“Have you ever traveled to a new city and felt disoriented until you started to find your way around, the lines and boxes on your GPS gradually morphing into real, three-dimensional places with which you were familiar? As we become familiar with the New Testament book of Hebrews, we may have a similar sense of disorientation until we begin to know our way around. It has been said that “Hebrews is a delight for the person who enjoys puzzles.” But if you are willing to put the time in to walk through the fascinating twists and turns of this ancient Christian text, you will begin to discover its theological riches and relevance for today.
Hebrews is worth the effort for several reasons. First, Hebrews is unique among the New Testament writings…no other book focuses on the high priesthood of Jesus. In fact, the author’s interaction with the Old Testament Scriptures shines a light on Christology that offers a unique perspective on both Jesus’ identity and his sacrificial work in dealing with our sins. Second, unlike any other book in the New Testament…Hebrews originally was a sermon, which the author crafted for the congregations addressed…Third, Hebrews was written to address real-life, nitty-gritty challenges that believers faced at a critical time in the church’s development. It is easy to approach Hebrews as a heady, theologically-oriented “lecture,” meant to impress with deep theology and high-sounding rhetoric. But Hebrews is both pastoral and relevant for both the life of the individual believer and the church as a whole. The author uses solid teaching to address crying needs, especially the need to “hang in there” in following Jesus when life becomes difficult.”
– Grant R. Osborne