New Testament survey (19): Hebrews

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Overview

[1] Hebrews, from Thru The Bible Radio with Dr. J. Vernon McGee ©, free downloads Notes & Outlines (PDF), Complete 5-Year Study (MP3), The Authorship of Hebrews (or Did Paul Write Hebrews?) (PDF), Is it Possible For a Saved Person Ever to be Lost? (PDF), Why Do God's Children Suffer? (PDF)

The Epistle to the Hebrews, one of the most important books of the New Testament in that it contains some of the chief doctrines of the Christian faith, is, as well, a book of infinite logic and great beauty. To read it is to breathe the atmosphere of heaven itself. To study it is to partake of strong spiritual meat. To abide in its teachings is to be led from immaturity to maturity in the knowledge of Christian truth and of Christ Himself. It is to “go on unto perfection.”

And here is a further statement:

The theme of the Epistle to the Hebrews, the only book of the New Testament in which our Lord is presented in His high priestly office, is the supreme glory of Christ, the Son of God and Son of man. (Read the complete article)

[2] Book of Hebrews, from gotquestions.org (this website is also available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese-Myanmar, Cebuano, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese – Traditional, Hausa, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malaysian, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Quechua, Sesotho, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Zulu, and 70 other languages)

The book of Hebrews addresses three separate groups: believers in Christ, unbelievers who had knowledge of and an intellectual acceptance of the facts of Christ, and unbelievers who were attracted to Christ, but who rejected Him ultimately. It’s important to understand which group is being addressed in which passage. To fail to do so can cause us to draw conclusions inconsistent with the rest of Scripture.

The writer of Hebrews continually makes mention of the superiority of Christ in both His personage and in His ministering work. In the writings of the Old Testament, we understand the rituals and ceremonies of Judaism symbolically pointed to the coming of Messiah. In other words, the rites of Judaism were but shadows of things to come. Hebrews tells us that Christ Jesus is better than anything mere religion has to offer. All the pomp and circumstance of religion pales in comparison to the person, work, and ministry of Christ Jesus. It is the superiority of our Lord Jesus, then, that remains the theme of this eloquently written letter. (Read the complete article)

[3] Hebrews, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)

WRITER: The authorship of Hebrews has been in controversy from the earliest times. The book is anonymous, but the reference in 2 Peter 3:15 seems conclusive that Paul was the writer. See also Hebrews 13:23. All agree that, whether by Paul or another, the point of view is Pauline. We undoubtedly have here the method of Paul's synagogue addresses. No book of Scripture more fully authenticates itself as inspired.

DATE: From internal evidence it is clear that Hebrews was written before the destruction of the Temple, A.D. 70 (cf Hebrews 10:11).

THEME: The doctrinal passages reveal the purpose of the book. It was written with a twofold intent:

1. To confirm Jewish Christians by showing that Judaism had come to an end through the fulfilment by Christ of the whole purpose of the law; and

2. The hortatory passages show that the writer had in view the danger ever present to Jewish professed believers of either lapsing back into Judaism, or of pausing short of true faith in Jesus Christ. It is clear from the Acts that even the strongest of the believers in Palestine were held to a strange mingling of Judaism and Christianity (e.g. Acts21:18-24 and that snare would be especially apt to entangle professed Christians amongst the Jews of the dispersion.

The key-word is “better.” Hebrews is a series of contrasts between the good things of Judaism and the better things of Christ. Christ is “better” than angels, than Moses, than Joshua, than Aaron; and the New Covenant than the Mosaic Covenant. Church truth does not appear, the ground of gathering only being stated (Hebrews 13:13). The whole sphere of Christian profession is before the writer; hence exhortations necessary to warn and alarm a mere professor.

Hebrews is in six divisions, but these include five parenthetic passages of exhortation.

1. The great salvation, Hebrews 1:1-2:18 (2:1-4, parenthetic).
2. The rest of God, Hebrews 3:1-4:16 (all parenthetic).
3. Our great High Priest, Hebrews 5:1-8,6 (5:11-6:12, parenthetic).
4. The new covenant and the heavenly sanctuary, Hebrews 8:7-10:39 (10:26-39, parenthetic).
5. The superiority of the faith way, Hebrews 11:1-40.
6. The worship and walk of the believer-priest, Hebrews 12:1-13:25 (12:3-17, parenthetic).

Discussion

[1] Key verses: Hebrews 1:1-2; 2:3; 4:14-16; 11:1; 12:1-2

[2] The word “perfect” not counting its cognates, occurs nine times (Hebrews 2:10; 5:9; 7:19; 9:9, 11; 10:1; 11:40; 12:23; 13:21).

The phrase “let us” occurs thirteen times (Hebrews 4:1, 11, 14, 16; 6:1, 10:22, 23, 24; 12:1, 28; 13:13, 15).

The word “let” occurs five times (Hebrews 1:6; 2:1; 12:13; 13:1, 5)).

[3] Intercession of Christ, from Easton's Bible Dictionary

Christ's priestly office consists of these two parts, (1) the offering up of himself as a sacrifice, and (2) making continual intercession for us.

When on earth he made intercession for his people (Luk 23:34; Jhn 17:20; Hebrews 5:7); but now he exercises this function of his priesthood in heaven, where he is said to appear in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:12,24).
His advocacy with the Father for his people rests on the basis of his own all-perfect sacrifice. Thus he pleads for and obtains the fulfilment of all the promises of the everlasting covenant (1Jo 2:1; Jhn 17:24; Hebrews 7:25). He can be "touched with the feeling of our infirmities," and is both a merciful and a faithful high priest (Hebrews 2:17,18; 4:15,16). This intercession is an essential part of his mediatorial work. Through him we have "access" to the Father (Jhn 14:6; Eph 2:18; 3:12). "The communion of his people with the Father will ever be sustained through him as mediatorial Priest" (Psa 110:4; Rev 7:17).

[4] Types of Christ

• Adam, Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:45
• Abel, Genesis 4:8, 10; Hebrews 12:24
• Abraham, Genesis 17:5; Ephesians 3:15
• Aaron, Exodus 28:1; Hebrews 5:4, 5; Leviticus 16:15; Hebrews 9:7,24
• Ark, Genesis 7:16; 1 Peter 3:20-21
• Ark of the covenant, Exodus 25:16; Psalms 40:8; Isaiah 42:6
• Brazen serpent, Numbers 21:9; John 3:14-15
• Brazen altar, Exodus 27:1, 2; Hebrews 13:10
• Burnt offering, Leviticus 1:2, 4; Hebrews 10:10
• Cities of refuge, Numbers 35:6; Hebrews 6:18
• David, 2 Samuel 8:15; Ezekiel 37:24; Psalms 89:19-20; Philippians 2:9
• Eliakim, Isaiah 22:20-22; Revelation 3:7
• Firstfruits, Exodus 22:29; 1 Corinthians 15:20
• Golden candlestick, Exodus 25:31; John 8:12
• Golden altar, Exodus 40:5, 26, 27; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 8:3
• Isaac, Genesis 22:1, 2; Hebrews 11:17-19
• Jacob, Genesis 32:28; John 11:42; Hebrews 7:25
• Jacob’s ladder, Genesis 28:12; John 1:51
• Joseph, Genesis 50:19-20
• Joshua, Joshua 1:5-6; Hebrews 4:8, 9; Joshua 11:23; Acts 20:32
• Jonah, Jon 1:17; Matthew 12:40
• Laver of brass, Exodus 30:18-20; Zechariah 13:1; Ephesians 5:26-27
• Leper’s offering, Leviticus 14:4-7; Romans 4:25
• Man, Exodus 16:11-15; John 6:32-35
• Melchizedek, Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-17
• Mercy seat, Exodus 25:17-22; Rom 3:25; Hebrews 4:16
• Morning and evening sacrifices, Exodus 29:38-41; John 1:29,36
• Moses, Numbers 12:7; Hebrews 3:2; Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:20-22
• Noah, Genesis 5:29; 2 Corinthians 1:5
• Paschal lamb, Exodus 12:3-6, 46; John 19:36; 1 Corinthians 5:7
• Peace offerings, Leviticus 3:1; Ephesians 2:14,16
• Red heifer, Numbers 19:2-6; Hebrews 9:13-14
• Rock of Horeb, Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 10:4
• Sacrifices offered on the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16:15-16; Hebrews 9:12,24
• Samson, Judges 16:30; Colossians 2:14-15
• Scapegoat, Leviticus 16:20-22; Isaiah 53:6, 12
• Sin offering, Leviticus 4:2-3, 12; Hebrews 13:11-12
• Solomon, 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Luke 1:32,33; 1 Peter 2:5
• Tabernacle, Exodus 40:2, 34; Hebrews 9:11; Colossians 2:9
• Table and shew bread, Exodus 25:23-30; John 1:16; 6:48
• Temple, 1 Kings 6:1,38; John 2:19,21
• Tree of Life, Genesis 2:9; John 1:4; Revelation 22:2
• Trespass offering, Leviticus 6:1-7; Isaiah 53:10
• Veil of the tabernacle and temple, Exodus 40:21; 2 Chronicles 3:14; Hebrews 10:20
• Zerubbabel, Zechariah 4:7-9; Hebrews 12:2-3

[5] Christ is “better” or superior than Moses, Joshua, Melchizedek, etc. The word “better” is used thirteen times (Hebrews 1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24).

Two verses, likewise, convey this “better” way (from J. Vernon McGee):

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. (Hebrews 3:1)

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:3)

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Hebrews: Introduction, Argument, and Outline, by Daniel B. Wallace, Th.M., Ph.D.

[2] Studies in Hebrews, various authors, from bible.org

[3] By Faith Alone: A Study on the Characters of Hebrews 11 (10 article-series), by Crickett Keeth B.S.; MACE

[4] The Argument of Hebrews, by Hampton Keathley IV, Th.M.

[5] The Five Warnings of Hebrews, by John W. Lawrence, Th.M. (also available in: Indonesian)

Sermons on Hebrews 4: 14-16 (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] God's Grace and Mercy, by Matthew Starin, Baptist World Mission

[2] Sermons by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

• The Encouragement of God's Presence
• The Motivation for Holiness
• A Portal to the Divine

[3] Christian Privileges, by Toby L. Soechting

[4] Consider the High Priest, by Richard Devendorf

[5] Exhortations From Hebrews 4, by Kenneth W. Burton

[5] Overview of Hebrews 4:14-5:12, by Kenneth W. Burton

[6] Willing To Pay The Price, by Richard DeRuiter

[7] How To Find Rest, by Eric Scott Truesdale

[8] Sermons by David Harp

• The Lord Jesus - A Friend in Temptation
• God’s Living Powerful Word

[9] Amazing Grace, by Ron Parker

[10] Believe! In Jesus, by Scott C Wildenberg

[11] God revealed in Christ, by Michael Taylor

[12] Immanuel God Is With Us, by Joel Mark Lillie

[13] Draw Near to the Throne of Grace with Confidence, by Rev. Gregory S. Byrd

For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.