A Brief Discussion of the Epistle to the Hebrews

The writer of this grand epistle, being anonymous, is urging his Hebrew audience to persevere in the Christian walk (Hebrews 6:1) because Jesus Christ is better than anything that Judaism has to offer.  Thus, he is exhorting his Hebrew audience to “go on unto perfection,” because of the superiority of Jesus Christ.  After several lofty presentations of the person of Christ and His works, the author was concerned that his audience would not heed to and trust God’s word by giving five warning sections with the following titles:

(a)      The Danger of Drifting (Hebrews 2:1-4);

(b)     The Danger of Doubting (Hebrews 3:7-4:13)

(c)      The Danger of Departing (Hebrews 5:11-6:20)

(d)     The Danger of Despising (Hebrews 10:19-39

(e)      The Danger of Denying (Hebrews 12:25-29)

The author was vitally concerned that his Hebrew audience would not be guilty as Israel of old in not fully trusting in God, for the group (generation) that exited Egypt forfeited their opportunity to enter the Promise Land and gain their inheritance (rest) because they failed to trust God.  Their most prominent failure was seen at Kadesh-Barnea which led their forty years of wandering aimlessly in the wilderness.  As I read the classic warning passage of Hebrews 3:7-4:13, one arresting thought entered my mind: “Unbelief forfeits Divine blessings.”  The older generation that exited Egypt trusted God to open the Red Sea for them, but they failed to trust God in providing for them in the wilderness.  The same God that brought them out of Egypt should have been the same God that they trusted in a howling wilderness for daily sustenance.  The author’s marvelous presentation of Christ was designed to inform his audience that Christ is indeed superior to anyone or anything and that his audience understand that He is the model of the Christian life of faith, for Hebrews 12:2 says – “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.”  The author is making a careful appeal to the audience to not revert to Judaism because they had everything that they need in Christ; in fact, why would they revert to “shadow when they have the substance.”  The author will present several superiorities of Christ:

(a)      Christ is Superior to the Prophets (Hebrews Chapter 1)

(b)     Christ is Superior to the Angels (Hebrews 1:5-2:18)

(c)      Christ is Superior to Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6)

(d)     Christ is Superior to the Aaronic Priesthood (Hebrews

5:1-10:39

Jesus Christ is indeed superior to anything that this world has to offer; thus He is the model of one who withstood opposition but persevered in faith (Hebrews 12:2-3).