The writer of Hebrews

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets, many times and in many ways. Now, in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact picture of who God is, and he holds everything together by his powerful word. He made us clean from our sins, then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Which angel did God ever say this to? I’ll be his Father, and he’ll be my Son.

Nathan@nathan.prophetThat night the LORD sent me back to David. He isn’t the one to build a house for the LORD. The LORD will build David a house: a son after him, and a throne that will last for ever.

Or “Sit at my right hand”? Never to an angel. Angels are servants, sent to help the people who are going to be saved.

David@davidThe LORD tells my Lord to sit at his right hand until he makes his enemies a footstool for his feet.

So we have to pay much closer attention to what we’ve heard, or we’ll drift away.

We don’t see everything under his feet yet. But we do see Jesus. Made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by God’s kindness he’d go through death for everyone.

David@davidAnd yet you made us only a little lower than the angels.

He shared our flesh and blood, so that by dying he could break the power of the one who holds the power of death, the devil, and set free everyone who’s spent their whole life a slave to the fear of dying.

Moses was faithful in God’s house, as a servant. Christ is faithful as the Son over it. And we’re his house, if we hold on.

So encourage each other every day, while it’s still called Today, so none of you gets hardened by sin and its lies.

A psalmist@apsalmistIf you hear his voice today, don't harden your hearts.

Who heard him and still rebelled? Everyone Moses led out of Egypt. They died out in the desert. They never got in, because they didn’t believe.

Moses@mosesHe said: “I have forgiven them, as you asked.” But not one of the men who saw his glory and still tested him ten times will see the land.

God’s word is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts right through, and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

A high priest’s job is to stand before God for the people. And ours isn’t someone who can’t feel what we feel. He’s been tempted in every way, just like us, and never sinned. So let’s come boldly to the throne of God’s kindness, and find mercy and help right when we need it.

When he was here, he prayed with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

Jesus@jesus · GethsemaneMy Father, if it’s possible, take this cup away from me. But not what I want. What you want.

Honestly, there’s a lot to say here and it’s hard to explain, because you’ve got slow at listening. By now you should be teaching others. Instead you need someone to go over the basics again. Milk, not solid food.

Replying to @hebrews.reader

I’m sure of better things for you, though. God isn’t unfair. He won’t forget the work you’ve done and the love you’ve shown his people, helping them, and still helping them.

This hope is an anchor for our lives. Firm and secure. It goes right in behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone ahead of us.

Remember Melchizedek? King of Salem, which means king of peace. Priest of God Most High. No father, no mother, no family tree on record, no beginning, no end. Like the Son of God, he stays a priest for ever. Even Abraham gave him a tenth.

Melchizedek@melchizedek · SalemAs king of Salem, I brought out bread and wine for Abram on his return from the battle. I am a priest of God Most High, and I blessed him. He gave me a tenth of everything.

There were lots of priests, because death kept stopping them. Jesus lives for ever, so his priesthood never passes to anyone else. That’s why he can save completely everyone who comes to God through him. He’s always alive to speak up for them.

Every other high priest had to offer sacrifices for his own sins first, then for the people’s, day after day. Jesus doesn’t need to. He did it once, for all, when he offered himself.

Aaron@aaronPlain linen, not the gold. And a bull for my own sins before anyone else’s.

God said he would make a new covenant, a new agreement, with his people. He’d put his laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. He’d forgive their wrongdoing, and remember their sins no more.

Only the high priest went into the inner room. Once a year. Never without blood. That’s the Holy Spirit showing us the way in wasn’t open yet.

Moses@mosesAfter Nadab and Abihu, the LORD said: Aaron can’t just go behind the curtain whenever he likes, or he’ll die. Once a year.

But Christ has come as high priest. He went into the Most Holy Place once, for all, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, and won us a freedom that lasts for ever.

Moses sprinkled the blood and said: this is the blood of the agreement. Without blood being shed, there’s no forgiveness.

Moses@moses · Mount SinaiRead them the covenant, God’s agreement with them. They said they’d do it all. I sprinkled the blood on them and told them this is the blood of the agreement.

People die once, and after that comes judgement. Christ was offered once to carry the sins of many. He’ll appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring rescue to everyone waiting for him.

The blood of bulls and goats can’t take sins away. Every priest stands there, day after day, offering the same sacrifices that never can. Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, for all time, and sat down.

An Israelite at the tent@israelite.at.the.tentOn that day we’re made clean from all our sins. All of them.

So, brothers and sisters, we can walk right into the Most Holy Place, by the blood of Jesus, through the curtain. The curtain is his body. Let’s come near to God with a sincere heart.

Matthew@matthew · GolgothaHe cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. The temple curtain tore in two, top to bottom. The earth shook. The rocks split.

Let’s hold on to the hope we say we have, without wobbling. The one who promised is faithful. Let’s think about how to spur each other on to love and doing good. And let’s not give up meeting together, like some are in the habit of doing. Encourage each other.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we’ve come to know the truth, there’s no sacrifice for sins left. God said it: getting even is mine, I’ll repay. It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Moses@mosesThe LORD says getting even is his job, and he’ll repay. And that he’s the one who wounds and the one who heals.

Remember the early days, right after the light came on for you. You stood your ground through a hard fight with suffering. Insulted and mistreated in public. Standing by the people it happened to, and by the ones in prison.

Replying to @hebrews.reader

So don’t throw your confidence away. It’ll be richly rewarded. You need to keep going.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we can’t see.

By faith we understand the universe was made at God’s command. What we can see wasn’t made out of anything visible.

Moses@mosesAnd God says, “Let there be light.” And there’s light. That’s all it takes.

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. He’s dead, and he’s still speaking.

Moses@mosesCain brings the LORD some of his crops. Abel brings the best of the firstborn from his flock. God is pleased with Abel and his offering, but not with Cain’s, and Cain is furious. It’s all over his face.

By faith Enoch was taken up without dying. Before that, he was known as someone who pleased God. And without faith, it’s impossible to please him.

Moses@mosesAdam’s family tree, Adam to Noah, ten generations. Entry after entry ends “and then he died.” Except one. Enoch walked with God, and then he wasn’t there, because God took him.

They all died still trusting, without getting what was promised. They saw it from far off and welcomed it, and said they were strangers and foreigners here. They wanted a better country, a heavenly one. So God isn’t ashamed to be called their God. He’s got a city ready for them.

Replying to @moses

He counted disgrace for the Christ worth more than all the treasures of Egypt. He was looking ahead to his reward.

What more can I say? I’d run out of time telling you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. People who shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, and were weak and made strong.

Others were mocked and beaten, chained and put in prison. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and lived in caves and holes in the ground. The world wasn’t worthy of them.

So, with this huge crowd of witnesses all round us, let’s throw off everything that slows us down and the sin that trips us up so easily, and run the race marked out for us, and not give up. Eyes on Jesus, who starts and finishes our faith. For the joy ahead of him he endured the cross, thought nothing of the shame, and sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

Think about him, so you don’t get worn out and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you haven’t yet had to resist to the point of shedding blood.

Have you forgotten this? The Lord disciplines the people he loves. No discipline feels good at the time. It hurts. Later it produces a harvest of peace and right living in the people it’s trained.

Solomon@solomonDon't resent it when the LORD corrects you. He corrects the ones he loves, like a father with a son he delights in.

Don’t be like Esau, who sold his rights as the eldest son for one meal. Afterwards, when he wanted the blessing, he was turned down. He couldn’t undo it, even though he begged for it with tears.

Moses@mosesThe birthright was the firstborn’s double share and his place as head of the family. Esau eats, drinks, gets up and goes. That’s how little he thinks of it.

You haven’t come to a mountain you can touch, blazing with fire, dark and stormy, with a trumpet blast and a voice so terrifying the people begged not to hear another word. Even Moses said he was trembling with fear.

The Israelites@theisraelites · Mount SinaiThird day. Thunder, lightning, smoke like a furnace, a ram’s horn getting louder and louder, and the whole mountain shaking.

Replying to @hebrews.writer

You’ve come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. To thousands upon thousands of angels, celebrating. To God, the judge of everyone. To Jesus. And to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than Abel’s.

We’re being given a kingdom that can’t be shaken. So let’s be thankful, and worship God with reverence and awe. Our God is a consuming fire.

Keep loving each other like family. And don’t forget to welcome strangers into your home. Some people have had angels as guests without knowing it.

Moses@moses · MamreNot enough people talk about this. Abraham is ninety-nine. Hottest part of the day. Three strangers turn up at his tent, and he runs. Bows to the ground. Offers them “a bit of bread”. Then serves fresh bread, a whole calf, curds and milk.

Remember the people in prison as if you were in there with them.

Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you’ve got. God has said: I’ll never leave you, and I’ll never abandon you. So we can say it with confidence: the Lord is my helper, I won’t be afraid. What can anyone do to me?

Moses@mosesBe strong and brave. Don’t be afraid. The LORD your God goes with you. He will never leave you or abandon you.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever.

There’s no city here that lasts. We’re looking for the one that’s coming.

Please put up with this bit of encouragement. I’ve only written you a short letter.

Our brother Timothy has been released. If he gets here soon, I’ll bring him with me when I come to see you.