יּקנרק'ד

Hebrews Chapter 6  Verses 16-20

:16 “For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” 

“For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.”  Until just a few years ago it was common practice in the American court room that a witness would swear to tell the truth by making an oath to God.  As the verse said, “men swear by the greater.”  By swearing by the greater, they are in effect saying, ‘Let God’s wrath abide upon me if I fail to do what I promised to do.’  The oath is to confirm that the promise will be fulfilled by the one who made the promise.  The oath was designed o end any controversy over whether the promise would be fulfilled.  

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath.”  This verse speaks of both a promise being made by God unto a people who are called the “heirs of promise.”  We find this promise and the heirs of promise in Rom. 8:29, 30: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”  The ones that God “foreknew” are the heirs of the promise of this covenant.  The final result of this promise is that they will be finally and totally conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.  The time this covenant promise was made is spelled out for us in Tit. 1:2: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Now we are told that God confirmed this promise by an oath.   

“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie…”  The two immutable things are the covenant promise of God and the oath.  By these two immutable things and by the fact that one of the characteristics of God is that it is impossible for him to lie, we know of the absolute certainty that what God promised God will bring to pass.  The word “immutable” means unchangeable.  Since God cannot change his mind and God cannot lie, we know the promises are sure. 

“We might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us…” The phrase “strong consolation” from the Greek means mighty comfort.  The word “hope” means “expectant confidence.”  Unfortunately many people misunderstand what hope is.  They equate hope with a wish or a dream.  Hope is not a wish, but rather it is expecting God to fulfill his promise.   

It is a mighty comfort to those of God’s children who understand the truth of salvation by grace through the covenant work of God to know that regardless of the circumstances of their lives or the problems or trials they face that God will fulfill his promise and they will inherit the promise of God and live with him eternally in heaven’s glory world.   

“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil…”  Our expectant confidence that God will keep his covenant promise is an anchor to our soul.  We are not anchored to things on earth, but rather we are anchored to the God of heaven who sits in heaven.  By anchoring on God’s covenant promises we are better able to steer the ship of our lives here on this timely shore.   

“Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”  A forerunner is one who runs before the rest.  Our forerunner has run the race that is set before us and has already entered into the veil.  This teaches us that we have a race to run and we also will one day enter into the veil which is heaven itself.  Moreover, Jesus, who is our forerunner, is also our high priest after the order of Melchisedec.  He ever liveth and maketh intercession for us.  This is a double blessing as He has assured our entering into the veil and he also is our great helper and intercessor for us here on earth.