I. Introduction

A. Author:

Assumedly the Apostle Paul

B. Recipient(s):

Most likely a mixed community of Jewish Christians and Gentiles; this letter most likely was not a circular letter, it was meant for a specific group of people (the author knew them; see Heb 13:19, 23).

C. Purpose:

1. How one views the purpose behind this epistle effects how one interprets the epistle.

2. Exhortation: Heb 13:22 or Warning: Heb 6; 10

3. The theological statements found within this letter music take the above sections into consideration.

4. Various views:

a. To warn Jewish Christians against apostasy to Judaism

No evidence to support this ever happened. Furthermore, Heb 6 and 10 do not explicitly state that this is what the warning is about; it is an inference.

b. To challenge restricted Jewish Christians to embrace world missions

Interesting hypothesis, no support.

c. To announce the absolute character of Christianity to mainly Gentile Christians

Strength: the author makes no distinction between Gentile and Jewish Christianity.
Weakness: the author does not discuss pagan rituals or take an anti-Gnostic approach.  Only those already convinced of the greatness of Jewish heritage would understand this approach.

d. To counteract an early type of heresy

Strong points: the reason for the introduction (a combat to a type of Jewish Gnosticism); the mention of strange teachings and salvation by food 13:9; and accounts for the washing statements in 9:10; and the immorality in 12:16.

e. The supremacy and complete sufficiency of Christ in life

(my view)
We must make sure that we understand that these are theories and nothing more.  What is clear is that the author is warning his readers from turning away from Christianity.  What tempted this church is unknown; but the prime goal of the author is to show the supremacy and complete sufficiency of Christ.  Christ alone completely fulfilled the Scriptures.

II. Review: Superiority of Christ

A. Christ is superior to what came before (the Old Testament); Hebrews 1:1-3

B. Christ is superior to the angels; Hebrews 1:4-2:18

• First warning 2:1-4

C.Christ is superior to Moses; Hebrews 3:1-19

• Second warning 3:7 – 4:13

III. Christ is superior to Joshua; Hebrews 4:1-13

A. The need for a future rest; 4:1-8 (Psalm 95)

“The Canaan rest for Israel is a picture of the spiritual rest we find in Christ when we surrender to Him. When we come to Christ by faith, we find salvation rest (Matt. 11:28). When we yield and learn of Him and obey Him by faith, we enjoy submission rest (Matt. 11:29–30). The first is “peace with God” (Rom. 5:1); the second is the “peace of God” (Phil. 4:6–8). It is by believing that we enter into rest (Heb. 4:3); it is by obeying God by faith and surrendering to His will that the rest enters into us.”

– Warren W. Wiersbe

B. Strive for the promised rest; 4:9-13

1. Sabbath or rest – literally “cessation:” rest from work when finished.

2. Hebrews 4:11

a. Labor – to strive diligently for that rest into which Christ has already entered.

b. Fall – this is with the soul, not just the body, as the Israelites fell in the wilderness.

3. Hebrews 4:12-13; The judicial power of God’s Word:

The disobedient Israelites were excluded from Canaan just as unbelieving so-called Christians are excluded from the heavenly rest.  God alone knows the hearts of men; he alone is sovereign over all.

• Quick; lit. living
• Powerful; lit. energetic
• Sharper; lit. more cutting
• Two-edged; lit. sharpened at edge and back
• Piercing; lit. coming through
• Reaching down into the primal aspects of man’s nature
• Christ knows what man really is
• Discerner; lit. capable of judging
• Judges purposes (thoughts)
• Judges conceptions or ideas (intents)
• Heb 4:13 – Opened; lit. thrown on the back so as to have the neck laid bare
• As a victim is prepared with neck exposed for sacrifice.
• This is the continual state in one’s relation to God.

This is why we must labor; lest any fall through practical unbelief.

IV. Christ is the superior priesthood; Hebrews 4:14-7:28

A. Christ is greater than Aaron; 4:14-5:10

1. Jesus is the great high priest; 4:14-16

a. His position is higher

b. His throne is one of grace

c. The common people were not able to approach the temple; everyone is able to approach the throne of grace.

• Mercy means that God does not give us what we do deserve
• Grace means that He gives us what we do not deserve

2. Jesus is superior to any high priest; 5:1-10

-    The very existence of a sacrificial system shows the separation of men from God

a. His ordination is superior; 5:1

• Every legitimate Levitical high priest taken from among men is ordained by men.
• God chose and ordained Jesus; 5:4-6

b. His sympathy is superior; 5:2

• No man can make an allowance for a willfully committed sin, or a sin that is made without knowledge.
• During His earthly ministry Jesus prepared himself for His priestly ministry, he experienced all temptations and yet was not tempted; 5:7-8

c. His sacrifice is superior; 5:3

• A Levitical priest cannot offer himself on behalf of the people
• But Jesus was made perfect—complete—at His resurrection; 5:9
• Lit. Addressed by God: High Priest.  Being formally recognized by God as High Priest at the time of His being “made perfect.”  He was High Priest already in the purpose of God before His passion; but after it, when perfected, He was formally addressed so; 5:10
• (for a further explanation of Melchisedec see 6:20ff)

B. The progress of spiritual pilgrimage; 5:11-6:20

• The third warning; 5:11-6:8