Need to Know
(Hebrews 10: 11-25)
When I was a cadet in the Houston Police Academy, we were told by our instructors that there were two types of knowledge: good to know and need to know. Good to know information usually fell into the commonsense category of a handy piece of information that could save you some embarrassment out in the field. Need to know was not only information that would show up on an exam, but it was also information that could prove helpful in making it to retirement, your ultimate goal in your police life. During a lecture it was not uncommon for a cadet to raise his or her hand and ask if what was being related was good to know or need to know. If the response was “need to know” then we’d underline it in our notebooks secure in the knowledge that we’d see it again come exam time.
And it’s that need-to-know information that the writer of Hebrews is talking about in our scripture reading for this morning. Information we need to know if we are to have a close and meaningful relationship with God that will lead to our hoped-for retirement in eternity. As background, it’s important to remember that the writer of Hebrews is writing to Jewish converts who have accepted Jesus Christ as the Messiah and many of them may be second generation Christians with relatives who were originally Jewish There may have been a few Gentiles in these congregations but the new churches are primarily made up of members with deep Jewish roots and traditions who may have been considering a return to Judaism, perhaps because of immaturity, stemming from a lack of understanding of Biblical truths combined with the fierce persecution they were experiencing, both physically and socially from both Jews who weren’t pleased with their defection and the Roman government which was beginning to see this new movement as a possible threat to Roman order. Because Christ had not returned to establish his kingdom as quickly as hoped for, the people needed to be reassured that their faith was true and that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
So, we begin our scripture reading for today with the writer stating: Every priest stands every day serving and offering the same sacrifices over and over, sacrifices that can never take away sins. Interesting, I thought. Is he talking about ministers who preach basically the same thing every week and never delve any deeper into the scripture? Is he talking about those preachers who are playing it safe, who’ve discovered a congregation that doesn’t want to be challenged, a congregation that feels pretty good about themselves and feels no need to change, even if the change is for their own good? He’s talking about a religion, a theology that is comfortable with the status quo, keeping people in the seats and meeting the budget. But, the writer continues, when this priest offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right side of God. This priest is different, a priest who is not going through the motions, a priest who sees a future for his people. And about this priest the writer says: Since then, he’s waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for his feet, because he perfected the people who are being made holy with one offering for all time. He’s talking about the Messiah who the Jews have been expecting for hundreds of years. He then goes Old Testament on them when he references what the prophet Jeremiah said about the covenant God would make with them where he would place his laws on their hearts and write them on their minds and that he would remember their sins and lawless behavior no more. The writer says that when there is forgiveness for these things, there is no longer an offering for sin.
The writer then gets down to the need to know aspect of what he is trying to convey, that they can have confidence that they can enter the holy of holies by means of Jesus’ blood, through a new and living way that he opened up for them through the curtain, which is his body, and that they now have a great high priest over God’s house. All of the previous laws, rites, and rituals were good to know, but what this new high priest offers them is “need to know” as it is life changing in every way. Therefore, he continues, let’s draw near with a genuine heart with the certainty that our faith gives us, since our hearts are sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies are washed with pure water. Let’s hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promise is reliable. The writer is urging them to value what they have in Christ, to hold on and press on, rather than trample on all that Christ has done for the sake of friendship with, and comfort in, this temporary world. As God’s children, the congregation can know that their life is fully cleansed and acceptable before God even as they are at the same time becoming more like God, as in growing in holiness. It’s that knowledge of Jesus’ work on their behalf and their assurance of entrance into the very presence of God that allows them to draw near to God. God’s promises are trustworthy because of His steadfast loyalty to us, His children.
The writer closes out this portion of his letter to the Hebrews stating: And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near. Wow! Don’t even try to convince me that the Bible is an old book that has lost its relevance! I just finished reading a book entitled: The Great Dechurching which talks about the countless number of Christians who have stopped coming to church for any number of reasons, with the main reasons being COVID and divisive politics. Apparently, there was a noticeable decline in church attendance so the writer says that they shouldn’t stop meeting together as believers as some of them have gotten into the habit of not worshipping together. The book I read said in-person worship was important because we need to be in physical contact with one another, that isolation, for whatever reason, is not healthy physically or spiritually. You need to be with us, and we need to be with you as we are stronger in our faith when we are together and share that common bond of faith. Now don’t get upset, we aren’t discontinuing our online worship because I think it is necessary for those who can’t get out, for those who can’t watch on Sunday mornings during our regular service time, and for those who live outside of Jefferson County and consider us as their church. We have many faithful online watchers whom I consider to be a part of our congregation, some who live hundreds if not thousands of miles from 130 Church Lane. We are blessed that our message is reaching so many in a way we hadn’t anticipated when COVID made it necessary. I just need to figure out how to get these worshippers more engaged for us and for them. The point that the writer of Hebrews is making is that we need to continue encouraging each other, especially considering the fact that the day of Jesus’ return is drawing near. Ther is no time to lose.
And that’s the message the writer wants us to understand. We need to draw near to God, and we do that through the sacrifice of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. To do any less would be to imply that Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t enough for the forgiveness of our sins. Adding anything to his sacrifice or taking anything from it denies its validity. Any system to gain salvation through good deeds only is essentially rejecting the significance of Christ’s death and spurning the Holy Spirit’s work. It’s when we believe in Christ that he makes us completely right with God. Our loving relationship leads us to follow him in willing obedience and service which pleases him, but we cannot be saved by our good deeds. They are the fruits of what the Spirit does through us.
Through his death and resurrection, Christ, once and for all, made his believers, us, perfect in God’s sight. At the same time, he is making us holy, progressively cleansed, and set apart for his special use in our daily pilgrimage right here or wherever else we are needed. Admittedly, we know we are not perfect and will in all likelihood never achieve perfection, but we should not be surprised, ashamed, or shocked that we still need to grow, that we are a work in progress. God is not finished with us. We can encourage this growth process by deliberately applying Scripture to all areas of our lives, by accepting the discipline and guidance Christ provides, and by giving him complete control of our desires and goals, by walking his path.
So, how is it possible for us to go right into the presence of God? We do it by not coming halfheartedly or with improper motives or pretense, but with pure, individual, and sincere worship. We can know that we have sincere hearts if we evaluate our thoughts and motives according to his Word. Because we are Christians we can approach God boldly, free from our guilty consciences and in full assurance because of the work of Jesus Christ. We can go to God without doubting, knowing that he will hear and answer us. Under the new covenant, our hearts and consciences are cleansed completely, not partially or temporarily. Our clean consciences allow us to enter God’s presence with boldness and that’s not only good for us to know, but it’s something the entire world needs to know. Who among you will carry this message?
Let us pray.
Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies we see. All we have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto us. Yes, gracious and loving God, how great is your faithfulness to us your undeserving children. It amazes us with the dawn of each new day the tender mercies we see, even when we fail you, when we fall short of your glory. We praise you for the unconditional pardoning of our sins and the peace we have in you that endures all of the challenges that life throws at us. We pray for your wisdom, we pray for the knowledge imparted to us by your Holy Spirit that we may not only learn what it is that we need to know, but that we will put what you have inscribed upon our hearts into practice as we endeavor to lead rich and meaningful lives in service to you and your creation. This we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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All of the previous laws, rites, and rituals were “good-to-know”, but what this new high priest offers them is “need-to-know” as it is life changing in every way.