The Better Covenant

The Better Covenant

Hebrews 1:1a

“Pro Ebraious” = “To Hebrews”

To whom was the Book of Hebrews written?

There is, as in the question which follows concerning the writer of the book, some degree of uncertainty about exactly whom the recipients of the Book of Hebrews were to be.  Many scholars maintain that it was addressed to Gentile Christians, who were in danger of committing what could be considered apostasy and renouncing their faith and the true religion.  This can be seen in the use of phrases such as, (ch. 3:12) “falling away from the living God.”  The argument can be made here that that statement alone cannot definitely indicate the original hearers were only Gentile.  If it were to be Jewish converts to Christ then them falling away should not really be termed apostasy since they would only be returning to service to Jehovah under Moses’ Law and not a complete falling away into godlessness (re. 6:16 & 9:14).

The writer of the Book of Hebrews has and still remains a great mystery.

Many of the converted had been turning back to Judaism.

As to the scope and design of this epistle, it is very evident that it was clearly to inform the minds, and strongly to confirm the judgment, of the Hebrews in the Excellency of the Gospel above the law, and so to take them off from the ceremonies of the law, to which they were so committed, of which they were so fond, that they even doted on them, and those of them who were Christians retained too much of the old leaven, and needed to be purged from it.

The design of this epistle was to persuade and press the believing Hebrews to a constant adherence to the Christian faith, and perseverance in it, notwithstanding all the sufferings they might meet with in so doing. In order to this, the apostle speaks much of the Excellency of the author of the gospel, the glorious Jesus, whose honor he advances, and whom he justly prefers before all others, showing him to be all in all, and this in lofty strains of holy rhetoric. It must be acknowledged that there are many things in this epistle hard to be understood, but the sweetness we shall find therein will make us abundant amends for all the pains we take to understand it. And indeed, if we compare all the epistles of the New Testament, we shall not find any of them more replenished with divine, heavenly matter than this to the Hebrews.

Hebrews 1:1a KJV

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake…”

Hebrews 1:1a NKJ

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke…”

(1) Your Relationship to the Law

God has always expected complete compliance to His law – We all have failed!

The Law only has death in it for us.

(2) Your Relationship to Christ

Jesus is our answer to the death found in the Law.

Our relationship to Him will be the determining factor in our eternity.

(3) Your Relationship to Faith

Our faith is more than the ability to believe the impossible – it encompasses our entire religious system.

It is the motivating factor for all of your deeds.

Your faith system is what binds you into your relationship with Christ.

(4) Your Relationship to Life

All of the first three points collide here at your life.

What you do, who you are and how you act, in other words your whole life, are a collection of your relationships.

Question:  Are you where you should be in your relationship with Christ?

Question: Are you progressing in your Christian life?

If the answer to either one of these questions is “no” then why not start today to move closer to Him and improve your relationship to Him?