College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 13:8-16
B.
Doctrine and worship. Hebrews 13:8-16.
Text
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yea and forever. Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited. Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle. Hebrews 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp. Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate. Hebrews 13:13 Let us therefore go forth unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Hebrews 13:14 For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come. Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His name. Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ, yesterday and today, is the same powerful, gracious, and faithful Saviour, and will continue to be so forever.
Hebrews 13:9 Be not tossed about with discordant and foreign doctrines, taught by unauthorized teachers, concerning the efficacy of the Levitical sacrifices: For it is good that your courage in suffering and death be established on God's free pardon of sin through the sacrifice of Christ, and not on the Levitical sacrifices made of animals designed for meats, by which they have not been profited in respect of pardon who continually offer them.
Hebrews 13:10 That ye must not seek the pardon of sin through the sacrifices of animals appointed for meat, ye may know by this, that we have a sacrifice for sin of which they have no right to eat, who, to obtain pardon, worship in the tabernacle with the sacrifices of eatable animals appointed for sin-offerings.
Hebrews 13:11 This was showed figuratively in the law: For of those animals whose blood is brought as a sin-offering into the holy places by the high-priest, the bodies are burnt without the camp as things unclean, of which neither the priests nor the people were allowed to eat.
Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, who was typified by these sin-offerings, that He might be known to sanctify the people of God with His own blood presented before the throne of God in heaven as a sin-offering, suffered without the gate of Jerusalem, as the bodies of the sin-offerings were burnt without the camp.
Hebrews 13:13 Well then, let us go forth, after His example, from the city of our habitation to the place of our punishment, bearing the reproach laid on Him; the reproach of being malefactors.
Hebrews 13:14 The leaving our habitation, kindred, and friends, need not distress us; for we have not here an abiding city, but we earnestly seek one to come; namely, the city of the living God, of which I spake to you, Chap. Hebrews 12:22.
Hebrews 13:15 And though persecuted by our unbelieving brethren, through Him, as our High-priest, let us offer up the sacrifice of praise continually to God for His goodness in our redemption, namely the fruit of our lips, by confessing openly our hope of pardon through Christ, to the glory of God's perfections.
Hebrews 13:16 But, at the same time, to do good works, and to communicate of your substance to the poor, do not forget; for with such sacrifices God is especially delighted. See Philippians 4:18.
Comment
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yea and forever
Jesus Christ is the same, for there is no need for him to change.
a.
He is the same in His love and His saving power.
b.
The Christ that sits at God's right hand is as immutable as the Father Who promised Abraham.
Yesterday He came from the Father to do the will of God and finished it, Today He serves as Priest before God on man's behalf.
a.
He has not changed in His attitude toward sin.
b.
He hates evil and loves man as always.
c.
Some try to define the time element, when today began, but this is beside the point. Yea and forever refers to the ages.
a.
This is for the eternity to come.
b.
Change with us is constant, but our Lord is wonderfully perfect.
c.
Perfection cannot change for the better.
Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings
The Christian has Christ Who is unchanging truth; therefore, He should avoid all other teachings.
a.
Those who have latter day revelations always conflict with other latter day teachers as well as with the scripture.
b.
God's revealed Word is able to furnish us completely, so what more can a strange teaching do? See 2 Timothy 3:15-17. If we are anchored in Christ we will not be carried like a ship into a sea of false doctrine, with waves of error. Paul warns about winds of doctrines. Ephesians 4:14.
for it is good that the heart be established by grace
The heart of man by the grace of God may be established.
a.
This is in contrast to the worldly ones who are drifting, shifting, to one pleasure, doctrine, etc.
b.
Strange doctrines, foreign to the truth, will never establish one.
This verse suggests the anchoring of the soul, as seen in Chapter Six.
not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.
This refers to the meats used in sacrifices, which no longer
is a method for atonement.
a.
Christ was the perfect Sacrifice, made once and for all, so no other sacrifice is needed.
b.
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, says Paul in Romans 14:17. Only one sacrifice profits the sinner, and that is Christ'S.
We have an altar
What is our altar? Several opinions are listed here.
a.
Some say that this is a general statement, and no particular thing is meant. It is only imagery.
b.
Christ is the altar, some say.
c.
Others suggest the Lord's table.
d.
Some say the heavenly place where Christ offers the virtue of His own blood.
e.
The cross on which Christ was crucified is suggested.
f.
It signifies the divine nature of Christ on which the human nature is supposed to have been offered.
g.
One suggests it refers to the one in the old tabernacle. Christ is in no place called an altar, neither is the cross.
a.
The altar was the place where the victim was placed, so what could be referred to but the cross?
b.
It is the cross where blood was shed for the remission of our sins.
c.
Very likely he does not refer to the Christian at all.
The author is referring to an Old Testament altar, for the next expression has no meaning otherwise.
whereof they have no right to eat that which serve the tabernacle.
If the altar was the Lord's table, this would be a good proof for closed communion. This is an allusion to the Old Testament custom.
a.
Those who served the tabernacle could eat of the sacrifices.
b.
The exception was on the Day of Atonement. The bodies which gave the blood carried into the Holy of holies were burned without the camp. See Leviticus 6:26; Leviticus 6:30; Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 4:18; Leviticus 4:21; Leviticus 16:15; Leviticus 16:27-28.
These animals were not eaten for meat as were others.
For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned without the camp.
Other animals were consumed for food. See 1 Corinthians 9:13; 1 Corinthians 10:18. The great sacrifice on the Day of Atonement was burned outside the camp. Leviticus 16:27.
Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered without the gate
Jesus was not offered in the temple at Jerusalem, but outside the city wall.
a.
His blood was taken into the heavenly sanctuary, so He fits the type completely except for the burning.
b.
The burning had nothing to do with the atonement, for it is the blood that atones.
Those who retain the old sacrifice in preference to this of Christ lose the sanctification in Christ's blood.
Let us therefore go forth unto Him
Going is our responsibility; the sacrifice awaits. We must leave the tabernacle to follow Jesus Christ.
a.
If no atonement is in the blood of bulls and goats, why stay in the shadow of the tabernacle?
b.
Out on the hill of Calvary is the place for the sinner to go.
without the camp.
The types of Hebrews are those of the tabernacle, and this alludes to the sacrifice without the camp.
Newell says it refers to all those religious developments by whatever name called. It reveals where Christ is and His followers are, as to this world and its religions.
Christ went out of the city of Jerusalem to be sacrificed. This is nearer the truth than Newell's idea.
bearing His reproach
The Christian is not promised an easy time, but reproach should be expected.
a.
It is prophesied, 2 Timothy 3:12, by Paul.
b.
Jesus said it would come to His disciples. John 16:2.
The first Christian martyr suffered for the reproach of Christ outside the city.
for we have not here an abiding city
If we stay in Jerusalem, it will be dissolved like all the world. 2 Peter 3:8-13; Matthew 24, We must turn our eyes from our cities, for they are only temporary.
Something Paul had in mind, the destruction of Jerusalem, which came about nine years afterward.
but we seek after the city which is to come
Revelation speaks of that city. Revelation 21.
Peter speaks of it in 2 Peter 3:8-13.
The author has previously spoken of it in Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 11:16.
Through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually
Instead of frequent sacrifices like the Jew, let us offer our sacrifice through Jesus Christ.
a.
We need no order of priests who blasphemously undertake to do that work for men which Christ has done.
b.
This sacrifice is praise to God, not a begging for a forgiveness. Peter comments on the Christian's sacrifice, 1 Peter 2:5. Continually is a good word. The kingdom of Christ has no sacred days or season, no special sanctuaries, for God is approached always through Christ.
Sacrifice of praise most men feel alludes to the Levitical term for thank-offering. See Leviticus 7:12; Leviticus 7:15.
that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His name Whose name?
a.
We praise God continually, so a confession is surely in order.
b.
Many verses suggest confessing Christ, so likely His name is meant here. Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10.
In a world pressing on to judgment, glorying in men, let us rejoice, praise God, for who would want to neglect so great a salvation?
But to do good and to communicate forget not
Doing good, helping others, will come naturally with a life of continual praise. See Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; Hebrews 6:10; Psalms 50:23. Jesus set the proper example before us, for he went about doing good. Acts 10:38. This is an essential factor in salvation. Matthew 25:34-46.
for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
There are three reasons why it is pleasing:
a.
God works in harmony with God's nature.
b.
It indicates a good state of mind.
c.
It is beneficial to others.
If we wish to sacrifice to God, we must pray to God and serve our fellow man.
Study Questions
2829.
How can Jesus be considered the same always?
2830.
Has He changed in character?
2831.
Has His work changed?
2832.
What are the three time elements named?
2833.
Why is the author declaring this great truth?
2834.
Were the changing Hebrews being challenged to follow the unchanging Christ?
2835.
If perfection were changed, what would be its condition?
2836.
If Christ is Truth, what results when people follow other teachers?
2837.
What is meant by carried away?
2838.
What is meant by divers?
2839.
Why do people go to strange doctrines?
2840.
Are such warnings few in the Word of God?
2841.
What will keep a person from drifting into strange doctrines?
2842.
What is meant by established?
2843.
In what should we be established?
2844.
How can grace do it?
2845.
What is it that is to be established?
2846.
Could the establishing idea be similar to the anchoring referred to in Chapter Six?
2847.
What does the author say that cannot establish us?
2848.
What is meant by meats?
2849.
If Christ's sacrifice is sufficient, is there further need for sacrifices?
2850.
What is meant by occupied themselves?
2851.
Who may be referred to by the expression, occupied themselves?
2852.
State some explanations for the expression, we have an altar.
2853.
What is our altar? Who is meant by our?
2854.
Could he be pointing out the weakness of the Jewish altar - rather than suggesting a Christian altar?
2855.
Give weaknesses of each.
2856.
Who could eat what?
2857.
What tabernacle is referred to?
2858.
Could the priests eat the sacrifices?
2859.
When could they not eat?
2860.
Could he be saying, They who serve earthly tabernacles have no right to the Christian's altar?
2861.
What was done with animals sacrificed on the Day of Atonement that differed from sacrifices on other days?
2862.
What is meant by, without the camp?
2863.
Do we have any clue for this request?
2864.
Is our sacrifice eaten?
2865.
Show the similarities between the Old Testament sin offering and our sin offering.
2866.
What is meant by, suffered without the gate?
2867.
Where was Jesus offered?
2868.
Where was His blood taken?
2869.
Give scriptures that teach that His blood was considered to be taken into heaven.
2870.
Does the burning of the Old Testament type serve as a type of Christ?
2871.
Did the burning have anything to do with the sacrifice?
2872.
Where does he exhort the Christians to go?
2873.
Can we have the merit if we do not go?
2874.
Do we go to the tabernacle or to the hill of Calvary?
2875.
What camp is referred to?
2876.
Explain bearing His reproach.
2877.
Can we ever bear reproaches?
2878.
Did Jesus prophesy reproaches for His followers?
2879.
What city is referred to?
2880.
Do you think he refers specifically to the city of Jerusalem?
2881.
Was he prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem?
2882.
Is he speaking of Jews here as in Hebrews 13:7 when he says we have an altar?
2883.
What will happen to any city of the world according to II Peter?
2884.
How soon was Jerusalem destroyed after this text?
2885.
Identify the city to come. What do we know about it?
2886.
Who is meant by the expression by Him?
2887.
How can we offer up sacrifices?
2888.
Do we need an earthly priest?
2889.
What kind of a sacrifice are we to offer?
2890.
Is this to be periodic?
2891.
Is this room for complaint in this sacrifice?
2892.
For what should we praise God?
2893.
Could it allude to the Levitical thank offering? Leviticus 7:12; Leviticus 7:15
2894.
What is to be the fruit of our lives?
2895.
Whose Name is to be confessed?
2896.
What part does confession have in the praise?
2897.
Should we consider confession of faith as a step of salvation never to be taken again?
2898.
Will we have time to glory in men if we are praising God as we should?
2899.
Who is our great example in doing good?
2900.
Will this be natural for us if we are Christ-like?
2901.
Compare other verses, such as Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; Hebrews 6:10.
2902.
Is it essential to salvation? See Matthew 25:34-46.
2903.
What do you understand by communicate?
2904.
What does he conclude about this kind of service?
2905.
Has he stated that service is twofoldone to God and one to others?