Avoiding Strange Doctrines

[9] Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

 [10] We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

 [11] For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

 [12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

 [13] Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

 [14] For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

 [15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

 [16] But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:9-16)

The context of this section of Scripture concerns the continued use of animal sacrifices by the Jews following the sacrifice of Jesus. Verse 9 talks about sacrificial meat, verse 10 about the altar of sacrifice in the tabernacle verses 11-12 concerns the high priest offering the blood of animals for sin.

Verse 12 explains that Jesus is not only the high priest

but also the sacrifice for our sin.

 [24] But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

 [25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 [26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

 [27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

 [28] For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. (Hebrews 7:24-28)

Follow Christ outside the camp of Judaism….

Verse 13 calls for a separation from the Jewish tribe – “let us go with him (Jesus) outside the camp…

 [2] Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:

 [3] Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.

 [4] And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.

(Numbers 5:2-4)

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13)

Bearing his reproach- Verse 13

The book of Hebrews is written to the Jewish people. Any Jew accepting Jesus as the Messiah would be considered anathema to the religious rulers and the majority of the people. You would be ostracized or even imprisoned or executed. Very literally a Jew believing on Jesus would have to take up his cross and follow him.

[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. [25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. [26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26

GOD REJECTED THE FEASTS AND SACRIFICES OF ISRAEL

BECAUSE OF THEIR IDOLATRY

 [21] I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

 [22] Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

 [23] Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

 [24] But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

 [25] Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?

 [26] But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

 [27] Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.

(Amos 5:21-27)

The sacrifice of animals can never wash away sin.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4

Secondly, Christ’s sacrifice was once for all time!

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law!

All of the feasts and sacrifices were established as teaching tools to illustrate spiritual truths that would be fulfilled by the coming Messiah. Jesus did not come to just do away with such things. Jesus was the fulfillment of all of the feasts and sacrifices.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17)

Rejecting Christ the Messiah proved that Judaism had lost it’s way. It had become a government of men who no longer submitted themselves to God. They rejected God as they hung the Lord Jesus on the cross.

 [14] For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

 [15] 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:

 [16] 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. (I Thessalonians 2:14-16)

Jesus said of the Jews

But in vain they do worship me,

 teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9)

[7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

 [8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

 [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:7-9)

Today there are many strange doctrines…

strange because they are not sound.

 [1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

 [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

(I Timothy 4:1-2)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)