Hebrews

THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS:
THE PREEMINENCE OF JESUS

pdf

Dr. Paul Manuel—2016

Because of its length (38 pages) the complete study isn't available online but, along with its Bibliography and Endnotes, it can be viewed or downloaded as a pdf here.

Below find an outline of the contents and the first few pages of the study.

Outline

I. Jesus is God's primary spokesman (Hebrews 1:1-4).

A. He excelled as the son of God (vv. 2b, 4a).
B. He helped in the creation of God (vv. 2c, 3c).
C. He identified with the person of God (v. 3a-b).
D. He submitted to the mission of God (v. 3d).
E. He ascended by the throne of God (v. 3e).

Application: The clear and consistent testimony of scripture is that Jesus is deity equal to God the Father (John 10:30-33; Mark 2:10-12; Phil 2:6).

II. Jesus is God's preeminent agent (Hebrews 1:5-7:28).

A. He is superior to angels (1:5-2:18).
B. He is superior to Moses (3:1-4:13).
C. He is superior to Aaron (4:14-7:28).

Application: If others know they can depend on what you say, then you will not need to bolster what you say with additional certification (e.g., "I swear"; Matt 5:37a).

III. Jesus is God's priestly minister (Hebrews 8:1-10:18).

A. He promotes a superior covenant (8:1-13).
B. He presides (in) a superior tabernacle (9:1-14).

Application: Jesus says your perseverance now will determine your position then (Matt 5:17a, 19). Although obedience to God's commands does not determine your reconciliation to Him—which is only by grace through faith—obedience does determine your reward from Him.

IV. Jesus is man's perseverance model (Hebrews 10:19-12:29).

A. He provides an assurance of faith (10:19-39).
B. He presents several examples of faith (11:1-40).
C. He prizes the endurance of faith (12:1-17).
D. He prepares an unshakeable kingdom (12:18-29).

Application: Gratitude is to be a regular, even frequent, part of the believer's life (1 Thess 5:18).

V. Jesus is the author's last word (Hebrews 13:1-25).

A. He offers some final exhortations (13:1-19).

1. Hospitality (vv. 1-3; cf. 1 Pet 4:9)
2. Marriage (v. 4; cf. Col 3:18-19)
3. Money (vv. 5-6; cf. 1 Tim 6:6, 10)
4. Leaders (vv. 7-8; cf. Rom 12:6a, 8d)
5. Food (vv. 9-14; cf. Acts 15:29a; Rom 14:20b)
6. Gratitude (vv. 15-16; cf. 1 Thess 5:18; Gal 6:10)
7. Authority (v. 17; cf. Rom 13:1-2a, 5)
8. Prayer (vv. 18-19; cf. Eph 6:18-20)

B. He gives a closing benediction (13:20-25).

Application: Endeavor to implement two issues from this list each week, until you have applied all eight.

Written during the late first century by an un-named Jewish author,¹ the Epistle to the Hebrews is primarily an apologetic for the messiah-ship of Jesus. As such, it treats his deity and his redemptive role in God's program, namely "The Preeminence of Jesus" for what God is doing.²

I. Jesus is God's primary spokesman (Hebrews 1:1-4).

The author acknowledges that the divine plan has reached an important juncture marking a significant advance. Of all the patriarchs, prophets, or priests who have represented God through the ages, none has communicated as fully or clearly as his son.

Heb 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The author mentions several distinct ways that Jesus surpassed his predecessors:

A. He excelled as the son of God ("heir of all things....the name he has inherited" vv. 2b, 4a).
B. He helped in the creation of God ("through whom he made the universe....sustaining all things" vv. 2c, 3c).
C. He identified with the person of God ("the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" v. 3a-b).
D. He submitted to the mission of God ("purification for sins" v. 3d).
E. He ascended by the throne of God ("at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" v. 3e).

None of God's other representatives had such a central role in what He did and would do.

Application: There are many religious groups that claim to be Christian but fail to meet the minimum requirement for orthodoxy, which is presenting a biblical view of Jesus, that he is fully God. Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, believe that he was something less:

He was a mighty one, although not almighty as Jehovah God is.... Who ran the universe during the three days that Jesus was dead and in the grave.... If Jesus was God, then during Jesus' death God was dead and in the grave.... Therefore, if Jesus was the immortal God, he could not have died." (Watchtower 1952:32, 109)

Yet the scriptures teach unequivocally that Jesus is God.

• He claims to be the equal of God (something his detractors understood even though they did not accept it):

[Jesus said:] "I and the Father are one." Again the [Jewish authorities] picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any of these," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." (John 10:30-33)

• He claims to have the authority of God:

That you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. (Mark 2:10- 12a)

• Others affirm that he is God:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be [retained]. (Phil 2:6)

The clear and consistent testimony of scripture is that Jesus is deity equal to God the Father.

The author expands his comparison to prominent individuals, even those outside the mortal realm, to those who have done His bidding in the most challenging situations.

II. Jesus is God's preeminent agent (Hebrews 1:5-7:28).

Of all God's supernatural creatures,³ those in heaven, none has represented Him as closely or accurately as His son.

A. He is superior to angels (1:5-2:18).

Moreover, God has not been silent about this matter. Throughout the scriptures He has made clear that Jesus is better than even the most advanced and enhanced of those He has made.

Heb 1:5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? [Ps 2:7] Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? [2 Sam 7:14] 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." [Ps 97:7] 7 In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." [Ps 104:4] 8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. [Ps 45:6] 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness [Ps 45:7]; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." [Isa 61:1, 3] 10 He also says, "In the beginning, 0 Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. [Ps 102:25] 11 They will perish, but you remain [Ps 102:26]; they will all wear out like a garment. [Isa 51:6] 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. [Ps 102:26] But you remain the same, and your years will never end." [Ps 102:27] 13 To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? [Ps 110:1] 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

As the chapter closes, the author states that angels, despite their superiority to man, are not foremost.⁴

Heb 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.⁵ 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?⁶ This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.⁷ 5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? [Ps 8:4] 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor [Ps 8:5-6] 8 and put everything under his feet." [Ps 8:6] In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels [= descent to incarnation], now crowned with glory and honor [= ascent to exaltation]. because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone 10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." [Ps 22:22] 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." [Isa 8:17] And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." [Isa 8:18] 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Uniqueness belongs only to Jesus, and the author supports his assertion by citing several Old Testament texts. These are not all messianic prophecies, but they do demonstrate how God's using Jesus is consistent with His word.

Of all God's natural creatures,⁸ those on earth, none has represented Him as closely or accurately as His son.

B. He is superior to Moses (Hebrews 3:1-4:13).

Despite Moses' great reputation, the law-giver of Israel could not match Jesus' character or his calling.⁹

Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

From extolling Jesus, the author turns to the importance of accepting Jesus, and states that not accepting him is tantamount to rejecting God. ....

Because of its length (38 pages) the complete study isn't available online. "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS: THE PREEMINENCE OF JESUS" along with its Bibliography and Endnotes, can be downloaded as a pdf here.