The Epistle to the Hebrews The Superiority of
The Epistle to the Hebrews The Superiority of Christ
Introduction to Hebrews • Written to Hebrew Christians who were familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures. – The recipients had a thorough knowledge of the Mosaic system and 1 st century Jewish practices – Hebrews contains more than 30 O. T. quotations • Written to encourage Jewish Christians to hold fast their faith despite being persecuted and ostracized (4: 14; 10: 32 -36) – “LET US” This encouraging phrase of exhortation occurs 12 times in Hebrews (4: 1, 14, 16; 6: 1; 10: 22, 23, 24; 12: 1, 28; 13: 13, 15)
Thematic Outline: The Superiority of Christ • As God’s Son, He is superior both to the angels and to Moses (1: 1 — 4: 11) • As High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, He is superior to the Levitical Priests (4: 12— 7: 28) • He is the Mediator of a better covenant (8: 1— 10: 29) • He is the Author & Finisher of our faith (11: 1— 13: 25) KEY PHRASE: “Looking Unto Jesus” (12: 2)
Theme: The Superiority of Christ • Everything that Christ has accomplished and established is “better” than what came before: – A better hope (7: 19) – A better covenant (7: 22) – Better promises (8: 6) – Better sacrifices (9: 23; 12: 24) – A better [heavenly] country (10: 34; 11: 16) KEY PHRASE: God has “provided something better for us!” (Hebrews 11: 40)
Author of Hebrews • The Lord may have used Paul as His instrument to write to the Hebrews (cf. 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17), but some of the evidence is conflicting. – Some early Christians attribute the letter to Paul, but others do not. – The writer was a companion and friend of Timothy (13: 23) – The writer had been in chains; he hoped to “be restored to” the Hebrews soon (10: 34; 13: 19) – The epistle was written from Rome, where Paul was imprisoned at least once (13: 24) – The writer was thoroughly familiar with the Law of Moses (Acts 22: 2 -3; Philippians 3: 4 -6) – Pauline authorship best explains the omission of his name to a Jewish audience.
God Has Spoken Through His Son (Hebrews 1: 1 -3) • God “at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets” – The unity of the message despite the variety of methods of communication proves that the Bible is the product of One Mind – God’s! – Although God used 40 different men over a period of 1, 500 years to convey His word in written form (and more to convey it orally). Yet the message is always consistent. (2 Peter 1: 20 -21)
God Has Spoken Through His Son (Hebrews 1: 1 -3) • In contrast to His previous methods, God now speaks to “us” through “His Son” THEN NOW – In Time Past “In these last days” – To the Fathers To us – By the prophets Through His Son • The prophets foretold that in the last days the Kingdom would be established and God’s Spirit would be poured out. (Daniel 2: 28, 44; Isaiah 2: 2; Joel 2: 28) • We are now in the last days (Acts 2: 16 -17) • These are the days in which we must heed Jesus as the prophet of God (Acts 3: 22 -24)
God Has Spoken Through His Son (Hebrews 1: 1 -3) The Superiority of Christ • Heir of all things (Psalm 2: 7 -8; Philippians 2: 5 -11) • Through whom He made the Worlds (John 1: 1 -3; Colossians 1: 16 -17) • The brightness of His glory and the express image of His person (John 1: 18; 17: 24 -26; Colossians 1: 15; 2: 9; 1 Timothy 3: 16) • Upholding all things (Col. 1: 17; Acts 17: 28) • Purged our sins (Ephesians 1: 7; Heb. 9: 24 -28) • Sitting at God’s right hand (Hebrews 8: 1; Ephesians 1: 20 -23)
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