College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 6:13-20
The example of Abraham. Hebrews 6:13-20.
Text
Hebrews 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, since He could swear by none greater, He sware by Himself, Hebrews 6:14 saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. Hebrews 6:15 And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:16 For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. Hebrews 6:17 Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, interposed with an oath; Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: Hebrews 6:19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; Hebrews 6:20 whither as a Forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 6:13 I say the believing Gentiles, who without doubt are heirs of the promises equally with the Jews: For when God made the promises to Abraham, after he had offered up Isaac, since He could swear by no one greater, He sware by Himself.
Hebrews 6:14 Saying, Surely I will greatly bless thee, by counting thy faith for righteousness; and I will greatly multiply thee, by giving thee a numerous spiritual seed, whose faith I will in like manner count to them for righteousness.
Hebrews 6:15 And so, having for many years, patiently waited, Abraham, in the supernatural birth of Isaac, obtained the beginning of the accomplishment of the promise concerning his numerous seed.
Hebrews 6:16 For men verily swear by greater persons than themselves, whose vengeance they imprecate if they swear falsely: and so an oath for the confirmation of any doubtful matter, is held by them a proper method of ending all contradiction.
Hebrews 6:17 Therefore, in accommodation to the sentiments of men, God willing more fully to show to all, in every age and nation, who are the heirs of promise, the immutability of His purpose to count their faith for righteousness, and to bestow on them the inheritance of the heavenly country, confirmed the declaration of His purpose with an oath:
Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, the promise and the oath of God, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation under the convictions of sin and the terrors of punishment, who have fled away from the curse of the law, like the manslayer from the avenger, to lay hold on the hope of pardon set before us in the promise confirmed by God's oath;
Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor to which our soul is fastened in this stormy sea of life, both strong and stedfast, because fixed into the place within the veil; that is, into heaven, whither we shall be drawn, by this anchor, as ships are drawn to the place where their anchors are fixed;
Hebrews 6:20 Into which place a Forerunner hath entered on our account, to fix our hope of pardon and eternal life as an anchor, even Jesus, Who, being made an High-priest for ever like Melchizedek, can procure pardon for us as a Priest, and save us eternally through His power as a king.
Comment
For when God made promise to Abraham
The occasions of the promise, Genesis 12:1; his call, Genesis 15. Genesis 22:15-18. The content, Hebrews 12:1-3.
He was to be blessed in seven ways:
a.
Abraham would be personally blessed.
b.
He would have numerous descendants.
c.
Through him the Messiah would come.
d.
His spiritual followers would be great. Romans 4:11; Romans 4:16.
e.
His name would be great.
f.
God would curse them that cursed him.
g.
He would be a blessing to the whole world.
Observe that promise is singular, but has several -features, Genesis 12:1-3. Abraham is a good example of faith and perseverance.
since He could swear by none greater He sware by Himself
The occasionGenesis 22:16-17: By myself I have sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only sonThe swearing is to make binding the promise.
saying, surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee
This is a Hebraism (Hebrew idiom) of intensity. This is expressed in Genesis 22:17.
having patiently endured
What trials did we have?
a.
Called to a strange land, living in tents, digging wells.
b.
Lot was a source of worry.
c.
Called to give his son. Genesis 22:15-18.
d.
Sorrow for Sodom and Gomorrah.
It covered about 100 years, from the departure from Haran to being gathered with his people. See Genesis 11:31; Genesis 12:4. Terah was 205, Abraham 75 when he departed out of Haran. We must patiently endure. Hebrews 12:1: Let us run the race with patience. Hebrews 10:36: For ye have need of patience, that having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. Preachers must exercise it. 1 Timothy 6:11: O man of God, flee these things and follow.
he obtained the promise
Milligan: The promise confirmed by the oath. Genesis 22:15-18.
He lived long enough to see most of the promises fulfilled.
a.
The promise had several features, and Abraham saw them fulfilled in Christ.
Milligan, page 258, says that Abraham was received by God into His rest.
For men swear by the greater, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation
In a promise, the assertation of an intention is made. In an oath, the person's character is publicly and solemnly put behind the assertion. In a promise, we look at words; in an oath, we look at who and what the promiser is.
Wherein God being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise.
God desired to show in a greater way his plan for his people.
a.
Since man everywhere acknowledges the value of an oath, God condescended to give an oath.
b.
This was to show to the family of Abraham God's plan to carry out His promise.
Primarily this was assurance intended to console and to encourage.
the immutability of His counsel
Immutable means to be unchangeable, invariable, Both Jew and Gentile are included in God's plan, Acts 2:39, God's good tidings are expressed as counsel.
a.
Men need advice, counsel and guidance, and God is able to give it.
b.
Man's changeable opinions are not to be compared with God's unchanging counsel.
interposed with an oath
Interposed is also translated mediated. This is to make His promise double sure.
God calls attention to His divine being and pledges to fulfill His promises.
that by two immutable things
What are the two things?
a.
Calvin says the two things are, (1) what He says; and (2) what He swears is immutable.
b.
Some suggest the two things are:
1.
The promise.
2.
The oath.
c.
Others say two oaths are referred to.
1.
The promisethe oath made to Abraham respecting a Son, the Messiah.
2.
The second refers to Christ's priesthood, recorded in Psalms 110:4: Jehovah hath sworn and will not repent. Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
d.
It seems the two immutable things appear in Hebrews 6:17 :
1.
The promise.
2.
The oath.
God's words are dependable words. Numbers 23:19; Psalms 12:1-7.
in which it is impossible for God to lie
The character of God would be altered if He lied.
a.
God would cease to be God if He were untruthful.
b.
If He could not carry out His promise, He would not be all-wise.
God is absolute, hence there is the impossibility of Him being anything less than true.
we may have a strong encouragement
This may also be translated, strong consolation. This is the influence of the two immutable things. With so much encouragement, why should we fail to find refuge?
who have fled for refuge
An allusion to the cities of refuge is made here. See Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35; Deuteronomy 19; Joshua 20. Three cities on each side of the Jordan afforded an opportunity of safety, or refuge, to evil men. The Christian has refuge in Jesus Christ.
to lay hold of the hope set before us
This we must do if we expect to attain. 1 Timothy 6:12: Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:19: laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed. This shows man's responsibility.
which we have as an anchor of the soul
An anchor gives stability.
a.
A sea captain said once to young man, Wherever you go, go to church. I find that it costs a little to anchor my ship, but that keeps it from drifting out onto the waves where it will be lost.
b.
Observe that fled is past tense in Hebrews 6:18 b. This is present tense.
Our hope seems to be the anchor.
a.
Hope is an emotion of the heart. It is very important, for men will work, suffer, as long as there is hope.
b.
Without hope, man grasps at straws and flounders in futility.
a hope
What is included?
a.
Resurrection.
b.
Mansions in the sky.
c.
Second coming of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Peter 3:12-18, Our hope rests in the Person of Christ.
both sure and stedfast
Until a soul enters into God, it finds nothing stable.
a.
A ship is worth little if its anchor is not adequate.
b.
Because of the nature of God and the accomplishments of Christ, we may rest in confidence.
As long as the anchor holds, the Christian rides the waves in spite of troubled waters.
and entering into that which is within the veil
Are we to enter? Who is referred to in this verse?
a.
If this is so of us, he is teaching that the Christian by faith now should enter into the spiritual reward hidden behind the veil.
b.
Forgiveness is within the veil, so in a sense the Christians enter within the veil as they enter into forgiveness.
Is he not saying Jesus entered, this verse going with the next?
a.
No one claims inspiration for the insertion of verse numerals.
1.
In 1551 Sir Robert Stephens was the first to divide any part of the Bible into verses.
2.
This was done in a Greek New Testament about 300 years after the division into Chapter s by Cardinal Hugo.
b.
The expression can well go with Hebrews 6:19.
Milligan raises the question, Is it the hope, or is it the anchor that enters within the veil?
a.
Let the expression go with Hebrews 6:19 and his problem is solved.
b.
The author surely is not mixing the figures of anchor and veil.
whither as a forerunner
A forerunner is a common experience of men.
a.
Pioneer travelers had their scouts.
b.
Armies had their forerunners.
c.
Children of Israel had theirs.
d.
Jesus had John the Baptist.
e.
We have Jesus.
The word is also translated precursor.
a.
Precursor means runner, harbinger, omen.
b.
It is used in the Septuagint to designate the first ripe grapes and figs. Numbers 13:20; Isaiah 28:4.
Vincent has the idea that Christ goes nowhere but where his people can go also.
Jesus entered for us
He entered ahead of us and for us.
Murray: There was a veil that separated man from God. Jesus came from within to live without the veil and rend it and open a way for us. We may enter in and dwell therein the power of the Holy Ghost.
having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek
The priesthood of Aaron was temporary, but Christ's priesthood is after an eternal one. A priest of Christ's ability eliminates any need for one on earth.
Who was Melchizedek?
a.
He was a man. Hebrews 7:4
b.
He was a person of whom little is known.
1.
He is named eight times in Hebrews.
2.
He is named twice in the Old Testament. Genesis 14; Psalms 110.
Study Questions
1054.
In Hebrews 6:13-20, what great example has Paul given?
1055.
What seven features appear in the promise in Genesis 12:1-3?
1056.
The word promise is singular, but can you name various times that God promised?
1057.
What clue is given in this verse as to what event in Abraham's life may be involved here?
1058.
What is the swearing? When did God swear to Abraham?
1059.
Does this verse refer to Genesis 12 or Genesis 22:16?
1060.
Why did God swear by Himself?
1061.
What singular act did Abraham do to cause God to swear? Cf. Genesis 22:16-17.
1062.
What is the significance of the double expressions in Hebrews 6:14?
1063.
What did Abraham patiently endure? Name some instances.
1064.
How many years did he endure?
1065.
Compare Paul's exhortation to us in Hebrews 12:1 with Hebrews 10:36.
1066.
What did Abraham obtainall of the seven promises in Genesis 12?
1067.
If not, if Abraham did not see all of them fulfilled, how can it be said that he obtained?
1068.
What is the significance of Hebrews 6:16?
1069.
What is the difference between a promise and an oath?
1070.
For confirmation, which do we consider the most important?
1071.
What is the difference between man's oath and God's oath?
1072.
Define God being minded.
1073.
What was He minded to do?
1074.
Is this what is meant by more abundantly?
1075.
Who was this evidence for, Abraham or his descendants?
1076.
Define the word immutable.
1077.
In what way could the promises and oath be considered counsel?
1078.
Define interposed with an oath.
1079.
Explain what the oath does for a promise.
1080.
What are the two immutable things of Hebrews 6:18?
1081.
Could it refer to two oaths, or to a promise and an oath?
1082.
If God lied, what would it do to His character?
1083.
If God could not carry out a promise, what would it do to His being?
1084.
How can a swearing to Abraham be an encouragement to us of the 20th century?
1085.
Describe the allusion to Old Testament cities of refuge.
1086.
What is our refuge? Where is it stated?
1087.
What are we to do with our hope?
1088.
Whose responsibility is it?
1089.
What figure of speech is referred to in Hebrews 6:19?
1090.
What is the purpose of an anchor?
1091.
What is our anchor?
1092.
How does our anchor serve to link us with the future?
1093.
What happens when men give up hope?
1094.
Can you tell the difference between faith and hope?
1095.
In Whom is our hope?
1096.
What things make up our hope?
1097.
Is our hope a what, or a whom here?
1098.
What words describe our hope?
1099.
Is this a description of Christ?
1100.
Is it our hope that is described as sure and steadfast, or is Christ described as sure and steadfast?
1101.
Who is referred to as entering into the veil?
1102.
If Christ is referred to, why is it not expressed in past tense,as being done at His ascension?
1103.
Now look again at lay holdare we to lay hold on hope, or on Christ?
1104.
Is it hope or anchor that enters the veil?
1105.
If the Christian is entering, what does he enter into?
1106.
Is it the veil that he enters, or is it something contained within?
1107.
Is Hebrews 6:20 an enlargement on Hebrews 6:19, that Christ entered the veil, or that we should be encouraged to enter since Christ entered ahead of us?
1108.
What is the purpose of a forerunner?
1109.
What is meant, He entered for us?
1110.
If He did it for us, do we have to enter?
1111.
What is the purpose of the entering?
1112.
Why did He have to do it this way?