Books of the Bible

The Book of Hebrews

New Testament · General Epistles · Genre: Epistle · Author: The author is unknown · Chapters: 13

Hebrews shows that Jesus is greater than everything that came before, greater than the angels, Moses, and the whole old covenant system. Written to believers tempted to drift back, it presents Christ as the perfect high priest and the final sacrifice, and calls the reader to hold fast.

Start reading: Hebrews chapter 1

A key verse

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

The setting and background of Hebrews

Hebrews is the first of the books often grouped as the General Epistles, letters addressed more broadly to the church rather than to a single congregation, though Hebrews reads more like a carefully crafted sermon than a letter. Its author is never named and remains unknown, despite many guesses over the centuries, yet it is clearly the work of a gifted teacher deeply steeped in the Old Testament.

The book was written to Jewish believers who, under pressure and persecution, were tempted to slip back into the old covenant ways they had left. It answers that temptation with one sustained argument, the surpassing greatness of Jesus, greater than the angels, than Moses, and than every priest and sacrifice, and it interweaves this argument with urgent warnings not to drift away and strong encouragements to hold fast.

Hebrews was written to anchor wavering believers in the finished work of Christ. In the sweep of Scripture it is the fullest exploration of how the old covenant relates to the new, and of Jesus as the great high priest, reading the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the sacrifices as shadows of the reality that has come in Christ, and its gallery of faith has strengthened believers to persevere ever since.

The story and structure of Hebrews

Hebrews is unlike the other letters of the New Testament, reading more like a carefully crafted sermon than a personal letter, and its author, though clearly a gifted teacher steeped in the Old Testament, is never named and remains unknown. It was written to Jewish believers who, under pressure and persecution, were tempted to slip back into the old ways they had left behind.

The writer answers that temptation with a single, sustained argument: the surpassing greatness of Jesus. Step by step he shows that Christ is superior to the angels through whom the law was given, greater than Moses who was faithful as a servant while Christ is faithful as a Son, and the bringer of a better rest than Joshua ever gave. Nothing in the old order can compare with him.

At the center of the book is the presentation of Jesus as our great high priest, in the order of Melchizedek, who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because he was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Unlike the priests of old, he offered not the blood of animals but himself, once for all, and now lives forever to intercede for his people.

The writer shows that the whole system of the old covenant, its priesthood, its sacrifices, its tabernacle, was a shadow of the reality that has come in Christ. His single sacrifice has done what the endless offerings never could, taking away sin and opening a new and living way into the very presence of God, so that believers may draw near with confidence.

Woven through the book are urgent warnings not to drift, not to harden the heart, not to fall away, alongside strong encouragements to hold fast the confession of hope. Its great gallery of the heroes of faith parades those who trusted God against all odds, and urges believers to run their appointed race with endurance, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.

The great themes of Hebrews

Key passages in Hebrews

Hebrews in the sweep of Scripture

Hebrews is the New Testament's fullest exploration of how the old covenant relates to the new, and of Jesus as the great high priest, a theme found nowhere else so richly developed. It reads the whole Old Testament system as pointing to Christ, and so it opens up the meaning of the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the sacrifices. Its warnings and encouragements to persevere, and its great chapter on faith, have strengthened believers to hold fast through persecution and doubt in every age.

Where Christ is in Hebrews

Hebrews is entirely about the greatness of Jesus, our high priest who offered himself once for all and lives forever to intercede for us, the mediator of a better covenant. He is the radiance of God's glory, the exact imprint of his nature, who by himself made purification for sins and sat down at the right hand of God, fulfilling everything the old covenant could only foreshadow.

How to read Hebrews well

Read Hebrews to see the supremacy of Christ, letting its unfolding argument raise your eyes to how great a Saviour you have. Let its picture of Jesus as the sympathetic high priest draw you to approach God with confidence, and let its once-for-all sacrifice free you from any thought that you must add to his finished work. Take its warnings seriously as a summons to hold fast, and run your own race with endurance, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.

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