| By Andy Moyle | 2 mins 26 secs | 0 Comments
The original readers were Christians from a Jewish background, under pressure to go back to the old Jewish ways so they could have an easy life ‘here and now’. The author of Hebrews – Paul, or more likely one of his friends – is writing to urge them to continue pressing on in the blessings […]
| By Andy Moyle | 4 mins 19 secs | 0 Comments
In today’s reading, the author of Hebrews continues to examine the role of Jesus as high priest and explain the new covenant he established. He states Jesus’ credentials as the One who sits at the right hand of God and ministers in the heavenly tabernacle, and tells how mortal high priests from the tribe of […]
| By Andy Moyle | 2 mins 34 secs | 0 Comments
Yesterday’s passage looked at the priestly order of Melchizedek and today the passage compares Jesus to this change of priestly order. The priesthood was hereditary through the tribe of Levi and especially the line of Aaron in Moses’ time. We read in v.14, and we know from other Scriptures, that Jesus was descended from the […]
| By Andy Moyle | 3 mins 8 secs | 0 Comments
PROMISE Are you impatient? Do you sometimes wonder at God’s timing in your life? I certainly find, as I get older, that this is one area where I have to listen to what God is saying even deeper. Abraham, through Scripture, is shown as someone who has patience and faith. The unchangeable character of God, […]
| By Andy Moyle | 4 mins 58 secs | 0 Comments
One of the most unnerving, difficult, passages in Scripture; this is a parenthesis, a break in the flow of the argument. Leading up to today’s passage, the author has been showing how Jesus is in the order of Melchizedek. In 6:20 he will pick it up again. But first he needs to find out if […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 42 secs | 0 Comments
Jesus is the Great High Priest to surpass all the previous ones, ending the Levitical priesthood. Priests were needed in Judaism to explain the need for sacrifices for sin, to acts as symbolic intercessors on behalf of people and to offer sacrifices. They were frail humans just like us, who could deal gently with the […]
| By Andy Moyle | 2 mins 48 secs | 0 Comments
Entering into rest is much more than resting from working to be saved. Verse 11 tells us to strive to enter rest. We know we are not saved by works, but by the free gift of grace through faith. We don’t have to strive to be saved. It’s a free gift. Entering into rest here […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 44 secs | 0 Comments
We have seen that Jesus is superior to the angels. Now we begin to see that Jesus is superior to the old covenant. The reading starts with Moses’ faithfulness, but then moves on to two dark periods in Israel’s history where they were not faithful and didn’t trust God. Don’t forget the letter is written […]
| By Andy Moyle | 1 min 42 secs | 0 Comments
Therefore…. The previous chapter showed us how superlative Jesus is. Therefore! Therefore pay close attention. Watch you are not drifting. One summer the kids and I were body surfing some wonderful waves in the sea. I wasn’t paying close attention and saw that we had drifted sideways (not, thankfully, out to sea!) quite a way […]