A series of articles that gives a brief synopsis of and meditation from each book of the Bible. As you read each month’s article, we encourage you to be reading in that same book in your own personal devotions. These articles are intended to give inspiration and understanding to us as Bible readers, so that we may enjoy a journey “through the Book” together.

Hebrews has been called “an inspired commentary on the book of Leviticus,” because the Old Testament law is explained and applied in light of the New Testament gospel.

The author of Hebrews is writing to the Jewish people (where, exactly, is not certain) and is contending for the superiority of the New Testament of Christ over the Old Testament and Law of Israel.

The key word of the book of Hebrews is “better” and the central person of Hebrews is Jesus Christ. Jesus is therefore shown to be better than angels and the prophets (chapters 1- 2); Moses (3); Joshua (4:1-13); and Aaron (4:14-6:20). Christ is shown, in chapter 7, to be our Melchizedek and superior to Abraham, as well.

The ministry of Christ is shown to be better than the old covenant (8), tabernacle (9:1-10), and sacrificial system (9:11- 10:18). Based on the preeminence of Christ, Christians are then exhorted to perseverance by faith (10:19-13:25), including the famous “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11.

Because the author of this epistle does not identify himself, as is done in every other epistle except 1 John, there is (and has been, since even the earliest Christian writers) a perpetual debate, even among conservative Christian scholars, as to the identity of the penman. Thankfully, however, it is not a question which is central to understanding or appreciating the truth, the inspiration, or even the design, of this treatise.

Hebrews is filled with individual passages which, in and of themselves, have great passion, color, and beauty. The temptation, often times, is to search for these places where glory is shining plainly out of the pages and to skim over the other, more difficult context in which they are placed.