The book of Hebrews

1. The Book of Hebrews – 13th April 2016
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) .
Althoughsome includethe Bookof Hebrewsamongthe apostle Paul'swritings,the certainidentityof
the author remainsanenigma.MissingisPaul'scustomarysalutationcommontohisotherworks.In
addition,the suggestionthatthe writerof thisepistle relieduponknowledge andinformationprovided
by otherswhowere actual eye-witnessesof ChristJesus aswe can readin Hebrews 2whichmakes
Pauline authorshipdoubtful. We canreadin Hebrews 2:3 “....howshall we escape ifwe ignoreso great
a salvation?Thissalvation,whichwasfirst announcedbythe Lord, wasconfirmedto usby those who
heard him”.Due to thisstatementsome attribute Luke asitswriter;otherssuggestHebrewsmayhave
beenwritten byApollos,Barnabas,Silas,Philip,orAquilaandPriscilla.Regardlessof the humanhand
that heldthe pen,the HolySpiritof God isthe divine authorof all Scripture as we can readin 2 Timothy
3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathedandisuseful for teaching,rebuking,correcting and trainingin
righteousness”. Therefore,Hebrewsspeakswiththe same canonical authorityasthe othersixty-five
booksof the Bible.
The earlychurch fatherClementquotedfromthe Bookof HebrewsinA.D.95. However,internal
evidence suchasthe fact that Timothywasalive atthe time the epistle waswrittenandthe absence of
any evidence showingthe endof the OldTestamentsacrificialsystemthatoccurredwithJerusalem's
destructioninA.D.70 indicatesthe bookwaswrittenaroundA.D.65. The late Dr. WalterMartin,
founderof the ChristianResearchInstituteandwriterof the best-sellingbook Kingdomof theCults,
quippedinhisusual tongue-in-cheekmannerthatthe Bookof Hebrewswaswrittenbya Hebrew to
otherHebrewstellingthe Hebrewstostopactinglike Hebrews.Intruth,manyof the earlyJewish
believerswere slippingbackintothe ritesandritualsof Judaisminorderto escape the mounting
persecution.Thisletter,then,isanexhortationforthose persecutedbelieverstocontinue inthe grace
of JesusChrist.
The Book of Hebrewsaddressesthree separategroups:believersinChrist,unbelieverswhohad
knowledge of andanintellectual acceptance of the factsof Christ,andunbelieverswhowere attracted
to Christ,butwho rejectedHimultimately.It’simportanttounderstandwhichgroupisbeingaddressed
inwhichpassage.To fail todo so can cause usto draw conclusionsinconsistentwiththe restof
Scripture. The writerof Hebrewscontinuallymakesmentionof the superiorityof ChristinbothHis
personage andinHis ministeringwork.Inthe writingsof the OldTestament,we understandthe rituals
and ceremoniesof Judaismsymbolicallypointedtothe comingof Messiah.Inotherwords,the ritesof
Judaismwere butshadowsof thingstocome.HebrewstellsusthatChristJesusisbetterthananything
mere religionhastooffer.All the pompandcircumstance of religionpalesincomparisontothe person,
work,and ministryof ChristJesus.Itisthe superiorityof ourLordJesus,then,thatremainsthe theme of
thiseloquentlywrittenletter.
Perhapsnowhere inthe NewTestamentdoesthe OldTestamentcome intofocusmore thaninthe Book
of Hebrews,whichhasasitsfoundationthe Levitical priesthood.The writertothe Hebrewsconstantly
comparesthe inadequaciesof the OldTestamentsacrificial systemtothe perfectionandcompletionin

2. Christ.Where the OldCovenantrequiredcontinual sacrificesandaonce-a-yearatonementforsin
offeredbyahuman priest,the NewCovenantprovidesaonce-for-all sacrifice throughChristanddirect
access to the throne of God for all whoare inHim. We can learnthisin Hebrews 10:10, “Andby that
will,we have been made holy throughthe sacrificeof the body ofJesus Christonce forall”.
Rich infoundational Christiandoctrine,the Epistle tothe Hebrewsalsogivesusencouragingexamplesof
God's "faithheroes"whoperseveredinspiteof greatdifficultiesandadverse circumstancesaswe can
learnfromthe passagesin Hebrews 11. These membersof God'sHall of Faithprovide overwhelming
evidence astothe unconditional suretyandabsolute reliabilityof God.Likewise,we canmaintain
perfectconfidenceinGod'srichpromises, regardlessof ourcircumstances,bymeditatinguponthe rock-
solidfaithfulnessof God'sworkingsinthe livesof HisOldTestamentsaints.
The writerof Hebrewsgivesampleencouragementtobelievers,butthere are five solemnwarningswe
mustheed.Firstwe can learnthat there isthe dangerof neglectaswe can learnfrom Hebrews 2:1-4.
Secondwe can learnof the dangerof unbelief aswe canlearnfrom Hebrews 4:13, “Nothinginall
creation ishiddenfrom God’ssight.Everything isuncovered and laidbare before the eyes ofhim to
whom we must giveaccount”. Third we can learnof the dangerof spiritual immaturityaswe learnfrom
Hebrews 5:11,“We have muchto sayabout this,but it is hardto make it clear to you becauseyou no
longer try to understand”. Fourthwe can learnof the dangerof failingtoendure whichwe canlearn
fromHebrews 10:26-39. Fifthwe learnof the inherentdangerof refusingGodwhichwe canlearnfrom
Hebrews12:25-29.
Therefore we findthe epistleof Hebrewsasa crowningmasterpiece agreatwealthof doctrine,a
refreshingspringof encouragement,andasource of sound,practical warningsagainstslothfulnessin
our Christianwalk.Butthere isstill more where findamagnificentlyrenderedthe portraitof ourLord
JesusChrist—the AuthorandFinisherof ourgreat salvation.We canlearnfrom Hebrews 12:2, “…fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer andperfecter of faith.For the joy set before him he endured the cross,
scorningits shame,and sat downat the right handof the throne of God”.

3. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of
what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) .
There are some key verses that we can learn fromthis book. Firstwe can read in
Hebrews 1:1-2: "In thepastGod spoketo our forefathers through the prophets at
many times and in various ways, butin these last days he has spoken to us by his
Son, whomhe appointed heir of all things, and through whomhe made the
universe.”
Hebrews 2:3: "How shallwe escape if we ignoresuch a great salvation…"
Hebrews 4:14-16: "Therefore, sincewehave a great high priest who has gone
through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we
profess. For wedo not havea high priestwho is unable to sympathizewith our
weaknesses, butwehave one who has been tempted in every way, justas we
are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throneof grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of
need."
Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is being sureof what we hope for and certain of what
we do not see.”
Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, sinceweare surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverancethe race marked out for us. Let us fix
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set
before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand

4. of the throne of God."