Podcast Introduction

Today is Epistles Sunday. We’ll begin the book of Hebrews by reading chapters 1-4  I’ll have some comments after the reading. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “The Sweet Spot.“

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Steve Webb

Comments on Hebrews 1-4

Thoughts on Hebrews 1 and 2

We do not know the author of the book of Hebrews, but we do know to whom it was written: Christian Jews, and for their benefit (as well as ours), most of chapter one is dedicated to establishing who Jesus is in light of the Old Testament. 

Chapter 2 begins with this sentence: 1 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Whenever I study the Bible and come across the word "therefore", I ask myself, "What's the therefore there for?" The word "therefore" is a link between two thoughts. It's like saying "Because of what I just said, now I'm going to say this." 

So in this case, the therefore refers to the message of chapter one, namely the truth of who Jesus is. 

Chapter two, verse one could say: "Since Jesus is God, we need to really pay close attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." 

I grew up here in southern California, and I lived within about a half hour's drive to the beach. When I was in high school I learned how to surf. For some time, I would go surfing almost every day. When you're surfing, you often spend a lot of time sitting on your board waiting for the next wave. Waves often come in sets, and there could be several minutes between sets. So you're just sitting on your board, watching for the next set. 

Many times here in southern California, there are currents in the water that flow parallel to the beach. If you were standing on the sand looking out at the water, the current could be from left to right or right to left. 

Now, an interesting thing about these currents is that when you are in the current, you can't feel it. You are carried along in the current at the exact same speed as the current, so you don't have a feeling of movement. The only way you know you're moving is if you look at some sort of landmark on the beach, you'll see that you are moving in relation to that landmark. Maybe it's a lifeguard tower, or a towel or big rock.  

Sometimes the current is quite strong. So if you are sitting on your board, you can easily be carried quite far from where you started. It takes no effort at all to find yourself 100 yards or more from where you began. To stay in that "sweet spot" you want to be in when the next set comes through, you have to continually be paddling against the current. It takes effort to stay close to the spot.

Or you'll drift away.

"1 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."

Beloved, we must put effort into our relationship with Jesus so that we do not drift away. If we ignore the teaching we have received, if we do not continually paddle our spiritual surfboard to fight the current of life that is continually trying to move us away from Him, we will find ourselves far away from where we want to be. Just because you are close to Him today does not guarantee that you will always be in the sweet spot. 

This is as true for a new believer as it is for an old codger like me who has been a believer for over 50 years. The current never goes away. We must continue to paddle that board to stay close to Jesus. 

Thoughts on Hebrews 3

The author, in chapter 3, compares Jesus to Moses. Why would he do that? Because the primary audience for the book is the Hebrew, or Jew, and Moses was their most highly regarded person. The author was explaining how and why Jesus was to be held in even higher regard. 

He does this by making some opening statements in the first six verses, then he refers back to Psalms chapter 95, a book from the OT, or as the Jews know it,