INTRODUCTION
This Epistle was evidently written as the ancient Hebrew economy was passing away in the growing glory of the Christian Church. Perhaps Jerusalem had already fallen under the arms of Titus. It was addressed to Hebrew Christians, who were settled in a definite locality. See Heb_13:23. The writer is not certainly known. Luther thought that it was written by Apollos, and this view has had several learned advocates. But many ascribe it to the Apostle Paul, which was the opinion of the early Fathers. The object of this noble treatise is to counsel those to whom it was addressed to bear their persecutions with equanimity, and to forego, with contentment, the external attractions of the Temple service, because of the transcendent glories of Christianity surpassing those of the Mosaic ritual. The penalties of apostasy would therefore be the more terrible as the claims of Christianity were the more compelling.
OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
THE NEW AND BETTER COVENANT
CHRIST THE SURETY OF THE NEW COVENANT
He Is a Divine Redeemer
He Is Superior to Angels
He Has Accomplished Redemption through Suffering
2. For whom is Christ’s saving work intended?
WARNING AGAINST NEGLECTING SALVATION
For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.
For if the message given through angels [the Law given to Moses] was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty,
how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak],
[and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
THE FOUNDER OF SALVATION
It was not to angels that God subjected the [inhabited] world of the future [when Christ reigns], about which we are speaking.
But one has [solemnly] testified somewhere [in Scripture], saying, “WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU GRACIOUSLY CARE FOR HIM?
“YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER [in status] THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND SET HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET [confirming his supremacy].” Now in putting all things in subjection to man, He left nothing outside his control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him. [Psa_8:4-6]
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
on
Hebrews 1:1-9
THE AUTHOR OF OUR SALVATION
Drifting away, Heb_2:1-4. The R.V. gives this solemn rendering. Unless we watch, the strong currents of the world will drift us away from God’s great harbor of Salvation; and sins against His offered love are even more to be dreaded than those under the ancient Law. To neglect is the equivalent of to reject. Notice in Heb_2:4 how God co-operates with His messengers. See Joh_15:27; Act_5:32.
Jesus crowned, Heb_2:5-9. How can Jesus be greater than angels? He did for man what they could not do. It is through His death that humanity may be lifted to a supreme position in the universe of being. Man failed to realize his original Magna Charta in Gen_1:26; but the divine purpose could not be frustrated, and there was a needs-be for the manger, the Cross and the Ascension mount. As we look around, Psa_8:1-9 seems a mockery; as we look up, we discover in Jesus the psalmist’s dream more than realized. They who are one with Him will share His glory and honor.
Choose a Sermon on
Hebrews
by
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