Overview of the letter to Hebrews
Written in the form of a sermon, this letter is described as “a word of exhortation” (chapter 13 v22), and it was accompanied by a personal letter to which we are not privy. Composed by an unknown author to an unknown audience, but, certainly, who were Jewish believers, it stands as one of the greatest sermons ever preached. The supreme glory of Jesus Christ is it’s theme, so grand, it’s design was to wean the hearers away from lesser things to fix their lives on the world to come. These Jews, who had become Christians, were experiencing severe hardship, for their faith in Christ, because it was unpopular with many of their countrymen. The temptation was great to succumb to peer pressure and conform for an easier life. For many this would involve a return to Jewish ritual, while still holding faith in Christ, but secretly, a kind of acquiescence, mixing Judaism and Christianity. For some this would mean abandoning gathering together with the Christians altogether (chapter 10 v25). The letter constitutes the spoken word of God in a specific situation, one which was very sensitive, as the Jewish rituals were deeply inbred and the writer, whilst weaning them away from Judaism, must take care not to denigrate either the old testament or the Jewish faith, ;which, after all was God given.
To counter this problem, broadly speaking, the writer weaves into his arguments a series of contrasts;
The contrast between the partial and the complete (chapters 1-6); the contrast between the temporal and the eternal (chapters 7-10); the contrast between the earthly and the heavenly (chapters 11-13).
There are a number of key words used to underpin his message;
“Better” stronger/nobler: this is used 13 times throughout the sermon from chapter one to chapter 13 and is carefully chosen so as to avoid the thought of evil versus good, more good versus better. By this he proves that Christianity is better than Judaism because it is the ultimate to which all the old testament was pointing, it is the fulfilment of all the promises.
“Perfect” complete/finished, nothing needed to be added, Christianity in it’s essence is perfection, Judaism was preparatory. This word, in different forms, is used 12 times. The context decides what is it’s meaning, whether of progressing from the Jewish faith to Christ, or, within the Christian faith to grow.
“Heaven” the unseen sphere of God’s dwelling, now accessible as it never was before; the word in it’s various forms is used 16 times, and the whole sermon is weaning them from earth to heaven.
The call is from earth to heaven, from imperfect to perfect, from good to better in Jesus Christ. It is a powerful call, but it needed to be for some were in danger of;
Drifting away chapter 2vv1-4
Departing from the living God chapter 3v12
Disobedience chapter 4v11
Dullness chapter 5vv11-12
Despite to the Spirit of grace chapter 10v26-29
Defiance to the word of God chapter 12v25
This is not to suggest the loss of salvation, which is impossible, this is to encourage faithfulness in true believers, who can no longer live independently of God, whilst recognising that some may not be true after all.
The way he does this is to fix their minds firmly on the world to come. He says as much in chapter 2v5 “For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come whereof we speak.” The letter is all about the world to come, he is weaning the believers away from this present world, to the world to come, and this theme is the major emphasis in the letter to the Hebrews and also to all saints of the present day. In reading this we cannot escape the thrust that we are a heaven bound people who should be living heavenly lives:
• “...bringing many sons to glory”. chapter 2v10
• “We have a great high priest who is passed into the heavens...” chapter 4v14
• “...tasted of the powers of the world to come..” chapter v6v5
• “...which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast which enters into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered...” chapter 6v19
• “...Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,,” chapter 9v11
• “..by His own blood He entered into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Chapter 9v12
• “.. the heavenly things themselves purified with better sacrifices than these.” Chapter v23
• ..”Christ has entered into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of god for us.” Chapter 9v24
• “.. having therefor brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Chapter 10v18..
• ...”ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” Chapter 10v34
• ... Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God.” Chapter 11v1
• ...These all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Chapter 11v13-16
• ....But now they desire a better country that is a heavenly.” Chapter 11v16
• ... Moses esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” Chapter 11v26
• ...Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ...who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Chapter 12v2
• ...But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly (a full gathering) and to the church of the first born written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” Chapter 12v22-24
• ....Here we have no continuing city but we seek one to come.” Chapter 13v14
Abraham was the first Hebrew so called in Genesis chapter 14v13; the word “Hebrew” means “passing through.” This is very significant since Abraham represents those who believe God and who look for no possession in this world, but are just passing through. There could be no better word to describe the letter to Hebrews than the word itself. In the language of the little song: “This world is not my home I’m just a passing through.” We are strangers (away from home), we are pilgrims (going home).
The writer proclaims the superior glories of Christ, above everyone and everything they have ever known. His surpassing glory eclipses all that has gone before and beckons the believer to leave behind the trappings of Judaism, which were merely preparatory, in contrast to Christ who is perfect. The letter is therefore a comprehensive outline of the pre- eminence of Christ in every detail......In chapters 1-10 we have the doctrinal section
Better than Angels.... chapters 1-2 in His deity(chapter 1), in His humanity chapter2).
Better than Moses.... chapter 3 v1-16
Better than Joshua... chapter 3 v17-4v13
Better than Aaron..... chapter 4 v14-10v29 the priesthood, the covenant, the sacrifices.
In chapters 11-13 we have the practical section
Emphasis on faith....... chapter 11
Emphasis on hope..... chapter 12
Emphasis on love....... chapter 13
No stone has been left unturned to woo the drifting, doubting, vacillating Jew to heart worship of Christ. He uses exposition and exhortation and warning to challenge and persuade his readers, all three devices being employed throughout the letter. Christ is God’s final and complete word to the world; it cannot be improved because perfect; all else is by implication inferior and therefore redundant. To turn away from this has unthinkable consequences; to ignore it is to disrespect God; to minimise it is to live in the shallows, because.....
It is just better than everything else!
In the words of the songwriter Isaac Watts,
Join all the glorious names
Of wisdom love and power
That mortals ever knew
That angels ever bore
All are too mean
To speak His worth
Too mean to set my Saviour forth!
Written in the form of a sermon, this letter is described as “a word of exhortation” (chapter 13 v22), and it was accompanied by a personal letter to which we are not privy. Composed by an unknown author to an unknown audience, but, certainly, who were Jewish believers, it stands as one of the greatest sermons ever preached. The supreme glory of Jesus Christ is it’s theme, so grand, it’s design was to wean the hearers away from lesser things to fix their lives on the world to come. These Jews, who had become Christians, were experiencing severe hardship, for their faith in Christ, because it was unpopular with many of their countrymen. The temptation was great to succumb to peer pressure and conform for an easier life. For many this would involve a return to Jewish ritual, while still holding faith in Christ, but secretly, a kind of acquiescence, mixing Judaism and Christianity. For some this would mean abandoning gathering together with the Christians altogether (chapter 10 v25). The letter constitutes the spoken word of God in a specific situation, one which was very sensitive, as the Jewish rituals were deeply inbred and the writer, whilst weaning them away from Judaism, must take care not to denigrate either the old testament or the Jewish faith, ;which, after all was God given.
To counter this problem, broadly speaking, the writer weaves into his arguments a series of contrasts;
The contrast between the partial and the complete (chapters 1-6); the contrast between the temporal and the eternal (chapters 7-10); the contrast between the earthly and the heavenly (chapters 11-13).
There are a number of key words used to underpin his message;
“Better” stronger/nobler: this is used 13 times throughout the sermon from chapter one to chapter 13 and is carefully chosen so as to avoid the thought of evil versus good, more good versus better. By this he proves that Christianity is better than Judaism because it is the ultimate to which all the old testament was pointing, it is the fulfilment of all the promises.
“Perfect” complete/finished, nothing needed to be added, Christianity in it’s essence is perfection, Judaism was preparatory. This word, in different forms, is used 12 times. The context decides what is it’s meaning, whether of progressing from the Jewish faith to Christ, or, within the Christian faith to grow.
“Heaven” the unseen sphere of God’s dwelling, now accessible as it never was before; the word in it’s various forms is used 16 times, and the whole sermon is weaning them from earth to heaven.
The call is from earth to heaven, from imperfect to perfect, from good to better in Jesus Christ. It is a powerful call, but it needed to be for some were in danger of;
Drifting away chapter 2vv1-4
Departing from the living God chapter 3v12
Disobedience chapter 4v11
Dullness chapter 5vv11-12
Despite to the Spirit of grace chapter 10v26-29
Defiance to the word of God chapter 12v25
This is not to suggest the loss of salvation, which is impossible, this is to encourage faithfulness in true believers, who can no longer live independently of God, whilst recognising that some may not be true after all.
The way he does this is to fix their minds firmly on the world to come. He says as much in chapter 2v5 “For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come whereof we speak.” The letter is all about the world to come, he is weaning the believers away from this present world, to the world to come, and this theme is the major emphasis in the letter to the Hebrews and also to all saints of the present day. In reading this we cannot escape the thrust that we are a heaven bound people who should be living heavenly lives:
• “...bringing many sons to glory”. chapter 2v10
• “We have a great high priest who is passed into the heavens...” chapter 4v14
• “...tasted of the powers of the world to come..” chapter v6v5
• “...which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast which enters into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered...” chapter 6v19
• “...Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,,” chapter 9v11
• “..by His own blood He entered into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Chapter 9v12
• “.. the heavenly things themselves purified with better sacrifices than these.” Chapter v23
• ..”Christ has entered into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of god for us.” Chapter 9v24
• “.. having therefor brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Chapter 10v18..
• ...”ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” Chapter 10v34
• ... Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God.” Chapter 11v1
• ...These all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Chapter 11v13-16
• ....But now they desire a better country that is a heavenly.” Chapter 11v16
• ... Moses esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” Chapter 11v26
• ...Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ...who is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Chapter 12v2
• ...But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly (a full gathering) and to the church of the first born written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” Chapter 12v22-24
• ....Here we have no continuing city but we seek one to come.” Chapter 13v14
Abraham was the first Hebrew so called in Genesis chapter 14v13; the word “Hebrew” means “passing through.” This is very significant since Abraham represents those who believe God and who look for no possession in this world, but are just passing through. There could be no better word to describe the letter to Hebrews than the word itself. In the language of the little song: “This world is not my home I’m just a passing through.” We are strangers (away from home), we are pilgrims (going home).
The writer proclaims the superior glories of Christ, above everyone and everything they have ever known. His surpassing glory eclipses all that has gone before and beckons the believer to leave behind the trappings of Judaism, which were merely preparatory, in contrast to Christ who is perfect. The letter is therefore a comprehensive outline of the pre- eminence of Christ in every detail......In chapters 1-10 we have the doctrinal section
Better than Angels.... chapters 1-2 in His deity(chapter 1), in His humanity chapter2).
Better than Moses.... chapter 3 v1-16
Better than Joshua... chapter 3 v17-4v13
Better than Aaron..... chapter 4 v14-10v29 the priesthood, the covenant, the sacrifices.
In chapters 11-13 we have the practical section
Emphasis on faith....... chapter 11
Emphasis on hope..... chapter 12
Emphasis on love....... chapter 13
No stone has been left unturned to woo the drifting, doubting, vacillating Jew to heart worship of Christ. He uses exposition and exhortation and warning to challenge and persuade his readers, all three devices being employed throughout the letter. Christ is God’s final and complete word to the world; it cannot be improved because perfect; all else is by implication inferior and therefore redundant. To turn away from this has unthinkable consequences; to ignore it is to disrespect God; to minimise it is to live in the shallows, because.....
It is just better than everything else!
In the words of the songwriter Isaac Watts,
Join all the glorious names
Of wisdom love and power
That mortals ever knew
That angels ever bore
All are too mean
To speak His worth
Too mean to set my Saviour forth!
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