The book of Hebrews is a message written to a group of Jewish Christians who were on the brink of giving up their faith in Jesus and reverting to Judaism. It calls them to remain true to Jesus by demonstrating how Jesus fulfills Old Testament promises and is superior to Old Covenant worship and sacrifices. He is a better priest of a better covenant, offering a better sacrifice in a better tabernacle. Therefore, we must remain faithful to him, holding onto our confession of faith firmly until the end.
Backstory to Hebrews
The backstory to Hebrews is complicated because there’s a lot we don’t know for certain, such as who wrote it and exactly to whom it was written. All of this makes knowing the details of the backstory foggy.
But from reading Hebrews, the situation that motivated its writing is clear. So, let’s tell the story of the situation and then we’ll look at the options for some of the other specific details.
Here’s the situation that motivated the writing of Hebrews.
A group of Jewish followers of Jesus are struggling with remaining faithful to Jesus and his church and are on the brink of reverting back to Judaism. Some appear to have already made that choice and abandoned Jesus for Judaism. Some are drifting in that direction.
What’s leading them to do this? Maybe it’s persecution (see chapter 12). Or maybe it’s social pressure from being neither fully part of the Jewish community or part of the broader society. Becoming a follower of Jesus has left them very much as outsiders in a world where community and social standing were everything. Those two reasons, combined with challenges to Jesus’ messiahship from the unbelieving Jewish community around them, have many questioning if they should return to Judaism.
So, the author of Hebrews writes to them a message that is very much like a sermon. He bounces back and forth between explanation and exhortation, calling them to remain faithful to Jesus. He does this by demonstrating Jesus’ superiority over the Old Covenant of their Jewish past. Indeed, he shows Jesus to be the culmination of that covenant.
“He bounces back and forth between explanation and exhortation, calling them to remain faithful to Jesus.”
Going back to Judaism, therefore, is going backwards. It’s to abandon the fulfillment of God’s plans—the Messiah and the ultimate, final offering for sin. Because Jesus is the culmination of the Old Covenant and its sacrifices, there is no other offering for sin besides Jesus at this point in God’s plans. To abandon Jesus moves a person from the sphere of grace into the sphere of wrath. It’s the seriousness of that which motivates the author to write this message.
All of that backstory is completely clear from Hebrews, but the exact details behind the letter are not, and that’s because it’s more like a sermon than a letter. There is no letter opening with greetings that name the author or the original audience.
So…
Who wrote Hebrews?
This has been a question since the days of the early church fathers. Some in the early church from the eastern Mediterranean regions assumed Paul wrote it even though the style didn’t match his. Many in the church from the western Mediterranean contended Paul did not write it.
And even those who thought Paul wrote it often did so with certain qualifications. So, for example, in the eastern church, Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150-215) supposes that Paul wrote it in Hebrew and Luke translated it into Greek. Most scholars today reject Pauline authorship.
In short, we don’t know who wrote it and it’s reasonable to agree with the early church father Origen who said only God knows for sure.
Whom was Hebrews written to?
And once again, we really don’t know. But there are two main opinions: Jewish Christians in either Jerusalem or Rome. The earliest testimony on the question comes from Chrysostom, who said it was sent to Palestine. But the earliest reference to the book is at Rome, and it appears to have been accepted as authoritative in Rome some time before the writings of Clement of Rome (A.D. 95).
So, the evidence is mixed, leaving the answer unclear.
“There are two main opinions: Jewish Christians in either Jerusalem or Rome.”
Purpose of Hebrews
Nevertheless, even though some of those specific details are uncertain, the purpose of the book is clear. The purpose is to call the original readers not to revert back to Judaism, but to remain faithful to Jesus.
The author writes to show Jesus’s superiority. He’s superior to angels, to Moses, to the Jewish high priesthood, to the offerings of bulls and goats, and to the entire Old Covenant.
And they must remain faithful to him.
Overview of Hebrews
As you read through the book of Hebrews, you need to pay attention to the way it’s structured. The book operates much like a sermon and moves from explanation to exhortation and then back to explanation and then to exhortation again and so on, until the author concludes with an extended section of exhortation. So the flow of the book looks like this:
The Son (1:1-2:4)
Hebrews opens by presenting Jesus, the Son, as superior to the angels by stacking passages from the Hebrew scriptures that describe what’s said about angels versus what’s said about the Messiah (1:1-14).
Then, based on the superiority of the Son, the author gives his first exhortation, calling his readers to pay attention to the salvation they’ve received and not drift away (2:1-4).
“Based on the superiority of the Son, the author gives his first exhortation, calling his readers to pay attention to the salvation they’ve received and not drift away.”
The Son Become Man (2:5-4:13)
After that initial exhortation, the author continues to build his case for Jesus’ superiority, and to do so he has to answer a charge against Jesus—namely, if he is the superior Son of God, why does he lack glory?
Therefore, in 2:5-18, he demonstrates that we don’t see everything arranged under Jesus just yet because it was necessary for him to lower himself and become fully human in order that he might taste death for everyone. In doing this, he has defeated the devil who wields the power of death and has become a merciful and faithful high priest.
After explaining this, the author offers a second and more extended exhortation in 3:1-4:13. The readers must consider Jesus who as the Son is greater than Moses, and in doing so, they must remain faithful (3:1-6). The author then quotes a section of Psalm 95, which becomes the basis for the call to faithfulness from 3:7-4:13. The point of it all is this: don’t be like the Israelites who came out of Egypt during the Exodus but proved to have disloyal, unbelieving hearts and so missed out on the promised land. God still holds out a promise of ultimate rest for his people, and you must be diligent to enter that rest through faithfulness.
“God still holds out a promise of ultimate rest for his people, and you must be diligent to enter that rest through faithfulness.”
The Son Become High Priest of a Superior Covenant (4:14-10:39)
The author then picks up his demonstration of Jesus’ superiority right where he left off at the end of chapter 2, with Jesus as a superior high priest. This leads into the long central section of the book, which shows Jesus as a better priest of a better covenant, offering a better sacrifice in a better tabernacle.
The author begins this section in 4:14-5:10 by presenting Jesus as the better high priest. Jesus didn’t assume this role for himself but was appointed high priest by God after the order of Melchizedek just as Psalm 110 promised.
Before explaining further what this means, the author pauses for a brief exhortation, calling his readers to press on to maturity. They must move beyond basic principles and not fall away from all they’ve received in Jesus. They must hold on to their profession until the end (5:11-6:20).
In chapter 7, the author resumes his presentation of Jesus’ superior priesthood. Once again, he picks up where he left off, now offering a full presentation of Jesus’ priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. He shows how the Melchizedek priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood of the old covenant and how a change in priesthood requires a change in covenants (he’ll develop this new covenant theme in chapters 8-10). Two features of the order of Melchizedek make Jesus’ priesthood superior to the old covenant priesthood: being sworn in with an oath and being a priest forever (by virtue of Jesus’ resurrection).
“They must move beyond basic principles and not fall away from all they’ve received in Jesus.”
Since a change of priesthood requires a change in covenants, in Hebrews 8 the author quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 to show how God promised a new covenant. Then in 9:1-10:18 he provides a comparison and contrast between the work and offerings of the old covenant priesthood with the work and offering of Jesus’ new covenant priesthood. Jesus’ work as priest is superior because he entered the true tabernacle in heaven (not a mere copy on earth), he offered one sacrifice in his own blood, and his sacrifice took care of sins once and for all. So he has finished the work of purification and has sat down at the right hand of God.
On the basis of Jesus’ work, therefore, the author calls his readers to draw near to God, to hold fast to their profession of faith, and to encourage one another in love and good deeds (10:19-25). He also challenges them to remain faithful, reminding them that since Jesus is the final sacrifice for sin, there is no other sacrifice by which their sins can be forgiven. He encourages them to endure because they are people of faith (10:26-39).
Exhortation to Endure (11:1-13:25)
By the end of chapter 10, the author has laid out his case for the superiority of Jesus. So the author finishes his message like a good preacher with an extended exhortation calling them (and us!) to faithfulness, endurance, and Christian living in chapters 11-13.
Chapter 11 is the well-known faith chapter. It provides a series of examples from the Hebrew scriptures of people who lived out faithful faith. These examples are meant to inspire faithfulness in the original readers and us. Like the saints of old, we must run with endurance the race set before us (12:1-3).
The author reminds them that their suffering is a way that the Lord disciplines his people and brings them to maturity. Therefore they should help and support each other to this end (12:4-13).
He calls them to pursue peace and holiness because they have come to a superior mountain—not Mount Sinai but Mount Zion. This should move them to heed God’s Word and to be grateful (12:14-29).
“He calls them to pursue peace and holiness because they have come to a superior mountain—not Mount Sinai but Mount Zion.”
Finally, 13:1-17 provides specific commands that call us to Christian living: hospitality, marital faithfulness, contentment, bearing Jesus’ reproach, praising God, and obeying our Christian leaders and imitating their faith.
The book ends in 13:18-25 by inviting them to pray for the author and with greetings to the church. It also offers an encouraging benediction, asking God to equip them for every good work.
Hebrews in 15 Passages
1. “And [the Son] is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”
—Hebrews 1:3-4[1]
2. “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”
—Hebrews 2:1
3. “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”
—Hebrews 2:9
Summary of Hebrews: “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”
4. “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
—Hebrews 2:17-18
5. “Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.”
6. “And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, being designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”
—Hebrews 5:9-10
Summary of Hebrews: “He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.”
7. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
—Hebrews 6:19
8. “Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
—Hebrews 7:24-25
9. “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.”
—Hebrews 8:6
10. “For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
—Hebrews 9:13-14
Summary of Hebrews: “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.”
11. “Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”
—Hebrews 9:23-24
12. “But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”
—Hebrews 10:12-14
13. “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval.”
—Hebrews 11:1-2
Summary of Hebrews: “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval.”
14. “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
—Hebrews 12:1-2
15. “Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood. So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”
—Hebrews 13:12-14
[1] All Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard
For more from John, see johnwhittaker.net and the Listener’s Commentary.