New Testament Survey:
The Book of Hebrews
“Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the
shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God.”
(12:2)
Background
• Hebrews is peculiar and distinct. It is not in the
same class as the general epistles; rather, it
summarizes the transition from the Old
Testament to the New.
• Its doctrinal contribution to the New Testament
is unrivaled.
• Explains the changes from the Old Covenant to
the New
• A new priesthood, sacrifice, and sanctuary are
all part of the NEW COVENANT.
Background
• Nowhere in the other New Testament writings is
the contrast between the Old and New
Testaments made more vivid or marked out
more definitely.
• We are uncertain who wrote Hebrews, as well as
to whom the book is written.
• Those being addressed were familiar with the
one who was doing the writing. (13:19)
Background
• Hebrews was written to second-generation
Christians.
• The close relationship these Jewish Christians
had with the temple is evident.
• They were encountering increasing difficulty
with Rome.
• Some were becoming weak in the faith.
• Evidently, the temple had not yet been
destroyed. Written around 66 or 67 A.D.
Some Thoughts About the
Audience…
• That they were disciples of Christ is
indicated by a number of facts:
– Heard the gospel from the disciples (2:3)
– Witnessed the signs and wonders that
accompanied divine revelation (2:4)
– Had been made “partakers of Christ” and
needed to hold fast their confidence till the
end (3:14)
– Engaged in the ministry of the saints (6:10)
Some Thoughts About the
Audience…
• That they were disciples of Christ is indicated
by a number of facts:
– Had endured persecution and suffering in the past
(10:32-34)
– Believers for some time; leaders had died (13:7)
– Should have become teachers by the time of the
writing (5:12-14)
– Good understanding of the first principles (6:1)
– Some were in danger of apostasy (6:4-8)
Purpose and Plan
• Principal aim was to establish Christ’s
supremacy in the New Testament
• The truth’s demands required faithfulness on
their part.
• They must refuse to go back to the Old
Covenant.
• Doing so would make them guilty of apostasy.
• They needed to make a complete break with
Judaism. (12:18; 13:17)
Purpose and Plan
• The Hebrews writer argues for Christ’s
superiority as heaven’s messenger.
• Today, God speaks through His Son. (1:1,2)
• He is the greatest messenger heaven could
send!
• His message is superior to any other that has
been given.
• It is to have priority and preeminence in the
minds and hearts of believers.
Keys to Hebrews
• Key word
– Better
• Key phrase
– “By faith…”
• Key chapter
– Chapter 11
• Key verses
– 1:1,2
“God, who at various
times and in various ways
spoke in time past to the
fathers by the prophets,
has in these last days
spoken to us by His Son,
whom He has appointed
heir of all things, through
whom also He made the
worlds.”
Keys to Hebrews
• Key word
– Better
• Key phrase
– “By faith…”
• Key chapter
– Chapter 11
• Key verses
– 1:3, 4
“Who being the brightness
of His glory and the express
image of His person, and
upholding all things by the
word of His power, when He
had by Himself purged our
sins, sat down at the right
hand of the Majesty on high,
having become so much
better than the angels, as He
has by inheritance obtained
a more excellent name than
they.”
Keys to Hebrews
• Key word
– Better
• Key phrase
– “By faith…”
• Key chapter
– Chapter 11
• Key verses
– 8:6,7
“But now He has obtained
a more excellent ministry,
inasmuch as He is also
Mediator of a better
covenant, which was
established on better
promises. For if that first
covenant had been
faultless, then no place
would have been sought
for a second.”
Keys to Hebrews
• Key word
– Better
• Key phrase
– “By faith…”
• Key chapter
– Chapter 11
• Key verses
– 11:6
“But without faith it is
impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God
must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder
of those who diligently
seek Him.”
Christ in Hebrews
• Chapter 1—Supremacy of Christ
• Chapter 2—Christ the captain of our salvation
• Chapter 3—Christ the Apostle and High Priest of
our profession
• Chapter 4—Christ our comfort and example
• Chapter 5—Christ, a High Priest after the order
of Melchizedek
Christ in Hebrews
• Chapter 6—Exhortation to grow and warning
about falling away
• Chapter 7—Contrast between Melchizedek and
the Levitical priesthood
• Chapter 8—Christ the mediator of a new and
better covenant
• Chapter 9—Christ’s covenant in force after His
death
• Chapter 10—Old Law done away with
Christ in Hebrews
• Chapter 11—Heros of faith from the past;
definition and necessity of faith under Christ
• Chapter 12—Christ the author and finisher of
our faith; purpose of discipline
• Chapter 13—Practical admonitions concerning
brotherly love, manner of life, teaching, worship
and respect for elders
Christ’s Superiority in Hebrews
• Superior to the prophets (1:1-4)
• Superior to the angels (1:4—2:18)
• Superior to Moses (3:1-9)
• Superior to Joshua (4:1-8)
• Offers a superior rest (4:9-13)
• Superior to Aaron (4:14-5:10)
• Superior priesthood (6:13—10:18)
Christ’s Superiority in Hebrews
• Superior covenant (8:6—10:18)
• Superior atonement (9:1—10:18)
• Superior sanctuary (9:1—10:18)
• Superior way (10:19—11:40)
• Superior relationship to God (12:1-29)
• Superior work and worship (13:1-21)
Better Things in Hebrews
• Better revelation (1:1-4)
• Better expectation (6:9)
• Better priesthood (7:7-11, 20-28)
• Better hope (7:19)
• Better testament, covenant (7:22; 8:6)
• Better promises (8:6)
• Better sacrifice (9:23,26)
Better Things in Hebrews
• Better possessions (10:34) (ASV)
• A better country (11:16)
• Better resurrection (11:35)
• Better things (11:40; 12:24)
• More excellent name, ministry, and
sacrifice (1:4; 8:6; 11:4)
Seven Warnings in Hebrews
• Against neglecting the great salvation (2:1-4)
• Against hardening one’s heart because of
unbelief (3:7-19)
• Against failing to enter rest (heaven) because of
disobedience (4:11-13)
• Against failure to go on to perfection (5:11-6:20)
Seven Warnings in Hebrews
• Against willful sin (10:26-31)
• Against turning away from “Him that
speaketh from heaven” (12:25-29)
• Against “strange doctrines” (13:9-15)
“Let Us” Statements in Hebrews
• Let us FEAR (4:1)
• Let us LABOR (4:11)
• Let us COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF
GRACE (4:16)
• Let us GO ON TO PERFECTION (6:1)
• Let us DRAW NEAR (10:22)
• Let us HOLD FAST (10:23)
• Let us CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER (10:24)
“Let Us” Statements in Hebrews
• Let us LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT AND
RUN WITH PATIENCE (12:1)
• Let us HAVE GRACE (12:28)
• Let us GO FORTH (13:13)
• Let us OFFER THE SACRICE OF
PRAISE (13:15)
“Made” Statements in Hebrews
• “Made so much better than the angels”
(1:4)
• “Thou hast made him a little lower than
the angels” (2:7)
• “But we see Jesus who was made a
little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death” (2:9)
• “Made like unto his brethren” (2:17)
“Made” Statements in Hebrews
• “Being made perfect, he became the author of
salvation to those who obey” (5:9)
• “Made a high priest after the order of
Melchizadek” (6:20)
• “Made after the power of an endless life” (7:17)
• “Made the surety of a better covenant” (7:22)
Priesthood of Christ
• To the Jew under the Law of Moses, the priest
represented access to God.
• Christ performs the priestly functions for
today’s Christians.
• Through Him, God approaches man, and by
Him, every spiritual provision is made.
• Only through Him, and Him alone, can man
approach God and find grace.
– John 14:6
Priesthood of Christ
• Under the New Covenant, Christ is a more
perfect priest.
• He came into the world to qualify Himself by
being tempted in the same ways we are. (4:15)
• He understands our needs, and He can offer
mankind compassion and sympathy.
• He offered the necessary sacrifice for our sins.
(9:28)
• He ever lives to intercede for us at God’s right
hand!
Heroes of Faith
• Abel
– 11:4
• Enoch
– 11:5
• Noah
– 11:7
• Abraham
– 11:8-10, 17-19
• Moses
– 11:24-27
Heroes of Faith
• Walls of Jericho
– 11:30
• Rahab the Harlot
– 11:31
• Joseph
– 11:22
• Isaac
– 11:20
• Jacob
– 11:21
“By Faith”…Implies
• God has spoken! Nothing can be done by faith
unless God says for it to be done.
• Man must act. Implies action on man’s part.
Faith is the motive, and obedience is the action.
• The thing that man does must be the thing that
God has said! No substitutes will be accepted or
allowed!
“By Faith”…Implies
• The thing that man does in response to that
which God has said must be done like God said
to do it. (Noah and Jericho)
• Must be done for the reason God assigned—
must serve God’s purpose!
• Principle—it must be done simply because God
gave the command!
• If one truly acts—BY FAITH—God’s will is all
that matters.
What Christ Did…
• The requirements of the Old Covenant
were “shadows and types” of what was
coming.
• The Old Testament temple worship and
regulations were teaching us…
• God’s dwelling place today—the
church!
– 9:23-28
Great Messages in Hebrews
• FINALITY OF CHRIST’S WORD:
– “Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,
whom He has appointed heir of all things, through
whom also He made the worlds.” (1:2)
– “For where there is a testament, there must also of
necessity be the death of the testator. For a
testament is in force after men are dead, since it has
no power at all while the testator lives.” (9:16,17)
Great Messages in Hebrews
• GREAT SALVATION:
– “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the
things we have heard, lest we drift away.
– 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved
steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience
received a just reward,
– 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a
salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
– 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and
wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy
Spirit, according to His own will.” (2:1-4)
Great Messages in Hebrews
• FALLING AWAY BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF:
– “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of
you an evil heart of unbelief in departing
from the living God; but exhort one
another daily, while it is called "Today,"
lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin.” (3:12,13)
Great Messages in Hebrews
• GOD’S POWER:
– “For the word of God is living and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to
the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden
from His sight, but all things are naked and open to
the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
(4:12,13)
Great Messages in Hebrews
• THE DANGER OF WILLFUL SIN:
– “For if we sin willfully after we have
received the knowledge of the truth, there
no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but
a certain fearful expectation of judgment,
and fiery indignation which will devour the
adversaries.” (10:26,27)
Great Messages in Hebrews
• PERSONAL GUARANTEE OF BLESSINGS:
– “By so much more Jesus has become a
surety of a better covenant.” (7:22)
• MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT:
– “But now He has obtained a more
excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also
Mediator of a better covenant, which was
established on better promises.” (8:6)
Great Messages in Hebrews
• THE NEW AND LIVING WAY—CHRIST:
– “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the
Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way
which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is,
His flesh.” (10:19,20)
• HE WILL NEVER FORSAKE US:
– “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content
with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I
will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly
say: The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can
man do to me?” (13:5,6)
Great Messages in Hebrews
• SPIRITUAL ATHLETICS:
– “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so
great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before
us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of
our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
(12:1,2)