Christ in Hebrews

It is not known who wrote the Book of Hebrews or when. It was probably written before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD because the religious sacrifices and ceremonies are mentioned in its text, but no mention is made of the destruction of the Temple. The intended audience must be the second generation Jewish Christians.  These were undergoing severe persecution both from the Jews and the Roman government. Many of them might have been contemplating returning to Judaism because of persecution or lack of understanding of Christian truths. Strictly speaking, it is not a “letter”, but written as a thesis. The author describes in details how not only Jesus Christ fulfills the promises and prophecies, but is better than anything in the Jewish of thought.

Judaism and Christianity were both religions revealed by God. But ‘Hebrews’ clearly demonstrates the superiority of Christ over everything and everyone. Christianity supersedes all other religions, philosophies, belief systems. Jesus is sufficient. His grace is sufficient. Living in Christ is having the best there is in life. Hebrews was written with this in mind.

1. (1:4—2:18) Christ is greater than angels

Why was this point raised? In the first century, Judea two predominant cultural groups existed. One group is the Jews bound by their 1500-year old traditions, strictly monotheistic, their life in the iron grip of the Temple and religion. The other group was the The Roman ruling class. They had conquered Greece and had adopted their religious practices, their numerous gods and even their language. Besides these two groups, there existed another minority group—the Greek-speaking Jews. (The martyr Stephen belonged to this group).

Generations have passed and those who knew Jesus personally and the apostles have been dead long. Doubts started creeping into the minds of Christians—particularly Jewish Christians—regarding the identity of Jesus Christ.  The Greek culture had made inroads into Judea and that made the situation worse. Somebody had to tell them with absolute certainness that Jesus was the Almighty Himself that lived in a human body, died on the cross, resurrected and returned to heaven, now seated on the Father’s right side. No creature, in heaven or earth, is above him. He is the Son, the second Person in the trinity, the logos, and the Word that became flesh. He is the one who laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of His hands (Hebrews 1:10).

  

Jesus is Christ, coequal and coexistent along with the Father and Holy Spirit. He lives among angels’ praises. Angels are created beings, ministering spirits. God has used them to contact humans, but they are not worshipped.  Man was created in God’s image and embodies most of God’s qualities, and God’s personality.  Humans are referred to as children of God across the Bible. In fulfillment of God’s plan, Christ took the human body with flesh and blood—not an angelic body.

2. (3:1—4:13) Christ is greater than Moses and Old Testament saints. 

Moses was entrusted with the care of God’s house (the nation of Israel) and he served it faithfully. But Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 

Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek who was a type of Jesus and Abraham was blessed by Melchizedek; obviously the one who is blessed is inferior to the one who blesses; who receives tithes is superior to the one who gives it. Besides, we have the testimony of Jesus who stunned His Jewish listeners by declaring “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”

Joshua is honored by the Israelites as the man who gave them rest in Canaan after 40 years of wandering in the desert. That rest soon came to an end due to the disbelief and rebelliousness of the people.  But Jesus gives those who believe in Him heavenly rest which no power on heaven or earth can take away.

The High Priest of the Old Testament carried into the Holy of Holies an animal’s blood which was ineffective in forgiving the people’s sin. But Jesus carried His own blood into the altar of Calvary and became our sin offertory, guilt offertory, and burnt offertory. And the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (1John 1:7)

The forgiveness Judaism secured was formal and temporary; the priest couldn’t assure a person’s sins have been forgiven. But the forgiveness Jesus promises is real, thorough, permanent and assured. In the old order, the sacrifice was repeated annually, but the forgiveness Jesus secured was once and for all. The priest sacrificed for his own sins and the sins of others. Jesus was sinless, hence more ‘qualified’ and a God-designated High Priest. The Old Testament Priest’s work was never completed, he always had to stand as he performed the sacrifices signifying unfinished work, but Jesus’ salvation work was complete. He reported “it is finished” when He died on the cross and entered into heaven to sit at His Father’s side.

The Old Testament altar is only a replica of the real one that is in heaven.

3. (4:14—7:28) Christ’s priesthood is greater than Old Testament priesthood

The Old Testament priesthood was imperfect and temporary; but Jesus, the God-designated High Priest was not bound by tradition. According to Moses’ tradition, the priest had to be a Levi.  Jesus put an end to that mandate (He Himself was not a Levi!). According to Hebrews Christ was “trained by God to perfection as High Priest”.  His priesthood was perfect and permanent and a source of eternal salvation.  Jesus’ priesthood confidently draws us to God. Even during the Old Testament days, the new system was solemnized with an oath by God. See Psalms 110:4 God has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek”..

The old priesthood has been set aside for being weak, ineffective and dependant on the law. For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death.  But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 7:5, 6)

4. (8:1—13) Christ’s new covenant is greater than the old one.

The old covenant was only a shadow of things to come;

            But Christ’s new covenant was the real thing.             

The old covenant focussed on a place of worship—that is the temple;   But now Christ reigns in the believer’s heart;

The old covenant promises were limited words written on stone/leaves;           

            But Christ’s promises are unlimited made in grace.

The old covenant restricted access to God through the High Priest:

            But Christ allows unlimited access through prayers.            

The Temple curtain was a barrier between the Creator and creation;

            But Jesus paved the way to heaven through the rent in the curtain

            and through his own, broken body.                  

In the old covenant, forgiveness had to be earned through works;

            But Jesus gives it freely in His grace.

In the old covenant remission of sin was offered to a selected few;                                  But In the new covenant, it is available to all.

5. (9:1—10:18) Christ is a better sanctuary, more sufficient sacrifice

The holiest place on earth for the Jews was a small room that contained the Ark of the Covenant, in the Temple. Only the High Priest could enter into it one day in a year; the other priests and the public were forbidden to come into the room. Their only access to God was through the High Priest, who would offer a sacrifice and use the animal’s blood to atone first for His own sins and then for the people’s sins. See also 10:19, 20.  With His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—Jesus entered the holiest place once for all time and secured our redemption forever (Hebrew 9:12).

Conclusion – Jews made a big fuss about law and tradition, observed in letter only, not in spirit.  Even Old Testament talked about the ineffectiveness of formal sacrifice and lip service to the law. Sacrifice was not that important to sustain Israel's religion.  They survived without it for centuries of exile and during the 40-year sojourn in the desert.

God abhorred their hypocritical sacrifices so much that He said Jeremiah 7:21 “Take your burnt offerings and your other sacrifices and eat them yourselves!” Samuel rebuked King Saul and said “Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice; to pay attention is better than the fat of rams”(1 Sam15:22).

Hebrews is a call to maturity. It was addressed to the first century Jewish Christians, but it applies to Christians of any age or background. Christian maturity means making Christ the beginning and the end of our faith. To grow in maturity we must centre our life on Him, not depending on religious ritual, not falling back into sin, not trusting I ourselves, and not let anything come between us and Christ. Christ is superior and sufficient.

><><><><><><><><><