Weekly Sermons

Hebrews Overview

Recap:

Creation, Fall, Covering, Coming Messiah

Abrahamic Covenant

          Promised Land

          Great People                    Circumcision

          Seed the key to all peoples being blessed

Mosaic Law/ Covenant

          Moral (Romans)               10 Commands                  Coming Prophet

          Priestly (Hebrews)           Tabernacle

          Civil (Galatians)

Davidic Covenant

          Temple

          Poets                                Coming Messiah

          Prophets                                    Suffering Servant/ Conquering King

End of Old Testament should say…To Be Continued!

Old Testament:                        New Testament:

Law                                           Gospels

History                                      Acts

Poets                                          Letters (Pauline, General)

Prophets                                    Revelation

Hebrews is the 58^th of the 66 books of the Bible; the 19^th of the 27 New Testament books; the 1^st of the 8 general epistles.

We are simply not sure who wrote Hebrews.

It’s the only New Testament book whose authorship remains a real mystery.

Serious consideration has been given to:

Paul                       Clement of Alexandria (AD 150-215)                                                                       Clement also insisted Luke translated it into Greek.

Barnabas                Tertullian (AD 160-225)

Apollos                  Martin Luther

Luke                      Because the author relied on the Septuagint for his quotations.

“Who the author of the epistle is, God only knows.”     -Origen (AD 182-254)

Hebrews is the “go to” writing on how Jesus is both our perfect high priest and the ultimate sacrifice for our sins that does away with the need for animal sacrifices.

The author speaks beautifully about the Priesthood of Melchizedek predating and outlasting the Priesthood given in the law of Moses, administered through the descendants of Aaron within the tribe of Levi.

Acts 4 told us that Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus.

That fact, along with the amazingly encouraging content within the book (like the Hall of Faith in Chapter 11) make Barnabas my favorite to have been the author of Hebrews!

Some suggest that because the author does not mention the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 by the Romans, which ended animal sacrifices, that the book must have been written before that date, around AD 64-68.

Perhaps, or perhaps the author is helping Jewish Christians understand that they no longer need the Temple or its sacrifices because of Christ’s finished sacrifice on the cross!

We do know that Timothy is still alive from 12:23. The most respected tradition has Timothy dying as a martyr around AD 80 in Ephesus. Although some have him dying later, in AD 97.

Hebrews 12:26-28 talks about earthly kingdoms being shaken but not God’s kingdom. Regardless of whether Hebrews is before or after the Destruction of the Temple, Hebrews points people to Jesus, the “Indestructible” One.

Clement of Rome quotes it in AD 95.

Because it was written to first help Jewish Christians understand that Jesus has completely fulfilled the priestly law, it earned the name Hebrews.

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The theme of Hebrews: Jesus is greater than men and angels, our perfect High Priest and the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

Outline:

Jesus Christ Himself is better/ best (Majesty)                         1:1-4:13

Jesus is greater than the prophets.

Jesus is greater than the angels.

Jesus is greater than Moses.

Jesus Christ’s Priestly work is better/ best (Ministry)            4:14-10:18

Jesus is greater than previous sacrifices.

His covenant is everlasting, the old one is now obsolete!

Jesus Christ’s Ways are better/ best (Ministers)                     10:19-13:25

The key word in the book of Hebrews may be the word translated as “better” or “superior” (1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24).

The words perfect and heavenly are also prominent.    

Hebrews answers the question: How can the Messiah be from the Kingly tribe of Judah and the priestly tribe of Levi?

The answer is the Messianic prophecy about the Messiah being a “priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”          (Psalm 110).

Hebrews makes clear that Jesus is fully God (1:3,8) and fully man (2:9,14,17,18).

It presents Jesus as our Prophet, Priest, and King!

Prophet        1:1-2

Priest           4:14-10:18

King            1:3; 7:1-3

There are at least 20 titles that describe who Jesus is and what He has done:

Heir of all things

Apostle and High Priest

Mediator

Author AND Finisher of our faith!

It is obvious from reading Hebrews that the author was worried about some of the recipients wilting under their present suffering and rejecting the faith, proving that they had not really been born again.  He exhorts them to continue on with faith in Jesus, proving they are “in Christ.” 

Read Hebrews 6:1-12

The book of Hebrews is saturated with references to the Old Testament! It makes 86 references to 100 Old Testament passages!

Hebrews belongs in a place right beside Romans for its doctrinal content.

Hebrews	Romans
The Person of Salvation	The Way of Salvation
Ceremonial Law of O.T.	Moral Law of all time
From shadow to substance	From law to grace

 

A Closer Look at Hebrews:

1:1-4  Jesus is God, He created all things.

After finishing His work, He became Higher in rank.

Already was God (higher than angels), now His humanity is also higher than angels!

1:14   Interesting word about angels!

2:14-18        Our compassionate High Priest!          Incarnation, Empathy!

3:1-6            Greater than Moses

3:12-14        Watch out; hold firmly!

4:12-13        The Living Word!

4:14-16        Our great high priest!       Approach the throne!

5:1-10          Melchizedek

6:19-7:28     Melchizedek

9:11-28        High Priest

10:23-25      Stir it up!

10:39           Faith = obtaining life!

11:1-7          By faith!

12:1-4          Keep eyes on Jesus

12:11-15      Discipline/ striving for holiness!

Holiness is simply wanting to be more and more like Jesus NOW!

12:22-29      You have come…

13:1-19        In the meantime…