more perfect tabernacle.” This refers to the church, the glorious blood bought body of our Savior. And through the church, we can enter the Holiest of All, which refers to heaven itself.

In the physical tabernacle, priests offered goats and calves as sacrifices to the Lord, as instructed in the Law of Moses. In the spiritual tabernacle (the church), we benefit from the one time for all time blood sacrifice of God’s Son.

When Jesus shed His blood on Calvary’s cross, His death brought the New Covenant into effect, and it is said to have been dedicated with blood. We need to understand that, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.

Verse 15 teaches us that the blood of Christ flowed both ways from the cross. It not only flows toward today to cleanse the obedient from sin, but it also flowed backwards to permanently remove the sins of the faithful under the first covenant. Their sins were forgiven conditionally when various offerings for sin were sacrificed, but it took the blood of Christ, as part of God’s eternal plan for human redemption, to finally and permanently take away their guilt.

The greatness of Christ’s sacrifice is seen in its unique nature. Various Old Testament sacrifices were offered daily, weekly, monthly and annually. The sacrifice of Jesus was a one time event.

When He returns, it will be to bring salvation to the faithful.

--Roger Hillis

This week unavoidably places several unpleasant realities on our minds. Floodwaters are still keeping thousands of people out of their homes in Texas, a violent hurricane has battered our Caribbean neighbors and is now a major threat to Florida, and tomorrow is the sixteenth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack ever in this country.

When the apostle Paul wrote one of his letters to our Corinthian brethren, he listed the major ordeals he’d faced in his lifetime, and then added, “apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Cor. 11:28)  Even if his own state of affairs had been good, the weight of what others were facing would have continued to put serious pressure on Paul’s mind. And while we might suppose that he could just ignore those concerns, he was not able to do that. Why? Simply because the well-being of those people mattered to him.

Such should be the case with us this week. It is a struggle to bear the weight of so much concern spread so many directions. It is perhaps an even greater struggle to carry so many concerns to our prayer closet and feel that we have fittingly addressed them all before God. Surely, there is a temptation toward deliberate ignorance—“If I don’t think about it, it’s like it’s not even happening.” But that mentality comes from selfishness—not true concern for the well-being of others. The godly see the better path is to face the facts instead of run from them. And when they do face life’s unpleasant realities, the godly are able to deal with them in light of the assurances of God—the only source of true, lasting comfort.

- Dan Lankford, minister

What Jesus brought into the world was a new covenant, a better covenant, which contains better promises (verse 6).

Chapters 8-10 are “summary chapters” concerning Christ’s priesthood.

He begins by saying that our High Priest is “seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” This is why He “lives to make intercession” for Christians today (7:25). He is the perfect High Priest.

But the main point of Chapter 8 is to emphasize that the Old Law has been done away with and has been replaced by the New Covenant.

Verses 8-12 quote, in its entirety, the passage from Jeremiah 31:31-34. The Old Testament clearly predicted its own replacement with a new covenant.

There are many passages which tell us the value of studying the Old Testament. See John 5:39, Romans 15:4, and 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11. The Old Testament pointed people to the Messiah. It provides examples of obedience and disobedience to the Lord. It assures us that God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked. Many of the illustrations and word pictures in the New Testament cannot be understood without a knowledge of the events and people of the Old Testament.

But God’s law for man today is the New Testament, the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16). The New Testament tells us how to be saved eternally.

The Old Testament provides a pattern for how to offer sacrifices and observe special days and worship at the tabernacle and temple. The New Testament is our pattern of faithful living and teaches us how to get to heaven.

--Roger Hillis

Melchizedek, the mystery man of the Old Testament, was a “type” of Christ. The Old Testament is filled with types and shadows, which were people, places, events, etc. that foreshadowed the coming realities of the new (and better, verse 22) covenant.

After the insert (5:12-6:20), when he reminds them of first principles, the writer returns to his original discussion, which was the high priesthood of Jesus and the comparison between Christ and Melchizedek.

Melchizedek preceded the Levitical priesthood by many years. This chapter shows us that the priesthood of Melchizedek is far superior to that of Aaron (or Levi). He uses two lines of reasoning to prove this. First, Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham, the father of the Levitical priesthood and second, Melchizedek (the better) blessed Abraham (the lesser).

Of course, Jesus could not be a priest under the Law of Moses, because that covenant specified the tribe of Levi. So for Christ to be a priest, the law had to be changed (verses 11-14).

Some of the Hebrew Christians were considering returning to the Old Law and that would have been an eternally fatal error. The contrast is between “the law of a fleshly commandment” (the old) and “the power of an endless life” (the new).

The Old Covenant was annulled due to weakness and unprofitableness. The New Testament brought in a new hope, a better hope.

Christ is the superior High Priest. Because He lives forever, unlike the Levitical priests, He has “an unchangeable priesthood.” And His current role is to make intercession for the people of God. His “once for all” sacrifice made our salvation possible.

--Roger Hillis

Hebrews 5:12-6:20 is a parenthesis, a brief insert of very important information. The author has brought up Melchizedek and wants to say more, but was struck by the Hebrews’ spiritual immaturity. He addresses that lack of growth in this short section and then returns to Melchizedek in Chapter Seven.

At the end of Chapter 5, the writer contrasted milk with solid food. Here at the beginning of Chapter 6, he points out that those who grow to maturity must leave “the elementary principles” of the gospel, what he calls “the milk” (see also 1 Peter 2:2) and move on to maturity, which includes “solid food” or, as the KJV words it, “strong meat.”

The basic and fundamental first principles of God’s word are vital to the Christian’s life, but we must advance to more difficult and mature subjects as we grow in Christ. Many of the Hebrew Christians had not matured, although they had been disciples of the Lord for some time (5:12).

When a Christian leaves his commitment to Christ behind and falls from the faith, either to the world or to his old way of life in false or outdated religion, he can be difficult to restore. The writer says it is “impossible,” because there is nothing new we can say to that person that he doesn’t already know. Sometimes a reminder of the truth he knows will touch a soft place in his heart and bring him back to God. But if he doesn’t want that, however, it will never happen.

The author reminds these first century followers of Christ that God will never forget the good deeds done for the Lord. He speaks of “your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name” (verse 10). They had sacrificed much and given their all to the Messiah and now were in danger of leaving Him. He tells them they needed to show diligence and patience, and not to become “sluggish” in their service to the Christ.

The only hope of the word is Jesus Christ. Our genuine hope in our Savior is what enables us to persevere to the end.

--Roger Hillis

The compassion of the Levitical high priest toward others came from the priest’s own weaknesses. He had to offer sacrifices first for his own forgiveness and then for the sins of others. These high priests were not self-appointed, but rather were chosen by God, beginning with Aaron, the first high priest of the Mosaical Dispensation.

In the same way, “Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest” (verse 5). Jesus was glorified by God in two distinct ways.

First, He is God’s Son. Verse 5 quotes Psalm 2:7, a well-known Messianic psalm. Jesus was born in the flesh as God’s Son, lived as the chosen Savior of the world (Messiah means “anointed one”) and was raised from death by the power of God.

As the Son of God on earth (God with us – Matthew 1:23), Jesus learned obedience to God through the trials and sufferings He endured. Being perfect (never sinning) through those trials, Christ became “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (verse 9). This brings the impact of salvation down even to us today.

Second, Jesus is “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (verse 6; see also Psalm 110:4). The next few chapters will be devoted to the superiority of “the order of Melchizedek” over “the order of Aaron” (or the sons of Levi – 7:5).

The author pauses, beginning in 5:12, to remind the weak Hebrew disciples that part of their problem was that they had not grown spiritually. They should have grown to the place where they could teach others, but they still did not even understand “the elementary principles of Christ” (6:1).

--Roger Hillis

How can two people hear the same sermon and one is drawn closer to God while the other leaves unaffected by the message? The first listener had faith in God, but the second one did not.

The chapter begins with the word, therefore. This means that these thoughts are a conclusion (or necessary inference) based on what was discussed in the previous chapter (remember that the chapter and verse divisions are man-made). Chapter 3 had emphasized the importance of listening to Christ, not Moses. It also warned of serious consequences for those who reject the word of the Lord through unbelief. The writer does not want these Hebrew Christians to “come short” (verse 1) of heaven, but to “hold fast our confession” (verse 14).

In verses 4-11, he emphasizes that the Promised Land of the Old Testament (and the rest it offered) was not the ultimate rest promised to those who remain faithful to God. Joshua did not provide them with that final rest, although they did conquer the nations of the Promised Land and take possession of it (see Joshua 21:43-45). The final place of rest (Revelation 14:13) is heaven and this ought to be the top priority of every disciple of Christ, to live in such a way that we can live with Him forever.

(By the way, Joshua is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek name, Jesus. Both mean “Savior” – see Matthew 1:21.)

Looking into God’s word can tell us whether we are pleasing to Him or not (verses 12-13).

In verse 14, the author shifts to another comparison between the old and the new. Jesus is our High Priest today and He will be described as superior to the Levitical priests. The Hebrews who were in danger of returning to the Old Law needed to be convinced that everything about Jesus is better.

--Roger Hillis

There was no one more important to the Hebrew people than Moses (unless maybe it was David). Moses was the great Old Testament Lawgiver, the leader of the children of Israel during the wilderness years. He stood in the presence of God while receiving the Law and his face continued to shine brightly for several days (2 Corinthians 3:7-13; Exodus 34:29-35). The Messiah was to be a Lawgiver (James 4:12), “like me,” according to Moses himself (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:22-23).

Now the author of Hebrews reminds them that Jesus is to be “counted worthy of more glory than Moses” (verse 3). Both were faithful to God. Moses was faithful to the Lord in his house as a servant, while Christ was faithful over His own house as the Son of God. Jesus was God’s only begotten Son (remember Hebrews 1:5?).

So once again (and not for the last time either), the Hebrews are told to keep their faith strong in Christ and not to revert to the Old Law. He says to “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope firm to the end” (verse 6) and to be “steadfast to the end” (verse 14).

They are reminded of Israel’s historical failure to remain faithful to God, referring especially to the time in “the wilderness” (verse 8).  During that forty year journey, their fathers rebelled often against God and His chosen leader, Moses. Those who hardened their hearts and forsook the Lord died and their “corpses fell in the wilderness” (verse 17). Those who persevered were allowed to enter the Promised Land.

What does that mean to us today? We must not go astray in our hearts and turn from serving God. Do not rebel against His will for your life. The consequences will be eternal.

--Roger Hillis

This chapter emphasizes the importance of Christ’s message, due to His superiority over the Old Testament prophets and the angels, as discussed in Chapter One.

We must pay close and careful attention to the things that Christ has taught, either personally (the red letter parts) or through His inspired apostles and prophets. Salvation is available through the gospel of Christ which was accompanied by miraculous signs and miracles as proof of its validity. Those who obey will be saved, while those who disobey will be punished.

In verse 5, the author continues to show Christ’s superiority over the angels.

Men were created lower than the angels (Psalms 8:4-6). But the inhabited world was made subject, not to angels, but to human beings. God cares for us and, though we are lower than angels in power, we have been given an important position in God’s plan, that of dominion over His earthly creation.

Then He shifts his discussion to Jesus, who was also made lower than the angels, when He became a man and then was subjected to physical death. But He too had an important position in God’s plan as the Savior of the world and therefore, is crowned with honor and glory. He became the captain of human salvation, something angels could not have accomplished.

For that reason, we are brethren (fellow members of the family of God) with Christ.

Jesus took upon Himself bodily form, humanity, in order that He might destroy (to ruin utterly) the one who had power over death (see also 1 John 3:8). Previously Satan had power over the realm of death; now Jesus does.

This is why we can have hope in Christ. He controls death and will continue to help and aid us in our feeble attempts to serve God acceptably. Do not give up.

--Roger Hillis