24. new--not the usual term (kaine) applied to the
Christian covenant
(Heb 9:15),
which would mean new as different from, and superseding
the old; but Greek, "nea," "recent," "lately
established," having the "freshness of youth," as opposed to age. The
mention of Jesus, the Perfecter of our faith
(Heb 12:2),
and Himself perfected through sufferings and death, in His resurrection
and ascension
(Heb 2:10; 5:9),
is naturally suggested by the mention of "the just made perfect"
at their resurrection (compare
Heb 7:22).
Paul uses "Jesus," dwelling here on Him as the Person realized as our
loving friend, not merely in His official character as the
Christ.
and to the blood of sprinkling--here enumerated as distinct from
"Jesus." BENGEL reasonably argues as follows: His
blood was entirely "poured out" of His body by the various ways in
which it was shed, His bloody sweat, the crown of thorns, the
scourging, the nails, and after death the spear, just as the blood was
entirely poured out and extravasated from the animal sacrifices of the
law. It was incorruptible
(1Pe 1:18, 19).
No Scripture states it was again put into the Lord's body. At His
ascension, as our great High Priest, He entered the heavenly holiest
place "BY His own blood" (not after
shedding His blood, nor with the blood in His body, but),
carrying it separately from his body (compare the type,
Heb 9:7, 12, 25; 13:11).
Paul does not say, by the efficacy of His blood, but, "by His own
proper blood"
(Heb 9:12);
not MATERIAL blood, but "the blood of Him who,
through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot unto God"
(Heb 9:14).
So in
Heb 10:29,
the Son of God and the blood of the covenant wherewith he
(the professor) was sanctified, are mentioned separately. Also
in
Heb 13:12, 20;
also compare
Heb 10:19,
with Heb 10:21.
So in the Lord's Supper
(1Co 10:16; 11:24-26),
the body and blood are separately represented. The blood
itself, therefore, continues still in heaven before God, the perpetual
ransom price of "the eternal covenant"
(Heb 13:20).
Once for all Christ sprinkled the blood peculiarly for us at His
ascension
(Heb 9:12).
But it is called "the blood of sprinkling," on account also of its
continued use in heaven, and in the consciences of the saints on earth
(Heb 9:14; 10:22;
Isa 52:15).
This sprinkling is analogous to the sprinkled blood of the Passover.
Compare
Re 5:6,
"In the midst of the throne, a Lamb as it had been slain." His
glorified body does not require meat, nor the circulation of the blood.
His blood introduced into heaven took away the dragon's right to
accuse. Thus Rome's theory of concomitancy of the blood with the
body, the excuse for giving only the bread to the laity, falls to the
ground. The mention of "the blood of sprinkling" naturally follows the
mention of the "covenant," which could not be consecrated without
blood
(Heb 9:18, 22).
speaketh better things than that of Abel--namely, than the
sprinkling (the best manuscripts read the article masculine,
which refers to "sprinkling," not to "blood," which last is neuter) of
blood by Abel in his sacrifice spake. This comparison between two
things of the same kind (namely, Christ's sacrifice, and Abel's
sacrifice) is more natural, than between two things different in kind
and in results (namely, Christ's sacrifice, and Abel's own blood
[ALFORD], which was not a sacrifice at all);
compare
Heb 11:4;
Ge 4:4.
This accords with the whole tenor of the Epistle, and of this passage
in particular
(Heb 12:18-22),
which is to show the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and the new
covenant, to the Old Testament sacrifices (of which Abel's is the first
recorded; it, moreover, was testified to by God as acceptable to Him
above Cain's), compare
Heb 9:1-10:39.
The word "better" implies superiority to something that is good: but
Abel's own blood was not at all good for the purpose for which Christ's
blood was efficacious; nay, it cried for vengeance. So ARCHBISHOP MAGEE, HAMMOND, and KNATCHBULL. BENGEL takes "the blood of Abel" as put for all
the blood shed on earth crying for vengeance, and greatly increasing
the other cries raised by sin in the world; counteracted by the blood
of Christ calmly speaking in heaven for us, and from heaven to us. I
prefer MAGEE'S view. Be this as it may, to deny
that Christ's atonement is truly a propitiation, overthrows Christ's
priesthood, makes the sacrifices of Moses' law an unmeaning mummery,
and represents Cain's sacrifice as good as that of Abel.
JFB.
The Book of Hebrews
Hebrews 1:1-3 - God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 8:6 - But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Hebrews 11:1-3 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews in The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Introduction to The Book of Hebrews
Brief Summary. The Main theme of the book of Hebrews can be found in the opening verses. Jesus Christ is clearly greater than anything that the Old Covenant had produced. Jesus is the great high priest, the eternal mediator between God and man who never stops mediating, and is the perfect fulfillment of all prophecies and types and shadows pointing to the Hebrew Messiah within the Old Covenant. The book of Hebrews unveils Christ as the One who is greater than each of the types and shadows that were pointing to him in the Old Covenant. Moses was the great lawgiver, but Christ was the perfect fulfillment of the law. The high priest in the Old Testament offered sacrifices each year, Jesus the eternal high Priest offered himself once and for all. The promises contained in the Old Covenant were for a season, but the New Testament is built on better promises that are forever written on men's hearts.
Summary of The Book of Hebrews
Purpose. The main purpose of the epistle is to establish Christianity as being superior to the Law. The writer exalts the superiority of Christ to angels, to Moses and Joshua, and to the Levitical high-priesthood. The book of Hebrews also makes a contrast between the tabernacle and its sacrifices and the sacrifice of Christ. The write strongly warns the Hebrew Christian to remain faithful to the Christian religion and its principles and to separate from Judaism, which had served its purpose and which was about to lose their rituals, sacrifices, and Temple.
Audience. The writer titles his epistle "To the Hebrews" and every chapter and verse of the book is clearly designed to instruct and encourage those who were Hebrew in blood and had become followers of Jesus Christ. It appears that the Temple was still standing at the time this epistle was written because it is often alluded to.
Author. Unknown, evidence points to Paul. There has been much controversy regarding the authorship of the book of Hebrews. Some say that it was written by Barnabas, others say it was Luke, or Apollos. The author of the book does not state his name, but it is definitely Pauline in style. A greater number of scholars have attributed this book to Paul than any other author. The writer refers to "our brother Timothy" (Hebrews 13:23) and "they of Italy" (Hebrews 13:24). It also appears that the writer was imprisoned, from his request for prayers that he might be restored to his readers. Paul was imprisoned several times and this could refer to any of those. The only absolute conclusion is that which Origen expressed: "God only knows who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews."
Date. The book of Hebrews was probably written shortly after AD 60.
Place Written. It says in Hebrews 13:24 "They of Italy salute you" and this phrase indicates that the letter was written from Italy. It is probable that the Epistle was written near his second Roman imprisonment, about 60-62 AD.
Outline of the Book of Hebrews
Christ Greater Than the Prophets and Angels - Chapters 1-2
Christ Greater Than Moses and Joshua - Chapters 3-4
Christ Greater Than the Aaronic Priesthood - Chapters 5-8
Christ's New Covenant Greater Than the Old - Chapters 8-10
Faith in Christ Greater Than the Law - Chapters 11-13
The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus"
would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or
consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A).
Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means
"The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".
Hebrews Maps and Resources
Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus, in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary Journey's. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he returned to the cities he had first visited on his first missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19). (Color Map)
Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the "Nations" within the ancient world during the first century A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Greece This map reveals the cities within Greece in the ancient world during the first century A.D.,The map includes the principal cities of Greece like: Athens, Corinth, and Thessalonica, and provinces like Macedonia and Achaia. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Asia - This map shows the cities within
Asia Minor during the first century A.D., the time of the New
Testament. The map includes the principal cities of Asia
including Tarsus, Ephesus, and Colossae, and provinces like
Galatia and Pamphilia. (Color Map)