Foreward

Foreward

Hebrews  -Considerations Before Study –

Hebrews was likely written before the destruction of Jerusalem 70 A.D.

The author does not name himself, and cannot ultimately be identified. It stands to reason that this person was well acquainted with Jewish leadership, and priestly practices as it applied to the Jewish culture. Remember, the Jewish nation had “kings” and religious leaders consecutively. Let’s also remember that Israel was “occupied” and under Roman government rule.   Some Jews profited by this rule and others wanted to see an overthrow of Roman influence, even if by violence.

It is important to consider the everyday lifestyle living in a theocracy that is dominated and influenced by a powerful ruthless government (Rome). Israel would have been happy just to live by the law of Moses as a sovereign nation under a selected king. This however is not the case.

As the book implies, the Jews still clung fast to their history of receiving a covenant with God through Moses. The writer uses this history to reason the importance, power and authority of God’s christ and son, Jesus.

Why Was This Letter Written?

Let’s not forget, the messiah was expected to bring back a materially wealthy and powerful Israel. For some, Jesus (in their estimation) did not do this.

The church was formed in an already formed church assembly. It was a splinter sect of the Jews. Imagine what it would be like to have someone tell us there is someone as important as Jesus that we must praise and worship as God. Even with overwhelming evidence, worshiping a new “authoritative” element to our worship could split us up, if not obliterate us completely (religiously).

These are the issues facing the people being addressed. It was imperative to reason with them from their own records and encourage them to move forward with this new(er) covenant. From a scan of the new testament word “temple”, we find that the idea of Christianity being a replacement covenant was not popular. Chaps: 21, 22, 23.

MWade