Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible






By [having] faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. [And] because of his faith he was commended by God for being righteous, when God expressed approval of his offerings. By means of his faith, Abel still speaks [to us], even though he is dead. Verse ConceptsAbelAbel and CainFaith, As Basis Of SalvationCommendationExamples Of FaithAtonement, Types OfRighteousness, As FaithWorship, Acceptable AttitudesThe Witness Of GodRighteous By ObedienceSacrificeExcellence

not [hate each other] the way Cain did, who belonged to the evil one [i.e., Satan], when he murdered his brother [Abel]. And why did he murder him? It was because his [own] actions were evil and his brother's were righteous [See Heb. 11:4]. Verse ConceptsLearning From The PastAbel and Cainevil, origins ofMaliceMurderPast, ThePersecution, Forms OfMartyrdom, Reasons ForWhy People Did ThingsKilling Named IndividualsSiblingsThe DevilDeath Of Loved OneBrothers LovewickednessdeedsSatanic HatredDemonic Influence

It is too bad for these people, for they have followed the example of Cain [the murderer]; for the sake of money they have rushed into the [same] error as Balaam committed [See Num. 25:1-5; 31:16]; they [will] perish [spiritually] for having rebelled [against God] like Korah did. [See Num. 16:1-3, 31-35]. Verse ConceptsBalaams DonkeyAbel and CainNicolaitansRebellion of Satan and Angels







But consider this, you people who judge others for practicing the same things you [yourselves] practice; do you think you will escape God's judgment [for this]? Verse ConceptsFalse ConfidenceCondemnation Of The WickedEscaping From GodJudgmentsJudgementJudging Others Actionspractice

for you know perfectly well that the day of the Lord [i.e., when He returns, See II Thess. 2:1-2] will arrive like a thief coming in the night. [For] when people are saying, "Peace," and "Safety," then [is when] destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape it.

For if the message spoken through angels proved to be binding [Note: This is a reference to the law of Moses. See Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19], and every violation [of it] and disobedience [to it] received a just penalty, how will we escape [punishment] if we neglect such a great salvation? [For it was] first announced [to people] by the Lord and then confirmed to us [i.e., the writer and other Christians] by those who heard Him [i.e., the original apostles].

Pay careful attention so that you do not refuse [to hear] God when He speaks to you. [See verse 9]. For if those people [i.e., the Israelites] did not escape [judgment] when they refused [to hear] Him who warned them on earth [i.e., God speaking through Moses at Mount Sinai], how much less [likely] will we escape [judgment] if we reject Him who warns from heaven [i.e., Christ]? God's voice shook the earth at that time, but now He has promised, saying [Hag. 2:6], "I will cause not only the earth to shake once more, but also heaven [as well]."

And the kings of the earth, the princes, the military commanders, the rich people, the influential people and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among mountain ledges. And they called out to the mountains, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of God, who sits on His throne, and from the anger of the Lamb. For the terrible day of their anger has come, and who will be able to survive it?"


and to Jesus, the Mediator of a New Agreement [between God and mankind], and to the sprinkled blood [of Jesus], which says better things [to us] than [the blood of] Abel did. [Note: The contrast seems to be that "Abel's blood called for vengeance and death (See Gen. 4:10) whereas the blood of Christ provides mercy and life"]. Verse ConceptsAbel and CainSealing A CovenantAbelCovenant, the newBlood, of Jesus ChristMediationMoses, Significance OfNewnessPast, ThePurity, Moral And SpiritualSprinklingChrist, The MediatorTypes Of ChristChrist, Types OfAdvocatesSprinkling BloodHuman Blood ShedPrivileges of saintsThe Blood Of Jesus






and to Jesus, the Mediator of a New Agreement [between God and mankind], and to the sprinkled blood [of Jesus], which says better things [to us] than [the blood of] Abel did. [Note: The contrast seems to be that "Abel's blood called for vengeance and death (See Gen. 4:10) whereas the blood of Christ provides mercy and life"]. Verse ConceptsAbel and CainSealing A CovenantAbelCovenant, the newBlood, of Jesus ChristMediationMoses, Significance OfNewnessPast, ThePurity, Moral And SpiritualSprinklingChrist, The MediatorTypes Of ChristChrist, Types OfAdvocatesSprinkling BloodHuman Blood ShedPrivileges of saintsThe Blood Of Jesus









If anyone [really] desires to do what God wants, he will know whether my teaching comes from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority [only]. Verse ConceptsFindingChoicesGuidance, Need For God'sSubmission To God's WillDiscerning God's ThingsSound DoctrineDoing God's WillFree Moral AgencyGod's WillStress And Hard TimesPositive ThinkingEthicsKnowing Goddoctrine