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. 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. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Before I suggest a few comments, read the passage - which phrase do you connect with most and why?
3/23/2011 Update
OK. The two unchangeable things in v. 18 must be the promise and the oath that God would keep that promise. A good question has been raised about the tension with Matthew 5:37, but keep in mind these are two different authors writing to two different communities addressing different issues. Matthew was clearly addressing those who were manipulating language for personal use and so includes Jesus' saying that if you say something, you should follow-through on it rather than thinking you have a loophole because you didn't say "I promise."
This passage in Hebrews is part of the author's sustained encouragement to the readers that they can trust God. God has given them every reason to. So, they must hang on. God made a promises to them, swore on His own name, and will follow-through just has he did with Abraham. This assurance or hope becomes like an anchor for our faith. Not least because Jesus has somehow taken this promise or hope into the inner sanctuary where He ministers on our behalf.
I did not get past the first paragraph yet. Two things struck me there: first, v15, Abraham waited patiently, and then received what was promised. Next, before that in v14 where God actually tells Abraham His plan for him. I have often felt that the OT prophets and others had a distinct advantage over us in that God was around in a more physical, tangible, and obvious way. They talked to God. God talked to them. Out loud. In person. Wow.
ReplyDeleteThe result was that Abraham knew what God's plan was, even if it did not come to fruition on the schedule he might have preferred. Still, waiting is very different when you at least know what you are waiting for.
Not sure yet what to think of v16-20. Oaths and swearing. What about Matt 5:37 "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." ??
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul" - great phrase!
ReplyDeleteDave, I completely understand what you're saying about the God speaking thing...I think most have felt that way. So, this is one of the things the author is writing about. Read 1:1-3 again. The readers were probably wishing they could go back to the OT kind of faith (6:1-3) and how God used to speak, but the author is saying we live as those who have had God speak through Jesus...Jesus is how God has spoken to us (John 1:1-18) and still speaks to us (Heb 4:12-13).
ReplyDelete19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
ReplyDeleteI feel a new song coming on :-)
Is that the best line in scripture , or what ?
At least one of em .
Good idea for a song, Doc! Would love to hear it if/when God shapes it in you.
ReplyDelete