S – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

O – Commentary:

Before presenting the list of examples, the author defines what faith is: It is acting on what God has revealed about his will and character. • The confidence of faith is based on the God who fulfills his promises. • The word translated assurance means an active certainty that what God has promised will come to pass despite our not yet seeing it.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 11:1.

A – God reveals himself to us in many ways in various demonstrations.  Faith is distilling down our observations to what we believe about his will and character – the person of God that He is.  That allows us to believe with great confidence, knowing that he will fulfill his promises. It will always stretch us out of our comfort zone because God is big and infinite.

R – Heavenly Father, you are big and infinite.  There is no lack in ability, power or presence in you.  Empower us today to grow in our faith and trust in you.  We want to know you more and have greater faith in your will and character.

S – And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching

Hebrews 10:24–25 CSB

O – “Consider” – katanŏĕō, kat-an-o-eh´-o; from 2596 and 3539; to observe fully:— behold, consider, discover, perceive

“Provoke” – parŏxusmŏs, par-ox-oos-mos´; from 3947 (“paroxysm”); incitement (to good), or dispute (in anger):— contention, provoke unto

“Encourage” – parakalĕō, par-ak-al-eh´-o; from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):— beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – What would the church look like if we discovered the gifting and talent of each person? Then, we would incite them to think and do good, while imploring them to be strong in their walk with God and others.  We are the catalysts for this.  We must believe the best in others and put away strife, quarrels, jealousy and anger.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Great I AM.  Empower us today to rise above the things that divide us to things that bring us together.  We need to lead genuinely and by example.  Give us the courage to face tough situations with your presence and love today.

S – According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness

Hebrews 9:22 CSB

O – Commentary:

Many of the rituals of cleansing in the law of Moses involved the death of a sacrificial animal; blood was involved both in the rites of cleansing (see Exod 29:12; 30:10; Lev 4:6, 17; 16:14–19; Num 19:4) and in making atonement (see “Atonement” at Lev 16:1–34, p. 223). The shedding of Christ’s blood established the new covenant, providing permanent purification and complete forgiveness of sins 

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 9:22.

A – The only way to receive complete forgiveness of sin is through the blood of Christ.  He paid the price for “perfect blood” by living a sinless life and then sacrificing himself on the cross.  It answers every requirement that fulfilled the law and God’s plan.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for the blood of Christ that was shed on our behalf.  It is humbling and we are grateful.  We want to express our love for you in our thoughts, words and actions today.

S – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. 

I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Hebrews 8:10 CSB

O – Commentary:

Under the old covenant, the people were commanded to take the words of the law to heart (Deut 32:46), and the kings of Israel and Judah were judged on whether or not they followed the law of God wholeheartedly (2 Kgs 10:31; 2 Chr 31:21). A difference in the new covenant is that God’s laws would be in people’s minds and on their hearts. People would have renewed hearts and minds, with God’s law as an intrinsic, internal motivation. • on that day: Literally after those days.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 8:10.

A – God moved the his words from the outside to the inside a person.  Then, when Christ ascended to heaven, he gave us the Holy Spirit.  We have his word and spirit in us at all times.  This equips us to grow in our relationship with him, be used by him and stand against the attack of the enemy.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the One, true God.  Thank you for your presence in our lives through your word and spirit.  We are ready for today.  Move through us in all areas so we can demonstrate you love to others and fend off the attacks of the enemy.

S – For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever. 

Hebrews 7:28 CSB

O – Commentary

After all, He is the kind of High Priest who meets our need. His character is utterly without blemish and He has been exalted above the heavens. Consequently too, He had no need like the Levitical priests to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people… the new Priest had no need either for sacrifices for Himself or for repeated sacrifices for others. His one act of self-offering was definitive and sufficient…He has been made perfect forever recalls 5:8–10. The sufferings of the Son, here referred to as His sacrificial offering of Himself once for all are what have constituted Him “perfect” for His role in God’s presence where He intercedes for His followers. Thus the Law appointed as high priests those who were weak, but the oath, which came after the Law, appointed this kind of Priest. Accordingly the readers could go to Him at all times, fully confident

 Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 799.

A – No matter how “good” we are in our walk with God, we will not match the perfection of Christ.  Yet, God continues to draw us to him and desires relationship with us even more.  It shifts the mystery of God’s love to the marvel of it.  Grateful that God allowed his perfect son to be the bridge to our imperfect humanity.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the King of all Kings.  Thank you for Jesus being our High Priest.  His unblemished perfection allows our sin and imperfections to be covered by blood.  We move toward your love, will and relationship today.

S – We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

 Hebrews 6:19 CSB

O – Commentary:

The “anchor” was a frequent metaphor in Greco-Roman literature, often for the secure hold on hope which moral qualities produced. “Inside the veil” means that believers have a secure hope in the “holy of holies” (cf. Lev 16:2), which only the high priest could enter once a year. 

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 648.

A – Just as an anchor holds a boat in place in the worst weather, hope in God does the same.  It believes there is more when you cannot see what is next.  Knowing that Christ defeated death, was resurrected and now advocates for us in God’s presence gives us a lot of reasons to have hope.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Alpha and Omega.  Thank you for the faith, hope and love that you give us.  Life will have storms and your presence allows us to face them with confidence and resolve.

S – During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. ⁸ Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

Hebrews 5:7–8 CSB

O – Commentary:

The whole experience just referred to was a form of education for Jesus before He served His suffering people. His unique relation to God notwithstanding (He was a Son), He had to experience the true meaning of obedience in terms of the suffering it entailed. Having done so, He was thereby made perfect for the role He would play as His people’s Captain and High Priest. That there is an element of mystery in all this need not be denied, but it is no greater than that found in Luke’s words: “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). In a real sense not fully comprehensible, the Incarnation gave the already infinitely wise and perfect Son of God the experiential acquisition of knowledge about the human condition. Suffering thus became a reality that He tasted and from it He can sympathize deeply with His followers.

 Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 792.

A – “Experience obedience in the terms of the suffering it entailed.”  Wow! God allowed Jesus to go through all human suffering to test his obedience in the journey of the cross.  That is the ultimate test.  God is growing us in our test and trials.  It is not easy at all. Yet, Jesus is our example to look to in these moments.  He trusted, believed and acted in obedience.  In the end, God and Jesus won.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God.  We submit ourselves to you today.  Your purposes and ways are high above anything we can think or imagine.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us in our thoughts, words and actions.  We surrender our will to your purposes to be accomplished.  We set our faith in your victory today.

S – For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house. ⁴ Now every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God.

Hebrews 3:3–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

Comparison (synkrisis) was central to much ancient argumentation; comparing one favorably with another who was already honorable would increase one’s honor further. In many Jewish traditions Moses was the greatest person in history, and in others he was certainly one of the greatest (i.e., next to Abraham). Jewish and Christian writers used the argument that the builder was greater than what was made (v. 3) to note that the Creator was greater than his creation (as in v. 4). This writer identifies Jesus as the Creator.

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 644.

A – Moses was a tremendous leader but he still was not Jesus, God in the form of a human man.  No matter how great the leader is, they will bow their knee to God.  It is a great reminder that we should honor God anyone else and not put a person on a pedestal above Him.  We can respect and honor someone but not where they replace the one who created all.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Creator of all things.  We honor and reverence you above all people and things.  Thank you for the vastness of your character and love.  Yet, you still know us intimately.

S – For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father

 Hebrews 2:10–11 CSB

 O – On the cross, Jesus was the pioneer to our salvation by actually going through the suffering one would experience due to sin.  It also demonstrates that humans have God as our Heavenly Father.

A – This is a humbling thing to read.  God deemed it appropriate that he would allow his own son and persona be crucified for the sins of others.  He choose himself to be the sacrifice even though he had no sin.  Why?  Relationship – all humans, including Jesus, would have a recognize God as their Father and there would be relationship.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one Father of all.  Thank you for the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross so we could know you.  It was a great price paid for our sins.  We love you and desire to know you more today.

S – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

Hebrews 1:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

The word translated radiates, found only here in the NT, includes an idea of intense brightness. God’s own glory is the glorious manifestation of his presence (Exod 16:7; 33:18; Isa 40:5). The Son’s glory is an expression of God’s glory—the Son of God manifests the person and presence of God (Luke 9:32; John 1:14; 2:11; 17:5; Rom 8:17).

• The term translated expresses, used only here in the NT, was used of a distinguishing mark imprinted on an object such as a coin. The Son gives a clear picture of the very character of God (John 1:18; Phil 2:6; Col 1:15).

• the mighty power of his command (literally his powerful word): God’s word is the powerful, dynamic force that created and governs the world (11:3; Ps 33:6–11). Elsewhere the Son is called “the Word of God” (Rev 19:13; see also John 1:1–18).

• cleansed us from our sins: See 9:11–10:18.

• he sat down: This clause is an allusion to Ps 110:1 (see also 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2), which foretold the exaltation of Christ after his suffering (see Matt 22:44; Acts 2:33; 1 Cor 15:25).

The right hand of God indicates high honor, rank, and position (see Ps 16:11; 45:4, 9; 80:17; 1 Kgs 2:19).

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Heb 1:3.

A – Hebrews gives the unity and distinction of God the Father and God the Son.  Both roles are central to our faith.  God is the one true God and Jesus is God in the form of a man and our savior.  When you add the Holy Spirit, the expression of who God is in the trinity is complete.  We as believes have access to all three versions of God’s character.

R- Heavenly Father, you are Three in One.  Thank you for the diverse expressions of your character and love.  We surrender our will to our Heavenly Father.  We are grateful for the sacrifice that the Son of God made in payment for our sins.  And, we invite your Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us today.