The book of Hebrews is commonly quoted off point and out of context to demonstrate that we have no current need of the Levitical Priesthood.  This simply is not true, rather, Hebrews proves that not only does the law of God still exist today, but so should the Levitcal Priesthood.  To get a better understanding of  theTabernacle and the Levitical Priesthood please watch my video "The Sacrificial System. 

          Chapter eleven consists of several examples of faithful men and women of God.  The beginning of which starts at the end of chapter ten.  "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Heb. 10:38).  This is a quote from Habakkuk (Hab. 2:4) which clearly demonstrates that "faith" was part of the Old Covenant.  The myth that faith is the difference between the New and Old Covenants is clearly refuted here.  Remember, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" (Gal. 3:6, Gen. 15:6).  Faith has always been an intrical part of all of God's covenants.  After all, before we can accept the terms of God's covenants, we must first "believe" Him (have faith in Him).  However, our faith must not waver for, "we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Heb. 10:39).  The end result of our faith is to the saving of our soul.

What is Faith?

          We now learn what faith is.  It is the, "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).  This is an important verse of scripture for it clearly defines faith, which is what is necessary for salvation (Rom. 3:28).  The word, "substance" is the Greek word hupostasis which literally means, "confidence, confident, person, substance" (Strong's Concordance - G5287).  The Greek word for, "evidence" is elegchos which means, "proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof" (Strong's Concordance - G1650).  It is interesting to note that within the definitions of these two words are the concepts of "confidence" and "proof."  A more accurate rendering of Heb. 11:1 might be, "faith is the confidence of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen."  One might conclude that based on their "confidence" in the gospel (Messiah's death, burial, resurrection - 1 Cor. 15:1-4) their lives are changed, which is the proof of their faith (James 2:17, 22).  The question is, what is "not seen?"  The answer is in the following verses.  Those who, "died in faith" did so without receiving the "promises", but they saw "them afar off" (Heb. 11:13).  Those of faith in the past embraced God's promises by practicing what God said (His Law).  This is what James meant when he said, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17).  If we have faith, but do not the works of the Law, our faith is dead because the works of the Law is the evidence/proof of our faith.  We can be so confident in the Messiah's sacrifice that it will change how we act.  We can now learn God's law and practice it.  This helps clarify the next verse which says, "For by it the elders obtained a good report" (Heb. 11:2).  Those in the past obtained a, "good report" because they "believed God" and started to do what He said (practiced His Law).

Examples of faith:

          The rest of the chapter contains a list of various examples of faith found in the scripture.  Through faith we understand God's creation, though we did not see the act in person (Heb. 11:3).  By faith, Abel's offering was accepted by God (Heb. 11:4).  By faith, Enoch did not see death (Heb. 11:5-6).  By faith, Noah built an Ark (Heb. 11:7).  By faith, Abraham obeyed God and went to a foreign nation (Heb. 11:8-10).  By faith, Sarah conceived a child (Heb. 11:11-12).  By faith, Abraham offered up his son in sacrifice (Heb. 11:17-19).  By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau (Heb. 11:20).  By faith, Jacob blessed his sons (Heb. 11:21).  By faith, Joseph mentioned his children at his death (Heb. 11:22).  By faith, Moses rose to lead Israel and obeyed God by keeping the Passover (Heb. 11:23-29).  By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down (Heb. 11:30).  By faith, Rahab did not perish (Heb. 11:31).  The list is too many to mention for the scripture declares so many acts of faith (Heb. 11:32-38).  All of these acts of faith have something in common.  Each "believed" (had faith in) God, which caused them to act in obedience.  The same is true today.  We should, "believe" God to receive our justification (forgiveness of sins).  The end result is that we "walk in the spirit" and "not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16).  By the promised Holy Spirit we will, "walk in [God's] statutes, and ... keep [God's] judgments, and do them" (Eze. 36:27).

          All those in the past who practiced faith, "obtained a good report" but "received not the promise" (Heb. 11:39).  They all, "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Heb. 11:13).  They saw them "afar off" because they were not going to be perfected "without us" (Heb. 11:40).  They were, "persuaded of them" and had a strong conviction of their belief.  This strong conviction brought a change in their actions from breaking God's law to following it.  This change producing faith gave them a "good report."  Throughout history salvation has always been the same.  Abraham "believed (had faith) in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen. 15:6).  This belief caused Abraham to, "obey [God's] voice, and [keep God's] charge, [God's] commandments, [God's] statutes, and [God's] laws" (Gen. 26:5).  When we "believe" the Gospel we are justified.  This belief should cause us to, "keep God's commandments, statutes, and laws."

          Since we 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" (Heb. 12:1).  We have so many examples in the scripture to follow, we should "study to show ourselves approved unto God" and learn God's law so we can, "lay aside ... the sin (breaking of God's law - 1 John 3:4) ... which easily besets us."  In so doing we should look unto the Messiah, who is our perfect example, and the "author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2).  The Messiah "author[ed]" our faith by justifying us before God with His death, burial, and resurrection (the gospel).  This is the start, but He finishes our faith through the promised Holy Spirit to help us, "walk in [God's] statutes, and ... keep [God's] judgments, and do them" (Eze. 36:27, Gal. 5:16).  The proof is that the Messiah endured unto death, yet we have not (Heb. 12:3-4).  We are to learn from the scriptures so we might practice the scriptures.  Here are the two parts of salvation.  We are justified by our faith in the Messiah (Justification), but we are changed by the Holy Spirit who helps us to practice God's law (Sanctification).  Justification is entirely the act of God, but Sanctification is us working together with God to learn and practice God's law (Phil. 2:12-13, Eph. 2:10).  Maybe this is what James meant when he said, "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22).  It is not enough to simply be justified by faith.  Our faith needs to produce good works (Sanctification - doers of the word).  After all, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17).

Chastisement - the evidence of our faith:

          The evidence of our faith is the discipline of the LORD.  "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Heb. 12:6).  Our faith has given us a greater standing with God, we are his sons.  However, as any good father would do, we will be disciplined to bring us to act according to our Father's commands (Heb. 12:9).  We are not to, "despise ... the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when [we are] rebuked of him" (Heb. 12:5).  This is proof of our sonship and new relationship with the Father (Heb. 12:7-8).  God "chastens" us, "for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness" (Heb. 12:10).  This is Godly discipline.  I am a father and I have a law of my household.  I reward and discipline my children according to that law.  God, our Father, does the same.  His Law, the ten commandments and supporting statutes and judgments, has blessings and curses.  These are designed to discipline us to follow God's Law.  When we break God's Law we receive the curses of His Law.  When we practice God's law we receive the blessings of His Law.  These blessings and curses are found in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 and confirmed in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Galatians.  The end result is "holiness."  God's goal for disciplining us is holiness, to be set apart for him.  For more on this please read my article on Galatians here.

          Discipline is never pleasant when we receive it (Heb. 12:11).  We should not "hang down" and have "feeble knees" because of God's discipline (Heb. 12:12).  We are to, "make straight paths for [our] feet" (Heb. 12:13).  This is an allusion to Proverbs 4:26-27.  According to this Proverb we are to establish our ways to God's ways.  We do this by making the Word of God, "a lamp unto [our] feet, and a light unto [our] path" (Psalm 119:105).  This Psalm is written regarding the Law of God (Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:106).  God's law is a, "lamp unto [our] feet, and a light unto [our] path."  God's Law defines who we are to be.  We are to do this so we are not, "turned out of the way; but rather [to] be healed" (Heb. 12:13).  We are to follow God's law to be "healed."  We are to, "follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).  We should "look diligently" (pay close attention) so we don't "fail of the grace of God" (Heb. 12:15) "lest there be any fornicator, or profane person" among us (Heb. 12:16).  There is no question that fornication is against God's law (Deut. 22:20-21); however, some clarity on "profane person" will benefit for good understanding.  The Greek word for "profane person" is bebēlos which means "heathenish, wicked: - profane (person)" - Strong's Concordance - G952).  A profane person is one who has no respect for God's law, a heathen or wicked person.  We are to "look diligently" (pay close attention) so we don't "fail of the grace of God", an example of which is someone who ignores God's Law (profane person), like a fornicator.  The point here is that we should pay close attention to following God's law so we don't have a profane person among us, like a fornicator, or anyone who wilfully breaks God's law.  Esau is an example.  He lost his blessing and was rejected because he could not repent (Heb. 12:17).

          We have not come to a physical mountain like those in Moses day who heard the voice of God as a trumpet, but could not continue in God's law (Heb. 12:18-21).  We have come to "mount Sion" of the "living God" (Heb. 12:22).  This is a heavenly mountain of the "general assembly and church of the firstborn" (Heb. 12:23).  We have come to the "new covenant" through the Messiah and His "blood of sprinkling" (Heb. 12:24).  We should not "refuse" the Messiah who speaks of the new covenant, for just as those who refused the old covenant did not escape, so shall we not escape (Heb. 12:25).  Though God's voice shook the mountain of the old covenant, His voice now shakes the heavens (Heb. 12:26).  This symbolizes the removing of the Old Covenant for the New Covenant, of which we will receive a heavenly kingdom which cannot be moved.  Though this New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant, God's law still remains for God's Law is contained in the New Covenant.  The Old Covenant is based on earthly blessings and curses while the New Covenant is based on Heavenly promises, yet still containing these same earthly blessings and cursings.  Therefore, "let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Heb. 12:28).  Why, because "our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29).

Chapter 13:

          The remainder of the epistle (chapter 13) is a salutation with a few words of encouragement to continue in the faith.  They are encouraged to "entertain strangers"  who might be angels (Heb. 13:2), to remember those in prison (Heb. 13:3), to honor marriage (Heb. 13:4), to avoid covetousness (Heb. 13:5), and to remember their leaders (Heb. 13:7).  The writer then moves onto one last piece of evidence supporting the Law of God.  The Messiah is, "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Heb. 13:8).  He has not changed and His plan of salvation has not changed.  We can be confident that Abraham and Moses received their salvation just as we have.  As a result, we are not to be, "carried about with divers and strange doctrines" (Heb. 13:9).  Since the Messiah is the same as always, we can use the scriptures to identify what is right and wrong, for it has not changed as well.  Here is an example. We now, "have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle" (Heb. 13:10).  This refers to the tabernacle in heaven whom the Messiah is the High Priest.  It is a different tabernacle of which human priests cannot eat.  It was foreshadowed in the Old Covenant by the sin offering on the Day of Atonement.  We know this because the animals sacrificed for sin against God were burned outside the camp and not eaten (Lev. 16:11, Lev. 6:2, 30), just as the Messiah was crucified outside the gate (Heb. 13:11-12).  All other sacrifices were within the camp and able to be eaten by the priests for they bore their sins as an example of the Messiah (Lev. 6:26).  This is a clear reference to the Day of Atonement and it's sacrifice and provides one last piece of evidence that it was this law for the High Priest in the Holy of Holies that has been changed, or transferred to the heavenly tabernacle.  The other sacrifices for sins that were against our brethren were eaten by the priesthood and were burned within the gate.  This law of sacrifices have not be transferred to heaven and is still in force today.

          The book of Hebrews is a difficult book to study because it contains the "meat" of the word and not the "milk" of the word (Heb. 5:12-6:1).  It takes an understanding of the Mosaic law, of which most of the epistle refers, to properly understand what is written.  When properly understood, one can only conclude that the Law of God is for us today, yesterday, and for ever. Since the law has been made "more manifest" (Heb.9:8), we should continue to "look diligently" into that Law to see where we fall short, then correct ourselves lest we, "fail of the Grace of God" (Heb. 12:15).

By Steve Siefken
 

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Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth

not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV