Hebrews 6:13-15

A COMMENTARY ON HEBREWS; CHAPTER 6:13 to CHAPTER 9:28 Copyright Hunter Irvine
All Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV®.  Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan.  All rights reserved.
   When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."  And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised" (Hebrews 6:13-15 NIV).

   Hebrews; how exciting!  Being a unique commentary focused on a specific section of Hebrews, in the future I encourage you to read an additional commentary on Hebrews, since, for starters, there is a huge question regarding the author of Hebrews.  I briefly state here the summary of that topic: no one knows for sure.  Regarding authorship of this Epistle, it is a rare occasion when I agree with modern scholars instead of a vast number of historical views.  The historical views often include Paul as a possible author.  Most modern scholars do not think Paul wrote Hebrews, and I agree.  (I even add based on a response by a wonderful and bright minister, that there is even the slight possibility that there was a woman author for Hebrews, because the names of Priscilla and Aquila are among the many other names suggested as authors.)  Authors of New Testament books are important, because authorship supports legitimacy since Scriptures had an apostolic authorship or an apostolic connection.  And the credibility of the author impacts the credibility of the book.  The subject of authorship is one that I take more seriously than most.  Yet ironically, I find the authorship mystery a fun fact about Hebrews, probably moreso since once you start reading it, whoever the humble author was seems to matter no longer.  In reading this Scripture, it is like reading a sermon from an author of incredible literary eloquence, but even more importantly, an author who clearly explains the doctrine of atonement.  Yet I add Hebrews was not thrown in the Scripture canon based solely on literary style.  Dr. Neil Lightfoot, whom I will discuss next week since he wrote a special commentary on Hebrews, gives much evidence Hebrews was used by Clement of Rome in the late first century, and talks of how Hebrews had a certain authority early on.  Dr. Lightfoot considers the possibility that Hebrews was rejected by some many years later when some Christians questioned whether Hebrews belonged in the canon due to the lack of a known author (1).  I add that my theory is that there may have been some ethnic discrimination in later centuries, which is tragically displayed in Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History.  One thing is for sure: Hebrews is Scripture!  Listen for God to speak to you through Hebrews, and He will.
   As an introduction to this section commentary, I remark how once I studied the book of the prophet Zechariah with the assistance of a commentary by Coleman Luck.  That Jewish prophet gave a message that the Messiah was to be a Priest and a King.  Since Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, and in the lineage of David, He had the potential to be a Jewish king. (Israelites did not have kings in Judea 2000 years ago, yet Jewish people were longing for a king to replace the Roman rule.)  Yet from a Mosaic Law standpoint, Jesus could not be a Priest.  In order to be a priest, you had to be not only from the tribe of Levi, but you also had to be of the lineage of Aaron.  So how could Jesus be a Priest?  The author of Hebrews addresses this question, probably in the situation of having many Israelites, originally called Hebrews, and today called Jewish people, question the legitimacy of Jesus being the Messiah.  The synopsis: the High Priesthood of the Messiah is a spiritual position of the New Covenant, relying on the foreshadowing by God all the way back to the time of Abraham, involving a priest named Melchizedek.  And the High Priesthood of the Messiah is also relying on the power of God, as noted by Dr. Neil Lightfoot (2).  The High Priesthood of the Messiah does not rely on the physical requirements of the Mosaic Law.  The Mosaic Law continued to foreshadow the Messiah and to prepare people for the Messiah; yet the reality of the Messiah would be so much more.
   Starting this examination here in the middle of Hebrews chapter six, remembering that these chapter designations were not in the original texts, rather they were added later on, we are reminded that God made promises to Abraham.  Many of those promises are recorded in Genesis chapter 15.  And those promises were carried out.  Abraham's offspring did become like the stars in the sky.  Abraham's offspring were delivered by God after being enslaved in Egypt.  Abraham's offspring did inherit the promised land.  God was faithful.  And He continued with His promises to the nation of Israel and to all humankind.
   I add we need to examine this text in the context of modern day language.  Many people think of only one definition when it comes to swearing, which is the definition of someone saying bad words when he or she is mad. Swearing here means to seal a promise, which is often based on an authority.  Some Christians advocate a person should not take oaths based on the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to not swear, rather to simply make it a way of life to tell the truth, and I respect that.  Yet even signing an official document is an oath of sorts.  If you sign a receipt at a store where you have used a credit card, you are making an oath in a sense that you will pay that money.  I think the context of Jesus' teaching here, where verse 33 has the phrase "oaths you have made to the Lord" is to not bargain with God, the One who is perfect, rather to be faithful in the Lord in all things, and honest to all.
  And yes, this passage has a phrase which makes a normal human being cringe: "waiting patiently."  Personally, I know of only one way to be patient.  Plead to God for help to be patient.
   I am going to do something unique for a "commentary."  I am going to do an application here.  Think of something now that was a request you put before God, which you were blessed with at a later date.  If you think of something, give thanks to God for it.
Hunter Irvine
(1) Neil R. Lightfoot, Jesus Christ Today: A Commentary on the Book of Hebrews (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976), 30.
(2) Neil R. Lightfoot, Jesus Christ Today: A Commentary on the Book of Hebrews (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976), 143.