When we look at some of the epistles, we can see a clear purpose behind the authorship of those letters. We understand the specific issues that motivated the authorship of books like I Corinthians and Galatians. In the case of Hebrews, we might turn to Hebrews 6:4 as a warning against apostasy. Chapter 13:7-9 warns against falling away to false teaching. We also see several contrasts between the Old and New Covenants; but the book was perhaps ultimately written as motivation – to move the readers of this epistle to action.
A Letter of Exhortation
Chapter 13:22 of Hebrews says:
We sometimes us the words edify and exhort interchangeably. Where edify means “to build up,” though, exhort is defined by urging one forward, and the term is used in Hebrews at least five times. Hebrews 10:36 calls to a need for endurance, and those reading this book needed to be urged forward to that endurance.
The Hebrew Congregation
This book was written to Christians coming out of Judaism; the author makes this clear in Hebrews 2:16, and chapter 13:17-19 leads us to the conclusion that the author knew this group personally. Chapter 10:32-34 speaks to the strong character of this congregation – those who had suffered loss, persecution, and who have been compassionate. Also, based on chapter 5:12, this was not a new congregation, and they were a group active in serving their fellow Christians.
If all of these qualities are true, why would this group need such urging forward? They had been enduring persecution for years, and those years were taking their toll. Many of these may have been second- or third- generation Christians, and the author warns them, in chapter 2, from becoming sluggish, of drifting away. This was a congregation with a strong reputation, but the Hebrew writer could see beyond that reputation to a group that was beginning to wane.
Their Exhortation and Ours
The writer of Hebrews uses a series of “let us” statements. Chapters 4:1, 4:11, 4:16, 10:23, 10:22, 10:24, 12:1, 12:28 , 13:13, 13:15 – these verses and more call the Hebrew congregation to action, and the author includes himself in that call. He does not isolate himself or hold the congregation at arm’s length. We cannot move forward while remaining inactive, and we have to be willing to answer that call.
The Hebrew author continues by pointing their way to something better, especially before those who would return to the faith of their fathers and grandfathers. Chapters 7-11 lay out the clear case that Jesus’ sacrifice is superior to the Old Covenant at every point – a better country, a better promise, a better sacrifice, a better hope, a better priesthood. In the face of this, to what could we turn if we drift away from Christ’s message. There is nothing better.
The term eternal also returns time and again. Chapters 5:9, 6:2, 9:12, 9:14-15, 13:20 – these lay out what is at stake. Do we leave the eternal promises for the brief promises of this world? The point is one of perspective, enduring things now that will seem brief and insubstantial in comparison to the eternity that faces us.
A Message of Hope
The Hebrew writer ultimately exhorts his audience by pointing them toward hope. Chapter 6:9 talks about faith, endurance, hope, and love – all based on God’s unbreakable promises. In this, he calls on us to run toward a hope that serves as an anchor in the time of storms. The Hebrew writer looks to our hope in Christ, the hope of those who came before us, the hope of a better land, a steadfast hope that nothing can remove from us.
Sometimes, like Elijah, we feel as if we are the only ones standing on the side of God, but the Hebrew writer, in chapters 11 and 12, calls on us to look at those who came before. By faith, they accomplished more than we can sometimes imagine, and their faith was based in that anchor of hope. They are the great cloud of witnesses who surround us, who point toward Jesus, in whom we also have hope and assurance.
Hebrews 2 speaks to Christ’s abasement and sacrifice for all of our sakes, that we may have hope and can be called brothers in His salvation. Chapter 6:20 calls Him our forerunner, and Hebrews 12:1-3 names Him the author, the founder, the protector of our faith, conquering sin and death. We have hope because our Brother endured shame and the cross, sitting down at the right hand of God, setting down the path by which we may reach Heaven.
That is what we ultimately hope for – that Holy of Holies, that land beyond the veil, the place where sorrows cease to exist. Chapters 7:4, 9:24, 12:22 all point us toward that hope provided of us. It is toward hope we must push forward, enduring anything and everything this life can throw at us, pushing ourselves forward and exhorting our brothers and sisters to run with endurance toward the prize laid before us.
lesson by Tim Smelser
A Letter of Exhortation
Chapter 13:22 of Hebrews says:
I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
We sometimes us the words edify and exhort interchangeably. Where edify means “to build up,” though, exhort is defined by urging one forward, and the term is used in Hebrews at least five times. Hebrews 10:36 calls to a need for endurance, and those reading this book needed to be urged forward to that endurance.
The Hebrew Congregation
This book was written to Christians coming out of Judaism; the author makes this clear in Hebrews 2:16, and chapter 13:17-19 leads us to the conclusion that the author knew this group personally. Chapter 10:32-34 speaks to the strong character of this congregation – those who had suffered loss, persecution, and who have been compassionate. Also, based on chapter 5:12, this was not a new congregation, and they were a group active in serving their fellow Christians.
If all of these qualities are true, why would this group need such urging forward? They had been enduring persecution for years, and those years were taking their toll. Many of these may have been second- or third- generation Christians, and the author warns them, in chapter 2, from becoming sluggish, of drifting away. This was a congregation with a strong reputation, but the Hebrew writer could see beyond that reputation to a group that was beginning to wane.
Their Exhortation and Ours
The writer of Hebrews uses a series of “let us” statements. Chapters 4:1, 4:11, 4:16, 10:23, 10:22, 10:24, 12:1, 12:28 , 13:13, 13:15 – these verses and more call the Hebrew congregation to action, and the author includes himself in that call. He does not isolate himself or hold the congregation at arm’s length. We cannot move forward while remaining inactive, and we have to be willing to answer that call.
The Hebrew author continues by pointing their way to something better, especially before those who would return to the faith of their fathers and grandfathers. Chapters 7-11 lay out the clear case that Jesus’ sacrifice is superior to the Old Covenant at every point – a better country, a better promise, a better sacrifice, a better hope, a better priesthood. In the face of this, to what could we turn if we drift away from Christ’s message. There is nothing better.
The term eternal also returns time and again. Chapters 5:9, 6:2, 9:12, 9:14-15, 13:20 – these lay out what is at stake. Do we leave the eternal promises for the brief promises of this world? The point is one of perspective, enduring things now that will seem brief and insubstantial in comparison to the eternity that faces us.
A Message of Hope
The Hebrew writer ultimately exhorts his audience by pointing them toward hope. Chapter 6:9 talks about faith, endurance, hope, and love – all based on God’s unbreakable promises. In this, he calls on us to run toward a hope that serves as an anchor in the time of storms. The Hebrew writer looks to our hope in Christ, the hope of those who came before us, the hope of a better land, a steadfast hope that nothing can remove from us.
Sometimes, like Elijah, we feel as if we are the only ones standing on the side of God, but the Hebrew writer, in chapters 11 and 12, calls on us to look at those who came before. By faith, they accomplished more than we can sometimes imagine, and their faith was based in that anchor of hope. They are the great cloud of witnesses who surround us, who point toward Jesus, in whom we also have hope and assurance.
Hebrews 2 speaks to Christ’s abasement and sacrifice for all of our sakes, that we may have hope and can be called brothers in His salvation. Chapter 6:20 calls Him our forerunner, and Hebrews 12:1-3 names Him the author, the founder, the protector of our faith, conquering sin and death. We have hope because our Brother endured shame and the cross, sitting down at the right hand of God, setting down the path by which we may reach Heaven.
That is what we ultimately hope for – that Holy of Holies, that land beyond the veil, the place where sorrows cease to exist. Chapters 7:4, 9:24, 12:22 all point us toward that hope provided of us. It is toward hope we must push forward, enduring anything and everything this life can throw at us, pushing ourselves forward and exhorting our brothers and sisters to run with endurance toward the prize laid before us.
lesson by Tim Smelser
