Introduction to Hebrews
IN MY HUMBLE VIEW, THE BOOK OF HEBREWS IS BOTH ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND AT THE SAME TIME LEAST UNDERSTOOD BOOKS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Consequently, I am planning to write a large number of blogs in the coming months on this wonderful book. This blog is the first in what is certain to be a very lengthy series. Our passage this week is four verses, and yet I readily confess that was too big a mountain for me to climb. Therefore, we will be focusing on just the first two verses. God’s Word is, indeed, unfathomable and humbling.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THIS INTRODUCTORY BLOG ON THE NEW TESTAMENT BOOK OF HEBREWS WITH BY QUOTING A PASSAGE FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. The primary reason is to emphasize the strong symbiotic relationship Hebrews has to the Hebrew O.T., in particular the book of Leviticus.
“…YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE BOOK OF HEBREWS UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.” – John MacArthur
THE REASON FOR THIS, MACARTHUR SAYS, IS BECAUSE THE BOOK OF HEBREWS IS BASED UPON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD.
Leviticus is a literary expression of God’s desire that His holiness be reflected in the life of His covenant people Israel. This is seen in the two spheres of Israel’s periodic worship and daily walk. Though there is substantial overlapping between these two spheres, they are reflected generally in the two major divisions of the book: (a) “The Way of Approach to God by Sacrifice (chaps. 1–16)” and (b) “The Walk of Holiness before God by Separation (chaps. 17–27).“ – Bible Knowledge Commentary
THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD BEGAN WITH AARON, the older brother of Moses (Exodus 28:1–3). Aaron’s descendants served as the priests in Israel, ministering in the tabernacle and, later, the temple, primarily as mediators between man and God. The Levitical priests bore the responsibility of offering the sacrifices required by the Mosaic Law. Some of the Levitical priests in the Bible are Ezra; Eli; and Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
The term Levitical is derived from the Israelite tribe of Levi. Levi was the third son of Leah and Jacob (Genesis 29:34) and the father of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of Moses and Aaron. Originally, it was the firstborn son of every family who was consecrated to God and inherited the birthright, leadership, authority, etc. (Exodus 13:2). We see this institution of “first” things being what God requires as far back as Genesis 4:4when God was pleased with the firstborn of Abel’s flock that he offered to God (see Proverbs 3:9 and Romans 11:16). Later, when God made Israel into a nation, He called them His firstborn son (Exodus 4:22–23), and each individual Israelite was called to be holy, priestly, and royal (Exodus 19:5–6). And then out of the nation of Israel God chose the tribe of Levi to serve Him and the sons of Aaron to be the priests. Thus, all priests were Levites, but not every Levite was a priest.
The Levitical priesthood was never intended to be permanent (Hebrews 7:11). The death of Christ put an end to the Old Covenant and the Levitical priesthood, as evidenced by the rending of the temple veil (Matthew 27:51). Now Jesus Himself serves as the believer’s Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), called according to the order of Melchizedek, not of Levi (Hebrews 7:11–17). Through His death and resurrection, we have access to God’s presence, where we can freely enjoy Him forever (Hebrews 6:19–20). – GotQuestions,com
I WANT TO BEGIN, ALSO, WITH A LONG QUOTE FROM AN EXCELLENT COMMENTARY. While I intend to use numerous quality resources in the course of these weekly writings, I have chosen this particular commentary primarily because it takes a closely similar theological position to the one after many years of study, teaching and preaching, I have arrived at, namely, a literal, conservative, dispensational one.
FROM MY NOTEBOOK WHEN I PREACHED THROUGH HEBREWS IN 2005-2006. Whenever I read Hebrews, a verse from the prophecy of Jeremiah comes to mind. A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. Hebrews could be an exposition of that verse!
NAS Jeremiah 17:12 A glorious throne on high from the beginning Is the place of our sanctuary.
The epistle to the Hebrews begins by showing us the glory of Christ — the eternal Son of God who shares the everlasting throne of ‘the Majesty on high’. It then demonstrates in entrancing detail how he descended from that throne to become a man, sharing our flesh and bleed, that he might rescue his elect people from death, judgement and the power of sin.
The epistle shows us how he did so — by inaugurating a new covenant. It is a better hope, than had hitherto prevailed under the law of Moses. In this new covenant, Christ, our great High Priest, offered himself as sacrifice for sin, by which he appeased the wrath of God and so became his people’s sanctuary from death and condemnation. By his one offering for sin for ever, he has perfected for all eternity those he has set apart (‘sanctified’) for his glory and who come to God through him. He is their advocate, their rest, their righteousness, their example and their ‘exceeding great reward’.
In short, the subject of Hebrews is Christ and the new covenant. Notice that I say ‘subject’, not ‘subjects’. For the Christ presented to us in this epistle is the Christ of the new covenant — the new covenant in his blood (1 Cor. 11:25) — determined from all eternity but now revealed in its fulness, to this praise of the glory of his grace.
Yet Hebrews is not simply a theological treatise. It is an eminently useful and practical epistle, written to people who were tempted to return to the shadows of the old (Mosaic) covenant in the mistaken belief, perhaps, that two covenants were better than one! But the epistle demonstrates, beyond all argument, the impossibility of sewing the new cloth of the gospel on to the old garment of ‘the law’. Indeed, it shows in considerable detail how ‘the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ’ (Gal.3:24).
NAS Hebrews 1:1-4 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
THE FIRST FOUR VERSES ARE TERMED “THE PROLOGUE” by most scholars. I was tempted to title this blog, “HEAR HIM!” I think you’ll see why in just a moment, after this extended quote an excellent commentary.
In a majestically constructed opening paragraph, the writer introduced his readers at once to the surpassing greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Son, he declared, is the par excellence vehicle for divine revelation. In asserting this, he implicitly contrasted Him with the prophets of old and explicitly contrasted Him with the angels.
1:1–2a. The central assertion of the Prologue is made here. Though God has lit., “by various means and in various ways” revealed Himself in the past, Old Testament prophetic revelation has now received its end-times climax through God’s Son. However highly the readership regarded that former revelation, the writer implied they must now listen most closely to the Son.
1:2b–4. In a series of subordinate constructions which are part of a single sentence in the Greek, the author set forth the Son’s greatness. The unified structure of the writer’s sentence is hidden by the NIV which breaks it down into several sentences. To begin with (v. 2b), the Son is the designated Heir of all things. This is obviously as it should be since He is also their Maker—the One through whom He made the universe lit., “the ages,” also rendered “the universe” in 11:3. The reference to the Son’s heirship anticipates the thought of His future reign, of which the writer will say much.
But the One who is both Creator and Heir is also a perfect reflection of the God who has spoken in Him. Moreover His Word is so powerful that all He has made is sustained by that Word. And it is this Person who has provided purification for sins and taken His seat at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (cf. 8:1; 10:12; 12:2). In doing so it is obvious He has attained an eminence far beyond anything the angels can claim.
As might easily be expected in the Prologue, the writer struck notes which will be crucial to the unfolding of his argument in the body of the epistle. He implied that God’s revelation in the Son has a definitive quality which previous revelation lacked. Moreover the sacrifice for sins which such a One makes must necessarily be greater than other kinds of sacrifices. Finally the Son’s greatness makes preoccupation with angelic dignities entirely unnecessary. Though the Prologue contains no warning—the writer reserved those for later—it carries with it an implicit admonition: This is God’s supremely great Son; hear Him! – Hodges (Bible Knowledge Commentary)
“HEAR HIM!” In the Bible, both in the Hebrew and the Greek texts, hearing in many passages strongly implies obeying. This seemingly common word is a very strong biblical word, both theologically and practically.
HEBREWS IS, INDEED, A WONDERFUL BOOK. Listen to what someone has written about the book of Hebrews…
“There is something about Hebrews that is extraordinarily appealing and beautiful. Its majestic language and style, its bold declarations, its sweeping arguments, its heartfelt pleas, all are without parallel in the New Testament. From a literary standpoint alone, it deserves the description ‘a little masterpiece.’ As with Michelangelo’s Moses and Raphael’s Transfiguration, one senses the beauty of Hebrews at first sight. Hebrews is a work of art, and like a work of art, to be fully appreciated, it must be studied. When carefully examined, Hebrews, indeed, unfolds a remarkable message” – Neil R. Lightfoot
NOBODY KNOWS FOR CERTAIN WHO WROTE HEBREWS, or to whom it addressed – only God knows.” Almost assuredly, Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians living in the first century, but the unknown author does not confirm this. The book of Hebrews is classified by scholars an epistle, that is, a letter. But Hebrews is noticeably different than the other 20 letters or epistles recorded in the N.T.
“IN THESE LAST DAYS.” QUITE A TITLE, IS IT NOT? It inevitably makes us think of the end. “Last” suggests end. That can intimidate us. That can make us afraid. As we look around our world and through a worldly and even biblical lens (so long as we remember the rapture must come first) note the current events of wars and upheavals, it is not too far a stretch to consider the end may actually be sooner rather than later approaching…
NKJ 2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
BUT AS CHRISTIANS, born-again believers who are trusting in Christ for our salvation, we must remind ourselves continuously that the end is really the beginning for us. The end means we will be with Jesus…
GOD IS THE SOURCE OF REVELATION. Note the words in v. 1: “God spoke.” God said something to mankind. God was the Author of revelation in Old Testament times. Hear again v. 1 from the old KJV…
KJV Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (“sundry” and “divers” both mean “various”)
THIS IS A VERY JEWISH SOUNDING STATEMENT: “fathers,” meaning “ancestors” is an expression traditionally familiar to Jewish ears. You will remember that the first Christians, the 3,000 saved at Pentecost, were all Jews. The N.T., in great part, is Hebrew in Greek clothing. You and I are spiritual Jews, spiritual children of the patriarch – the “father” – Abraham…
NIV Galatians 3:7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children (or “descendants”) of Abraham.
GOD, OF COURSE, IS THE ULTIMATE FATHER OF BELIEVERS. Don’t let me get you mixed up here. God the Father is your and my Father. But Abraham was the human being to whom God made the promise of the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of millions in the world…
KJV Genesis 12:1-2 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
GOD SPOKE TO ABRAHAM… Let me quickly give you two other examples of God speaking to the “fathers” through prophets.
ESV Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
A PROPHET IS ONE WHO SPEAKS FOR GOD. A prophet is a messenger of God. A prophet is one who speaks to men from God; a priest is one who speaks to God for men. Spiritually speaking, you and I are both prophets and priests of God. As prophets we declare the Word of God to people, as priests we minister to others and speak on their behalf to God in our prayers…
NET 1 Peter 2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
GOD SPOKE TO MOSES…
NAS Exodus 33:1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, “To your descendants I will give it.’
GOD SPOKE TO ISAIAH…
NAS Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
IN MANY AND VARIOUS WAYS, GOD SPOKE TO PEOPLE in ancient times by prophets…
“BUT”… Some interpreters (ESV, NIV, NRS) have inserted “but” at the beginning of v. 2 to underscore the contrast. I probably would not have done that, but I do not argue that is justified by the context. The author of Hebrews is telling us that God in times past spoke to men by prophets, but in these last days He has spoken in Christ.
CHURCH MARQUEE IN MISSION VALLEY: “Learn as if you will live forever; live as if you will die tomorrow.” That message, which has not been changed for several weeks (I pass the little church on my way home from seminary some nights), fits our message. We are to continue to study God’s wonderful world, storing up knowledge as if we plan on living forever, while at the same time, we are to live as if today is our last day…
Professor Thomas A. Rohm
