A Closer Look at God's Word

Lesson 14 of 17. In this lesson, we see a list of those who were willing to pay a great price for their faith: There were Moses’ parents and Moses himself; then there was Joshua and Rahab and other heroes of faith who were willing to face persecution and even death for their belief in God. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews11_23-40.pdf

Lesson 13 of 17. In this lesson, we see how Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph put faith into action. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews11_14-22.pdf

Lesson 12 of 17.Here we see the superiority of the way of faith over the way of works. We are also given some examples of the Old Testament saints who walked by faith. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews11_01-16.pdf

Lesson 11 of 17.In the heavenly tabernacle , Jesus’ precious blood put away forever the sins of those who trust Him as their Saviour. So then, if the Jews in the church rejected Jesus’ all-sufficient sacrifice in favour of the Old Testament sacrifices, they would miss God’s only way of salvation. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews10_11-39.pdf

Lesson 10 of 17.Under Old Testament law, the blood of animals sacrificed in the earthly tabernacle could only cover sin. Clearly, this could only be a temporary solution. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews09_15-28and10_01-10.pdf

Lesson 9 of 17. The earthly tabernacle that was set up under Old Testament law did not bring the people into close fellowship with their God. In fact, the Holy of Holies was only accessible to the high priest, and even then, only once a year. In contrast, by virtue of Christ’s shed blood, we have been brought into the presence of God, and have been made His dear children. Transcript here: https://...

Lesson 8 of 17. In Hebrews 8:6-13, we cover some of the same ground that we have been considering in the last lesson. Basically, the new covenant in Jesus’ blood is better than the old covenant of law. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews08_06-13and09_01-05.pdf

Lesson 7 of 17.In this lesson, the writer makes the case that Jesus—who was called after the order of Melchizedek—is a better high priest than those in the Aaronic priesthood. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews07_11-28and08_01-13.pdf

6 of 17. This lesson goes into detail in describing Melchizedek, a man who was greater than Abraham and Abraham’s descendant, Levi. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews06_07-20and07-01_10.pdf

5 of 17. In this lesson, we have a comparison between the Aaronic priesthood—with all its deficiencies—and the perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews05_01-14and06_01-06.pdf

4 of 17. In this lesson, the writer warns those who were in danger of slipping back into Judaism of the danger of unbelief. As an example, he points to their forefathers, who, having been promised the blessings of the Promised Land, spent the rest of their lives in the wilderness. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews03_07-19and04_01-16.pdf

3 of 17. In this book, the writer is dealing with the problem of those in the church who only possess a head knowledge of Christianity and are considering going back into the old judicial system. To do this, he points out Jesus’ superiority over all that is connected to Old Testament law, beginning with Moses. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews02_14-18and03_0...

2 of 17. In chapter one, Jesus, as the Son of God, is shown to have full authority over the angels. In chapter two, as the Son of Man, He has voluntarily become a little lower than the angels. And by becoming a man, He is able to pay for man’s sin and make them children of God. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews02_01-13.pdf

1 of 17.In the first three verses of chapter one and throughout the chapter, Jesus is identified as the final and greatest Prophet, the Creator and ruler of the universe, and a full member of the Godhead. As the Son of man, He is our Saviour and our Advocate with the Father. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hebrews01_01-14.pdf

Lesson 33 of 33. (END) In this lesson, Jesus pursues some of His wandering sheep. Peter had gone fishing, and six of the disciples had gone with him. Being out of the will of God, they caught nothing. But rather than rebuking them, their Shepherd prepared breakfast for them. And after breakfast, Jesus recommissioned His headstrong but faithful disciple, Peter. Transcript here: https://closerlook.c...

Lesson 32 of 33. It was still dark on that resurrection morning when Mary ventured forth to go to the sepulchre. When she saw that the sepulchre was open and Jesus’ body was missing, she panicked: “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” But Jesus’ body had not been stolen. He was alive—and would soon be in the presence of His frightened follo...

Lesson 31 of 33. “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend; whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.” Those were the words that convinced Pilate that he must crucify an innocent Man. In his opinion, it was the only politically safe thing he could do. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/John19_01-42.pdf

Lesson 30 of 33. In this lesson, Jesus is tried before Annas and the High Priest Caiaphas. After that, He is judged by the Roman Governor Pilate, who, having found no fault in Him, gave the crowd the choice of releasing Jesus or Barabbas. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/John18_01-40.pdf

Lesson 29 of 33. On the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus lifts his eyes to heaven and begins to pray. In a way, part of His prayer reminds us of a teacher or rabbi reporting on His students: “I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept thy word.” Part of it reminds us of a shepherd reporting on...

Lesson 28 of 33. On the very night of the disciples’ last Passover meal with Jesus, their world would be turned upside down. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Messiah would be arrested and subsequently crucified. It was a dark valley that they must pass through until once again they would stand in the presence of their resurrected Lord. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025...

Lesson 27 of 33. As Jesus prepares to return to heaven by way of the cross, He speaks both of the hardships that the disciples must bear—because of their relationship to their Lord—and the blessing of the Holy Spirit Who will supply what they need to fulfill their responsibilities as Jesus’ representatives. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/John15_18-27and16_01-15.p...

Lesson 26 of 33. No doubt, on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus gives His disciples the example of the vine and the branches. It is their responsibility to abide in Jesus, and Jesus accepts the responsibility of making them fruitful. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Transcript here:...

Lesson 25 of 33. While in the Upper Room, Jesus prepares His disciples for their involvement in the Church Age that is just ahead. Jesus will be leaving them and taking His place beside His Heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit would be indwelling them on a permanent basis and empowering them to do Jesus’ will. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/John14_01-31.pdf

Lesson 24 of 33. The time had come for the disciples’ last Passover Feast with Jesus, and the Master was very much in charge. In this passage, we have some very interesting character studies. There was John (the author of this book), Peter, who was so hard to control, and Judas, who—like his nation—must decide whether he would be for or against the Messiah. Transcript here: https://closerlook.ca/w...

Lesson 23 of 33. The time had come for Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the time had come for its citizens to either accept or reject their Messiah. To the lasting regret of that nation, they rejected their King. And even . . . “though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believe not on him; That the saying of Isaiah, the prophet, might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, w...