Interpretive Study of Hebrews - Summary

Epistle theme: How God the Father Deals with His sons

God's Way to Study His Word:

In 2Timothy 2:15 we read: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The true definition of the word dividing is: 'a Mathematical function whereby we separate pre-defined units according to a precise procedure which produces a precise result'. However, while most people understand that 'there is one interpretation but many applications of the word of God', they fail to separate the procedures of each. And, as a result, they fail to separate the 'one interpretation of the word of God' from the 'many applications of the word of God'. This leads to many errors which people blame on the perfect word of God instead of their using the wrong procedure.

The result, of men using the wrong way, is that men claim that there are errors and conflicts in God's word. In Isaiah 28, God tells us how to understand His word. In addition, God preserved the message of His word; He preserves every word of His sentences; and God preserves every punctuation mark (jot and title) of His sentences. Therefore, God preserved what He wanted us to understand and God told us how to understand His word so that we have no errors and no conflicts. Unfortunately, for at least one hundred and fifty (150) yeare, men have been taught to use the wrong way to interpret God's word instead of using God's way.

In Isaiah 55:9 we are told For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Thus, God warns us that our ways are wrong and that using God's way produces better results, which have no errors and no conflicts.

In addition, 1Corinthians 2:14 tells us: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Therefore, we can not properly understand the spiritual word of God using man's way. We must use God's way to understand God's preserved word of God. And, the basics of God's way is to understand His preserved word of God using the sentence format and true Biblical definitions for Bible words.

This Study follows the Biblical Way to understand God's Word. It applies precepts ('truths that never change for any circumstance'). It then goes through the epistle sentence-upon-sentence (line upon line [Isaiah 28 ]). This is different from the ways of men which use verse-upon-verse or some other method which generates errors. God's sentence-upon-sentence method also pays attention to what 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved, which are the true Biblical meanings of words and the Biblical usage of punctuation. (These two are the components of sentences and do not give us verses.) the 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved punctuation (one jot or one tittle) in Matthew 5:18 and Luke 16:17. And 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved every word when he wrote: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4).

The summary of the epistle comes from the summary of each chapter and each chapter summary within that book. Every chapter summary comes from the summary of each sentence within that chapter. And, the sentence summaries come from analysis using the punctuation and true word definitions, as already explained. As a result, we have what God literally had written and see that there are no conflicts even when we consider the smallest part of a sentence compared to the entire Bible book. God is consistent from the start of a Bible book to the end and is consistent in His doctrines and word definitions across the entire Bible. What we have is an integrated whole (single) message, with no errors and no conflicts. This particular book Study is part of a detailed analysis of the entire New Testament which shows this truth.

Other than cults, all claims of errors and conflicts are based upon the New Testament. This Study is part of a series which interprets the preserved word of God using God's way and proving that there are no errors, nor any conflicts, if we obey God and use His way to interpret His word. And, this series concentrates on the New Testament, since that is the basis of these lies about the perfect word of God.

I have read, or at least skimmed, every book which has been written in the last hundred and fifty (150) years and which claims to teach people how to study and understand the word of God. In every case, they use a method which comes from man and do not use God's way (Isaiah 55:8) to study and understand the word of God. And, while there are variations from one man-written method to another man-written method, every one of them ends up with problems. The end result of those problems is that people blame God's perfect word for their own problems and either turn to a man-written 'bible' or skip verses. (By skipping the interpretation of certain verses, they can hide the conflict which their method has produced.)

Now, many people find that the Detail Studies to be overwhelming because they have everything required to prove that there are NO errors in the perfect word of God. This summary level is easier to understand for most people. At the same time, if someone has an argument with what is presented here, the matching Detail Study provides all of the proof required in order to show that what is here matches exactly what God wrote in His word. Again, this is not a matter of my opinion versus their opinion. I have over thirty (30) years’ experience as a professional Systems Analyst with an international reputation for accuracy in how to prove things. And, this series of books are the result of using recognized methods of analysis to prove what God actually wrote. This series does not present a religious opinion. Therefore, a religious opinion, which was arrived at from using wrong methods, is not superior to a true analysis of what God wrote.

People have looked for over twenty (20) years and failed to find any other work that covers everything this series cover. In addition, no one has found any other work which covers the level of detail found in the Detail Studies. Further, the Detail Studies literally have several million Bible references to support the interpretation provided and to show that the perfect word of God is consistent all across it for word definitions and doctrines. Again, no one has found any other work which has this quantity of Bible references supporting what is presented. I do not write this to brag but to inform the reader the depth of study which supports what is presented in this series.

Let any who disagree show their method and the results of their method and try to explain how their method, which produces errors, is greater that God's way which produces no errors and no conflicts.

Overview of Hebrews

Epistle theme: How God the Father Deals with His sons

The Son of God is used to provide better things in the New Testament. In the New Testament, we are made the sons of God. Therefore, we should serve God more than people did in the Old Testament.

Click on the following links to jump to a chapter within this study: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, God.

Other people have written all kinds of commentaries on this epistle. You can find many disagreements between these commentaries. The commentaries that teach doctrinal error ignore the context as they try to justify their doctrine. Such action is motivated by devils and the resulting doctrinal error can bring the judgment of God upon His people instead of the blessings that God wants to give. 1John 4:1 tells us Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.. The commentaries which do base their comments upon what is actually written, with consideration of context and proper methods of interpretation, will agree on doctrine even while presenting different views of that doctrine.

Many people claim that this epistle was written by Paul in spite of the fact that 2Thessalonians 3:17 says, The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. this epistle does not have the salutation of Paul. The fact is that the doctrine in this epistle causes more problems, for most people, than any other book of the New Testament. So, many people start an argument over who the author is in order to hide their problems with the doctrine of this epistle.

Paul trained many preachers and had three that he called son, which means that they had the same character as Paul. All of the reasons which people give for claiming that Paul wrote this epistle are based upon the characteristics of writing which we see in this epistle. All three of the men that Paul called son would have the same characteristics in the ministry and of writing. that leaves us with four (4) men who could have possibly written this epistle and used the writing style found in this epistle.

However, all of the arguments don't matter and are used by the devil to distract from the message of this epistle. All of these arguments ignore the fact that God is the true author of all of the word of God. And, God deliberately hid who was the true author. Therefore, the argument that Paul is the author amounts to someone, in fleshly pride, claiming to know, and be an expert, on something that God deliberately hid. And, the Bible makes it clear that such fleshly pride is from Satan.

We are to not add to God's Word and there is no author named in this epistle. Therefore, God deliberately had that information hid and all arguments about who the author is are adding to God's Word what He deliberately kept out of His word. God did not name the author and He does not want us wasting out time on this distraction which will keep us from focusing on the message which God has for us.

The most used non-prepositional words in a chapter or epistle often gives a strong indication of the theme of the chapter or epistle. The most used non-prepositional word in Hebrews is God. After that the most used prepositional words are not helpful in telling us the theme of this epistle. This epistle was written to reveal the character of God, which is the character which God wants all saved to accept so that they become a true Biblical son of God.

Many people claim that the theme of this epistle is: 'God's Son is greater'. However, that puts the emphasis on the Son of God while the word God occurs 72 times within this epistle. All combinations of the words: Lord, Jesus, Christ, Son, Saviour, King, Lamb (matching capitalization) only occur 58 times in 47 verses. Therefore, our epistle is speaking more about what God the Father did than it speaks about God the Son. In addition, capitalized Son (God the Son) occurs 11 times while lowercase son (saved) occurs 7 times. The actual theme of this epistle is: 'How God the Father deals with His sons', with God the Son used as our primary example.

In a lot of detail, the author explains how the New Testament, and our relationship with God through faith, is much better than the Mosaic Law and keeping of religious rules. He explains that we have access to much more but that if we don't act in faith then we won't receive these blessings. That's why this epistle has the famous chapter on faith where he uses Old Testament saints to show us how they acted in faith even when they did not have all that we have in our relationship to God. Based upon all of this explanation, the author finishes this epistle with specific commands that we are to obey in order to show our true faith.

This epistle has many quotes from the Old Testament to show that what is revealed here is based upon established scripture and not something completely new. Almost every sentence in the first chapter, which provides the basis for our epistle, references an Old Testament truth. Thus, while the author explains how the New Testament is better than the Old Testament, he also shows that the New Testament is based upon promises found within the Old Testament.

In our first chapter (1:4) we are told in detail how that the Son of God is much greater than any angel. He created everything and has a position far above angels that was given to Him by God the Father and more. That makes the Son of God greater than any other being other than God the Father. That includes all spiritual beings. However, in spite of His high position, our second chapter tells us that God the Father made the Son of God a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death (2:7). He became a man to suffer death, to pay for our sin, and to experience being a weak man so that he could able to succour them that are tempted. He became like us so that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Thus, we see that the Son of God gave up everything for our sakes.

In our third chapter (3:3) we are told that Christ is much greater than Moses. Therefore, our relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, is much greater than keeping religious rules such as the Mosaic Law or things spoken by angels. God the Father brought severe judgment upon people who disobeyed the angels and who disobeyed the Mosaic Law. Therefore, since we have a greater relationship with God the Father, through our Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, we should Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. That is, since we have a better relationship which is based upon faith, we should be careful to maintain our faith and not let anything interfere with it.

Also, in our third chapter we are warned against unbelief because of how God dealt with it in the past and our chapter tells us how He still deals with it. Later, we will be told to live by faith and faith requires going beyond just getting rid of unbelief. However, you can not have faith until after you get rid of unbelief. Therefore, the author presents this step before going unto the next step.

Our fourth chapter starts with Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. It ends with Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Between the two the author explains that certain blessings are only given to people who enter God's rest and that people who act in unbelief are not allowed into God's rest. Therefore, we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need only if we continue to live by faith. Thus, the author is instructing us on our responsibility within this better relationship.

Chapter 5 starts with the word For and explains why the prior chapter is true. Here, we are told basic facts about the office of a priest. Then the author explains that God made Christ a new type of priest. He is the priest for God's people and especially those who have entered into God's rest and live by faith. The error that too many of God's people believe is that Christ makes everything OK while they go on living in sin, but that is a lie of the devil. This truth is not understood by most of God's people and we see it when the author says Of whom we have manythings to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. After acknowledging that most of God's people will not listen because they are spiritual babes, the author admits that this truth can only be accepted by those saved people who have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Again, the author is instructing us on our responsibility due to our having a better priesthood.

Chapter 6 starts out telling us that it is going to go beyond basic doctrines which we should already understand. Our chapter ends by telling us how that Jesus is our forerunner and that we should follow His example, even if circumstances include a cross like He endured. We should do this because we have two immutable things from God upon which we are to rest our hope. Between the beginning of this chapter and the end we are told that our life is to produce better things than the lives of lost people because of our salvation. Their lives are rejected but our life should bring blessings and we should continue to produce these better things until the end of our life, regardless of circumstances, because of our salvation and the basis of our hope.

Chapter 7 tells us about Melchisedec, who was a 'Christophany'. He was the priest who blessed Abraham and our chapter explains how that he also represented a better priesthood than the Levitical priesthood. We are also told that his priesthood was a type of the eternal priesthood that Jesus Christ now has and uses to represent us. Our chapter gives us several ways that this priesthood is better, and how we are more blessed by it. That is, 7:9 tells us that we have a better hope. Since hope is an action verb within the Bible, God expects better attitudes and actions from us as a result of this better hope. In particular, we are more enabled to serve God and produce the better things (6:9) that our prior chapter talked about. In particular, we are told that Jesus made a surety of a better testament (7:22), which is the basis of our better hope and the reason that God expects better things from us.

Chapter 8 transitions from telling us about a better testament to telling us about a better covenant, which was established upon better promises (8:6). Here we learn about the fault that God found with the First Covenant. Namely, God's people did not maintain their relationship with Him. God improved things in the New Covenant in hopes that more of God's people will maintain their ongoing personal relationship with Him.

Based upon the prior chapter, Chapter 9 explains how He also has a better ordinances of divine service, which are done in a greater and more perfect tabernacle (9:11) which also has better sacrifices (9:23). Our chapter also explains the relationship between the testament and death with the shedding of blood.

Our prior chapter explained how the Levitical priesthood and sacrifices were not sufficient because they did not make anyone perfect. Now our chapter explains how Jesus Christ did what was needed to give us the Holy Ghost and make us perfect. He did this in order to make us sanctified ('set aside for God's holy use'). With this change we now have the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us because under the new covenant God will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.

In 10:34: we are told that the saved people who meet God's requirements ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. After that, 11:16 says, that such people desire a better country, that is, an heavenly and 11:35 says, that such people did what they did that they might obtain a better resurrection. Finally, 12:24 says, that we have come to a better place and that we need to act right because the new covenant speaketh better things than that of Abel. Yes, everything that we have is better, but God also expects that our response will also be better.

Because of these changes we are told to have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus...with a true heart in full assurance of faith. However, we are also to have our life cleaned up and to 'Stop our Sinning'. With that in mind, the last half of our chapter warns us of the consequences of returning to sin after we receive all that God has done to change our life. Here is where we read the famous verse of: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. We are to live by faith and know that God will punish backsliders.

Chapter 11 is the famous chapter on faith. There are times when I listen to people and am convinced that they are sure that they 'know' what it says and, when they read it, they see what they have been told to see and not what it really says. As the Bible says in some places: Selah ('Think about it!').

True Biblical faith is an action verb which produces works. If people really read what this chapter says then they will see that every person mentioned here did action. In addition, we are judged by our works because our works are the evidence of true Biblical faith. James 2 talks about faith without works, but that is not true Biblical faith, as even James 2 explains. The definition from our chapter is: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. As I explain to Bible Students and others, evidence is something that is used in court and can be separated from the person presenting it so that it can be examined independent of that person. What is in your head and in your heart can not be separated from you. That is a belief, and not true Biblical faith. In addition, something that has substance can be sensed with our physical senses. Another person can not sense what is in your head and in your heart. Thus, what James 2 calls faith without works is in fact only a belief and does not match what is truly reported within our chapter.

Please prayerfully read what this chapter truly says about true Biblical faith.

PS: Hebrews 11:6 is the verse that God used to start me on this Study and the creation of this web site. It has the promise that God...is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. I started by seeking God by studying through every book in the New Testament (at least 24 times each book) to find how the Bible truly uses the various roles of the Son of God. The result is in the Lord Jesus Christ Study on this site. The rest of this site came after that because God rewarded me by showing me how to interpret His Word so that there are NO conflicts. While many people believe this, neither I nor anyone that I know of has provided the proof required by God to back up such a belief. True proof requires proving a thing to be true in every circumstance. Since all claims of 'error in the Bible' are based upon claims about the New Testament, with God's help I will finish this Study for the entire New Testament and prove that there are NOerrors in the Bible' but that all such claimed 'errors' are due to men refusing to use God's way to interpret the Bible while they use the way of men. (There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25)

Chapter 12 starts with Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. It continues from there but we are reminded that when we start to think our circumstances are hard and that we are not receiving the help which we think we deserve, we have all of these witnesses who had worse circumstances and less help and yet were faithful. We are also told how to be faithful when we are told to lay aside what will hinder us and to concentrate on running the race. Further, If this was not enough, our first sentence then reminds us of Jesus and all He did and of His motivation. Jesus is our main example for how to live in the flesh using the power of the Holy Ghost.

With this basis our chapter tells us that our circumstances aren't as bad as we imagine them to be. In addition, what we think is bad may be the chastening of the Lord which is designed to help us. from this admonition to fix our attitude we are told to worship God (Wherefore lift up the hands), seek God's healing and do right by other people. We are also warned against bitterness and becoming like Esau. We are also reminded that we have a better deal than people in the Old Testament and since they did not escape punishment then we also will not escape punishment for sin. With these admonishments, we are told Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear: forour God is a consuming fire.

In our final chapter we are told how to apply, in our daily life, what has been told to us. First, we are to treat others right. Then we are to keep our doctrine and service to God right. Then we are to keep our eyes on the heavenly goal and remember that we are here to represent God, not to fight for things of this world. Finally, we are to encourage the brethren.

If you look a the summary of each chapter above you should see a logical progression that supports the summary of this epistle provided at the start of this section. That Summary supports the two sentence theme for this epistle found at the start of this Study. Below you will find the summary of each sentence followed by the summary of that chapter and you will be able to see that the chapter summary is derived from the sentence summaries. If you follow the link provided for each sentence summary, you will find a detailed note which deals with each sentence in the context which it is found in, the sentence structure based upon consistent Biblical usage of punctuation, word studies which show how the word definitions come from the Biblical usage of those words. Also, you will find links to other Studies, where appropriate. The combination shows that the Bible is consistent in its message from the theme of an epistle down to every word and punctuation park used within it. It is also consistent across the Bible in the usage of words, punctuation, messages and more. There are NO conflicts within the Bible if we use God's way to understand God's Word.

Please see these Doctrinal Studies which reference this epistle. The doctrines explained are based upon, or related to, truths found in this epistle. Please see: Godly Financial principals; Jesus Used the Power of the Holy Ghost; What Did Jesus Do?; Significant Gospel Events; Significant New Testament Events; Relational Prepositions Study; John the Baptist. (As the last Old Testament prophet, some of his doctrine is explained in Hebrews.)

In addition, please also see the following Messages which rely upon the doctrine of this epistle: True Biblical Assurance; Basic doctrine of Baptism; Hebrews 2:1-5; Jesus; Spiritual Maturity Levels according to the Bible; Stewards Must Act and Why be Loyal to Church.

Chapter 1 Summary:
Chapter theme: God's Son is greater than all other beings except God the Father.

As a result of the theme of this chapter, we are to not listen to anyone who disagrees with God's Son. God's Son has obtained a more excellent name than they. (The Biblical doctrine associated with the word name is: 'power and authority'.) He has a better position since He is seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high. He has a better relationship being called Son, which no angel has been called. He has more power since He is the Creator. He has more authority because where God used angels as His messengers in the past, God the Father has replaced them and hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. Further, God the Father saith, And let all the angels of God worship him and Thy throne, of God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Notice that God the Father called His Son God.

C1-S1 : God made His Son greater than any other beings except God the Father.
1. The word God means: 'The most powerful being Who exists anywhere'. No other being can challenge His authority and power. Therefore, no other being can challenge His word.
2. The word sundry means: 'many and diverse'. God delivered His message several time and in many different ways so that no one can claim that God did not make Himself clear (who at sundry times and in divers manners).
3. The phrase spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets means: 'God used Hos prophets to tell the religious leaders what God wanted them to know and do'. In the Old Testament there were three ordained positions of: prophet, priest and king. While some men had two of these offices, only Jesus has ever been given all three offices. In addition, many preachers of today claim that they have the office of prophet. However, like the priests of the Old Testament, they teach religious doctrine and God does not use them to reveal Biblical truth which has been forgotten. As in the Old Testament, a true prophet, of today, reveals truth in the word of God which is not a new revelation but is a forgotten truth.
4. The phrase Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son means: 'What the Son of God said came from God the Father'. We find This is my beloved Son, said about Jesus, in: Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22; Luke 9:35 and 2Peter 1:17. We find hear ye him, said about Jesus, in: Matthew 17:5 and John 10:20. Thus, this phrase is supported by several other Bible references.
5. The phrase whom he hath appointed heir of all things is doctrinal truth which is also found in: Galatians 3:29. Hebrews 6:17-29. In addition, the references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, in the Detailed Study, has many more Bible references for this truth.
6. The phrase by whom also he made the worlds means: 'God the Father had the plan and Power, God the Son directed God the Holy Spirit to create all of this physical reality'. We find the word Creator in: Ecclesiastes 12:1; Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 43:15; Romans 1:25; 1Peter 4:19. We also find this doctrine in John 1:3. In addition, the references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, in the Detailed Study, has many more Bible references for this truth.
7. The phrase Who being the brightness of his glory means: 'All of the glory of God the Father was displayed in Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration'.
8. The phrase and the express image of his person means: 'God the Son shows us the character of God the Father, which is meant by image of his person'. The word express means: 'God the Son shows us what God the Father wanted us to know about Him'.
9. The phrase and upholding all things by the word of his power means: 'God the Son has the power which is used to keep all of creation together'. (Matthew 28:18).
10. The phrase when he had by himself purged our sins means: 'God the Son is Who personally completely removed our sins, and not just the penalty for our sins'.
11. The phrase sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high means: 'God the Son is more powerful than any other being except God the Father and He is Who does everything that God the Father wants done because He is on the right hand of the Majesty on high'.
12. The phrase Being made so much better than the angels means: 'God the Son is better than any other being except God the Father. Therefore, what He says is what is done and no other being can oppose Him'.
13. The phrase as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. In the Bible, the word name means: 'the power and authority represented by the name'. The Lord Jesus Christ has more power and authority than any other being except God the Father. (The phrase a more excellent means: 'greater'.)
C1-S2 : No angel has received the same recognition and glory from God.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true. That is: why our Lord Jesus Christ is greater than any angel.
2. The phrase unto which of the angels said he at any time gives us the comparison which proves the claim made in the prior sentence '. '. . .
3. The phrase Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? is a quote of Psalms 2:7 and is also referenced in Acts 13:33.
C1-S3 : God has not given His character to any other like He gave it to His Son.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The word again means: 'This is another quote of scripture'.
3. The phrase I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son is a reference to: 2Samuel 7:14; 1Chronicles 17:13; 1Chronicles 22:10; 1Chronicles 28:6; Psalms 89:26-27.
C1-S4 : God commanded angels to worship Him.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The word again means: 'This is another quote of scripture'.
3. The phrase when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world tells us when this worship started.
4. The phrase he (God the Father) saith, And let all the angels of God worship him (Jesus Christ) is a reference to: Luke 2:9-14; 1Peter 3:22; Revelation 5:9-12.
C1-S5 : Angels are far greater than us.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase of the angels he saith means: 'This is the being that God is speaking about'.
3. The phrase Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire is a quote of Psalms 104:4.
4. We also find this doctrine in John 1:3. In addition, the references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, in the Detailed Study, has many more Bible references for this truth.
C1-S6 : God's Son reigns over all beings for ever and ever.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase unto the Son he saith means: 'God the Father said this sentence to the Son of God'. This sentence quotes Psalms 103:19-22 (for the throne) and Psalms 110:2 (for the sceptre).
3. The phrase Thy throne means: 'This sentence is speaking about Son of God ruling and reigning'. This will not be just this physical Earth for 1,000-years but also the new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; 2Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).
4. The phrase O God means: 'God the Father is recognizing that the Lord Jesus Christ is God'. As written in the prior sentence, no being in creation has the power or authority to challenge Him.
5. The phrase is for ever and ever means: 'His rule will never end'.
6. The phrase a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom means: 'This is the type of rule that He will give'. The word: sceptre means: 'As a symbol of authority, the use of the sceptre originated in the idea that the ruler was as a shepherd of his people'. The word: righteousness means: 'doing the right thing at the right time and doing it the right way and for the right reason'.
C1-S7 : God's Son hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity more than any other being. The word hast means: 'This is a lifestyle doing'.
1. The phrase Thou hast loved righteousness. The word: righteousness means: 'doing the right thing at the right time and doing it the right way and for the right reason'. This phrase means that the Lord Jesus Christ always does righteousness.
2. The word and means that the following phrase is added to the prior phrase. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
3. The phrase and hated iniquity means that the Lord Jesus Christ always 'hates lifestyle sins'.
4. The phrase therefore God, even thy God means: 'There can be absolutely no doubt that this is God the Father'. When the word of God has something literally written twice it is part of the law of God which will be used to judge us.
5. The phrase hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows means: 'Not only will the Lord Jesus Christ have more gladness literally than anyone else, but others will sense it like we sense oil of perfume on people'.
C1-S8 : God's Son will outlast Creation.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God. This truth also applies to the other and found within this sentence.
2. The phrase Thou, Lord means: 'The Lord Jesus Christ personally did the things of this sentence and the truths of this sentence are applied to Him personally' for other titles which help us to understand Him.
3. The phrase in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth means: 'The Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator'. Please see the Doctrinal Study called Significant Gospel Events for the section called: Minor Titles of the Son of God.
4. The phrase and the heavens are the works of thine hands means: 'Not only did He create this world but He created all of the planets and stars and everything in the physical reality'.
5. The phrase They shall perish; but thou remainest is giving us a contrast between this physical reality which is limited by time and the Lord Jesus Christ Who is eternal.
6. The phrase and they all shall wax old as doth a garment means: 'Everything in the physical reality gets old over time'.
7. The phrase And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up means: 'This physical reality will be replaced'.
8. The phrase and they shall be changed: but thou art the same is giving us a comparison of the basic nature of creation to the basic nature of the Lord Jesus Christ.
9. The phrase and thy years shall not fail means: 'The Lord Jesus Christ will never die'.
C1-S9 : No angel has received the reward given to God's Son.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase to which of the angels said he at any times identifies the beings which this sentence is to be applied to.
3. The phrase Sit on my right hand means: 'No angel received the position of power and authority given to the Lord Jesus Christ'.
4. The phrase until I make thine enemies thy footstool? means: 'God the Father is Who will defeat all of the enemies'. Foolish religions claim that their god is greater than the Lord Jesus Christ, but no being can defeat God the Father.
C1-S10 : Angels are God's ministers.
1. The phrase Are they not all ministering spirits means: 'The angels are all servants (ministering spirits)'.
2. The phrase sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? means: 'The angels are to serve the saved, not rule over them'.

Chapter 2 Summary:
Chapter theme: Jesus is able to succour them that are tempted.

The theme of this chapter is in the last sentence where we were told that Jesus is able to succour us because of His experience as a man. The first sentence of our chapter starts with Therefore, which means we are to do what this chapter tells us because of what we were told in the prior chapter. That is: the last chapter proved that we have the most powerful being is all of existence, short of God the Father, Who became man and understands our infirmities and is willing and able to succour us. No other being can do anything to us unless He allows it. With this powerful of an allay, we have no excuse for failure.

Our chapter starts out telling us that since God the Father raised Jesus above all other beings (except for God the Father), then we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. The author then reminds us of the consequences in the past which people received when they let slip the commandments of God and disobeyed.

Our chapter quotes Psalms to remind us of the great differences between God and us. We are to be honored that God considers us and we are to do all we can to obey because of that. Since God has His Son become human and made Him the captain of (our) salvation for the express purpose that He would bring many sons unto glory, we are to obey and let Him do this for us.

The author reminds us that God used angels to send messages to men, but angels are not like us and do not understand our weaknesses nor do they understand how difficult it might be for us to obey. However, since the Son of God set aside His personal power and became a weak human being, He does understand our weaknesses and the limits of our abilities. Since He went to all of this effort to understand what we are going through, we need to recognize His understanding and accept that when He tells us to do something it is something we can do. Thus, we should understand the conclusion of this chapter which is: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Please also see the Message called: Hebrews 2:1-5. That Message gives a more detailed explanation of how the first five (5) verses fir together, in context, to deliver the message that God wants us to receive.

C2-S1 : Hold onto truth to avoid losing it.
1. The word Therefore means: 'what follows the therefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the therefore and only seen there'. That is, we are to obey the commandments of this sentence and of this chapter based upon the doctrinal truths which were given in the prior chapter.
2. The word earnest means: 'Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain; having a longing desire; warmly engaged or incited'. The phrase we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard. The word heed means: 'To mind or regard with care and take proper action because of a warning'. The phrase we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard means: 'We need to work hard to understand and obey the lessons from scripture'.
3. The phrase lest at any time we should let them slip means: 'This is the consequence of disobedience'. Our human nature actively fights against the things of God. Therefore, unless we actively pay attention and obey to the things which we have heard, our human nature will make us forget them and disobey them.
C2-S2 : Based upon history, we will be punished for failing this task.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfill the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfill the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if the word spoken by angels was stedfast means: 'The messages delivered by angels were always reliable' We are told about angels dealing with Lot and with different prophets. We are also told that prophets received the word of the Lord, but often are not told how. Therefore, while God sometimes talked to His prophets in visions and dreams, God could also have used angels, at times, to deliver His word.
4. The phrase and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward means: 'All throughout the Old Testament we see that deliberate disobedience by God's people was punished if they did not repent after receiving mercy'.
5. The phrase How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation means: 'How can you believe that God will treat you differently?'. God does not change and God is no respecter of persons. Therefore, there is no basis for this foolish belief.
6. The phrase which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord means: 'It is the Lord Who promised salvation'. We can not find a more reliable source of a promise.
7. The phrase and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him means: 'We also have the testimony of Godly people'.
8. The phrase God also bearing them witness means: 'The testimony of Godly people was supported by evidence from God of His approval'.
9. The phrase both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles means: 'These are the evidences from God of His approval.
10. The phrase and gifts of the Holy Ghost means: 'God's Holy Ghost works through the lives of Godly people in an ongoing basis'.
11. The phrase according to his own will? means: 'We receive these things so tat we can do God's will and God determines who receives each of the things mentioned in this sentence'.
C2-S3 : Angels were not given the rule of this world.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come means: 'Angels will not rule the new heaven and new earth, but the Lord Jesus Christ will'. Therefore, the angels do not have the same level of authority.
3. The phrase whereof we speak means: 'The word of God tells us about the new heaven and new earth'.
C2-S4 : Yet man is far below God.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase one in a certain place testified, saying tells us that this sentence, and the next two sentences, are a quote of Psalms 84:4-5.
3. The phrase What is man, that thou art mindful of him? means: 'This phrase is posed as a question but testifies that man has nothing of value which should cause God to notice him'.
C2-S5 : Man should be beneath God's notice. This sentence, and the prior sentence, and the next sentence, are a quote of Psalms 84:4-5.
1. The word or connects this sentence to the prior sentence and gives us an alternative to consider. Both sentences tell us that man is so far below God that it is incomprehensible why God even considers man.
2. The phrase or the son of man this sentence uses a lowercase son, which means: 'a human son'. This is opposed to the phrase Son of God, which the Bible always capitalizes.
3. The phrase that thou visitest him? means: 'God wants to have fellowship with man and the psalmists writes that even just a visit is beyond comprehension'.
C2-S6 : Yet God lifted up man. This sentence, and the prior two sentences, are a quote of Psalms 84:4-5.
1. The word Thou means: 'you personally'. The word madest means: 'God made and continues to make the same way'. The phrase Thou madest him a little lower than the angels means: 'God personally continues to make all men to have less power and authority than angels have'.
2. The phrase thou crownedst him with glory and honour means: 'God personally continues to give men glory and honour'.
3. The phrase and didst set him over the works of thy hands means: 'God personally continues to give men power and authority over all of this physical reality'.
4. The phrase Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet means: 'God personally made all of creation subject to man'.
C2-S7 : God's Son is made ruler of the world to come.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him repeats the prior sentence, using different words, just in case someone misunderstood the prior sentence.
C2-S8 : Some creatures don't obey God's Son yet.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase now we see not yet all things put under him means: 'Even though God has declared that the prior sentence will be true, we do not see it yet'.
C2-S9 : Jesus was made a man to die for all men. Jesus is our example of how God the Father will treat all true sons of God.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase we see Jesus means: 'He is our God given example'.
3. The phrase who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death means: 'Jesus had to set aside His power and authority as God so that He could be made a literal physical man for the suffering of death. He could not die while He kept His power as the Resurrection'.
4. The phrase crowned with glory and honour means: 'Jesus was rewarded for obeying God the Father and He is our example of the rewards which we can expect to also receive'.
5. The phrase that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man means: 'He paid the price for the sins of every man'.
C2-S10 : therefore, Jesus is our captain of salvation. Even Jesus had to experience suffering so that He could completely understand us and represent us before God the Father. This truth is explained more in the next sentence.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase it became him means: 'Jesus received understanding through His experience'.
3. The phrase for whom are all things means: 'Everything that was made was made for His pleasure'.
4. The phrase and by whom are all things means: 'He made everything as the Creator'.
5. The phrase in bringing many sons unto glory means: 'He suffered like He did in order to change us into true sons. and then bring us unto glory'.
6. The phrase to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings means: 'Jesus became our captain of salvation because He experienced the things which we experience'. Please see the Doctrinal Study called Significant Gospel Events for the section called: Minor Titles of the Son of God
C2-S11 : Jesus is not ashamed to be identified with the sanctified. This is a direct quote of Psalms 22:22,25. The Detailed Study has more on this sentence.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one means: 'We are to have the same character, goals and desires as Jesus'.
3. The phrase for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren means: 'Jesus is not ashamed of those who accept His character but is ashamed of saved people who refuse to accept His character'.
4. The phrase Saying means: 'Here is His message and example of the message we are to have'.
5. The phrase I will declare thy name unto my brethren means: 'He is a public witness for God and the truth of God'.
6. The phrase in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee means: 'He is faithful in church worship'.
C2-S12 : Jesus put His trust in God the Father.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase And again, I will put my trust in him means: 'This is another quote (again) from scripture'. The references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, in the Detailed Study, has many more Bible references for this truth. This is referencing Jesus putting His trust in God the Father while He suffered and died for our sins. Again, He is our example and we are to trust God the Father like He did.
C2-S13 : the sanctified are the children which God hath given to Jesus.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me means: 'This is another quote (again) from scripture'. The references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, in the Detailed Study, has many more Bible references for this truth. This is referencing Jesus teaching His children to be like Him. Again, He is our example and we are to obey God the Father like He did.
C2-S14 : Jesus became human like us to destroy him that had the power of death.
1. The phrase Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood means: 'Jesus considered the main source of our weakness, which is our flesh'.
2. The phrase he also himself likewise took part of the same means: 'Jesus took on the same form of weakness in order to be like us'.
3. The phrase that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death means: 'Jesus did what was necessary to free us from fear'.
4. The phrase that is, the devil means: 'Satan had the power of death before Jesus defeated him'. In Revelation 1:18, Jesus says: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Jesus took this power away from Satan when Jesus defeated Satan.
5. The phrase And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage means: 'Jesus made it s that the saved never have to be in bondage again'.
C2-S15 : Jesus did not become an angel but became a man.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase For verily he took not on him the nature of angels means: 'Jesus did not take the nature of the stronger and greater being'.
3. The phrase but he took on him the seed of Abraham means: 'Jesus took our nature so that He would be like us'.
C2-S16 : Jesus did this to be a merciful and faithful high priest.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren means: 'It is important that people understand that Jesus was completely human'.
3. The phrase that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God means: 'This is why'. Jesus could not truly represent us unless He was like us and understood all of our weaknesses and temptations.
4. The phrase to make reconciliation for the sins of the people means: 'One of the main jobs of Jesus, at this time, is to bring us back into fellowship (make reconciliation) with God'.
C2-S17 : Jesus is able to succour us because of His experience as a man.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word succour means: 'Literally, to run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; as, to succor a besieged city; to succor prisoner'. This is what Jesus does for the saved who are also serving.
3. The phrase in that he himself hath suffered being tempted means: 'Jesus suffered the same things which we experience'.
4. The phrase he is able to succour them that are tempted means: 'Because of His personal experience, Her can help us with our temptations'.

Chapter 3 Summary:
Chapter theme: Christ is much greater than Moses.

in this chapter the author tells us about the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Therefore, our relationship with God the Father, through God the Son, is much greater than keeping religious rules such as the Mosaic Law or things spoken by angels. God the Father brought severe judgment upon people who disobeyed the angels and who disobeyed the Mosaic Law. Therefore, since we have a greater relationship with God the Father, through our Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, we should Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. That is, since we have a better relationship which is based upon faith, we should be careful to maintain our faith and not let anything interfere with it.

in this chapter we are warned against unbelief because of how God dealt with it in the past and our chapter tells us how He still deals with it. Later, we will be told to live by faith and faith requires going beyond just getting rid of unbelief. However, you can not have faith until after you get rid of unbelief. Therefore, the author presents this step before going unto the next step.

C3-S1 : consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase holy brethren means: 'Saved and serving people who live a holy life'.
3. The phrase partakers of the heavenly calling means: 'These people are taking part in the blessings which come from the life they live and from their answering the calling from God'. (Please also see the Messages called; Call Upon the Lord and Called to be Saints.)
4. The phrase consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession means: 'Christ Jesus is the source of all of their doctrine and He represents these people before God the Father for all of their requests and for any sin that Satan accuses them of'. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called Significant Gospel Events for the section called: Minor Titles of the Son of God).
5. The phrase Christ Jesus means: 'He is available to fulfill these roles for all saved but only does so for saved people who have spiritually matured enough to work for God's kingdom'.
6. The phrase Who was faithful to him that appointed him means: 'Christ Jesus is faithful to get His children to obey God the Father'. . .
7. The phrase as also Moses was faithful in all his house means: 'We can use what scripture reports about Moses for an example of how Christ Jesus is faithful to God the Father'. In Deuteronomy 18:15 and Deuteronomy 18:18, Moses prophesied: The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. In Hebrews 3:1-2, we are told that Christ Jesus fulfilled this promise. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called Significant Events in the New Testament for the section called: Prophecy Fulfilled).
C3-S2 : He is worthy of more glory than Moses.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase This man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses means: 'The author is reminding us that Christ Jesus lived as a literal physical man during the time of the Gospels'. He started His church during the time of the Gospels and He did what was necessary to build it to continue until His return.
3. The phrase inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house means: 'Why the prior phrase is true'. This sentence is explained more in the following sentences.
C3-S3 : the difference between God and man.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase every house is builded by some man means: 'literal physical buildings'.
3. The phrase but he that built all things is God means: 'All things, both physical and spiritual'.
C3-S4 : Christ is the builder and greater than a servant.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase Moses verily was faithful in all his house means: 'This is the testimony of Moses'.
3. The phrase as a servant means: 'Even with this testimony, Moses was still just a servant of God'.
4. The phrase for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after means: 'This is why Moses had this testimony'. His testimony was a form of prophet for how Christ Jesus would act. (Please see the prior note which prophesied a Prophet...like unto me).
5. The phrase But Christ as a son over his own house means: 'Christ has a different relationship and role than Moses had'. Christ, as a Son, inherits, among other differences, where a servant does not inherit.
6. The phrase whose house are we means: 'Our physical bodies are supposed to be the abiding place of God'. However, the next phrase limits who fulfills this design of God.
7. The word if makes the following phrase a conditional phrase. The prior phrase only applies to those saved people who fulfil the following condition.
8. The phrase we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end means: 'This is the requirement for us (our body) to be considered to be a house of God'. Our life must display our confidence in the promises of God and we must be continuously rejoicing in our relationship with God if we want to personally have a testimony that God abides in us.
C3-S5 : Tells us to be careful to not have an evil heart of unbelief that rejects God's Son to follow religious leaders. This sentence has a large included section. The included section has three (3) separate sentences. (What is between parenthesis, in the word of God, is the included section.) Since these sentences are included, they are part of the original message given in the outer sentence. Proper interpretation is 'Message-to-Message and not what devil motived men claim which is different'. when this sentence was interpreted into English from the original Greek, the interpreters added the included section in order to keep the same message since a verse-to-verse or a word-to-word interpretation would not deliver the same message and would be doctrinal error. With that in mind, we can look at the outer sentence and then add in the included sentences and see how they increase our understanding. The outer sentence says:.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase Take heed means: means: 'To mind or regard with care and take proper action because of a warning'. Please notice that, without the included section, many people would consider this to be just the opinion of the author and would disregard the warning.
3. The phrase brethren means: 'The saved people who are also serving'. Saved people who are carnal and not serving God will disregard this warning like they disregard other warnings. Saved people who truly pay attention to warnings in the word of God are also serving because the two actions are directly linked.
4. The phrase lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief means: 'This is what causes people to disregard warnings'. Our heart is defined as: 'The short-term way we think (mind), the way we emotionally respond to circumstances (emotions) and the method we use to make decisions (will)'. Our natural heart (an evil heart), always leads us into sin.
5. The phrase in departing from the living God means: 'We leave our ongoing personal relationship with God by refusing to fulfill our responsibilities in the relationship'. God said: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (See references for Hebrews 13:5.) However, as our sentence says, we can leave Him. And, if we do that, we lose all of the blessings from the relationship.
6. With that outer sentence considered, we see that God's people can, and have, and still do, leave their ongoing personal relationship with God. We also see that the included section reminds us of historical facts which should convince people to fulfill their responsibilities and that, without the included section, many of God's people would ignore the message of the outer sentence. Therefore, the included section is a critical part of the message delivered by the author and that message was in the original language, but would be dropped by using wrong methods of interpretation. The included section tells us:
7. The phrase (as the Holy Ghost saith means: 'This warning comes directly from God and is not the opinion of the author'. Therefore, ignoring the warning is rejecting a message from God and will result in punishment similar to what we read in this sentence.
8. The word if makes the following phrase a conditional phrase. The prior phrase only applies to those saved people who fulfil the following condition.
9. The phrase To day if ye will hear his voice means: 'Pay attention to the warnings soon as you hear, or read, it'. Any saved person who chooses to ignore, or put off, paying attention to the warning is refusing to hear his (God's ) voice. This is the first of seven times that this phrase is used in this epistle. We find this phrase in: Hebrews 3:7; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 3:15; Hebrews 4:7; Hebrews 5:5; Hebrews 13:8.
10. The phrase Harden not your hearts means: 'Don't close your mind, your will and your emotions to God so that you choose to ignore the message from God'.
11. The phrase as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness is a reference to the forty (40) years that God's people wandered in the wilderness and God killed every member of the generation which refused to go into the promised land, except Caleb and Joshua. God had promised to fight for them and Caleb and Joshua were the only adult Jews who believed God's promise. The rest saw only their own inadequacy to do God's job and refused to believe that God would keep His promise to fight for them.
12. The phrase When your fathers tempted me means: 'Their refusal to believe God, effectively, called God a liar. That tempted God to kill them immediately'. Instead of doing that, God gave them a warning and only killed them after they repeated their act of unbelief while they wandered in the wilderness.
13. The phrase proved me is added to the prior phrase. 'They made God prove that He really would kill them over their sin'.
14. The phrase and saw my works forty years means: 'God worked many miracles while they wandered and, still, they refused to believe God's promises'.
15. The phrase Wherefore I was grieved with that generation means: 'God was grieved because God's children refused to believe God's word even after He gave them miracles to prove that He would do as He said'.
16. The phrase and said means: God added the next phrase after God's children kept refusing to believe God.
17. The phrase They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways means: 'When God's people refuse to learn and remember God's ways, they do alway err in their heart'. It is not a lack of information. Nor is it a lack of mental ability. It is a heart problem.
18. The phrase So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.) means: 'God swore that He would not provide for them, nor protect them, because they refused to turn their heart towards true faith in God'.
C3-S6 : Beware of the deceitfulness of sin.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction. Here we are told to not act like those Jews and we are told how to act instead.
2. The phrase exhort one another daily means: 'Encourage each other to serve God with a right attitude'.
3. The phrase while it is called to day means: 'Do it now and don't put it off'. This is the second of seven times that this phrase is used in this epistle.
4. The phrase lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin means: 'This will happen if we do not obey the commandment of this sentence'. Notice that sin will deceive ('cause us to believe that a lie is truth') us. And, after we hold onto our sin and deceit, we will harden our heart and make it almost impossible for God to get us to accept the truth.
C3-S7 : We must continue with Christ.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase we are made partakers of Christ means: 'We can receive the promised blessing which only come through Christ'.
3. The word if makes the following phrase a conditional phrase. The prior phrase only applies to those saved people who fulfil the following condition.
4. The phrase if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end means: 'This is the requirement for receiving these blessings'. There are lots of people who claim that they keep 'backsliding'. As one preacher said: 'You must fore-slide before you can backslide. Most people who claim that they keep backsliding never truly received God's salvation and they only keep showing their true nature'. Regardless of what people claim, if they are not stedfast in their God caused changed life, they can not expect God to give them these blessings.
5. The phrase While it is said means: 'Base your claims on what scripture truly says'.
6. The phrase To day if ye will hear his voice means: 'Do it now and don't put it off'. This is the third of seven times that this phrase is used in this epistle.
7. The phrase harden not your hearts, as in the provocation means: 'Don't do like God's children did when they caused God to kill them'. As the context shows, this is a reference to the forty (40) years that the Jews wandered in the wilderness because they refused to believe the promise of God. God killed all of the adults of that generation except Caleb and Joshua.
C3-S8 : Some people who are with God's people do not belong to God.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true. %This sentence, and the rest of the chapter, explain why the author writes: harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
2. The phrase some means: 'Not everyone'. Joshua, Caleb, Moses and the next generation were excluded from this statement.
3. The phrase when they had heard means: 'These people heard the promises of God but refused to believe them'.
4. The phrase did provoke means: 'They said things to make Moses so mad that Moses lost his blessings'.
5. The phrase howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses means: 'There were non-believing non-Jews. The Jews did not completely separate themselves and the others caused many Jews to be deceived and to believe lies from devils'.
C3-S9 : God was grieved forty years with His children who followed the unbelievers. This is a very important statement that most people fail to truly understand. God was not grieved at lost people acting like they were lost. God was grieved at His people acting like they were lost.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase with whom was he grieved forty years? means: 'This is asked as a question to cause the reader to really think about the true answer'
C3-S10 : God killed His children who sinned. Our sentence says: was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?. We are told about God killing His children but are not told about God killing to lost. And, elsewhere we see God leaving the lost alive because His children did not obey God and remove the lost from their assembly.
C3-S11 : God denied them His promises.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest means: 'This is the reaction of God to His people who refuse to believe His promise and fulfill His requirements in order to receive His promise'.
3. The phrase but to them that believed not? means: 'Notice that this -phrase only applies to people who have sworn to accept God as their God'.
C3-S12 : Unbelief causes us to lose everything from God. Our sentence says: So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. This is the conclusion of the entire chapter.

Chapter 4 Summary:
Chapter theme: God's rest.

Our chapter starts with the phrase Let us therefore, which tells us that Chapter 4 is a future result which we are to produce based upon what was said in the prior chapter and in all that came before this within out epistle. (That is the meaning of the word therefore.) As we see in several other epistles, each chapter is dependent upon the prior and we can not get a true interpretation while ignoring the context.

Our chapter talks about God's rest and many people misunderstand this chapter because they use the wrong definition for the word rest. In the word of God, rest means: 'Stop working to supply your own physical needs and trust God to supply them while you concentrate on doing the work required to build the kingdom of God'. We see this based upon C4-S9.

Our prior chapter told us how we have a better Apostle and High Priest than people had in the Old Testament. It reminded us of the judgment that God brought down upon people who acted in unbelief and warned us that we could expect the sameans more if we acted in unbelief because God gave us a better relationship. With this as our basis we can look at our chapter which explains that receiving God's promises (getting the profit) requires our responding to the gospel with faith. The response of true faith allows us to enter into his (God's ) rest, which is where we cease from (our) own works. We must labour therefore to enter into that rest by doing the work God gives us while having faith that God will meet our physical needs. Our chapter ends with Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. We must have faith that Jesus the Son of God will properly represent us and get what we need if we are busy doing the work of God.

C4-S1 : Be afraid of doing wrong so that you don't miss God's rest.
1. The word Therefore means: 'what follows the therefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the therefore and only seen there'. That is, we are to obey the commandments of this sentence and of this chapter based upon the doctrinal truths which were given in the prior chapter.
2. The phrase Let us therefore fear means: 'Let us be positive that God will deny us His blessing if we do not fulfil His requirement to receive the blessing'.
3. The phrase lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest means: 'we have a promise but we might not receive the promise'.
4. The phrase any of you should seem to come short of it means: 'We will not receive the promise if we do not fulfill the requirement'.
C4-S2 : the gospel does not profit if not mixed with faith.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them means: 'We were given God's good news just like they were'.
3. The phrase but the word preached did not profit them means: 'They did not respond properly'.
4. The phrase not being mixed with faith in them that heard it means: 'The proper response requires true Biblical faith as part of the response'.
C4-S3 : Faith is required to enter God's rest
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase we which have believed do enter into rest means: 'God's rest is given to saved people who truly believe'.
3. The phrase as he said means: 'God told us the promise and the consequence of not fulfilling the requirement to receive the promise'. The original incident was recorded in Numbers 14:20-38. We also see the same message, but slightly different words, recorded in: Psalms 95:11; Isaiah 28:12 and Jeremiah 6:16. Thus, we can see that our First Equivalent Section tells us 'We will enter into God's rest if we truly believe' and those who do not truly believe can not enter God's rest.
4. The phrase although the works were finished from the foundation of the world means: 'God prepared His blessing before creation but will not give the blessing to people who refuse to fulfill His requirements'.
C4-S4 : God is found in His rest.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise means that our sentence is referring to Genesis 2:1-2; Exodus 20:11 and Exodus 31:17.
3. The phrase And God did rest the seventh day from all his works means: 'God set us an example to follow'.
C4-S5 : God's blessings are in His rest.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest means: 'God gave the commandment but they misunderstood'. Exodus 20:11 and Exodus 31:17 report that God told His people that He rested on the seventh day and that they were to do the same. While they obeyed physically, and even added to God's requirement in the physical sense, they completely missed the spiritual meaning.
C4-S6 : God's rest is available to us tday.
1. The word Therefore means: 'what follows the therefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the therefore and only seen there'. That is, the doctrine found in this sentence is based upon the truths found earlier in this chapter. In addition, the word seeing is often used, symbolically, for: 'understanding'. and, that is the meaning given the word in this sentence. Therefore, the phrase Seeing therefore means: 'Here is understanding which is based upon the truths found earlier in this chapter'.
2. The phrase it remaineth that some must enter therein means: 'This promise of God still had to be given at the time that this epistle was written'.
3. The phrase and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief means: 'Here is why the Jews did not receive the promise'. Therefore, we must avoid their error in order to receive the promise.
4. The phrase Again, he limiteth a certain day means: 'Our sentence continues with the phrase to day'. Thus, we must act quickly when God gives the opportunity to receive the promise.
5. The phrase saying in David means: 'The author is referencing the Psalms'.
6. The phrase To day, after so long a time means: 'Do it now and don't put it off'. This is a reference to Psalms 95:7. And, this promise was not available for a long time and God can remove the promise again if we do not act while the promise is available.
7. The phrase as it is said means: 'Do exactly what the scripture commands'.
8. The phrase To day if ye will hear his voice means: 'Act while the promise is available. Also, the promise is only given to saved people who personally will hear his voice'.
9. The phrase harden not your hearts means: 'This is what is required in order to receive the promise. '. . .
C4-S7 : Evidence that is still available today.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase For if Jesus had given them rest means: 'This is the conditional truth which proves the truth of the prior sentence'. They did not receive God's rest. However many people misunderstand this sentence and this chapter because they use the wrong definition for the word rest. In the word of God, rest means: 'Stop working to supply your own physical needs and trust God to supply them while you concentrate on doing the work required to build the kingdom of God'. The Jews rarely did the required service to God, which is why they experienced famines, captivity and other punishments.
4. The phrase then would he not afterward have spoken of another day means: 'This additional speaking is found Psalms, Isaiah and Jeremiah, as already referenced'. And, as also already referenced, the original promise is recorded in Numbers.
C4-S8 : says: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. This is the conclusion which is based upon what was just written.
C4-S9 : gives us the basic definition of God's rest. We must cease from our own work to enter God's rest.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true. The Jews failed to stop trying to provide for themselves and rely on God for their provision and protection, which is why the prior sentence said There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
2. The phrase he that is entered into his rest means: 'This is the result of the rest of this sentence'.
3. The phrase he also hath ceased from his own works means: 'This is the required action. God's people must cease from working for their own provision and protection in this physical reality'.
4. The phrase as God did from his means: 'God made the example for us to follow when God ceased His work on this physical reality'.
C4-S10 : Work to enter God's rest.
1. The phrase Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest means: 'We must labour in God's kingdom if we want God to provide for us in the physical reality'. Our phrase says therefore because what the Jews did failed. As a result, we must act different if we want a different result. Think about the saying of: 'Insanity is defined as doing the same thing and expecting different results'.
2. The phrase lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief means: 'If we act like the Jews then we will get the same results as the Jews received'.
C4-S11 : the word of God tells us how to do this. This sentence is often preached as a precept which is independent of the context. And, that is not wrong since it is a precept. However, we will consider the application within this context.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword means: 'is giving us a comparison with the most deadly weapon known at the time of writing'. Basically, since the word of God is spiritually alive and backed by God and the power of God, it can do things that nothing in this physical world can match.
3. The phrase piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit means: 'The only way that anyone can tell the difference between the soul and the spirit is by what the word of God says since neither can be detected by our physical senses'. However, while neither can be detected by our physical senses, the results of each affecting this physical reality can be detected. Consider John 3:8 where Jesus said: The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. That is how we detect the working of the soul and of the spirit. Please see the Detailed Study for the true Biblical definitions of these words. The word of God tells us how we are to deal with everything in the spiritual life.
4. The phrase and of the joints and marrow means: 'The joints allow our muscles to move our bones and produce visible work in this physical reality. The marrow is in the middle of our bones and produce our blood, which is the basic holder of our physical life'. Thus, the author identifies the smallest and the largest evidence of physical life and, thereby, identifies everything in between. The word of God tells us how we are to deal with everything in this physical life.
5. The word discern is defined as: 'Distinguishing; seeing; discovering; knowing; judging'. The phrase and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart means: 'The word of God can separate the physical from the spiritual and can separate different spiritual things and different physical things and can even separate sinful motivations from obedient responses to God'.
6. In context, our sentence is telling us that the word of God can let us know everything that we need to know including if God will provide for us, and protect us, in this physical reality or not. Thus, we need to search the word of God for any true answer that we desire to have.
C4-S12 : We are manifest to God. Some apply this sentence to the word of God, which is spiritually alive. However, when we consider the full context of this sentence, we see that it is actually speaking about God.
1. The phrase Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight means: 'God can see everything about any creature and He can see those things in every possible way'.
2. The phrase but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do means: 'All creatures must deal with God and none can hide anything from God'.
C4-S13 : Jesus the Son of God is representing us to God.
1. The phrase Seeing then means: 'With the understanding which is the result of what was just explained'.
2. The phrase that we have a great high priest means: 'We have a great high priest Who can and will intercede with God the Father for us'.
3. The phrase that is passed into the heavens means: 'He is in Heaven and not representing us from Earth'.
4. The phrase Jesus the Son of God means: 'He is the closest Being to God the Father and the most loved by God the Father and can get more and better things from God the Father than any other being'.
5. The phrase let us hold fast our profession means: 'Don't let anything make you deny your ongoing personal relationship with Lord Jesus Christ'.
C4-S14 : Jesus Christ understands our weaknesses and feelings.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities means: 'Jesus Christ understands our infirmities'.
3. The phrase but was in all points tempted like as we are means: 'Jesus Christ understands our temptations'.
4. The phrase yet without sin means: 'Jesus Christ did not sin. Therefore, He can teach us how to stop our sinning'.
C4-S15 : therefore, go to God for help in time of need.
1. The word Therefore means: 'what follows the therefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the therefore and only seen there'. That is, we are to obey the commandment of this sentence and of this chapter based upon the doctrinal truths which were given earlier in the chapter.
2. The phrase Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace means: 'We can go to Jesus Christ based upon His understanding'.
3. The phrase that we may obtain mercy means: 'We can get forgiveness for our sins'.
4. The phrase and find grace to help in time of need means: 'We can get help which we do not deserve so that we can doe the work of God'.

Chapter 5 Summary:
Chapter theme: the office of high priest.

Our prior chapter told us that we only get certain blessings is we enter God's rest and live by faith. Our current chapter starts with the word For and explains why this is true. Here, we are told basic facts about the office of a priest. Then the author explains that God made Christ a new type of priest. He is the priest for God's people and especially those who have entered into God's rest and live by faith. The error that too many of God's people believe is that Christ makes everything OK while they go on living in sin, but that is a lie of the devil. This truth is not understood by most of God's people and we see it when the author says Of whom we have manythings to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. After acknowledging that most of God's people will not listen because they are spiritual babes, the author admits that this truth can only be accepted by those saved people who have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

C5-S1 : the purpose of the priesthood.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God means: 'This is the purpose and job of a high priest'. Notice that the high priest is taken from among men. Notice also that he is ordained...in things pertaining to God. He is not supposed to be representing human religion.
3. The phrase that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins means: 'His main job is to make things right with God after people sin'.
4. The phrase Who can have compassion on the ignorant means: 'He can have feelings towards people who sin without realizing it'. He is not supposed to berate such people but instruct them on how they are to stop sinning.
5. The phrase and on them that are out of the way means: 'He is supposed to help people get back into God's way so that they can get blessings and avoid punishment'.
6. The phrase for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity means: 'He is to consider his own infirmities when dealing with other people'.
C5-S2 : the priest offers sacrifices for sins.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase by reason hereof he ought means: 'By the reason given in this sentence (hereof)'.
3. The phrase as for the people, so also for himself means: 'The priest is not different nor better than the people whom he represents'.
4. The phrase to offer for sins means: 'Everyone sins and there must be an offering because of the sin'.
C5-S3 : God chooses who is a priest.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase no man taketh this honour unto himself is a truth which is ignored by many religions. They claim that they can appoint someone as priest but if God refuses to accept them in that position then their religious activities only deceive people, which makes them ministers of devils.
3. The phrase but he that is called of God means: 'Only God can say who is acceptable in This position'.
4. The phrase as was Aaron means: 'He is our historical example'. Aaron was not better than other people and he led people into false worship and, yet, was chosen by God.
C5-S4 : God choose Christ.
1. The phrase So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest means: 'Christ did not violate this law of God but submitted to it'.
2. The phrase but he that said unto him means: 'God the Father said this to Jesus Christ'.
3. The phrase Thou art my Son references Psalms 2:7; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22.
4. The phrase To day if ye will hear his voice means: 'Do it now and don't put it off'.
5. The phrase to day have I begotten thee is a reference to Micah 5:2. Also, 2Peter 3:8 says: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Therefore, the entire life of Jesus Christ fits within what God calls to day.
C5-S5 : God made Christ a priest.
1. The phrase As he saith also in another place means that this sentence is quoting Psalms 110:4.
2. The phrase Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec means: 'Jesus Christ is an everlasting priest'. Please see the next sentence about him. Please see the detail note for Hebrews 7:1 about what dictionaries and commentators say about Melchisedec. Please see the note for Hebrews 7:22-LJC for a link to every verse in this epistle which tells about him and a summary of what each verse says. Please also see the Doctrinal Study called Significant Gospel Events for the section called: Minor Titles of the Son of God.
C5-S6 : Christ suffered so that He could represent people who suffer.
1. The phrase Who in the days of his flesh means: 'Is speaking about Jesus, as made clear in the next phrase'.
2. The phrase when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death means: 'This is speaking about the experience in Gethsemane that Jesus had'. Our phrase tells us that Jesus prayed to God the Father.
3. The phrase and was heard in that he feared means: 'Jesus feared as any human would who knew what He was about to experience'. His fear did not save Jesus from the experience and our fear will not save us from an experience which will teach us something that God wants us to know.
4. The phrase Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered means: 'As God, Jesus had never suffered. Because of His experience, He can understand our weaknesses and fears'.
5. The phrase And being made perfect means: 'He became spiritually mature through what He learned through His experience'.
6. The phrase he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him means: 'He suffered so that He could became the author of eternal salvation.'. However, pay attention to the phrase that obey him. Religious liars claim that He has to save anyone who says the magic prayer even if they always refuse to obey.
7. The phrase Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec means: 'God the Father made Jesus a priest and specified what type of priest He is'. Please see the detail note for Hebrews 7:1 about what dictionaries and commentators say about Melchisedec. Please see the note for Hebrews 7:22-LJC for a link to every verse in this epistle which tells about him and a summary of what each verse says.
C5-S7 : People refuse to listen to certain truths about Christ.
1. The phrase Of whom we have manythings to say means: 'The author, and others in the early church, knew things which have been lost through time'.
2. The phrase and hard to be uttered means: 'The things that the author knew were hard to explain, especially to spiritually immature people'.
3. The phrase seeing ye are dull of hearing means: 'The people that the author is writing to were spiritually immature'.
C5-S8 : this is because of spiritual immaturity.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase when for the time ye ought to be teachers means: 'The author was addressing people like most people who claim to be saved today'. Consider what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth with his first letter and the source of their divisions. Then consider the divisions in the people who claim to all be 'Good, Godly, fundamental, Bible believing, KJV only, Baptists'.
3. The phrase ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God means: 'They were like 'Sunday morning only church members''. They could not handle any doctrine stronger than the basic message of salvation which is preached to the lost.
4. The phrase and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat means: 'This is the only form of doctrine that they were willing to accept'.
C5-S9 : Spiritual babes can handle only milk.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness means: 'These people could not handle the word of righteousness'. They were upset when the preacher corrected their unrighteousness.
3. The phrase for he is a babe means: 'Anyone who gets upset when the preacher corrects their unrighteousness is a spiritual babe'.
C5-S10 : We must exercise our spiritual senses in order to spiritually mature.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age means: 'The preacher must determine the spiritual maturity level of his audience before he decides what doctrine to preach or teach'. When people are not spiritually mature enough to handle a doctrine, they will choke on it instead of swallowing it. . .
3. The phrase even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil means: 'Here is how people spiritually mature'. People who refuse to obey and do the commandments of the word of God do not mature spiritually.

Chapter 6 Summary:
Chapter theme: Our life should produce better results.

Our chapter starts out telling us that it is going to go beyond basic doctrines which we should already understand. Our chapter ends by telling us how that Jesus is our forerunner and that we should follow His example, even if circumstances include a cross like He endured. We should do this because we have two immutable things from God upon which we are to rest our hope.

Between the beginning of this chapter and the end we are told that our life is to produce better things than the lives of lost people because of our salvation. Their lives are rejected but our life should bring blessings and we should continue to produce these better things until the end of our life, regardless of circumstances, because of our salvation and the basis of our hope.

C6-S1 : Go past the principles of the doctrine of Christ.
1. The word Therefore means: 'what follows the therefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the therefore and only seen there'. That is, we are to obey the commandments of this sentence and of this chapter based upon the doctrinal truths which were given in the prior chapter.
2. The phrase leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ means: 'The author is going to go into applications which require people to already understand the principles of the doctrine of Christ'. He dealt with those principals in earlier chapter and names more of the principals in the rest of this sentence.
3. The phrase let us go on unto perfection means: 'Let us continue with lessons which bring spiritual maturity'.
4. The phrase not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works means: 'Not going again into how religious works which do not bring spiritual rewards'. Religious works are spiritually dead and it takes acting in true Biblical faith in order to receive true spiritual life.
5. The phrase and of faith toward God means: 'All true Biblical faith is toward God'. Faith in anything else is not true Biblical faith.
6. The phrase Of the doctrine of baptisms means: 'True Biblical baptism is identification'. Religious baptisms identify people with the religion and not with God.
7. The phrase and of laying on of hands means: 'This is symbolically attaching your own faith, and relationship with God, to the other person'.
8. The phrase and of resurrection of the dead means: 'Only the word of God promises true resurrection of the dead'.
9. The phrase and of eternal judgment means: 'This is the basic doctrine of the Gospel. Those people who personally accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord are eternally saved. All others are eternally damned to the lake of fire'.
C6-S2 : Get God's permission.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase This will we do, if God permit means: 'The author is going to move past basic doctrines and deal with doctrines which require more spiritual maturity'.
C6-S3 : the dangers of claiming that you backslid, and then were restored, or to claim that you lost salvation and then were saved again. Both are doctrines from Satan which this sentence says is impossible.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase it is impossible for those who were once enlightened requires us to pay close attention to the conditions of this sentence since it says that these conditions are impossible. The phrase who were once enlightened means: 'these people were saved and received true spiritual understanding from God's Holy Spirit'. Now, pay attention to the phrases in this sentence which follow the word and because all of these conditions must be true in order to fulfill the condition which the author says is impossible.
3. The phrase and have tasted of the heavenly gift means: 'This phrase must be added to the prior phrases. They had a spiritual gift from God and used it to do spiritual work'.
4. The phrase and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost means: 'This phrase must be added to the prior phrases. They personally experienced the Holy Ghost working in and through their life'.
5. The phrase And have tasted the good word of God means: 'This phrase must be added to the prior phrases. They have personally experienced receiving the promises of God found in the good word of God'.
6. The phrase and the powers of the world to come means: 'This phrase must be added to the prior phrases. They have personally experienced miracles'.
7. The phrase If they shall fall away means: 'This is the conditional phrase. The people who meet all of the prior conditions and also claim to fulfill this conditional phrase find the next phrase to be impossible'.
8. The phrase to renew them again unto repentance means: 'They can never be restored to salvation, if that is what they claim to have lost. Also, they can never be restored to the same position of service to God'.
9. The phrase seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh means: 'This is what would be required in order to truly restore such a person'. Think about Lot, who was a saved man but was never restored to the service of God after he entered Sodom.
10. The phrase and put him to an open shame means: 'We are commanded to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ. Such people do the exact opposite'.
C6-S4 : Evidence of this truth from nature. Pay attention to this illustration. The result is not what a man wants but what God does. That is why the prior sentence is true.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it tells us about the provision from God.
3. The phrase and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed tells us the desired result.
4. The phrase receiveth blessing from God means: 'Men praise God for receiving these blessings'.
5. The phrase But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected means: 'Men do not use most plants which beareth thorns and briers'. And even those plants which beareth thorns and briers, but also have fruit, find the fruit used and the rest of the plant rejected.
6. The phrase and is nigh unto cursing means: 'This is what men want to do about these plants even if they restrain themselves'.
7. The phrase whose end is to be burned means: 'This not only happens to the physical plant but also happens to the soul in eternity'. Even the saved soul is warned by 1Peter 1:7.
C6-S5 : Truly saved produce better things.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The word beloved is used for people who not only are saved but are also serving in God's kingdom.
3. The phrase we are persuaded better things of you is true of serving saved people but is not true for lost people nor for saved but carnal people.
4. The phrase and things that accompany salvation means: 'The author expects the saved people, who are also serving, to have better things that accompany salvation'. This is because God blesses obedience and those who work in His kingdom.
5. The phrase though we thus speak means: 'The author is not direction the prior sentences at these people'.
C6-S6 : Why saved are supposed to produce better things.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love means: 'People who do not reward your work and labour of love are unrighteous'. God is not unrighteous and we can be assured of our everlasting rewards in Heaven.
3. The phrase which ye have shewed toward his name means: 'Only your work and labour of love which is toward God's name will be rewarded'. Other works, such as religious works, will not be rewarded.
4. The phrase in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister means: 'This is how we are to shew works toward God's name. It is by ministering to the saints'. God gives us spiritual gifts and tells us to use them first to help His people.
C6-S7 : How we are to act and show that we are saved.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end means: 'Keep on keeping on serving God and God's kingdom until you die. Don't give up and don't let up'.
3. The phrase That ye be not slothful means: 'Don't be lazy. God never uses nor blesses lazy people'.
4. The phrase but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises means: 'Pay attention to who was blessed by God in the past, and to what they did the receive the blessings, and you do the same'.
C6-S8 : God gave a promise to Abraham and, as spiritual children of Abraham, we can rely on the same promise.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase when God made promise to Abraham means: 'We need to understand the true scriptural account and why God did this'.
3. The phrase because he could swear by no greater means: 'Men swear by someone who is greater but there is no one greater than God'.
4. The phrase he sware by himself means: 'This is what God did to give Abraham, and us, a firm assurance'.
5. The phrase Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee means: 'This is the promise made to Abraham and to all of his spiritual children'.
C6-S9 : Abraham obtained the promise.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase And so, after he had patiently endured means: 'Abraham went through a major test first'. We will also be given tests to prove our true faith in the promise of God.
3. The phrase he obtained the promise means: 'Abraham received the promise and we can be sure that we will also receive the promise if we act like Abraham'.
C6-S10 : Men swear an oath...to...end of all strife.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase men verily swear by the greater is referencing the truth already covered for C6-S8. Please see that note.
3. The phrase and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife means: 'God's sworn oath is supposed to end all questions about our receiving the promise if we fulfill God's requirements'.
C6-S11 : God swore an oath to give us greater assurance of the promise. This sentence concludes the chapter and summarizes everything that we need to believe the promises of God.
1. The phrase Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel means: 'God did this for us. Look at the phrase to shew unto the heirs of promise'. The word immutable means: 'unalterable; not capable or susceptible of change'. What God tells us to do will never change because God does not change (Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8).
2. The phrase confirmed it by an oath means: 'God deliberately doubled the assurance that He gave to us'.
3. The phrase That by two immutable things means: 'Anything that is literally in the Bible twice is part of God's never changing law and backed by God's character and power'.
4. The phrase in which it was impossible for God to lie means: 'This is our first assurance'.
5. The word consolation is defined as: 'Comfort; alleviation of misery, or distress of mind; refreshment of mind or spirits'. The phrase we might have a strong consolation means: 'God has given us a basis of hope that nothing can shake so long as we believe God's promise'.
6. The phrase who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us means: 'We can find refuge in what God gave us which is backed by His character (hope)'.
7. The phrase Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul means: 'An anchor allows a boat to move and adjust to circumstances but keeps it from moving far'. The circumstances of life are used to increase our spiritual maturity and hope in God. Yes, our soul will move and grow with the circumstances of life but our true hope and consolation will never let us be moved far from God.
8. The phrase both sure and stedfast means: 'Our anchor of the soul (hope) is both sure and stedfast'.
9. The phrase and which entereth into that within the veil means: 'We can approach the throne of God because of our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ'.
10. The phrase Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus means: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ is already in Heaven'. He is our forerunner and is representing us to God the Father.
11. The phrase made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec means: 'This is His position from which He represents us to God the Father'. Please see the detail note for Hebrews 7:1 about what dictionaries and commentators say about Melchisedec. Please see the note for Hebrews 7:22-LJC for a link to every verse in this epistle which tells about him and a summary of what each verse says.

Chapter 7 Summary:
Chapter theme: Jesus is a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Our chapter tells us about Melchisedec, who was a 'Christophany'. He was the priest who blessed Abraham and our chapter explains how that he also represented a better priesthood than the Levitical priesthood. We are also told that his priesthood was a type of the eternal priesthood that Jesus Christ now has and uses to represent us. Our chapter gives us several ways that this priesthood is better, and how we are more blessed by it. In particular, this better priesthood does a better job of enabling us to serve God and produce the better things that our prior chapter talked about.

C7-S1 : Melchisedec is a type of priest continually.
1. The phrase This Melchisedec means: 'Our sentence is identifying him and telling us traits that he had'. Please see the detail note for Hebrews 7:1 about what dictionaries and commentators say about Melchisedec. Please see the note for Hebrews 7:22-LJC for a link to every verse in this epistle which tells about him and a summary of what each verse says.
2. The phrase king of Salem means: 'This was his main physical position on Earth at that time'.
3. The phrase priest of the most high God means: 'This was his main spiritual position on Earth at that time'.
4. The phrase who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings is a quote from Genesis 14:18-19.
5. The phrase and blessed him means: 'Melchisedec gave God's blessing to Abraham'.
6. The phrase To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all means: 'Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec'.
7. The phrase first being by interpretation King of righteousness means: 'This identified the moral character of Melchisedec'.
8. The phrase and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace means: 'This identified the results produced by Melchisedec'.
9. The phrase Without father, without mother, without descent means: 'This tells us that he was not a normal human being but was a Christophany'.
10. The phrase having neither beginning of days, nor end of life means: 'This tells us that he was eternal'.
11. The phrase but made like unto the Son of God means: 'This describes his character'.
12. The phrase abideth a priest continually means: 'This describes his position'.
C7-S2 : Consider how important he was.
1. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand what was just said about Melchisedec.
2. The phrase consider how great this man was means: 'Use your brain and actually think about this truth'.
3. The phrase unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils means: 'Abraham paid tithes to him'. When we claim to be the 'spiritual children of Abraham', in order to also claim the blessings that God promised to Abraham and his children, we must act like Abraham. This means that we are to also pay tithes to the spiritual priest that represents us before God.
C7-S3 : He was a greater than any priest of Levi.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The word verily is defined as: 'In truth; in fact; certainly. 2. Really; truly; with great confidence. This has been verified.'. The phrase verily they that are of the sons of Levi means: 'The physical descendants of Abraham'.
3. The phrase who receive the office of the priesthood means: 'They were the official priests to God for the Jews'.
4. The phrase have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law is very clear on the surface.
5. The phrase that is, of their brethren means: 'They received tithes from the Jews'.
6. The phrase though they come out of the loins of Abraham means: 'Even though they were not better than the other Jews'.
7. The phrase But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham means: 'But Melchisedec received tithes from Abraham'.
8. The phrase and blessed him that had the promises means: 'This proves that Melchisedec was greater than Abraham even though Abraham received the promises from God which we all rely upon'.
C7-S4 : Melchisedec was greater than Abraham.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better means: 'This proves that Melchisedec was greater than Abraham'.
C7-S5 : He was an early manifestation of Christ.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase here men that die receive tithes means: 'Everyone who receives tithes is human and no better than other men'.
3. The phrase but there he receiveth them means: 'Melchisedec was proven to be better than other men'.
4. The phrase of whom it is witnessed that he liveth means: 'Melchisedec did not die'.
C7-S6 : Levi paid tithes to Him through Abraham.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase as I may so say, Levi also means: 'The author is explaining the Jewish thinking about family connections'. This type of thinking comes from the Bible and is the basis of our salvation and all blessings. Therefore, we must accept it.
3. The phrase who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham means: 'The son is considered to be responsible for the actions of the father'. The son receives blessings and cursing's from the actions of the father to the third and fourth generation.
C7-S7 : says: For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. this means that Levi is a son of Abraham who paid tithes to Melchisedec.
C7-S8 : the Mosaic Law could not bring perfection.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood means: 'This is the conditional requirement to be accepted by God'. God commands us to be perfect if we want to go to His personal home called Heaven and avoid an eternity in the lake of fire. The question then becomes: 'How do we become perfect?'.
3. The phrase (for under it the people received the law,) means: 'People received the Mosaic Law under the Levitical priesthood'.
4. The phrase what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec means: 'This is a different type of priesthood'. Please see the detail note for Hebrews 7:1 about what dictionaries and commentators say about Melchisedec. Please see the note for Hebrews 7:22-LJC for a link to every verse in this epistle which tells about him and a summary of what each verse says.
5. The phrase and not be called after the order of Aaron? means: 'This is posed as a question but proves that the Levitical priesthood did not make people perfect'. The Levitical priesthood could not get people into Heaven.
C7-S9 : the law is subject to the priesthood. This is an incredible statement which is overlooked. The New Testament is based upon the New Covenant and it is based upon the new priesthood of Jesus Christ. We are being told that Jesus Christ can not be our High Priest if our religion holds onto the Old Testament Law, like many religions do. And, we can not have the New Testament, nor the New Covenant, unless we accept Jesus Christ as our High Priest. Therefore, religions which pray to so-called saints and the devil who claims to be Mary do not receive any part of the New Testament, nor the New Covenant.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase the priesthood being changed means: 'Jesus Christ became our High Priest as a replacement to the Levitical priesthood'.
3. The phrase there is made of necessity a change also of the law means: 'Since the law is subject to the priesthood, it also must change'.
C7-S10 : Our new priest is not from Levi.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe means: 'As our next sentence says, it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda'.
3. The phrase of which no man gave attendance at the altar means: 'No one from Juda was part of the Levitical priesthood'.
C7-S11 : Our Lord sprang out of Juda.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda is backed up by the genealogy in Matthew and Luke.
3. The phrase of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood can be verified with study of the Old Testament.
C7-S12 : Our Lord is a priest...after the power of an endless life.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase it is yet far more evident means: 'The rest of this sentence gives more evidence for this claim',
3. The phrase for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest means: 'The author has already proven that there is another priesthood and that it matches Melchisedec'.
4. Please see the detail note for Hebrews 7:1 about what dictionaries and commentators say about Melchisedec. Please see the note for Hebrews 7:22-LJC for a link to every verse in this epistle which tells about him and a summary of what each verse says.
5. The phrase Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment means: 'Jesus Christ did not receive His priesthood from any man'. People who claim to be priests need to be told this and old that their so-called priesthood is inferior to that of Jesus Christ.
6. The phrase but after the power of an endless life means: 'God gave Jesus Christ His priesthood because only God can give endless life'.
C7-S13 : is quoting Psalms 110:4.
C7-S14 : Why God changed things.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof means: 'God removed the Old Testament Law because it was weak and unprofitable to God'.
C7-S15 : this is why the Law was weak and unprofitable to God.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase the law made nothing perfect means: 'Only what came to perfection was profitable to God'.
3. The phrase but the bringing in of a better hope did means: 'a better hope was profitable to God because our better hope is in Jesus Christ and He makes us perfect'.
4. The phrase by the which we draw nigh unto God means: 'We can draw nigh unto God because Jesus Christ makes us perfect'.
C7-S16 : Jesus made a surety of a better testament. This sentence has a large included section. The included section has several separate phrases. (What is between parenthesis, in the word of God, is the included section.) Since these phrases are included, they are part of the original message given in the outer sentence. Proper interpretation is 'Message-to-Message and not what devil motived men claim which is different'. when this sentence was interpreted into English from the original Greek, the interpreters added the included section in order to keep the same message since a verse-to-verse or a word-to-word interpretation would not deliver the same message and would be doctrinal error. With that in mind, we can look at the outer sentence and then add in the included phrases and see how they increase our understanding. The outer sentence says:.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The word And, of this sentence, is actually adding it to what was written in C7-S13 with the two sentences between that sentence and this sentence explaining why C7-S13 is true. And, with the exception of one sentence starting with the word if, every sentence since C7-S13 has started with the word And or the word For. In addition, the sentence in the rest of this chapter start with the word And or the word For except one sentence which starts with the word the word Wherefore. Thus, it should be obvious to everyone that this entire chapter is a single argument where nothing can be considered outside of the3 context of the entire chapter without producing doctrinal error.
3. The phrase inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest means: 'Jesus Christ was made priest by an oath made by God'. The Levitical priests, and all other so-called priests, did not receive an oath made by God.
4. The phrase By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament means: 'Jesus personally guaranteed everything that is written in the word of God in the New Testament'. Many religions pervert what is truly written and Jesus does not back their perversions. But He personally backs the truth.
5. The phrase (For those priests were made without an oath starts the inserted part and means: 'those priests did not personally back the promises of the Mosaic Law'.
6. The phrase but this with an oath by him that said unto him means: 'God the Father sware an oath, for our benefit, that He would give this position to the Son of God'.
7. The phrase The Lord sware and will not repent means: 'There is not changing this oath'.
8. The phrase Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec means: 'The Son of God will always be our High Priest'. Please see the detail note for Hebrews 7:1 about what dictionaries and commentators say about Melchisedec. Please see the note for Hebrews 7:22-LJC for a link to every verse in this epistle which tells about him and a summary of what each verse says.
C7-S17 : Jesus has an unchangeable priesthood.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase they truly were many priests means: 'This is contrasted to Jesus being a single man'.
3. The phrase because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death means: 'This is contrasted to Jesus not dying'. . .
4. The phrase But this man means: 'This points out the doctrine of the humanity of Jesus'.
5. The phrase because he continueth ever means: 'This is contrasted to the limited time of each Levitical priest'.
6. The phrase hath an unchangeable priesthood means: 'With the changing priests of the Levitical priesthood, their service before God also changed'.
C7-S18 : Jesus provides a salvation that does not end. One preacher took this phrase out of context to make a message called 'From the Uttermost to the Gutter most' and caused people to think this sentence gave a wrong meaning. Our sentence is not speaking of our relative position in the society of men but is saying that the salvation, and priesthood, of Jesus will last all of out life. This sentence is truly giving us another reason to be assured of our eternal security as a saved person. The truly saved can not lose their salvation. We need to be careful of popular preaching which perverts the true message from the word of God.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him means: 'The truly saved can not lost their salvation'.
3. The phrase seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them means: 'Jesus is always representing the truly saved before God the Father'. God the Father leaves the judgment of the truly saved to Jesus Christ and does not send them to Hell nor does He send them to the lake of fire.
C7-S19 : Jesus made a sacrifice that does not have to be repeated.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase such an high priest became us means: 'Consider the personal attributes of our high priest'.
3. The phrase who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens means: 'These personal attributes all speak of His Deity'. We just saw His humanity and now we see His Deity. Jesus is both.
4. The phrase Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice means: 'This provides the basic contrast of the priesthood of Jesus when compared to the priesthood of the Levitical priests'.
5. The phrase first for his own sins, and then for the people's means: 'These were the type of sacrifices that the Levitical priests had to continually bring'.
6. The phrase For this he did once, when he offered up himself means: 'The sacrifice of Jesus only had to be done once'.
C7-S20 : God's Son...is consecrated for evermore.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity means: 'No other human man is perfect in his body, soul nor spirit'.
3. The phrase but the word of the oath means: 'This is contrasted to the Levitical priesthood which was inherited and not based upon the personal characteristic of the priest'.
4. The phrase which was since the law means: 'The oath gives us the New Testament while the Levitical priesthood gave the Old Testament'.
5. The phrase maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore means: 'Jesus is our High Priest for evermore'.

Chapter 8 Summary:
Chapter theme: A better covenant and a better testament.

This chapter transitions from telling us about a better priesthood to telling us about a better covenant and a better testament which are ministered by our high priest. Here we learn about the fault that God found with the First Covenant. Namely, God's people did not maintain their relationship with Him. God improved things in the New Covenant in hopes that more of God's people will maintain their ongoing personal relationship with Him.

Remember that C7-S9 told us: For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. A covenant is: 'a legal contract'. When the law changes, everything that is based upon that law must also change. Thus, our author is going to tell us about the change from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, in this chapter. Then, in the next chapter, our author is going to tell us about the change from the Old Testament to the New Testament and the change from the Old Tabernacle, with those priestly services, to the New Tabernacle, with the priestly services of Jesus. Then, in Chapter 10, the author will tell us about hoe our relationship with God is changed as a result of the New Tabernacle, with the priestly services of Jesus. This changed relationship id from one based upon religious traditions to a relationship based upon true Biblical faith. And, that leads to Chapter 11 which is called 'The Faith Chapter'. And, all of this leads into Chapters 12 and 13 where we are given the true and proper applications of these doctrines.

Thus, once more, we see that everything in this epistle is built one chapter upon the prior chapters just like a building is built one floor upon the lower floors.

C8-S1 : Our high priest is in heaven.
1. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand what was just said about the perfect and eternal priesthood of Jesus, which is contrasted to the Levitical priesthood.
2. The phrase of the things which we have spoken this is the sum means: 'What follows is a summary of the doctrine which preceded this chapter'.
3. The phrase We have such an high priest means: 'The author has proven that no other priest, nor any other claimed representative of men, can match our High Priest in any way other than lusts and other sinful methods'.
4. The phrase who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens means: 'No other representative can come close to having as powerful of a position with God the Father'.
5. The phrases: A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle means: 'No other representative can come close to having as important of a position to serve God the Father'.
6. The phrase which the Lord pitched, and not man means: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ serves in the place created by God the Father while all others have no place to serve or serve in a place made by man'.
C8-S2 : Every priest must have a gift to offer.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase means: '. '. . .
3. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
4. The phrase every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices means: 'No being can approach God without a gift or sacrifice'. Every being who is not a high priest, and claims to represent people before God, is a liar and a minister of Satan. In addition, the high priest can not approach God without gifts and sacrifices.
5. The phrase wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer means: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ also has to bring gifts and sacrifices'.
C8-S3 : He was not a priest on Earth.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if he were on earth is: the conditional statement which must be true in order for the following phrase to be true.
4. The phrase he should not be a priest means: 'As already explained by the author, Jesus Christ did not fulfil the requirements to be a priest on this Earth'.
5. The phrase seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law means: 'There are already priests who fulfilled that role'.
6. The phrase Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things means: 'The Earthly priests were not the true priests of God because they were on this Earth'. Just as there is a difference between your picture and you, and just as your picture is not the true you, so also are Earthly priests not the true Heavenly priests of God.
7. The phrase as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle means: 'Moses was ordered to make an accurate picture of Heavenly things'.
8. The phrase for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount means: 'God commanded Moses to make everything related to the worship and service to God, exactly as God showed Moses so that the Earthly things would be the example and shadow of heavenly things'.
C8-S4 : He makes everything better.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry means: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ has a more excellent ministry than any human being and than any other claimed representative before God'.
3. The phrase by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant means: 'The New Covenant is better and made possible by the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ'.
4. The phrase which was established upon better promises means: 'The promises which we have in 'the Church Age' are better'. Please see the section called Promises in the Doctrinal Study called Significant New Testament Events.
C8-S5 : the first covenant had faults.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if that first covenant had been faultless means: 'This is the condition which would have rendered the entire New Testament not necessary'.
4. The phrase then should no place have been sought for the second means: 'This is the statement of the result that would have happened if the condition had been fulfilled'. . .
C8-S6 : God's people did not keep the Mosaic covenant.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase finding fault with them means: 'This phrase explains why the Old Testament was replaced'.
3. The phrases: he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord means: 'give us the first two, of three, phrases in this sentence which tell us that God the Father said this'. Most of this sentence is a direct quote of Jeremiah 31:31-34. The Detailed Note also provides Bible references to similar promises in other places of the Bible.
4. The phrase when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah means: 'This promise was given to the Jews and God let the Gentiles in on a promise which was actually not made to them'.
5. The phrase Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt means: 'This new covenant will be different from the old covenant'.
6. The phrase because they continued not in my covenant means: 'Here is why God made the change'. The Old Testament is said to, symbolically, contain all of the New Testament. However, most of the Jews did not understand the symbols. Therefore, they concentrated on what they understood of the physical requirements and completely missed the spiritual requirements. And, that is why this phrase is true. God's covenant was a spiritual covenant. However, no one can fulfil a spiritual covenant with physical actions.
7. The phrase and I regarded them not means: 'This is the result of their failure to fulfil their end of the spiritual covenant'.
8. The phrase saith the Lord means: 'This is the third time that we read this in this sentence'. The author wants us to understand that this is not his words but that these words come from the Lord.
C8-S7 : the basic statement of the New Covenant.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days means: 'The Bible uses the word Israel for when Jacob, and his descendants, were responding spiritually. God made this spiritual covenant with a spiritual people and not with fleshly people acting in the physical reality'. The word covenant is defined as: 'a spiritual contract which is enforced by the court of God'. This entire sentence must be understood spiritually.
3. The phrase saith the Lord means: 'This is a repeat of the prior sentence'. The author wants no doubt as to who said this covenant.
4. The phrase I will put my laws into their mind means: 'We must get God's word into our mind first'. This is why we are ordered to read, to study, to memorize and to meditate on the word of God.
5. The phrase and write them in their hearts means: 'This second step is added to the first. God can not get the word of God into our heart until after it is clearly and truly in our mind'.
6. The phrase and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people means: 'This is the end result of getting the word of God into our heart and into our mind'.
7. The phrase And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother means: 'You don't need to teach people the principals that they are truly living by'.
8. The phrase saying, Know the Lord means: 'This is not just a head knowledge but the result of an ongoing personal and intimate relationship with the Lord'.
9. The phrase for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest means: 'This is what is truly meant by the word unction in 1John 2:20 '.
C8-S8 : God promises mercy and forgiveness with the new covenant. This promise is only made to those people who are doing their part to maintain their ongoing personal relationship with God. This promise is not made to the lost people nor to the carnal saved people. And, while this is a great promise that all people like to claim, we are not told what God will do this. I personally believe that this is a promise for the 1,000-years reign of Christ.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase I will be merciful to their unrighteousness means: 'God will give mercy when the attitude of His people is wrong'.
3. The phrase and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more means: 'God will forget the sins and the iniquities of His people'.
C8-S9 says: In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. This means that God replaced the old covenant with the new.
C8-S10 : says: Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. God is ready to let the old vanish away. Many religions are trying to hang onto what is in the Old Covenant. Please notice that this does not say everything from Genesis through Malachi. Only the Old Covenant ('the religious part of the Mosaic Law') is replaced. {Please see the next chapter where the author gives a more detailed explanation of the truth found in this sentence.}

Chapter 9 Summary:
Chapter theme: Christ shed His blood to give a better testament.

Our prior chapter told us how Christ has a better priesthood than what was provided under the Mosaic Law. Now this chapter explains how He also has a better ordinances of divine service in a better temple and that the better ordinances are related to a better testament. Our chapter also explains the relationship between the testament and death with the shedding of blood.

C9-S1 : says: Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. This lets us know that the first covenant was dealing with religious service to God.
C9-S2 : there were things used in that service.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase there was a tabernacle made means: 'is speaking about the building that the servicer to God was performed in'.
3. The phrases: the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread means: 'are speaking about the physical items used in the service to God'.
4. The phrase which is called the sanctuary means: 'is telling us that it had a special purpose because it also had special name'.
C9-S3 : the tabernacle also had the Holiest of all.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase after the second veil means: 'There was a separation within the sanctuary, which represented a separation within the access to God the Father'.
3. The phrase the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all means: 'The more separated part of the sanctuary had the most access to God the Father'. Jesus Christ removed this separation with His death and it was signified by God when the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38 and Luke 23:45).
4. The phrase Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat means: 'These items were in the Holiest of all, but the author is not dealing with their spiritual significance, at this time'.
5. The phrase of which we cannot now speak particularly means: 'There is doctrine related to the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat, but that doctrine is a distraction from the doctrine which the author is telling currently'.
C9-S4 : Regular priests only went into part of the tabernacle.
1. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand what was just said about the tabernacle.
2. The phrase when these things were thus ordained means: 'This was how God ordered things to be'.
3. The phrase the priests went always into the first tabernacle means: 'The priests were restricted to the first part in their service'.
4. The phrase accomplishing the service of God means: 'This is why they went into the first tabernacle'.
C9-S5 : Only the high priest alone once every year into the Holiest of all.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood tells us the restrictions which God placed on entering the second part of the tabernacle.
3. The phrase which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people means: 'tells us what God required and why'.
4. The phrases: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest means: 'tell us the symbolic meaning'.
5. The phrase while as the first tabernacle was yet standing means: 'Tells us the time period'.
6. The phrase Which was a figure for the time then present means: 'Tells us that all of this was just a picture of the true spiritual meaning'.
7. The phrase in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience means: 'tells us the limit on the picture'.
8. The phrases: Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances means: 'tells us what was done physically which was supposed to teach the spiritual lesson'.
9. The phrase imposed on them until the time of reformation means: 'tells us when God planned to replace the symbolic ceremony with the true spiritual representation'.
C9-S6 : How the service of Christ is better.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase Christ being come an high priest of good things to come means: 'We will receive good things because of the priestly ministry of Christ'.
3. The phrases: by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building means: 'are describing the tabernacle that is in Heaven'.
4. The phrase Neither by the blood of goats and calves means: 'Christ is not offering animal sacrifices'.
5. The phrase but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place means: 'Christ offers His own blood as payment for our sins'.
6. The phrase having obtained eternal redemption for us means: 'Christ paid the debt for our sins and gained us eternal redemption'.
C9-S7 : the work of Christ is to purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word if makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh means: 'describes the Old Testament sacrifices and their results'.
4. The phrase How much more shall the blood of Christ means: 'Describes the much better New Testament sacrifice'.
5. The phrase who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God means: 'tells us why the New Testament sacrifice is much better'.
6. The phrase purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? means: 'tells us the results of the New Testament sacrifice'.
C9-S8 : Additional work of Christ.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase For this cause he is the mediator of the new testament means: 'Jesus Christ is the legal representative who is negotiating peace between God the Father and saved people for their sins'.
3. The phrase that by means of death means: 'This is the payment that He made for our sins'.
4. The phrase for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament means: 'Jesus Christ not only represents us tday but He also paid for the sins of people who were under the Old Testament'.
5. The phrase they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance means: 'Since Jesus Christ paid for all of our sins, the Old Testament saints could leave paradise and go to Heaven'.
C9-S9 : Jesus Christ died to put the New Testament into effect.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase where a testament is means: 'This is the legal document known as a 'Last Will and Testament''.
3. The phrase there must also of necessity be the death of the testator means: 'A 'Last Will and Testament' does not come into effect until after the death of the testator'. Our next sentence also says this truth.
C9-S10 : says: For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. This sentence explains the truth of the prior sentence.
C9-S11 : says: Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. This means that blood was also shed to put the first testament into effect
C9-S12 : Moses sprinkled everything with blood.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law means: 'Moses first made sure that the people understood everything that was in the Old Testament'.
3. The phrase he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people means: 'Moses then took shed blood to symbolically represent the death which was required to put the Old Testament into effect'.
4. The phrase Saying, this is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you means: 'Moses explained the symbolic meaning so that the people understood why he did what he did'.
C9-S13 : says: Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. This, symbolically, made them part of the Old Testament.
C9-S14 : Why blood was required.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase almost all things are by the law purged with blood is true because life is in the blood (Genesis 9:4). A life must be given in order to pay for remission.
3. The phrase and without shedding of blood is no remission tells us why the prior phrase is true.
C9-S15 : heavenly things were also purified with a better blood.
1. The phrase It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these means: 'God required Moses to teach His people the symbolic meaning of the ceremony and to tell them the cost of their sin'.
2. The phrase but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these means: 'However, the purification in Heaven required a better sacrifice than animal sacrifices'.
C9-S16 : Christ offered His blood once for all time.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands means: 'Christ did not make His sacrifice in any Earthly place'.
3. The phrase which are the figures of the true means: 'That is because they are not the true place of sacrifices made to God'.
4. The phrase but into heaven itself means: 'The true place of sacrifices made to God is in Heaven'.
5. The phrase now to appear in the presence of God for us means: 'After making the required sacrifice, Jesus Christ now represents the saved before God the Father'.
6. The phrase Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others means: 'This is a major difference between the sacrifices made by Jewish high priests and the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ'.
7. The phrase For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world means: 'If there3 was not this difference then Jesus Christ would have to keep on making the sacrifice'.
8. The phrase but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself means: 'Jesus Christ does not have to repeat His sacrifice'.
C9-S17 : Christ provides salvation to them that look for him.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase as it is appointed unto men once to die is speaking about our dying and staying dead. People who are resurrected are not counted as finally dead until they die without resurrection. This is why the saved are promised to live forever.
3. The phrase but after this the judgment means: 'The judgment is for all that we did and the attitudes which we had that motivated what we did'. The judgment of the saved is at the judgment seat of Christ and the judgment of the lost is at the great white throne.
4. The phrase So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many means: 'Christ took our judgment so that we do not have to suffer for the sins which we do'.
5. The phrase and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation means: 'Christ will appear without sin and the saved will be judged to be without sin, which provides their salvation'.

Chapter 10 Summary:
Chapter theme: We have a better relationship with God.

Please also see the Message called: Why be Loyal to Church.

C10-S1 : the Mosaic Law could not provide the good things to come.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior chapter is true.
2. The phrase the law having a shadow of good things to come means: 'What the Mosaic Law had was not sufficient'.
3. The phrase and not the very image of the things means: 'The Mosaic Law did not have what was required'.
4. The phrase can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect means: 'The Mosaic Law could never produce what was required'.
C10-S2 : says: For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Our sentence is presented as a question to make us think. But, if the Mosaic Law could make someone perfect. Then they would not need further sacrifices.
C10-S3 : says: because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
C10-S4 : Ongoing sacrifices are for ongoing sins.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year means: 'The sacrifices did not eliminate the sin'.
C10-S5 : Animal sacrifices can not pay for sins.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins means: 'Since the animals did not sin, their blood could not take away the sin'.
C10-S6 : Animal sacrifices can not satisfy God. This sentence is a paraphrase of Psalms 40:6.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase when he cometh into the world means: 'Tells us what the Son of God did and when He did it'.
3. The phrase he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not means: 'The Son of God recognized the inadequacy of sacrifices made under the Mosaic Law'.
4. The phrase but a body hast thou prepared me means: 'The Son of God recognized what sacrifice would be required'.
5. The phrase In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure means: 'The Son of God recognized why the sacrifices made under the Mosaic Law were inadequate'.
C10-S7 : Obedience satisfies God. This sentence is a paraphrase of Psalms 40:7. The Son of God recognized what would satisfy God the Father.
C10-S8 : the Son of God gave the sacrifice which satisfies God. Our current sentence adds thoughts found in Psalms 50:8-23; Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah 6:20; Jeremiah 31:22; Amos 5:21-22; Malachi 1:10 and other places within the Old Testament.
C10-S9 : God replaced the first type of sacrifice with the second type of sacrifice. Our sentence says: He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
C10-S10 : the offering that satisfied God.
1. The phrase By the which will is referencing the second prior sentence, and the ones before that, where the author quoted scripture which told us that God the Father would not accept animal sacrifices but that God wanted a life of obedience. This is the will of God for everyone.
2. The phrase we are sanctified means: 'We are set aside from doing the things of this world and from satisfying the lusts of the flesh and are set aside for the service of God'. And, as the rest of our sentence makes clear, this sanctification is to be for the rest of our life (once for all).
3. The phrase through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all means: 'Jesus Christ offered His body so that we could have everlasting changes in our lives'.
C10-S11 : Human priests keep making sacrifices but Jesus Christ is done making sacrifices. Please note that Catholic priests claim to make a new sacrifice in every Mass.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices means: 'tells us what is the same for all human priests'.
3. The phrase which can never take away sins means: 'Their efforts are wasted because their efforts can not accomplish what they claim'.
4. The phrase But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever means: 'Jesus Christ, in His humanity, made one sacrifice which was so effective that on further sacrifices are ever required'.
5. The phrase sat down on the right hand of God means: 'Jesus Christ is now our representative before God the Father since His prior work is accomplished for ever'.
6. The phrase From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool means: 'God the Father promised to make Jesus Christ Lord of lords and King of kings, but it is not yet time for that to happen'.
C10-S12 : His offering provides perfection for ever.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified means: 'Jesus Christ did what no other priest, religion nor sacrifice could do'. His sacrifice makes people perfect. And, because the result is perfect, it is acceptable to God the Father and does not have to be repeated (for ever). Finally, His sacrifice is applied to them that are sanctified. People who claim to be saved, but refuse to be truly sanctified, do not have the assurance from Jesus Christ that is given to those saved people who are also truly sanctified.
C10-S13 : the Holy Ghost is our witness of this truth.
1. The phrase Whereof means: 'Our sanctification, which was the subject of the prior sentence, is what this sentence is also speaking about'. . .
2. The phrase the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us means: 'God's Holy Ghost uses our true sanctification as a witness to us that we are truly saved and going to Heaven after we physically die'. . .
3. The phrase for after that he had said before is a shorter quote of what was quoted in Hebrews 8:8-11 and is referencing Jeremiah 31:31-34. Please see the Detailed Note for more related Bible references.
4. The phrase This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days means: 'This is the spiritual contract that God offers to people when He saves them during the new Testament'.
5. The phrase saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts means: 'Truly saved people will let what God wrote in the word of God to tell them how to live their daily lives'.
6. The phrase and in their minds will I write them means: 'Truly saved people will remember the commandments that God wrote in the word of God'.
7. The phrase And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more means: 'This is the final result of saved people living a sanctified life'. People who claim to be saved, but who also refuse to live a sanctified life, can not truly 'claim' this promise from God.
C10-S14 : We no longer have to make offerings for sin.
1. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand the changes that God wants to cause in the truly saved.
2. The phrase where remission of these is means: 'In people who have had Jesus Christ has held back (remission) our sins by changing our character to be like God'.
3. The phrase there is no more offering for sin means: '. 'Jesus Christ does not have to pay (there is no more offering) for sins that we no longer do.
C10-S15 : We can not approach God when we clean up our life.
1. The phrase Having therefore means: 'We have the rest of this sentence as a direct result of what our prior sentence said'. That is: if Jesus Christ has changed your life so that you are no longer deliberately sinning.
2. The phrase brethren means: 'This is written to saved people who are also serving in God's kingdom'.
3. The phrase boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus means: 'This is how we can not approach God because Jesus shed His blood to pay for our sins and our legal record in Heaven is now clean'.
4. The phrase By a new and living way means: 'We are living a new way and no longer seeking to do sin'. Our new life is also living because we have God's life controlling our physical life.
5. The word consecrated means: 'Made sacred by ceremonies or solemn rites; separated from a common to a sacred use; devoted or dedicated to the service and worship of God; made venerable'. The phrase which he hath consecrated for us means: 'Jesus Christ made our new and living way sacred before God'.
6. The phrase through the veil means: 'We can now enter the Holiest of all'. Jesus Christ removed the separation between the two parts of the sanctuary, in the Temple, with His death and it was signified by God when the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38 and Luke 23:45).
7. The phrase that is to say, his flesh means: 'This was accomplished when Jesus Christ offered his flesh and physically died'.
8. The phrase And having an high priest over the house of God means: 'This is His current position in Heaven'.
9. The phrase Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith means: 'If we are truly serving God to the best of our ability (having a true heart) and have the full assurance of faith that Jesus Christ has taken care of any sin that we did, we can approach the throne of God the Father'.
10. The phrase having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience means: 'We have accepted that we have been forgiven of our sins because we stopped doing them'.
11. The phrase and our bodies washed with pure water means: 'We are serving God with our bodies (what washed with pure water means symbolically) and doing our service in obedience to God's Holy Ghost'.
C10-S16 : Hold on. This sentence is based upon the prior even though the author did not start it with a connecting word. We always need to consider the context when reading and trying to understand the word of God this sentence tells us how to act in this physical world and it follows the prior sentence where we were told how to act in the spiritual reality and both sentences are based upon the everything said earlier in this chapter.
1. The phrase Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering means: 'We will go through many storms in life. Never let a storm of life cause you to lose, or even waver in your profession of faith'.
2. The phrase (for he is faithful that promised;) was added in by the interpreters because it was in the message of the Greek but the interpretation of word-by-word would leave out this critical doctrine. This phrase tells us that we are to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering based upon what Jesus Christ is doing. The circumstances of life don't matter. The lies of this world and of devils don't matter. Our own failures don't matter. All that matters is what Jesus Christ is doing with us and for us and he is faithful. Therefore, His power is greater than any other power and that is all that matters.
3. The phrase And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works means: 'This commandment is added to the prior phrase. If we don't do this commandment then we can not rely on Jesus Christ providing for our needs because removing either side of a word and, in the Bible, changes the message from God'. Thus, we are to do all that we can to cause other saved people to keep on serving God.
4. The phrase Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together means: 'Don't skip church. Don't skip fellowship meetings. Don't skip work and ministry activities'.
5. The phrase as the manner of some is means: 'Others doing wrong is not an excuse for you to do wrong'.
6. The phrase but exhorting one another means: 'Contact those church members who are missing and do all you can to get them to faithfully participate in the service to God'.
7. The phrase and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching means: 'You are getting older and so are others. The day that you, and they, leave this physical life and face your judgment is getting closer'. Therefore, do all you can to serve God while you can because your everlasting rewards depend upon your level of service and that can not be changed after physical death.
C10-S17 : If we willfully sin then we must expect judgment.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth means: 'The belief that we can keep backsliding and then getting right with God is a lie'.
4. The phrase there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins means: 'We will each live with the consequences of willful sin done after we are truly saved'.
5. The phrase But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation means: 'Those consequences can be terrible'.
6. The phrase which shall devour the adversaries means: 'When we sin willfully we become an adversary of God because we are fighting against His work to get others to stop their sin'. when this is true, our sentence, and phrase, says that we will receive judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour.
C10-S18 : We should expect worse punishment than people had under the Mosaic Law.
1. The phrase He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses is a reference to Numbers 16:33.
2. The phrase Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy means: 'Think about this historical example and spiritually consider the attitude that others demonstrate'.
3. The phrase who hath trodden under foot the Son of God means: 'From a spiritual perspective, people treat Son of God, and all of His sacrifice and His high current position, as if it was just the waste from an animal which was left on the path they are traveling'.
4. The phrase and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified means: 'In addition, he totally insulted the spiritual life from God and what it took to give him spiritual life and to pay for his ongoing sins'.
5. The phrase an unholy thing means: 'This is how this person treated all of these precious spiritual things'.
6. The word despite means 'To contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have the lowest opinion of'. The phrase and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? means: 'This person did the same as spitting in the face of God's Holy Spirit when He offered God's grace'. Such a person has done terrible violations to a personal relationship with God that was denied to men for thousands of years.
C10-S19 : the Lord promised vengeance.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why we should truly consider the reaction of God to people who act like the prior sentence describes.
2. The phrase we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me means: 'This was said by God, Who is the most powerful Being that exists anywhere'.
3. The phrase I will recompense, saith the Lord means: 'God will take care of the vengeance if we turn all wrongs over to God to deal with and refuse to do anything ourselves about wrongs done to us'. I can testify from several personal experiences that this is absolutely true. Sometimes God gives people several years to repent and sometimes God even blesses the other person. But when God brings hurt on them, it is far more than anything which we can do. In addition, if we are truly trusting God for our physical needs while we devote our life to the service of God, then God more than restores what we lost.
C10-S20 says: And again, the Lord shall judge his people. This is always true and this is when we receive rewards as well as punishments for doing wrong. Ignore the doctrinal lie which claims that the judgment of God's people, at the judgment seat of Christ is only a reward judgment (Bema Seat).
C10-S21 says: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Doctrinal error says that this only applies to the lost. But the truth is that this was written to the saved people who were also serving. This truth is written to encourage the saved and serving to never stop.
C10-S22 : Remember your past.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase call to remembrance the former days, in which means: 'Remember experiences of this particular type'. . .
3. The phrase after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions means: 'Remember the devil motivated attacks by people right after you received salvation and after you received greater spiritual understanding'.
4. The phrase Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions means: 'Remember how people mocked and insulted you'.
5. The phrase and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used means: 'Remember the people who were also treated the sameans befriended you'.
C10-S23 : You had joy in losing physical things to gain spiritual.
1. This sentence is one that people use to claim that Paul wrote this epistle. However, we know from history that many others were also put in bonds and martyred. Therefore, this sentence does not really support the claim that Paul was the author of this epistle. As written at the start of this Study, devils get God's people arguing about who the author was, which we can not know, so that they are distracted from the true doctrine in this epistle.
2. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true. The author knew this was true because of the way that these people treated him when he was in bonds.
3. The phrase ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance means: 'True saved and serving people are willing to lose things in the physical reality in order to gain spiritual rewards'.
C10-S24 says: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Please pay attention to the face that it is our confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ which has great recompence of reward. This confidence is what truly causes us to act in true Biblical faith and it is a lack in confidence in Him which prevents our acting in true Biblical faith.
C10-S25 : Have patience and faith.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase ye have need of patience means: 'Each and every one of you personally needs patience'. God will fulfill His promise in His time. However, He determines when that will be and, if we lack patience, we might Cast away our confidence, like the prior sentence warned us to not do.
3. The phrase that, after ye have done the will of God means: 'This is why the saved and serving need patience. They did what was required in order to receive the promise, but they can still Cast away their confidence'.
4. The phrase ye might receive the promise means: 'The word might means it is not guaranteed'. We must also have patience in order to receive the promise. The more patience, which is required, the more proof we have of our true Biblical faith.
C10-S26 says: For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. This is another prophecy of the 'Rapture'. Formore Bible references to prophecies in the New Testament, please see the sections on Prophecy in the Doctrinal Studies called Significant Gospel Events and Significant New Testament Events.
C10-S27 : Remember that God is not pleased with backsliders.
1. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand what was just said about Melchisedec.
2. The phrase the just shall live by faith is a partial quote of Habakkuk 2:4. Please also see the Detailed Note for more Bible references.
3. The phrase but if any man draw back means: 'This is what people call backsliding'.
4. The phrase my soul shall have no pleasure in him means: 'The pastor is not happy with this person nor is our Lord Jesus Christ Nor is God the Father'. in this sentence4, the pastor is giving us a message from our Lord Jesus Christ and from God the Father.
C10-S28 : Don't be a backslider.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction. This sentence gives us the contrast between people who please God and those who displease God. In addition, the entire next chapter is giving us Bible references to people who pleased God and to the accounts of how they pleased God
2. The word perdition means: 'Entire loss or ruin; utter destruction. If we reject the truth, we seal our own perdition'. The main application is: 'up to and including acting like Judas Iscariot'. (The Bible calls him the son of perdition.) the phrase we are not of them who draw back unto perdition means: 'We do not have the attitudes, nor the actions, of people who receive perdition from God'. The true Bible believer avoids this doctrinal error by having the true fear of the Lord.
3. The phrase but of them that believe to the saving of the soul means: 'The people who truly believe to the saving of the soul have different attitudes and actions than those people who draw back unto perdition'. Remember that the soul is defined as: 'The long-term result of the short-term actions of our heart in deciding how we will think, how we will act emotionally to circumstances of life and how we will decide the issues of life'. Thus, long-term, truly saved and serving people avoid the attitudes and actions of them who draw back unto perdition and they learn to think, make decisions and react emotionally like Jesus Christ.

Chapter 11 Summary:
Chapter theme: Faith.

This is the famous chapter on faith. There are times when I listen to people and am convinced that they are sure that they 'know' what it says and, when they read it, they see what they have been told to see and not what it really says. As the Bible says in some places: Selah ('Think about it!'

True Biblical faith is an action verb which produces works. People like to preach the first verse as if it were independent but it is a summary of the chapter that is at the start of the chapter. Thus, all of the rest of the chapter provides the details of what the author is really saying within that first verse. In addition, it starts with the word Now, which means 'After you understand what was just said'. Too many people ignore the first 10 chapters which are the basis of this chapter. In particular, understanding Chapter 10 is critical to truly understanding what this chapter says about faith. It explained the difference between saved-and-obedient people and saved-and-disobedient people. Too many of the last group like to identify themselves with the heroes of this chapter when the prior chapter excluded them.

If people really read what this chapter they will see that every person mentioned here did action. In addition, we are judged by our works because our works are the evidence of true Biblical faith. James 2 talks about faith without works, but that is not true Biblical faith, as even James 2 explains. The definition from our chapter is: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. As I explain to Bible Students and others, evidence is something that is used in court and can be separated from the person presenting it so that it can be examined independent of that person. What is in your head and in your heart can not be separated from you. That is a belief, and not true Biblical faith. In addition, something that has substance can be sensed with our physical senses. Another person can not sense what is in your head and in your heart. Thus, what James 2 calls faith without works is in fact only a belief and does not match what is truly reported within our chapter.

While there is a difference between belief and true Biblical faith, there is also a difference between true Biblical faith, and works. If someone was told to run a paler to the main office, the paper in the office would be the works and their running would be the act of faith. If they gave the paper to another to deliver then the works would be done but they would not have done the action of faith. In addition, as explained below, true Biblical faith has a proper attitude to go with the action. Their doing the action, but with a wrong attitude, would be faith, but not true Biblical faith.

Please prayerfully read what this chapter truly says about true Biblical faith.

in this chapter we are taught the 'Attitudes' of faith which are:

11:3 : True Biblical faith controls our understanding of all things.
11:7 : True Biblical faith knows that is an heir of God and acts like it.
11:11 : True Biblical faith believes the promise of God that this world says is impossible.
11:13 : True Biblical faith believes the promise of God even while dying.
11:15 : True Biblical faith ignores the 'facts' of this world.
11:16 : True Biblical faith devotes everything to preparing to live in heaven.
11:20 : True Biblical faith blesses others by their life.
11:24-26 : True Biblical faith Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in this world.
11:29-30 : True Biblical faith expects the impossible when the promise of God becomes impossible according to the things of this world.
11:31 : True Biblical faith separates from unbelievers in this world.
11:39-40 : True Biblical faith waits for God to keep His promise in His time.

in this chapter we are taught the 'Actions' of faith which are:

11:1 : substance...evidence. True Biblical faith produces these.
11:2 : obtained a good report. True Biblical faith continues until God and this lost world report the person's faith.
11:4 : True Biblical faith offers unto God a more excellent sacrifice.
11:5 : True Biblical faith Please s God.
11:6 : True Biblical faith believes and looks to Him as the rewarder.
11:6 : True Biblical faith diligently seeks him (God).
11:7 : True Biblical faith acts on God's warning.
11:8 : True Biblical faith obeys even without knowing the result.
11:9 : True Biblical faith acts on God's promise even while giving up security in this world.
11:17 : True Biblical faith obeys God even when told to do what religion says is wrong (human sacrifice).
11:23 : True Biblical faith obeys God even at risk of own death.
11:24-26 : True Biblical faith chooses rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
11:28 : True Biblical faith obeys God in religious symbolic things (like the Lord's supper).

Our chapter has sub-groupings within it which deal with different aspects of faith. The first 6 sentences tell us things that everyone must have in their life if they have true Biblical faith. Then from C11-S7 through C11-S15 we see the way that these laws of faith are to be applied in the lives of all who are truly saved. C11-S15 directly states the doctrine of this section of the chapter. In C11-S16 through C11-S29 we are told examples of different people who show us faith in ways that we probably will not have to do the same but which teach us what we are to be willing to do. After that we only have our last sentence which provides the conclusion of this chapter.

C11-S1 : the main Biblical definition of faith.
1. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand all of the doctrine which preceded this chapter.
2. The word substance means: 'In a general sense, being; something existing by itself; that which really is or exists; equally applicable to matter or spirit. thus, the soul of man is called an immaterial substance, a cogitative substance, a substance endued with thought. We say, a stone is a hard substance, tallow is a soft substance'. The phrase faith is the substance of things hoped for means: 'True Biblical faith takes what is hoped for and turns it into true substance'. True Biblical substance can be detected directly or indirectly in this world. Just as Jesus used the wind to illustrate that every one that is born of the Spirit produces results which allow indirect evidence that they have been born of the Spirit (John 3:8), so also can the substance of true Biblical faith be detected directly or indirectly by our physical senses.
3. The word evidence, in this sentence, means: 'The record that is kept in Heaven, and that will be used at the judgment seat of Christ, to prove our true Biblical faith, or lack thereof'. God keeps an accurate record, in Heaven, of all of our attitudes and actions. The phrase the evidence of things not seen means: 'What we do not see with our physical senses but what God has recorded as our heart motivations and attitudes'.
C11-S2 : It takes faith to get a good report.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase by it means: 'By true Biblical faith, which was the subject of the prior sentence'.
3. The phrase the elders obtained a good report means: 'God reported their attitudes, actions and results received from God. These things were reported, and are reported in this chapter, so that we are encouraged to follow their example'.
C11-S3 : Faith teaches us about creation.
1. The word through means: 'You enter one side of an obstacle and continue within the obstacle until you come out on the other side'. The phrase Through faith means: 'Our lack of true Biblical faith is an obstacle to our receiving the reward from God. We must enter the attitudes and actions of true Biblical faith, and continue in them, until we come out on the other side and receive the reward from God'.
2. The phrase we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God means: 'It takes true Biblical faith to believe, and act upon, the account of creation found in the word of God'. People think that 'Evolution' was the start of religious attacks on the Genesis account, but our phrase lets us know that it is just the latest such attack.
3. The phrase so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear means: 'Everything in the physical reality was made from substances of the spiritual reality'.
C11-S4 : Able demonstrated faith.
1. The phrase By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain means: '. '. This is a reference to Genesis 4.
2. The phrase by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts means: the word of God has the good report from God that he was righteous.
3. The phrase and by it he being dead yet speaketh means: 'Since his act of true Biblical faith is reported in the word of God, his record yet speaketh and is used to encourage others to act in a similar way'.
C11-S5 : Enoch demonstrated faith.
1. The phrase By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death is reported in We find the name of Enoch in the Bible in: Genesis 4 and Genesis 5. Jude 1:14 tells us that he was a prophet (was probably the first) who prophesied the return of Christ to rule and reign on this Earth. Although not a correct definition of the word translate, A definition from one dictionary does give us the true application found in this sentence, which is: 'To remove or convey to heaven, as a human being, without death'.
2. The phrase and was not found, because God had translated him is a precursor of the 'Rapture'.
3. The phrase for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God gives is the testimony that: 'God rewards those people who please Him'.
C11-S6 : God only responds positively to faith. This is the sentence which God used to command me to start this entire Bible Study and to prove that there are no errors in the word of God, but we must use God's way, with the guidance from God's Holy Spirit, if we wish to achieve these results.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction. The prior sentence told us a specific example about Enoch, and the one before that told us a specific example about Able. Now, our current sentence is switching from telling us specific examples to telling us the general rule about true Biblical faith.
2. The phrase without faith it is impossible to please him means: 'God can not be pleases with anything other than true Biblical faith'. The problem that many people have with the truth of this phrase is that they believe a religious definition for the word faith, which is not true Biblical faith. Thus, while religious people believe that they please God, in truth they do not. As a result, they do not receive the blessings that they desire. And, our chapter continues with examples of true Biblical faith, so that people can verify if their attitudes and actions match what the word of God. reports is true Biblical faith.
3. The phrase for he that cometh to God must believe that he is means: 'We must believe that God is Who is reported in the word of God and that the character, which we believe, matches what is reported in the word of God'. The Bible warns us that people preach another god and another Jesus and an antichrist. Therefore, the character that we believe in must match what is reported in the word of God or we do not fulfill this requirement.
4. The phrase and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him is the main requirement, of this sentence, which most people fail to fulfill. I kept actual records and I started studying the word of God a minimum of 20 hours per week (average) at the start of the year 2000 and increased that to an average minimum of 40 hours per week starting in the year 2013. (It is now 2022.) that should help the reader understand what the word of God means by the phrase diligently seek him.
C11-S7 : Noah demonstrated faith.
1. The phrase By faith Noah means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Noah acted in true Biblical faith'.
2. The phrase being warned of God of things not seen as yet means: 'Noah had to believe God even though all of his experiences in life went against what God said would happen'.
3. The phrase moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house means: 'Noah understood the true fear of the Lord and acted upon it'.
4. The phrase by the which he condemned the world means: 'Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2Peter 2:5)'. It is computed that he preached for 100 years and, yet, no one believed him and got on the ark with Noah and his family. When Noah and his family acted but all others refused, they were condemned.
5. The phrase and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith means: 'Noah received everlasting rewards in heaven (heir) because of his act of true Biblical faith'. This is presented as an example for us to believe and follow.
C11-S8 : Abraham demonstrated faith.
1. The phrase By faith Abraham means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Abraham acted in true Biblical faith'.
2. The phrase when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed is easily overlooked. Paul wanted To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand (2Corinthians 10:16). The people who caused problems in the Jerusalem Church and had Paul's head cut off never wanted to be a missionary but wanted to take over a church which Paul had started. Our phrase says that Abraham had a missionary call. How many young men claim to have a call like Abraham and like Paul but want to get a position on the staff of an existing church and refuse to go to the mission field?
3. The phrase and he went out, not knowing whither he went tells us that Abraham had to fully trust God for his protection and provision since he could not know how he would protect and provide in an unknown place.
C11-S9 : Abraham lived by faith and taught the same to Isaac and Jacob.
1. The phrase By faith he sojourned in the land of promise means: 'God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants, but did not give it during the life of Abraham nor during the life of several generations of descendants'.
2. The phrase as in a strange country means: 'While Abraham was alive, the land was controlled by a people and culture which treated the family of Abraham as aliens'.
3. The phrase dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob means: 'Abraham never had a house not a fixed piece of land to live on'.
4. The phrase the heirs with him of the same promise means: 'Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all believed the promise even though they did not see God fulfill it during their lives'.
5. The phrase For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God means: 'Here is why Abraham had faith'. The cities and culture in the land did not serve God. Abraham refused to act like Lot and change to fit into the local culture but kept serving God even though it was only his household that did so.
C11-S10 : Sarah demonstrated faith.
1. The phrase Through faith also Sara herself means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Sarah acted in true Biblical faith'. She proved her faith by believing a promise when it was no longer physically possible.
2. The phrase received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age is reported in Genesis 17:17.
3. The phrase because she judged him faithful who had promised means: 'This is why Sarah had faith and the only reason for anyone to have true Biblical faith'. Our faith must be based upon the character of God an on nothing else.
C11-S11 : A multitude came from the child received by faith.
1. The word Therefore means: 'what follows the therefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the therefore and only seen there'. That is, Sarah gives us an example of receiving what is physically impossible because she had true Biblical faith.
2. The phrase sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead means: 'Abraham and Sarah were each too old to conceive a child'.
3. The phrase so many as the stars of the sky in multitude is a reference to the promise that God made to Abraham in Genesis 22:17. Thus, we see the conclusion (Therefore) that God honors faith and that God keeps His promises.
4. The phrase and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable tells us that God fulfilled this promise. This is reported in: Deuteronomy 1:10; Deuteronomy 10:22 and Deuteronomy 28:62.
C11-S12 : All held their faith through death.
1. The phrase These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off means: 'This shows that they believed they would return with Christ and receive the promise then'. Even though they did not receive them in their physical life, they continued to believe. Thus, they had to believe that they would return in order to receive the promises.
2. The phrase and were persuaded of them, and embraced them means: 'They never lost faith but told others that God gave them the promises'.
3. The phrase and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth means: 'They refused to become part of the local culture because they believe God would replace it with a culture of righteousness'.
C11-S13 : All looked for reward in the future.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country means: 'They have to give a reason for rejecting the local culture even though they live in the land'.
C11-S14 : None returned to former life because focus was on heaven.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out is a conditional phrase which was not fulfilled. That is why the next phrase never occurred.
3. The phrase they might have had opportunity to have returned means: 'Since they rejected the culture of the land they were in, their flesh would have desired to return to their original culture'. However, they never returned because neither culture were from God and the sought a culture that served God.
C11-S15 : God prepared a city for them in heaven.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand what was just said about Melchisedec.
3. The phrase they desire a better country means: 'They wanted something better than hum and can create'.
4. The phrase that is, an heavenly means: 'They desired what matches the laws and culture of Heaven'.
5. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
6. The phrase wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God means: 'Because of their attitudes and actions, God accepted them'.
7. The phrase for he hath prepared for them a city means: 'God has prepared a city for the people who are truly saved and serving'. The saved, but carnal, are not promised to have a part in that city.
C11-S16 : Abraham proved his faith when he offered up Isaac. This sentence is referencing the incident recorded in Genesis 22:1-10.
1. The phrase By faith Abraham means: 'Our sentence gives us another example of how Abraham acted in true Biblical faith'.
2. The phrase when he was tried, offered up Isaac means: 'Abraham had to pass several tests in this incident'.
3. The phrase and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son means: 'God could not keep His promise if Isaac died, but Abraham believed that God would keep His promise'.
4. The phrase Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called means: 'This was the promise that God gave to Abraham'.
5. The phrase Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead means: 'This is how Abraham thought that God would keep His promise'. Notice that this proves that Abraham believed in resurrection.
6. The phrase from whence also he received him in a figure means: 'Abraham received Christ in a figure'. The Son of God only acted in His role as Christ after He rose from the dead. (Before His resurrection, Christ was paying the dowry.) Likewise, Abraham expected God to resurrect Isaac like God resurrected Christ.
C11-S17 : Isaac proved his faith when he prophesied of future.
1. The phrase By faith Isaac means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Isaac acted in true Biblical faith'. . .
2. The phrase blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come means: 'Isaac gave prophecy'. This sentence is referencing the incident recorded in Genesis 27. This sentence shows that it takes faith to be a true prophet of God.
C11-S18 : Jacob did the same.
1. The phrase By faith Jacob means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Jacob acted in true Biblical faith'. This sentence combines two different events, one from Genesis 47:31 and one from Genesis 48:5-22.
2. The phrase when he was a dying means: 'tells us when Jacob did this'.
3. The phrase blessed both the sons of Joseph means: 'Jacob gave them a special blessing beyond what was given to the brothers of Joseph'.
4. The phrase and worshipped means: 'Part of true prophecy involves worship, which acknowledges God as the true source of the prophecy'.
5. The phrase leaning upon the top of his staff speaks of his physical weakness. 2Corinthians 12:9 says: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
C11-S19 : Joseph did the same.
1. The phrase By faith Joseph means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Joseph acted in true Biblical faith'. This sentence references Genesis 50:24-26.
2. The phrase when he died tells us when this happened.
3. The phrase made mention of the departing of the children of Israel means: 'This was a prophecy by Joseph'. As we already saw, it takes true faith to give a true prophecy from God.
4. The phrase and gave commandment concerning his bones tells us that Joseph wanted nothing of him left where people worshipped false gods.
C11-S20 : the parents of Moses proved their faith when they hid him.
1. The phrases: By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how the parents of Moses acted in true Biblical faith'. This sentence is referencing the account found in Exodus 2:2-10.
2. The phrase because they saw he was a proper child means: 'They realized that God gave their child and that God had a plan for their child'. This is in opposition to what foolish women are taught about abortion.
3. The phrase and they were not afraid of the king's commandment means: 'People with true faith do not worry about threats of violence and death'.
C11-S21 : Moses proved his faith when he choose God's people.
1. The phrases: By faith Moses means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Moses acted in true Biblical faith'. This sentence is referencing the account found in Exodus 2:11-15.
2. The phrase when he was come to years tells us when this account happened.
3. The phrase refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter means: 'Moses rejected the chance to be at the top of the Egyptian society'.
4. The phrase Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God tells us what Moses made chose instead.
5. The phrase than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season means: tells us what Moses gave up in his choice.
6. The phrase Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt means: 'Moses saw the spiritual rewards as greater than the loss of physical rewards and even including suffering in the flesh'.
7. The phrase for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward tells us why Moses made this choice. Moses understood the rewards of each choice and chose the everlasting rewards, which came later, over the immediate physical rewards.
C11-S22 : Moses choose God over the king.
1. The phrase By faith he forsook Egypt means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Moses acted in true Biblical faith'. This sentence is referencing the account found in this sentence is referencing the account found in Exodus 10:28; 11:8; 12:37-42; 13:17-21. Many might think that this is referencing the first time that Moses left Egypt but, at that time, he did fear the wrath of the king.
2. The phrase not fearing the wrath of the king is referencing Exodus 14:10-13.
3. The phrase for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible means: 'Moses endured because he believed in God and did what he was told that God required'.
C11-S23 : the Jews proved their faith when they kept the first Passover. This sentence is referencing the account found in Exodus 12.
1. The phrase Through faith he kept the passover is referencing Moses but, actually, all of the Jews did this.
2. The phrase and the sprinkling of blood means: 'They obeyed even when they did not understand the symbolic spiritual meaning'.
3. The phrase lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them means: 'They had a true fear of the Lord'.
C11-S24 : the Jews proved their faith when they went through the Red Sea. This sentence is referencing the account found in Exodus 14.
1. The phrase By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how the Jews acted in true Biblical faith'. Moses had to deal with their fear before he lifted his rod and parted the sea.
2. The phrase which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned lets us know that God does not give unbelievers the same protections and blessings that he gives to believers.
C11-S25 : the walls of Jericho fell by faith. This sentence, and the next, speak of the same account which is found in Joshua 2 and Joshua 6.
1. The phrase By faith the walls of Jericho fell down means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of the result of true Biblical faith'. Imagine going out and marching around the city every day for seven days and nothing happens for the first six days. How many people had to think that their actions were foolish?
2. The phrase after they were compassed about seven days tells us when God acted. true faith requires obedience even when what God commands seems foolish.
C11-S26 : Rahab proved her faith when she hid the spies. This sentence, and the prior, speak of the same account which is found in Joshua 2 and Joshua 6.
1. The phrase By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how Rahab the harlot acted in true Biblical faith'. What we see here is that her true belief, which resulted in the action of true faith, saved her. The lesson here is failure to act in true faith can result in destruction and death while acting in true faith can save.
2. The phrase when she had received the spies with peace means: 'She proved which side of the conflict she chose and proved it with her actions'.
C11-S27 says: And what shall I more say?. It means: 'How much more evidence is required?'. The next sentence explains why the author writes this sentence. The sentence after that tells us how people acted in general without naming specific people. And, the final sentence gives the summary for the sentence. Thus, the author has included many examples of how true Biblical faith works and we are to use these examples for doing works of true faith in our life with the expectation that God will reward such in His time and in His way.
C11-S28 : Lots of others in the Bible proved their faith by their actions.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrases: for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets tells us of how many others acted in true Biblical faith.
3. The phrases: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword tells the active works of true faith which can be found in the Bible record but which the author did not list.
4. The phrase out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens tells us how true faith allowed God to work through their lives and do what was not humanly possible.
C11-S29 : Lots of others not mentioned in the Bible did the same.
1. The phrase Women received their dead raised to life again means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of how others acted in true Biblical faith'. Forlinks to miracles in the Bible, please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Table Of Miracles in the Old Testament; Table Of Miracles in the Gospels asnd the Miracles section of the Significant Events in the New Testament.
2. The phrase and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection tells us something that most people don't realize and that many people deny. That is: the more that you suffer for God's kingdom, the greater your everlasting reward is.
3. The phrase And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings tells us that devil motivated people first tried cruel mockings, and when that didn't stop God's people from witnessing the truth, they tried scourgings.
4. The word yea means: 'yes very positively with no doubt'. The phrase moreover of bonds and imprisonment means: 'These devil motivated people put God's witnesses into bonds and imprisonment when cruel mockings and scourgings were not enough to get them to stop witnessing for God'.
5. The phrase They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword means: 'These were just some of the methods used to murder God's witnesses when nothing less than death shut their mouths'.
6. The phrase they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented means: 'This is the type of physical life that God's true witnesses accepted in order to prove that they were willing to suffer in the flesh in order to have a greater and everlasting spiritual reward'.
7. The phrase (Of whom the world was not worthy:) is a phrase added by the interpreters in order to keep the same message in the English as was delivered in the Greek language.
8. The phrase they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth means: 'God's witnesses went everywhere to deliver God's Gospel and to avoid persecution when they could'.
C11-S30 : they all had a good report but haven't received the promise yet.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase these all, having obtained a good report through faith means: 'Our sentence gives us an example of the result of true Biblical faith in that these all are still waiting for their reward'. True Biblical faith waits for God's time in order to receive their rewards.
3. The phrase received not the promise means: 'They are still waiting for the judgment seat of Christ, which is when they will receive their rewards'. It will not happen until after the 'Rapture' so that all saved, of the 'Church Age', will be in Heaven.
4. The phrase God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect means: 'All saved will get their rewards at the same time'.

Chapter 12 Summary:
Chapter theme: Serve God righteously.

Our chapter starts with Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. It continues from there but we are reminded that when we start to think our circumstances are hard and that we are not receiving the help which we think we deserve, we have all of these witnesses who had worse circumstances and less help and yet were faithful. We are also told how to be faithful when we are told to lay aside what will hinder us and to concentrate on running the race. Further, If this was not enough, our first sentence then reminds us of Jesus and all He did and of His motivation. Jesus is our main example for how to live in the flesh using the power of the Holy Ghost.

C12-S1 : Conclusion of how we should also do the same as the people reported in the prior chapter did.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses is a reference to the entire prior chapter. When saved people start trying to make excuses for not working for God's kingdom, God will call on these witnesses to testify against any claim of not being able to do what God commanded us to do.
3. The phrase let us lay aside every weight means: 'Things which are not sin, but which hinder us from serving God, can so easily beset us'. These are things like what is considered to be good in this life or commitments to things that take up our time like politics. We are told to lay them aside so that they stop hindering our service to God.
4. The phrase and the sin which doth so easily beset us warns us that sin which doth so easily beset us. Sin is always attractive and pleasurable at first, but then becomes addictive. Devils want us involved in sin so that we do not spend time serving God.
5. The phrase and let us run with patience the race that is set before us means: 'God has a plan for each of our lives and fulfilling that plan can be as exhausting as running a long distance race'. And, as we read in the prior chapter, we need to serve God with patience because that is part of our test which will increase our everlasting rewards.
6. The phrase Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith means: 'Jesus is Who gave us the grace to be saved and to serve God. He is also our example of how to serve God'. (Please also see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do?).
7. The phrase who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame means: 'Jesus did everything that God required in order to receive everlasting spiritual rewards'. We are to do the same.
8. The phrase and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God means: 'Jesus is now in Heaven representing us. Therefore, we need to go to Him for help in time of need'.
C12-S2 : Consider Jesus Christ when getting weary.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence tells us to Look unto Jesus.
2. The phrase consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself means: 'Really take time to consider how people, even the saved, treat Jesus and how He responds'.
3. The phrase lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds means: 'Here's why'. No matter how frustrating life can be and no matter what we suffer, it is not as much as Jesus puts up with.
C12-S3 says: Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Even if we have been beaten bloody, we are still alive and have not been martyred. That is what this sentence means.
C12-S4 : Remember that the chastening of the Lord is done in love.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children is a reference to Deuteronomy 8:4; Revelation 3:19 and several other places in the word of God. (Please see the Detailed Note for more reference).
3. The phrase My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him means: 'The Lord chastens and rebukes to correct our sin nature'. Since our sin nature is so strong in us, it takes strong correction to get it out of us.
4. The phrase For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth means: 'This is why'.
5. The phrase and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth means: 'God continues our punishment until we fix our attitude and character'. It is our own stubbornness which increases our punishment which is meant to correct.
C12-S5 : Chastening proves that we are God's children.
1. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
2. The phrase If ye endure chastening is the conditional phrase which must be fulfilled in order for the rest of the sentence to apply to us.
3. The phrase God dealeth with you as with sons means: 'This is the true reason for chastening. God is trying to change our character to be like His character, which will make us a true son of God'.
4. The phrase for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? is common practice among all humans.
C12-S6 : People who claim to be God's people, but who are not chastened, are bastards.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfil the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfil the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if ye be without chastisement means: 'God never spanks you for doing wrong'.
4. The phrase whereof all are partakers means: 'Everybody gets spanked by loving parents. '. Anyone who never was spanked never had a loving parent (Proverbs 13:24).
5. The phrase then are ye bastards means: 'Your personal spiritual mother is the church and your personal spiritual father is a devil'.
6. The phrase and not sons means: 'You personally are not a son of God'. You personally do not have the character of God. (See C12-S8 where the author writes this literally.)
C12-S7 : We should reverence God more than our fleshly fathers.
1. The word Furthermore means: 'Going further along this line of reasoning and adding more to what was already said'.
2. The phrase we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us means: 'God uses the physical to teach us spiritual lessons'. The loving fathers of our flesh are to teach us how our loving spiritual Father will treat us when we do wrong. Notice that the motivation is not to hurt but is to correct.
3. The word reverence means: 'Fear mingled with respect and esteem'. The phrase and we gave them reverence means: 'We had this attitude towards our fathers of our flesh'.
4. The phrase shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? means: 'We should have this attitude more towards God the Father because He gives spiritual life and increases our spiritual life'.
C12-S8 : God has a better motivation for chastening us.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure means: 'Our human fathers chastened us so that we would please them, even if what they taught us did not profit us'.
3. The phrase but he for our profit means: 'God chastens us for our own profit. The more that we learn from God the greater our own everlasting rewards'.
4. The phrase that we might be partakers of his holiness means: 'Holiness is the main character trait of God that God wants us to make our own character trait'.
C12-S9 : Look at the long-term results.
1. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand the purpose of chastening by God.
2. The phrase no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous means: 'No body enjoys being chastened'.
3. The phrase but grievous means: 'All chastening is grievous'.
4. The phrase nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby means: 'Some things are only learned through personal experience. Only chastening produces these results'.
5. Everybody wants peace. Everybody wants the peace of God. Everybody wants peace. with God. No body wants to experience what is required in order to have true peace.
C12-S10 : Act right to get the blessing.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees means: 'Fix your understanding and attitude so that you stop being discouraged'.
3. The phrase And make straight paths for your feet means: 'Know where you are going in life. Stop wandering around with no purpose'.
4. The phrase lest that which is lame be turned out of the way means: 'People who are having a hard time (lame) will tend to try and seek an easier way to go'. Help them to serve God.
5. The phrase but let it rather be healed means: 'True healing only comes from God'. This is especially true for healing of the spirit and of the soul. (I have personally had multiple times where lost doctors said that I had 'undeniable multiple miracles of physical healing'. And, I was emotionally abused for years until I ended up in the hospital bleeding to death. Thus, I write from personal experience about multiple types of healing from God.) therefore, helping others to seek God is the best way to help them to heal.
C12-S11 : Act morally right.
1. The phrase Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord is the primary command for finding true peace. It is not enough to Follow peace with all men, because some will require you to live in sin in order to have peace. However, what they offer is not true peace. Only the Lord can give true peace and He requires us to have holiness first. Therefore, make sure that you do both sides of the and which is in our phrases, if you want the promised result.
2. The phrase Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God means: 'Never ley your eyes, and main goal of life, stray from pleasing the Lord'. Only obedience to the Lord will get us more grace.
3. The phrases: lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled means: 'Satan designs the problem of this world to cause God's people to become bitter, and thereby many be defiled'. The only way to avoid Satan's design is trusting that the Lord has a purpose for our suffering, that will bring Him glory and give us everlasting rewards. Therefore, keep your eyes on the Lord and your true faith in Him, like the people did who were reported in the prior chapter.
4. The word fornicator means: 'Someone who violates their covenant relationship'. The word profane means: 'Irreverent to anything sacred; applied to persons. A man is profane when he treats sacred things with abuse and irreverence'. The phrases: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright means: 'Here is our example of someone who disobeyed the command of this sentence'. Our next sentence tells us that he was never forgiven. This proves that the claim: 'God is a God of unlimited chances to repent', is a lie.
C12-S12 : God does not always accept repentance.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrases: ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears summarizes the experience of Esau. Please see the Detailed note for Bible references and further explanation of this sentence. As explained in the note above, our sentence tells us that he was never forgiven. This proves that the claim: 'God is a God of unlimited chances to repent', is a lie.
C12-S13 : We have a better relationship with God.
1. The phrases: ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire these phrases are explained in the Detailed note. Please see it for the Bible references to this sentence.
2. The phrases: nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words are also explained in that note. In addition, this experience can be viewed as a type of prophecy for what people will experience just before the return of Jesus Christ.
3. The phrase which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more means: 'People were afraid of the voice of God and wanted a priest between them and God'.
4. The phrases: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart means: 'People had a true fear of the Lord when they truly understood the consequences of disobedience'.
5. The phrases: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) tells us that even Moses, who had a unique relationship with God, also has a true fear of the Lord.
6. The phrase But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn means: 'We are no longer under the Mosaic Law but now approach everything in Heaven through the New Testament'.
7. The phrase which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect means: 'God keeps a true and accurate record in Heaven. There will be no error nor misrepresentation of our life, and our attitudes and deeds, when we are judged'.
8. The phrase and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant means: 'Only Jesus can remove the record of our sins and we must do what He says before He alters our legal record in heaven'.
9. The phrase and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel means: 'Jesus Christ shed His blood to sprinkle our heavenly record with the payment for our sins and to give us better things than that of Abel'. Many people, foolishly, want to return to a former time but they fail to realize that the New Testament gives us the best relationship with God.
C12-S14 says: See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. This command is given with the assumption that we understand all that was written in the prior sentence. In addition, our next sentence gives us another reason why we need to obey this command.
C12-S15 : Old Testament people were judged and they had less of a relationship than we have.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The word If makes this a conditional sentence. All who fulfill the condition receive the result and no one who fails to fulfill the condition receives the result.
3. The phrase if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth means: 'This is the example that we need to consider because God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, we need to pay attention to the Biblical examples and expect the same from God'. These examples include God dropping whole families into Hell alive and God marching His people in the wilderness for forty (40) years while God killed the entire generation for ongoing disobedience and a wrong attitude towards God.
4. The phrase much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven means: 'They only heard from Moses, and other prophets, who passed on the message from God'. However, we have God's indwelling Holy Spirit Who uses the word of God to speak directly to our spirit.
5. The phrase Whose voice then shook the earth reminds us of the reported experience of God's people. Please see the Detailed note for Bible references and further explanation of this phrase.
6. The phrase but now he hath promised, saying means: 'We have promises in the New Testament which were not given before'. Please see the section called Promises in the Doctrinal Study called Significant New Testament Events.
7. The phrase Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven is a prophecy of the day of the Lord, which is also called the great tribulation. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called Significant Events in the New Testament and the section called: Prophecies for other Bible references to this event). As terrible as the experience of God's people was in the Old Testament, we are warned of much worse in the future because we are given much more in the New Testament.
C12-S16 : God removes what can't last and leaves what is permanent.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrases: This word, Yet once more means: 'The prophecies references in this chapter are given again so that we can not miss them'.
3. The phrase signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made means: 'All of creation will be shaken, destroyed and replaced'. People who are trying to live forever, in this physical reality, are pursuing a foolish goal. They can not stop the destruction of all of the physical reality. Neither can they survive it.
4. The phrase that those things which cannot be shaken may remain means: 'Only the spiritual reality will survive the destruction of the heavens and the earth (2Peter 3:7)'.
C12-S17 : Conclusion: serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved means: 'The truly saved are part of God's spiritual kingdom. As a result, they cannot be moved when God destroys all of the physical reality'.
3. The phrase let us have grace means: 'Accept whatever God gives you'. We like to think that grace is something that we will enjoy here in our flesh and in this physical reality. However, God gives grace to His people that He lets be martyred. So, even if that is the future that God gives to you, accept it. Please reread the prior chapter, and associated notes, to remind yourself of this truth.
4. The word acceptable means: 'What God finds to be acceptable and not what our flesh or the world claims is acceptable'. The word reverence 'Fear mingled with respect and esteem'. The true Biblical definition of the Godly fear 'an absolute knowledge that God will hurt me if I deliberately disobey His command'. We are not to fear anything except God. The phrase whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear means: 'We need to have the true attitudes described by these words as we serve God.'
5. The phrase For our God is a consuming fire means: 'Here is why the prior phrase is true'. More than one preacher has preached on this phrase. The lost will be consumed in the lake of fire. The saved but carnal will be consumed in outer darkness after they get to heaven. The saved and serving will have their physical life consumed in the service to God so that they might obtain a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:38).

Chapter 13 Summary:
Chapter theme: Have a righteous life.

In our final chapter we are told how to apply, in our daily life, the doctrines which were in the prior chapters. First, we are to treat others right. Then we are to keep our doctrine and service to God right. Then we are to keep our eyes on the Heavenly goal and remember that we are here to represent God, not to fight for things of this world. Finally, we are to encourage the brethren.

C13-S1 says: Let brotherly love continue. This might seem to be a simple and straight forward command, but the evidence within many churches is that it is not easy to obey.
C13-S2 : Entertain strangers.
1. The phrase Be not forgetful to entertain strangers is our second of several commands given in this chapter.
2. The phrase for thereby some have entertained angels unawares means: 'This is why we should obey this command'.
C13-S3 : Remember those who suffer.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them means: 'Think about how you would feel if you were locked up for preaching the Gospel. Do for such people as you would want someone to do for you'.
3. The phrase and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body means: 'Treat them which suffer adversity, for the sake of the Gospel, the same way'. Keep this attitude towards all who suffer for he Gospel.
C13-S4 : Keep sex to the marriage bed.
1. The phrase Marriage is honourable in all means: 'God created marriage and those who forbid to marry are preaching a doctrine of devils (1Timothy 4:3)'.
2. The phrase and the bed undefiled means: 'All natural sex is allowed by God'.
3. The phrase but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge means: 'Violations of God's restrictions on sex will be judged by God'.
C13-S5 : Do not covet.
1. The word conversation means: 'Your way of life. How we live speaks louder that what comes out of our mouth and if the two disagree, we prove ourselves to be a liar'. The phrase Let your conversation be without covetousness means: 'Don't let covetousness be in any part of your life'.
2. Our phrase starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior phrase. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God. The phrase and be content with such things as ye have means: 'Do not wish for what God has not given nor promised, if it is for any purpose other than the service to God'. Anything that we want in order to increase our service to God comes from God.
3. The phrase for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee means: 'Jesus said this and the only way that He will not provide for us is if we leave Him by refusing to fulfill our responsibilities in our ongoing personal relationship with Him'. Thus, if we are right with Him, and He does not provide what we desire, then it is not yet time for us to have it or whatever we desire will harm us. Therefore, thank Him for protecting us from harm and let it go unless He keeps bring it to our mind as something to serve God. And, in that case, wait until He lets us know that it is time for us to have the thing.
C13-S6 : Rely upon help from the Lord.
1. The phrase So that we may boldly say means: 'We are to have the attitude specified in the prior sentence in order to be able to do the rest of this sentence'.
2. The phrase The Lord is my helper means: 'We have to do our part before the Lord steps in and does the true spiritual work'. We work for Him but He is our helper only in that we must act in righteousness first.
3. The phrase and I will not fear what man shall do unto me means: 'We must truly trust the Lord for our protection'. Nothing can happen to us unless the Lord allowed it. If we are hurt then He allowed it to give us a better everlasting reward. If we die, then He determined that our race is over.
C13-S7 : Treat church leaders right.
1. The phrase Remember them which have the rule over you means: 'This is not just pastors but all who hold a position of authority within the church'.
2. The phrase who have spoken unto you the word of God means: 'This phrase is what limits this command to people in the church'.
3. The phrase whose faith follow means: 'Look at their life and do the same as what caused God to bless them'.
4. The phrase considering the end of their conversation means: 'Think about how Godly preachers will be rewarded in Heaven. And, think about someone who served God, and then turned from God, will be punished'.
C13-S8 says: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. This is a precept that can be, and is, used independent of the context. This sentence, and Malachi 3:6, tell us that 'God does not change'. And, because of this truth, it is the basis of our confidence and the reason why we should believe, and obey, everything in this epistle. Since Jesus Christ does not change, we can be sure that we will receive the same rewards, an punishments, as the people reported in this epistle.
C13-S9 : Don't get caught up in strange doctrines.
1. The phrase Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines tells us the same thing as Ephesians 4:14.
C13-S10 : choose grace over religion.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true.
2. The phrase it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace means: 'The best thing to spend our life seeking is God's grace'.
3. The phrase not with meats, symbolically, means: 'Not with religious rules and concerns of the flesh and of this world'. Those are the concerns of people who trust their religion and such concerns keep them from receiving God's grace.
4. The phrase which have not profited them that have been occupied therein means: 'There is no spiritual profit in being concerned with religious rules or things of the flesh or things of this world'.
C13-S11 : We have access to God which other religions don't have.
1. The word tabernacle is used symbolically, in our sentence, for: 'serving religious rules with the hope of blessings from God for doing so'. Our sentence says: We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. It means: 'Saved people who dedicate their lives to obeying religious rules, instead of maintaining their ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ will not be allowed to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb'.
C13-S12 : the bodies of animals used for sin offerings were burned outside of the camp.
1. Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving us the reason why the prior sentence is true. The next two sentences are also part of this reason why the prior sentence is true. Understanding this reason requires understanding what is being done spiritually and explained symbolically.
2. The phrase the bodies of those beasts means: 'Everything that was not blood and certain parts of fat which were burned on the altar'.
3. The phrase whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin means: 'Only the blood was offered as payment for sin'.
4. The phrase are burned without the camp means: 'The rest of the body was burned without the camp, which, symbolically, showed that nothing else from our flesh is acceptable to God'.
C13-S13 : that's why Jesus also suffered outside of religion.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'what follows the wherefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the wherefore and it to be seen wherever you look'.
2. The phrase Jesus also means: 'This is why Jesus had to suffer where He did'.
3. The phrase that he might sanctify the people with his own blood means: 'Only the blood of Jesus was offered to pay for our sins and save us'.
4. The phrase suffered without the gate means: 'Golgotha was outside of the city'.
C13-S14 : We heed to also go outside of religion to be identified with Him. Our sentence says: Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. While we are in this world, we are still in sinful flesh, which was represented by the body of the beast which was destroyed outside of the camp. We are still sinful, which is why Jesus had to become sin for us and do it outside of Jerusalem. And, as He took our reproach, while He lived in the flesh, so also should we bear his reproach while we live in the flesh.
C13-S15 : Our reward isn't here but comes later. Our sentence says: For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. this means that we will not be here in this physical reality forever (no continuing city), but will be in the spiritual reality for ever (but we seek one (continuing city) to come. Therefore, we need to concentrate on providing for our stay in the spiritual reality. And, we do that by obeying the prior sentence with this sentence giving us the reason why we want to obey.
C13-S16 : We need to thank and praise God continually.
1. The phrase By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually means: 'We can approach the throne of God because of our relationship (by Him) to Jesus'. We are to approach the throne of God, continually, so that we can offer the sacrifice of praise to God.
2. The phrase that is means: 'The next phrase explains the prior phrase'.
3. The phrase the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name means: 'This is how we are to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually We do praise by recognizing what God did for us and then we are to thank God for what He did for us'.
C13-S17 : Keep doing good.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The Biblical usage of the word good is: 'what comes from God'. The phrase to do good means: 'Do what God gave you to do'.
3. The word and means that this phrase is added to the prior phrase. The word communicate is used to mean that we are to feel what the less fortunate feel and help them the what that we would want to be helped if we were in their circumstances. The phrase and to communicate forget not means: 'We are to not forget to do either. We are to do what God gives us to do and we are to help others as if we were in their circumstances'.
4. The phrase for with such sacrifices God is well pleased means: 'Obeying this command will hurt us personally, which is what the word sacrifice means'. However, we are also told that God is well pleased when we do these things and, when God is well pleased, we receive everlasting spiritual rewards.
C13-S18 : Follow your spiritual leaders.
1. The phrase Obey them that have the rule over you means: 'Obey your spiritual leaders'.
2. The phrase and submit yourselves means: 'Keep an attitude of true submission towards your spiritual leaders'.
3. The phrases: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account means: 'This is why. They will answer to God for their influence on your soul and how much they obeyed their command to teach you to spiritually mature your soul'.
4. The phrases: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief means: 'You want them to receive reward and not punishment'.
5. The phrase for that is unprofitable for you means: 'This is why. The more you help them do their job the greater your own everlasting spiritual rewards will be'.
C13-S19 : Pray for church leaders.
1. The phrase Pray for us is quite clear. We are to pray for each other but we are to especially pray for our spiritual leaders.
2. The phrase for we trust we have a good conscience means: 'The author had only acted towards them to help them be right with God'.
3. The phrase in all things willing to live honestly means: 'The author had always treated other people honestly'.
C13-S20 : Pray for the author's return.
1. The word But means that this phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction.
2. The phrase I beseech you the rather to do this means: 'The author begged for their prayers more than any other effort'.
3. The phrase that I may be restored to you the sooner indicates that he was in prison. This happened to many church leaders in the early church.
C13-S21 : Blessing from God.
1. The word Now means 'after we understand what was written earlier'. That is: after we understand what was just said about obeying the commandments of God.
2. The phrase the God of peace identifies the most powerful being that exists and what He gives to all who truly serve Him.
3. The phrase that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus means: 'This is what He did in the past and this is what we can expect Him to do for us'.
4. The phrase that great shepherd of the sheep means: 'our Lord Jesus is our great shepherd. He guides us and protects us'.
5. The phrase through the blood of the everlasting covenant means: 'He paid for our sins and deserves our life-long obedience'.
6. The phrase Make you perfect in every good work to do his will means: 'He will bring spiritual maturity to all who stay close to Him and obey Him'.
7. The phrase working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight means: 'The changes that He works in us is wellpleasing in his sight and gets us everlasting Heavenly rewards'.
8. The phrase through Jesus Christ means: 'God does everything with thee saved through Jesus Christ. We must do our part to maintain our ongoing personal relationship that is through Him if we want to continue to receive blessings from God'.
9. The phrase to whom be glory for ever and ever means: 'We are to always give the glory to God'.
C13-S22 : Amen. This doubles the prior sentence.
C13-S23 : Listen to exhortation.
1. Our sentence starts with the word And, which means that it is added to the prior sentence. This word represents 'the Mathematical function of addition'. If you drop either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you drop either side of an and, in the word of God, then you change the message from God.
2. The phrase I beseech you, brethren means: 'The author is begging people who are saved and serving'.
3. The phrase suffer the word of exhortation means: 'Accept and obey the commandments and doctrine of this epistle even if it makes you uncomfortable'.
4. The phrase for I have written a letter unto you in few words means: 'The author could have written much more'.
C13-S24 says: Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. This means that Timothy was set free and had been with the author. Timothy would bring more messages from the author.
C13-S25 says to salute God's people.
C13-S26 : says that greetings from Italy.
C13-S27 gives a final blessing.
C13-S28 : Amen. This doubles the prior sentence.

God in Hebrews

God is the Son:	1:8
Son of God:	4:14; 6:6; 7:3; 10:29

of God
Angels	1:6
grace	2:9
people	4:9; 11:25
word	4:12; 6:5; 11:3; 13:7
things	5:1
called	5:4; 5:10
oracles	5:12
priest	7:1
service	9:6
presence	9:24
will	10:7; 10:9; 10:36
right hand	10:12
house	10:21
warned	11:7
throne	12:2
grace	12:15

God did
spake	1:1; 1:8
anointed	1:9
bore witness	2:4; 11:4
built	3:4; 11:10
rest	4:4
ceased own work	4:10
can not lie	6:18
admonish	8:5
enjoin	9:20
translated	11:5
provided	11:40

God is
not unrighteous	6:10
living	9:14; 10:31; 12:22
not ashamed	11:16
able to raise the dead	11:19
a consuming fire	12:29
well pleased	13:16

from God
blessings	6:7
promise	6:13
confirmation	6:17
judgment	13:4
peace	13:20

God gave
children	2:13

to God
all things	2:17
Christ offered Himself	9:14

God - man
do not depart	3:12
faith toward	6:1
do what God permit	6:3
draw nigh	7:19
is able to save all	7:25
personal relationship	8:10
Able offered	11:4
pleased God	11:5
cometh to God	11:6
their God	11:16
deals with as sons	12:7
come to God	12:22-23
we may serve God	12:28
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God	13:15

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Interpretive Study of Hebrews - Summary

Epistle theme: How God the Father Deals with His sons

God's Way to Study His Word:

Overview of Hebrews

Epistle theme: How God the Father Deals with His sons

The Son of God is used to provide better things in the New Testament. In the New Testament, we are made the sons of God. Therefore, we should serve God more than people did in the Old Testament.

Chapter 1 Summary:Chapter theme: God's Son is greater than all other beings except God the Father.

Chapter 2 Summary:Chapter theme: Jesus is able to succour them that are tempted.

Chapter 3 Summary:Chapter theme: Christ is much greater than Moses.

Chapter 4 Summary:Chapter theme: God's rest.

Chapter 5 Summary:Chapter theme: the office of high priest.

Chapter 6 Summary:Chapter theme: Our life should produce better results.

Chapter 7 Summary:Chapter theme: Jesus is a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Chapter 8 Summary:Chapter theme: A better covenant and a better testament.

Chapter 9 Summary:Chapter theme: Christ shed His blood to give a better testament.

Chapter 10 Summary:Chapter theme: We have a better relationship with God.

Chapter 11 Summary:Chapter theme: Faith.

Chapter 12 Summary:Chapter theme: Serve God righteously.

Chapter 13 Summary:Chapter theme: Have a righteous life.

God in Hebrews

Contact: Webmaster@LJC1611KJV.com. Member of Tower Road Baptist Church, Abq., NM, U.S.A., 87121. Copyright 2009 Lord Jesus Christ in the 1611KJV. All rights reserved. Revised: 02/27/24.

Chapter 1 Summary:
Chapter theme: God's Son is greater than all other beings except God the Father.

Chapter 2 Summary:
Chapter theme: Jesus is able to succour them that are tempted.

Chapter 3 Summary:
Chapter theme: Christ is much greater than Moses.

Chapter 4 Summary:
Chapter theme: God's rest.

Chapter 5 Summary:
Chapter theme: the office of high priest.

Chapter 6 Summary:
Chapter theme: Our life should produce better results.

Chapter 7 Summary:
Chapter theme: Jesus is a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Chapter 8 Summary:
Chapter theme: A better covenant and a better testament.

Chapter 9 Summary:
Chapter theme: Christ shed His blood to give a better testament.

Chapter 10 Summary:
Chapter theme: We have a better relationship with God.

Chapter 11 Summary:
Chapter theme: Faith.

Chapter 12 Summary:
Chapter theme: Serve God righteously.

Chapter 13 Summary:
Chapter theme: Have a righteous life.