Topics
Hebrews 7 - Melchizedek Priesthood - Symbolism of Jesus Christ
Hebrews 8 - Symbolism of Jesus Christ
Hebrews 9 - Holy of holies, testament (footnotes substitutes 'covenant'), Symbolism of Jesus Christ
Hebrews 10 - Symbolism of Jesus Christ continued, second coming.
Hebrews 11 - Faith
Hebrews 12 -
Hebrews 13 - Chastenings
Famous/Popular verses
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidenceof things not seen.
Hebrews
Thoughts
Hebrews 7:24-28 Jesus never made sacrifices at the alter but made a sacrifice of himself, his life in every way.
Hebrews 7:27 After watching the video and understanding that the symbolism of the lamb is us being layed upon the alter for our own sins (a form of repentance), it makes sense that the saviour will not have needed to do this. He had no sin to offer up a sacrifice for. Therefore he was the lamb. I am struggling to put into words the concept here.
Hebrews 8: 1-3 In chapter 7 I get the impression that Christ is compared to an order even above the Melchizedek Priesthood (Hebrews 7:21-22). While the people were practicing the law of Moses the priests often made offerings on behalf of the people. If therefore Christ is the most high priest, then he should have something to offer. Which indeed we know to be his own life which then puts 7:23 into perspective. There was only one great priest, who did suffer to continue by reason of death.
Hebrews 8:7-13 Explaining that the new covenant is better than the old with greater mercies granted.
Hebrews 9:13-14 If the blood of random animals had some power over the people to cleanse them, how much more has the blood of the saviour.
Hebrews 9:22 Shedding of blood. What happens when something sheds its blood? It dies, or becomes weaker. What blood are we metaphorically killing when we apply the atonement? If our sins be personified, we are killing our sins and laying them on the alter.
Hebrews 9:26 "hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". Or in my words, Christ accepts the slaughter and offering of our sins.
Hebrews 10:10 we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. Imagine, instead of burnt offerings weekly as described in the videos, the saviour on the alter each week. He is on the alter instead of us. We should be on that alter, the Lamb represents us, and the Lamb represents the Saviour. You have maybe heard before, how the trays under the linen look like a body. We ofter suggest it is the saviours, comparable to how he was left in the tomb. But he was a substitute for us. So in reality, would it be more profound to suggest it is our body on the alter?
Hebrews 10:37-39 Who's on the lords side? When he comes you need to be ready to join him. Hold back at all and he will no have you.
Hebrews 12:6 After I have convinced you to have more faith I will remind you that whom the Lord liveth he chasteneth.
Hebrews 12:11 Trials are pants. However after the trial it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:17 Remember Esau. A little lapse, and despite seeking repentance carefully through tears, it was too late.
Hebrews 13:5 Just good advice. Be grateful for what you have. You will always have enough, God will not leave you.
Hebrews 13:11-12 More symbolism. Initial suffering within the walls, then taken outside to be finished off.
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This year, I have found that there is no substitute for reading the scriptures. You can listen, you will get something from it, but reading takes scripture study to a whole new level.
When I 1st listened to the verses on Monday morning I have to confess I didn't get chapters 7-10. I understood that chapter 7 had something to do with the Melchizedek priesthood and the following verses had something to do with symbolism of the saviour. There were multiple references to a testament, that I didn't understand and then there were references to faith which I felt I could relate to a lot better. I was sure when I returned to the content, I would end up focusing on Chapter 11 & faith because chapters 7-10 seemed so abstract.
As it turns out my study took a U-turn once I learned that the JST replaces the word testament with the word covenant & once I watched the two videos.
What experiences did you have?
List the topics we have found in the chapters this week.
I'd like to spend some time on chapters 7-10 is you would let me. Mainly because I feel there are some greater rewards to be gained from these chapters. Faith is not a new concept, we have had many lessons on faith over the years. Not so much about our covenants.
To understand this weeks chapters I feel it necessary to go back one week to understand who the epistle of Hebrews was written for. What faith did the hebrews practice? This is what the manual says
We all have to give up something in order to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ—whether that be bad habits, incorrect beliefs, unwholesome associations, or something else. For Gentiles, conversion often meant abandoning false gods. For the Hebrews (Jews), however, conversion proved to be, if not more difficult, a little more complicated. After all, their cherished beliefs and traditions were rooted in the worship of the true God and the teachings of His prophets, extending back thousands of years. Yet the Apostles taught that the law of Moses had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and that a higher law was now the standard for believers. Would accepting Christianity mean that the Hebrews must give up their earlier beliefs and history? The Epistle to the Hebrews sought to help settle such questions by teaching that the law of Moses, the prophets, and the ordinances are all important, but Jesus Christ is greater . In fact, all these things point to and testify of Christ as the Son of God and the promised Messiah the Jews had been waiting for. The message for the Hebrews, and for all of us, is that sometimes we must give up traditions to make Jesus Christ the center of our worship and our lives—for it is through Christ “that we may obtain mercy”
For the Jews, it might have been like a new prophet coming along and saying the way we have been worshiping to date, has been preparing for a new form of worship, and that we are now to change the way we doing things. We may may have been doing something a certain way for as long as we can remember, or before. Our parents or even grand parents had done it this way. Now a new prophet comes along and tells us we need to do it differently now. How well will that go down?!!!!
Any modern day examples?
-2 hour church. Also known as? Home centred learning.
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-Youth Organisation /
- Witnessing at baptisms & 11 year olds being advanced to youth.
-Animal Sacrifices
Find out how many people watched the videos. Consider playing them.
'The Tabernacle' focuses on the hardware. 'Sacrifice & Sacrament' focuses on what goes on in the tabernacle.
The Tabernacle
Draw a map of the tabernacle. Label it up. Ask the class to ponder the the symbolism and compare with the symbolism in the covenants we make today. Consider writing down what you notice to share after.
-The courtyard celestial world. Coming to the saviour.
-Alter, sacrifices are made. The perfect animal symbolic of the ultimate sacrifice of the saviour. Faithful members made an offering that represented their sins.
-Fires of the alter of incense symbolic of the holy spirit.
-Laver of water. Priests washed before entering the holy place or terrestrial world.
-Holy place, the terrestrial world, living by the spirit.
-Candlestick/Menorah, provided light or illumination from the holy ghost.
-Bread & water/wine reminder of his sacrifice. Like real bread, it nourishes us.
-Incense, symbol of prayer. Location of this prayer, at the alter directly in front of the veil preparing to enter his presence. Today prayer are said before entering.
-Cherubim, angels of God.
-Lid of the Ark, mercy seat.
-Holy of Holies, celestial kingdom. In todays temples we pass from room to room, world to world.
-Main entrance faces east.
Many outsiders may look at what we do in the temple as strange, but upon closer inspection, it really is not too dissimilar to the ancient Israelites temple.
Sacrifice & Sacrament
Do you ever wonder how the law of sacrifice prepared the ancient people of Israel to look forward to Christ?
What would your answer be?
Why might this question be relevant given the context of who the hebrews were?
What is your personal offering when you partake of the sacrament?
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If we have time
Hebrews 11 & Faith
Some questions from the manual.
If someone asked you to define faith, what would you say?
What do the examples of the people mentioned in this chapter teach you about faith?
-v4. Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice
-v5. Enoch was translated
-v7. Noah prepared an ark
-v8. Abraham followed the direction of the lord
-v9. Abraham sojourned in the land of promise
-v11. Sariah conceived
-v17. Abraham offering Isaac.
-v20. Isaac blessed Jacob.
-v21. Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph.
-v22. Joseph prophesied.
-v23. Moses Parents hid him.
-v24. Moses chose not to be identified as an Egyptian.
-v27. Moses lead Israel out of Egypt.
-v28. Moses kept the passover.
-v28. The Israelites passed through the red sea.
-v30. The walls of Jericho fell.
-v31. Rahab perished not.
-v32-34. Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Japhthae, David, Samuel.
What is faith?
How do we develop faith?
In what ways are we blessed when we exercise faith?
What happens when we choose not to exercise faith?
What will you do to strengthen your faith?
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