Introduction
Throughout time, Christians have suffered through many different challenges. Followers of Jesus have had to face persecution, beatings, imprisonment and more. Today, believers are still experiencing these challenges and trials. There are constant news reports around the world, exploiting Christians, who have fallen away from their faith. They have run away from Jesus and have embraced the pleasures of this world. The author of Hebrews understood this temptation for the Jewish Christians as they have given up their old ways, in efforts for the gospel to be presented in a new light. Christians were threatened for their continued suffering. There were external pressures to return to what they knew, which was rooted in the law. There was fear that, because of the persecution, the converts would fall away from their faith. The book of Hebrews is a great reminder to new-Christians that Jesus is greater than angels, priests, old covenantal promises, and animal sacrifices. They must persevere and endure in their faith to receive the promises that were made from God. His promises are trustworthy and faithful. His promises all point to the promise of eternal salvation.
Purpose
The sermonic letter of Hebrews is filled with exhortations and warnings. Exhortations are used to urge someone to action. The author of Hebrews is urging the Jewish Christians to not fall away from Jesus. The warnings are to raise attention to the consequences of hardening one’s heart towards Christ. Together, they drive home the theological message that Jesus is better than the old. His new covenant has replaced the old covenant, which in turn, gives the new believer a different way to living – by faith rather than works. Everything from the Old Testament is inferior to the promises made in the New Testament. This leads to a call to hold fast and draw near, in efforts to not, “turn away from Jesus and the new covenant and revert to the Mosaic Law and the old covenant”. With so much information and so many verses, it is easy to get caught up in the details of theology when reading the message to the readers. Topics such as, Jesus’ priesthood, His atonement, our salvation, Melchizedek, and more – but, throughout each of these topics, they all have a common theme running through each of them… to provide a foundation for the main idea of not drifting away from the Gospel.
Structure
Author
One of the most mysterious parts of the book of Hebrews is the author. There is not complete certainty of who wrote the book. The author never mentions themselves or anyone else. Some attribute it to Barnabas, Paul, Clement, Luke, or Apollos. The belief was that Paul was the main author, until it was rejected for three primary reasons. First, he never identifies himself like he did in his other 13 letters. Second, the style of writing does not fit the rest of his pieces. Third, the writer in Hebrews 2:3, does not separate himself from original eyewitnesses. He says this, “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard”. Paul is the opposite – he puts himself in the authority of being an Apostle of Christ Jesus. With Paul out of the picture, this opened the possibility for many other potential authors. There is still lack of undeniable evidence of any one author, but we can rest in knowing that God, in His all-knowing power, put the perfect author in place.
Date
Another challenge about the book of Hebrews is dating the documents. Without a doubt, it was written in the first century. With almost as much certainty, the book was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. The destruction of the Jerusalem temple is a vital part to dating this writing. Since there was strong language of sacrifices, it can be assumed it was formed before the end of temple sacrifices. Lastly, Hebrews 5:12 claims that the audience has been believers for some time – “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food”. Consequently, the most accurate date would be in the 60’s A.D right before the temple was destroyed and several years after Christ’s death and resurrection.
Outline
Hebrews is formed by two important features. There is a consistent alternation between exposition and exhortation. The two work together to drive home the central message of the book. With a Jewish Christian audience, the Old Testament is referenced repeatedly. The letter begins by saying Jesus is better than any angelic beings (Hebrews 1:1 – 2:18). It then transitions by describing Jesus, who is superior to the Mosaic Law, through his heavenly priesthood (3:1 – 10:18). The letter finishes with a call to faith and endurance, as well as concluding exhortations (10:19 – 13:25).
Message
He is Greater than Angels
The book of Hebrews puts Jesus above all – reigning over the Old Testament’s events and people. Jesus is God’s final and definitive revelation. God has spoken through his Son to establish a new kingdom that did not depend on prophets, sacrifices, or the law. All these things were fulfilled through a superior being who is the heir and ruler of the universe.
No further word should be expected – Jesus was sent on a mission by the Father to accomplish the Old Testament promises and fulfill the law and the prophets of days before Christ. In the Old Testament, a king was spoken of to the land of Israel that would inherit and rule over all things. The author of II Samuel has written about the coming Son, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men” (2 Samuel 7:14). This Davidic Messiah came as more superior than the sons of angels. In order to be crowned with Glory and Honor (Psalm 8:5), Jesus had to be made lower than the heavenly beings. He was made into a Human Being so that He could reign over death. He was and is the only One who defeated death.
He is Greater than the Levitical Priesthood
Jesus came as the great high priest – in the order of the Melchizedekian priesthood, but better than the Levitical priesthood. He is the chosen Son that is appointed by God to be the High Priest over all. The author of Hebrews exhorts and warns believers to hold fast, but through this He assures that He will draw near to his children in this time.
The source of eternal salvation is through the new priesthood found in the flawless obedience as the high priest from the order of Melchizedek, rather than the Levitical line. Exodus 28-29 exposes the orderly priesthood of Aaron that originated blood sacrifices of animals for God. In the book of Psalms, God reveals an eternal priesthood that would differ from the Levitical priesthood of Aaron (Psalm 110:4). Jesus, the High Priest King, came appointed by the Father to be the perfect priest forever. Even though this is true about his priesthood, he shared with human beings by being “plagued with the sorrows and heartache of human existence”. His Kingship is eternal, but in His almighty glory He allows it to be personal.
Hebrews 8 is an important chapter in the book– it speaks of a new covenant that is better than the old. There was a need for Jesus because the old covenant “[was] demonstrated by the weakness and sin of the covenant people under the old administration”.
Without the greatest act of love on the cross, humans would still be living life under the old covenant. This would mean still making daily animal sacrifices to be right with God, which is known as The Day of Atonement. This was a day that was the most glorious day in the Old Testament, which required a lengthy process to execute. But God had a better plan for atonement, since “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Christ’s atoning power took away sin from every person from beginning to end through the perfect blood spilled on the cross. The Atoner, Propitiator, and Justifier allows an opportunity for each human to reunite with God through the cleansing of sin. This good news should allow our hearts to be open toward the Melchizedekian priesthood of Jesus.
Call to Faith and Endurance
The author concludes with several exhortations and warnings to maintain faith and endurance. Do not fall away from the great high priest, Jesus. He is the reason for perseverance in faith, endurance through suffering, and love for others and His commandments. The great faith chapter is filled with examples of individuals who were devoted to God’s calling despite their shortcomings and doubts (Hebrews 11). As seen in Deuteronomy 8, God wants to know the hearts of his people, whether they will keep his commandments. He wanted to encourage the readers of Hebrews to not “tremble with fear” like Moses did at Mount Sinai because their race ends at Mount Zion – the city of God (Deuteronomy 9:19; Hebrews 12:20-21). The letter to the Hebrews ends with some final encouragements to pursue a godly life, which “expresses itself in mutual care and love for one another”.
Church Ministry
There are many practical ministry applications from Hebrews. First, would be the emphasis on the importance of the Old Testament. Churches, oftentimes, focus primarily on New Testament texts. As seen in Hebrews, to understand the book fully – there must be a background knowledge of God’s story before Christ entered the scene. Second, study the book of Hebrews as a church. This application step will encourage greater affection with Christ and acts of service. It will push believers to study the nature, person, and work of Christ. Third, there should be an increasing effort in biblical accountability. The author of Hebrews exhorts and warns his brethren to pursue Christ. For example, the author calls out the believers to “not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). Fourth, a call to action would be to, “leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity” (6:1). It is important to study God’s Word and create a discipline of diving deeper into theology. Lastly, use Hebrews to call God’s people to perseverance and endurance. There is nothing worth putting our hope in in this World. Therefore, it is vital to hold fast in the face of persecutions and suffering – because it will come on this side of heaven.
Conclusion
Jesus is the reason to press on and stay the course with joy and hope. His life, death, and resurrection has provided a way for all to know and love him. He promises an eternal inheritance to those who respond in faith. He is greater than all and gives a new covenantal blessing through the shedding of his own blood. The Davidic Messiah, from the order of Melchizedek, crucified sin on the cross, so that, by faith, lives are transformed for his glory, honor, and praise. There is no greater love than this.
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