1. How would you summarise the effect these examples should have?

2. What about Jesus does the writer emphasise here?

3. How should that encourage us?

C. Comment:

Having spread the Old Testament saints before us, the writer now looks for our response. These people all persevered without ever getting what their hearts yearned for. So, he says, you do the same, persevere. You may feel at times you are not getting through to what your heart tells you this Christian life could be, but persevere, keep on, you will get what God has promised eventually. It may be here on earth, or it may be that you have to wait until heaven for it fully.

But, he continues, don't stop with them, fix your eyes on Jesus for he is THE example to follow. Remember, he went right through the experience of the Cross, he put up with the opposition of sinful mankind. And why? Because he looked beyond it and saw what was to come the other side of the opposition, the other side of death. He knew what the outcome would be and that helped him to persevere through humanly impossible circumstances.

So you, similarly, don't waver, don't lose heart, keep going, for the other side of the tough stuff is blessing. The trouble is that we never know when the break through will come. Even up to a minute before it, it looks like years away. Lean on the Lord for His grace, but remember, it will come! The enemy tries to put you off, but Jesus is working with you to help you through.

D. Application:

1. Remember what Jesus did, and why he did it. Imitate him!

2. Remember, there will be an end to the “tough stuff”. Hold on!

Chapter: Hebrews 12

Passage: Hebrews 12:4-8

A. Find Out:

1. What hadn't they yet done? v.4

2. What had they forgotten? v.5a

3. What had that said about sons? v.5b,6

4. How are we to view hardship? v.7

5. What is inferred if we are not disciplined? v.8

B. Think:

1. What aspect of family life does the writer now touch on?

2. How does it fit what's gone before?

3. How is it to be seen as an encouragement?

C. Comment:

Remember the writer is still exhorting his readers to go on in the faith, particularly in the face of difficulties. He has just cited Jesus as the example of one who endured through difficulty for the sake of what was on the other side of it.

Now he encourages us to persevere for the sake of the process that we are going through. We need to see difficulties in a different light, so that we see them as part of the process God is taking us through. The writer cites Proverbs 3:11,12 reminding us that any loving father will discipline his son. Now we shouldn't see “discipline” as merely punishment. When we bring discipline to a child we are seeking to bring a righteous orderliness to their life.

Any punishment or rebuke is to seek to cut off past wrong behaviour so that it will not be repeated. In other words we are seeking to encourage a different pattern of behaviour that brings a new righteous order to their lives. Hard work builds not only muscles but also character. When we come on difficult times and receive opposition, it is hard work, and we need to see such times as times of training or discipline, that God is using to develop our character as His children. In the Old Testament the “son” carried on the father's business and as he grew in understanding it was to take responsibility in the business. So it is with us and God.

D. Application:

1. God disciplines us to train us in righteousness.

2. He uses hard circumstances. Rejoice in them that He loves you!

Chapter: Hebrews 12

Passage: Hebrews 12:9-13

A. Find Out:

1. How are we encouraged to submit to God's discipline? v.9

2. Why does God discipline us? v.10

3. What does discipline produce in us? v.11

4. So what does he first encourage us to do? v.12

5. What does he next exhort us to do and why? v.13

B. Think:

1. Why does the writer parallel human and divine discipline?

2. How should the outcome of discipline encourage us?

3. How would you summarise verses 12 & 13 in your own words?

C. Comment:

You will remember the writer is encouraging his readers to persevere in their faith. He has been saying that trying circumstances are often God's way of disciplining or training us, and we should therefore, persevere in such circumstances. Such disciplining or training brings us to maturity as sons of God. So, he now says, if you respected your earthly fathers for the way they disciplined and brought you up, even more respect your heavenly Father for the way He also does it.

Finally he moves on to the FRUITS OF DISCIPLINE. We've already said that discipline is used to mature us, and now he explains that part of the maturity is so that we can share in the holiness of God , i.e. that we can become like God Himself.

He goes on to add that it will produce righteousness and peace in us, i.e. it will produce a life of right living and right relationship with God, whereby we live at peace with God and with men.

So, he concludes in verses 12 and 13, when you are weary and feel like giving up, take strength from these things to go on, keep on the straight and narrow so that in your weariness you won't stumble and fall and be injured (morally and spiritually), but instead can persevere and go on to receive strength and restoring.

This is the point of these verses, to exhort us to keep going, even when weary. Go for it!

D. Application:

1. Enduring discipline produces maturity and holiness.

2. Enduring discipline produces righteousness and peace.

Chapter: Hebrews 12

Passage: Hebrews 12:14-17

A. Find Out:

1. What is his first exhortation? v.14a

2. What is his second exhortation, and for what reason? v.14b

3. What is his third exhortation? v.15a

4. What is his fourth exhortation and why? v.15b

5. What is his fifth exhortation? v.16a

6. What is his sixth exhortation? v.16b

B. Think:

1. Which of these exhortations are to do with relations with God?

2. Which are to do with relations with other people?

3. What “consequences” are shown?

C. Comment:

We'll use brief note form for each exhortation:

• Make every effort to live at peace with all men means we are to put ourselves out to ensure we are at peace with others. Something we are to work at. Any stress between us and others? Work at it.

• Be holy, be different, be people who are quite unlike the rest of the world, be pure, be good. If we are working to ensure peace with others, we will be different, but holiness goes far beyond just peace. This holiness, this being utterly different, comes from the Lord's enabling and unless we let Him work it in us we'll never receive our full inheritance, which is to know the Lord in intimacy.

• See that no-one misses the grace (or outpoured goodness) of God. This seems to indicate that not only do I need to look after myself but that I also look out for the blessing of others as well.

• Don't let any bitter root spring up which would then affect many. Bitterness creeps in when we fail to seek peace, fail to be holy, fail to receive God's grace for the circumstances. When things go wrong because we have been self-centred instead of God-centred, the tendency is to become upset with God - a foolish reaction but common in those who are not letting God work these things in them.

• Avoid sexual immorality. This is one of the most common temptations that breaks up relationships and brings bitterness. When we are not getting our comfort from God, Satan tempts us to get it through other (illicit) means.

• Don't be godless and disregard our inheritance, it is precious. Being casual about what we have means we are easily led in temptation to sin and to fall away. Beware.

D. Application:

1. Read again each exhortation and check yourself out.

2. Look to the Lord for all you need for today and what comes in it.

Chapter: Hebrews 12

Passage: Hebrews 12:18-24

A. Find Out:

1. What does the writer say we have not come to? v.18,19a

2. What reaction had that caused? v.19b-21

3. What (at least) seven things have we come to? v.22-24

B. Think:

1. What do verses 18-21 refer to?

2. How would you summarise the list in verses 22-24?

3. What do you think is the point of the contrast?

C. Comment:

Remember the writer is exhorting his readers to go on in their faith. In earlier chapters he showed how Jesus was so much greater than angels, Moses or the Levitical priesthood. Now he gives a stark comparison between old and new covenants.

The OLD COVENANT had been initiated at Mount Sinai (see Exo 19). The key characteristic of that event was separateness. God was separate from the people. The natural phenomena that surrounded His presence made Him awesome. The people were not even allowed to touch the mountain of meeting. That all produced fear.

The NEW COVENANT is more heavenly orientated and speaks, by stark contrast, of encounter. The list of things we receive in the new covenant is significant:

A city (v.22a) is a place to live in, a place of permanence and security. This city is the heavenly equivalent of earthly Jerusalem, the place of encounter with God. Our destiny is encounter with the Lord, a coming together with Him.

This is also a place of “joyful assembly” (v.22). The angels in heaven see God and constantly rejoice. Our future destiny is one of joyful rejoicing!

Our names are written in heaven (v.23a), God has declared us righteous, we have been made perfect is His sight. This is all based on the shed blood of Jesus, the Son of God. We have been brought near.

The emphasis is on a place where we come to God (v.23b), the One who judges all men but has made us perfect in His sight.

We have come to Jesus (v.24a) who is the one who has brought all of this into being by the shedding of his blood on our behalf.

We have come to a place where the shedding of blood brought reconciliation (24b), not the need for a curse, as happened with the death of Abel (Gen 4).

The Old Covenant was for a physical nation, living in the midst of evil, idol worshipping nations. They were a nation called to be different, to be holy. At that time they were hardly a nation. They needed the awesomeness of the encounter at Sinai.

The New Covenant came to a people who knew much about God but also knew their own inability to be holy. So, the New Covenant comes to weak, sinful men, and gives them a new intimate life with God. How incredible! How wonderful!

D. Application:

1. Do we appreciate the wonder of the details of the New Covenant?

2. Do we appreciate the intimacy that has been given to us?

Chapter: Hebrews 12

Passage: Hebrews 12:25-29

A. Find Out:

1. Who are we not to refuse and why? v.25

2. What happened then, and what did He say would happen? v.26

3. What did that indicate? v.27

4. What are we receiving? v.28a

5. What should be our response? v.28b

6. How is God described? v.29

B. Think:

1. When God spoke, what was shaken at Sinai?

2. What would receive His second shaking?

3. With what effect?

C. Comment:

As he keeps on warning, the writer now warns against refusing the voice of God. He refers back to the time at Sinai when the Lord met with Israel, and when He spoke even the ground shook. Those people refused Him and perished in the desert. So, says the writer, don't you be complacent, because if you refuse Him you too will perish. A stern warning!

Next the writer takes a prophetic word from Haggai 2:6 where the Lord said He would shake both earth and heavens. Verse 27 indicates that it will be the material world in which we trust that will be removed so that the eternal heavenly world alone will remain.

The shaking that he refers to must be that of the coming of the new kingdom of God through the work of Jesus (v.28a). So, this shaking will also include the shaking of our self confidence, so that it is removed. It is then the shaking of our self reliance, so it is removed. It is the shaking of all human endeavour, so it is removed.

What is left? Just a total reliance upon Jesus, a total reliance upon the love and grace of God. When there is this, then God's rule is able to be expressed through us. It was for this reason that Jesus died, so His kingdom would come in us. What is to be our response to all this? It is to worship Almighty God with reverence and awesome respectful fear. When we realise His enormity, His holiness, His wonder, His love, grace and mercy, this will be our response.

D. Application:

1. Are we relying on shakeable things, passing things?

2. Are we relying totally on the love and mercy of God in Jesus?

Chapter: Hebrews 13

Passage: Hebrews 13:1-3

A. Find Out:

1. What is his first exhortation? v.1

2. What are they not to do? v.2a

3. What had happened to some who did that? v.2b

3. Who are they to remember? v.3a

4. How are they to remember? v.3b

5. Who else are they to remember? v.3c

6. How are they to remember them? v.3d

B. Think:

1. What does v.2a indicate about that time?

2. What does v.3 indicate about the Christian life at that time?

3. How can verses 2 and 3 be seen as extensions of verse 1?

C. Comment:

Some consider each of the exhortations in this chapter to be unrelated, but a writer normally has a linked chain of thoughts in his mind when writing. So far the writer has been largely detailing spiritual principles or doctrine. Now he comes to practical Christian living. His mind focuses on the life of the Christians to whom he was writing. His first command, as from any other New Testament writer is first and foremost to love, e.g. Jesus' command - Jn 15:12, Paul's teaching - Gal 5:14, Peter's teaching - 1 Pet 1:22, John's instruction - 1 Jn 3:23. Love is be the primary expression of our lives.

But then he describes particular aspects of love as it could be the expressed in those days. This was written to the Jewish Christians, who were not merely in Jerusalem but were the first believers in every church throughout Asia Minor . From the book of Acts and from Paul's writings we see that there were many travelling between the many churches, so the writer instructs that they be looked after: a very real and needed expression of love. Next, he is aware that many Christians were in prison for their faith. They must not be forgotten - it could be you - so pray for them, visit them, help them (is implied). This is practical love in operation.

D. Application:

1. Love is very practical. It is not merely words.

2. We should care for those who travel and those imprisoned for faith.

Chapter: Hebrews 13

Passage: Hebrews 13:4-9

A. Find Out:

1. What instruction does he next bring, and why? v.4

2. What instruction comes next? v.5a

3. Why should we be content? v.5b,6

4. What is the next (treble) instruction? v.7

5. What truth does he then declare? v.8

6. What is his next instruction? v.9a

B. Think:

1. What truth should keep us morally pure?

2. What truth should keep our hearts at rest over our provision?

3. What truth helps us maintain a right attitude towards authority?

C. Comment:

The writer continues to bring exhortations about the problem areas of the Christian life. First in this passage is his concern over their moral purity in respect of sexual matters. The family is the foundation stone of a society and he is aware that in a world of flexible standards, sexual temptation is very real. Resist it!

Next he is aware that for all of us we live in a material world and the temptation to materialism is constantly there. The world focuses on getting more and more, but God says be content with what you have. Why? Because He is constantly with us and He will provide for us. Rest in His provision!

Next he is aware that the spirit of the enemy is always against authority and so we need to guard against a rebellious spirit. So, he says, remember those who brought you to the Lord, think about their (holy) lifestyle and copy it.

Why? Because Jesus is still the head of his church. He is the one who raises up leaders and gifts and enables them. It's his church. Follow his leaders.

Finally he touches on the subject of maintaining the truth and resisting strange teachings. Again, here, another common temptation to be resisted. Each of these are common temptations to be resisted.

D. Application:

1. Keep clean. Keep at rest. Keep submissive. Keep true.

2. God judges the impure. God provides for His people. Remember that.

Chapter: Hebrews 13

Passage: Hebrews 13:9-14

A. Find Out:

1. How are our hearts to be strengthened? v.9b

2. What do we have? v.10

3. What was the procedure at the Tabernacle? v.11

4. How does this apply with Jesus? v.12

5. So how does the writer exhort us? v.13

6. What does he say we don't have and why? v.14

B. Think:

1. To what do you think the writer refers in verses 9 & 10?

2. What point is he making in verses 11-13?

3. How do these verses echo what has gone before in the book?

C. Comment:

The writer just can't help reverting back to Jewish symbolism in his exhortations. The way for us to overcome the various temptations he has just been referring to, is to receive grace. Now the ceremonial food of the Old Testament also fed the priests. Our “altar” is the Cross and the sacrifice is Christ (e.g. 9:25 ,26) and we “feed” on him (see Jn 6:53 -57) and thus receive enduring grace which changes us.

But then there is something else about the sacrifices, they were taken outside the camp and the remains burned there. So also Christ was taken outside Jerusalem and crucified there. It was a disgraceful death.

So, says the writer, let us not be ashamed to be seen as outsiders, to be derided by society. Remember, he says, the city or society that we are looking and yearning for is not to be found here on earth, it's in heaven.

In these two pictures the writer picks up and re-emphasises what he has said earlier in the book. First that our offering was Christ, and he is our source of grace for day to day living, being at peace with God, and being provided for by God. Second, we shouldn't give up because we are outsiders in the world. Instead we are to remember Christ's example and that our future is in heaven. Thus we persevere, thus we keep on faithfully!

D. Application:

1. I am to receive grace from God daily. Christ is my supply.

2. I am not to be ashamed of being a Christian. My future is in heaven.

Chapter: Hebrews 13

Passage: Hebrews 13:15-19

A. Find Out:

1. What are we encouraged to do? v.15

2. What are we not to forget to do? v.16

3. What further exhortation does he give and for what reasons? v.17

4. What does he ask his readers to do? v.18

5. How and why? v.19

B. Think:

1. What sacrifices does he speak about here?

2. What does this passage teach about leadership?

3. What does it tell us about the writer?

C. Comment:

Note, to start with, the phrase, “through Jesus therefore”. All that we do is to be because of all that Jesus is and has done. We are to continually go back to Jesus for our motivation. We are not to do things legalistically but because of our love for him.

He next speaks about various sacrifices. He speaks of the sacrifice of praise (v.15), and then the sacrifice of doing good and the sacrifice of sharing with others (v.16). These are our offerings to God today. This means that as we do good, or as we share with others, we should be doing it, not for our own personal self-fulfilment, but as a means of blessing God.

Then comes the exhortation to obey leaders. Leaders are those who have responsibility and who are answerable to God. Don't make it harder for them is what he is saying. They are guardians of the flock, that is their calling - to guard and protect the flock, and that is not easy to do if the flock is being wilful and disobedient.

Finally he asks for prayer. His heart is open to God and he longs to do God's will, so he asks his readers to pray for him. For some reason he is separated from them and longs to go back to them. His is obviously a travelling ministry, and he is very much aware of his own personal need and is not afraid to ask for prayer.

D. Application:

1. A sacrifice is an offering to God. We are called to offer to God praise

which is due to Him, and love for others, which will bless Him.

2. Leaders carry burdens in ministry. Pray for them.

Chapter: Hebrews 13

Passage: Hebrews 13:20-25

A. Find Out:

1. How is God described? v.20a

2. What has He done? v.20b,c

3. What does the writer want God to do for them? v.21

4. What does he ask of them? v.22

5. What news does he impart? v.23

6. How does he conclude it? v.25

B. Think:

1. How would the description of God & Jesus bring encouragement?

2. What sort of people does he obviously want them to be?

3. What does it tell us about the early church?

C. Comment:

As he winds up this “short letter”(!) the writer blesses his readers. Observe first of all, his description of God. First who He is: the God of peace. The Lord brings peace to men. He is not wanting to be at war or upsetting. He wants to restore men to peace.

Then what He has done: He has raised Jesus from the dead. He is the God who intervenes in human history to bring peace by divinely supernatural means. “Through the blood of the eternal covenant”: Jesus' blood shed on the Cross was even the means that allowed God to move to bring the resurrection of Jesus himself.

His obedience brought in an eternal covenant. Jesus is here described as the great Shepherd of the sheep. His is now the one who looks after the people of God.

Each of these descriptions is designed to encourage the reader. God brings peace to us by the sacrifice of His own Son, and now the Son's job is to look after us. How more comforting can that be!

He basically prays that God will equip them with whatever they need to do God's will. What is that? To be Jesus to the rest of the world, bringing the love of God and the Gospel of peace in power.

His final words give clues to the corporate sense of church in those days with travelling ministries joining them together.

D. Application:

1. All God does is for our blessing to bring peace.

2. Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls, caring for and providing for us.

RECAP: "Hang on in!" - Heb 12 & 13

SUMMARY :

In this final group of 11 studies we have seen :

- A call to take Jesus as our example 12:1-3

- Exhortation to see discipline as character building and the

   means to bring holiness 12:4-13

- 6 exhortations to holy living 12:14-16

- Sinai represents separation under the old 12:17 -21

- Zion represents close encounter with God 12:22-24

- God's words shake the shakeable, be thankful 12:25 -29

- Concluding practical exhortations

    - love each other 13:1-3

    - honour marriage 13:4-6

    - imitate leaders 13:7,8

    - hold to good teaching 13:9

    - don't be ashamed of being an outsider 13:10-14

    - praise God and bless others 13:15,16

    - obey leaders 13:17

    - pray for them 13:18,19

- Final blessing 13:20 ,21

- Respond to the exhortations here 13:22

- Final Greetings 13:23-25

COMMENT :

The Christian life is positive, about growth and development, in the growing relationship we have with God through Christ. Check the above list to observe how practical it is. God's presence and God's grace is there for us daily.

LESSONS?

1. We are to imitate Christ.

2. Discipline is essential for character, maturity and holiness

3. The New Covenant is about bringing close encounter with God.

4. The Christian life is about practical issues.

5. We need God's grace to live it, and we need to focus on Jesus.

PRAY :

Thank God for His love, His discipline and training, and for His grace that is there for you daily.

SECTION SUMMARY

In these latter 5 chapters of Hebrews we have seen:

Chapter 9

- a description of the old tabernacle 9:1-5

- the activity of the high priest 9:6-10

- the activity of Christ (1) 9:11 -15

- the old requirement for shedding of blood 9:16-22

- the activity of Christ (2) 9:23 -28

Chapter 10

- the inadequacy of the old sacrifices 10:1-4

- the activity of Christ (3) 10:5-14

- the Law in our hearts 10:15-18

- 5 exhortations starting “let us” 10:19-25

- Warnings against going on sinning 10:26-31

- A call to persevere in the face of adversity 10:32-39

Chapter 11

- Faith described 11:1-3 and faith people listed:

- Pre-Abraham – Abel, Enoch, Noah 11:4-7

- the Patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph 11:8-22

- Moses & Exodus events 11:23-31

- the judges & prophets & general examples 11:32-40

Chapter 12

- A call to take Jesus as our example 12:1-3

- Exhortation to see discipline as character building and the

means to bring holiness 12:4-13

- 6 exhortations to holy living 12:14-16

- Sinai represents separation under the old 12:17 -21

- Zion represents close encounter with God 12:22-24

- God's words shake the shakeable, be thankful 12:25 -29

Chapter 13

- Concluding practical exhortations 13:1-19 :

- love each other 13:1-3, honour marriage 13:4-6

- imitate leaders 13:7,8, hold to good teaching 13:9

- don't be ashamed of being an outsider 13:10-14

- praise God and bless others 13:15,16

- obey leaders 13:17, pray for them 13:18,19

- Final blessing 13:20 ,21

- Respond to the exhortations here 13:22

- Final Greetings 13:23-25

CONCLUSION

As we have worked our way through these chapters, it may be that the following are some of the key things that should stand out to us:

1. The Wonder of the New Covenant

It is clear that the Old Covenant was God's design for His people then and enabled them to focus their faith on God, despite their ongoing sense of failure which necessitated the sacrificial system. However we now see that it simply pointed forward to the real provision by God, a one-off total provision in the form of His Son, that takes people's eyes off their failure and onto the wonderful redeeming love of God. We can add nothing to the wonder of what Christ has achieved for us on the Cross, merely receive it!

2. The Life of Faith

Although there are many practical exhortations in this book, it does not allow us to sink into a rule-based legalism, but instead lifts our eyes to a life of faith, a life lived out of relationship with God through Christ, a life of RESPONSE, a life of hearing God and responding to Him, and that on a daily relationship basis. Faith cannot be calculated, faith doesn't allow us to be in control, faith leaves no room for pride or human endeavour. Faith is all about responding to the love of God and the daily word of God. This is life.

3. The Practical Christian Life

Whereas the whole of the front part of this book is about Jesus and is full of doctrine about him - the Son who is greater than angels (Ch.1 & 2), the Son greater than Moses (Ch.3), Jesus, the great high priest (Ch.4 &5), a priest like Melchizedek (Ch.5 & 7), the one initiating a new covenant (Ch.8), and the one whose blood was offered to purchase us, in a one-off sacrifice (Ch. 9 & 10), our supreme example (Ch. 12) – there are nevertheless, an amazing number of exhortations in the book to heed God's word and to live out the life He calls us to. This is not just a book of theory or doctrine, it is very much a cry from this preacher to early Jewish Christians to let doctrine to be turned into practical outworking. And so the same cry should come to us. Why not go through the book and note every time the writer exhorts us to DO something. Doctrine and practical living are intertwined, the latter springing from the former. May it be for us.