Lesson 6/Day 4
If you came across a memo that read, “You all are not meeting the expectations around here. These messes have got to stop. We’ve gone over this before and if it doesn’t change, big consequences are coming for each of you.” What assumptions would you make about the author? She knows the people she’s dealing with? She’s in charge and has influence? What assumptions would you make about the recipients? They know better? They are aware of the expectations? If you found out that the memo was a Post-It note that your friend put on her fridge addressing her toddlers...what would you think? Pretty harsh, right? Overkill for kiddos, right? She needs some decaf, right? If, however, it was a memo on the fridge in the break room at a corporate office, written from an executive and directed to senior staffers, you’d nod and think they’d better get their act together, right? Knowing the audience and the author made the difference. The same goes here in our study of Hebrews. Unlike the other epistles of the Bible, Hebrews doesn’t open with the typical greeting. With no formal greeting to a specific group of people anywhere in Hebrews, we get to play detective and collect information as we read.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN: In the introduction to this Bible study I asked that you NOT use any commentaries or even the notes in your Bible. I’m going to reiterate that request as you enter in to today’s lesson. Trust the Holy Spirit. Just. Read. The. Word.
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