Hebrews 2:18 - For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
In that He Himself has suffered having been tempted, He is able to succor (or help) them that are tempted. You see, this is what completed Christ. Those who are tempted and tested can come to Him for help. And He has already suffered in likeness as we have, as a man, as a human being. But He is able to help us because He has suffered in likeness that we have.
Hebrews 3:1 - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Please notice the two things that he is addressing believers with. First of all, he says holy brethren. In the Greek text, that's that word set apart. Secondly, partakers of the heavenly calling. Later he will say partakers of the heavenly calling belonged to Christ.
He says consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. What a statement! The word consider is an educational term, and it means to set your mind on something, to focus on something. So, when he says consider what I'm about to tell you, that's a command. I want you to set your mind on this. I want you to focus on it for a moment. I want you to focus on Christ Jesus, but notice His titles, the apostle, and high priest.
The word apostle (APOSTOLOS) means to send out with a commission. You're representing someone who has sent you out with a message, or an errand. But you represent whoever sent you on the mission that that person sends you. Jesus Christ is said to be the apostle of God because He's the only one that God has sent to us to represent God.
Hebrews 3:4 - For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
What he's saying is that Christ Jesus built the house, and Moses served in the house. So, the builder is of more glory than the one who works in the house. And by the way, the one who builds the house is God. That's a deity thing that just slipped in there.
Hebrews 3:5 - And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant. If you're into note taking like me, you should circle the word "in," and "as a servant" should be circled. There's a contrast coming in Verse 6 that I would like to share.
For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; That is, Moses was faithful to participate in things that were just a shadow of the truth that is to come.
There are people in large churches just "fitting in" with the crowd. They just get lost in the people. And if you missed church nobody would know that you missed church. And they probably wouldn't care either. They don't even know you're gone. There's nobody to be accountable to. But hey, you're a Christian, right? But there's not much of a relationship.
It's easier to compromise and follow a religious system of Christianity than it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, which is what He called us to be, all of us individually. And so, once you surrender to Christ, and this relationship begins to develop between you and Jesus Christ, then persecution starts. Friends, and family, and relatives look at you and say, "You're a fanatic."
But you see, if you stay at home on Sunday and watch the Super Bowl, you're a football fan. But if you follow Jesus Christ, you're a fanatic. You're overboard! But that's what it means to be a Christian. It's not just somebody who intellectually understands and agrees with the truth, but someone who has surrendered their life to Christ. And you surrender by God's Spirit coming in and taking over.
Always nice to hear from you. I can see how you would be reminded of those two verses. It is God who builds the house even though some men over the years have tried to take credit. We are told in Psalm 127:1 that "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
You brought up 1 Peter 2:5 which speaks of us being the living stones and that we are being built up a spiritual house, and that took me to Ephesians 2:20-22, especially Verse 22. What is being picturing for us is that individually we know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. But collectively, we are being shaped according to Peter in 1 Peter Chapter 1, (which you rightly so brought up) that we are living stones being shaped and formed to fit in.
We will eventually be a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. That is, God's presence and His glory will be in the midst of us, radiating out in us, to us, and through us throughout eternity. It will be in the shape of a habitation, or dwelling. And that's what we're being prepared for, to fit into this habitation. And it is God doing all the building!
Secondly: Consider Him as our high priest, the one who intercedes for us to God. The Apostle and High Priest of our profession, which is literally the word confession, so I'll be using confession instead of profession because it will have a special meaning for us later in this chapter.
And then he gives the name again. Only this time it's Christ Jesus, not just Jesus, but Christ Jesus. As we read through this, he is putting together information for us. Remember, we're talking about a Hebrew or a Jewish person who's suffering hardship and persecution just for identifying with believers.
You haven't even surrendered your life to Christ yet and your fellow Jewish countrymen are already persecuting you. So, you're thinking of going back into the old religious system. Forget this Christianity thing. You suffer too much for it. It's too hard!
As we accumulate all these pieces of information, he is going to come back to them and say, are you sure that you want to go back to the religious system where they have human beings as apostles? They can't save you. You're going to leave the apostle of God? You're going to leave Jesus Christ as your apostle? You're going to leave Him behind and put all your trust in humans? How about the high priest? How about the priest that serves in your temple?
Are you going to leave Jesus Christ as your High Priest, and go and put your trust in him that somehow, he's going to do something that's going to save you? It won't happen. You're leaving the superior, to go back into the inferior.
But you see, for years in history, we human beings have had that challenge to us between a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and religion. It is easier to be a religious Christian, to be a church member and participate with the church and get lost in the crowd than it is to follow Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him.
Hebrews 2:18 - For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
In that He Himself has suffered having been tempted, He is able to succor (or help) them that are tempted. You see, this is what completed Christ. Those who are tempted and tested can come to Him for help. And He has already suffered in likeness as we have, as a man, as a human being. But He is able to help us because He has suffered in likeness that we have.
Hebrews 3:1 - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Please notice the two things that he is addressing believers with. First of all, he says holy brethren. In the Greek text, that's that word set apart. Secondly, partakers of the heavenly calling. Later he will say partakers of the heavenly calling belonged to Christ.
He says consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. What a statement! The word consider is an educational term, and it means to set your mind on something, to focus on something. So, when he says consider what I'm about to tell you, that's a command. I want you to set your mind on this. I want you to focus on it for a moment. I want you to focus on Christ Jesus, but notice His titles, the apostle, and high priest.
The word apostle (APOSTOLOS) means to send out with a commission. You're representing someone who has sent you out with a message, or an errand. But you represent whoever sent you on the mission that that person sends you. Jesus Christ is said to be the apostle of God because He's the only one that God has sent to us to represent God.
Hebrews 3:4 - For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
What he's saying is that Christ Jesus built the house, and Moses served in the house. So, the builder is of more glory than the one who works in the house. And by the way, the one who builds the house is God. That's a deity thing that just slipped in there.
Hebrews 3:5 - And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant. If you're into note taking like me, you should circle the word "in," and "as a servant" should be circled. There's a contrast coming in Verse 6 that I would like to share.
For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; That is, Moses was faithful to participate in things that were just a shadow of the truth that is to come.
Hebrews 3:1 Continued:
There are people in large churches just "fitting in" with the crowd. They just get lost in the people. And if you missed church nobody would know that you missed church. And they probably wouldn't care either. They don't even know you're gone. There's nobody to be accountable to. But hey, you're a Christian, right? But there's not much of a relationship.
It's easier to compromise and follow a religious system of Christianity than it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, which is what He called us to be, all of us individually. And so, once you surrender to Christ, and this relationship begins to develop between you and Jesus Christ, then persecution starts. Friends, and family, and relatives look at you and say, "You're a fanatic."
But you see, if you stay at home on Sunday and watch the Super Bowl, you're a football fan. But if you follow Jesus Christ, you're a fanatic. You're overboard! But that's what it means to be a Christian. It's not just somebody who intellectually understands and agrees with the truth, but someone who has surrendered their life to Christ. And you surrender by God's Spirit coming in and taking over.
The Lord is the builder of the house and the chief corner stone!
This reminds me of Matthew 16:18 and 1 Peter 2:5
God bless you!
Always nice to hear from you. I can see how you would be reminded of those two verses. It is God who builds the house even though some men over the years have tried to take credit. We are told in Psalm 127:1 that "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
You brought up 1 Peter 2:5 which speaks of us being the living stones and that we are being built up a spiritual house, and that took me to Ephesians 2:20-22, especially Verse 22. What is being picturing for us is that individually we know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. But collectively, we are being shaped according to Peter in 1 Peter Chapter 1, (which you rightly so brought up) that we are living stones being shaped and formed to fit in.
We will eventually be a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. That is, God's presence and His glory will be in the midst of us, radiating out in us, to us, and through us throughout eternity. It will be in the shape of a habitation, or dwelling. And that's what we're being prepared for, to fit into this habitation. And it is God doing all the building!
God bless you also my brother!
Ephesians 2:20-22, came to my mind also.
I love the way the writer put it in Hebrews 3:3-5.
Great lesson!
Blessings.
Hebrews 3:1 Continued:
Secondly: Consider Him as our high priest, the one who intercedes for us to God. The Apostle and High Priest of our profession, which is literally the word confession, so I'll be using confession instead of profession because it will have a special meaning for us later in this chapter.
And then he gives the name again. Only this time it's Christ Jesus, not just Jesus, but Christ Jesus. As we read through this, he is putting together information for us. Remember, we're talking about a Hebrew or a Jewish person who's suffering hardship and persecution just for identifying with believers.
You haven't even surrendered your life to Christ yet and your fellow Jewish countrymen are already persecuting you. So, you're thinking of going back into the old religious system. Forget this Christianity thing. You suffer too much for it. It's too hard!
As we accumulate all these pieces of information, he is going to come back to them and say, are you sure that you want to go back to the religious system where they have human beings as apostles? They can't save you. You're going to leave the apostle of God? You're going to leave Jesus Christ as your apostle? You're going to leave Him behind and put all your trust in humans? How about the high priest? How about the priest that serves in your temple?
Are you going to leave Jesus Christ as your High Priest, and go and put your trust in him that somehow, he's going to do something that's going to save you? It won't happen. You're leaving the superior, to go back into the inferior.
But you see, for years in history, we human beings have had that challenge to us between a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and religion. It is easier to be a religious Christian, to be a church member and participate with the church and get lost in the crowd than it is to follow Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?