Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapters 3 and 4

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Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapters 1 and 2

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HEBREWS

CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3:1-6. Christ Compared to Moses

Many Jewish- Christians, in their infantile state, 5:11-13, had

 not yet fully learned the Relation of Christ to Moses. It seems

 that they still thought of Moses as the Law-Giver, and of Christ

“as an Executive to Enforce the Law of Moses on All Other

Nations:Moses First, Christ under him”.

But they had it just backward. Christ is as far Above Moses,

as the Heir and Owner of a house is Above the Servants in the house.

Chapter 3:7-19. Warning Against Unbelief

We become Partakers of Christ IF we Hold Fast unto the End.

Be on Guard against Falling into Unbelief and Disobedience.

This Warning is one of the keynotes of the Hebrews, repeated with

increasing earnestness in verses 6:4-6 and 10:26-29.

The example is cited of the Israelites, who, after being de—

livered out of Egypt with Mighty Signs and Wonders, yet, be-

cause of Unbelief and Disobedience, Perished in the Wilderness,

and Never Reached the Promised Land, 16-19. If they Failed

because they were Disobedient to the Word of Moses, what hope

can there be for those who are Disobedient to Christ?

The danger of Apostasy among the Jewish Christians must have

 been Imminent and Serious. The writer may have had in mind

 the approaching Fall of Jerusalem, most awful calamity in Jewish

 history, which would tempt Jews to Lose Faith in Jesus.

CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4:1-11. Canaan: A Type of Heaven

Those that entered the Promised Land under Joshua found an

Earthly Haven, 3. land of Liberty and Plenty. An Earthly Picture

of the Heavenly Homeland in the Eternal Beyond.

Chapter 4:12-13. Power of God's Word

God’s Word, Living and Active, has Power to Penetrate the

Inmost Depths of the Human Heart, to Separate and View Every

Motive and Desire and Purpose and Will, and Evaluate them at

their Intrinsic Value, when we ourselves scarcely know our own

motives. Israelites of the Wilderness missed the Promised Land

through Disregard of God's Word, 3:17; 4:11. Our Best Hope of

Reaching Our Promised Land is in Obedience to God’s Word.

If only our we would realize what Power we would gain

by giving God’s Word its proper place in our lives. the services!

Our world now teaches everything (save the whales) but God’s Word!

Chapter 4:14-16. Christ Our High Priest

Here begins the Main Theme of Hebrews, Comparison of

Christ with the Levitical Priesthood, continuing into Ch10.

Chapter 5:1-10. Christ Compared to Levitical Priests

They were of the Tribe of LEVI: Christ was of the Tribe of

JUDAH. They were Many: He was One. They offered Animal Sac-

rifices: He offered Himself. They Died: He Lives.

Chapter 5:11-14. Dull of Hearing

Here is a personal message to the original recipients of this

Hebrews. In former time they had been notably zealous in Min-

istering to the Saints, 6:10. But now they had Forgotten even the

First Principles of the Gospel, 5:12.

If the traditional view that Hebrews was addressed to the

Judean Church is correct, then this passage evidently refers to

the Decline from the-Spiritual and Brotherly quality of the Jeru-

salem Church described in Acts 4:32-35. The Hebrews of James,

written shortly before, implies a Worldly, Selfish Church.

As time passed, many thousands of Jews had accepted Jesus as

their Messiah, Acts 21:20, still holding to the old Materialistic

idea of the Messianic Kingdom, that it would be а Political King-

dom in which the Jewish Nation. under their Messiah, would

Rule the World. So that their Christian Faith was largely of the

nature of a Political Slogan.

After the death of James this Idea seems to have so largely

Dominated the Jerusalem Church, that the writer tells them that,

instead of being Teachers of the Christian World, as the Mother

Church should have been, they, like little children. needed to be

instructed over again in the First Principles of the Gospel ‚of

Christ, 12.

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Hebrews 3 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Greater Than Moses

3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Warning Against Unbelief

7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

8     do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion,

    during the time of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,

    though for forty years they saw what I did.

10 That is why I was angry with that generation;

    I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,

    and they have not known my ways.’

11 So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”[b]

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

    do not harden your hearts

    as you did in the rebellion.”[c]

16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Footnotes:

Hebrews 3:5 Num. 12:7

Hebrews 3:11 Psalm 95:7-11

Hebrews 3:15 Psalm 95:7,8

Hebrews 4 New International Version (NIV)

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b]

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c] 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

    do not harden your hearts.”[d]

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e] just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Footnotes:

Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith

Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5

Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2

Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8

Hebrews 4:10 Or labor

Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens

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New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959.

& & &

Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

END

Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapters 1 and 2

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Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapters 1 and 2

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                           HEBREWS 

        Chapter 1:1-4. Deity of Jesus 

This opening sentence is one of the most magnificent passages 

in the Bible, for grandeur taking its place alongside the opening 

sentences of Genesis and John's Gospel. Jesus, "His Deity, His‚

Ineffable Glory, Creator, Preserver and Heir of the Universe. 

By an Eternal Act of God, Once For All, Jesus made Purifi- 

cation of Man's Sin, and brought him Eternal Salvation. 

         Chapter I :4-14. Jesus Compared to Angels 

The main argument of the Epistle is that Christ is the Fulfil- 

ment, rather than the Administrator, of the Mosaic System. 

Christ is compared to Angels, through whom the Law was given. 

Acts 7: 53; and to Moses, the Law-Giver; and to the Levitical 

Priesthood, through whom the Law was Administered. 

The language seems to indicate that Human Beings are a Higher 

order of Creation than Angels.  Human Spirits and Angels are not 

the same. We do not become Angels when we die. Angels are 

now, and in Heaven will be, our Servants. 14. Angels Worship 

Christ, as we do, 6. 

      Chapter 2:1-8. Man, Not Angels, Lord of Future World 

In verse 7 Man is spoken of as a little Lower than Angels, although 

in 1:14 Angels are called Servants of Heirs of Salvation. In 

2 Pet 2:11 Angels are spoken of as Greater in Might and Power.

In verse 9  Jesus - was made a Little Lower than Angels. The marginal 

rendering in RSV, in - verse 7 and verse 9, is, For a Little While Lower than 

Angels. Whatever the nature of Angels, by way of comparison 

with Man, the passage is a sidelight on the Ultimate Grandeur 

of God’s Redeemed Human Creation. 

Note the Fearful Warning, in verses 2 and 3, that if Disobedience to 

the Word of Angels was Dangerous. How Much More Dangerous 

to be Neglectful of Words Spoken by Jesus. 

     Chapter 2:9-18. Christ's Unity with Man 

God Created Man to have Lordship Over All Things, verses 6-8. But 

Not Yet. Meantime Christ has become One with Man, sharing 

with Man his Temptations, and Sufferings, even Death itself, 

that He might Enable Man to Become one With Him, to Share 

With Him His Nature and His Dominion. And because of this, 

Christ has now been Crowned with Glory and Honor. 

And now Man, in his effort to become One With Christ, and 

thus Qualify for his Glorious Inheritance, yet to be, has Assur- 

ance that Christ is Gracious, and" Kindly, and Understanding, 

and will be Helpful to those who Love Him.  Verses 17,18. 

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Chapter 1

Hebrews 1 New International Version (NIV)

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The Son Superior to Angels

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;

    today I have become your Father”[a]?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,

    and he will be my Son”[b]?

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c]

7 In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,

    and his servants flames of fire.”[d]

8 But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;

    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”[e]

10 He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,

    and the heavens are the work of your hands.

11 They will perish, but you remain;

    they will all wear out like a garment.

12 You will roll them up like a robe;

    like a garment they will be changed.

But you remain the same,

    and your years will never end.”[f]

13 To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand

    until I make your enemies

    a footstool for your feet”[g]?

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Footnotes:

Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7

Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13

Hebrews 1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)

Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4

Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7

Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:25-27

Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1

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CHAPTER 2

Hebrews 2 New International Version (NIV)

Warning to Pay Attention

2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Jesus Made Fully Human

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,

    a son of man that you care for him?

7 You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;

    you crowned them with glory and honor

8     and put everything under their feet.”[b][c]

In putting everything under them,[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[g] 12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;

    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[h]

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”[i]

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[j]

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Footnotes:

Hebrews 2:7 Or them for a little while

Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:4-6

Hebrews 2:8 Or 7 You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ 8 and put everything under his feet.”

Hebrews 2:8 Or him

Hebrews 2:8 Or him

Hebrews 2:8 Or him

Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.

Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22

Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17

Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18

Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers

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New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959.

& & &

Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

END

Teaching Notes HEBREWS Background of Book

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Teaching Notes HEBREWS Background of Book

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BOOK OF HEBREWS 

God’s Final Message to Judaism

Christ the Author of a New Covenant

The Glorious Destiny of Man

To Whom is the Book Addressed

This Epistle does not name the Persons to whom it is addressed.

Its unmistakable tenor is to Jews, inasmuch as it is a discussion

of the Relation of Christ to the Levitical Priesthood and the

Temple Sacrifices. It continually quotes the Old Testament to

confirm its affirmations. The traditional, and commonly accepted,

view is that it  was  addressed  to the Jewish  Christians  of

Palestine, especially those in Jerusalem.

Author

Martin Luther and F.F Bruce assert that the author is probably 

Apollos of Alexandria - an Alexandrian Hellenistic Jew who

traveled with Paul.  The Alexandrian characteristics of thought,

style, word usage and syntax point to Apollos - as opposed to Paul.

Erasmus (author of Textus Receptus (Latin: "received text") is an 

edition of the Greek texts of the New Testament 1516) thought 

that Apollos wrote Hebrews.  

citation: F.F. Bruce. The New International Commentary on the 

New Testament, Hebrews. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. (1991)

at 14 - 20.

In the King James Version it is called, in the title, The Epistle

of Paul. In the American Revised Version it is anonymous, be-

cause in the oldest manuscripts, found since the King James

Translation was made, its Author is not named.  The NIV

does not name the author of Hebrews.

Early Church Fathers Guess at Authorship

The Eastern Church accepted its Pauline Authorship from the

beginning. Not until the 4th century did the Western Church

accept it as the work of Paul.  Eusebius considered Paul the

author, Tertullian called it the Epistle of Barnabas. Clement of

Alexandria thought that Paul wrote it in Hebrew, and-that Luke

translated it into Greek (it is written in most excellent Greek).

Origen considered Paul as the probable author. Luther guessed

Apollos, for which opinion there is no ancient evidence. Ramsey

suggests Phillip. Harnack and, Rende] Harris suggest Prisca.

Ferrer Fenton thinks nobody but Paul could have written it,

and that he wrote it originally in Hebrew, and had it translated

by one of his helpers into Greek.

On the whole, the traditional view, held through the centuries,

and still widely held, is that Paul was the Author.

Date of Writing of Hebrews

Unmistakably it was written before the Destruction of" Jerusa-

lem, which occurred 70 A D. If Paul wrote it, it seems likely that

it must have been written from Rome, 61-63 A D.

The natural, though not necessary, meaning of “They of Italy

salute you", 13:24, is that it was written from Italy.

Timothy was with the writer, 13:23. He had gone with Paul

to Jerusalem, Acts 20:4, from whence he had accompanied Paul

to Rome,  Col  1:1. He had just been released, and Paul was

sending him back east, Pps 2:19,24; and hoping soon to come

himself. And it looks as if he and Timothy were planning to

return to Jerusalem, 13:23,19.

It happens that that was just about. the time that James the

Overseer of the Jerusalem Church was killed, 62 AD, see page

546. Paul and James were beloved friends. Paul, some three-years

before, had been in Jerusalem. It' is thought, possibly, that, on.

hearing of the Death of James, Paul wrote this Epistle to the

Leaders of the now pastorless Judean Church, to help them

steady their flock for the terrible times ahead.

If this is correct, then there was reason for the Epistle being

sent without Paul’s name; for Paul was not very popular in

Jerusalem. While the Leaders knew who wrote it, the Epistle

would have more weight if it were read in the Churches without

Paul's Name. New Testament Epistles were written to be read

in the churches, a practice now generally overlooked.

Purpose of Book of Hebrews

One of the objects of this Epistle was, we think, to Prepare

Jewish Christians for the approaching Fall of Jerusalem. After

accepting Jesus as their Messiah, they continued to be zealous

for the Temple Rites and Sacrifices, thinking, we suppose, that

their Beloved City, under their Messiah’s Reign, was about to

become Capital of the World. Instead, they were to receive the

shock of their lives; By one stroke of the Roman Army the Holy

City was to be wiped out, and the Temple Rites cease.

This Epistle was written to explain to them that Animal Sacri-

fices, to which they were so zealously attached, were no longer

of any use, that the killing of a bullock or a lamb could never

take away sin; that those Sacrifices had never been intended to

be Perpetual; that they had been planned to be a sort of Age-

Long Picture of the Coming Sacrifice of Christ; and now that

Christ had come, they had served their purpose.

A Counterpart to the Epistle Io Romans

Romans was addressed to the Capital of the Gentile World;

Hebrews, to the Capital of the Jewish Nation. God had founded,

and nourished the Jewish Nation through long centuries, for the

purpose of through the One Nation Blessing All Nations, through

a Great King who would arise in the One Nation, and Rule

over All Nations. But now the King had come. Romans has to

do with the relation of the King to His Universal Kingdom, the

Basis of their Allegiance to Him. Hebrews has to do with the

relation of the King to the One Nation out of which He came.

 Its Literary Excellence

Whoever the Author, as a Literary Gem, it is superb; orderly

and logical; “in balanced and resonant sentences of remarkable

precision, rising to wonderful heights of eloquence”.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

Jewish Wars. in revolt against Rome, began 66 A D. Titus with

his Roman Army arrived before the walls of. Jerusalem on the

day of Passover, 70 A D. Banks of earthwork were built, batter

ing rams were placed, and the siege began.

The Roman Army numbered 30.000; the Jewish Army, 24,000.

The city was crowded with 600,000 visitors, according to Tacitus.

After 5 months the walls were battered down, the Temple burned,

and the city left ruined and desolate, except Herod’s three great

towers at the N W corner, which were left standing as a memorial

 of the massive strength of the fortifications which Titus had de

molished.

The Roman Army moved down to Caesarea. Over 1,000,000 Jews

were killed. 95,000 captives were taken, among them Josephus.

Eusebius says that Christians, on the appearance of the Roman

Army, through Prophetic warning fled to Pella.

Later History of Jerusalem

For the 50 years following, Jerusalem disappeared from his

tory.   In 135 A D, Barcocheba, (Bar-Kochba) a pretended Messiah, 

led a revolt,

got possession of the city, and attempted to re-build the Temple.

The revolt was suppressed by the Roman Army. 580,000 Jews

were killed, and Judah desolated. Jews were forbidden to re

enter Jerusalem, on pain of death. A temple to Jupiter was

erected where the Temple of. God had stood.

Under Constantine, 326 AD, the temple of Astarte was torn

away from the site of the present Holy Sepulchre; and the city

 again became a leading Christian center.

In the 5th century it became the seat of one of the Five

Patriarchs who quite largely dominated Christendom, the other

cities being Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria.

In the year 637 A D Jerusalem fell to Islams, and re

mained an Islamic city, except for about 100 years in the

Crusade Period, till 1917 it returned to control of Christendom.

The Balfour Declaration was a public statement
issued by the British government in 1917 during the
First World War announcing support for the
establishment of a "national home for the
Jewish people" in Palestine, then an Ottoman
region with a small minority Jewish population.
Wiki.



& & &

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  © 1927 - 1959.


& & &

Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia

END