Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.09UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.09UNLIKELY
Fear
0.08UNLIKELY
Joy
0.58LIKELY
Sadness
0.51LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.8LIKELY
Confident
0.7LIKELY
Tentative
0UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.94LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.81LIKELY
Extraversion
0.12UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.41UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.79LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
So far, Hebrews has made the case that the Son of God is superior to the angels.
Having existed before the angels and been over the angels, he temporarily became a little lower than the angels.
He joined the human race in order to suffer and die as the sacrifice for the sins of the people of God.
In chapter 3, the writer of Hebrews gives an extended warning against unbelief.
The first part of chapter 3 focuses on a comparison between Moses and Jesus.
He concludes that Jesus’ faithfulness is superior to Moses.
After quoting from the Old Testament, he gives a commentary on the implications of the passage.
His challenge is for his readers to stay faithful to their profession of faith.
1. Jesus’ faithfulness is superior to Moses’ ()
A. Jesus is pictured as the model of faithfulness.
(Hebrews 3:1-2)
He uses the word “therefore” to make the transition.
He is going to give us the implications of Jesus’ superiority to the angels.
He says that his readers are “holy” because they have professed faith in Jesus Christ and have been cleansed of their sins.
They share in the heavenly calling.
i.
Share - closely related companion; business associate or house mate
The idea is that we are on a journey following in the footsteps of our great high priest, Jesus.
He is the trail blazer.
We are following his path.
ii.
Consider - think about, notice, pay attention
Some translations say fix your thoughts.
The idea is to focus on Jesus, not something or someone else. is the only place where Jesus is referred to as an apostle.
An apostle is a special messenger from God. Obviously, Jesus, the Word of God, is the special revelation about God from God.
Also, Jesus is called the high priest of our confession.
Our confession is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
The writer is calling their attention back to Jesus which is to be the central focus of their lives.
iii.
Jesus’ faithfulness to compared to Moses.
Both Jesus and Moses were faithful to the calling they had received from God.
In Jewish tradition, there is none greater than Moses, the law-giver.
Jesus began a new era, just as Moses died.
Moses established the household of the ones who were to be faithful to the covenant.
Jesus established a new household of the faithful.
B. Jesus, not Moses, should be our ultimate model of faithfulness ()
Verse two is a comparison between Jesus and Moses.
Verses three through six is the contrast.
i. Jesus built the house in which Moses lived.
The Creator is worthy of more glory that the creation and the creatures.
ii.
Moses was a faithful servant.
Jesus was the faithful Son.
Moses did his work in the house that God made.
He was God’s servant and he served faithfully, as all good servants should.
Sons are different than servants because their work and authority is different.
Sons have the duty and obligation to protect the estate.
It will serve for their inheritance.
iii.
If you are faithful to your confession, you are part of the household of God.
“hold on to” - keep, detain, contain, occupy, or possess.
We are to hold on to sound doctrine and the teachings of the Word of God in which our confidence and hope are found.
We keep a tight grip so that we don’t drift away into error.
I saw a quote recently which said something to the effect of “You never drift into theological truth”.
We tend to drift towards error.
We seek and search and hold onto truth.
“We may be considered part of the people of God if we hold fast to the Christian faith” (NIV Application, p.128)
Now the author will turn his attention to a negative example and a warning.
2. The Faithlessness of the Israelites in the Desert (Hebrews 3:7-19)
A. The writer quotes from
Hebrews 3:7-11
i. Do not harden your hearts.
ii.
As you did in the rebellion,
This is not to mean that the readers are part of the rebellion, rather, he calls their attention to the negative example of their fore-fathers.
They rebelled against God’s commands to enter and possess the Promised Land.
They had seen God work on their behalf and even though they had seen what God can do, they did not trust him to be faithful to them.
iii.
God was provoked to anger with that generation.
Because of their failure to obey, God was angry with them and judged them.
God was patient and longsuffering with them; however, God is also righteous and just.
He must deal with sin after giving opportunities for repentance and obedience.
They would not enter into God’s rest.
We are going to wait to discuss what is meant by “God’s rest” until chapter 4. So, you will have to come back for that discussion.
With the backdrop of the rebellion of the children of Israel and the punishment they experience, the writer moves onto his warning.
B. Warning: Don’t turn away from the faith ()
i.
Not everyone who makes a confession of faith is a true believer.
(Hebrews 3:12)
“Outward association does not reflect the inward condition of the heart.”
(NIV Application, p. 129)
“turns away” - apostenai - apostasy - turning away from what you once believed
This is not about neglecting your faith or drifting away.
This is about rebellion.
You heard.
You know.
You followed for a time, but then you rejected.
The equivalent of the children of Israel going back to Egypt after they had been delivered by God from the slavery.
True believers persevere in the faith.
How do we know if someone is really saved?
We know by answering the question, “are they staying faithful to following the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ?” Faithlessness is evidence of the absence of salvation.
“We have no right to give assurance to those who have turned their backs on God - in fact, we should affirm their lack of assurance!”
(NIV Application, p. 143)
ii.
Believers have a responsibility to constantly encourage each other.
(Hebrews 3:13)
Encouragement is a ward against sin’s deception and allure.
Negativity breeds contempt.
Contempt can cause people to fall away.
Encouragement is powerful and gives us strength to stay faithful.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9