Hebrews 10:7
“Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God. ’”
Years ago I had a friend who worked in a local book store. Part of his job was to be familiar with the books so he could answer questions and make recommendations. The problem was he really did not enjoy reading. His solution was to read the book jackets which often gave a brief summary of the content of each book. While that did not make him an expert by any means, it did give him a good idea of what to expect if and when he ever ventured into reading one of the books. If the Bible contained an inspired summary of its content it would be but one word: Jesus.
John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”
While the Bible touches on, and even addresses, a wide variety of topics, it is primarily a book about salvation. The Old Testament is filled with promises of a savior coming to provide atonement for sin, and the New Testament tells the story of the Savior. The more you know the pages of your Bible, the more you will know Jesus. He is found on every page and in every story. Sometimes He is the main character of the event, other times He may rest in the shadows in the form of a type or illustration, but He is always is there. As you read the Word, be careful to observe the context so as not to make the Bible say something it does not mean, but also be careful to look for Jesus.
As you continue through Hebrews, keep in mind one of the key themes of this letter is that Jesus is better. That is why He is being contrasted with the Old Testament laws, covenant, priesthood and sacrifices. They all served the purpose of pointing to Christ, He serves the purpose of fulfilling the Law and sacrifices. As a result, we no longer live under them, but live in a relationship of grace.
Pastor Jim
Questions for Hebrews 10
God intentionally created the Old Covenant sacrificial system incomplete. It was to be a shadow of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus is better.
1. Verse 1. Can it grow and mature and perfect us?
2. Verse 4. Is it possible to remove sin by killing animals?
3. Verse 5-8. Is God interested in sacrifice for sacrifice’s sake? Does He take pleasure in it?
4. Verse 7-9. Psalm 40:6-8 is quoted here. It is a messianic psalm, a psalm that foretells details about the coming King and Priest of God’s people. Is it clear through these verses that God always intended to replace the OT sacrificial system when Jesus came?
5. Verse 10-14. How often must Jesus offer himself? Was His sacrifice complete? Is it complete for you?
6. In verses 19-25, we are told that because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice; we can draw near to God with full confidence. What else are we told we should be doing?
Old Testament:
Jeremiah 19- Shards Of Clay
Jeremiah 20- Get The Word Out
Jim Gallagher 