Introduction… (6 points) 

• 1^st – Who wrote the book…
  • Nobody knows for certain who wrote the book of Hebrews…
    • Some say Barnabas wrote it / some think it was Silas / some think Luke wrote it…
    • Most conservative Bible scholars – lean toward Paul as the author of Hebrews!
  • 1^st – We know Paul wrote several of his letters from Prison…
    • From his FIRST imprisonment – Ephesians / Colossians / Philippians / Philemon…
    • From his SECOND imprisonment – II Timothy
    • Likewise – the writer of Hebrews also wrote this Epistle from PRISON!
    • Hebrews 10:34 – “You had compassion on me in my chains…”
    • Hebrews 13:19 – “I may be restored to you the sooner…”
  • 2^nd – The author also had a personal relationship with Timothy…
    • Hebrews 13:23 – “Our brother Timothy has been set free…”
    • Paul mentions Timothy in 10 of the 13 letters he wrote – more than any other person…
    • While it is possible the Timothy mentioned in Hebrews is NOT the same person…
    • It is more likely that this is a key clue pointing to Paul as the author!
  • 3^rd – The book is written to the JEWS…
    • The author of Hebrews displays an incredible knowledge of the Jewish faith…
    • It was written by someone who had extensive understanding of the Law…
    • Paul was born a Jew / raised as a Jew / he went to school to be taught Jewish Law!
    • He was taught by Gamaliel – Acts 22:3 – one of the leading Rabbis of the day…
    • He was a Pharisee – Philippians 3:5 – perhaps even part of the Sanhedrin – Acts 26:10
  • 4^th – Paul had a PASSION to reach the Jews with the Gospel message!
    • Romans 9:3 – “For my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed – cut off from Christ! – if that would save them.” [NLT]
    • Paul was willing to go to Hell – if it meant the Jews could go to Heaven…
    • It was NOT possible – but out of a broken heart for his people – Paul was willing!
    • He loved the Jews so much there was nothing he would not do to help save them!
    • We see this in his THREE missionary journeys in the book of Acts…
    • In every city Paul went into – the FIRST place he went was the Jewish synagogue…
    • Even if they beat him – tried to kill him – Paul came kept giving them the Gospel!
    • We know what happens to those who do not have faith in Jesus…
    • Oh – that we could say like Paul – we would do almost anything to assure their salvation…
    • Are we bold – recognizing what is at stake – the urgency of the need for Jesus!
  • 5^th – Why was the letter anonymous…
    • If Paul was the author – and I believe he was – then it is likely because of his reputation…
    • After his conversion to Christianity – Paul was NOT loved by the Jewish community…
    • They are MULTIPLE occasions when they tried to KILL him in various cities!
    • Lystra stoned to death – Acts 14:19 / Jerusalem – Acts 21:31 / Caesarea – Acts 23:14
    • Therefore – the author chose to FOCUS on the HOLY SPIRIT as the author – II Peter 1:21
    • Making it more about the CONTENT of the book – than the PERSON who wrote it!
    • The book even opens by stating – “God… who spoke in time past…”
    • It is not OUR words that people need to hear – our opinions do NOT chance lives…
    • It is the WORD of God that transforms – brings FAITH to the hearer – Romans 10:17
      
• 2^nd – The Key Theme of Hebrews…
  • 1^st – The superiority and supremacy of Christ…
    • Hebrews points to the fact that Jesus is better than EVERYONE and is over EVERYTHING! 
    • We will see that Jesus is better than the ANGLES – better than MOSES – better than AARON…
    • He is a better SACRIFICE – a better SANCRUARY – a better COVENTANT…
    • He is better PROMISE – a better RESURRECTION – a better HOPE…
    • Jesus is better than EVERYONE and is over EVERYTHING!
  • 2^nd – The key verses…
    • Hebrews 1:2–3 – “God… has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

• 3^rd – Where was Hebrews written…
  • 1^st – We do NOT know…
    • We do NOT know where the book of Hebrews was written…
    • We also do NOT know what city the author planned to send it to…
    • Hebrews 13:24 – the author does talk about Italy…
    • It is thought that the book was either written in Italy – or sent to believers in Italy!
  • 2^nd – What we do know…
    • The book was written to – the Hebrews / or Jews…
    • It was written to Jews who believed in Jesus or those who would come to faith in Jesus…
    • They needed to understand that Jesus is better than the Old Testament…
    • Better than the Jewish sacrifices – better than the sanctuary – and better than the priesthood!

• 4^th – When Was Hebrews Written…
  • 1^st – Before 70 A.D.
    • Most scholars believe that the book of Hebrews was likely written between 67-69 A.D.
    • In 70 A.D. the Roman general Titus and his legions laid siege to Jerusalem…
    • During the fall of the city – they accidentally destroyed the Temple! 
  • 2^nd – No more Temple…
    • Once the temple was destroyed – the priesthood came to an end…
      • All sacrifices stopped – no way to offer them – to this day the Jews have no temple!
      • Because the author talks about sacrifices and the priesthood…
      • Many believe that Hebrews was written prior to the destruction of the Temple! 
    • A major problem for the Jews…
      • Since there is there is no Temple – no High Priest – no Ark of the Covenant…
      • There is no way for the Jews to make atonement for their sin…
      • Instead – they created a TRADITION – a works based solution for sin!
      • God writes our fate for the coming year into the BOOK of LIFE on Rosh Hashanah…
      • But He waits until Yom Kippur to SEAL the verdict – good or bad… 
      • During the DAYS of AWE – the TEN days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur…
      • A Jew tries to do good works and seek forgiveness for wrongs has done… 
      • At the end of Yom Kippur – YOU can consider YOURSELF absolved by God!
      • It might help to ease our conscience – but it does nothing to take away sin!

• 5^th – Why Was Hebrews Written…
  • 1^st – Persecution…
    • Rome was THE empire of the day – and it PERSECUTED both Christians and Jews…
    • But Jews who came to faith in Jesus Christ had it the worst…
    • They were PERSECUTED by Rome – and – PERSECUTED by friends and family!
    • Choosing to follow Jesus Christ comes with a high price…
    • It is easy to say we believe when people are nice – how about when they persecute us!
    • It is far easier to blend into the world – than to stand for the Lord…
    • But if we seek to please the world – follow the crowd – go with the flow…
    • We are choosing this world rather than Jesus – it means we reject Jesus!
    • James 4:4 – “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
  • 2^nd – Going back to the Law…
    • As a result – many Jews tended to fall back into LEGALISM! 
    • They had come to faith in Jesus Christ – but were pressured back into following Judaism…
    • Going back to the sacrifices and the priesthood and the temple!
    • That did not mean they necessarily denied Jesus – BUT – they added to Jesus…
    • It was not enough to just have FAITH – you also needed to follow the RULES!

• 6^th – How Is Hebrews Divided…
  • 1^st – Hebrews 1:1–10:18 – The superiority of Jesus…
    • This is the DOCTRINAL section of the book of Hebrews…
    • Laying out all the reasons that Jesus is better than EVERYONE and is over EVERYTHING!
  • 2^nd – Hebrews 10:19–13:25 – The superiority of faith….
    • This section is PRACTICAL section of the book of Hebrews…
    • Teaching us how to apply to our lives the doctrine given in the first section…
    • Together – both make clear that Jesus Christ is above EVERYONE and is over EVERYTHING!
    • And our salvation is found by GRACE – through FAITH – in HIM alone!

Better than the prophets… (points) 

• 1^st – God spoke in times past… vs. 1
  • 1^st – When God spoke – in times past…
    • God spoke in VARIOUS TIMES – polymerōs – only here NT – many PARTS…
    • God did NOT speak to his people all at once – OVER 1400 years – to different authors…
    • Together these authors wrote the THIRTY-NINE books of the Old Testament…
    • But they were NOT the words of men – they are the WORD of God!
    • If I wrote an email to someone – they would not give credit to the computer…
    • It was just the tool that was used by me to send the message!
    • In the same way God used men – to SPEAK to us – though the Old Testament!
    • II Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…”
  • 2^nd – How God spoke – in times past…
    • God spoke in VARIOUS WAYS – polytropōs – only here NT – many WAYS…
    • God is NOT limited to speaking in just ONE way – He uses variety…
    • To Abraham face to face Genesis 18:1 – Moses in a burning bush – Exodus 3:4
    • To Elijah in a still small voice – I Kings 19:12 / Nebuchadnezzar in dreams – Daniel 2:3
    • There is a REASON why we see so much diversity in the Bible on HOW God speaks…
    • BECAUSE God is not limited – He can speak to us in a VARIOUS WAYS!
    • It is easy to ASSUME – that if God does something one way – it is the ONLY way to do it…
    • They key is to be LISTENING – and READY – so no matter how He speaks – we HEAR!
  • 3^rd – Who God spoke to – in times past…
    • God spoke to the FATHERS…
      • The FATHERS – speak of the PATRIARCHS of the Jewish faith…
      • Abraham / Isaac / Jacob – through to the final kings of Judah before the captivity!
        
    • By using the PROPHETS…
      • PROPHET – one who declares or reveals the Word of God
      • The prophets of Israel were sent by God to call Israel to repentance…
      • But NOTE – there was NOT just one PROPHET – there were MANY!
      • No ONE prophet could reveal the WHOLE truth about God…
      • Because they were had a limited life – because they were also sinners!
      • Men were a FLAWED tool to use in sharing the WORD – there was a SUPERIOR way!

• 2^nd – Jesus is SUPERIOR… vs. 2
  • 1^st – In these LAST DAYS…
    • The phrase THE Day of the Lord – used 32 times in the Bible – 27x in OT / 5x in NT…
      • Refers to the book of Revelation – the conclusion of the story…
      • The companion term that PRECEDES the DAY of the LORD – is the LAST DAYS…
      • Peter uses both terms on Pentecost in reference to the birth of the church – Acts 2:17-21
      • The LAST DAYS began when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost…
      • And will CONCLUDE with the RAPTURE of the church – I Thessalonians 4:16
    • But here we see – THESE last days…
      • Likely NOT referring to THE last days – but more generically – the DAYS we are living in…
      • A CONTRAST to – IN TIMES PAST – now God is speaking to us in a SUPERIOR way!
  • 2^nd – God speaks to US…
    • In TIMES PAST – God did not speak directly to everyday people…
      • He ONLY spoke through special prophets – mediators between Him and man…
      • In CONTRAST – now God speaks DIRECTLY to US – in VARIOUS WAYS!
      • Therefore – we now have a SUPERIOR way to hear from the Lord!
    • How do we KNOW if we are hearing from the Lord – or just some crazy idea in our head…
      • If it contradicts the Bible in any way – reject it – it is not from the Lord…
      • Before we make any rash decisions – make sure they are from God!
      • Make sure to verify – compare it to the Word – know our Bible!
      • John 17:17 – “Your word is truth.”
  • 3^rd – Through His SON…
    • In CONTRAST to when God spoke partially – through the PROPHETS…
    • He gives us His complete WORD through His Son – Jesus…
    • Jesus is the SUPERIOR Word – because He NEVER dies – and because He has NO sin!
    • One of the titles of Jesus is the logos – the WORD of God – John 1:14
    • Jesus is not the partial revelation of God – He is the whole TRUTH!
    • John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

What an introduction – Jesus is greater than EVERYONE and is over EVERYTHING!

3^rd – Jesus is SUPREME … vs. 2-3

Not only is Jesus SUPERIOR in the way God now SPEAKS…

But he is also SUPREME – because of WHO He is…

The author gives us SEVEN ways in which we see how Jesus is SUPREME!

1^st – Heir of all things… vs. 2

Jesus is the HEIR – 15x in NT – describes a person who will receive an INHERITANCE…

The INHERITANCE of Jesus – do not miss this – is ALL THINGS!

ALL things will be put in subjection under the FEET of Jesus – Hebrews 2:8

ALL authority has been given to Him on heaven and on earth – Matthew 28:18

ALL Judgement has been committed to the son – John 5:22

Jesus has the NAME this is above ALL names – Philippians 2:9

Jesus is SUPREME – because He is the HEIR of ALL things!

2^nd – Made the worlds… vs. 2

Genesis 1:3 – God SAID – the WORD of God – and the world was created…

Not just the world – but the stars / galaxies / the universe…

Not just the things we can see – Jesus also created the angels / heaven!

John 1:3 – “God created everything through him… nothing was created except through him.”

Jesus is SUPREME – because He created everything!

God created us for an incredible PURPOSE – we were created to know Him – John 17:3

Many spend their lives in VAIN trying to fill their lives with worldly things…

But we were not created by God to eat / or to wear the latest fashions…

Only Jesus can satisfy the desire of our heart – we were CREATED to KNOW Him!

3^rd – Brightness of His Glory… vs. 3

BRIGHTNESS – only here NT – to SHINE out from…

Jesus is the LIGHT that SHINES out into the world – revealing the GLORY of God…

John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Jesus is SUPREME – because He is the ONLY light that reveals the way to the Father!

4^th – Express image of His person… vs. 3

EXPRESS IMAGE – charaktēr – only here NT – to be the EXACT likeness…

God is invisible – it is not possible to see God and live – Exodus 33:20

Jesus is the reflection – a perfect representation of God who cannot be seen!

Not only is Jesus the IMAGE of God – He IS God almighty!

The Bible makes it VERY clear – God and Jesus are ONE!

Romans 9:5 – Eternally blessed God / Hebrews 1:8 – the God who sits on the Throne…

John 20:28 – Our Lord and God / I John 5:20 – the True God / John 10:30 / I John 5:7

Jesus is SUPREME – because He is the EXPRESS IMAGE of God – He is God!

5^th – Upholding all things… vs. 3

Always UPHOLDING (present) – to carry a burden / maintain / or sustain…

The question is – what is holding everything together in our UNIVERSE…

The answer – science does not know – they call it ATOMIC GLUE!

The example of the atom – the building block of all matter…

If you hold two positively charged magnets together – they repel each other…

Within every atom there are positive forces that should FORCE it to fly apart…

A tablespoon of positive charged protons – set next to equal negative charged elections…

Would take 30k tons of weight to keep them from flying apart!

A nuclear explosion is allowing an atom to do what it naturally wants – FLY apart!

What science does NOT know – the Bible answers for us…

Jesus UPHOLDS all things – by the WORD of His POWER (dunamis)!

Jesus literally UPHOLDS ALL THINGS – the whole universe – atom by atom!

If it were NOT for Jesus – the whole universe would just fall apart!

One day – after the SECOND coming of Jesus Christ / Millennial reign – it will!

II Peter 3:12-13 – “On that day, He will set the heavens on fire, and melt away in the flames.  But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” [NLT]

Often – we strive to get things – that in the end will just end up BURNING away…

What we should be striving for – is growing closer to Jesus – that lasts forever…

Because just like with an atom – Jesus can keep us from coming UNGLUED…

He is the only one who can keep our lives from falling apart!

Jesus is SUPREME – because He is the one who HOLD all things together!

6^th – Purged our sins… vs. 3

Jesus – by HIMSELF – did the work (aorist) of PURGING our sin…

PURGE – to make clean – scrub away the filth and grime…

Speaking of the WORK on the CROSS – when Jesus died for our sins!

II Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Jesus did not just COVER our sins – like the sacrifices of the Old Testament…

The blood of bull and goats could NEVER take away sin – Hebrews 10:4

He PURGED our sins – removed them completely – as if they NEVER happened!

Hebrews 10:17 – “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Talk about being SUPREME – Jesus is the ONLY way to have our sins PURGED…

He is our HOPE – our SALVATION – the PROMISE of God we are FORGIVEN!

7^th – Sat down at the right hand… vs. 3

SAT DOWN (aorist) – Jesus sat down because He had FINISHED His work…

In the Temple – there were no seats – because the work was NEVER done…

But when Jesus died on the cross He said – IT IS FINISHED…

IT IS FINISHED – Tetelestai – Perfect/Passive/Indicative!

Through the cross His work was done – sin was defeated – death overcome…

Jesus paid a debt He did not owe – because we owed a debt that we could NOT pay!

I Peter 1:18-19 – “You know that God paid a ransom to save you… the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.  He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

Where Jesus sat…

Jesus did NOT just sit anywhere – He sat down at the RIGHT HAND of the Father…

RIGHT HAND – speaks of POWER – HE is SUPREME because HE has ALL POWER…

POWER over sin and death – POWER to forgive – POWER to save!