The Letter to the Hebrews and to Us
Lesson 1, 1st Quarter Dec. 25-31, 2021
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Sabbath Afternoon - December 25
Memory Text:
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” KJV — Hebrews 10:36
“Study carefully the first chapter of Hebrews. Become interested in the Scriptures. Read and study them diligently. ‘In them ye think ye have eternal life,’ Christ said, ‘and they are they which testify of Me.’ It means everything to us to have an experimental and individual knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, ‘whom He hath sent.’ ‘For this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.’”—Special Testimonies On Education, March 23, 1896. FE 404.1
“If we study carefully the second chapter of Hebrews, we shall learn how important it is that we hold steadfastly to every principle of truth that has been given.”—The Review and Herald, July 18, 1907. 1SM 41.1
Sunday - December 26
A Glorious Beginning
Hebrews 2:3, 4
Why do Paul’s readers encounter difficulty in understanding his epistles?
The reason that Paul's readers not infrequently encounter difficulty in understanding his epistles is that they read them as books instead of as letters. Hence, all who would understand them now, will keep in view the fact that he wrote them to groups with whom he had previous acquaintance and correspondence, of whose troubles and queries he had previous knowledge. It was in that vein that he wrote to them, so he knew what to say to them, and they well understood what he meant. Consequently, if we are to understand his letters, we must first become conversant with the conditions which called forth the letters. To do this one must, by studying each letter, endeavor to find out what were the recipients' problems that he has tried to solve. Otherwise, there can only follow confusion as to what Paul is talking about. Read them in this fashion, and you will discover that they are not so difficult to understand as they seem to be.
Monday - December 27
The Struggle
Hebrews 10:32-34; 13:3; 11:26 and 1Peter 4:14, 16
What are true Christians divinely enabled to do?
So also, is every true Christian divinely enabled to suffer or to rejoice. Hence, whatever betide him, whether it be suffering and sorrow, or well-being and joy, the trusting child of God dare credit only the Lord and none other for his portion. And remember that "there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. 10:13.
“Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” Ps. 121:4-8.
Be ye therefore not murmurers as were those who "despised the pleasant land," and “believed not His Word; but murmured in their tents and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord. Therefore, He lifted up His hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness.” Ps. 106:24-26.
But be like the faithful apostle: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philip. 4:11-13.
Tuesday - December 28
Malaise
Hebrews 2:18; 3:12, 13; 4:15; 10:25; 12:3, 12, 13; 13:1-9, 13; 1Kings 19:1-4
What prophecy points out Satan’s wrath against command keepers?
The night is approaching, and the shadows of the dark ages are beginning to fall upon God's people, when "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). The time is nigh upon us of which prophecy says: "The dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant (the 144,000) of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12:17.) But we "reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:18.)
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Cor. 4:17.)
Therefore "beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.... For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." (1 Pet. 4:12-14, 17.)
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Pet. 5:6-11.)
Wednesday - December 29
Press Together
1Ki.19:5-18; Heb.2;1; 3:12-14; 5:11-6:3; 10:19-25
What are believers admonished to do to safeguard themselves against Satan’s devices?
“Today the world is full of flatterers and dissemblers; but God forbid that those who claim to be guardians of sacred trusts shall betray the interests of God's cause through the insinuating suggestions and devices of the enemy of all righteousness. TM 471.1
“There is no time now to range ourselves on the side of the transgressors of God's law, to see with their eyes, to hear with their ears, and to understand with their perverted senses. We must press together. We must labor to become a unit, to be holy in life and pure in character. Let those who profess to be servants of the living God no longer bow down to the idol of men's opinions, no longer be slaves to any shameful lust, no longer bring a polluted offering to the Lord, a sin-stained soul.” TM 471.2
“Press Together, Press Together—Love of self, pride, and self-sufficiency lie at the foundation of the greatest trials and discords that have ever existed in the religious world. Again and again the angel has said to me, “Press together, press together, be of one mind, of one judgment,” Christ is the leader, and you are brethren; follow Him.—Letter 4, 1890.” Ev 102.1
Thursday - December 30
These Last Days
Hebrews 1:2; 9:26-28; 10:25, 36-38; 12:25-28
How can we be benefited from a last days’ application of ancient Israel experience as they journeyed to the promised land?
Who went into the promised land? – All but the murmurers. Do you suppose that you can entertain the same spirit of murmuring and complaining, and in spite of it receive the seal? – How absurd the very thought! How unfair it would be for a just God to destroy the disobedient of that day, but to save the disobedient of this day.
What made one group eligible to cross the Jordan? – It was their trust in God, knowing that He was their Chief Leader. They recognized Moses and Joshua as the ones through whom God was communicating with them. They did not look upon them as being anyone other than who they actually were. They were satisfied with their lot. They took orders as the orders were given. So it was that they were the only ones who entered into the land.
Having these ensamples before us, this picture to go by, I can confidently tell whether I am headed for the Kingdom or whether I am headed for the bowels of the earth (Rev. 12:16). And I am sure that you, too, can tell which way you are headed. The Lord does not require more or less of us than He required of our types. There is therefore no mystery as to what we must do, and what we must not do to receive the seal of God.
We need not go into a land of wonderment, need not entertain the idea that we must have a mysterious feeling, exciting emotion, need not wallow in the dust or jump to the ceiling. No, we need not make fools of ourselves. All we need to do is be ourselves. Be calm, decent, respectable, heaven-like beings, endeavoring to do God’s will on earth as it is done in heaven. We need not make a display of ourselves, but we need to mind our God-given business and to keep our noses out of other people’s business.
Only when we have done all we can to comply with the requirements of the message for today, not of yesterday, shall we be sealed and stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion.
Friday - December 31
Further Study
“Shall we say we have been deceived in regard to the doctrine of Christ's near coming? Shall we declare that all our talking of his appearing has been in vain? Shall we say that all our work to make ready a people, prepared for his coming, has been for nought?-Never. We are not to become impatient and fretful, because time still lingers. We are to wait patiently for the work of God to be accomplished. ‘But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.’ ‘Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised; and let us consider one another to provoke”—unto doubts and unbelief, and apostasy?—No, but “unto love and good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’” RH July 31, 1888, par. 5