Chapter 10 continues the theme of the supremacy of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Here, His priesthood is superior because His sacrifice of Himself not only did what the other sacrifices could not do (it took our sins away - vs11), but His sacrifice only needed to be offered once and then He sat down in the exalted position at the right hand of God (vs12). It is because of this that the writer of Hebrews then calls us to faith in Jesus Christ as our High Priest (vs22,38,39). It is this call to faith that then launches the writer into the grand "Hall of Faith" in the next chapter.
Chapter 11 is truly one of the most powerful chapters in this book, and some would say even in the entire Bible! There have truly been some amazing displays of faith from Abel down to the present day. When you stop to think about people like Abraham who left his hometown (vs8) and was ready to sacrifice his own son believing that God would raise him up (17-19), what God calls us to do in trusting Him during difficult times seems a bit small, and yet it can be so hard for us. Maybe that is why this chapter is in the Bible! Verse 38 says that the world was not worthy of these people of faith. O that we would be that kind of people, trust God to be and do what He is and what He promises!
The final two chapters of this book contain the "ethical" section. In other words, the writer is telling us how we should act in light of the supremacy of Jesus Christ. We are to endure patiently the chastening that comes (vs6-11). We are to be pursuing lives of holiness in our interpersonal relationships (vs12-17). We are to be careful in our approach to worship God (vs18-29). Then as chapter 13 begins, the writer seems to be throwing out several rapid-fire commands that encompass many different areas of life - brotherly love, hospitality, generosity, marriage, submission to authority, etc. Then he closes the book with a grand benediction (vs20-21). These verses are certainly worthy not only of further contemplation, but of memorization and application.
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