“…there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:18-31
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Change of Tone

The writer abruptly changes from inspiring words (“stimulate” and “encourage” one another) to an ominous “terrifying expectation of judgment.”  Why does his tone change?  Who does he have in mind? What does he mean by “sinning willfully?”  A challenging passage provoked significant discussion. Continue reading →

“Meeting was unhealthy for your life, not meeting was unhealthy for your soul.”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:14-25
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Way Through the Veil

Our discussion started with questions about the veil in verse 20, and, more particularly, the connection between the veil and the flesh of Jesus.  The writer to the Hebrews had mentioned the veil before, introducing the idea that Jesus had entered as our forerunner (6:19-20), and later to clarify that the veil separated the holiest area of the tabernacle from all else (9:3).  How was Jesus’ flesh a veil? Continue reading →

“the priest never sat down”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:3-18
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

A Curious Quotation

Early in our discussion one person raised an awkward question.  Comparing Hebrews 10:5b with the Old Testament passage being quoted (Psalm 40:6) is a bit puzzling at best.

Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened
(Psalm 40:6a)
Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, but a body You have prepared for Me (Hebrews 10:5b)

What are we to make of that difference?  The quotation in Hebrews is quite different from the text in Psalms.  Does this shake our confidence in the inspiration of Scripture?  Should it?  Is it better just to ignore the problem and move on? Continue reading →

“my approach to my flesh was fleshly”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 10:3-18
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

This opening paragraph usually encourages you to “look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.”  That is always good advice, but this entry is a bit different.  Our group never actually discussed the Hebrews passage in our usual excruciating detail.  But our dialog was particularly relevant to the study of Hebrews and especially as we approach the remainder of chapter 10.

Conversations that Matter

We usually begin our group with a short time of worship, then we may have some (or much) general conversation about how we are doing.  Then we move to a discussion of the biblical passage.  One member commented on the reality of a lack of progress in the Christian life. Continue reading →

“Sin as defilement is infectious”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 9:18-10:4
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

One way to form a preliminary idea of the writer’s intention in a passage of Scripture is to look for repeated words (the Observation that should begin every study).  What was on the author’s mind?  What words or ideas keep coming up as he wrote?

Our group found several words that seemed to form the core of the writer’s thinking.

• • Blood – 9:18, 19, 20, 21, 22 (twice), 25; 10:4
  • Sin – 9:26, 28 (twice); 10:1, 2, 3, 4
  • Law – 9:19, 22; 10:1
  • Cleansed – 9:22, 23; 10:2

Those four words would seem to be a good starting point for understanding this section. Continue reading →

“steps toward God keep us turned away from sin”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 9:11-22
Jump to beginning of Hebrews Discussion Group Blog

[I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.]

Our discussion of this passage was more spontaneous (and a bit shorter) than some of our other conversations.  We met for dinner and the conversation led to taking a look at the text in Hebrews.

Cleansing The Conscience

Our focus was almost entirely on the idea of a cleansed conscience in verse 14.  What does it mean to have a “cleansed” conscience? Continue reading →

“relating to God on the basis of His grace alone”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 8:13-9:12

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

In our normal routine, our group spent ten to fifteen minutes looking at the passage individually before we began our discussion.  The silence was marked by an unusual number of non-verbal “Huh!” noises from various members. Continue reading →

“the head rules the belly through the chest”

Download discussion questions:  Hebrews 8:6-13

I encourage you to look at the passage in Hebrews before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

[NOTE:  Although this group has been together for some time, our study of Hebrews was interrupted for several months.  When we recently resumed, I was able to begin the blog here at a key point in the sermon to the Hebrew Christians.  Be sure to read the first seven chapters to better understand the flow of the writer’s argument. – mw]

Does God Care?

One simple way to begin a discussion of a Bible passage (after the group has had time to read through the text a few times) is to ask the question, “What confuses you about this passage?” Continue reading →

 “None of this strikes us as having genuine relevance to our situation.”

Given the potential (or at least perceived) obstacles to studying the book of Hebrews (mentioned in the previous blog post), why bother?  Aren’t the other, more comprehensible books of the New Testament likely to be more profitable, both theologically and practically?  One of the most enthusiastic commentators (quoted in that previous post) acknowledges:

“It draws much from Leviticus….  It appeals to the experience of Israel in the wilderness…. It makes reference to the mysterious person of Melchizedek….
None of this strikes us as having genuine relevance to our situation.”^[1] Continue reading →

“Hebrews is a delight for the person who enjoys puzzles.”

A Neglected Book?

In your experience (as a Christian, or as one inquiring into the Faith), which parts of the New Testament have been most explored?  In sermons, reading, or your own study, which are most familiar?  Conversely, which parts of the New Testament canon seem like uncharted territory?  If all of Scripture is inspired by God[1] why such a disparity?  For most of us the four gospels (or at least one of them), some of Paul’s letters, maybe Acts, and bits and pieces from the Revelation fill the first list.  Sermons and Bible study groups repeatedly return to familiar territory.  But some parts seem to receive much less attention.  Hebrews would top that list for many. Continue reading →