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"The heirs of promise..."

Text: Hebrews 6:17

THE WAYS OF MAN

Man tends to have trouble believing in others! It is seldom enough to give a word of promise. An oath is often attached to a word of promise for strength. The following text makes this observation

“For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath
for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.”
Hebrews 6:16

1. The way of man to confirm a word of promise is through swearing an oath.

2. The oath is always taken in the name of someone higher… for example, “God”.

3. The oath tends to be more believed.

4. Disputes are resolved effectively when an oath is taken.

UNDERSTANDING THE WAYS OF MAN

God shows that He understands the ways of man very well. Knowing man’s inclination to believe if an oath is taken, God gave such an oath.

“Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs
of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it
by an oath.”
Hebrews 6:17

1. “Thus God”

a) This tells us that God understands man’s ways.

b) He is willing to do things according to man’s way of thinking (where it is not wrong).

2. “The heirs of promise”

a) This is a reference to the “children of Abraham” (the spiritual children are in view here).

b) The spiritual descendants are rightly called “the heirs of promise”.

3. “The immutability of His counsel”

a) God’s counsel (His word of promise) should have been sufficient for man.

b) He sought to help the heirs of promise to believe Him with all their heart- by confirming His word (“counsel”) with an oath.