Hebrews

Warning against Apostasy (5:11-6:20). The immaturity of the readers prevented their usefulness and skillful performance for God. The writer warned his readers that no one could ever repeat the experience of repentance and conversion if he committed apostasy.

Some see this warning as a teaching that a true Christian can lose his salvation. That position would contradict the teaching of such New Testament passages as John 10:27-29; Romans 11:29; and Philippians 1:6. Others see the warning as hypothetical and not a realistic possibility. The repetition of the warning here and also in 10:26-31 makes this interpretation less likely. Others see the warning as directed at those who are almost Christians but not genuine Christians. In opposition to this view is the fact that a passage such as "shared in the Holy Spirit" could not be used of one who was not a Christian. The preferred interpretation is to view this passage as addressed toward professing Christians. The writer urged them to show the reality of their faith by enduring in their commitment to Christ without falling away. The writer spoke to his readers in accordance with their profession, but he urged them to show their true faith by producing real works.

The work and love the readers showed convinced the writer that none of them were apostates. However, he wanted all of them to press on to achieve full maturity by obeying the promises of God.

Melchizedek (7:1-28). The writer reached back to the story of Melchizedek (Gen. 14:17-20) to explain the nature of Jesus' priesthood. Melchizedek's name and hometown suggest that he was the "king of righteousness" and the "king of peace." The Bible did not record any beginning or ending for his life. His eternal priesthood of righteousness was like that of Christ. Abraham's action of giving tithes to Melchizedek showed that the priest was a great man.

Because the priesthood of Aaron did not bring people into obedience to God, He changed the priesthood. He installed Christ as the Priest after a new order, that of Melchizedek. Our writer felt that the priesthood of Christ was superior to that of Aaron for three reasons. First, God initiated this priesthood with an oath, not merely by some worldly rules. Second,

Christ's priesthood was permanent. Christ would never deliver His office to someone unqualified to handle it. Third, the character of Christ was superior to that of the Aaronic priests. Christ was exactly the type of high priest weak believers needed.

A New Covenant (8:1-9:28). Our author indicated that in addition to beginning a new order of priesthood, Christ inaugurated a new covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34 foretold this new covenant. It provided three benefits for those who lived under it. First, it pro vided a new awareness of God's laws and a new nature by which to obey God. Second, it gave a personal knowledge of God that inspired a loyalty and commitment to Him. Third, it provided a complete forgiveness of sins. Christians today have inherited the benefits of this new covenant in their relationship with God.

The old covenant made provision for removing external pollution by the use of animal sacrifices and familiar rituals. Under the new covenant Jesus surrendered His life to God in sacrifice for sin.

The sacrifice of Christ is more effective for us today in three ways. First, it did not limit itself to the mere removal of ceremonial pollution. It cleansed the conscience from guilt and thus inspired holy living. Second, it resulted in the removal of sin by the shedding of Christ's blood. Third, by entering God's presence, Christ showed that He has offered a perfect sacrifice. Because Christ has fully removed all sins, Christians have the hope that He will one day return to complete their salvation by taking them to be with the Father.

Once for All (10:1-18). The author explained the permanence of Christ's sacrifice. The repetition of the sacrifices offered by the Jews on their Day of Atonement (Lev. 16) could never make the worshipers perfect. Their sacrifices served as an annual reminder of the sins of the people. What God truly wanted was not merely the offering of an unthinking animal but a conscious, volitional choice to follow Him. That is what Jesus gave when He came to do God's will. Jesus' choice to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sin earned for Christians acceptance in God's sight. The constant offering of Levitical sacrifices testified that sins still remained. The once-for-all death of Christ forever took away all sins. When these sins are removed, no further need for sacrifice remains.

Stamina in Obedience (10:19-39). The writer of Hebrews found the readers tempted to pull away from Christ. Hebrews attempted to call them to God and to fellowship with one another by describing a veil by which all believers could enter God's presence. This veil symbolized the life of Jesus presented to God when He suffered for our sins (1 Pet. 3:18). Because Christians had complete access to God, they could draw near to Him with an inward and outward cleansing. They also needed to consider how to stimulate one another to good works by meeting together.

In no instance should Christians fall into a pattern of neglecting fellowship with one another. The author warned his readers that turning away from Christ would expose them to divine judgment. He insisted that his readers show genuine faith by continued commitment to Christ. They had already suffered for their faith, but they needed to demonstrate stamina in obeying God.

Heroes of Faith (11:1-40). As an incentive to endurance before God, the writer presented a gallery of Old Testament heroes of faith. Faith gives reality to things that cannot be seen. By this faith the Old Testament believers received a positive witness from God. In the generations before the flood, Abel, Enoch, and Noah all responded by faith to demonstrate obedience to God. Their faith pleased Him. Abraham demonstrated his faith by forsaking the comforts of Ur and Haran to follow God to the promised land. By faith Abraham and Sarah bore Isaac as a child of their old age. Moses showed his faith by leaving the wealth of the Egyptian palace to suffer hardship with the Hebrew people. The writer presented Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel, and many other heroes as examples whose faith Christians should follow. The promises the Old Testament believers had expected were coming true in the events New Testament Christians were experiencing.

Endure (12:1-29). The writer also found encouragement for endurance from Jesus' example. Jesus had already run the race of faith, and God had placed Him on the throne. When Christians consider the hardship He faced, they can find strength and fresh courage. God allows all Christians to experience hardship so that they might develop holiness. Even though God's chastisement seems hard for the time, it will eventually produce righteousness in those who follow Him.

The character of God provided another incentive for endurance. God desires that all persons seek after holiness. God will not tolerate a disobedient, self-serving lifestyle. The presence of God at Sinai caused thunder, lightning, and fright among the people who saw Him. If God's speaking on earth at Sinai produced fear, how much more would His words from heaven through Jesus produce fear! The writer showed that God's kingdom was unmovable. This gives Christians the grace to serve Him with stamina and reverence.

Christians have practical duties with one another. They must show sympathy to those in prison, and they must avoid all immorality. God has promised never to leave Christians, and that promise helps to banish greed.

Christians must follow the faith of their leaders. When Christians submit to those who care for their spiritual needs, this allows the leaders to do their jobs with joy and not with hardship or frustration.

God is pleased with spiritual sacrifices that Christians offer. These sacrifices are commitment, praise, and unselfish sharing of goods.

In the last section of Hebrews the author urged prayer for himself and reported on Timothy's release from prison. He shared a doxology in 13:20-21 and an expression of greeting in 13:24-25.

Theological Significance. The author of Hebrews points us to the superiority of Jesus Christ. He is superior to the prophets (1:1-3), superior to the angels (1:42:18), and to Moses (3:14:13). He provides a superior priesthood on the basis of a superior covenant (4:14-10:31). Not only is Jesus superior to the foundational aspects of Judaism, but He also is superior to any aspect of contemporary religion. This means that Jesus is not just one good option among many ways of drawing near to God; He is the only way. Because of the superiority of Jesus we must not neglect such a great salvation that He has provided with His sacrificial death (2:3; 10:1-18).

Jesus, the superior Savior, is also the superior Priest. We can come to Him in times of trouble, suffering, and struggle. In Him we will find a sympathetic Priest (4:14-16) who offers grace in time of need. Thus we can and should draw near to Him in worship (10:19-25), live by faith (11:1-40), persevere to the end (12:1-29), and live a life of love (13:1-25).

Brown, Raymond. The Message of Hebrews. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1982.

Bruce, F. F. The Epistle to the Hebrews. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964.

Guthrie, Donald. Hebrews. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.

Guthrie, George. Hebrews. NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.