Hebrews Introduction - net Bible Study

1 HebrewsIntroduction1) It was written to the Jewish Christians of Palestine and especially those in ) It was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 because3 it speaks of the temple rites andsacrifices as continuing. It was probably written around AD 62 or 63. One of the purposes of theepistle was to prepare the Jewish Christians for the approaching fall of Jerusalem. Hebrews waswritten to explain to them that animal sacrifices, to which they were so zealously attached, were nolonger of any use and that the blood of a lamb could never take away ) It was probably written by the Apostle Paul for the following reasons: 1) the writer was in prison :34, 2) he expected to be released soon Heb. 13:19, 3) Timothy is mentioned in Philippians,Colossians and Philemon as being with Paul while Paul was a prisoner at Rome and in Col. 1:1 andPhilemon 1:1 he refers to Timothy as our brother. Timothy had been released from prison and he andPaul expected to visit them Heb 10:23 & Philippians 2:19,24, 4) was presently in Italy, probablyRome when the letter was written Heb 13 ) According to Josephus, James the Lord's brother who was one of the leaders of the church inJerusalem was killed in AD 62.

2 Paul wrote the letter to help the elders steady the church for theterrible times ) The reason the epistle was sent without Paul's name was Paul was not very popular in Jerusalemamong the unbelieving Jews. The leaders of the Jewish Christians would know who wrote it and itwould have more weight if it were read in the churches without Paul's ) The epistle shows that those addressed were in danger of being tempted to fall away. In order tostrengthen them Paul shows the superiority of Christianity over ) Chapter 1. The deity of Jesus. The Old Law was delivered by men and angels who were onlyservants, but the New Law was delivered by Christ, the Son of God. Christ is superior to ) Chapter 2. Christianity is superior because Christ, the Son of God, humbled Himself, sufferedhumiliation and died for ) Chapter 3. Christ is shown to be superior to Moses in many respects. Paul shows the severe sentenceon those who rebelled against Moses and apostatized from his law and how worse it is to apostatizefrom Christ.

3 Warning against ) Chapter 4. We are not to harden our hearts if we expect to enter into heaven, the rest which is beingprepared for us. The power of God's word is ) Chapter 5. Christ our High Priest is compared to Aaron and is preferred to him on several had to offer for his own sins as well as for the sins of others but Christ being perfect offeredonly for the sins of ) Chapter 6. Warning against apostasy. If they were slothful and didn't go forward they ) Chapter 7. The High Priesthood of Christ was similar to that of Melchizedek, without descent. TheLevitical priesthood was only temporary. Christ's priesthood is ) Chapter 8. The Old Covenant was only a shadow of the New and Better ) Chapter 9. The old tabernacle is compared to the greater and better tabernacle of Christ, made withouthands, eternal in the ) Chapter 10. Sin is removed forever only by the blood of Christ. The sacrifices of the Old Law arecompared with the sacrifice of Christ. Under the Old Law they offered often, but Christ was onlyoffered once.

4 The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins but Christ by His one offeringput away all sin. We ought to hold fast to our profession and not forsake the assembling of ourselvestogether. Don't cast away your confidence which has great recompense of reward. Verses 28-29, hethat despised Moses' Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorerpunishment shall he be worthy who trods under foot the Son of God and counts the blood wherewithhe was sanctified an unholy ) Chapter 11. Heroes of ) Chapter 12. Keep our eyes on Jesus for our example. We should profit by the chastening of the Lordlest we sell our birthright as Esau 13. Closing admonitions and salutations. Service pleases 11) Verses 1-2 At sundry times - giving portions of His revelation at different times. The Old Testamentwas delivered by God in divers manners both in utterance and manifestations over a lengthy period oftime (1000 years), and by many people. The prophets were only servants, mere men, but now He hasspoken to us by His Son who is much greater than a servant.

5 The last days is the last will be no other dispensations to ) Verse 3 Begins with Christ's lowest state. 1) Christ was born of a woman, 2) Christ was appointedheir of all things, 3) Christ along with God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and everythingin them, Gen 1:26, John 1:1-3, 14, 4) Christ is the brightness of the glory of God, 5) Christ is theexpress image of God's person, Phil 2:6, 6) Christ sustains the universe by the word of His power, 7)Christ made atonement for sin, 8) Christ is seated at the right hand of God, a place of honor and gloryon an eternal throne and continues to exercise ) Verses 4-5 His superiority to the angels is shown in the greater name which He received byinheritance, that is the Son of ) Verse 6 Christ is superior to the angels because all the angels worship ) Verse 7 Christ is superior to the angels because the angels were created by Him to be ministers ofboth He and God the ) Verses 8-9 Quotation from Psalms 45:6-7.

6 Notice all the quotations from the Old Testament whichthese Jewish Christians were familiar. Christ is a divine king on an eternal throne. Because of theholiness of the Son, God has anointed Him above all else. All kings, priests, and prophets wereconsecrated to their offices by anointing. Messiah meant "the anointed one". Gladness is used toexpress the festivities that took place at the inauguration of kings, ) Verse 10 Christ is superior to the angels because He is eternal. He helped God create the heavens andthe earth, which point out his wisdom, power, and ) Verses 11-12 Permanently fixed as the earth and universe seem to be when the time comes they shallbe dissolved, read 2 Peter 3:10-13. "But thou art the same", all others are changeable but Christ willnever change. "Thy years shall not fail", in the divine there is no space to be measured, no time to bereckoned, all eternity is infinite and time is without end. Read Psalms 102:25-27. The Son is eternal,the same yesterday, today, and ) Verses 13-14 Quoted from Psalms 110:1.

7 From the opinions of the Jews, if Jesus Christ could beproven to be greater than the angels it would necessarily follow that he was God the Son and this Paulamply proves from these various quotations from their own scriptures. He shows Christ as absoluteSupreme and Sovereign but the angels are no more than His messengers, servants and ministeringspirits. Christ and God do not need any of these angels for they can do all things for themselves yet itseems agreeable with their infinite wisdom and goodness to use them. In Him dwells all the fullnessof the Godhead bodily (read Col 2:9). The three bear record in heaven (read 1 John 5:7).HebrewsChapter 21) Verse 1 More earnest heed because the message was not spoken by angels or prophetsbut by the Son of God who is so great and glorious. His message is of infiniteimportance to our spiritual welfare. If we let them slip we will be lost ) Verse 2 The messages sent by angels was so strict that it would not tolerate anytransgression and every transgression of disobedience was quickly ) Verse 3 Since this is true there is no hope of escape if we neglect the message of theSon of God.

8 Not a temporary salvation but eternal salvation beyond our imaginationwhich is beyond description. Those who neglect it sin against the very cause andmeans of their deliverance. Christ began telling of His great salvation then commandedHis apostles to preach the gospel to every ) Verse 4 God bore them witness that the things they were preaching was true byconfirming them with signs, wonders and miracles (Read Mark 16:20). Everything thathad been taught and was confirmed by miracles came from God for no one could dothese miracles by himself. God did this to give credit to the word that was who claim to do miracles today are a bunch of fakes and as 2 Peter 2:3 says,"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you."5) Verse 5 The angels have never been put in charge of anything. They are only God' ) Verses 6-8 Even though we were made a little lower than the angels we have beencrowned with glory and honor and given dominion. (Read Gen.

9 1:26).7) Verse 9 Because of our sins Jesus took upon Himself the nature of man and sufferedthe penalty due for our sins so God can now be just in saving us. After His suffering allpower was given into His hands. One of the ways of executing criminals in ancienttimes was to make them drink poison. So by tasting death for us Christ said inMatthew 26:39, "O My Father if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me." Jesuscoming into the world as a man, His suffering and crucifixion, dying, resurrection,ascension into heaven and becoming our Mediator at the right hand of God is full proofof God's love for ) Verse 10 This was God's plan to do it this way. By doing this we are now made sonsof God. Without suffering Christ could not have died, and without dying he could nothave made atonement for our sins and our salvation would have been impossible. TheJews then dreamed of an earthly Messiah and still dream of one. One who is never tobe conquered, or die but will be victorious and endure forever.

10 But this was not theplan of God. Captain of our salvation: the only way we can be saved. John 14:6, "I amthe way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father except by Me." Acts 4:12,"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heavengiven among men, whereby we must be saved."9) Verse 11 Sanctified - set apart. Made saints. We are one in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body." At baptismwe are also made children of God. Galatians 3:26-27, "For ye are all the children ofGod by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christhave put on Christ." Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethern. Read Matthew 28 makes Himself the brother of the ) Verse 12 From Psalms 22:22 referring to Christ giving praise to ) Verse 13 These are all prophesies of the Messiah as fulfilled in ) Verse 14 Since we are flesh and blood human beings, in order for Christ to bequalified to redeem us by suffering and dying in our stead, He Himself had to take onHimself the form of flesh and blood and through death make atonement for our death brought in by Satan is rendered ineffectual by the death of Christ.