It is very important to get a clear understanding of the book of Hebrews for many reasons. Some people use it to teach that you can lose your salvation. The warning passages must be understood as warnings to Jews who had made a profession but now were thinking of going back to the Temple and the sacrifices. They would give proof that they were never saved if they did that.
Authority:
Quotations never give the human instrument – never says “David said,” or “Moses said.”
It is God Who is speaking; He said, He limited a certain day in David when He said (4:7; He that said; He said also 5:5-6)
The Spirit says – ch 3:7; 10:15
Audience:
The False – never saved; apostates
The Faltering – those who were wavering
The Faithful
Their commencement 10:32-34
Their continuance 6:9, 10
Their crisis – 10:38-39
Absence:
No salutation or introduction
No mention of God as Father until ch 12
It is not Head and Body but High Priest and the People of God
No mention of author
Aim:
His Person eclipsing all
His Work accomplishing and fulfilling all
His Priesthood securing all
Admonitions/Alarms:
Seven warnings which have created problems for believers who fear loss of salvation; 2:3; 3:7-11; 15; 4:11; 6:4-6; 10:26-31; 35-39; 12:15, 25-27;
These were unsaved people who gave evidence of their lack of life by their return to Judaism and openly renouncing Christ
Approach:
Christ greater than the best of men
Christ greater than the best of men at their best
Christ greater than the best of angelic beings
Christ greater than the best ever offered before to men
Christ greater than the best ever offered by men
Allusions:
It is the wilderness, and not the land
It is the tabernacle, and not the temple
It is Christ, and not progression
The sacrifices, covenant, and priesthood of old
Throne of God 4x; living God 4x; Spirit of God 7x
Attack on their Faith:
Being lured back to the visible and tangible
The Traditional – we have the covenants, the promises – will answer this in ch11
The Visible – we have sacrifices – ch 13
The Tangible – we have a Temple, a High Priest – ch 13
The Logical – they were going through persecution; how could they be right with God? – ch 12 will answer this
Arrangement of Material:
ch 1-10 The Preeminence of Christ
1-4Thou art My Son
5-8Thou art a Priest
9-10This is the Blood
ch 11-13 The Pathway of Christians
11Faith Indispensable
12Hope Important
13Love an Imperative
– To be continued
