Hebrews: The Eternal Song of Redemption from Abraham to the Anointed One

By Rev. John R. Huseby

Hebrews is a great doctrinal book comparable to Romans. It deals with the law and with the grace of God. It will not leave you in doubt concerning your eternal state. Find the answer to the mystery of Melchizedek and to the human author of Hebrews who God used to write it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664226722

Rev. John R. Huseby

John Huseby has given over fifty years in service for Christ. Over the past fifty years he has been involved in Youth for Christ and Child Evangelism Fellowship. He has been a Pastor, Teacher, Elder, Radio & conference speaker. John initiated and launched the missionary aviation program through Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music among other notable accomplishments for the Lord over the years. “I’ve been workin for the Lord for a long long time but I ain’t got weary yet.”

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Rev. John R. Huseby.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2671-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2673-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2672-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021904747

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/12/2021

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture taken from

the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible,

English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing

ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) taken from the (NASB®) New American

Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman

Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked (CJB) are taken from the COMPLETE JEWISH

BIBLE, Copyright© 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament

Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net. Distributed by Messianic Jewish

Resources Int’l. www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Scripture marked (OJB) taken from The Orthodox Jewish Bible

Copyright 20 by AFI International. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (CEB) from the COMMON ENGLISH

BIBLE. © Copyright 2011 COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE. All rights

reserved. Used by permission. (www.CommonEnglishBible.com).

Scripture marked Darby taken from the Darby Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (YLT) taken from

Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Authorship

Purpose

Information

Chapter Themes

Scripture Versions Used

Commentary Chapter One

Commentary Chapter Two

Commentary Chapter Three

Commentary Chapter Four

Commentary Chapter Five

Commentary Chapter Six

Commentary Chapter Seven

Commentary Chapter Eight

Commentary Chapter Nine

Commentary Chapter Ten

Commentary Chapter Eleven

Commentary Chapter Twelve

Commentary Chapter Thirteen

INTRODUCTION

There is some discussion as to whom Hebrews is addressed. It is safe to say the most common thought is the addressees are the people of Israel, the Jews, especially those who lived in and around Jerusalem and who had associated themselves with Christianity. As I study the book, a case could be made for the addressees to be the people of Israel, both those who had become associated with Christianity and those who had not. However, I believe the writing is to all believers. Note the instruction in 13:24 to greet … all the saints. DR. M.R. DeHaan, in the preface to his volume on Hebrews, states, We believe the book of Hebrews is written for and to believers.¹ The we and us in the writing represents all believers, not just Jewish believers. This is because there is a new entity called the Church which is made up of Jews and Gentiles, each one of which is now called a new creature in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17. The English Standard Version of the Bible (ESV) states in the introduction to Hebrews, The letter to Hebrews was written to encourage Christians in a time of trial.² I would note that even though the book includes all Christians, it does designate the Hebrews in the textual record. I think we can point to it as a book written with an emphasis on the Jews, but with an overall message to include Gentiles. This is very similar to Romans being written with an emphasis on the Gentiles, but including the Jews in its message, CF Rom. 2.

AUTHORSHIP

Another subject about which there is some discussion is the authorship of Hebrews. All other books of the Bible identify the human author, with the exception of Acts and Hebrews which do not. This discussion has gone on since the days of the Apostles. There are a number of suggestions that include men not mentioned in the Bible, but who were significant players in the early church. Some are in the Bible, like Luke and Timothy. Still others suggest a dual authorship. Much of the discussion centers on the literary style of the letter. I will leave those discussions to others of the intellectual world. As a simple person, I simply say Paul was the human that God wrote through to bring us this theological treasure. My reasoning is: Hebrews was written in about 64-68 AD. Paul, along with Peter, was in a Roman prison awaiting martyrdom which happened in 67 AD, thus the reference to those from Italy, Heb. 13:24. Also there is a personal reference to Timothy, his beloved son, 1 Tim.1:2, in Heb. 13:23. Although there is no conclusive evidence as to the human author, Hebrews does speak with the divine authority of Scripture. Now after applying my best effort of reasoning and after my best effort of expository explanation of this subject, I would direct the reader to consider my final conclusion on this subject; please CF this study in Heb. 13:18-19.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the book is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. No other book so consistently or thoroughly does that. Also the high priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus is more fully presented here than in any other New Testament writing. It is written to clarify the passing of the Old Testament system and the coming of a new one. The main idea is the systematic dismantling of the Law and the Prophets because they are being replaced with a new covenant, a new messenger, and a new purpose. It is interesting to consider certain dates that history provides. Paul was in a Roman prison along with Peter, and they were both martyred in 67 AD. Hebrews was written some time just prior to or possibly during that time.

In 70 AD, Rome destroyed the Temple at Jerusalem. Consider the possibility that it was God who had the Temple destroyed as an exclamation point to the truth that Hebrews teaches. Then turn to the prophetic Scriptures and see the restoration of the law and the rebuilding of the Temple.

Hebrews can be considered to be a commentary on the entire Bible. It deals with the Old Testament showing how, why, where, and when it was written. Then it takes the New Testament, explains its message and its messenger, and melds the two into one harmonious word from the living God to His creation.

INFORMATION

The key word is better. It is used twelve times in Hebrews, out of 19 times in the entire New Testament:

There are several great doctrinal themes in this book, among them are: Christ, Angels, Inspiration, Heirs, Priesthood, Creation, and Faith.

Difficult issues: the seeming if conditions for salvation, CF 3:6 and 14; 6:4-8; 10:38-39.

CHAPTER THEMES

Following are the themes for each of the thirteen chapters in the book. There is an observable pairing of these themes, demonstrated as follows:

1. Christ is so much better than the Angels, verse 4 - Resulting in

2. So great Salvation, verse 3.

3. Christ is better than Moses, verse 3 - Resulting in

4. Rest to the people of God, verse 3.

5. Christ is the perfect High Priest better than Aaron, verse 6 - Resulting in

6. Progress toward maturity, verse 1.

7. Christ is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, verses 15-16 - Resulting in

8. The new covenant for Israel, verse 8.

9. The new and better covenant for the Church, verse 11 - Because of

10. The better sacrifice of Christ, verse 10.

11. The better way of faith, verse 6 - Resulting in

12. The better life of faith, verse 2 - Because of

13. The changeless Christ, verse 8.

O sing unto the LORD a new song; for He hath done marvelous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory. The LORD hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. Ps. 98:1-2 (KJV)

SCRIPTURE VERSIONS USED

There are a multitude of Bible translations available to us. The most common reason stated for their existence is to make the Bible easier for the English reader to understand. Every now and then that may be true, but they can also dim or possibly eliminate the contextual meaning of a word or verse. Some current versions of the Bible are based on the "Textus Receptus Latin, meaning received text. Included in that list is the King James Version. Although the King James was a version of earlier texts, written for many of the same reasons as today’s versions, it was written under the auspices of King James I of England in 1611, and it was faithful to earlier Hebrew and Greek writings. In an article written by the editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica, they say about the translating of the original documents, The wealth of scholarly tools available to the translators made their final choice of rendering an exercise in originality and independent judgment. For this reason, the new version was more faithful to the original languages of the Bible and more scholarly than any of its predecessors." All Scripture used and/or quoted in this study is from the King James Version, unless noted otherwise. Modern versions used in this work are:

HEBREWS

Commentary Chapter One

The Messenger

And Angels too

But it’s all about Jesus

INTRODUCTION

HEBREWS CHAPTER 1

Hebrews is full of great doctrinal truth, comparable to Romans. Unger writes, This magnificent epistle, from the standpoint of doctrinal contribution and literary excellence, is in many ways without peer among N.T. books.³ The main idea is the systematic dismantling of the law and the prophets because they are being replaced with a new covenant, a new message, a new messenger, and a new purpose. It is written to clarify the passing of the O.T. system and the coming of a new method of God’s dealing with mankind. In this new method, Faith replaces the Law: Without faith it is impossible to please Him, Heb. 11:6. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified, Gal. 2:16. Grace puts an end to works, "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,