Introduction to Hebrews

Has your Christian journey ever led you to face frustrations, obstacles and temptations along the way? If your answer is positive, these things probably happened right after you were converted to the Christian religion. You may have belonged to another faith or order; or, as most of us, you may have been considered as just ‘good-ole-boy’ but still a sinner. Regardless of your situation in life, conversion and dedication to Christ is accompanied by some necessary changes in your life that will cause you to be frustrated and even tempted sometimes to just give up and quit. This letter to the Hebrews was written to the Jewish people, sometimes called Israelites that had recently given up the Jewish faith and practice and joined the new Christian movement.

This letter to the Hebrews does not record who the author is and there is no true consensus of opinion. Those mentioned by most guessers say it was Paul, Barnabas, Luke or Apollos. The timing is right for any of these because there are events in the letter that dates it as having been written sometime after AD 60 and the destruction of the temple by the Romans in AD 70. Acts records a rapid growth of the church during the period following the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and the destruction of the temple by the Romans. The number of Hebrews that joined the new movement of grace and faith expanded rapidly as did the number of Gentiles that were being converted.

The newly converted Jews had the same problems as you and I have had, only worse. They soon became frustrated from the pressures put on them by the orthodox Jews that increased their hatred toward the Gentiles. They truly believed in Christ and they wanted be known as Christians but wanted to hold on to some of their old ways of worship. I don’t know about you [readers of this paper] but I have never before understood how or why there was hatred in the heart of the orthodox Jew against the followers of Christ. It is still hard to understand—but we see and hear every day about the Moslem leaders teaching their followers to hate and kill especially the American infidels…US…Christians.

Hebrews sounded a needed warning to these early Jewish believers who were originally called Hebrews before they were called Israelites. So much pressure and persecution was vented toward them that they were living under a hardship, and they were being tempted to revert back to their Old Testament way of life. The Church was still in its infancy, struggling to grow and could not afford to loose the Jewish converts back to the old way. It is evident that the author of Hebrews loved the Jewish nation and wanted them converted to live under the new convent. It is evident that the author was a Born Again Christian that was holding solid to his new freedom and faith in Christ. Thirdly, it is evident that the author knew about the struggles of the new Jewish Christians and wanted to help them to maintain their faith in Christ. Now, how can this book help us as we study the truths recorded here? We must only realize and admit that we have our struggles along life’s path way—and we must learn from Hebrews that the answers to our problems always are found in Christ and his grace as long as we are willing to believe. Have faith in God!

After looking at several commentaries, it had become evident that the general consensus of opinion that the time, place and author of Hebrews were unknown, I then read from “An Interpretation of the English Bible” by Dr. B. H. Carroll—and here is what he wrote about the book of Hebrews. “Having examined many authorities and studied thousands of pages of controversy on this subject, the author thoroughly settled in his mind that Paul, and no other, is the author of the letter to the Hebrews; that it concludes the group of letters written during the first Roman imprisonment, following Ephesians, elaborating the doctrines set forth in the preceding letters against Gnosticism, properly introducing the pastoral letters, and that it was addressed to the Jews of Asia Minor and Greece.” The reasons he gives for his position are convincing to me and I now believe that he is right.

Dr. Carroll agrees with what I have already stated about the purpose or theme of this book. It was written to converted Jews that were being tempted to return to the old covenant… and the main argument is that the new covenant is infinitely superior to the old covenant. The relationship of Christianity to Judaism was a critical issue in the early days of the church. I can agree that Hebrews was written to a specific group of Jews that were having trouble at that specific time; but it is important for us to remember that all of the scripture was written for man in general and that there are no divisions acceptable to Christ. Color, nationality, nor status has anything to do with the application of the bible and that includes Hebrews.

Hardly a day passes that I do not think of what is said in the first few verses of Hebrews. This writer is talking to me and you and he is telling us that we must understand that God will not communicate with us through prophets or directly with individuals as he did with Joseph. But God sent his Son…Jesus Christ—The Word and He instructs us personally as He [The Holy Spirit] guides and directs our paths.

HEBREWS 1:1 to 2:4

It is so seldom that we have as few as two chapters to cover in a single lesson that my first suggestion is that we take advantage of this one and read the first two chapters of Hebrews. When you have completed the reading, now take time and think back over the Jewish system of thought regarding who they were and what they needed to do to maintain their special status in God’s sight. There were originally twelve tribes that were in Egypt and there was already some friction among them before Moses led them out. They were barely out the gate and on their way before some of the more hostile tribes started trying to cause friction…no food, no water, we were better off back there in Egyptian slavery. God sent manna and fresh quail daily.

Moses went up the mountain to receive a word from God, came down with the Ten Commandments [the foundation of all Mosaic Law] and found that certain tribes had convinced the people that he was dead, and had already converted back to idol worship. For forty years they wandered about never finding complete unity under the commandments of God and the Mosaic Law, with the help of the Priest and Prophets guiding them in the way of the Lord. Time moves on through the age of the Judges and the Kings and God was true to his people and kept the original covenant, and sent the prophets to tell them about the Messiah that would come and bring a new covenant. When Jesus was born and for the next thirty years His people rejected him—however a few [always a remnant] believed. They came under hard times and had begun to fall away from their new covenant of grace and faith.

The book of Hebrews describes in detail how Jesus Christ fulfilled the promises of the prophecies of the OT and it explains to those who were beginning to doubt—that the new covenant with Christ at the head of the church was a much better than anything offered by the old Jewish system of thought. The Jews accepted the OT, but most of them rejected Jesus—because they just did not believe the long-awaited messiah would live, look, rule and reign in the manner Christ did.

The first chapter is deep and interesting as the writer explains how God has always communicated with his people through his spokesmen and in many different ways. He spoke to Isaiah through visions—chapter 6; to Jacob in a dream—Gen. 28; and to Abraham and Moses he spoke personally—Genesis 28 and Exodus 31…but now that Christ has come and lived among men, he brought God’s message, God now speaks through Christ, His Son, who other writers declare to be the Word.
The writer [whom I believe to be Paul] tells these distressed Hebrews that Jesus is the exact representative of God. The Lord had told them that if they had seen Him they had seen God. This new Messiah is the same God that spoke to the Hebrews in OT times. He is eternal. He worked with his Father God during creation—John 1: 3 and Colossians 1:16. Oh, how I wish the camera had been invented by the early Jews. At least, I think I would like to see an actual photograph of Jesus Christ. The bible says that we can have no better picture of God than the one we get when we look at Christ. A lot of people did see Jesus and they furnished us with verbal descriptions that helps each person see Him as their heart dictates that they should. In my minds eye, I see my savior as the most handsome of all men. Any person that loves others, cares, forgives, heals, gives life, and is always positive, always right, and happy, would make a great subject to photograph. He is our clear expression of God in a human body.

Hebrews links the saving power of God with his creative power. His power has no limits; He used his supernatural power to create the world and all therein—and he uses that same power to remove our sins—He actually provides purification for the sin; and that sin does not continue to exist. It is sad that some people have such a small vision of God’s power. Some will say, “I have sinned too much, He could not possibly forgive me of all my sins.” One should never place a limitation on God. He can and will do what he has promised. In the third verse the book says that He sat down, and I think that simply means that he did what he had to do to purify sin and when the job was done he went back to heaven and sat down on the right hand of his Father where he now intercedes for us. Ok, get specific—in v. 3, how did he provide purification for sin? He was perfect and without any sin, and he was nailed to the cross where he bled and died. His pure blood paid the redemptive price for our sins; and when that entire event was over…he said it is finished…the plan of salvation was complete.

Hebrews believed in angels, as rightly they should. However, they needed to know that Jesus Christ is the SON OF GOD, and that no angel had ever deserved to wear His name. This new Messiah was higher than the angels. They are reminded that God has never talked so intimately about any angel. He has never called one his son. The Hebrews are reminded that when Christ was born the angels were commanded to worship Him…that alone sets him on a higher plane than angels. Lastly in verse 14 the word tells us what angels are and what their work is to be. Angels are ministering spirits—sent out by God—to work for and protect his children.
Some are invisible, like the one that causes a driver who has dozed off…to awaken just in time. Some are living bodies, like the nurse that discovered a cancerous appendix that the surgeon had overlooked while doing a different procedure.
The title to our lesson today is and is found in the first verse of chapter two. After thirty-four years in education I can tell you that many children tagged as ‘slow learners’ do not have a learning problem. They like to talk more than they are willing to listen. They either can not or will not pay careful attention—and let their mind wonder off on too many rabbit trails. The Hebrews are warned that they must pay attention to the teachings under the new covenant or they are likely to drift back into their old inadequate way. Paying attention is hard work because it requires great self control over mind, body and senses. Then finally, it does no good to pay attention unless you are willing to use what you learn to improve your status in life or position in Christ. So, paying attention is hard enough and very few are able to master the ability to listen, but to listen, pay attention, learn and know does little good if it is not put into practice.

The messages by angels in verse two refers to teaching that angles had brought the law of God to Moses [see Galatians 3:19]. The point being made here is that Christ is greater than any of the other ways used to get to God. The emphasis is greater when the writer indicates that if we ignore the plan of salvation planned and purchased for us—there is no other way of escape from eternal punishment.

Angels can deliver a message, but we are much more likely to get the message and understand it if it comes from the mouth of Christ. He was the first to announce salvation by grace through faith. What sealed this as truth…a true testimony…was when literally hundreds of people that saw and heard him have personally attested to the true story. Finely you should realize that the Jews have always believed in and trusted God. They have not always been obedient but still believed in one God. Now, in verse 4, they are reminded that this same God that they believe in has also attested to the truth of Christ. How has God testified? By signs, wonders, various miracles, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.