We may be tempted to think that the new covenant has “better promises” in the sense that it has greater rewards than the old covenant had (a heavenly homeland, eternal life, etc.). The truth is that God offered the same rewards to Old Testament believers as He has offered us (read Hebrews 11:10, Hebrews 11:13-16). In Hebrews 8:6, the … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 8:1-6. Why is Jesus a better Mediator of the covenant? The Greek term mesites (mediator) derives from mesos (“middle”) and denotes the one who walks or stands in the middle. It was a technical term that referred to a person who fulfilled one or more of the following functions: (1) an arbiter between two or more parties, (2) … Continue reading –>
Compare Hebrews 8:10-12 with Deuteronomy 6:4-6, Deuteronomy 30:11-14, and Jeremiah 31:31-34. What does this teach us about the nature of the new covenant? The promise of a new covenant in Hebrews refers back to Jeremiah. According to Jeremiah, God’s promise of a new covenant was, in fact, a renewal of the covenant that He had first made with Israel through … Continue reading –>
Read Hebrews 7:11-19. Why was a new covenant needed? According to Hebrews, the fact that Jesus was appointed priest according to the order of Melchizedek implied that a new covenant had been inaugurated. The old covenant had been given on the basis of the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:11, NASB). The Levitical priests acted as mediators between God … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Hebrews 7:11–19; Hebrews 8:10–12; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8:1–6; Exodus 24:1–8; Ezekiel 36:26-27. Memory Text: “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6, ESV). By living a perfect life, and then … Continue reading –>
Sugar Shock By Andrew McChesney Oung, a sugar factory worker in Laos, was baptized, but he lost interest in Jesus after about three years. The pastor visited him at home with an invitation to return to church to worship on Sabbath. “Yes, I will come,” Oung promised. But he didn’t. When the pastor returned to … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “John the Beloved,” pages 539-545, in The Acts of the Apostles; “Judas,” pages 716-722, in The Desire of Ages. “The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit … Continue reading –>
Paul culminates his warning against apostasy and encouragement toward love and faith with a beautiful, soaring exposition of assurance in Christ. Read Hebrews 6:17-20. How did God guarantee His promises to us? God guaranteed His promises for us in several ways. First, God guaranteed His promise with an oath (Hebrews 6:17). According to Scripture, God’s oaths to … Continue reading –>
After the strong and sincere warning of Hebrews 6:4-8, Paul expresses confidence that the readers have neither fallen away from the Son, nor will they in the future. He believes that his audience will receive the warning and produce the appropriate fruits. They are like the “earth,” which is cultivated by God and produces the fruits … Continue reading –>
The warning of Hebrews 6:4-6 is very similar to the warning found in Hebrews 10:26-29. Paul explains that the rejection of Jesus’ sacrifice will leave the readers without any means for the forgiveness of sin because there is no other means for that forgiveness besides Jesus (Hebrews 10:1-14). Read Hebrews 10:26-29. In what three ways does the author describe the … Continue reading –>
