HEBREWS: The Superiority of JESUS CHRIST!

The NT book of Hebrews was written with a particular reading audience in view, who had a definite history (2:3; 6:9-10; 10:32-34; 12:4; 13:17) and obvious links with the writer(s) (13:18, 19, 23).¹ These mid-first-century Hellenistic-Jewish Christians had been in the church long enough that they should have been more involved in teaching others but were still relatively immature in the faith (5:11-12). 

The Occasion

The original recipients “were inclined to look back instead of forward; they hesitated to detach themselves completely from Judaism and commit themselves unreservedly to the onward march of the people of God. They were even in danger of giving up the faith which they had once placed in Christ, partly because of persecution and disillusionment, and partly (perhaps) because they were influenced by ‘diverse and strange teachings’ …”²

“In the first flush of Christian enthusiasm they had joyfully accepted the loss of all things. But the years had taken their toll. That first enthusiasm had died out. Hope itself was fading from view. Some of them were neglecting the public assembly (10:25). There were signs not only of slipping but of complete and irrevocable apostasy (6:1-6; 10:26-31).”³

The Purpose

Hebrews describes itself as a “word of exhortation” (13:22), “not to be regarded as a theological treatise or an intellectual exercise, but as a burning issue of vital practical importance…. the readers needed to be warned against turning away from Christianity.”⁴ The main focus is the absoluteness of the Christian faith and its superiority over the old system of Judaism, indicated by the repeated use of the Greek term kreittōn (“better”), occurring thirteen times (1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6 [x2]; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24) compared to only six times in the rest of the NT.

While Hebrews ends with practical exhortations to faithfulness (10:19–13:25), the first major section lays the theological groundwork (1:1–10:18), affirming that Jesus is ...

§  Superior to the prophets as God’s spokesman (1:1-3).

§  Superior to the angels as God’s mediator (1:4–2:18).

§  Superior to Moses as God’s lawgiver (3:1-19).

§  Superior to Joshua as God’s rest-provider (4:1-13).

§  Superior to Aaron as God’s high priest (4:14–10:18). 

Practicality

Hebrews “gives to our contemporary age the same message as it gave to its original readers, an assurance of the superiority and finality of Christ and a clear insight into the Christian interpretation of Old Testament history and forms of worship…. it meets the fundamental need of man; it speaks of a way of approach and a method of worship which is superior to all others, and which is unaffected by the march of time.”⁵

Let us read, study, learn from, and apply this timeless message with the same eagerness, conviction, and urgency for which it was intended.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ See K. L. Moore, “Introducing the Book of Hebrews,” Moore Perspective (2 August 2016), <Link>.

     ² F. F. Bruce, The Defense of the Gospel in the NT (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981): 91, citing W. M. Baird.

     ³ Neil R. Lightfoot, Jesus Christ Today (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981): 36.

     ⁴ Donald Guthrie, New Testament Introduction (Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 1970): 704, 710.

     ⁵ Ibid. 728.

Related Posts: Plural Authorship of Hebrews, Hebrews 1:1-3 

 

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