COLLECTIONS Commentaries, Word
Studies, Devotionals, Sermons, Illustrations
Old and New Testament.
Note: Hebrews has some very
controversial passages (especially in chapters 6,10 and 12) so you are strongly
advises to perform your own inductive study of these passages before
consulting the sermons or commentaries. It is very important to interpret these
difficult sections in the context of the overall message of Hebrews.
The Precept Upon Precept
Inductive Study of Hebrews (published by Precept Ministries
International) is highly recommended and provides an excellent opportunity
for you to arrive at your own conclusions regarding the difficult sections
in Hebrews. After completing this inductive study, you will be able to
read the sermons and commentaries with an educated eye!
Click here for a link to the in depth inductive study of
Hebrews Part 1 (11 lessons covering chapters 1-4). Note that you can
download a complete sample of Lesson 1.
Click here for a link to the Precept Upon Precept study of
Hebrews Part 2 (19 lessons covering chapters 5-13) where you again
have the option to download Lesson 1.
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The Epistle to the
Hebrews
Consider Jesus Our Great High Priest
INSTRUCTION
Hebrews 1-10:18
EXHORTATION
Hebrews 10:19-13
Superior Person
of Christ
Hebrews 1:1-4:13
Superior Priest
in Christ
Hebrews 4:14-10:18
Superior Life
In Christ
Hebrews 10:19-13
BETTER THAN
PERSON
Hebrews 1:1-4:13
BETTER
PRIESTHOOD
Heb 4:14-7:28
BETTER
COVENANT
Heb 8:1-13
BETTER
SACRIFICE
Heb 9:1-10:18
BETTER
LIFE
MAJESTY
OF
CHRIST
MINISTRY
OF
CHRIST
MINISTERS
FOR
CHRIST
DOCTRINE
DUTY
DATE WRITTEN:
ca. 64-68AD
Key Words/Phrases: (Click
for complete listing of Key Words in Hebrews)
Better, Blood, Faith, Eternal, Once, Sacrifice, High Priest, Jesus, Covenant,
Perfect, Eternal, Partaker, Ministry. See discussion of
key words,
a vital component of
inductive Bible study. My personal favorite phrase in Hebrews is "He is able" -Meditateon
Hebrews 2:18 and Hebrews 7:25 to see what Your Great High Priest is
able to accomplish for you, dear child of God! Key Verses: Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 10:19-22 Type of literature: Letter or epistle - a "word of exhortation"
(Heb 13:22). Exhortations introduced by "Let us" (Hebrews 4:1,
11, 14, 16, 6:1, 10:22, 23, 24, 12:1, 28, 13:13, 15).
Author: Unknown. Paul is often mentioned. Recipients: Hebrew Christians-genuine and professing
(specifically those tempted to lapse into Judaism) Old Testament Quotations (or Allusions):
click for OT passages in
Hebrews
We as Christians have
that which is better—better in every way. The key word to the book
of Hebrews is "better." It occurs thirteen times (in the KJV)....
How often when you take
a trip for the first time over a new road, you drive straight along
anticipating where it will lead, and what difficulties you may
encounter. It seems to be the thing to do. Coming back over the same
road, you look around and notice things. Do this in studying the
book of Hebrews. Read it through, and do not be overanxious about
the things you cannot understand. Then you can go back over the road
in your reading and take notice of the many things along the way.
You could spend months in Hebrews. It presents so many wonderful
truths. At the first reading, you will be impressed by one fact
above all others: that Jesus Christ is prominent on every page...
This book was written to
strengthen the faith of wavering believers. Paul's great argument is
the superiority of Christ over all others.
Do we know the real difference between having Christ as a Savior and
as a Priest? Well, this book answers the question.
The book of Hebrews proves that we can never understand the Old
Testament without the New, or the New without the Old....
Consider Jesus -This is
our weakness. We look at ourselves and our own weakness. Consider
Him (Hebrews 3:1). This is the astronomer's word. Set your telescope
to the heavens and gaze upon Him....
Joshua could not lead
the children of Israel into this perfect rest and trust in God, but
Jesus did. Cease from self-effort and yield yourself to Christ
(Hebrews 4:10). Trust Jesus as your Joshua and "enter in" to His
land of promise. Cease struggling and place all in His hand. (Read
Psalm 37:5.)
Excerpts from
What the Bible is All -
highly recommended to
aid your overview and integration of all 66 books of the Bible
J Sidlow Baxter
writes...
I shall not forget my
first sight of
Mont Blanc towering up beyond
the Chamonix Valley, king among Alpine giants, crowned with a
sun-transfigured majesty. One may well feel a similar, reverential
wonder with this transcendent "Epistle to the Hebrews" opening up to
view. It is one of the greatest two theological treatises in the New
Testament. (Ed: Romans being the other)
Here is Baxter's Outline entitled
CHRIST THE "NEW AND
LIVING WAY"
1. JESUS - THE NEW
AND "BETTER "DELIVERER (Heb 1-7).
Jesus the God-Man -
better than angels (Heb 1:1-2:18).
Jesus the new Apostle - better than Moses (Heb 3:1-19)
Jesus the new Leader - better than Joshua (Heb 4:1-13).
Jesus the new priest - better than Aaron (Heb 4:14-7).
2. CALVARY - THE NEW AND "BETTER" COVENANT (Heb 8:1-10:18)
New covenant has better
promises (Heb 8:6-13).
And it opens up a better sanctuary (Heb 9:1-14).
And is sealed by a better sacrifice (Heb 9:15-28).
And it achieves far better results (Heb 10:1-18).
3. FAITH - THE TRUE AND "BETTER" PRINCIPLE (Heb 10:19-13).
Faith the true response
to these "better" things (Heb 10:19-39)
It has always been vindicated as such: examples (Heb 11:1-40).
Is now to endure, patiently looking to Jesus (Heb 12:1-13).
Is to express itself in practical sanctity (Heb 12:14-13:21).
The glories of our
Savior are exhibited in this Epistle; it is one of the most precious
books in the Bible. It has been called “The Fifth Gospel.” Four
describe Christ’s ministry on earth, this describes His
ministry in heaven. It was written to Hebrew disciples, probably
of Jerusalem, to avert the danger of their drifting back into
Judaism. They are exhorted to let go everything else, in order to
hold fast the faith and hope of the Gospel. The Epistle is
attributed to Paul, and though many question this, there is
abundance of evidence in its favor. To give one example only, the
concluding salutation, “Grace be with you all,” is Paul’s
“sign-manual” in every Epistle.
The Key-note is the High-Priesthood of the Lord Jesus...Throughout
this Epistle we note that whatever Christ touches He makes
eternal. Trace the word “eternal” throughout (Hebrews
5:9, 6:2, 9:12, 14, 15, 13:20). (Ed: There is another "time
word", once, which speaks of finality in Hebrews - see
Hebrews 6:4, 7:27, 9:7, 12, 26, 27, 28, 10:2, 10, 12:26, 27)
Hebrews 1-2. Christ better than the angels both in His deity
and His humanity.
As our great High
Priest, Christ is able to understand all our need, because He is
perfect Man. He is able to meet all our need, because He is perfect
God. The central point is Christ’s eternal Priesthood and
all-availing sacrifice for sin. The Epistle dwells upon the supreme
importance and power of the blood of Christ in obtaining eternal
redemption for us, in purging the conscience, in opening to us the
heavenly sanctuary.
Hebrews 3. Christ better than Moses. Hebrews 4. Christ better than Joshua. Hebrews 5, 6, 7. Christ better than Aaron. Hebrews 8. A better Covenant. Hebrews 9. A better Tabernacle. Hebrews 10. A better Sacrifice. Hebrews 11. Examples of Faith’s better choice. Hebrews 12. Call to follow this glorious company and the
great Captain Himself in the path of outward loss for eternal gain. Hebrews 13. Call to go forth unto Him without the camp
bearing His reproach.
Daniel Wallace in
his introduction writes...
Philip Edgcumbe Hughes
opens the introduction to his commentary on Hebrews with some
insights into this very enigmatic book:
If there is a widespread
unfamiliarity with the Epistle to the Hebrews and its teaching, it
is because so many adherents of the church have settled for an
understanding and superficial association with the Christian faith.
Yet it was to arouse just such persons from the lethargic state of
compromise and complacency into which they had sunk, and to incite
them to persevere wholeheartedly in the Christian conflict, that
this letter was originally written.
It is a tonic for the
spiritually debilitated.… We neglect such a book to our own
impoverishment.
(Hebrews
Introduction)
Leonard S. Walmark
writes that...
The theological
epicenter of the Epistle to the Hebrews may be summed up in one
word: Christology. No biblical document outside of the four
Gospels focuses as totally and forcefully on the Person and
redemptive achievement of Jesus...For purposes of analysis the epistle may be divided into two major
sections. In Hebrews 1:1-10:18, the primary theme is the
superiority of Christ as eternal High Priest. He is declared
ultimately superior to the most cherished institutions of the
ancient Hebrew faith. He is superior to the word of God spoken
through the prophets since He Himself is God's ultimate
redemptive Word. He is superior to the angelichosts
because no angel can boast of being the Son of God, fully Divine
(Heb 1:4-14), and yet fully Human (Heb 2:5-18). These two factors
qualify Him uniquely to be the faithful and perpetual sin-bearer of
His people. On the basis of that same uniqueness of being, He is as
superior to Moses the great lawgiver of Israel (Heb 3:1-6),
as Creator is to the created. The spiritual rest from dead
works offered by Jesus is superior to that temporal one represented
in Moses and Joshua through the occupation of the promised land (Heb
4:1-11; esp. Heb 4:9-10). Beginning with Hebrews 5:1 the central
theological concern of the epistle emerges: the eternal spiritual
priesthood assumed by Jesus through offering up Himself as the
once-for-all sacrifice for sins. It is infinitely superior to
the temporal earthly ministry exercised by Aaron and his descendants
(Heb 4:14-5:11; 7:1-10:18). (Hebrews Theology)
John Piper writes ""When I’m stumped with a...grammatical or
syntactical or logical [question] in Paul, I go to Henry Alford.
Henry Alford...comes closer more consistently than any other human
commentator to asking my kinds of questions."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes that this
text "is an invaluable aid to the critical study of the text of
the New Testament. You will find in it the ripened results of a
matured scholarship, the harvesting of a judgment, generally
highly impartial, always worthy of respect, which has gleaned from
the most important fields of Biblical research, both modern and
ancient, at home and abroad. You will not look here for any
spirituality of thought or tenderness of feeling; you will find
the learned Dean does not forget to do full justice to his own
views, and is quite able to express himself vigorously against his
opponents; but for what it professes to be, it is an exceedingly
able and successful work. The later issues are by far the most
desirable, as the author has considerably revised the work in the
fourth edition. What I have said of his Greek Testament applies
equally to Alford’s New Testament for English Readers,* which is
also a standard work." (Spurgeon,
C. H. Lectures to my Students, Vol. 4: Commenting and
Commentaries; Lectures Addressed to the students of the Pastors'
College, Metropolitan Tabernacle)
C H
Spurgeon wrote that Bengel's NT commentary "is the Scholar's
delight! Bengel condensed more matter into a line than can be
extracted from pages of other writers."
John
Wesley said of Bengel "I know of no commentator on the Bible equal
to Bengel" and referred to him as "The great light of the Christian
world."
Bible.org
Resources Resources that
Reference Hebrews Hint: Do a "control +
find" when you open a "hit" and search He, Heb as well as the full name.
This may take some practice but is guaranteed to yield some "gems"!
Note: You can retrieve
more specific references by entering chapter and verse. Enter specific query...
Some
additional hints: For best results, be as specific as possible.
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Each lesson on this study
of Hebrews is designed fit into the whole of the book. The attached
Powerpoint and audio were given during the teaching of these lessons.
The attached word document (study guides) are questions for the
congregation, handed out the week prior to the lesson. They are
intended for reflection and self study before reading/listening to the
lesson.
Enter Query below to search
for articles in 27
conservative Theological
Journals- An
annual fee
($) is required to view
the entire article but will give you access to literally thousands
of conservative articles (E.g., see list below of articles on
"rest" in Hebrews)
Spurgeon writes -
"Dr. David Smith says of this work: “There is not a single instance of
carelessness in investigating the true meaning of a text, or of
timidity in stating the conclusion at which the author had arrived.”
What more could be said in praise of any exposition?" (Note Brown
calls this "The epistle of the apostle Paul" but the authorship is by
no means certain.
Spurgeon's critique:
We greatly prize Gouge. Many will think his system of observations
cumbrous, and so, perhaps, it is; but upon any topic which he touches
he gives outlines which may supply sermons for months.
DISCLAIMER: Before you "go to the commentaries"
go to the Scriptures and study them inductively (Click for 3 part overview of how to do
Inductive
Bible Study) in dependence on your Teacher, the
Holy Spirit, Who Jesus promised would
guide us into all the truth (John 16:13).
Remember that Scripture is always the best commentary on Scripture. Any
commentary, even those by the most conservative and orthodox teacher/preachers
cannot help but have at least some bias of the expositor based upon his training
and experience. Therefore the inclusion of specific links does not indicate that
we agree with every comment. We have made a sincere effort to select only the
most conservative, "bibliocentric" commentaries. Should you discover some
commentary or sermon you feel may not be orthodox, please email your concern. I
have removed several links in response to concerns by discerning readers. I
recommend that your priority be a steady intake of solid Biblical food so that
with practice you will have your spiritual senses trained to discern good from
evil (He 5:14-notes).
