Outside the Camp

“Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” (Heb 13:13)

In the book of Numbers chapter 19, the sacrifice of the unblemished red heifer is detailed for the children of Israel. This sacrifice was to be made outside the camp, and the body was to be completely immolated, including even the dung (Num 19:5). This differed from the other sacrifices in that, in those others, some part of the sacrifice was physically presented before God on the altar or given to the priests to consume. Here, however, the heifer was to be burned to ash, and those ashes used to make for the people the water for impurity (Num 19:9).

This water was to be used in the purification of those who had become unclean through touching a dead body (Num 19:13), or for purifying those things which are not fully consumed by fire (Num 31:23).

Being outside the camp was a real manifestation of being outside the presence of God. Those who were unclean were not allowed in the camp because the presence of God was there (Num 5:3).

This is the situation being referred to by the author of Hebrews when he points out: “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Heb 13:12). Notice that there is no water for impurity here – it is the blood of Christ itself which now purifies all believers – all of those who become “… partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus” (Eph 3:6) by being “grafted in among them” (Rom 11:17).

In verse 13, therefore, we are called to join with Christ in His rejection at the hands of men by joining Him outside the camp of Judaism, “…hold[ing] fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Heb 10:23) and to endure the reproach that will follow. RST

Boldness or Fear?

"And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake" (Heb 12:21)

The author of the book of Hebrews goes to great lengths to prove to his readers the superiority of Christ to every aspect of Judaism they had heretofore known. In the culmination of his argument, the author hammers home this point very graphically.

Judaism was about law keeping. In chapter 10 we learn that the priestly ministrations legislated by the covenant were over when Jesus “offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, [and] sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb 10:12). In chapter 12 the author places the new covenant foretold by Jeremiah and the old side-by-side for comparison. “For ye are not come unto the mount that … burned with fire, nor unto … the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words…For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant” (Heb 12:18-24).

How remarkable a contrast! On the one hand, a mountain of fire upon which if any beast should tread, they should be put to death! On the other, the City of God; “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven” (Rev 21:2). This new city on Sion, wherein “a Lamb [stands]” (Rev 14:1), by whose light “the nations will walk, and the kings of the earth” (Rev 21:24) is the heritage for “the one who conquers…and [God] will be his God, and he will be [God’s] son” (Rev 21:7).

John Bunyan, in his work The Pilgrim’s Progress describes Sinai this way: “it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next the way-side did hang so much over, that Christian was afraid…lest the hill should fall on his head; … There came also flashes of fire, out of the hill, that made Christian afraid that he should be burnt.” This is the guilt which comes from the law: that “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).

Contrarily, this city on mount Sion is one wherein we may “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). RST

Witnesses

“seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses …
let us run with patience the race set before us” (Heb 12:1)

In our text above, the author of Hebrews seems to be indicating that we, as Christians, are surrounded by all those who have gone before us, watching us as we persevere through this world towards our “expected end” (Jer 29:11). Is this the true sense of this word as it is used in context?

The Greek word translated here as ‘witnesses’ is μαρτυρων (marturôn). A variation of this word also occurs in Acts 1:8: “…and ye shall be witnesses (μαρτυρες, martures) unto me.”

Both of these words derive from the Strongs Greek Number 3144 – μάρτυς – meaning “of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally [judicially] or figuratively [generally], by analogy a ‘martyr’” (emphasis mine). We can see from this definition that the primary sense of the word, then, is not of a spectator witnessing an event, but rather of one who has seen or encountered something previously and has been called to testify to their circumstances or outcome.

In that sense then, we can more clearly understand what the writer of Hebrews is trying to communicate to his audience. Having just enumerated dozens of individuals from Jewish history who exhibited extraordinary faith in the face of trials set before them because they counted God as able to deliver on His promises; the writer then implores his readers, effectively, “What more do you need? God has proven Himself over and over throughout history to be faithful to reward those who maintain and persevere in their faith toward Him. Who are you – indeed who are we to question that God will do what He has said He would do and reward those who earnestly seek after Him?”

It is these “witnesses” that God has used over and over again throughout history to remind the children of Israel of His faithfulness. From the pillar set up by Jacob at Beth-el (Gen 28:18) to Joshua’s twelve stones memorializing the crossing of the river Jordan (Jos 4:7), God uses the testimony of witnesses to encourage those who come afterwards towards holiness. RST

Sealed in Blood

“…neither the first testament was dedicated without blood” (Heb 9:18)

The writer of Hebrews makes the case that Christ is superior to virtually every aspect of Temple-oriented Judaism, progressing first from the angelic realm (chapters 1 & 2) to Moses (chapters 3 & 4) to Aaron and the Levitical priesthood itself. In chapter 8, the author quotes the prophet Jeremiah: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts” (Heb 8:10). Jesus Christ, he argues, has established that covenant Himself through His death and the presentation of His blood in the heavenly tabernacle: “the heavenly things [should be purified] themselves with better sacrifices…for Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself” (Heb 9:23b-24).

That the new covenant spoken of by Jeremiah needed to be sealed with the blood of a sacrifice may have been surprising to some. After all, Jeremiah did not talk about the shedding of any blood. Therefore, the writer reminds his audience that even the first covenant, given to Abram, was not without the shedding of blood at its outset, in addition to the ongoing blood sacrifices it required from the Levites.

In the fifteenth chapter of Genesis, we read where God commanded Abram to kill a heifer, a goat, a ram, a turtledove and a pigeon. Abram was to divide the animals in half, but not the birds. The halves he was to place on either side of a trench, allowing the blood to drain into it. When night fell, Abram was gripped by a terrible dream: “and it came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp…passed between those pieces” (Gen 15:17).

It was customary that, when two parties covenanted with one another, they would pass between slain animals in this manner so that the blood of the animals would soil and stain their robes. This would serve as a permanent reminder to them of the promise they had made and an oath to fulfill that promise, lest what happened to the animals happen to them. So, too, the new covenant spoken of by Jeremiah, was instituted with the shedding of blood; but this time, that blood was used to purify the implements in the heavenly tabernacle (Heb 9:23), allowing us to have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb 10:19). RST

Called of God

“And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is

called of God, as was Aaron” (Heb 5:4)

Jesus Christ fulfilled the role of our high priest perfectly. The book of Hebrews lays out two prerequisites for this role. First he must “…have compassion on the ignorant…for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity” (Heb 5:2). In order to function as a high priest for humanity, one must first be human. This requirement includes the idea of sharing in the sufferings and travails of people in their individual lives. The writer of Hebrews records how Christ, “…in bringing many sons unto glory” was “[made] perfect through sufferings” (Heb 2:10). And again, “…being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb 5:9).

Second, and most important, a high priest must be divinely called: “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God” (Heb 5:4). The high priests function was as the mediator between man and God. Whereas prophets functioned in the role of communicating God’s will to the people, the high priest communicated the people’s self-reproach and repentance to God. With Korah, who coveted the position of priest over his duty to the tabernacle, God dealt very severely: “And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods” (Num 16:32). But Christ, being “…in the likeness of sinful flesh…condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3), is able to make the high priestly sacrifice “…by a greater and more perfect tabernacle” (Heb 9:11). This efficaciousness of this one-time offering for sin makes clear that Jesus Christ is truly “called by God an high priest” (Heb 5:10). RST

Fear of Death

“that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death…and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:14-15)

Our “walk” with Christ will take each of us through various trials and tribulations. The promise of God in Scripture is to use these trials to strengthen us: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). Even David, the man after God’s own heart struggled with such trials, most notably with lust and detailed in 2^nd Samuel chapter 11 as he pursued Bathsheba to the point of using his position to affect the death of her husband. However, David repented and ultimately expressed his faith in God to carry him through such trials in the future: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Ps 23:4).

The ultimate work of God to provide hope for His adopted sons and daughters is detailed in the 2^nd chapter of Hebrews. Jesus, who “was made a little lower than the angels” (Heb 2:9), now has “all things in subjection under his feet” (Heb 2:8) and is “crowned with glory and honour; that by the grace of God [He] should taste death for every man” (Heb 2:9). As the Creator God, Jesus, “for whom are all things, and by whom are all things” (Heb 2:10) became one of us – “partakers of flesh and blood…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death” (Heb 2:14). Now that the devil no longer carries the power of death, we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). For God “hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). We, therefore, have no need of fear of things like trials and death, for Christ “took on him the seed of Abraham” (Heb 2:16) so that “he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17). RST

The Word Made Flesh

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2a)

Throughout Old Testament history, God’s interactions with mankind had been through those specially gifted individuals known as prophets. What they revealed about God through their ministrations paled in comparison with the ultimate revelation of God – God Himself, manifest through the man, Christ Jesus.

The author of Hebrews sets forth seven characteristics of Christ which point to His fulfillment of and superiority over their former ways. First God has “appointed [him] heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2b). This was expected, as the Spirit had said through the psalmist: “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Ps. 2:8). And now, “being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs” (Tit. 3:7) with Him.

Second, Christ “made the worlds” (Heb 1:2c). John had said as much in his gospel: “all things were made by him” (John 1:3a). As Creator, Christ is fully God Himself, and not to be contained solely within the confines of Judaism. Third, Jesus was “the brightness of his glory” (Heb 1:3a). Where the former prophets had visions of the glory of God (Isa. 6), truly Peter, James and John had witnessed this firsthand on the mount of transfiguration where Jesus “was transfigured before them…his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). Indeed, the apostle John indicated the vision of Isaiah was Christ Himself: “These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory and spake of him” (Jo 12:41).

Fourth, Jesus is “the express image of his person” (Heb 1:3b). This might be better rendered “the exact copy of His substance.” Jesus himself said, “He that has seen me has seen the father” (Jo 14:9b). Fifth, Christ is “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb 1:3c). The psalmist had attributed to God the day-to-day operations of the creation: “He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Ps 33:9). Now, however, it is clear that “for of him, and through him and to him, are all things” (Rom. 11:36).

Sixth, he has “purged our sins” (Heb 1:3d). Only God can forgive sins against God, and Christ asserted this authority many times. He carried out this authority, indicating He actually possessed it (Matt 9:6), and thereby proving His divinity, for “who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mar 2:7). Finally, Christ has “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3e). The work of a priest (i.e. an intercessor to God on man’s behalf) was an ongoing task. As man continued to sin, more intercession was needed. By His dying words on the cross, Christ declared the priestly function completed and took His place at the right hand of the Father. In the same way, God’s revelation of Himself to mankind was fully revealed through His Son, the man Christ Jesus. Amen. RST