The Book of Hebrews

Content:

• Introduction
• General
• How we should be as Christians
• Jesus is compared to Moses
• Melchizedek
• Our attitude to God should be as follows
• Our attitude to other believers should be as follows
• The Christian life is a long-distance race
• God rebukes us to become more sanctified
• We should seek after sanctification
  
  

Introduction

The author is probably a "second generation Jewish believer", that is, a Jewish person who has come to faith in Christ through some other Christian believer
(Heb 2:3b). It's probably not Apostle Paul (Acts 9:3–5, 1 Cor 15:8, Gal 1:11–12). Paul also always presents himself as the author at the beginning of his letters.
The Book of Hebrews also has a different writing style than Paul's letters. 
Martin Luther and some modern scholars have suggested Apollos as the author. 

The Book of Hebrews was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, because the temple is still there (Heb 8:4, 10:1b), to Jews who had become believers in Christ. These Jews experienced persecution and public pressure to such an extent they began to fall back on the importance of Jesus' death on the cross as the only means of salvation (Heb 5:12–6:2). To a Jew raised with the Torah, it was highly offensive to preach a Messiah suffering on a cross, as a man hanged on a tree is cursed by God (Deu 21:22–23, 1 Cor 1:23).

We are justified by faith, not by works, not by living under the Mosaic Laws
(Eph 2:8–9). There was a risk for many Jews who had become Christians, a huge temptation to withdraw to live under the Mosaic Laws, which means starting to compromise (Rom 3:19–20, 28), see The Book of Galatians.

"It is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt." 
(Heb 6:4–6). This isn't about a believer backsliding and falling into sin, because
such a person can repent (James 5:19–20), see The Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation. It's a warning of an apostasy that goes so deep that it becomes final. But every apostasy isn't final (Luke 22:31–34). It's a warning not to 
compromise the gospel, by, for example reuniting elements from the
Mosaic Laws in the gospel of Jesus Christ (Gal 5:2) as a way to be saved, see
Jesus and the Law. See Heb 6:4–6/James 5:19–20 explained at time 26:46–28:50
in Bible Q&A with Pastor Paul │ November 2023.

The author wants to make an argument for why faith in Jesus Christ is superior and better than the Old Covenant in the Old Testament to keep rules, based on doing good works according to the Mosaic Laws (Heb 1:1–2, 7:27). In the New Testament it's revealed that the way to Heaven is by grace trough faith in Jesus Christ 
(Eph 2:8–9), see Salvation. The Law of the Old Covenant was never meant to give us knowledge of salvation. It's meant to give us a knowledge of sin (Rom 3:20).
We have come to Jesus who is the mediator of the New Covenant (Heb 12:22–24).
We can't add to Jesus payment on the cross or take away from him without rejecting him (Heb 12:25), see also Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

General

God created the world through Jesus, heir of all things (Heb 1:2b), through
his words (Gen 1:1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26). Jesus is the Word of God who is God (John 1:1, 14). See Jesus is the Creator in Jesus is God. By looking at Jesus we can know God the Father (John 14:9). Jesus is the exact representation of God the Father (Heb:1:3a), see The Order between Jesus and the Father in the Trinity.

Jesus is far superior to the angels (Heb 1:4), although for a little while on Earth he was made lower than the angels (Heb 2:7a, 9a). The essential nature of angels is to be servants to those who are to inherit salvation (Heb 1:14). All authority on Earth and in Heaven is given to Jesus (Mat 28:18). 

God the Father says of Jesus:

• "You are my Son, today I have begotten you" (Heb 1:5a, Psalm 2:7).
  It was a certain day when Jesus was conceived in the virgin Mary.
  Jesus has always existed as the Word of God, but then he became the 
  Son of God, see The Order between Jesus and the Father in the Trinity.
• "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son"
  (Heb 1:5b, 2 Sam 7:14a). It happened when Jesus was conceived.
• "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
  (John 3:16 (NKJV)). The word begotten refers only to the incarnation
  when Jesus was conceived. Jesus is the only unique Son of God. 
  
• "Let all God’s angels worship him." (Heb 1:6b, Psalm 97:7b, Rev 5:6–14).
  It means that Jesus is God, because only God is worthy of worship.
• "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness
  is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God (Jesus), your God (the Father), has anointed you (by the Holy Spirit) with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."
  (Heb 1:8–9, Psalm 45:6–7 (7–8 in some translations)). See this explained at time 23:29–26:58 in Hebrews 1 (Part 2) :4-14 • The Son Superior to the Angels. It's the Father who speaks to the Son, see The Trinity.
• "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the Earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you  (Jesus) are the same, and your years will have no end." (Heb 1:10–12, Psalm 102:25–27
  (26–28 in some translations)). See A New Heaven and a New Earth.
• "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"
  (Heb 1:13b, Psalm 110:1). See this explained in Whose Son Is Messiah?

God validated his message and who he is through signs and wonders (Heb 2:4a), see Miracles of Jesus, and through gifts of the Holy Spirit (Heb 2:4b), see Spiritual Gifts. 

A high priest in the Old Covenant was chosen from among men to represent the people in matters concerning God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin (Heb 5:1–3), see The Atonement. No one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was (Heb 5:4). 

Likewise, Jesus was appointed high priest by God the Father (Heb 5:5–6). Jesus had to be born as a man in order to represent all people, to offer salvation through his suffering, to provide atonement as the ultimate high priest, and to became a merciful and faithful high priest (Heb 2:10, 17, 5:5). Jesus was tempted as man in the same way we are (Heb 2:18, 1 Cor 10:13), even though Jesus was sinless (Heb 4:15). Jesus had to die for our sins, but in order to do that he had to be born as a man but without sin, see The Virgin Birth.

How we should be as Christians

1. We should strive to be like Jesus (Phil 2:5, Rom 8:29).
   Jesus did what God the Father wanted him to do (John 6:38).
2. Jesus didn't consider equality with God the Father a thing
   to be used to his own advantage (Phil 2:6).
3. He made himself a servant to others (Phil 2:7), see
   Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
4. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even to death
   on a cross (Phil 2:8, Mat 16:24–25), see 3) Blessed are the meek
   in The Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus is compared to Moses

• Jesus is greater in his person, because Jesus is God (Heb 3:3–6).
• Jesus is greater in his ministry (Heb 3:3–6). Jesus is the ruler of God's house, while Moses was faithful as a servant in the house. Believers are God's house (1 Pet 2:4–5), a house that is still under construction.
• Jesus is greater in the rest he gives. Moses couldn't bring the people into the Promised Land (Heb 3:7–11). It's not by the Mosaic Laws that we take hold of our inheritance in Christ.
• See also from time 14:17 in Herod and the Magi: Political Intrigue, Mass Murder, and the Birth of Jesus | Matthew 2:1-23, in The Christmas Star.

For examples of types, pictures, and shadows in the Old Testament, see Typology.

1. The Hebrews lived as slaves in Egypt. This is a picture of our slavery under sin.
2. Then the Passover occurred in Egypt, when God passed by the houses of the Hebrews during the last one of the ten plagues. This is a picture about trusting Christ for salvation.
3. That the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt is a picture of us as believers being freed from being bound in sin. This doesn't mean that we
   no longer sin. But we can choose to live for righteousness.
4. Moses is a picture of the Mosaic Laws. It's not through these Laws that we take hold of our inheritance in Christ. We shouldn't go back to living under them.
5. The crossing of the Red Sea is a type of water baptism, see
   Christian Water Baptism in The Book of Roman.
6. The two years spent in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, especially after receiving the Mosaic Laws and before the twelve spies were sent to the 
   Promised Land, is a picture about learning God's word and growing in Christ.
7. Coming to the border of the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness,
   is a picture on the promise of the inheritance given to believers,
   and to rest and trust in Jesus. See more below about rest.
8. It was Joshua who brought the people into the Promised Land. The Greek pronunciation of his name is Jesus. Grace comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
   The taken of the Promised Land is a picture of the following: 
• Our inheritance in Christ, and the rest which he gives. 
• Walking in God's victory, walking out of God's promises, coming out of the wilderness, trusting God. 
• About the struggle that we must take to change our lives, to decide to be Christians and to remain as Christians (Heb 3:12–13). We take that inheritance by faith. We need to encourage each other daily in faith, to give glory to God, to live a life that is pleasing to God.

The rest that Jesus gives is that he has done all the work for our salvation 
(Heb 4:1–3). We are called to rest in him. The first picture of this rest is when the Hebrews came to the border of the Promised Land (see 7. above), see time 6:59–13:05 in Hebrews 4:1-11 • The Rest of God. The second picture of this rest is the Sabbath day (Heb 4:4), see time 13:13–17:36 in Hebrews 4:1-11 • The Rest of God.
Jesus fulfilled all the ceremonies of the Mosaic Laws, including the Sabbath day.
In Christ, we basically hold these things (Col 2:16–17). It's those who believe in Christ who trust in him who enter this rest, but it's not by doing good works
(Heb 4:3a). We must rest in what Jesus has done for us on the cross, not in the
good works that we do (Heb 4:10). The Jews who didn't enter the Promised Land 
(or didn't come to rest), didn't because they didn't trust God (Heb 3:18–19).

God's word is alive and active (Heb 4:12). It separates soul and spirit, see 
Body, Soul, and Spirit in The Danger with Gnosticism. It helps us to distinguish
what comes from the soul and what comes from the spirit. In addition to the Bible, we also need the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our heart through our spirit
(Psalm 32:8). God knows everything about us (Heb 4:13).

Melchizedek

Jesus is priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:6, 6:20, Psalm 110:4, 
Heb 7:20–21, 24). Jesus was designated by God the Father to be high priest in the
order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:10): Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of
the "Most High God" (Heb 7:1a). Both king and priest. Melchizedek means 
"king of righteousness", and "king of Salem" means "king of peace" (Heb 7:2b).

Salem will later be named Jerusalem. In a sense, Melchizedek has no genealogy, since the Bible says nothing about it (Heb 7:3), he had no recorded lineage.
Melchizedek met Abraham (Heb 7:1b). Abraham then gave him a tenth of everything once (Heb 7:2a, Gen 14:18–20). 

There are some similarities between Jesus and Melchizedek, although this doesn't mean that he was a pre-incarnated version of Jesus (Heb 7:4–10). Jesus said that he had met Abraham (John 8:56–58). It was when the Lord told Abraham about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:1–2, 17–19) but not as being
Melchizedek. He is a foreshadow of Jesus Christ. He resembles the Son of God.

The reason for mentioning Melchizedek is to show that the old priesthood which was under the Mosaic Laws in the Old Covenant is replaced by the new high priest Jesus Christ who isn't under these Laws (Heb 4:14–16, 7:11–12, 18–19). But Jesus fulfilled these Laws (Mat 5:17). Jesus is the successor to the role of high priest,
not according to these Laws but in the order of Melchizedek. Neither Jesus nor
Melchizedek was a priest in the lineage of Levi, see The High Priest in the Bible.
Melchizedek was a priest of God as a symbol (a prefiguration) of the Messiah's priesthood, which is a different and better priesthood than the Levitical priesthood which had limitations. Melchizedek's priesthood without recorded lineage stood as a
prefiguration of the priesthood of Jesus Christ as Messiah which is an ever lasting priesthood (Heb 5:5–6), see The Atonement. See it in detail described at time
1:46–32:19 DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON Hebrews 7:11-28 – Jesus Our Perfect Priest.

Nor can Melchizedek be the same person as Shem, as many Jews believe. 
Shem was the ancestor of Abraham and Levi, but Melchizedek wasn't (Heb 7:5–6). Melchizedek's genealogy is unknown (Heb 7:3), but Shem's genealogy is known (Gen 10:1, 21–31, 11:10–26).

Jesus is a high priest who sits at the right hand of the throne of God the Father
(Heb 1:3b, 8:1, Rom 8:34b), see Whose Son Is Messiah? Right hand in the Bible always means power. Jesus represents us as high priest before God the Father and knows everything about us who live on Earth, what we have to do with (Heb 4:15).
Jesus is a mediator between us and God the Father (Heb 8:6, 9:15, 1 Tim 2:5). 
Jesus is also king (Zechariah 6:13). As king, he has the power to minister in our lives as much as he wants (Heb 8:2). He sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen us
(Acts 2:1–4). 

God never lies (Heb 6:18), but people do. When God makes a promise, we can be sure that he will fulfill it, even if it may take a long time for him to do so 
(Heb 6:14–15). God doesn't have to give an oath to seal a promise, but sometimes he does (Heb 6:13). The reason he sometimes makes an oath to a promise is to convince us that we can trust him him to fulfill it (Heb 6:17–18).

Our attitude towards God should be as follows

• Have confidence in God (Heb 10:19–20),
  see The Rending of the Curtain of the Temple.
• Have a sincere and true heart (Heb 10:22a).
• Having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience, free from our past shortcomings and trespasses (Heb 10:22b). The feeling of guilt and being unworthy holds us back in our relationship with God and with other people.
• We shouldn't pollute our body (Heb 10:22b, 12:14–16), see Sanctification. God forbids sexual activity outside of marriage (Heb 13:4), see the
  7th commandment in The Ten Commandments.
• We should hold fast to the confession of our hope in Jesus without wavering (Heb 10:23).

Our attitude towards other believers should be as follows

• We need a heart of willingness to serve in love (Heb 13:1). Jesus gave an example of how Christians should treat each other by washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:3–5, 13–15), see Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Washing feet in Jesus' day was a work done by the lowest in the household service.
• We should consider how we can incite one another to love and good works (Heb 10:24), see Dealing With Sin in the Church.
• We shouldn't neglect to meet (Heb 10:25a). We should remain in fellowship with God's people (Heb 13:2–3). The reasons are as follows:
• Obedience. 
• To be ministered in God's word. 
• We are different members of the body of Christ, who need each other (1 Cor 12:14–26, Rom 12:4–5).
• We should encourage one another (Heb 10:25b).

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a certainty of things not seen 

(Heb 11:1). However, wishful thinking isn't the same as the biblical definition of hope. Faith is being sure of what we expect. Without faith it's impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). See Faith in Faith, Hope, and Agape Love.

1. We expect something to happen because God promises it in his word.
   An example is the second coming of Jesus, see
   Prophecies of Jesus' Second Coming.
2. We expect something to happen because God has specifically told us so.
   God can give the word of knowledge, prophesy, or the gift of faith
   (1 Cor 12:8–10), see Spiritual Gifts.

The Christian life is a long-distance race (Heb 12:1)

• We need to remember the testimonies of the faithful to be encouraged (Heb 11:4–34, 3:13, 10:25, 13:7, Acts 15:32, Eph 6:22, Col 4:8,
  1 Thess 3:2, 4:18, 5:11).
• Let's throw away all unnecessary baggage.
  It can be anything that pulls us down from following Jesus.
• Let us cast off the sin that entangles us (Gal 5:7–8).
• We should run with perseverance and resist the temptation to give up,
  see The Parable of the Persistent Widow.
• We should keep our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2).
  We should trust him (Heb 13:5–6, Psalm 118:6).
• Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
• Jesus endured the cross.
• Jesus sits on the right hand of God's throne.
• We should avoid strange teachings that aren't biblical (Heb 13:9a), see Word of Faith Movement in the U.S. and The Roman Catholic Church.
• We should give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will
  (1 Thess 5:18).

God rebukes us to become more sanctified (Heb 12:10–11)

God can rebuke us so that we get on the right track, to get into a state of brokenness from pride and to repentance (1 Pet 4:1–3, Psalm 119:71).
Many times, as Christians, we can fight that very thing because we don't like
to be rebuked or disciplined. See also the beginning of The Book of James.

• We shouldn't make light of the Lord’s discipline (Heb 12:5a).
• We shouldn't despise it (Proverbs 3:11, 5:12).
• We shouldn't lose heart when he rebukes us (Heb 12:5b).
• We shouldn't be discouraged, for the Lord disciplines those he loves
  (Heb 12:6, Proverbs 3:12). It's always for our good (Heb 12:10–11),
  see The Confidence in God in The Book of Romans.
• God rebukes us to be more like Christ. God therefore allows discipline in our lives. We should endure hardship as discipline (Heb 12:7a, Job 5:17).
• When we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world (1 Cor 11:32, Acts 14:21–22, Rom 8:18).
• We should consider Jesus and how he suffered (Heb 12:3, 1 Pet 4:12–13).

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Heb 12:11). We learn obedience through our suffering. Jesus learned what is involved in obedience through his suffering (Heb 5:8). He was tempted, see
The Temptations of Jesus. He therefore knows perfectly what we go through when we suffer and are tempted (Heb 4:15, 5:9).  However, it's important not to 
become bitter when we suffer. We will also be persecuted because Jesus was persecuted (John 15:18–21), see more about this in these videos at these times:

• 1 Peter 4 • Arm yourselves with the same attitude as Christ (10:04–12:43)
• Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │December 2023 (8:40–12:33)
• DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON Hebrews 5:1-11 (25:05–31:32) (Heb 5:8)

Some believers are called to suffer in patient endurance, especially during the
Great Tribulation (Rev 13:10, Jer 15:2). Apostle Paul, who was a chosen instrument of God, had to suffer for the sake of the name of Jesus (Acts 9:15–16). 

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:19 (20 in some translations)).

See also The Sufferings of This Present Time in The Book of Romans.

We should seek after sanctification

• We should try to live in peace with everyone as far as possible
  (Heb 12:14a, Rom 12:18, 14:19).
• We should sanctify ourselves (Heb 12:10b, 14b), see Sanctification. We are called to be different from the people of the world, see time 14:30–17:31 in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON Hebrews 10:1-18 – Jesus’ Perfect Sacrifice.
• We shouldn't miss God's grace and become bitter (Heb 12:15).
  We should treat other people in the same way, be able to forgive them
  and repent of our bitterness. We should ask God to change our heart.
• We should be careful not to be sexually immoral (Heb 12:16a,
  1 Cor 5:9–11), see the 7th commandment in The Ten Commandments.
  It corrupts good character.
• We shouldn't be godless (Heb 12:16b). We shouldn't treat the things of the Lord with contempt as if they mean nothing to us.

See also The New Testament of the Bible.