I believe that historic Christianity has tended to misunderstand Christ’s role and person because it has neglected and misread­­­ the Jewish roots of God’s work through the Messiah; and also the timing of the eschatological events. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews was thoroughly familiar with first-century Jewish culture and tradition. Therefore, I believe that the writer of this epistle to Christ’s Hebrew followers should be the key to our New Testament understanding.

 

According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus became "a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers." (Rom. 15:28) Jesus was the promised one, who would fulfill God’s word given to the Hebrew patriarchs. Some of John the Baptist's disciples came to Jesus on his behalf to ask the question, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" (Luke 7:18)

 

 

In other words, He demonstrated that He was the promised one. In this article, I will offer an overview of Hebrews as it relates to the Jewish roots of God’s work through Christ in bringing about the eschatological events in the day of the original audience of the Book of Hebrews.

 

 

In these opening chapters we see Jesus presented as God's Son. Many of the statements of chapter one brings to mind Jesus’ parables about the vineyard keepers. (Matt. 21:33-45; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 21:9-19). The writer of the book (whoever it may have been) is establishing the foundation for how Jesus is to be seen and understood.

 

The examples that are given and the multiple Old Testament Scriptures quoted are intended to show Jesus as the divine Son of God. Therefore, He (and not anyone else) would have the finalword on redemption. When the person and role of Jesus, as the Christ, are understood in this light, we see that God fulfilled his promise to bless all families of the earth.

 

Whether we have done a good job of reflecting the entire truth concerning Jesus may be the $64,000 question. Hebrews chapter 3 warns the original readers, who lived during the 40-year period between the cross and the Parousia (30-70 AD) not to be like those who rebelled during the Exodus generation’s wilderness experience. In 1Corinthians 10, we find Paul echoing this very idea.

 

“But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1Corinthians 10:5-6, 11) 

 

For our writer who has revealed Jesus as the Son of God, those who believed in Him would enter into that promised rest. What was this rest? Simply, there would be no more laboring to please God.

Far too many post-Parousia followers of Christ continue to do battle over these very elementary things. The discussion of the elementary principles of Christ is better understood as "the beginning of the message of Christ." These were the basics. Sadly, people are still debating them 2,000 years later.

 

If we stay within the historic and cultural context of the first-century Jewish Christ-followers, we would see that this epistle and the rest of the New Testament is about Jesus Christ as God’s fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs. Remove Christ from that contextual setting and you can end up with just about anything. Jesus fulfilled His Father's righteous requirements so perfectly that continual Old Covenant observances were unnecessary. Continuing their practice countered their very purpose; namely, to point to the time of fulfillment.

 

Remember the setting and context. This was the “unpardonable sin.” What could the blood of an animal do after rejection of the blood of Christ as your sacrifice? Escape from the eschatological judgment was impossible, yet “If the work is burned, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire” (1Cor. 2:15).

 

 

These chapters demonstrate how the way of Jesus was "better" than any other way especially the other way that the original audience may have been contemplating. Jesus was a "better" Priest, from a "better" priesthood, who served a "better" covenant, in a "better" tabernacle. This was because He offered a "better" sacrifice.

 

Christ’s priesthood was like that of Melchizedek who had preceded the Levitical priests. Chapters 8-9 tell how Christ ministered in the true heavenly Tabernacle, not an earthly one built with human hands. They also address Jesus' mediation of the "better" New Covenant which was prophesied. This was the covenant of which they were now participants.

 

In chapter 10 our writer explains that there was no better sacrifice than the one that Jesus offered. The blood of animals could never compare to Jesus' precious blood. Jesus was the "way, truth and life" of God. The way to the Father was to be found only in Him, not by reverting back.

 

 

At this point I want to challenge your thinking. I believe that the traditional concepts of faith and faithfulness need to be reexamined. Why would I say something like this? Biblical faith was not wishful thinking but a confidence based on evidence. The first-century concept of faith was a "persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction." (W. E. Vine Expository Dictionary of NT Words).  Substance (b) in Heb. 11:1 has the meaning of "confidence, assurance." (Ibid.) Therefore, true faith was confident of the things of God.

 

In other words Biblical faith was greater than hope because it went further. Hope said, "I want something to be true." The confidence of faith said, "I know that it is true." Why was this true? Because true faith had all the "proof" it needed. We read in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. “The evidence here was "a reproof." According the Vine's, it was "proving,” RV marg., “test.”

 

So, a more accurate translation of this verse may be found in the New American Standard Bible. “Now faith is being confident of things hoped for, having proof of things not seen.” Where did this kind of faith come from? The confidence and proof of this faith was spiritually provided. We must never forget the role of the Spirit at this time. The Spirit sealed the firstfruits people of God.

 

Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit was bearing witness with their spirit that they were children of God. I do not have the room to go into greater detail here, but I want to propose that the heroes of the faith in chapter 11 were such because the Spirit of the Lord proved himself to them. True believers always trusted the Spirit rather than their senses. Even in Old Covenant times this was the case. Hebrews 11:2 tells us, “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” A testimony was understood as something given by a witness. It was based on a personal observation and not hearsay. These heroes had every reason to believe God because of something that He had already done for them.

 

The examples are many. The Lord spoke to Abraham, and he obeyed. His experiences traveling to the Promised Land, the Covenant that the Lord cut with him, his deliverance of his nephew Lot exemplify the testimony God gave to these heroes as a gift of faith. Abraham's wife, Sarah, is my favorite faith hero. At first she laughed at the Lord's announcement that she would have a son, but she is still listed as one of the faithful. How could this be? She became confident after the events at Sodom and Gomorrah. As the accounts in Genesis 18-19 reveal, the Lord accomplished what He said He would concerning the destruction of Sodom. How could Sarah now not believe (be confident) that the Lord God would accomplish what was promised for her?   

 

"Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Gen. 18:14).

 

A careful look at each of the faithful who are listed reveals that the Lord God did something that proved His reality and power for each of them. In other words, it was because of their personal experiences with the Lord God (the substance of the things hoped for) that they were convinced (of things not seen) that He could and would do what He said He would. They, therefore, acted in faithful obedience.