Hebrews

This ‘letter’ seems to be more like a talk (13:22). It was for Christian believers who were Jews.

[Note: Hebrews is another word for Jews. Anyone who is not a Jew is a Gentile.]

This particular group was in danger. Persecution was going to happen very soon. And this group might easily pretend that Christian truths were not so important. They could just keep the Jewish part of what they believed. Then society would accept them.

Christian believers say that Christ is God. Christ died on the cross. And only this sacrifice of himself is sufficient. But their Jewish neighbours did not like this. It seemed to be against the sacrifices of the Old Testament. However, we know that this is not true. Those sacrifices were pointing to Christ.

The writer of this letter does not tell us who he is. He could be a preacher. He was certainly a very capable church leader. The people who read his letter used to trust in religious ceremonies. The writer appealed to them not to do this any more. He reminded them about these ceremonies. They were what the Law provided.

[Note: The first four books of our Bible contain God's laws for his people. Jews call them the Books of the Law.]

The Law was:

• temporary (7:11)
• not complete (9:13-14)
• not perfect (7:18; 8:7)
• of no use now (8:13).

The writer advised them. They should not lose their courage and confidence in Christ (10:35). Instead, they should accept the fact of suffering. There has always been some kind of suffering (11:1-40). And if they really wanted to follow God, they would suffer. If they had a true faith, they would suffer (12:1-12).

We can divide the letter of Hebrews into three parts:

God's Unique Word (Chapters 1:1−6:20)

In Old Testament times, there was communication from God. He used a variety of different ways. But now, he speaks to us in a special way. He speaks to us by Christ (1:1-3).

The ‘word’ is very important in the book of Hebrews. (Read 2:2; 4:2, 12; 6:5; 11:3; 12:19, 27; 13:7, 22.) The people who first read the book lived in the first century. God showed himself to them. And he showed his ways to them in Christ. The word that students use is ‘revelation’. It means to ‘take off the cover’. This ‘revelation’ is perfect. It is complete and it is final. God speaks to us with power. He speaks through:

• Christ's person
• Christ's life
• Christ's teaching
• Christ's sacrifice
• Christ's salvation.

God uses these ways more than any other way. Christ is much greater than any angel (1:4-14). Christ is God's special Word. There is nobody else like him. He is unique. People might say that this truth was not important. They might ignore him. They might refuse to accept that he was the Word. But this attitude would have very serious results (2:1-4).

The writer put two true things next to each other. He did this on purpose because they are both important. Christ is God (1:1-4). And Christ is also a perfect man (2:5-10). The writer showed the Lord Jesus as:

• brother (2:11-13).
• one who gives freedom from death, from the devil and from sin (2:14-18).
• apostle (3:1- 6). God sent Jesus to establish a new ‘house’. And believers are God's new ‘house’ or family.
• partner (3:14).
• priest (4:14−5:10). God appointed Jesus. The devil tempted him. But Jesus never sinned.
• one who goes ahead. Read 6:20, where Christ is the ‘prodromos’. This is a Greek military word. And it describes a guard who would go ahead of the army. He would explore and prepare the way. (Read 2:10; 10:19-21; John 14:2-3.)

These first chapters have four serious passages. Each one became even more serious. They warned the readers. They showed that it was dangerous to:

• be careless (2:1-4).
• have a lack of trust (3:7-4:13).
• be like Christian babies (5:11-14).
• leave the way of Christ (6:1-8).

It is difficult to understand 6:1-8. But we must remember who it was for. It was mainly for people in the first century. The words are not about one who occasionally wanders. They do not describe one who is weak in his spiritual life. This is not about one is not a confident person. So he or she might sometimes leave the way of Christ.

No, the words describe a certain group of people. They chose to oppose Christ in a fierce way. They would put him on the cross again, if they could (6:6). Such unhappy people did not want to be called believers. They made a definite choice. They rejected Christ. They were his enemies. People like this did not believe that he was the world's Saviour. [Note: This word means One who saves.] But Christ is the only way of salvation. So they would not have salvation if they completely refused it. A later passage (10:26-31) has the same subject.

Christ's Perfect Work (Chapters 7:1−10:18)

This is the middle section of the letter. There are three clear word pictures. And they explain what Christ achieved. His work, when he died to save us from sin and from its results, was eternal. The first word picture shows that he is the eternal priest (7:1-8:5). The second word picture is about the better covenant that he began (8:6-9:5). And the third word picture shows that he did this by a unique (special) sacrifice (9:6 -10:18).

Christ's great work was perfect. It did what the old covenant could never do. The Old Testament itself often speaks about something that is much ‘better’. And this is the main idea in Hebrews. (Read 1:4, 6; 7:19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24.)

The writer contrasts Jewish priests and Jesus. Many Old Testament Jewish priests were men of God. But:

• they all died. Jesus lives forever (7:23-24).
• there was a limit in time to their service. Jesus’ service is eternal (7:25).
• they were sinners. Jesus is perfect (7:26).
• they offered animals as sacrifices. Jesus offered himself (7:27).
• they must continue to offer their sacrifices. The effects of Jesus’ one sacrifice are eternal (9:12).
• they made the worshippers’ bodies clean for the ceremonies. Jesus pardons our evil consciences (9:6-14).
• they stood with God on earth. Jesus sat down with God in heaven. He completed his sacrifice. He finished his unique work. It was work that only he could do (10:11-12).

Our Responsibility to Obey (Chapters 10:19−13:25)

Believers’ lives should be lives of:

Hope that is constant (10:19-39). They must come near to God. Then they must help other people to do the same (10:23-25). They must keep close to God. Some people will try to tempt them away from him (10:26-34). But they must continue to trust God whatever happens (10:35-39).

Faith that has courage (11:12-29). Four things would encourage them. They are:

• great men and women of the past (11:1-40).
• the special example of Jesus (12:1-4).
• Father is our father (12:5-17).
• the believer's certain wonderful future (12:18-29).

Love that is common. Love for each other expresses itself in many ways. Love:

• offers practical help (13:1-3)
• is a good moral example (13:14-18)
• goes with the principles of what Christians believe (13:9-12)
• is willing to share in Jesus’ shame (13:13)
• is on Jesus’ side whatever reaction this brings (13:13-14)
• worships in a grateful way (13:15-16)
• obeys church leaders (13:17)
• helps other people by prayer (13:18-19).

And all this is possible because of Jesus. He is alive. He is like a great shepherd. He cares for his sheep.

[Note: A shepherd is someone who looks after sheep. Here, ‘sheep’ is a word picture for believers.]
Jesus, our Great Shepherd, promises to give us everything that we need (13:20-21).