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The
Book of Hebrews contains some of the most ominous verses for
Christians in the entire Bible; and for that reason we
believe it is necessary to provide an introduction to the
book as a whole. While there has been much speculation
concerning who wrote the book, to whom was it written, and
for what purpose, I, for one, have never been quite
satisfied with the answers to those questions.
As for
who wrote it—because it is never disclosed in the book
itself—I feel certain that its human author was the Apostle
Paul. Its literary style,
judicious presentation, and the depth of insight into the
subject matter, all point to him. However, it is not my
purpose to elaborate or debate this issue—as its Divine
Author is most certainly God; and it has been His purpose to
include this writing into the Canon of Scripture.
2 Tim
3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD
are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth,
purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep
them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation
for ever.
Furthermore, the issue of to
whom the book was addressed or written to is also a
subject of much controversy. Although I am certainly an
advocate of the King James Bible, it must be acknowledged
that the title it gives—The Epistle of Paul the Apostle
to the Hebrews—is not found in the earliest manuscripts;
neither are the other forms of this title—To the Hebrews,
Epistle to the Hebrews, or just Hebrews—that are
part of later manuscripts.
In addition, the subscription at the end of the
Letter—“Written to the Hebrews, from Italy, by Timothy”—that
is found in many translations, has no basis of Divine
authority either. Therefore, the only real source
of insight as to the intended audience must come from the
book itself. While many people have put forth that the book
was intended to convince unconverted Jews to believe in
Jesus, or to persuade those Jews who professed a
belief in Christ not to turn back to Judaism,
these views simply do not provide a satisfactory reason for
its existence. The only scriptural
addressees to be found in the book are the
“holy brethren, partakers of
the heavenly calling.”
Heb 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly
calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our
profession, Christ Jesus;
The
writer spoke to those who were “holy brethren”—those
who are born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, part
of the family of God. The plain truth of Scripture indicates
that the book of Hebrews was not intended for the lost,
whether they are Jews or Gentiles because (1) there are no
longer any such distinctions in the body of Christ; (2)
unconverted Jews or Gentiles are not the “beloved,”
neither are they “holy brethren,” or “partakers of
the heavenly calling”; (3) there are certain spiritual
prerequisites to this book that unsaved people do not
possess; and, (4) the message of the book is not directed to
the unsaved—whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
1 Cor 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as
have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Heb 6:9
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you,
and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving
the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection; not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of
baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of
the dead, and of eternal judgment.
As for
those who want to say that the message of the book of
Hebrews is directed at those Jews who profess Christ but are
being drawn back into Judaism, that is also a very
superficial assumption. While that may be a small aspect of the teaching
of Hebrews—for those Jewish converts who are truly
born-again—the message of the book is directed at the Body
of Christ as a whole. However, in an effort to deal with the
many difficult passages in this book, many preachers and
teachers have adopted this singular viewpoint because they
can offer no other explanations that fit into their
doctrinal scheme. In this church age in which we live, God
is not directing any part of His Word to Jewish people only;
but even the writings of the Old Testament were for the
purpose of edifying the church.
1 Cor
3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you
seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool,
that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For
it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are
yours;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or
life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all
are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Rom
15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and
comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Now, while we have labored to
prove that the teachings of Hebrews are for the Church as a
whole, we must qualify what we have said in the light of our
current study. In the passages we will study, the writer
lays out some foundational truths that must be apprehended
by any believer who desires an insight into what he is going
to put forth. Paul, if I may have the liberty to address him
as the author, is not going to pour some warm milk into a
cup for new babies in Christ; but rather, he is about to
give some strong meat to mature saints who have grown enough
in the truths of God to be able to digest it. Quite
possibly, this is the very reason the book has come to be
relegated to Hebrew Christians—because, in general, they
were the only ones who had enough spiritual background in
the Scriptures that would enable them to understand what he
is about to say. Furthermore, most of what Paul is about to
put forth has a deep foundation in the Old Testament
Scriptures—the teachings of which were unavailable to most
Gentiles of that day. In this present time however, many
Gentile Christians have a deeper understanding of spiritual
truth than those Hebrew Christians of the first century. For
this reason we might entitle the letter ‘To Mature
Christians’ instead of
‘To the Hebrews.’
1 Cor 3:1 And I, brethren,
could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto
carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you
with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able
to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1 Pet 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the
sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Heb 5:12 For when for the time
ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you
again which be the first principles of the oracles of God;
and are become such as have need of milk, and not of
strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the
word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong
meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who
by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both
good and evil.
The reason the Apostle took
such care in addressing his audience was to prevent young
believers from misinterpreting what he was about to say and
fall into despair. The Devil is very cunning to use the
Scriptures against God’s children, and especially those who
are ungrounded in the truth. Many a young believer has been
dashed upon the rocks of fear and torment because they have
attempted to go beyond their ability to understand certain
truths. The Heavenly Father will give to His children “their
meat in due season”; but they must be patient and “grow
in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ.”
1 John
2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your
sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known
him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young
men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write
unto you, little children, because ye have known the
Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have
known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto
you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God
abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
2 Cor 2:11
Lest Satan should get an
advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
1 Tim 3:6
Not a novice, lest being
lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the
devil.
2 Pet
3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is
salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according
to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these
things; in which are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do
also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things
before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error
of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and
for ever. Amen.
Psa 145:15 The eyes of all
wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due
season.
16 Thou openest
thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
Now,
with that being said, what are some of the foundational
truths that mature believers must understand?
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving
the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Paul has, in the first five
chapters of Hebrews, set before us the “principles of the
doctrine of Christ”—His deity, incarnation, priesthood,
sufferings, and sacrifice. These principles have to
do with the Person of Christ—He is wholly God and at the
same time wholly man; and the work of Christ—what He came to
do for His people. Furthermore, Paul also lays out other
foundational truths that are not taught in the book of
Hebrews but are part of his teachings in other letters—
“repentance from dead works, …faith toward God,…the doctrine
of baptisms, …laying on of hands, …resurrection of the dead,
and …eternal judgment.” In order for a believer to
“go on unto perfection”—maturity—they must have a grasp
of these spiritual concepts. Now again, it is not our
purpose here to elaborate on all of these truths; but simply
to say that if anyone who is seeking answers to these
perplexing verses in Hebrews does not have such an
understanding, any attempt to attach meaning to them would
be fruitless and perhaps dangerous for that person. Their
time would be better spent in gaining an understanding of
everything that Paul has set before us as foundational and not “wrest”
with the following Scriptures “unto their own destruction.”
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