Introduction to Hebrews

Messianic Miracles
• There were three messianic miracles
1. Healing a Jewish Leper (none recorded since Miriam; Commander Elijah healed was Jewish)
2. Healing a man who had been born blind (Pharisees rejected that miracle because it was done on the Sabbath and therefore in disobedience to the law)
3. Casting out a dumb demon (actually Jesus casts a demon out of a dumb and blind man).  Pharisees could cast out demons but only if the demon spoke his name
• Pharisees were required to perform a two-stage investigation
1. First stage was observation.  A delegation is sent to observe what was taking place and report back to Jerusalem.  It would determine if the event was significant or insignificant
2. Second stage was interrogation.  A delegation was sent to confront the messianic person through questions and accusations.  The delegation would report back to Jerusalem where the claims would be rejected or accepted


Jewish Background
Matt 8:2-4 (ESV) And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him,  "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."


• This is one of the key events in all of scripture
• Why does Jesus command him to tell no one, but to go to the priest? Lev 14 gives instructions for the healing of a Leper. It teaches that the Leper shall be brought to the priest
• Jews believed this would be a sign of the Messiah, since they had not seen it done
• The next passage is the event that immediately follows the healing of the Leper (Robertson A.T.; Also, Mark and Luke correctly record the chronology. Matthew is organized thematically)


Luke 5:17-26 (ESV) On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.  18  And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."  21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts?  23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?  24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the man who was paralyzed—"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home."  25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."


• I used Luke 5 instead of Matt 9:1-8 because Matthew ignores the over-crowding
• Why is his Capernaum home so crowded?
• Because of the previous incident
• Jesus has identified himself as the Messiah
• We are in the observation stage


Matt 12:22-27 (ESV) Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23  And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." 25  Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.  26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?  27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.


• The term "Son of David" is another term for the Messiah
• The people had seen many miracles before, and had not asked the question in verse 23, why this time?
• This is a messianic signal
• Who do the people turn to?
• The leadership
• This is still true today.  Many Jews will respond today that the reason they don't believe is  that the Rabbis say that Yeshua is not the Messiah
• What is the leadership' answer?
• This is the prince of demons
• His power is evil and demonic
• Rather, being the very person and nature of God in their midst, they have the very person and nature of evil in their midst (what a contrast!)
• What is Jesus' response?
• How do the Pharisees cast out demons … how can you say one does it by the spirit of God and the other by Satan


Matt 12:28-32 (ESV) But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.  30  Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.  31  Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.


• The Holy Spirit is the power by which the miracles are accomplished
• What is the blasphemy against the Spirit (the unpardonable sin)?
• My opinion:  this sin was specific to this point in time.  It is a rejection of God in the flesh and the signs of the Messiah shown through the power of the Holy Spirit by the leadership of Israel.  It is irrevocable by this generation (only)
• From this point on, Jesus' ministry changes
1. The offer of the kingdom to Israel is withdrawn (it will be re-offered in the tribulation)
2. Jesus still works to save individual Jews but not the nation
3. Miracles now require faith
4. Jesus speaks in parables from this point forward
5. Jesus refers to "this generation" repeatedly
6. Jesus spends more time alone with the disciples and less time publicly


Matt 12:38-42 (ESV) Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.  40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  41  The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.  42  The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.


• The amazing thing is that they now have the gall to ask for a sign, where have they been … ?
• Jesus says the he will give the nation only one sign (actually 3 times, Lazarus, Jesus, then the two witnesses at the end times), what is the sign?
• Sign of Jonah, 3 days and nights in the heart of the earth
• Why 3 days?
• Needed 3 days to not be a resuscitation
• Did you ever wonder why Jesus waits a couple of days after hearing Lazarus is dead?
• Three days and nights is a common Jewish way of saying all or part of 3 days
• We want to mathematically parse it, but that is not what they meant when they talked in those days
• Who does Jesus tell the Pharisees will judge them?
• Men of Nineveh
• Queen of the south
• What does Jesus call the leaders and the people?
• This generation
• What is Jesus saying?
• You blew it.  You failed to recognize the signs


Hebrews
• Date  AD 64-66
• Timothy - writer knows Timothy and is writing from Italy
Heb 13:2-24 (ESV) You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.
• Sacrifices are in the present tense - 7:8; 8:4
Heb 8:4 (ESV) Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.
• Turbulence
• Audience
• Believers 3:1, 12, 14; 6:9
Heb 3:1 (ESV) Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
Heb 3:12-14 (ESV) Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
• They are 2nd generation believers: 2:3; 5:12
Heb 2:3 (ESV) … how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, …
Heb 5:12 (ESV) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, …
• (Fruchtenbaum) Best suggestion is Jewish believers residing outside of Jerusalem, but near (Judea)
• Author
• He was not an eye witness. He is also a 2nd generation believer (2:3-4)
• Book possibly written in Hebrew or Aramaic, translated to Greek (covers up grammatical style)
• Some commentators have good argument why that would not be true
• Majority of commentators lean to Paul. He was an apostle to the Gentiles, but also to the Jews (Acts 9:16)
• Theme:  The Superiority of the Son
• Warning against going back to Judaism
• Danger of irrevocable decisions (Esau; Kadesh Barnea)
• Physical judgment (you can't go back and then turn around later) -- as a result of the "national" (not individual) sin of Israel
• Key words:
• Perfection (maturity as opposed to immaturity);
• Eternal (in contrast to temporary) also uses forever;
• Heavenly (in contrast to earthly); and
• Better (in contrast to good)
• Outline:
• Pre-eminence of the Son in His person and work (1:1-10:18)
• Jesus is better than the 3 pillars of Judaism: angels, Moses, and Levitical priesthood
• Jesus is better in all ways
• Practical application in the walk of the believer (10:19-13:25)
• Rules:
• Jewish usage of "save" or "salvation" is not always spiritual. Oftentimes it is physical


Sign of the Fall of Jerusalem (first question):  Only Luke 21:20-24
Luke 21:20-24 "When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.


• What is the sign?
• Sign:  Jerusalem surrounded by Armies
• Jerusalem trodden down until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled
• AD 66: First Jewish Revolt
• Roman General Cestus Gallus marched on Jerusalem and surrounded the city
• Could not escape
• Gallus inexplicably withdraws
• Christians escape to Pella in the Transjordan
• AD 68-70:
• Roman General Vespasian and son Titus besiege city
• AD 70: City destroyed.  1.1 to 1.4 M people died
• No Jewish believers died (according to Josephus)


Luke 21:5-7 (ESV) And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."  7 And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"


• This is the background for the destruction of Jerusalem and the setting for the book of Hebrews