New Testament
Hebrews
13 chapters
Start reading: Hebrews 1About this book
Hebrews is a sustained, carefully argued sermon urging Christians to hold on to Jesus when following him has become costly. Its central claim is that Jesus is greater than everything that came before: greater than the angels, than Moses, than the priests and sacrifices of the old covenant. He is the Son through whom God has spoken finally, the great high priest who offered himself once for all and now stands with his people. The writer draws constantly on the Old Testament, especially the Psalms and the tabernacle, and mixes long teaching sections with sharp warnings against drifting away. Interpreters differ on how to read those warnings and on the identity of the author, which the text never states. The book reaches its high point in the great gallery of faithful men and women, then calls readers to run with endurance, looking to Jesus, and to live out love and holiness together.
- Author
- Unknown; the letter does not name its author. Paul, Barnabas and Apollos have all been proposed.
- Date
- Most likely before AD 70, since the temple system is described as ongoing, though this is debated.
- Audience
- Christians of Jewish background, tempted to fall back on old patterns under pressure.
Themes
Outline
- 1:1–2:18The Son is greater than angels
- 3:1–4:13Greater than Moses; enter God's rest
- 4:14–7:28A high priest of a new order
- 8:1–10:18The new covenant and the one sacrifice
- 10:19–12:29Faith, endurance and holding on
- 13:1–13:25Closing exhortations and blessing
Key verses
Chapters of Hebrews
- 1Hebrews 1The letter opens by saying that God, who spoke in many ways through the prophets, has in these last days spoken through his Son.
- 2Hebrews 2Because of who the Son is, the author urges readers to pay careful attention so they do not drift away from so great a salvation.
- 3Hebrews 3The author invites readers to fix their thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to God.
- 4Hebrews 4The promise of entering God's rest still stands, so readers are urged to be careful not to fall short through disobedience.
- 5Hebrews 5The author explains what a high priest does: he is chosen from among people to represent them before God and offer gifts and sacrifices, and he can deal gently with the ignorant because he shares their weakness.
- 6Hebrews 6The author urges readers to move on from basic teachings to maturity.
- 7Hebrews 7The author reflects on Melchizedek, the mysterious king and priest of Salem who blessed Abraham, and argues that his priesthood is greater than the Levitical one and points to a different kind of priest.
- 8Hebrews 8The main point, the author says, is that we have a high priest seated at the right hand of God, serving in the true tent set up by the Lord rather than by human hands.
- 9Hebrews 9The author describes the first covenant's tabernacle, its furnishings, and its regulations, including the annual entry of the high priest into the Most Holy Place with blood.
- 10Hebrews 10The law was only a shadow of good things to come, and repeated animal sacrifices could never take away sins.
- 11Hebrews 11This chapter, often called the hall of faith, begins by describing faith as confidence in what is hoped for and assurance about what is unseen.
- 12Hebrews 12Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, believers are urged to throw off whatever hinders and run with perseverance the race marked out for them, fixing their eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
- 13Hebrews 13The letter closes with practical exhortations: keep loving one another, show hospitality to strangers, remember those in prison and those mistreated, honor marriage, and keep life free from the love of money, content because God has promised never to leave us.