Hebrews

Posted on by Peter Day

Hebrews shows us the sufficiency and superiority of Jesus Christ. It was written to believers with a background in Judaism who were being tempted to drift back into it along its outward rituals. So, the book is full of warnings, for example:

  • “We must pay careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (2:1)
  • See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” (3:12).

This is not meant to make true believers doubt their salvation, but to shake us from complacency, to ask ourselves: “am I truly the Lord’s, or am I just outwardly committed?” True believers will heed the warnings of Hebrews and persevere to the end – “Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case – the things that have to do with salvation” (Heb 6:9).

The central reasoning of why we/they should hold on and “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Heb 6:12) is the superiority of Jesus. In this book, we see:

  • Jesus is better to than the prophets: they spoke at many times and in various ways, but Jesus is the full and final revelation of God (Heb 1:1-2). In fact, he is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (Heb 1:3).
  • He is superior to the angels (1:4-2:18).
  • He is superior to Moses (3:1-6).
  • He is superior to Joshua (3:7-4:13), bringing us fully into God’s promised rest.
  • He is superior to Aaron (4:14-7:28). He is a sinless, perfect priest who lives forever.
  • He is the high priest of a superior/better covenant, founded on better promises (Chapter 8).
  • He brings us into a better tabernacle (heaven itself) through a better sacrifice – himself – offered once for all (9:1-10:18).

Therefore, let’s persevere in faith:

  • drawing near to God through Christ (10:19-23);
  • meeting together (10:24-25);
  • enduring suffering (10:26-39);
  • following in the footsteps of Old Testament believers (chapter 11);
  • looking to Jesus (12:1-2);
  • submitting to the Lord’s discipline (12:3-13) and resisting sin (12:14-17);
  • worshipping in reverence and awe as new covenant believers (12:18-29);
  • loving each other and identifying with Jesus Christ (chapter 13).

Hebrews is a rich book and deserves to be read slowly and prayerfully. May our love and obedience to Christ grow as we read.

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