“Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 Background Origen, Eusebius and Clement of Alexandria identify Paul as the author of Hebrews. Hebrews 13:23 mentions Timothy as the author’s co-worker. Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem were still participating in Temple sacrifices and rituals and were tempted to avoid persecution by returning to Judaism. The Book of Hebrews makes it clear that there is no Salvation outside of Christ. The blood of bulls and sheep can never take away sins. This letter is a solemn warning against the Judaizers’ legalism, rituals and sacramentalism. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12. As the Book of Romans was addressed to the capital of the secular world – Rome, so the Book of Hebrews is addressed to the capital of the religious world – Jerusalem. There are more than 80 quotes and references to the Old Testament in Hebrews. The Message of Hebrews – The Supremacy of Christ Jesus is greater than the prophets. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Heb. 1:1-3 Jesus is greater than the angels. “Having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: You are My Son, today I have begotten You?’ and again: ‘I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to Me a Son?’ But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’ And of the angels, He says: ‘Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.’ But to the Son He says: ‘Your Throne, O God, is forever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore, God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness… But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:4-14 Jesus is greater than Moses. “…Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honour than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” Hebrews 3:1-6 Jesus leads us into a greater rest than Joshua did. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me and saw My works forty years. Therefore, I was angry with that generation and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest.’ Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end...” Hebrews 3:7-14 Jesus is a greater High Priest than Aaron. ‘“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins… He is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honour to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also, Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ As He also says in another place: ‘You are a Priest forever according to the Order of Melchizedek’ …He became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 4:14-5:10 Jesus is of a greater priesthood than Levi. “…Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better…. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the Law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the Law…. For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’…You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’, by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better Covenant. Also, there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” Hebrews 7:11-28. Christ’s priesthood is superior and permanent. Jesus is the Mediator of a greater Covenant. “…Now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better Covenant, which was established on better promises. For if, that first Covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: ‘Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah - not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My Covenant and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be My people…. In that He says, ‘A new Covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:6-13 Jesus serves in a greater Tabernacle than the Temple. “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man.” Hebrews 8:1-2. The Tabernacle is appropriate for people on the march. (The Temple suggests a people who have arrived and settled down.) We are pilgrims. Jesus has offered a greater Sacrifice. “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal Redemption… how much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:12-14 Jesus offers us a greater Salvation. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus.” Hebrews 10:19; “Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28; “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honourably.” Hebrews 13:18. In Christ We Have:
The Titles, Names and Attributes of Jesus in Hebrews:
Priesthood Levitical
Christ's
Result: Access to God = Sins Forgiven
Judgement
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the Judgment.” Hebrews 9:27 The Word of God “For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 Holiness “Pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 Perfection
“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…” Hebrews 2:3 Let Us
What We, as Christians, Have According to Hebrews:
Therefore
Benediction “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
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