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School of Ministry and Theology (Avondale Theology Papers and Journal Articles Seminary)

3-2015

The to the as Pastoral Encouragement

Norman H. Young Avondale College of Higher Education, [email protected]

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Part of the Religion Commons

Recommended Citation Young, N. H. (2015). The as pastoral encouragement. Ministry: International Journal for Pastors, 87(3), 17-19.

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Ministry and Theology (Avondale Seminary) at ResearchOnline@Avondale. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theology Papers and Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of ResearchOnline@Avondale. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Norman H. Young

Norman H. Young, PhD, is an honorary senior research fellow, Avondale College, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia.

The Epistle to the Hebrews as pastoral encouragement

t was a small group of believers, sufferings, sometimes being publicly The pastor’s initial only 20 or 30, but they shared a exposed to abuse and persecution” response common experience of hardship.1 (Heb. 10:32, 33). Some had been thrown The first matter the pastor’s exhor- IThey had left behind the assurance in prison. Many had their property plun- tation to the Hebrews clarified was and secure identity that only an ancient dered (v. 34), probably while in prison. the antiquity and superiority of the and close-knit community can provide Their pastor’s emphasis on . Jesus was the eternal Son in the form of a first-century syna- community and shared pain is uncom- through whom God had now spoken gogue.2 was a widespread and promising: “Remember those who (Heb. 1:2, 3). And, as a Son (Ps. 2:7; recognized religion in the Greco-Roman are in prison, as though you were in 2 Sam. 7:14), He was superior to all the world. Most first-century would prison with them; those who are being messengers (angels) through whom have thought it madness to risk the tortured, as though you yourselves God had spoken to “our ancestors” in comparative safety of their worldwide were being tortured” (Heb. 13:3). They the past (Heb. 1:1, 5), including community for the uncertainties of the had looked death in the face as they (Heb. 3:1–6). Jesus’ superiority over fledgling Jesus movement. struggled against the hostility of their the messengers was made clear by Worse, they felt the cruel taunts by former community (Heb. 12:3, 4). contrasting the Son with the mes- those who did not share their belief in Some were about to abandon sengers (vv. 6–13). The author affirmed Jesus. Former companions heaped ver- their confidence and to shrink back this with a string of bal abuse on this little group of Jewish (Heb. 10:35, 38, 39). In fact, some were (OT) passages that he applied to Jesus believers who had “compromised” drifting away from the message they (Deut. 32:43 [Greek OT]; Pss. 45:6, 7; their heritage by following Jesus, the had heard (Heb. 2:1), and others had 102:26–28; 110:1). Notice that “Lord” crucified . “Where is Jesus now?” fallen into the habit of “neglecting in :10 refers to Jesus.4 He they mocked. “Where’s your temple to meet together” (Heb. 10:25). Their is the Creative Agent of God (vv. 2, 3), and altar?” “Do you have a covenant hands were drooping and their knees who “founded the earth” and created with God?” “Where’s your history and were buckling; they were shrinking the heavens (v. 10). And though they tradition?” back instead of pushing forward (Heb. will all wear out like clothing (v. 11), The pastor of this little gathering 12:12). They were in danger of falling the Son remains forever (vv. 8, 11, 12b). of Jewish believers was absent, but he away (Heb. 6:6), of spurning the Son of “We,” their pastor reminded them, hoped to be “restored to [them] very God (Heb. 10:29), of growing weary and “do have a , a , a soon” (Heb. 13:19). 3 In the meantime, fainthearted (Heb. 12:3), of refusing the sanctuary, a covenant, a promised he wrote a word of encouragement, voice of God (v. 25), and of being led land, and a chosen city.” “We have a along with a series of dire warnings. astray by their former faith (Heb. 13:9). great high priest . . . Jesus, the Son That letter is what we know today as Indeed, the pastor feared that “they of God” (Heb. 4:14), who is “a high the Epistle to the Hebrews. are crucifying again the priest forever according to the order and are holding him up to contempt” of ” (Heb. 6:20). “He holds Their struggles (Heb. 6:6). his priesthood permanently, because These Jewish believers had This was clearly a community in He continues forever” (Heb. 7:24), “endured a hard struggle with need of exhortation and encouragement. whereas death prevented the Levitical

MARCH 2015 Ministry® Norman H. Young

priests from continuing in office (v. 23). 9:24), the as their divine whose suffering consecrates (that is, High priests, by definition, offered sac- guarantee, a heavenly country as their the Son) and those who are consecrated rifices, so “it is necessary for this priest better land (Heb. 11:15, 16), and the (that is, the believers) are united to the [Jesus] also to have something to heavenly as their city—“the one Father, and “for this reason Jesus offer” (Heb. 8:3); and “this he did once city of the living God” (Heb. 12:22; 11:10, is not ashamed to call them brothers for all when he offered himself” (Heb. 16). Or, to use his favorite adjective, and sisters” (Heb. 2:11).7 To confirm 7:27), and “the sacrifice of himself” Christians5 have a better leader (Heb. the family relationship between Jesus was for the removal of sin (Heb. 9:26). 1:4), a better (Heb. 6:9; 7:19), a and the believers, the pastor placed The blood of bulls and goats dealt better covenant promise (Heb. 7:22; three OT texts on the lips of Jesus: only with the external pollution but 8:6), a better sacrifice (Heb. 9:23), better Psalm 22:22; Isaiah 8:17b, and Isaiah were entirely inadequate as a means possessions (Heb. 10:34), a better coun- 8:18a. The first reference has Jesus of cleansing from the inner reality of try (Heb. 11:16), a better resurrection testifying to His siblings in the context sin (Heb. 9:9, 10; 10:4, 11). The death (v. 35), and a better future (v. 40).6 of the worshiping community (Heb.

“We do have a high priest,” the writer of Hebrews explains, “a sacrifice, a sanctuary, a covenant, a , and a chosen city.”

(blood) of Jesus is the potent force The call to persevere 2:12). The second citation has Jesus that truly sanctifies (Heb. 10:10; 13:12), The pastor called on two examples confessing His confidence in God even perfects (Heb. 10:14), forgives (v. 18), of those who endured suffering and in the context of His suffering, which is a and cleanses sin at the deepest level yet pressed on: Jesus and the past clear encouragement to His addressees of the human heart (v. 22). “For this heroes of endurance. Psalm 8, the (v. 13a). In the last quotation, Jesus reason”—that is, the effectiveness of pastor noted, promised that humans speaks of the believers as the children Christ’s death to purge sin—Jesus “is were to be crowned with glory and whom God had given Him (v. 13b). the mediator of a new covenant [or honor and that all things were to be Jesus’ identity with the suffering promise]” (Heb. 9:15; 12:24), indeed, subjected to them. However, we do not Jewish believers was no charade; it was “of a better covenant” (Heb. 8:6). This see that yet. No indeed, said the pastor, real. He, too, shared in the same flesh new covenant achieved what the old “but we do see Jesus,” who is “now and blood (v. 14). Indeed, He became, one merely prefigured; that is, “the crowned with glory and honor because in every respect, like His brothers and promised eternal inheritance” (Heb. of the suffering of death” (Heb. 2:5–9; sisters. Two purpose clauses clarify 9:15), “forgiveness” (Heb. 10:17, 18), emphasis added). Through suffering how His becoming a human helped the access into “the presence of God” He was fitted to be a sympathetic high “descendants of ” (v. 16): “so (Heb. 9:24), and “the full assurance priest (vv. 17, 18). Even though He was that through death he might destroy of hope” (Heb. 6:11), a hope that is a Son, nevertheless, He knew what it the one who has the power of death, “sure and steadfast” (v. 19). The open meant to stay on course despite the that is, the devil” (v. 14), and “so that access into the very presence of God pain (suffering) (Heb. 4:15; 5:8). he might be a merciful and faithful high that Jesus’ death has achieved was an The community’s experience of priest in the service of God, to make a encouragement to the weary Jewish suffering for their faith united them with sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the believers to press forward with confi- the suffering of Christ, “the pioneer of people” (v. 17). The author’s pastoral dence and full assurance (Heb. 3:6, 14; their salvation,” who was fully prepared intent in this chapter is clear: “Because 4:16; 10:19–22, 35; 11:1; 13:6). for His role “through sufferings” (Heb. he himself was tested by what he suf- Thus, the pastor assured his little 2:10). Jesus tasted death for everyone fered, he is able to help those who are flock that they have Jesus as their (v. 9), and through His death He set being tested” (v. 18); a sentiment that is high priest, His death as their sacrifice, apart the little community, and us too, repeated in 4:15, “For we do not have a heaven itself as their sanctuary (Heb. to God (Heb. 10:10, 14). Hence, the One high priest who is unable to sympathize

Ministry® MARCH 2015 with our weaknesses, but we have one burial there (v. 22). Moses suffered hard- from the OT (Deut. 31:6; Ps. 118:6), he who in every respect has been tested as ship with the people of God, eschewing was not simply offering the mandatory we are, yet without sin.”8 the comforts of , preferring the “have a nice day” that one receives at To a weary and faltering congrega- reproach of Christ because he saw the supermarket’s checkout. His texts tion (Heb. 6:11, 12), it was reassuring to Him who is unseeable (vv. 25–27).12 In were appropriate to the actual situation learn that the promise of God’s rest was , the “emphasis is on faithful of the readers: still open and lay ahead of His pilgrim deeds” and a persevering faith, that is, people.9 God’s rest has its origin in the on a faith that turns “hope into reality I will never leave you or forsake you. creation narrative (Heb. 4:4, quoting and the unseen into sight.”13 The eyes So we can say with confidence, Gen. 2.2, 3), and it was still available to of faith could see that future rest not The Lord is my helper; the Exodus generation. But that genera- far ahead. The pastor’s flock was among I will not be afraid. tion failed to enter it because of a lack “those who are about to inherit salva- What can anyone do to me? of a persevering faith (Heb. 3:16–19; 4:2, tion” (Heb. 1:14, author’s translation), 6); and ’s leading the wilderness for the world that is about to come is The call, then, was to go outside the survivors into the Promised Land was theirs (Heb. 2:5). Meanwhile, they were camp of Israel “and bear the abuse He not the ultimate fulfillment of entering to seize the hope that ahead (Heb. endured,” knowing that believers had God’s rest (v. 8). If it had been, , 6:18) and press towards it, enduring the no enduring city here, but were to look many years later, could not have spoken trials as divine discipline (Heb. 12:7–11). to the future for the secure city of God of “today” (Ps. 95:7b): “again he sets a The catalogue in 11:32–40 begins (Heb. 13:13, 14).15 certain day—‘today’—saying through positively by listing the triumphs of some David much later [than the Exodus], of the OT judges, and ending with David 1 William L. Lane suggests a household gathering of some 15 or 20 persons. William L. Lane, Hebrews 1–8, Word Biblical in the words already quoted, ‘Today, if and the prophets, but then suddenly Commentary, vol. 47a (Dallas: Word, 1991), iii. you hear his voice, do not harden your the tone shifts to a dire list of calamities 2 F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews, New International hearts’ ” (Heb. 4:7). The pastor urged in verses 35b–38. The list is fearsome: Commentary on the , rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: his congregation not to emulate the tortured, jeered, flogged, imprisoned, Eerdmans, 1990), 3–9; P. T. O’Brien, The Letter to the Hebrews, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, unbelief of the wilderness generation, stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword, UK: Eerdmans, 2010), 9–13. Possibly they had not entirely cut but rather to make every effort to enter destitute, persecuted, and mistreated. their ties with their former Judaism. God’s future rest (v. 11).10 The exemplars of faith from of old, 3 All biblical references are from the New Revised Standard Version (1989), unless indicated otherwise. who have run their race, surround, so 4 Bruce, Hebrews, 63. The future to speak, these tiring Jewish believers 5 “Christian” is an anachronism, but it is used for convenience. The conjoining of suffering and a and urge them to keep on running with 6 Hebrews uses the comparative adjective “better” “superior” future hope in chapter 11 also reflects perseverance (Heb. 12:1, 2).14 (kreittōn) 12 times, which is 71 percent of the New Testament’s total usage. the writer’s conviction that abuse is a In their struggle against those 7 Literally “brothers” (adelphoi), but the inclusive rendering of the real possibility for those who heed his who opposed them, this band of early NRSV is true to the overall meaning of the text. call to affirm Christ publicly and boldly Christian Jews had not yet suffered to 8 We should not read too much into this verse regarding the (Heb. 3:6; 4:16; 10:19, 35). Equally, the the point of shedding their blood (v. 4), theological debate over Jesus as a model of how to attain a sinless state in this life. This is a practical pastoral encouragement to a writer invited his readers to look by but Jesus had suffered so (Heb. 2:9, 10, despondent group to persevere even when the Christian journey faith beyond the present exigencies to 18; 5:8; 9:26; 13:12). Their Champion becomes exceedingly tough. a future made secure by the achieve- (archēgos), Jesus, had finished His 9 William G. Johnsson, “The Pilgrimage Motif in the Book of Hebrews,” Journal of Biblical Literature 97 (1978): 239–251. ments of Jesus. Faith is the capacity to course, having endured “hostility 10 The reference to the Sabbath (Heb. 4:9) is illustrative of God’s see and be certain about God’s invisible against himself from sinners,” and future rest. It does not prove the binding nature of the fourth future (Heb. 11:1, 3).11 Such as even “endured the cross, despising its commandment. However, since the addressees were very likely who, when warned about things not yet shame” (vv. 3, 2). The pastor wisely, Sabbath-observant Christian Jews, it is a very meaningful illustration. seen, prepared an ark (v. 7). Abraham therefore, admonished his flock to fix 11 Only Romans (40 times) uses the noun “faith” (pistis) more often went out not knowing where he was their eyes on (aphoraō) Jesus and to than Hebrews (32 times). The meaning in Hebrews is not identical going, yet looking forward to the city contemplate (analogizomai) Him who to the nuance Paul gives it in Romans. 12 Note the powerful paradox. of God (vv. 8, 9). endured such pain (vv. 2, 3) and to go by 13 Francis D. Nichol, ed., Seventh-day Adventist Commentary, The patriarchs saw the promises faith where He has already gone (Heb. vol. 7 (Washington, DC: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1957), of God from a distance, and longed for 6:19, 20; 10:19–22). 471; William G. Johnsson, The Abundant Life Bible Amplifier: the future city of God (vv. 13–16). Hebrews (Boise, ID: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1994), 205. 14 Norman H. Young, “Suffering: A Key to the Epistle to the Hebrews,” blessed his sons with his eye on the Conclusion Australian Biblical Review 51 (2003): 47–59. future (v. 20). saw the return to When the author, in his concluding 15 Norman H. Young, “ ‘Bearing His Reproach’ (:9–14),” and gave instructions about his remarks, quoted two encouraging texts New Testament Studies 48, no. 2 (2002): 243–61.

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MARCH 2015 Ministry®