Hebrews 6:13-20 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Hebrews 6:13-20. Let’s go!
Hebrews 6:13-17 (NIV)
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,
14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”
15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.
17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
On verses 13-17: As an example of “those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (v12), the writer of Hebrews mentions the story of Abraham. Despite Abraham’s old age and his wife Sarah’s inability to have children, God promises to Abraham and Sarah that “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” (v14) To show how serious God is about fulfilling that promise, God “swore by himself” (v13) because “there was no one greater for him to swear by” (v13) and people usually swear on something that is greater than themselves (v16). The specific wording can be found in Genesis 22:16-17:
16 …”I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,
By swearing by himself and making this oath, God was trying to make it “very clear” to Abraham and his descendants that God was serious about doing what He said He would do (v17). As verse 16 says, “the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.”
Despite wavering in his faith on occasion, Abraham waits with faith and patience long to enough to see God’s promise become a reality. As verse 15 says, “so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”
What can we learn from this?
- Just as God swore by himself and gave an oath to assure Abraham that He would do what He said He would do, God desperately wants us to know that we can trust Him. He wants us to be “very clear” about that (v17). That is why God has given us His great and precious promises. That is also why Jesus would often preface his boldest claims with the words, “I tell you the truth”. That is why to every person who trusts in Jesus, God gives His Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5). God is the business of making good on His promises. He wants us to know that and to trust Him completely.
- Just as Abraham waited patiently by hanging onto God’s promise, when you’re tempted to give up, remember the rhema word that God has spoken to you. This will help you to wait patiently, to not give into fear and to persevere in faith until you receive what God has promised.
18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
On verse 18: What are the “two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie” and by which we can be greatly encouraged? Many scholars think those two things are likely God’s Word and God’s promise. Another good interpretation I find is that those two things are God’s nature (which does not change and which makes it impossible for Him to lie) and His promise. In other words, we can depend on and find great encouragement in (1) who God is and (2) what God says. His character and His promises are completely trustworthy. In hanging on to who God is and what God says, we have courage to face difficult circumstances.
Hebrews 6:19a (NIV)
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…
On verses 19a: Through the ups and downs of life, our hope in God is, as verse 19 says, “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure”. While our circumstances change all the time, praise God that He never changes. He is always faithful, dependable and trustworthy.
Hebrews 6:19b (NIV)
19 …It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
On verse 19b: Further describing the hope we have as Christians, the writer of Hebrews says that this hope reaches to the very presence of God (represented by “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain” – v19). In other words, this hope we have is not some false hope, but is grounded in the firmest place: God’s presence, the place where truth, justice, righteousness and strength originate.
Hebrews 6:20 (NIV)
20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
On verse 20: Here Jesus is described as our forerunner, “the one who went before us” and who entered God’s presence on our behalf. Praise God that Jesus is the one who goes before you and who represents you in the presence of God. The writer of Hebrews then describes Jesus as having “become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”. We’ll look at what that means and why that is significant tomorrow when we look at Hebrews 7.
Father, thank You that in an ever-changing world where lies and scams abound, You never change and You always speak promises that we can totally rely on. Thank You that no matter what our circumstances are like today, Your Word is a firm and secure anchor for our souls. Thank You for Jesus, our forerunner, who goes before us. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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