Hebrews 6:13–20 - 13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” 15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. What does today’s passage say? In today’s passage, the writer of Hebrews reminds us that God made a promise to Abraham to bless him and multiply him and that He was faithful in fulfilling that promise (vv. 13-14). He explains that men make promises and swear in the name of God to fulfill their promises leaving no room for dispute. God is the same but, since no one is greater than Him, gives the promise and the oath in which He can be fully trusted because He cannot lie (vv. 15-18). The hope that seals this truth, our High Priest Jesus Christ, thus becomes like an anchor for us in the storms of life giving us the assurance of God’s faithfulness not only in the past but also in the future (vv. 19-20). How can I apply Hebrews 6:13-20 to my life? The writer of Hebrews goes right to the heart of the reliability and depth of God’s commitments to us. It gives us profound insights into how we, as followers Jesus Christ, can navigate the complexities and uncertainties of life. It’s not just about understanding the historical events described or God’s past faithfulness; it's about recognizing the ongoing relevance of His promises in our daily lives. The focus of these verses lies in the unchanging nature of God’s word. It's a powerful reminder that, unlike human promises, which often go unfulfilled, God’s promises are ironclad. He is the God who never changes in an ever-changing world, providing a foundation upon which we can build our faith, our hopes, and our lives. As we meditate on these verses, we uncover the layers of meaning behind God's interactions with Abraham and see how these ancient narratives influence our present day walk with God. We are reminded that patience and faith in God’s timing are vital and will give us stability in life’s unpredictable storms. When the writer speaks about Jesus as our High Priest who intercedes on our behalf, we realize that there is an amazingly personal dimension to God’s promises. And in these promises, we begin to get a glimpse of the direct and unfettered access to God that we have, and it encourages us to maintain a steadfast hope. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
Trust in God's Past Promises because He Has Always Been Faithful to Fulfill Them (vv. 13-15): Just as God made a promise to Abraham about his descendants, the land God would give to him, and that a Savior would come from his line, so has He made promises to all believers. As we examine our own pasts and as we look at every circumstance we have faced, we can see that God has been faithful to all of His promises just as He was to Abraham. When we depend on Him, He is faithful to provide for our needs, protect us, and comfort us. Even in our most challenging times, in the great storms of our lives, His promises hold true. This teaches us that we can rely on Him even when it He seems distant or when it seems like He might be taking too long. He will never let you down. When we remember all the times He has answered our prayers, showed up when we least expected it, or provided for some need we had beyond our expectations, we realize that we can depend on Him in all things. Just as He did not forget Abraham, He won't forget us either (Philippians 4:19, Psalm 33:4, 2 Timothy 2:13).
Food for Thought: Can you remember a time when God fulfilled a promise in your life? How did that experience affect your faith? What promise of God are you holding onto right now? How can you keep trusting Him while you wait for it to be fulfilled?
Our Future Hope is Secure in God’s Oath-Bound Promises Because He Cannot Lie (vv. 16-18): The writer makes the point that it is impossible for God to lie. This means that not only can we trust His promises in the present, but it also means that our future hope in His promises is certain. His past faithfulness is the foundation upon which we can build our future hope. What is this future hope? It begins with the promise that Jesus is coming back, and it culminates in eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth where righteousness will dwell. We will become heirs of the Kingdom of God and dwell in His presence forever. This hope is not wishful thinking but as sure as the fact that Jesus Christ is my Lord because it is an oath-bound promise of God who cannot lie! If we will but chose to live our life on this rock-solid foundation, then we will experience the abundant life that Jesus came to give us in the here and now and then spend all eternity getting to know the One who loved us even unto death (John 14:2-3, 2 Peter 3:13, 1 John 2:25).
Food for Thought: How does the certainty of Jesus’ return and the promise of eternal life influence the way you live your daily life? What steps can you take to build your life more firmly on the foundation of God’s unchangeable promises?
Our Hope Is Jesus Christ Who Goes Before Us as Our High Priest (vv. 19-20): Jesus Christ has entered the inner sanctuary on our behalf as our High Priest. This is the truth that is the foundation for our own spiritual journey. He has paved the way for us to enter into an intimate relationship with God and ensures that our path is secure, eternal, and immediate. Jesus is not just a distant figure who occasionally interacts with us when we need Him; no, He is our constant companion and dwells in our hearts. He knows everything about us and is with us in every circumstance. When life throws its worst at us, we can hold onto this truth: Jesus has already experienced it all and understands our struggles intimately. We can find amazing comfort and peace in this truth. It means we can approach God freely, without fear, because Jesus has gone before us and made the way clear and safe for us. We need to come to Him with everything - our hopes, our fears, and our failures. Jesus, our High Priest, intercedes for us, so nothing we bring to God is too small or too large. When we pray in Jesus’ name, it is as if He is praying for us before the Father. But we also need to do our part; we need to stand firm in our faith and approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, even when challenges arise. As the writer of Hebrews say, our hope in Jesus is like an anchor that steadies us no matter how rough the seas of life get (Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 4:14-16, Romans 8:34).
Food for thought: In what ways can you practice coming to God openly and honestly, trusting in Jesus’ intercession? How can the truth that Jesus is your anchor change your response to life’s challenges? From Abraham's time to ours, God's faithfulness remains unwavering, offering us a rock-solid foundation in the storms of our lives. This is more than just understanding the words in the text. It is about applying and living out these truths in our everyday lives. It is only when we truly put our trust in God’s promises that we can begin to experience His peace that goes beyond anything we can understand. His past faithfulness ensures His future faithfulness. When we put our trust in this truth, it can empower us to live boldly and joyfully in the present. Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, I humbly come before You in the Name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord. I thank You for Your word and Your promises. I thank You for Your unchanging nature, Your faithfulness, and the eternal promises that You have given me in Your Word. I pray that, as the storms of life challenge me, I would trust in all of Your promises and faithfully endure those storms. I pray that You would help me to remain strong in my faith and not lose hope. I pray that I would give thanks in all circumstances for the incredible blessings of Your presence in my life and the solid foundation I have in Christ and the promise of eternal life. I thank You that Jesus Christ is my High Priest before You, interceding on my behalf in every way. In the knowledge of this, I pray that I would approach Your throne of grace in the sure and certain hope of Your promises always. I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Hebrews 6:19 – “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.” With His Blessings, Pastor Corby
Comentarios