So, why does it matter so much that Jesus is much better than the Old Testament priests? Well, think about what those priests were supposed to do. The Temple where they served symbolized the presence of God among us, but because of the sin in all of our lives, they…

So, who is Melchizedek, and why does our author spend so much time comparing Jesus to him? After all, at first glance, he seems like a very minor character in the grand story of God’s redemption, only being mentioned in three verses of Genesis chapter 14. But it’s also true…

“Gentlemen, this is a football.” That’s what Vince Lombardi told the Green Bay Packers in 1961, reminding them of the importance of the fundamentals of the game. And that’s what the author of this letter was telling the “Hebrews,” the first-century Christians of Jewish descent, who were being tempted to…

Why is it so important that Jesus is our Great High Priest? Most of us would probably point to 5:1, which emphasizes the sacrifice He offered up on our behalf, a sacrifice which, as 5:9 says, makes Him the source of eternal salvation for all who trust in Him. But…

Entering God’s rest – sounds good, doesn’t it? But what is that rest, and how can we gain access to it? Well, the author of this letter explains largely by giving us a negative example. He points once again to Psalm 95, is a meditation on the rebellion of God’s…

Why is it so hard for us to trust God when things aren’t going well? Verses 7-11 are a quote from Psalm 95, which is in turn a meditation on the way the people of Israel rebelled against God in Exodus 17, not long after they had been released from…

What’s unique about the Christian faith? Well, Jesus Christ, of course. But what makes Him so different from other religious leaders throughout history – people like Buddha or Mohammed or Brigham Young? Well, yesterday we learned that Jesus is the Son of God, the One through Whom everything has been…

Bible Reading for September 9 – Hebrews 1:1-14 Let’s say you are a widow living in a French town that the Allies have just liberated from the Nazis. You are in desperate need of, well, everything. And you hear that you have been given the opportunity to speak directly with…

How should a Christian deal with serious moral problems in society? In our increasingly polarized and strident world, lashing out at those who disagree with us is becoming more and more common, and we all too often combine our attacks on ideas with those who hold them, accusing our opponents…

So, how can anyone truly live the way Paul describes in verse 1? How can any of us be so submissive and obedient, always pure in speech, unfailingly gentle and courteous? Well, it’s not possible – at least not for anyone in our own strength. Instead, Paul insists that it…