Welcome! I’m excited to be embarking on a journey through the book of Hebrews, and I hope you’ll come along!
No one knows for certain who wrote Hebrews. While there has been plenty of speculation over the centuries, the author’s identity remains a mystery. Fortunately, knowing who held the pen is far less important than knowing the One to whom the entire letter points. What we do know is that Hebrews is God-breathed Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and its message is just as important for us today as it was for its original audience.
So, what is Hebrews all about?
Jesus!
Actually, the entire Bible is about Jesus. But Hebrews makes an especially compelling case for His supremacy. Written to an audience deeply familiar with the Jewish Scriptures and traditions, Hebrews demonstrates that Jesus is greater than the angels, greater than Moses, greater than Aaron and the Levitical priesthood, and greater than Joshua. His sacrifice is better, His priesthood is better, His promises are better, and the covenant He mediates is better.
And this, I think, is where many modern, non-Jewish readers begin to feel a little disconnected. But we may be more alike than you may realize. I like how Jen Wilkin said, “You think (Hebrews) is a new testament study, but then you find out it’s an old testament study.” Truly, there’s nothing new under the sun.
Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who had left the old covenant system. The church was still relatively young, and these believers found themselves in a difficult and unfamiliar place.
This epistle is often dated around AD 65, before the destruction of the temple in AD 70 due to the absence of any reference to the temple’s destruction. The original readers had left behind the religious world they had grown up in and were experiencing pressure and persecution.
In a sense, these Hebrew Christians were living through their own exodus. Israel had once been brought out of slavery in Egypt, but leaving Egypt did not mean they had immediately arrived in the Promised Land. They had to pass through the wilderness. And the author of Hebrews takes the story of Israel’s wilderness journey and places it directly in front of his readers: their story is now your warning. Their failure is now your lesson. Their promised rest is still before you.
And this is where the message of Hebrews becomes so powerful. When the wilderness is uncomfortable, the familiar can begin to look better than the faithful.
When Israel became hungry, thirsty, afraid, or discouraged in the wilderness, they began to look back toward Egypt. They remembered what was familiar and forgot what God had already done. They wanted to return to the place they had been delivered from because the wilderness was harder than they expected.
The author of Hebrews sees the same danger facing these Christians. They were suffering because they followed Christ, and the old life was beginning to look attractive again. Why continue on this difficult road? Why not go back to the familiar? Why not return to the old system, the old community, the old sacrifices, the old way of worship?
Unless you come from a Jewish religious background, it can be difficult to appreciate just how deeply the Israelites treasured their temple, their priesthood, their sacrifices, and their prophets. These weren’t merely religious traditions passed down through generations. They were institutions and ordinances established by God Himself! Through them, God had revealed His holiness, His promises, and His plan of redemption.
So why would the author of Hebrews urge his readers not to return to them?
Because all these things were pointing to someone greater. They were shadows pointing to the substance, promises anticipating their fulfillment, and temporary provisions preparing the way for something permanent.
They were pointing to Jesus.
The danger wasn’t that the original audience treasured the things God had given them. It was that they might treasure those things so much that they would fail to recognize the One to whom they pointed.
And isn’t that a danger for us today, too?
We may not be tempted to return to animal sacrifices or the Levitical priesthood, but we have our own religious comforts. We can treasure our Christian upbringing, church attendance, theological knowledge, Bible studies, ministries, and even our reputation as faithful Christians. All these can be wonderful gifts, but none of them can take the place of Christ Himself.
We can become so comfortable with the outward expressions of Christianity that we neglect to examine the inward reality of our hearts.
And this brings us to another major theme in Hebrews: the danger of a merely professed faith.
Throughout the letter, the author repeatedly warns his readers not to follow the example of the Israelites in the wilderness. They had witnessed God’s mighty works in Egypt, experienced His miraculous provision, and received His promises. Yet an entire generation failed to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief. Their outward association with God’s covenant people did not guarantee that their hearts truly trusted Him.
Hebrews holds up their story like a mirror for us.
We can grow up in Christian homes, attend church every Sunday, memorize Scripture, study theology, and know all the right answers. We can look and act the part of a Jesus-loving Christian. But do we truly believe? Are we trusting in Christ, or have we become comfortable with merely being associated with Him?
The warning of Hebrews is not that genuine believers must somehow work hard enough to earn or maintain their salvation. Rather, it calls us to examine our faith, hold fast to Christ, and persevere in Him. Genuine faith does not remain passive; it produces endurance and obedience. And our confidence rests not in our ability to perform, but in the perfect obedience and finished work of Jesus Christ.
That is why this ancient letter is so remarkably relevant to us today.
But Hebrews doesn’t merely warn us not to turn back and keep going. It gives us something infinitely better to behold.
Look up because Jesus is better.
Better than the old covenant institutions because He is the fulfillment of everything they anticipated. Better than any earthly priest because He is our perfect and eternal High Priest. Better than any sacrifice because His once-for-all offering has accomplished what repeated sacrifices never could. And better than anything this world could ever offer because He alone can bring us into the presence of God.
Now, all this talk about covenants, priesthoods, sacrifices, and sanctuaries might sound a little too theological for most folks. But Hebrews is not theology for theology’s sake. It is helping us see who Jesus truly is, what He has accomplished, and why nothing else can ever take His place.
It’s not simply that Jesus is a little better than everything else. He’s in a different category altogether. He is incomparable!
Remember Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value in Matthew 13? In both stories, someone discovers something so precious that he joyfully gives up everything else to obtain it.
That’s the kind of treasure Hebrews invites us to behold.
When we begin to see Jesus for who He truly is, everything else begins to find its proper place. The things we once clung to for security, identity, or significance lose their grip on us—not because they are necessarily bad, but because we have discovered something infinitely greater.
And if we’ve grown a little too comfortable with our Christianity, perhaps it’s time to be reminded of just how extraordinary our Savior really is.
So come along as we journey through Hebrews together. Let’s heed its warnings, marvel at its promises, and fix our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
Because the goal isn’t merely learning more about Jesus, but learning to treasure Him above all else.
Resources I’m Using
There are so many wonderful resources available for studying Hebrews! Here are some of the books, Bible studies, sermons, and podcasts I’m using along the way. You certainly don’t need all of them to follow along, but I’ve found them helpful for digging deeper into the text.
My Main Study Resources
Jen Wilkin — Better: A Study of Hebrews
My primary study guide (or spine) for this journey will be Jen Wilkin’s Better. I love her approach to Bible study, particularly her emphasis on biblical literacy, theological understanding, and learning to read Scripture carefully in context. Her studies encourage us to first ask what a passage reveals about God before rushing to ask what it means for us personally. It’s an approach that has transformed the way I study Scripture!
Explore Better: A Study of Hebrews
If you’d prefer not to purchase the study guide and accompanying video sessions, Jen also taught a similar study of Hebrews at her church, and the audio recordings are available for free.
Listen to Jen Wilkin’s Hebrews Study
D-Group International — Hebrews: Jesus as the Fulfillment of the Old Testament, by Tara-Leigh Cobble
Another excellent resource! I’m currently working through this study with a group, and I’ve especially enjoyed the discussions and insights that come from studying Scripture together. This study places a strong emphasis on the connections between the Old and New Testaments, helping us recognize how the people, promises, and institutions of the Old Testament find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
It’s a wonderful companion to Better, particularly for understanding how Hebrews fits into the larger story of Scripture.
Explore the D-Group Hebrews Study
Commentaries, Sermons & Podcasts
These are wonderful supplementary resources for exploring the historical context, theological themes, and practical implications of Hebrews.
Tim Keller — Christ: Our Treasury
A sermon series exploring the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Keller has a wonderful way of connecting rich theological truths to the condition of the human heart.
Listen to Christ: Our Treasury
Tim Mackie — Exploring My Strange Bible: Hebrews
I particularly enjoy Mackie’s attention to literary structure, biblical patterns, and the connections between the Old and New Testaments.
Spoken Gospel — Hebrews
A helpful resource for discovering how the themes and passages of Hebrews ultimately point us to Jesus.
Explore their Hebrews resources
Andy Davis — Two Journeys: Hebrews Sermon Series
For those who enjoy detailed, verse-by-verse exposition, Andy Davis has an extensive sermon series covering the entire book of Hebrews.
Two Journeys also offers a separate Hebrews podcast in a conversational Q&A format, which I particularly enjoy. It’s a helpful companion when working through challenging passages and theological questions.
Listen to the Hebrews Q&A podcast
Short Videos to Get You Started
If you’re new to Hebrews or simply want a big-picture overview before diving into the details, these two videos are excellent places to begin.
The BibleProject — Overview of Hebrews
A beautifully illustrated introduction to the book’s structure, major themes, and central message.
Spoken Gospel — Hebrews
A short, Christ-centered introduction that helps us see how Hebrews reveals the person and work of Jesus.
Hymns for Hebrews — Jesus Is Better
I’ve also put together a Spotify playlist of hymns to accompany our journey through Hebrews! Music has a wonderful way of helping us meditate on the truths we’re studying and carry them with us throughout the day. These hymns celebrate the supremacy of Christ, His finished work, His faithfulness, and the glorious hope we have in Him. Whether you’re reading, driving, cooking, or simply taking a quiet moment to worship, I hope these songs will help turn what we’re learning into praise.
🎵 Listen to my Hebrews Hymn Playlist on Spotify
Remember, these resources are meant to help us understand Scripture, not replace our own careful reading of it. The most important thing is reading the Book of Hebrews itself. If you can, read this book at least ten times or more during this study. My hope is that these resources will encourage us to dig deeper, ask better questions, and ultimately grow in our knowledge and love of Christ.
