Christ is held up from first to last. The writer sees in that the only hope of rescue for the half-hearted Christians. Look to Christ. Consider Christ. Space would fail if the teaching concerning Christ were as particularly itemized as that concerning God above. But let the student draw up a list of things taught concerning Christ in this Epistle, making an effort to note down every particular statement, in reverence and godly fear. Here only some main facts can be given.

      Chapter 1. Christ the agent through whom the world was made, the heir of all things, the upholder of all the universe (verses 2, 3)--therefore, first, last, and middle; God's spokesman, (verse 2) and perfect representative ("image"--verse 3); made purification of our sins; sitting at the right hand of God--the place of honor of the universe; far greater than the angels (verses 5, 6, etc.); called "God" (verse 8) and "Lord" (verse 10) in the old Scriptures (from which these words are quoted).

      Chapter 2. Was made for a little while lower than the angels, but now crowned with glory and honor; tasted, by the grace of God, death for every man; was perfected through suffering to be the author of our salvation; made common cause with us, having taken human nature upon him and calling us "brethren;" was made like us; was tempted and suffered that he might be able to succor us.

      Chapter 3. He is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; worthy of more honor than Moses; a Son over God's house (whose house we are).

      Chapter 4. Christ is a great High Priest, the Son of God, and has passed through the heavens (into God's presence).

      Chapter 5. Christ fulfils in himself the characteristics of the true high priest; but is not after the order of Aaron, but of Melchizedek. He had to learn obedience through sufferings, and (thus) became "the author of eternal salvation to them that obey him."

      Chapter 6. Jesus is our forerunner, entered within the veil, by right of his being high priest forever "after the order of Melchizedek."

      Chapter 7. He is not made priest "after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." He is "the surety of a better covenant," and "able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

      Chapter 8. He is the minister of the true tabernacle, the real sanctuary in the heavens; the mediator of a better covenant.

      Chapter 9. Not only high priest, but also sacrifice, his blood cleanses us; his death began a new testament, "and he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Christ "shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation."

      Chapter 10. Christ brought a sacrifice of a spotless body surrendered to perfect obedience unto God, unto death, according to the will of God. "By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." "Yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry."

      Chapter 12. Jesus as a perfect example of the life of faith (verses 2, 3).

      Chapter 13. Through him (only) our praises and good works are acceptable to God. He is "the great shepherd of the sheep," whom God raised up from the dead. Through him God works in us "that which is well pleasing in his sight." [82]

      Now in like manner go over the chapters and see where the Holy Spirit is mentioned and what is said of him (2:4; 3:7; 9:8, 14; 10:15).

      Look again at the chief admonitions, warnings, exhortations (2:1-4; 3:7 to 4:11; 5:11 to 6:20; 10:19-39; 12; 13).

      Note most especially what God teaches us on the right way of dividing his word.

      The keynote is "Behold the Christ;" and faith is pointed out as the great thing needful. The words "boldness," "glorying of hope," "confidence," "strong encouragement," "hope," "faith and patience," "not shrinking back," "counting God faithful," "looking unto Jesus"--these are expressive of the one great need of the lukewarm, faint-hearted, backsliding Christians, and are in their connection but descriptive of simple faith.

      Repeated reading of Hebrews will now bring you richer returns than ever. New meanings will reveal themselves, obscure places become plain, seemingly insignificant phrases become important, new trains of thought be discovered; a word here and there recurring arrests your attention, and you begin to note how often and in what senses it is used. Do not drop Hebrews now simply because these lessons are ended. Now is your reaping time. Read it and study it and meditate on it in view of the God who spoke it, reverently, prayerfully. Every hour thus occupied will be an hour in which you shall be kept from sin and during which you are being fortified to resist sin at some future time.

      Holy Father, your word is an exceedingly great and precious gift to the humble, contrite soul. So full of sweetness and love and truth, the expression of your divine mind, it fills us with peace and assurance and power to serve you. Its wealth of truths and wonderful revelations is unsearchable.

      Truly your thoughts are as much higher than our thoughts as the heavens are high above the earth, and through them you do lift us up to yourself.

      Grant unto your children that the healthier desire of your word, the true food of the soul, may supplant the perverse appetite for the poor wisdom and news of this world which is passing away.

      Having now arrived at the close of these lessons, we commend our work and study into your hands for blessing and results; and may this be the beginning point with us of more earnest and thorough study of that word which is able to build us up and give us the inheritance among the sanctified, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [83]

[LOH3R 81-83]