Hebrews Overview 

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We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away (2:1)

We can spot from the unique way this book presents itself, amongst the other books of the New Testament, that Hebrews is not a typical letter. For example, there is no formal greeting at the beginning where the writer would normally introduce himself, also he does not address a specific group that he's writing to.

So, this is less of letter, and more of a written sermon /exhortation (see 13 v 22). It is a sermon concerned with the God who speaks, which is such a mind-blowing truth. He has spoken to his people in the past, and he is speaking to his people in the present (1:1-2a). It is it urgent call for people to listen to the word he has spoken (2:1; 3:7-9, 15: 4:7, 12-13).  And surely, when we stop to think about our God who speaks, we surely find ourselves wanting to do just that. Really listen. 
 
Who wrote it?
The writer Origen, in the 3rd century (a father of the church) had the answer to this:
He said “only God now knows who wrote the letter to the Hebrews”
Many people have been suggested by scholars down the centuries e.g., Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, Luke, Phoebe…. the list goes on. We simply don't know.
 
Who is it written to?
As the title suggests it's written to Jewish Christians who are well known to the writer. As you read through the ‘letter’ you get a sense of his love and concern for these brothers and sisters. He is a friend with a pastor’s heart. For example, he says,

So, he knows them. He knows about their faith in Christ, their generosity, what they have done and what they are still doing. He also knows about the persecution they have faced: He obviously knows them well and the details of their situation. In fact, he often identifies himself with his readers (any good preacher should), using the personal pronouns “we” and “us” numerous times (2:1, 5; 5:11; 6:9; 8:1; 9:5; 11:32). Then, at the end of the exhortation, he speaks of a hunger to return to them (13:19), and mentions a mutual brother, Timothy, who has recently been released from prison and will accompany the writer when he comes to visit them (13:23).
 
When was it written?
The details above help us locate the date. Hebrews is probably written in the late 60s when persecution is beginning to hot up. Emperor Claudius expelled Jewish Christians from Rome in AD49 (which is why Aquila and Priscilla had left (Acts 18:1-2). By AD64 (after the great fire in Rome), under Emperor Nero, martyrdom had become an aspect of the Christian experience – mainly in Rome (where, some commentators suggest, many of the first readers of Hebrews were situated. Indeed, Timothy has just been released from prison. Paul and Peter may have already been martyred by this stage (although Paul is high up on the list for being the author). The date is interesting because the author talks about the temple in the present tense. Some of us will remember that the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in AD70 by the Romans. So as this is written it's probable that the temple sacrifices and so on are still going on.
 
Is it Scripture?
Clement I, writing in AD95, quotes the book of Hebrews and calls it “scripture” implying it was well known in the Church as an authoritative book.
 
Why Hebrews?
The presenting issue is no doubt persecution, but the writer is addressing some of the responses to difficulty. Therefore, the book concerns the cost of discipleship - commitment to the Lord Jesus.
Clearly life is tough, and there's a real sense that many have become weary with the constant struggle they faced. They were showing signs of indifference and apathy. Some had even dropped off attending church. The writer admonishes them to keep on caring for each other - to spur each other with acts of love and good works - and the vital need to keep meeting together (10:24-25).
Remember, these are the days of the Roman Empire. When Christianity first got going it was considered by the Roman authorities to be a sect belonging to the Jewish tradition. Therefore, it was tolerated as an ethnic religion. Roman policy was to allow its subjects to worship their own gods, if they continued to be submissive to Roman authority. So, the Christians remained fairly safe (legitimate?), sheltering under the wider Jewish umbrella when it came to tolerance. However, as the Christian faith spread from Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) the Jews began to distance themselves more vehemently from Christianity.  In the 50s and 60s this caused the Roman world to also begin to question its legitimacy. Moreover, because Christians hailed Jesus as son of God and king - it began to be seen as subversive.
Soon Christians feared for their lives – particularly at the hands of the cruel Emperor Nero. Read Hebrews 10 v 32-34 (and 11:35-38) to get a sense of the everyday pressures facing Christians.
 
Therefore, you can imagine the pressure to abandon the faith, not least when your Jewish relatives and friends begin to question the wisdom of remaining Christian, and invite you back to the safe bosom of Judaism. Indeed …why worship an invisible God, a dead Nazarene who promised to return but has not? Besides, there's nothing tangible to be enjoyed with Christianity, like there is with Judaism. With Judaism they have the temple, the sacrifices, the priestly garments, the whole culture of table fellowship and family. They have the protection of Rome. [“Do not be a fool come back to the temple…and the sacrifices far more tangible. Look what your missing! Come back.”]
These are the sorts of pressures being faced by Jewish Christians in those times – tempting them to go back to the old way of life, the old covenant expressions. This is the reason for the loving concern of the writer of Hebrews.
 
And via this rhetorical method of exhortation the writer’s chief argument is that there is nothing to go back to. To persuade his readers he emphasises the superiority of the Lord Jesus.  He is superior to the angels, superior to Moses, to Abraham, superior to the priestly caste,  to the sacrificial system, superior to all these things. Compared to Jesus, Moses, the angels and the rest are second best. No, not even ‘second best’, but because Jesus has now come, they are obsolete.
The Old Testament/Covenant are simply a shadow- a model of what was to come in Jesus. 
Remember the drawings we had on the wall of the church building – showing what we hoped the new hall would look like. Imagine building the whole with all its whistles and bells but then preferring to spend time huddled around the drawings rather than enjoying the building! There is no comparison. And worse, they are in danger of being locked out of the building!
Amazingly, that is what these Jewish Christians were proposing to do. So, seeing this potential catastrophe the writer says, “Look, you've tasted and seen that the Lord is good! Don't go back to the shadows! Draw near to him!” Salvation is found in Christ alone. You cannot go anywhere else. To turn your back on Christ is to jump out of the lifeboat! Moreover, it is to trample over what he has achieved for them on the cross.
 
What about Us?
A good question to ask is why the book of Hebrews is relevant to us 2000 years later.
And the answer is firstly, because we also need to be confident in Christ Jesus and his person.
As you read through you will notice that the author sustains the theme that God is speaking every time the scripture is quoted, and he quotes it throughout. He does so in the present tense to emphasise that the word spoken in the past is being spoken once again at the present time (e.g. 3:7; 10:5; 10:15). Therefore, if the word is the voice of God and is for us today, it is imperative to listen (12:25).  
The issues and pressures facing these Christians in C1^st are just as relevant today as they ever were: the danger of drifting back to the old way of life that we had before we met Christ and became his followers. The danger of compromising with the culture around us in order to be ‘safe’/comfortable. This may well manifest itself in a rather bland, nominal, polite, church-attending Christianity. And like the first readers of Hebrews, we need to keep going and growing as Christians. Moving forward with Jesus, working to be effective in our discipleship.
12 v 1-2  is crucially important in this.
In the 2016 Triathlon World Series Great Briton’s Jonny Brownlee had to be helped over the finishing line by his brother Alistair (allowing him to go ahead). It was a great moment of sportsmanship and brotherly love. In some ways, the writer of Hebrews is urging, cajoling, encouraging and exhorting the Christians to keep going – keep in the race – and get over the finish line. As Christians, we are in a race, a marathon. It's not easy. We are susceptible to losing our way slowing down, stopping altogether, perhaps even choosing to come off the course and go somewhere else. But ‘look at what we would be losing!’ says the writer of Hebrews: “Fix your eyes on Jesus ..he is the author and perfecter (finisher) of your faith” (see also Hebrews 1 v 1-3).
 
 
 
The Structure of Hebrews
 
A simple, helpful way of structuring the book:
 
1 v 1-3     The overview of the whole book. 1
These verses are packed with incredible truths about the Jesus we follow - and will be expanded upon as we go through the book over the next few weeks.
 
1:4 – 10:39    - The exposition of the themes found in 1 v 1-3.
 
11:1 – 13:25  - The implications of all that has gone before.
The practical application of what it means to live Christian lives in the light of these realities.
 
 
* The overview of the book: 
1 v 1-3  is a magnificent Bible text. Not only does it lift our hearts and our minds to the Lord Jesus, but it sets the agenda for the rest of the book.
i)   God now has a final word to humankind in Jesus (v.1-2), and
ii)  there is completed work that Jesus has done (v.3)
= Jesus is the final word of God and the completed work of God
 
v.1-2    
Jesus is the final word of God and the completed work of God
God has nothing more to say to us than he has said in Jesus.
Everything he may say to us today as we study his word and pray and think through its implications… is already contained in the word and works of the Lord Jesus. He is not revealing more of himself (new things) to us today because there is nothing more of himself to reveal. Everything is in Christ. He is the final word of Jesus, and the work of Jesus is a completed work.
So, unlike the Roman Catholics we do not re-sacrifice Jesus’ body at ‘the mass’ – (nor do we use unhelpful more recently published Anglo-Catholic liturgy at our communion service which hints at the same). His is a completed work, “He sat down” after making the purification of sins (1 v. 3).  Nobody else can add to it, nothing else could make it more complete than it is. The word of God is now final, and the work of God is now complete. That's why he says it's the ‘last days’ (‘last days’ in NT is the time between the first coming of Jesus and his second coming)*.
 
The bulk of Hebrews then explores this complete work of Christ by talking all about his supremacy, that He is superior to all those things that have come before: (four sections) he is superior over the angels, over Moses, over Joshua over Aaron and his priesthood.
Q  Why choose those in particular?
A   Because they were the elements of Judaism which were valued most of all. If family and friends were tempting someone to return to the bosom of Judaism. They might speak of…
- magnificent ‘angels’ ..who received the message of God / appeared to the prophets / watch over    
   God’s people.
- Moses – the great leader of God’s people who led us out of slavery …the greatest of all prophets …the lawgiver.
- Joshua – our great leader who led his people into the land that God is still keeping for us
- Aaron and his successive priesthood but it lasts only a generation.
 
Perhaps - in preparation for this series…this week - read through Hebrews and jot down ways in which Jesus is superior to these.
 
So, how can these Christians drift off to the old expression of worship to God? They are just shadows. Jesus is far superior to everything the Old Testament taught about and spoke of. In fact his revelation makes those Old Testament shadows ‘null and void’. It all points to Jesus as their fulfilment. It would be like building a new church hall but then ignoring it, preferring to gather around the planning drawings instead.
So, do not neglect the blessings you already have, and do not fall into apostasy (turning your back on him)  “keep on going with Christ – do not shrink back… do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (10:35-36).
 
How do we do that?
The writer’s pastoral concern for his friends Finds its most practical expression when he encourages them by reminding them open character of the Lord who cares for them. He shows Jesus to be their champion “who not only identifies himself with them but who has released them from the fear of death (2:10-16).”2   So, someone facing certain death by hands of their persecutors will not face it alone. Rather they are supported by the One who shed his blood, but who is now enthroned at the right hand of God (12:2-4).  During his life on earth he offered prayers and cried out to his Father who was able to save him from death (5:7). However the answer to his prayers and his tears was not deliverance from suffering and death… but resurrection (13:20-21).
As our eternal High Priest (6:20), Jesus is able to help those who are called to suffer (2:18) and as our crucified Saviour empathises with human weakness (4:14-15). As our risen Saviour he holds his office permanently, and so is able to save absolutely those who approach God through him (7:1-3, 23-25; 13:5-6).  He intercedes for us because he cares for us and will strengthen us. They, and we, need to listen to this.
 
The final three chapters of the book are very practical as they teach us the implications of the book: by faith, in hope and with love.
Chapter 10 introduces these three great Christian qualities or responses to what God has said and done for us. Chapters 11-13 then teach us how these are the ways we can keep looking forward in faith – resist being drawn away and stop compromising, and have such a clear vision of Jesus and what he has done for us that we will not be prepared to give up or weaken our faith or dilute our stand for him – or just simply drift away.   
Chapter 11 -  faith  (lots of wonderful examples of faith teaching us what faith really is)
Chapter 12 – hope (when everything seems hope-less)
Chapter 13 -  love – (this great chapter is full of so many examples of love – all sorts of different practical marks of authentic Christianity expressing itself in love).
 
We need to see the doctrine – but also how the doctrine is worked out in their lives and also in ours. And the conclusion is that we should trust the God of peace: 13:20-21

 
Let us pray that this term, as we study this book of Hebrews, that this will happen. That God will equip up with everything good for doing his will, and that he will work in us what is pleasing to him. What a great prayer to pray as we as a church family sit under his powerful word. For in these last days he HAS spoken by his Son.
 
 
 
 
Further Reading:
A great little book to accompany this series is “Hebrews -  A Call to Commitment  - William L. Lane  
OR a lighter read “The Majestic Son” 
 
Note
1 The writer of the Hebrew says that the end of the age is not the second coming but the first! It was when Jesus came for the first time that was ‘the end of the age’,  and when the beginning of the new age of the Kingdom began. See also 9 v 26: having taught about the sacrifice of Jesus being once for all, he then says if it wasn't like that he would have had to suffer ‘many times’ since the creation of the world, but now (9:26b) he has appeared once for all at the end of the age (or “the ages”) to do away with sin by the sacrifices of himself. This is a very important perspective for Hebrews. We tend to think the end of the ages when Jesus comes back but here the writer says “no! …the end of the age was when Jesus came the first time. We are now in a new age which he calls “the last days” as we wait for Jesus to return. He  inaugurated a new age through his death and by his resurrection (NB Jesus is the final word of God and the completed work of God).
 
2    p.25  ‘Hebrews -  A Call to commitment’  -  William L. Lane