The Epistle to the Hebrews

Ronald J. Frasco

 

In the Epistle to the Hebrews, we find a very unique feature. With remarkable frequency, we find verbs in ‘the subjunctive mood’. Mood, in grammar, refers to the relationship to reality about what is spoken. The ‘subjunctive’ mood is the mood of future potential will or might something exist in the future. In this Epistle, this special feature is employed as a powerful encouragement not a quite a command, but rather an enthusiastic encouragement. These fifteen enduring admonitions have the feel of a coach’s urgency, a spiritual “Let’s go!”
 

Enduring Admonitions

Divine Encouragements for Saints Imperiled

If we desire to glorify Christ in great trial, we must

1.   listen to the One who is Greater than Angels 1:1-2:18

2:1 For this reason we must [let us] pay much closer attention

2. come to the One whose Salvation is Greater than Moses 3:1-4:13

3:1 consider Jesus

3:6 [let us] hold fast our confidence

3:12 Take care an evil, unbelieving heart

3:14 [let us] hold fast the beginning of our assurance

4:1 let us fear come short

4:11 let us be diligent to enter that rest

3.   draw upon the fullness of God s resources 4:14-5:10

Christ s priesthood is better than the Levitical priesthood

4:14 let us hold fast our confession

4:16 let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace

4. become spiritual adults checking debilitating immaturity 5:11-6:20

6:1 let us press on to maturity

6:11 [let us] show the same diligence so as to realize the full

assurance of hope

5. nurture an intimate relationship with a Holy God 10:19-22

10:22 let us draw near [to enter the holy place]

6. fulfill our obligation to the Body of Christ 10:23-34

10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without

wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

:24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love

and good deeds,

:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit

of some,

but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see

the day drawing near.

7. persevere to The Salvation of our Souls 10:35-39

10:35 do not throw away your confidence

8. strenuously live out our Christianity 12:1-3

12:1 let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so

easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

9. embrace God s discipline as a blessing 12:4-13

12:7 It is for discipline that you endure God deals with you as

with sons;

for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

:12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees

that are feeble,

:13 and make straight paths for your feet

10. vigorously pursue relational godliness 12:14-17

12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification

11. demonstrate fearful thankfulness 12:18-29

12:28 let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an

acceptable service

12. care for people s needs (social responsibilities) 13:1-6

13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers

13. avoid false doctrine (spiritual responsibilities) 13:8-16

13:9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings

14. follow our God-given leaders (ecclesiastical responsibilities) 13:7,17

13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them

15. devote ourselves to prayer 13:18-21

13:18 Pray