Christopher L. Scott

Articles from Hebrews

4. God’s Word Always Knows (Heb 4:12–13)

by

There was a saying in our house when I was growing up that my dad, sister, and I often quoted to each other: “Momma always knows.”

            Moms have unparalleled intuition. Whether lying about grades we receive on a test, coming home after curfew, not being honest about who we are spending our time with, pretending to do homework when we are actually playing video games, or finding shortcuts to do our chores, moms always know.

            Like my mom, God’s Word always knows what is going on in our hearts, intentions, and feelings.

            The author of Hebrews tells us, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13, NASB).[1]

            How does God’s Word know this? As Christians we believe God superintended authors to compose and record without error the words in the Bible. That inspiration of Scripture has its source in God who is everywhere and knows everything.

            We call this his omniscience. God is all knowing. He knows all actual and possible things, and God is everywhere. We call this God’s omnipresence. He is everywhere and his word extends that omnipresence.

            There are several things we should notice about God’s inspired Word in verse twelve. It is “living and active.” This means it seeks out, is energetic, and it is powerful. It doesn’t wait for us to go to it, instead it seeks us out. God’s Word is also “sharper than any two-edge sword.” You can’t fool God’s Word or lie to it. In that way it is “piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God’s Word goes deep through us and it is quick to discern what is going on in our lives.

            The Greek scholar, AT Robertson, says the picture painted here is of a surgeon who observes what’s going on and instantly knows what to do. The surgeon, like God’s Word, carries a bright and powerful light he uses to illuminate every dark crevice that might need work. And the surgeon carries a sharp knife for the removal of what he sees needs attention.

            In verse thirteen the author says “there is no creature hidden from his sight.” We cannot hide from God’s Word. He concludes saying, “all things are open.” Under God’s microscope the smallest sin, doubt, trouble, or insecurity is revealed. When it says all things are “laid bare” it is using the picture of someone bending back the neck as the surgeon does the operating.  

            Like my momma who always knew what was going on, God’s Word always knows what’s going on with us.

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

3. No To-Do List (Heb 4:9–10)

by

I get stressed out when my to-do list reaches double digits. But the to-do list for the Israelites in the Old Testament was 613 items! 

            One of those items was the Sabbath. It started where Genesis 2:2 says that God “rested on the seventh day”(NASB).[1] The word in Hebrew is shabat which means to “repose” or “cessation” from exertion.

            The Sabbath was one of 613 laws instituted as a way to help the Hebrew community trust God, to bind the Israelite people together closely, and to keep them separate from the rest of humankind. But we now live in what’s called the “age of grace.” Paul tells us about the grace we receive writing, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2). We no longer are bound to the “to-do” list of the 613 laws of the Old Testament.

            We enjoy a constant state of Sabbath rest based on grace. Works are not required for this rest we enjoy. Later in Romans Paul writes, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We enjoy the free gift of eternal life because of our faith in Christ, not because of our works. Therefore we have rest from works.

            This rest from works is discussed in Hebrews 4:9, 10, “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.” These two verses don’t tell us we are supposed to take a Sabbath Day rest (but I do believe that is important for us to do). The author of Hebrews uses the Sabbath as an illustration to explain his big idea of the entire book: Christ is better. Throughout the book the author says that Christ is better than the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-4), better than the angels (Hebrews 1:5-2:18), better than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-4:13), better than the Levitical priests (Hebrews 4:14-10:18), and better than the priest Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-8:13).

            Just as God ceased from his creative activity on the seventh day (Hebrews 4:4) now believers cease from working for their salvation. This is because believers enter God’s rest through faith. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).

            We enjoy rest in Christ because our faith in him saves us, not our to-do list.

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

2. Jesus Helps Us (Heb 2:14–18)

by

A best-selling secular book began with three words: “Life is difficult.” Christians have a difficult life too. Among our many struggles we’re always tempted. Yes, always, but Jesus helps us in those temptations.

            Jesus became flesh like us so e could help us in our temptation and “render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil”(Hebrews 2:14b, NASB).[1] 1 John 3:8 affirms this, “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” The author and proclaimer of death, the Devil, was silenced through Christ’s human life and death.

            When Jesus became like us “He Himself was tempted” (Heb 2:18). Jesus became flesh so that he could be a helper for us. Christ is a “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God” (Heb 2:17). Christ does not condemn us for our temptation or our struggles. Remember, he’s been through everything we’ve been through. He knows what it is like to struggle with hunger, temptation, and emotions.

            As our high priest Christ “gives help to the descendants of Abraham” (Heb 2:16). That’s you and me! Through our faith in Christ we have spiritually become descendants of Abraham (Galatians 3:7, 29). When it says that Christ gives “help” to us, the writer used the verb, epilambanomai. The verb means to be concerned about, take an interest in, and to help. We should be comforted knowing God is concerned about us. He takes an interest in us, and he helps us.

            The last part of this passage says that because Jesus was tempted, “He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Heb 2:18). The Greek word used for “come to the aid of” is the verb boetheo. This verb means to render assistance to someone in need or to furnish aid. All of us are in need and we should find comfort knowing that Christ comes to our aid when we need him.

            My dad loves to fish in the ocean. For years he has owned his own boat and would travel miles out into the ocean to find the good fishing spots. But one of his boats had a habit of breaking down often while far away from land. Each time his boat broke down he contacted the Coast Guard asking for help to tow him back to land. Each time the Coast Guard responded, “We receive many calls from broken boats that need a tow. You will need to find a neighboring boat to tow you in. If you become in dire danger and your life is at risk due to extreme weather or if your boat is sinking, we will come get you.” It was discouraging news to hear every time!

            Life is difficult. But unlike the Coast Guard that cannot respond to every request for help, Jesus helps us with every temptation and every struggle.  

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

1. There’s No One Better (Heb 1:1–4)

by

I grew up in a small town and there wasn’t a lot of things for kids to do. One of the activities my dad signed me up for was karate. He had been going for a few months and enjoyed it because of the good exercise, character building, and peace of mind that he could defend himself.

            My Dad taught me an important lesson while I was in karate: there’s always someone better than you. In karate you might work hard to advance up the levels and earn higher “degrees” of belts (green, orange, black, etc.). However, a core teaching of karate is humility and respect because no matter how good you think you are, there is always someone out there better than you. In other words, there’s always someone else that can hurt you and defeat you.

            But when it comes to Christ, he is the best. There is no one better, more perfect, or more amazing. No one can claim to be God like him. There is no one better than Jesus.

            The author of Hebrews tells us that God “spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways” (Hebrews 1:1, NASB).[1] The “fathers” that he’s talking about here are the revered and respected forefathers of the Israelites of the Old Testament. The “prophets” describe the many parts of Israel’s history such as their laws, institutions, ceremonies, kings, judges, and priests. Bible teacher and author J. Vernon McGee comments on Hebrews 1:1-2, “Christ is superior to all the Old Testament writers, because the revelation is filled up in Him. He fulfills all of the Old Testament, and He Himself gives God’s final word to man.”

            The author continues on saying that Christ is the “heir of all things . . . made the world” and is the “radiance” of God’s “glory and the exact representation of His nature” that He “upholds all things by the word of His power” and that Christ “made purification of sins” (Hebrews 1:2-3).

            Just like I was taught in karate, there is always someone better, and he is Christ!

            The author of Hebrews finishes his opening remarks of his letter saying that Jesus is “much better than the angels” (Hebrews 1:4). The author begins this argument that Jesus is “better than” and continues throughout the rest of the thirteen chapters of this magnificent book. Hebrews describes how Jesus is better than the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-4), the angels (Hebrews 1:5-2:18), Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6), Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-3), the priests (Hebrews 9:1-10), and the Old Testament legendary saints (Hebrews 11:3-40).

            Like my dad taught me many years ago, there is always someone better. But when it comes to our Christian faith, no one is better than Jesus.

[1] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.