“Introduction to Hebrews”
Introduction:
A. Purpose of Book.
1.
Bad Day, be easier to crawl back in bed and forget everything.
2.
Purpose: To convince Hebrew Christians who are contemplating going back
to Judaism not to give up on the Superior Christ.
3. Central Theme of Book is the
Supremacy of Christ and Christianity (Col. 1:18).
4. Central Application of the Book for
us: Don’t ever, ever go Back!!—Sin, World, Denominations, Laziness, or
unfaithfulness.
B. Keys to understand Hebrews.
1.
Key
Words are “better”, “more excellent” or “much more”. Occur at least 34 times in book.
2. Key Verses: Heb. 3:12-13, 7:25-26.
3. Key Phrase: “By Faith”, may be by
faithfulness. Occurs 19 times
4. There are over 100 usages of the
Old Testament in Hebrews. Especially in
Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. One of
the main reasons we don’t understand the N. T. is because we don’t understand
the O. T. better.
C. Date of Book.
1. The best suggested date for the
tenor of the book seems to be A. D. 64.
2. The importance of the date is that
if Judaism is going to be destroyed in 6-7 years, why would you go back to
that?
D. Author and Recipients.
1. There has been much speculation
over the Author of this book. Paul,
Luke, Apollos, Silas, Priscilla, Aquilla, and others have been suggested.
2. Regardless of who the human scribe
was, God is the author of this book (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
3. The recipients are Christians in
E. Outline of the Book
1. The Superiority of Christ 1-7
2. The Superiority of the New Covenant
8-10:18
3. The Superiority of Faithful living
10:19-13
Key
thoughts in each chapter
I. Chapter 1—“Greater than
Angels”
A. Christ has the Superior Revelation (1:1-4)
B. Christ is superior to the prophets (1:1-4).
C. Christ is superior to Angels (1:5-14).
1. The significance of Christ being
greater than Angels is that angels delivered the Old Testament (Acts 7:53, Gal.
3:17).
2. Really, this is another way the
author uses to show the superiority of the new law. What law would you rather have? A law delivered by God’s servant’s? Or a law delivered by God Himself in the
flesh?
II. Chapter 2—“The Great
Salvation”
A. Christianity contains the Great Salvation
(2:1-3).
B. What makes this salvation Great?
1. The Great Sacrifice (2:9).
2. The Great Captain (2:10).
3. The Great victory (2:14).
4. The Great helper (2:18).
III. Chapter 3—“Greater than
Moses”
A. A contrast between Moses and Christ (3:1-6).
1. Moses Servant—Christ Son
2. Moses Leader—Christ Lord
3. Moses in house—Christ over house
B.
The unbelieving faith (3:7-19) Psalm 95.
IV. Chapter 4—“Greater than
Joshua”
A. Christ is greater than the great leader
Joshua (4:8).
B. Three rests:
1. Promise land rest 4:8
2. God’s rest 4:4
3. Final Heavenly rest (4:9)
C.
Four Motivations for Godliness
1. The Word of God (4:12).
2. The All seeing eye of God (4:13).
3. The perfect example (4:14-15).
4. The Power and Privilege of Prayer
(4:16).
V. Chapter 5—“Greater than
Aaron”
A. Christ is greater than Aaron 5:1-6
B. Christ is the Author of salvation to the
obedient (5:8-9).
C. Strongest rebuke in the Bible (5:11:14).
VI. Chapter 6—“Go on to
Perfection”
A. Grown in Christ—go on to perfection
B. Rebuke with love—beloved 6:9
C. 4 More incentives to godliness
1. Christ is our refuge 6:18
2. Christ is our hope 6:18-19
3. Christ is our anchor 6:19
4. Christ is our forerunner 6:20
VII. Chapter 7—“Greater than the
Levitical Priesthood.”
A. Three Major Lessons behind Melchizadek.
1. Abraham (Levi) paid homage to
Melchizadek (Gen. 14).
2. Levites were called by lineage,
Melcizadek was divinely appointed.
3. Levites had a beginning and an end
to their service, Melchizadek and Christ don’t.
B. The superior priesthood of Christ
(7:25-26).
VIII. Chapter 8—“Greater than
the Old Covenant”
A. A Contrast is made between the two covenants.
B. Writer uses Jer. 31:31-34 to prove point.
C. Forgiveness under N. T. 8:12
D. Old is vanishing—8:13
IX. Chapter 9—“Greater
Tabernacle”
A. Old Tabernacle inferior to Church
B. Without shedding of blood (9:22—9:13-14).
C. All must die and be judged (Heb. 9:27).
X. Chapter 10—“The
A. Not by the blood of bulls and goats (10:4)
B. By the once for all sacrifice (10:10,12).
C. Practical Admonition begins:
1. Let us consider 10:24
2. Never forsake 10:25
3. Don’t turn back 10:39, Hab. 2:4
XI. Chapter 11—“The Hall of
Faith”
A. Definition of Faith (Heb. 11:1, 6).
B. Examples of Obedient Faith
XII. Chapter 12—“Looking to
Jesus”
A. The great cloud of Witnesses encourage us
(Heb. 12:1-3).
B. The purpose and need for discipline (Heb.
12:9ff).
C.
XIII. Chapter 13—“Greater
Faithfulness”
A. Let brotherly love continue 13:1
B. The Lord won’t leave us 13:5-6
C. Christ won’t change 13:8
D. Forsake immorality 13:4