Hebrews: Discipleship Lessons

Call us to love brothers and sisters, to maintain sexual purity, to shun the love of money. He assures them that God will never forsake them, imitating leaders is the way to growth, and to offer sacrifices of praise. 

Hebrews calls us to endure opposition and appreciate the Lord’s discipline, meant to make us holy. He warns against self-deception and bitterness. Compares earthly Jerusalem to heavenly Zion, the City of God, and warns against rejecting the Messiah. 

Discusses how Abraham and Sarah illustrate faith, that obeys and goes, that lives by faith in God’s promises like aliens in a foreign land. The faith of the patriarchs, Moses, and many others serve to inspire us in faith – a great cloud of witnesses urging us to finish our race.

Faith is described as the assurance of things not seen. Now the author illustrates faith from the lives of Abel, Enoch, and Noah. No one can please God without faith that (1) believes He exists and (2) that he rewards those who seek him. 

The author calls us to draw near with confident prayer to the throne of grace. Includes exhortations to draw near to God, to hold on, and to continue fellowship with other believers.

The author argues than animal sacrifices could not cleanse the human conscience. Whereas Christ’s blood deals with sin once for all and Jesus offers the ransom of himself to God for our souls. 

Compares the New Covenant to the Old Covenant given to Moses, and the heavenly sanctuary to the earthly tabernacle in the wilderness. He declares Jesus the Mediator of a New Covenant

The author develops Jesus as a high priest of a different order than the Aaronic priests, a priest after the order of Melchizedek. The priest Jesus enters the heavenly sanctuary, always living to intercede for us.  

The author chides the Hebrews for being too lazy in their growth. Then he warns Spirit-filled believers from falling away in apostacy. He calls them to diligence to hold onto the promises. 

We see Jesus in his humanity, suffering, being made perfect, obeying, and designated high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Because he has been tempted, he sympathizes with our weaknesses and invites us to come boldly before the throne of grace to find mercy and help in time of need.

Uses the example of the Israelite's unbelief and rejection in the wilderness under Moses as a warning to the readers of Hebrews to continue in their faith in the Messiah and not desert him. It also talks about the sober, penetrating nature of God's Word.

The author displays Christ as: the fully human Son of Man, exalted Messiah, Author of salvation, Conqueror of death, Victor over the devil, Emancipator from the fear of death, and merciful High Priest.

The author of Hebrews represents Jesus as superior to angels as one who is the divine heir, co-creator, the radiance of the divine glory, the exact representation of God's being, sustainer and preserver of the universe, and co-ruler. Readers are exhorted to pay close attention to the gospel and not drift away from it. It was attested by signs, wonders, and miracles, as well as eyewitnesses.

Discusses speculations about authorship, recipients, date, canonicity, purpose, and themes – all quite important in interpreting some difficult passages.

Approach to the Letter to the Hebrews, along with its challenge to us.