Sermon Tone Analysis

! Hebrews Intro: Better

 

Superior Calling and a Better Way

References:                  Thompson Chain Reference Bible

                                    ‘Exposition of Hebrews,’ Arthur W. Pink

                                    Accordance Bible Software, NASB

!! Introduction:

Author?

Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, Luke?

The weight of opinion seems to be with Paul.

!! Purpose:

Written to Hebrew Christians, converts in constant danger of relapsing into the traditions of Judaism, or attaching to much importance upon the ceremonial observance.

Zealous for the law and the traditions

To Encourage and educate the Hebrew Saints, hardly comprehend how much they suffered because of their clinging to the truth of the Messiah

Severe Trials - persecutions - confiscations - excommunication the awfulness of being separated from the community that has been the focus of God’s calling for thousands of years!

Background - the promise - Son’s of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, some of these were Priests and Levite’s!

Their descendancy!

The Hope of the soon return of Christ - now 30 years after the Ascension

The Holy Spirit is revealing through the writer the better way- the true way through Christ.

Doctrinal purpose to show the transcendent glory of the christian dispensation as compared with the Old Testament.

The theme of Hebrews

The Superabounding excellence of Christianity over Judaism

                  The Sum and the Substance, the centre and the circumference, the light and the life

                  of Christianity is Christ!

Holy Spirit permitting we will explore the depths of God’s truth to us revealed applying it to the heights of our glorious lives in Him displayed

!! Key word = BETTER

Better Revelation 1:4

Better Hope 7:19

Better Priesthood 7:20-22

Better Covenant 8:6

Better Promises 8:6

Better Sacrifices 9:23

Better Possessions 10:34

Better Country 11:16

Better Resurrection 11:35

Better Testimony 12:24

Heb.

1:4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

Heb.

7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Heb.

7:22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Heb.

8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

Heb.

9:23 ¶ Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Heb.

10:34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.

Heb.

11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

Heb.

11:35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

Heb.

11:40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Heb.

12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

The Hebrews are reminded its not what they have given up but what is received?

The Saint is similarly - its not a sacrifice what you have given away for the glory of God’s calling but its what we have received form Him (better) don’t be like Lots’ wife and hanker for the security of the know that is the sin of the past!

!! Seven great things mentioned

Great Salvation 2:3

Great High Priest 4:14

Great Tabernacle 9:11

Great Fight of Afflictions 10:32

Great Reward 10:35

Great Cloud of Witnesses 12:1

Great Shepherd 13:20

Heb.

2:3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

Heb.

4:14 ¶ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Heb.

9:11 ¶ But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;

Heb.

10:32 ¶ But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,

Heb.

10:35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

Heb.

12:1 ¶ Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Heb.

13:20 ¶ Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,

The chapter of faith - longest chapter in the Epistle, the Holy Spirit emphasizing - the practicle application.

Faith is preferring spiritual and eternal realities rather that those of sight, sense and sin (Saphir)

!! Prominent characteristic - its warning against apostasy - solemn and searching exhortations against the danger of falling away -

Hebrews 2:1-3, third and fourth chapters, 6:4-6, 10:26-29, 12:15-17

Verses of the Holy Scriptures -

The occasion for is seen in the dire times - the hope of the Messiah (seen as delay) the suffering of persecution - the and the Divine judgement soon to fall on Jerusalem under the Roman legions (70 AD) at the sacrifice of a million Tiberias entered Jerusalem city of the Hebrews would not rise for 2000 yrs.

Similarities of the times - the return of Christ - an entering into the new dispensation - perhaps we may feel the birth pains of the New Dispensation in our times?