Key word: Christ’s superiority
Aside from Romans there is no more theologically heavy, and I would add, rich book than Hebrews. We do not know who wrote it, although there have been many theories. His immediate audience was Jewish Christians in the mid A.D. 60s, and thus were second generation believers. As a result, some had lost the passion for the church and New Testament living and were drifting away – some apparently into Judaism – from which their parents had emerged. Rather than drifting back into an inferior religion, the author encouraged them to press on to maturity – to grow up. But their foundational problem was they had lost the vision of the superiority of Christ. They had not, a least for the most part, abandoned Christ, or ceased to believe in Him. But they had removed Him as central to their lives, and replaced Him with inferior things. So, what they desperately needed was to once again understand the superiority of Christ and embrace it with all their hearts. Thus, the book outlines itself around five ways that Christ is superior to all things:
4. He is superior to the Old Testament (Levitical) priesthood (4:14-10:18). This long section constitutes the heart of the message found in the book of Hebrews. If these first century Jewish Christians are going to live Route 66 29 Christ-centered lives they must recognize that Christ’s current priestly ministry is vastly superior to the Old Testament system which was a mere shadow of the priesthood of Christ (8:1-5). In chapters 5-7, a truth is introduced that is found nowhere else in Scripture, although it is hinted at in Psalm 110:4. And that is that Christ has introduced, and is now the high priest of a totally new and superior priesthood, not connected with the Levitical priesthood but after the order of Melchizedek (5:6). This means that Christians are not subject to the old covenant of Mosaic law, but have a better hope grounded in Christ (7:19), and look forward to a new covenant (7:22, 8:7-13). What does this mean to us? It means:
1) We have a high priest who can understand and sympathize with our weakness (4:15).
2) We can draw near to God because of Christ’s ministry on our behalf (4:16). This is one of the main themes of this epistle. Under the law people were limited in their access to God, but now they are invited to draw near.
3) Christ intercedes on our behalf, which enables us to draw near and result in our salvation (7:25).
4) Sins can now be completely forgiven (10:10).
A direct application for us is to press on to spiritual maturity (5:11-14; 6:1). Five separate warnings are given throughout the book to those who do not heed this call to maturity. Let us not despise or neglect Christ’s provisions for us.
Key verse: Hebrews 4:16 – Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
