The Book of Hebrews may briefly be summarized in this way: Believers in Jesus Christ, as God’s perfect sacrifice for sin, have the perfect High Priest through whose ministry everything is new and better than under the covenant of law.
Hebrews is unique among the NT documents. Its author describes it as a “word of exhortation” (Heb. 13:22), the same Greek expression used to describe Paul’s “word of encouragement” in a synagogue of the Jewish Dispersion (Acts 13:15). Hebrews is probably a sermon composed for a Jewish Christian congregation, showing them from the OT (which God spoke through prophets; Heb. 1:1) that Jesus has fulfilled the promises and shadows given to Israel in the law of Moses, guaranteeing to believers cleansing of conscience and access to God’s throne of grace (9:13–14; 10:19–24; 4:14–16). Hebrews explains both the continuities and the development in redemptive history from the old covenant given at Sinai to the new covenant mediated by Jesus. Hebrews exemplifies how revealed truths concerning Christ’s unique person and redemptive mission establish Christians’ confidence and hope, calling the church to perseverance and mutual encouragement.
Join me as we begin our journey into the book of Hebrews and be encouraged!
