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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Heb_6:13-20
13For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14saying, "I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you." 15And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Heb_6:13-20 This is such a powerful promise of security and hope based on God's character and promises (cf. Heb_6:18 a), if we will only respond appropriately (cf. Heb_6:18 b).
Heb_6:13 "when God made the promise to Abraham" Abraham is mentioned because he is considered the father of the Hebrew nation to whom YHWH made many covenantal promises (cf. Genesis 12, 15, 17, 18, 22), and also because of his relation to Melchizedek (cf. Genesis 14). His faith in God came before the law and is used as a NT paradigm of all those who exercise faith (cf. Romans 4).
It is also theologically possible that Abraham was chosen because God's promises to him were not based on his performance, but on God's unconditional promise (cf. Gen_15:12-21; as is the "new covenant," cf. Jer_31:31-34; Eze_36:22-38), while the covenant with Moses is based on obedience, a conditional covenant (cf. Deuteronomy 27-28).
▣ "He swore by Himself" This refers historically to Gen_22:16-17 (Abraham's offering of Isaac) or contextually to Psa_110:4 (cf. Heb_7:17; Heb_7:21). God's oaths and promises can be depended on (cf. Heb_6:16-17). This is the theological thrust of the paragraph. Our hope is in the unchanging character (cf. Psa_102:27; Mal_3:6; Heb_13:8) and promises of God (cf. Isa_40:8; Isa_55:11). These are the "two unchangeable things" of Heb_6:18!
Heb_6:14 This section of Hebrews involves the author's use of OT quotes to Abraham. God made promises to him about many descendants through Isaac. The theological problem is that not all of Abraham's natural descendants were faithful followers of YHWH. They were "covenant," "chosen" people, but all did not exercise personal faith (cf. Heb_6:18 b).
Heb_6:15 This does not describe Abraham's perfect faith (he had children by several women, he tried to give Sarah away twice to save his own life) concerning God's word but his faithful heart and obedience. Abraham, like all humans, is a strange mixture of faith and fear, good and evil.
Heb_6:18 "two unchangeable things" This refers to God's oath (i.e., Psa_110:4 quoted in Heb_5:6; Heb_6:20; Heb_7:17) and God's promise (cf. Heb_6:14). God's word is our assurance (cf. Isa_55:11; Mat_5:17-18).
▣ "in which it is impossible for God to lie" This may be an allusion to Num_23:19 or 1Sa_15:29. This same truth is affirmed by Paul in 2Ti_2:13 and Tit_1:2. See full note at Heb_6:6.
▣ "we who have taken refuge" This may relate to
1. the OT cities of refuge (cf. Num_35:6; Deu_4:41-43; Joshua 20)
2. a metaphor for a safe harbor in a storm (cf. Heb_2:14; Heb_6:19)
3. a metaphor referring to God as a strong fortress in which His people take refuge (cf. Psa_18:1-2; Psa_31:3; Psa_91:2; Psa_91:9; Psa_94:22; Psa_144:2; Isa_17:10; Isa_25:4; Jer_16:19; Joe_3:16; Nah_1:7)
▣ "would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us" In Heb_6:18 we have the theological balance of a strong, trustworthy, sovereign God (cf. Heb_6:18 a) to whom humans must respond, and continue to respond by faith to the end (cf. Heb_6:18 b).
Heb_6:19 "an anchor" This was an ancient Christian symbol for safety, security, and hope. It has been found on the walls of the Roman catacombs. This word brings to mind the hymn,
"I've anchored my soul in the haven of rest,
I'll sail the wild seas no more.
The tempest may sweep o'er the wild stormy deep,
but in Jesus I'm safe evermore."
▣ "steadfast" See Special Topic: Guarantee at Heb_2:2.
▣ "one which enters within the veil" Here the anchor of hope is paralleled with Jesus the high priest entering the heavenly tabernacle (cf. Heb_8:5; Heb_9:23), even into the holy of holies, which symbolized the very presence of God. The hope of believers is in the character and promises of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ.
This is not Platonism (earthly forms versus heavenly ideas), but the heavenly tabernacle pattern shown to Moses on Mt. Sinai (cf. Heb_8:5; Exodus 25-40). This type of dualism is also found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. This type of reasoning (i.e., an earthly copy of a heavenly thing) predates the Greek philosopher Plato. It speaks of our invisible but sure hope in Christ (cf. Heb_9:23 ff).
Heb_6:20 "as a forerunner" This Greek term was used of (1) a scout going before, learning and marking the right path (i.e a pioneer) or (2) a small ship leading a larger ship into a safe harbor. Jesus has gone before believers in every necessary way—overcomer, intercessor, savior, priest, and perfect sacrifice!
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