Hebrews
Introduction: The Book of Hebrews primary theme is to address the absolute supremacy of Jesus.
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Chapter 1
------------------------------------------------ Jesus offers a complete revelation In Chapter 1, we learn that the Son – Jesus Christ – is God’s full and final revelation to man. He is vastly superior to every created thing because He is the Creator, and as such, He is vastly higher than the angels. |
Chapter 2
------------------------------------------------ Jesus is greater than the angels Having set forth the supremacy of the Son, the author now exhorts his readers to pay very careful attention to what God has revealed to us through Him. The Son set aside the glory of heaven to become “a little lower than the angels”. He did this in order to qualify Himself to “taste death for everyone,” thereby becoming a Savior and a faithful and merciful High Priest to all who believe. Having accomplished this, the Son ascended into heaven where the Father seated Him at His right hand. The wonder of it all is that in so doing, He accomplishes redemption for fallen man and restoration to His original glory and honor, as God had created them. |
Chapter 3
---------------------------------------------------- Jesus is greater than Moses The supremacy of the Son is shown in yet another way. It is demonstrated that the Son – the Lord Jesus Christ – is greater than Moses, the most revered man in the Old Testament in the eyes of many Jews. Both Moses and the Lord Jesus were faithful, but Moses was faithful “in all God’s house” while the Lord Jesus was faithful “over God’s house”. Moses was faithful as a part of the house, while Jesus was faithful as the builder of the house. Moses was faithful as a “servant”; Jesus was faithful as a “Son”. |
Chapter 4
------------------------------------------------ Jesus offers a greater rest. Some of the Jewish Christians who received this letter may have been o the verge of turning back from their promised rest in Christ, just as the people in Moses day had turned back from the promised land. The difficulties in that are faced in the present moment can be a threat to overshadow the realities of God's promises. |
Chapter 5
------------------------------------------------ Jesus is a greater high priest This chapter continues the point made in chapter 4, that Christ's humanity makes Him a uniquely qualified High Priest. This passage bridges that idea into the writer's next warning: spiritual immaturity. This call to avoid apathy will run through all of chapter 6, before the writer returns to Jesus' priesthood in chapter 7. |
Chapter 6
------------------------------------------------ Warning against falling away The certainty of God's Promise Spiritual immaturity prevents growth, leading to doubt, discouragement, and eventually to judgment. Those who only scratch the surface of Christianity, then fall into disobedience, can't be restored to good standing until they've experienced some level of judgment. Rather than make that mistake, we should trust in the absolute promises of God, and the work of Christ, as we patiently pursue godly wisdom. |
Chapter 7
------------------------------------------------ A priest forever in the order of Melchizedek This chapter returns to the topic of Melchizedek, who represents a mysterious but important moment in Old Testament history. Here, the author will show how Melchizedek was superior to Abraham, and that Melchizedek's priesthood is superior to the priesthood of Aaron. This leads into the next chapters, which show how Jesus Christ perfectly fulfills our salvation in ways which the Old Covenant cannot. |
Chapter 8
------------------------------------------------ Jesus is the High Priest of a New Covenant Jesus' service as High Priest is superior, since He is given a better position and serves in a better location than the priests of the Old Covenant. This chapter sets up the idea of earthly things being shadows of heavenly things, especially when it comes to the temple and sacrifices. |
Chapter 9
------------------------------------------------ The Significance and Foreshadowing of the earthly Tabernacle the writer focuses on the fact that the old covenant featured aspects which were meant only as symbols of the ''true'' high priesthood of Christ. Since Christ's sacrifice is more powerful, and performed in a better place, it is more effective in securing our salvation than the sacrifices of animals. |
Chapter 10
------------------------------------------------ God always intended to send Jesus This chapter completes the long, detailed explanation of why the new covenant is superior to the old covenant. Starting in chapter 7, the writer gave various arguments and Scriptures to support this idea. The theme of these points is that God had always intended to send Jesus, as the real fulfillment of the old covenant's symbolism. The second half of this chapter transitions into more practical ideas, including an extremely dire warning about the dangers of apostasy. |
Chapter 11
------------------------------------------------ Up to this point, the book of Hebrews has given extensive evidence proving that Jesus Christ, and the new covenant He brought about, is God's ultimate plan for mankind's salvation. This chapter begins by clarifying the meaning of the word ''faith,'' primarily by listing examples of Old Testament figures who exemplify it. The ultimate application of this knowledge should be a motivation to ''hold fast'' to the gospel, despite hardships. |
The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.
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