An Overview of Hebrews - Week 1

(Get your Bible out and read the verses as we study.) 

The authorship of the book of Hebrews has been argued by so-called "scholars" for ages. The argument will be settled in this post (although the so-called "scholars" will probably continue to argue about it).

This we know: the writer had been in bonds (Hebrews 10:34); he wrote from Italy (Hebrews 13:24); his companion was Timothy (Hebrews 13:23); and Peter identifies Paul as the writer (2 Peter 3:15, 16 and 1 Peter 1:1)

Paul had been in bonds, had written from Rome, was Timothy's spiritual father, and is the one referred to in 1st and 2nd Peter.

We also know that the writer was deeply familiar with the ins and outs of the work and beliefs of the Pharisees. You will remember that Paul called himself a "Hebrew of Hebrews...a Pharisee" (...circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5).

The book of Hebrews parallels the book of Romans. In fact, it reads as a commentary to the Jews on the book of Romans. While Romans was about Law and Grace, Hebrews is about the Law versus the New Covenant (which is also grace). Covenant is something every Jew would understand and every Pharisee, Sadducee and Levite would know everything there is to know about.

The style of the book is exactly what the style would be if it were written by a knowledgeable Jew to Jewish leaders. It was not written to Gentiles, but to Jews, thus its Jewish terminology and flavor.

So, it is settled. Paul wrote Hebrews. If you disagree, that's OK. This is America and you have the right to be wrong.

Scholars divide Hebrews into two main sections: 1. The didactic (designed or intended to teach), made up of the ten first chapters; 2. The parainetic (offering strong encouragement) from the 19th verse of the tenth chapter to the end of the Epistle.

Hebrews is ALL about Jesus. It is a message to the Jews (and us) of Jesus’ superiority.

1 Jesus, son of God, greater than all 1:1-2:18

 The greatness of the Son 1:1-3

 Jesus is superior to angels in his person 1:4-14

 Jesus is superior to angels in his message 2:1-4

 Jesus is superior to angels as a human being 2:5-18

2 The superior apostle 3:1-4:13

 Jesus is superior to Moses 3:1-6

 Warning against unbelief 3:7-4:2

 Warning not to miss God’s promised rest 4:3-13

3 The greatest chief priest 4:14-7:28

 Jesus is superior to Aaron 4:14-5:14

 Jesus is superior in promises 6:1-20

 Jesus is superior to Melchizedek (the greatest Hebrew high priest ever) 7:1-28

4 Jesus is the better mediator 8:1-10:39

 A new and better agreement 8:1-13

 A new way to praise God 9:1-28

 A new sacrifice and way to life 10:1-39

5 The better way 11:1-13:25

 The way of trust and hope 11:1-40

 The right way to live 12:1-29

 The way of love and serving God 13:1-25

Hebrews Chapter 1                                                                                                                                                   

Verses 1-2 – The prophets, such as Jeremiah were God’s vessels to carry His message. God often 
spoke to the Hebrews in the past. He spoke to them in different ways. God gave them dreams (Ezekiel & Daniel), sent angels to bring his words and used events to teach his people. He gave them his laws and taught them by the prophets. He spoke through all kinds of men and women. But now He has spoken through His Son, Jesus.

The phrase ‘in the last days’ often meant the time of the Messiah. The writer uses it here to show that the Messiah has come. The Jews were always expecting this person to come. He will bring a new age to them. He will be their king and he will overcome all their enemies. The Hebrews did not understand the real nature of the Messiah. He is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. It was by him that God created everything in space and time John 1:1ff).

Verses 3-4 – Jesus is the exact representation of God. Here is a strong Biblical declaration that
God and Jesus are one. We are under the authority of Christ, not the Law. Do not think that the Law
has been done away with. It has been fulfilled in Christ, that is: He does the fulfilling because we
can’t. According to Romans and Galatians, the purpose of the Law is to reveal our sin and to point us
to Christ.

Verses 5-12 Here Paul “compares” Jesus to the angels by pointing out that there is no comparison

between Him and the angels. Here we also find that Christ is the perfect embodiment of God. In Him

the majesty of God is seen. In Him the glory of God is shown.  Until Christ, one could not look upon

the glory of God. In Christ we can see it plainly. He is light and in Him is no darkness at all. In Him

what had always been a mystery is solved. In Him is life.

Verses 13-14 Jesus’ position is equal to God and no angel can say that. The angel’s purpose is to
serve you and me (“…those who will inherit salvation”). This comes from Psalm 110:1, a direct
reference to Christ. No angel can experience salvation, and thus they miss the joy of being saved. But
they can assist us in opposing Satan and can defend us from him.  Because of sin, mankind has been
banished from God’s kingdom. But through Christ, we can find reconciliation with Him.

Although it is often applied legalistically and to support some faith in some ethereal “God,” the one
and only point of the book of Hebrews is to present to the Jews, Jewish Christians and to you and ne
the absolute superiority of Jesus. He is to be the in-all, of-all, by-all and through-all of everything
we have been, are now or ever will be. He is King over all of the kings of all time, past, present and
future put together.

Christ is God’s final Word. There have never been any further revelations from God because His
revelation in Christ is sufficient. Neither Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science), Charles Russell
(Jehovah’s Witnesses) nor Joseph Smith (Mormons) have received any further revelation from God.
Any “revelation” they or anybody else claim beyond the absolute completeness of Christ, Himself, is
a lie…period. God has said ALL HE NEEDS TO SAY in the finished work of Christ at the cross of
Calvary.