Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 13:8-16 December 11, 1994 Hebrews 13:8-16 Introduction The Jewish believers who were reading the original letter had been going through a great deal of persecution since they started believing in Jesus as their Messiah. Some of them had even been tempted to just give up in trusting in Jesus and go back to Judaism like they were before they were saved. The writer now begins to wrap up the letter with a lot of miscellaneous exhortations. 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Two Doctrines Here 1. The Immutability of Jesus. The fact that He doesn't change. He didn't start out as a man who progressed to godhood. He didn't start as God, became only a man, then worked His way back to godhood. He was God, is God, and always will be God. 2. The Faithfulness of God. Because He never changes, you can always depend upon Him. When you look at stories of the tenderness of Jesus with the sinners, you realize He is that way with you, because He never changes. When He says He will never leave you nor forsake you, He doesn't change His mind after a few years of tolerating you. :9-14 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. :9 carried about with divers and strange doctrines Ephesians 4:14-15 AV That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: Lots of new things going around today: Roaring in the Spirit; Holy Laughter, etc. People laughing for 9 hours straight. Galatians 1:6-NIV I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- Galatians 1:7-NIV which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:8-NIV But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! :9 heart be established with grace ... not meats Doctrines around that said you were built up spiritually if you ate the right things. Grace is what builds you up, not what you eat or don't eat. It's not about food, it's about letting God give His love to you. Vegetarianism, meat sacrificed to idols. 10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. :11 burned without the camp This is talking about the handling of the "sin offering". There were different types of sacrifices for different purposes. The Burnt Offering was for consecration, giving yourself to God. The Peace Offering was for communion, fellowship with God. The Sin Offering was to pay for your sin. Sin offerings were handled in different ways, depending on the situation. If the offering was for the high priest, or for the whole congregation, (Lev.4:1-21) A bull was killed, The blood was taken into the the Holy Place and sprinkled on the golden altar of incense. The fat, the two kidneys, and the lobe of the liver were all burned on the brass altar of burnt offering. The rest of the animal was taken outside of the camp and burned. If the offering was for any other person, (Lev.4:22-35) Then a goat or a lamb was killed The blood was sprinkled on the brass altar of burnt offering The fat was burned on the brass altar of burnt offering The priest was allowed to eat the rest of the meat, kind of as a payment for services. The rule about eating the meat was: Leviticus 6:30-AV And no sin offering, whereof [any] of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile [withal] in the holy [place], shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire. So, if the blood was sprinkled inside the holy place, then the animal was burnt outside the camp, otherwise, it could be eaten. And the blood was only sprinkled inside the holy place when the sin offering was for the high priest, or for the entire congregation. :10 they have no right to eat Those who are relying upon Judaism, who "serve the tabernacle", have no right to eat from our altar. "We have an altar" refers to Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. Since Jesus' blood was brought into the Holiest of Holies (heaven itself) to pay for the sins of all the world, no priest is going to be able to eat the sacrifice. In a way, during communion, we are "partaking" of His body, but we aren't "serving the tabernacle" either. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. :12 Wherefore Jesus also Now we see the completion of the picture. How come there was a difference in how the sin offerings were handled between those for a high priest of the entire congregation, and for those of individual people? Because Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, not just for one person's sins. :12 suffered without the gate Referring to Jesus dying at Calvary, outside the temple gate. John 19:17-NIV Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. :13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp When you do a search on the phrase "without the camp", you find out something else interesting: Not only was the place "outside the camp" used for the burning of the sin offerings, but it was also the place of reproach. It was where you would be sent if you were condemned to die for your crimes. Leviticus 24:14-AV Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard [him] lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. For those breaking the Sabbath - Numbers 15:35-AV And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. It was where you would be sent if you were unclean with leprosy, with an issue, or from touching a dead person. Numbers 5:3-AV Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. I think maybe the writer is talking about going out of the camp of Judaism, taking on the reproach of being a Christian and being ostracized from Judaism. :14 here we have no continuing city We don't belong in Judaism We don't belong in this world. We are aliens, we have citizenship in another country Philippians 3:17-21. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. It's okay when you feel uncomfortable around your worldly friends and relatives, it's supposed to be that way. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. :15 the sacrifice of praise to God continually We no longer need to be offering a blood sacrifice. Jesus has paid for that with His own blood. So what kind of sacrifices can we bring to God? What do we give Him? New sacrifice #1: Sacrifice of praise A similar thing occurs: Leviticus 7:12-AV If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. But this was from the fruit of the ground, not the fruit of our lips. Psalms 69:30-31 AV I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31 [This] also shall please the LORD better than an ox [or] bullock that hath horns and hoofs. Sometimes praise isn't easy, sometimes it is a sacrifice, it costs you something. Continually - David and the temple, plans for worship around the clock; heaven is continually worshipping the Lord. :16 do good and communicate ... such sacrifices God is well pleased Hebrews 13:16-NIV And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. New Sacrifice #2: Doing good and sharing with others 1Samuel 15:22-AV And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams. God would rather have our obedience than our trying to pay for our sins.