“Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” -Augustine of Hippo
Featured Scripture
An expository study of Hebrews 6:12;13-20
The Setting
The community of believers in the Letters of Hebrews has several major challenges throughout Chapters 1-5. The issues that were threatening this and other communities of faith were faithlessness, apostasy, drifting away from the Faith, and somewhat a distorted view of who the Messiah is in their spiritual journey.
In addition, some of the believers were lacking in spiritual maturity and had stopped caring for the needs of the community. Nonetheless, the writer of Hebrews called them, beloved [v.9] and boldly encouraged them to look only toward Messiah as their anchor.
Those in Christ, whether or not you feel nor are not sure of one’s worth in the Kingdom of God, the endearing term, beloved is a powerful medicine to one’s soul. This term generally carries a message of love, acceptance, and the recognition of one’s inherent worth in the eyes of the divine or the universe.
This blog post intends to affirm all faithful followers about the required amount of faith to please God and to be used by Him for His purpose and His promises. Lastly, when all else has become unstable and uncertain, Believers everywhere can find comfort and assurance in their faith, knowing that Jesus is our anchor and always with us through life’s challenges and storms.
Become Initiators of People of Faith
Looking at Hebrews 6, verse 12, do not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The author of Hebrews offers his audience and likewise, for you and I today, to imitate those who through supernatural faith and patience, in God’s timing, inherit what has been promised. In the earlier chapters of the Letters of Hebrews, we have made direct references to Moses, Aaron, and David.
Some of the greatest examples of faith are listed in Hebrews 11, where the author of the Letter records the long list of men and women who had the blessed assurance, the conviction to believe of things not seen, yet believing they already are in existence.
We must look at Hebrews 11, verses 13 and, 39-40.
The spiritual significance for you and me is that they highlight the faith of Old Testament figures who trusted in God’s promises, even though they did not see the complete fulfillment of those promises in their lifetimes.
The first importance of these and other believers like them is they emphasize the significance of faith, trust, and hope as integral aspects of one’s spiritual journey, even when the physical or immediate manifestations of one’s beliefs are not readily apparent.
Also, these verses emphasize that God had a greater plan for the fulfillment of these promises through Jesus Christ and that the full perfection and fulfillment of God’s plan would come about through the work of Christ.
Verse 13 The writer of the Letter wants us to consider Abraham and God’s faithfulness toward Abraham. The verse reads “Since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself“.
In other words, God was the Guarantor of the promises made to Abraham, as we saw in Gen. 22:17: “Indeed I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sands which are on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of thine enemies.
Possessing the gates of their enemies means that Abraham’s descendants will have the power and authority over the cities and strongholds of those who oppose them. It implies that God has granted them the promise of victory and dominance over their foes.
This promise is often seen as a precursor to the establishment of the Nation of Israel and the conquest of the promised land as seen in the Book of Joshua.
We have communicated earlier that this audience had been wavering in its faith in Messiah, thus the writer is encouraging the confidence of this community, by reminding them and us that important people in the past placed trust in God’s unwavering promises, and we too are to in our walk in the things of God, remain faithful in our Lord and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah.
Verse 15 “Abraham, after patiently waiting, obtained the promise. In reality, as we earlier stated, Abraham did not live long enough to see his offspring multiply into a great Nation- known as Ancient Israel. Nonetheless, Abraham had confidence that by his faith, God would see to it that Abraham’s future generations would multiply.
Our Father Abraham
The name of Abraham is associated with his faith and obedience [Gen. 12:1-4]; the powerful promises and covenant [Gen. 12:2-3]; his spiritual intercession [Gen. 18:22-33-Sodom], and he is remembered as a friend of God, which reflects his profound spiritual and moral connection with God.
By using Abraham as a point of comparison, the author of Hebrews wants his audience to understand that they can indeed trust in the Son of God, Yeshua! It is this same Lord who called them into discipleship and blessed them with His Holy Spirit.
Regardless of their circumstances within the community of the Believers, the Lord will be faithful to them and bless them, as He was certainly faithful to fulfill His promises to Abraham.
Oaths
Verse 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.
Human oaths and vows
What does the Torah say about oaths and vows?
The Torah emphasizes that if a person makes a vow or an oath to the Lord, they must fulfill it. This is considered a serious commitment. Breaking an oath or vow is discouraged and viewed as a failure to keep one’s word.
- Numbers 30:2 (NIV): “When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.”
The Torah stresses the importance of honoring one’s oaths and vows, as they are seen as a way of demonstrating reverence and commitment to the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 23:21 (NIV): “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.”
Our Messiah’s response and spiritual interpretation of the Torah concerning oaths and vows is as follows:
The statement “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No'” attributed to Jesus is found in the New Testament Bible, specifically in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of James. It carries spiritual significance and conveys several important principles:
- Honesty and Integrity: This saying encourages honesty and integrity in one’s speech and actions. By saying what you mean and meaning what you say, you demonstrate a commitment to truthfulness and trustworthiness.
- Avoiding Oaths: In the context of the passages in which Jesus makes this statement, he is discouraging the use of unnecessary oaths. Oaths were often used to make one’s words more binding, but Jesus suggests that followers should have such a reputation for truthfulness that their simple “Yes” and “No” are sufficient.
- Consistency: It emphasizes the importance of consistency in one’s words and actions. In a spiritual context, this consistency reflects a character that aligns with godly virtues and principles.
- Avoiding Swearing by Oaths: Jesus advises against making oaths by heaven, earth, or any other created thing because it implies a need to bring God or something sacred into one’s everyday speech. Instead, he encourages people to speak with such truthfulness that they don’t need to resort to invoking oaths to be believed.
The spiritual significance of this saying is closely related to the broader themes of truth, righteousness, and the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached. It teaches that followers of Jesus should be known for their honesty, reliability, and consistency in their words and actions. By doing so, they witness a life guided by the principles of God’s kingdom.
The specific verses where Jesus makes this statement are:
- Matthew 5:37 (NIV): “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
- James 5:12 (NIV): “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Otherwise, you will be condemned.”
God Oaths and Vows to Himself
- God swore by Himself- Gen. 22:16 and Ex. 32:13, and Ps. 110:4
- Gen. 22:16- Isaac was spared from being sacrificed on Mt. Moriah
- Ex. 32:13 Moses pleaded with Adonai to spare His people after the golden calf incident.
- Ps. 110:4 God swore that one who would be a high priest after the order of Melchizedek
- To David in [Ps. 89:35, 49; 132:11], in which Jewish people expected to be fulfilled in the Messiah.
- God swore by Himself and would not change His mind that everyone would have to acknowledge His in the Day of judgment. Is. 45:23
- God swore by Himself judgment on the royal house of Judah. Jer. 22:5
- On the Jewish refugees in Egypt. Jer. 44:26
- On Israel. Amos 4:2; 6:8
- On Edom. Jer. 49:13
- And on Babylon. Jer. 51:14
Returning to the text, let’s look at verse 17, God desires to show His heirs the promise of the unchangeableness of His purpose based upon His oath-keeping abilities. The idea that God’s vows and oaths are unchanging and faithful as opposed to humans is rooted in the theological understanding of God’s nature as perfect, immutable, and inherently trustworthy, in contrast to our human limitations and imperfections.
The author of this Letter as noted in verse 18, It is impossible for God to lie. Born-again Believers who have recognized Yeshua as Lord and Savior, are those who have taken refuge…, and have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope that is set before us by God.
It is in Messiah where all of the answers to life’s greatest questions can be found, and it is in Him that helps shape our hope throughout our faith walk with Messiah.
Verse 19 If God’s promises to Abraham are secure, [vss. 13-18], then the Believers in Messiah and all of God’s promises, His prophecies regarding Him are surely and just as secure.
Messiah as the Anchor of our Soul
An anchor in the physical world is a source of stability and security for a ship in turbulent waters. Similarly, Messiah provides stability and security to those who follow Him. Believers find comfort and assurance in their faith, knowing that Jesus is with them through life’s challenges and storms.
Messiah offers hope and assurance of salvation. He is often described as the source of eternal life, and through faith in Him, believers have confidence in their future with God.
Just as an anchor is firmly fixed to the seabed, our Lord serves as the foundation of the faith. He is the cornerstone on which the belief system is built, and faith in Him is the anchor that keeps believers grounded in their relationship with God.
As our Passover lamb, our Lord’s sacrificial death on the cross is central to belief. Through His atonement, believers are forgiven and reconciled with God. This forgiveness and redemption provide a sense of security and freedom from the burdens of guilt and sin.
Lastly, like a ship’s anchor helps to steer the vessel, Messiah provides guidance and direction to those who follow Him. His teachings and example serve as a moral and spiritual compass for believers as they navigate life’s challenges.
Inside the veil is a reference to remind Believers to have a secure hope in the ‘holy of holies” Lev. 16:2, which only the high priest could enter once a year. But thanks to the finished and acceptable redemptive work of Yeshua who is now our High Priest in heaven, this mention of the holy of holies is not in a physical temple, but it is in the heavenly Temple.
Revelation 4:2-6 (NIV): This passage provides a vivid description of a heavenly throne room or temple, which is a central element of the book of Revelation:
“At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.
In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also, in front of the throne, there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.”
Verse 20 Everything about our Messiah’s ministry depicts Him as our forerunner for you and me in our faithful fellowship in Him and with Him presently, and in the eternal life to come. Amen
Summary
Our study communicates God’s promise to Abraham and how God confirmed it with an oath, emphasizing the unchangeable nature of God’s purpose and His reliability.
It also highlights the importance of faith, patience, and hope, comparing this hope to a “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.”
Last, this study also introduces the idea of Jesus as a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, connecting Old Testament promises to the fulfillment of God’s purpose through Christ.
Grace and Peace
Brother Alonzo
