9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him-Hebrews 5:914 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.-John 15:14 It has come to my attention throughout my years of pastoring that many Christians view obedience as optional. The one thing we needed to do was put our trust in Jesus. Now we are set for heaven and obedience has nothing to do with ...

Just as the lesson clearly demonstrates to the original audience that Jesus is enough, so also does that lesson reflect back to us. It is important that we recognize that we still needed a mediator between us and the Father. We have direct access to the Father through the Son. 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.-John 14:6 We wo...

The Jewish reader would have clearly understood what is being said here. They understood what it was like to have a high priest. They knew the rules and regulations. They knew the purposes that were filled by the high priest. Many of them at some point likely looked up to the high priest for guidance and direction. Nevertheless, access may have also been limited to the high priest. The way that th...

There are many important references throughout this section, though the most prominent is that of the high priest. This takes us all the way back to Exodus where Aaron was anointed, having been chosen by God, as the first high priest. There are a few important details about the role of the high priest that makes what is stated concerning Jesus in this passage particularly powerful. The high priest...

The previous chapter began to hit on an important understanding of Jesus being our High Priest. Chapter 5 of Hebrews gives a little more context to what is being said.Drawn from Leviticus, the writer of Hebrews tells us how the priestly order was made for the sake of things pertaining to God. When a high priest was chosen, they were chosen for the sake of offering gifts and sacrifices for sins. Be...

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to hi...

Considering the reality that we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness and has instructed us to come boldly to the throne of grace, let us practice that today. Whatever may be weighing upon you, be that the depths of sin or the height of praise, bring it before the Father! Seek His face that you may find mercy and grace to help in time of need!......

The actionable step is undoubtedly to follow through with what is written. Come boldly before the throne of grace. We do this in prayer, worship, and in diving into the word of God. Given that this application is so clearly driven, I want to focus my attention on the approachability of this throne.The throne room experience would be a terrifying one. To approach a king in those days was no light m...

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.-Hebrews 4:16 It can be easy to feel alone in this life. Loneliness is something I have long struggled with. Let me give just a few statistics of the general atmosphere surrounding pastors.As of 2022, 65% of pastors report feeling lonely, with 18% experiencing it frequently. Anot...

There is a persuasive course throughout the book of Hebrews that challenges the reader to understand that we are not under the Old Covenant. There was a time where following the Law and walking according to the Mosaic Law was essential. That was the best of the best. But there was room given for something new. Prophecy was given that had not reached full fulfillment. There were things that had yet...

Apart from the most immediate context, which we have already extrapolated in yesterday's devotion, there are a couple examples of rest that are particularly important for us to analyze. The first example takes a look at Israel. This is also a point we have examined in detail, though we have mostly looked at the caution. What about the reward? Eventually, Joshua had led them into the Promised Land,...

Consider the Israelites. They found themselves in bondage to Pharaoh, enslaved by Egypt. They are set free with the promise of a land that is flowing with milk and honey. Then they are led to the desert where they wander for 40 years. The thing that keeps them there is their unbelief that leads to disobedience. The writer of Hebrews took the time to bring us there in chapter 3. Here in chapter 4, ...

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:    “So I swore in My wrath,    ‘They shall not enter My r...

For the believer and non-believer, confession is a powerful tool. For the believer especially, it is particularly effective in spiritual matters. Now I am not talking about confession as addressing sin. In the Greek, the word for confession means simply, "to say the same as." We confess Jesus as Lord. We confess the Lord as victorious. Yes, we also confess our sins to Him. But we can confess the w...

There are many times in my past where I have been called to action on something. Whether it be that I was lazy, didn't actually care, or simply didn't know how to begin, I found a trend in my heart. I would wait for something to take place in me before I started to move on something. Instead of letting the change be in my action, I delayed in prayer. For subjects like "Believers Believe" I would p...