Get Ready
Hebrews is the book that links the Gospel to Jewish history and Scripture. The author takes two thousand years of history and ritual and prophecy and applies it to the person and work of Jesus Christ: he is the way to reconnect with God, the truth about God and his purposes, and the life we have with God.
Author
Hebrews is the only New Testament letter with no identification of the author or the intended recipient.
Many early church leaders thought the Apostle Paul wrote this letter. However, Paul identifies himself in every other letter. Further, the style and focus on Christ’s fulfillment of the Jewish sacrificial rituals differ from the focus of Paul’s letters.
Most scholars date this book between 65 and 70, because the author speaks to a group of established believers (the present time is contrasted to the earlier days) and writes as if sacrifices are still being carried out in the temple in Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed, ending sacrifices, in 70 when Rome destroyed the city.
Context
The probable date (above) puts this letter in the second generation of the church. The author’s frequent references to the recipients’ former faith and behavior and sufferings [10:32-34] supports this conclusion. The audience is now “drifting” and “falling” away [2:1, 3:2], is “dull in understanding,” [5:12], and evidently not regularly meeting together [10:25].
The audience is probably a group of Jewish Christians. The author uses many Old Testament passages in a manner that assumes the readers are familiar with them. In addition the author writes with a familiarity with the group, especially in the ending.
Many scholars believe the intended audience is in Rome: they interpret, Those from Italy send you greetings, [13:24], to mean the author was with believers who had been in the city. In addition, an early leader of the Roman church, Clement, references the letter in 95.
Structure
Hebrews is the most formal and literary book in the New Testament. The author calls it my word of exhortation, [13:22]. The Greek word for “Exhortation” is also used for a sermon [Acts 13:15], and this book reads like a sermon in written form.
The author includes an exhortation after each of the three main arguments:
- Jesus Christ is God’s unique son – he is the complete expression of God’s revelation and equal in all aspects to the Father.
- Jesus Christ is the great high priest – he has completely fulfilled all the requirements of the Mosaic Law, including the complete and eternal sacrifice for human sin.
- Faithful obedience is our response to Christ’s action on our behalf – Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful, [10:23]
Major Themes
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament rituals and prophecies.
Throughout the book the author links Christ to the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah and compares Christ to the Old Testament priests and sacrifices:
- Christ is God’s Son. Jesus is greater than the angels, God has anointed him and given him this throne. Jesus is a full and equal partner in creation [1:4-14]. The author then exhorts the reader to pay attention and to not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, [3:8 – a reference to the Israelites’ rebellion against God and Moses in the wilderness].
- Christ is the great high priest. Before Jesus, the Jews had a high priest from the line of Aaron (Moses’ brother), but they were all mortal. Jesus is a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, [4:6 – Melchizedek was a priest-king who blessed Abraham in Gen 14:17-20].
- Christ is the ultimate sacrificial “lamb.” The human priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [10:11-12].
The author then calls on the reader to persevere in their faith: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, [11:1]. He then provides a list of examples of faith from Jewish history (see sidebar).
The final section describes a life of faith with a variety of exhortations, including:
- Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord, [12:14].
- Give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, [12:28].
- Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it, [13:5].
Get into the Word
1. Who wrote this book? Who was thought to have written this book? When was the book written? What clues lead to this time frame?
2. Who was the intended audience for this book? What clues do we have about the probable recipients? Where were they probably living? What was their situation at the time? What problem was the author trying to address?
3. How is this book organized? What type of work is it? How does the author describe this book? What are the major sections of the book? Who is the major subject in this book? What aspects of this person’s character does the writer illuminate? What is his relationship to Jewish history? To Jewish ritual? To us?
4. What is the major theme of this book? What points does the author use to explain and support the primary message of the book? What does the writer encourage the reader to do as a response to each major conclusion? How do you suppose his readers reacted to these exhortations?
5. How does the writer link the arguments of the book to the lives of his readers? What is the primary “So what” message? How should a reader respond to Christ’s life and work? How should we? What types of practical advice does the author provide?
Bible Trivia
Faith “Hall of Fame”
The author of Hebrews defines faith [in chapter 11] but also gives several examples of faithful actions from Jewish history:
Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice.
Enoch pleased God and did not experience death.
Noah was spared from the great flood (along with his family).
Abraham obeyed and moved to the land God promised.
Isaac invoked blessings for the future.
Jacob blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and made mention of the exodus of the Israelites.
Moses’ parents hid him to keep him alive; and Moses kept the Passover and led the people out of slavery.
Rahab received the Israelite spies in peace.
And . . .
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel.
75: Christ is our great high priest – Hebrews 7:11-8:7
Get Ready
How do you respond to new ways of doing things or new technology? Are you an “early adapter” who is one of the first to try the new thing? Or are you one who waits until the new thing has thoroughly proven itself and all the bugs have been worked out?
The Word
711 Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
13 Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, 16 one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of him,
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.
20 This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, 21 but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him,
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever’”—
22 accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
8Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent that the Lord, and not any mortal, has set up. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They offer worship in a sanctuary that is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly one; for Moses, when he was about to erect the tent, was warned, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. How does the author link the “priesthood of Levi” and the Mosaic Law? What does the writer say about the ability of the law to achieve its purpose? What consesquence does this have for the priesthood? How does the author support this assertion?
2. How is Jesus as the new High Priest different than the Levitical priests? What qualifies Jesus’ to be the new High Priest? By whose authority?
3. How does the author compare the Mosaic Law and Levitical priests with Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection and his role as our High Priest under the new covenant? How is Jesus a “better hope?” What is he able to do that the other priests cannot? Who guarantees our hope?
4. How does the author describe Jesus in the “main point?” What differences does the author point out between Jesus and all the previous High Priests? What is different about the “sanctuary?” What does the writer use from the story of Moses to underscore these differences? How is this a “better” covenant?
Get Personal
How does God help you to “see” the reality of Christ’s ministry in your life? How often do you find yourself looking at the “shadow,” or perhaps living as if the “old covenant” still operated?
Notes . . .
7:11. Levitical priesthood — Mosaic Law required that the priests for Israel be from the tribe of Levi, and the high priest must be descended from Aaron, Moses brother.
Melchizedek — the name means “king of righteousness (or justice).” As the author points our, he was an ancient king of “Salem” which is usually thought to be Jerusalem. Salem means “peace” or “peaceful” so Melchizedek was a king of righteousness and peace. [The original story is at Gen 14:17-20.]
7:17. The author is quoting Psalm 110:4: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
7:12. Change in the law — the writer argues that both the Mosaic Law and the Aaronic priesthood must be changed because of Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection dealt fully and completely with sin, whereas the law and the priests who administered and served it did not. In fact the Old Testament talked about the replacement of the law and the priesthood.
Jesus’ covenant and priesthood define how God will relate to his people from now on [see verse 19].
7:18. Abrogation — literally “setting aside.”
7:25. Once and forever — the original Greek gives particular emphasis and includes the concepts of “completely” and “absolutely.” It underscores the author’s point that Jesus Christ has the only complete and final answer to sin — he is the only “way” to a full relationship with God.
8:3. Something to offer — Jesus told the disciples, My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink, [John 5:56].
8:5. Shadow — also translated “pattern” – the Jewish temple was like the heavenly one, but did not have the true substance, just as a shadow represents but is not the actual person.
Warned — the details are at Exodus 25:40.
8:6. Better covenant — God told Jeremiah, I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts, [Jer 31:33, Hebrews includes this reference at 8:10].
Memory Verse
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,
[Hebrews 11:1].
Next Lesson
James: Faith and works.
