Hebrews Intro
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Author- Unknown . many believe the author was Paul because of the similar style of writing
Date- Before the destruction of the temple in AD 70 due to the present tense use of the priesthood and Levitical system.
Audience- The letter does not start off as other letters do with a direct audience the letter is specifically for. The letter jumps right into the topic. We can deduce from the context of the letter that this is meant for Jewish readers due to the topics of the old covenant and the Levitical priesthood that would make compete sense to a Jewish reader.
Purpose-
The Jewish believers during this time were suffering persecution for their faith ( Heb. 10:32-34).
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
Due to the persecution and the pressure of the culture around them, they were tempted to go back to keep some of the old covenant rituals and practices as a way of possibly escaping some of the persecution or possibly because doubt had crept in as to whether following Christ and rejecting Judaism was the correct thing. There was a spiritual regression.
- The writer would write to let them know how Jesus was superior to the old testament covenant and how He was sufficient to fulfill the old covenant. The writer is proving the Superiority and Sufficiency of Christ.
- The doctrines the epistle presents, the warnings it delivers, the exhortations it gives, all were intended to prevent spiritual regression and to encourage continual development towards spiritual maturity.
Illustration - Brayden baseball hittin.
Main Theme-
- The writer is trying to get them not to go back to the keeping of the law as a means of pleasing God, but to keep the faith and to endure through difficulty by means of understanding Jesus’ superiority and His sufficiency.
- The main theme is to “Have faith that Endures” the pressure and persecution.
often it is the pressures of the people or the culture and the fear of what they may say of us, or what may happen to us that can cause us to bend in our convictions or in our believes. Worrying about what people will say about me in school, or on social media, may alter my actions. I can act like a different in school or around certain friends, because of the peer pressure or fear.
The only way they would be able to have faith that endures would be by having a proper understanding of Who Jesus was, Why Jesus came, What Jesus had done.
Personal Application
- The Jewish readers were easily diverted off into other directions. They were tempted, frightened or pressured into following other voices and serving other Gods.
- We too can be diverted in our faith by the very same things. Satan will use temptations, fear and pressure to get us off of the current path we are on in order to follow a path that does not please God and that will not be in line with His will.
- This can create a spiritual regression in our lives, the going backwards in our maturity rather than growing into spiritual maturity. We can become stunted in our spiritual growth.
God is working in our lives in order to conform us into the image of His Son.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
God is working in us from the moment we have been born to come to the place where we will get to know Him. Once we know Him and place our faith in Him, He will continue to work in us to mold and shape us into the image of His Son. This is a life long process until we die.
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Forward spiritual growth is what God is looking for our lives. SO if we know God wants us to move forward in growing in our knowledge of Him and our likeness of Him.... when we stop growing or worse , when we start going backwards and regress spiritually, this does not please God. This is one of the things that the writer would deal with and it is something that can become a problem in our day.
there is a danger of coming to church everyday, going on every event...... the danger is that i can be fooled into thinking that i am growing spiritually because of all the movement.
Illustration- The sea of Galilee- Jordan River.— Show pics
- The solution is the same for the Jewish readers, to get our focus back on Who Jesus is, Why Jesus came and What Jesus has done for us. Our eyes need to be realigned on Jesus, to move forward towards spiritual maturity. (Heb.12:1-2)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Understanding the Old Covenant vs New Covenant
Old Covenant
- The Old Covenant was a conditional agreement that God had with the Israelites.
- In the Old Covenant, the Israelites were required to obey God and keep the Law, and in return God protected and blessed them. ( Duet. 30:15-18, 1 Sam. 12:14-15)
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
- Through the Old Covenant, God established how men were to meet with God through the Levitical Priesthood, the tabernacle (later the temple) and through the sacrifices of animals.
- Under the Old Covenant, the High Priest could enter the Most Holy place where God’s presence dwelt once a year on the day of atonement. The blood of the sacrificed animals on this day would serve to cover the sins of the entire nation.
- God made a way to atone for sins through the shedding of blood. (Heb. 9:22)
- The purpose of the Old Covenant was ….
A. To make it clear that no man is righteous before God and that no one can save himself. (Rom.3:10-11,20)
As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
B. To point people to Jesus (Gal.3:24-25)
- the Levitical System, the tabernacle, temple, furniture in the temple, the sacrifices, the priest were all meant to point us to Christ. These were a shadow of things to come. ( Heb.10:1, Col. 2:17)
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
The New Covenant
- This New Covenant started at the death of Jesus on the cross, the spilling of His blood for the sins of the world. (Lk.22:20)
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
- in the old covenant God established a way to atone for sin, Jesus was a fulfillment of that in His death and the shedding of His blood on the cross. This is why on the last supper Jesus passed the cup and said “this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” LK.22:20
- the start of this new covenant made the old covenant obsolete. (Heb. 8:13)
- Jesus was a fulfillment of the old covenant, the law. (Matt.5:17)
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
- the new covenant would therefore replace the old covenant. God promised this new covenant ( Jer.31:31)
- while in the old covenant men were required to obey and keep the law and in return God would protect and bless his people, in the new covenant things changed. God became the proactive and unconditional source of salvation and blessing.
- in the new covenant God demonstrated His love for us: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Rom.5:8
- The old covenant was never intended to save us, in fact “the old written covenant ends in death, but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6)