Hebrews chapters 12 and 13

The entire chapter of Hebrews 11:1-40 will be passed over in this study because it adds nothing to the issue concerning into which part of the heavenly sanctuary Jesus ascended. But what it does is it highlights the true underlying message that WoH has been giving throughout this epistle, which is to remain steadfast in the light of grace through faith in Messiah Jesus. Firmly deciding to follow Jesus, even in affliction, instead of enjoying the safety of the great organizations of the world (soon to end though they be), is the only path that would protect them and us from the adversary and bring us all to God. And Hebrews chapter 12 continues that message. Very little of it deals with the sanctuary and ceremonial system.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, There will be more on the subject of patient endurance throughout this chapter.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:3  For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. WoH is tying them to Jesus. Messiah’s suffering will be to them a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. This is from their holy scriptures, which they held in high authority. WoH is bringing everything he can to bear to reclaim them from the snare of Satan.

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. They can identify with WoH in this.

Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Now, shifting from defense to offense and writing under the strong assumption that he is being heard and heeded, WoH moves into faithful church maintenance.

Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, Heb 12:19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: Heb 12:20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: Heb 12:21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Here is another throwback to the Hebrews 7 contrasts between old and new covenants.

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: Again, another warning against departing from Jesus Messiah.

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire. WoH has previously considered Jesus God, whoever not God the Father, the Most High. “But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” (Heb. 1:8,9). Therefore, to leave Jesus is a terrible, eternal mistake.

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue. Heb 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Heb 13:3  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. More on church maintenance.

Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Jesus was the God of the Old Testament.

Heb 13:9  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^G1033, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle^G4633. Strong’s G1033 brōma From the base of G977; food (literally or figuratively), especially (ceremonial) articles allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law. WoH might here have referred to the table of shewbread. It’s unclear to me, by the context, what the strange doctrines were that concerned food. But, making particular foods a ritual requirement binds up the heart and mind, from which the gospel delivered them. The Christian’s table is the word of God and the cross of Christ.

Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary^G39 hagia “holies” by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. A last appeal to leave the Babylonized religion of Jerusalem, “the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” (Rev. 11:8). This use of G39 hagia refers not even to the tent tabernacle, but the court. Here the sanctuary was the whole building complex, not any one compartment, or the MHP.

Heb 13:15  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. Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. The new covenant offers a religion that is free from all earthly encumbrances. Its law is love under the control of God’s Spirit through Christ. Control by our Creators is the only liberating, natural, life-giving control. We are under Christ’s wings like chicks under their hen mother’s. We are in His hands, out of which no man can take us. We are touched by God in Christ, held by Their Spirit.

Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Heb 13:18  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. Heb 13:19  But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. WoH is blind and bound in an earthly jail, but he travels about freely by a heavenly gift of eyes that run to and fro throughout the earth.

Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. The treatise-epistle is finished with a last reminder of the better covenant, an “everlasting covenant” (Isa. 24:5) ratified by the blood of the spotless Son who was bloody all over like a red heifer, resisting against sin, and pure as ashes under the superheated immolation from His Father.

Heb 13:22  And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

Heb 13:23  Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

Heb 13:24  Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

Heb 13:25  Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.