This commentary and Bible course covers one of the most important and amazing books in the New Testament.
Though there are unquestioningly many “things hard to be understood” in Hebrews, we understand that God has given us a key to unlock these things. That is, the proper interpretation of Hebrews depends upon understanding its two-fold theme:
(1) Hebrews is a warning to Jews who had professed faith in Jesus to continue in that faith and thereby show that they were genuinely saved (Heb. 2:1; 3:12; 4:1, 11; 6:11; 10:38; 12:12-13).
(2) Toward this end Christ is shown to be superior to all things that unsaved Jews put their faith in: prophets (Heb. 1:1-3), angels (Heb. 1:4 - 2:18), Moses (Heb. 3:1 - 4:13), the Mosaic Law and the Priesthood (Heb. 4:14 - 8:5).
We know that the writer of Hebrews is not teaching that true believers can lose their salvation, because he plainly states that continuing in and persevering in faith is the EVIDENCE of one’s salvation rather than the WAY OF salvation. Hebrews teaches that it is possible to come near to genuine salvation without experiencing it.
In Hebrews “we see Jesus” (Heb. 2:9) in a special way. The book opens the veil and invites us to gaze upon the throne in the holy of holiness on high more plainly than any other book of the New Testament. Hebrews “presents the only full discussion in the New Testament of Christ as the believer’s High Priest.”
We show that the blood was not merely symbolic for death but was itself a crucial part of the atonement. The book of Hebrews teaches us anew that the Bible is a self-interpreting Book. In the book of Hebrews we have a divinely-given interpretation of the Old Testament tabernacle and priesthood. These were types of Christ and prophecies of the future and we are not left to imagine what they might mean.
We are given a definite key to their interpretation. Hebrews, of course, is not only for Jews. It is for all of God‚s people throughout the church age, and it is a very practical book. Scattered throughout are exhortations to everyday Christian living based on the doctrine that is taught.
Hebrews contains essential instruction about sanctification, backsliding and apostasy, Bible study, prayer, the exercise of faith, chastisement, the ministry of exhortation, church attendance, church leadership, hospitality, and worship.