Welcome to the Epistle to the Hebrews, one of the most theologically rich and encouraging books in the New Testament. At its heart, this letter was written to an early community of believers, urging them to persevere in their faith by demonstrating the supreme and unparalleled greatness of Jesus Christ.
It argues passionately that Jesus is not just another prophet or messenger, but the final and perfect revelation of God.
The central argument is woven through every chapter: to show that Jesus is the ultimate and final way to God, superior to all that came before. As we explore these ideas, you will see how the author builds a powerful case for why believers should hold fast to their confidence in Jesus.
This guide will walk you through four of the book's most important themes:
Understanding these themes will provide a foundational grasp of this powerful letter and its relevance to your life today.
The author begins by establishing Jesus's superiority over angels, who were highly respected in Jewish tradition as powerful messengers of God and mediators of His law. The argument is that if the message delivered by angels was binding, how much more significant is the salvation brought by God's own Son?
Because Jesus is infinitely superior to the angels, the salvation he offers is far more significant and secure than any message they could deliver. Therefore, believers should not "neglect so great salvation" (Heb 2:3).
The key differences between Jesus and the angels are laid out in a series of powerful contrasts:
| The Son (Jesus) | The Angels |
|---|---|
| Status: God calls him "Son" and declares his divine throne is "for ever and ever" (Heb 1:5, 1:8). | Status: They are "ministering spirits" who are commanded to worship the Son (Heb 1:14, 1:6). |
| Authority: He sits at God's right hand, ruling with a "sceptre of righteousness" (Heb 1:8, 1:13). | Authority: The "world to come" is not under their authority (Heb 2:5). |
| Nature: He took on human "flesh and blood" so that he could "taste death for every man" and be a savior (Heb 2:9, 2:14). | Nature: They are spirits; he did not take on the nature of angels to save them (Heb 2:16). |
After establishing Jesus's superiority to angels, the author compares Him to Moses. Moses was perhaps the most revered figure in Israel's history—the great lawgiver and leader of the Exodus. Yet, the author of Hebrews shows that Jesus's role is far greater.
The core analogy is found in the building of a house. The explanation is simple yet profound:
This distinction elevates Jesus from the most honored servant to the divine architect, a role of infinitely greater glory.
This shift from Jesus as the divine builder of the house to the Son who enters it on our behalf naturally leads to the author's most central argument: Jesus's work as the ultimate High Priest.
In the Old Testament, high priests from the line of Aaron served as crucial mediators between God and the people. They were responsible for offering animal sacrifices to atone for the community's sins (Heb 5:1). The author of Hebrews argues that this priesthood, while ordained by God, was temporary and imperfect. Jesus, however, serves as a perfect and eternal High Priest.
| Attribute | Levitical High Priests (The Old Way) | Jesus (The Better Way) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Appointed by the law, from the tribe of Levi (Heb 7:5, 7:28). | Appointed by God's oath, "after the order of Melchisedec," a greater and more ancient order (Heb 7:17, 7:21). |
| Duration | Mortal men who die and must be replaced, resulting in "many priests" over time (Heb 7:23). | Lives forever and has an "unchangeable priesthood" because he "continueth ever" (Heb 7:24). |
| Perfection | Plagued by their own "infirmity" and sin, needing to offer sacrifices for themselves first (Heb 5:2-3, 7:27). | Holy, harmless, without sin, and separate from sinners (Heb 4:15, 7:26). |
| Sacrifice | Offered the blood of animals repeatedly, sacrifices that could "never take away sins" (Heb 9:25, 10:11). | Offered Himself as one perfect sacrifice for sin, "once for all" time (Heb 7:27, 9:12, 10:12). |
This comparison isn't just a theological exercise; it has profound benefits for believers. Jesus's superior priesthood fundamentally changes our relationship with God.
Because Jesus is a superior High Priest, our relationship with God is fundamentally changed. His priesthood brings three profound benefits to believers:
Jesus is not a distant deity. Because He became human and "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," He understands our weaknesses and struggles intimately (Heb 4:15).
The old system had barriers. Now, because of our great High Priest, we can "come boldly unto the throne of grace" to find mercy and help in our time of need (Heb 4:16).
Because Jesus lives forever to make intercession for us, "he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him" (Heb 7:25). His work is not partial or temporary; it is complete and eternal.
This better priesthood is the foundation upon which God establishes a better agreement with humanity. Jesus doesn't just improve the old system—He introduces something entirely new.
The "first covenant" refers to the system of laws, rituals, and temple sacrifices given to Israel through Moses. The author of Hebrews explains that this system was never intended to be the final solution for sin. It had built-in limitations, serving as a "shadow of good things to come" rather than the reality itself (Heb 10:1).
The old covenant had three main limitations:
The first covenant was never meant to be the final solution—it pointed forward to something better. It was designed to be preparatory, not permanent.
Jesus is the "mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Heb 8:6). This New Covenant isn't just a revision of the old one; it operates on a completely different basis, transforming the believer from the inside out.
The core promise of this new agreement is quoted directly from the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah:
This promise brings three incredible benefits to the believer:
God's ways are no longer just external rules to be followed but become an internal desire written on our hearts and minds.
The need for priestly mediators to know God is removed. Everyone, "from the least to the greatest," can know Him directly.
Sins are not just temporarily covered over by animal sacrifices. In the New Covenant, they are completely forgiven and remembered no more by God.
This covenant was put into effect by the "blood of Christ," a far "better sacrifice" than the blood of bulls and goats. His sacrifice is powerful enough to "purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (Heb 9:14, 9:23).
This incredible gift of a new relationship requires a specific human response: faith.
The author provides a clear and powerful definition of the kind of trust God requires:
In simple terms, faith is a confident trust in God's character and His promises, even when we cannot see the final outcome. It is believing that what God has said is more real than what our eyes can see.
This kind of trust is not optional; the author states plainly that "without faith it is impossible to please him" (Heb 11:6).
Faith in Hebrews is not blind optimism or wishful thinking. It is:
To illustrate what this life of faith looks like in practice, the author provides numerous examples from the Old Testament.
To illustrate what this life of faith looks like in practice, the author dedicates an entire chapter (Hebrews 11) to a list of Old Testament heroes. This "great cloud of witnesses" includes figures like Abraham, Noah, and Moses.
The purpose of these stories is to show a common thread: they all obeyed God and endured incredible hardship because they were looking forward to a future promise. They understood that their home was not on this earth and desired a "better country, that is, an heavenly" (Heb 11:16).
A key insight comes at the end of the chapter. Even these great heroes of faith "received not the promise" in their lifetimes (Heb 11:39). This demonstrates that faith is not about immediate reward but about trusting God's long-term plan. Their story was intentionally incomplete, finding its ultimate fulfillment only in what God has provided for us in Jesus—the "better thing" they looked toward but did not live to see (Heb 11:40).
The example of this "cloud of witnesses" is meant to inspire action. The author encourages readers to "run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb 12:1).
The key to this endurance is to keep our focus firmly on "Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb 12:2).
Part of this race involves facing hardship. The author reframes suffering, explaining that it should not be seen as a sign of God's rejection, but as the loving and purposeful discipline ("chastening") of a father for his children.
This discipline, though "grievous" at the time, is not punitive but purposeful; God uses it for our ultimate profit, "that we might be partakers of his holiness," which ultimately yields "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" in our lives (Heb 12:10-11).
Faith is not a one-time decision but a lifelong journey of trust and endurance. Difficulties along the way are not evidence of God's absence but opportunities for growth that He actively uses for our spiritual development.
This internal attitude of faith and endurance must then express itself in our outward, daily lives.
The grand argument of Hebrews comes to a powerful conclusion. The author began by establishing Jesus's supreme identity over angels and Moses, which qualified Him to serve as a perfect High Priest. This superior priesthood was the necessary foundation for enacting a better covenant based on forgiveness, which in turn demands our unwavering response of faith and endurance.
Because of this complete and perfect work, we have every reason to live with confidence and hope. The author concludes not just with theology, but with practical encouragements for how to live out this great salvation:
We should approach God with a sincere heart and the "full assurance of faith" that we are accepted because of Christ (Heb 10:22).
We must hold on to our profession of faith without wavering, because God who made the promises is faithful (Heb 10:23).
We are not meant to live the Christian life alone. We must meet together to "provoke unto love and to good works" and exhort one another (Heb 10:24-25).
Our faith should be visible. We are told to let "brotherly love continue" and to show hospitality to others (Heb 13:1-2).
Our new sacrifice is not of animals, but of praise—the "fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" continually (Heb 13:15).
The final thought of the letter is one of immense comfort and empowerment. We serve a God who is both constant and active: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Heb 13:8). It is this "God of peace" who promises to equip us "in every good work to do his will," working in us what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ (Heb 13:20-21).