When the book of Hebrews compares Judaism and Christianity, it contrasts them. Christianity's roots are in Judaism. God, by plan and intent, worked through Judaism to bring Christianity into existence. Christianity cannot be correctly appreciated or understood without studying God's work through and with Israel.

However, Christianity is not an extension or revision of Judaism. God's scope and objectives in His eternal kingdom exceed His scope and objectives in the kingdom of Israel. To accurately grasp God's purposes in Christianity, it must not be viewed as a reform movement in first century Judaism.

For Israel, God intended Christianity to be His blessing to them made possible through the Messiah and the eternal kingdom. God intended Israel's rich heritage as His chosen people to prepare them to receive the Messiah and the eternal kingdom. For all other peoples, God created full relationship with Him through the Messiah (the Christ). God granted them citizenship in His eternal kingdom. For these peoples, this was their new (and first) opportunity to be God's chosen people. [See Ephesians 2:1-3, 11-13 to note the contrast between God's chosen people (Israelites) and peoples without God.]

Christianity is God's continuing work begun with Abraham. However, to interpret Christianity or define its purposes by Judaism is questionable.

Hebrews 5:1-10: Israel's high priest

1. Israel's high priest was taken from among _____________ and appointed on behalf of _______________ (verse 1).

2. What was the basic responsibility of Israel's high priest (verse 1)?

3. How did God intend for Israel's high priest to deal with the ignorant and misguided (verse 2)? Why?

4. Israel's high priest offered sacrifices for whose sins (verse 3)?

5. How did a man become Israel's high priest (verse 4)?

6. Who made Jesus high priest (verses 5,6)?

7. Of what order was Jesus high priest (verse 6)?

8. As a man, what prayer did Jesus earnestly pray for himself (verse 7)? Did God listen to his prayer?

9. Even though Jesus was God's Son, he had to learn obedience. How did he learn obedience (verse 8)?

10. Learning obedience made Jesus ___________ and the source of eternal salvation to all who ________ him (verse 9).

11. God designated Jesus as a ___________ _____________ (verse 10).

Hebrews 7:26-28: the high priest that Christians need

1. List the qualification of the high priest that Christians need (verse 26).

2. The high priest we need will not do what (verse 27)? Why?

3. What made weak men high priest (verse 28)? What appointed God's Son?

Hebrews 8:1-13: Christians have the high priest they need

1. Where is the high priest that we need (verse 1)?

2. Where does he serve (verse 2)?

3. What was necessary for Jesus as high priest (verse 3)?

4. If Jesus were on earth, would he be a high priest (verse 4)? Why?

5. Is the Jewish high priesthood a reflection of the church or of heaven (verse 5)?

6. Having a superior ministry, Jesus (our high priest) is the _____________ of a ____________ enacted upon superior _________________ (verse 6).

For your thinking: God showed Moses a detailed, specific pattern for the tabernacle and its furnishings. God commanded Moses to follow the pattern (Exodus 25:40). Is there a comparable instruction regarding the church in the New Testament? Was there a comparable revelation regarding the church in the New Testament? As you think, remember that the tabernacle with its furnishings was a structure with its furnishings. The church was (is) not a structure.

David Chadwell

God's Contrasting Approaches Study Guide (lesson 9)
Wednesday evening Bible class, Spring Quarter 1999
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR

Copyright © 1999
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.

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