Receiving an Unshakable Kingdom (Week 12: 19 March)
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2022 1:03 pm
Hebrews 12:18–29, the passage for this week, is the climax of the letter, and it sums up its main concern by repeating the idea with which it started: God has spoken to us in the person of His Son, and we need to pay careful attention (Hebrews 1:1, 2; Hebrew 12:25) to Him. The description of Jesus in Hebrews 12:22–24 epitomises the letter’s assertions about Him: Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant, and His blood provides salvation for believers. His priestly and royal ministry in our behalf is a cause for celebration for the heavenly hosts. And finally, Hebrews 12:25–29 contains the last and climactic exhortation: God’s judgment is coming. It will bring destruction to His enemies—but vindication and a kingdom to His people (Hebrews 12:28, 29).
The ending reaffirms the importance of Jesus’ achievements at the cross and directs believers to the consummation of Jesus’ victory at the Second Coming. Paul used imagery from Daniel 7 to remind the readers that Jesus has received a kingdom from God, the Judge (Daniel 7:9–14), and is going to share His kingdom with believers, “the saints of the Most High,” who will possess it forever and ever (Daniel 7:18).
Thought question: Why is the promise that one day justice will be done, and the evil that has been so prevalent in our world will one day be destroyed, such a hopeful promise for us all, especially those who have suffered directly at the hands of evil?
The ending reaffirms the importance of Jesus’ achievements at the cross and directs believers to the consummation of Jesus’ victory at the Second Coming. Paul used imagery from Daniel 7 to remind the readers that Jesus has received a kingdom from God, the Judge (Daniel 7:9–14), and is going to share His kingdom with believers, “the saints of the Most High,” who will possess it forever and ever (Daniel 7:18).
Thought question: Why is the promise that one day justice will be done, and the evil that has been so prevalent in our world will one day be destroyed, such a hopeful promise for us all, especially those who have suffered directly at the hands of evil?