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Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth As To Its
"Subject Matter"
The Epistle To The “Hebrews.”
We have another example, similar to this, in the Epistle addressed to other Hebrew believers.
They were evidently more advanced than those who were addressed by James, and less, perhaps, than those who were addressed by Peter. All these three belonged to the same class: the Diaspora, or Dispersion, of Israel.
The epistle of James was addressed to the Diaspora. Two were written by Peter, compare (1 Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,), with (2 Peter 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:): and another was written to them by Paul. This is distinctly so stated in (2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;), where Peter says “our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you:” i.e., you believers among the “Diaspora.”Paul was thus the writer of the Epistle to Hebrew believers among the Dispersion: for no other such Epistle of Paul has ever been heard of. Who these Hebrews were, maybe gathered from (Acts 21:20
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:), where James says to Paul on the arrival of the latter as Jerusalem: “Thou seest , brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe: and they are all zealous of the law.” If they were “all zealous of the law,” and continued to offer sacrifices for sins, as it is clear they did from ( Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.), they could not have believed that Christ was “the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.): and they could not have known their standing in Christ. In (Acts the 21st chapter) they are not distinguished from those who beat Paul (Acts 21:32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.), and cried “Away with him” (Acts 21:36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.): and their zeal for the law was so great, that, they not only observed it themselves, but would persecute and destroy those who forsook it (Acts 21:21-24 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.): compare (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.).It was to such Hebrews as these, who believed so little, and worked so much, that Paul was afterward inspired to write an Epistle.
It was written to those who had “zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God`s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, had not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law, for righteousness, to everyone that believeth” (Romans 10:2-4
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.).To make this known to them the Epistle to the Hebrews was written. For Paul`s name to have been prefixed to it, as it was to all his other Epistles, would have been (humanly speaking) fatal to its acceptance or usefulness, after the events recorded in (Acts the 21st chapter, verse 17 to 40): events which ended his public ministry.
The Holy Spirit therefore suppressed Paul`s name, and put the name of “God, at the beginning of the Epistle. Thus, “God,” who had given the law, was the God who showed how it had been fulfilled and ended in Christ.
In spite of all this, Christians, today, take the Epistle as addressed directly to themselves: and, when they come to passages like (Hebrew 6:6
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.), and read about “falling away,” or to (Hebrew 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,), and read how “there remain no more sacrifice for sins” for those who “sin willfully,” they are naturally greatly perplexed and perturbed: for all this is in direct contradiction to what is written and specially addressed to them concerning their own standing in Christ, in (Romans the 8th chapter), and other Church Epistles.All this confusion comes from not “rightly dividing” the class of persons to whom, and concerning whom, the Epistle to the Hebrews is addressed.
It may be applied by any and all believers who are still “zealous of the law:” and therefore it concerns such, and only such, today, whether “Romanists,” “Romanizers,” or “Sacramentarians.”
Of course it is written “for” us, yea, “for our learning.” In the Epistle to the Romans we learn the fact, that “Christ is the end of the law for everyone that believeth,” but in Hebrews we learn how Christ became the end of the law, and the end of Priests and Sacrifices. We learn the true meaning of the types of Exodus and Leviticus: which we could never otherwise have known.
But to interpret the Epistle to the Hebrews now of, or as addressed to, those who are “complete in Christ,” “found in Him, not having their own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith” (Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:), is to produce only confusion and trouble. And, to take what was perfectly true of such Hebrew believers who were still “zealous of the law,” and to understand it of those who have died to the law in Christ, is only to disobey the precept as to “rightly dividing” the Word of truth, but it is to pervert that very Word and make it teach error in the place of truth.In (2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.), God`s children are compared to workmen, whose chief “Work” lies in connection with His “Word of truth.” He who gave that Word has directed them how to work, so as to excel as His workmen: and that they may not be ashamed of their work at His coming. He has sent them a special message showing how they are to work in order to secure this happy result. He have sent them an inspired instruction so that they may find the “truth” they seek: and at the same time have the blessed assurance of showing themselves and their work, alike, “approved unto God.”______________________________________________________________________________________________________