²² But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

Urging is the work of the shepherd-heart who not only desires that Christians know the truth, but that they respond to the truth. The writer of Hebrews has written this book for the purpose of changing lives. Of course, only the Holy Spirit can bring that about, but as human image-bearers, redeemed, we all use our spiritual gifts in concert with, keeping in step with, the Spirit (“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” Gal 5:25 NIV). As readers, we need to take to heart what we have read these past 258 days. There is much to take in and embrace.

The temptation in reading Scripture might be to keep hold of that which is easy, or appeals to us, and to reject, or simply let fade anything that is not friendly to our current state of life. In other words, we human beings have a tendency to stay in a rut; our spiritual inertia tends toward stagnation. Praise God for Scripture writers and for their exhortations to us. They have not given us merely “chicken soup for the soul.” Rather, the teachings of Scripture are “… living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12). With all the writer of Hebrews has laid out, and we have read it all seriously and pensively, then he is right to urge us to “bear with this word of exhortation.” There are many things difficult to understand in this book and some Christians cannot understand it (see Hebrew 5:11-14). It is not easy to read the warnings and not at the same time question our own salvation. Though that is impossible as we pointed out before, how many of us don’t at some point in reading this, take pause and review our own faith, whether it is genuine or a façade? How can we not grieve when we see some who appear to be genuine Christians, go back from following Christ and embrace works-based religions. Yes, we need to “bear” with the teaching of Hebrews, because it is God’s terse word to us. Christ is superior and therefore righteousness and acceptance comes through Him—and no other way!

Despite the somber tone of this closing exhortation, the message of the book is Christ-exalting. We have discovered that Christ is not only superior to the angels, Moses, the Levitical priesthood and the Law, He is High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, who offered up the once-for-all-time sacrifice that was fully sufficient for our forgiveness of sin. Praise the Father and His Son!

Lord, when I survey the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ I am continually amazed at what He has done for me. I am humbled and eternally thankful.