A Walk Through Hebrews Chapters 1–7
The epistle to the Hebrews provides a unique view to Jesus Messiah as King and Priest. In this, we see an expansion of Psalm 110. In addition, we are privy to view Jesus as the Son of God, who was enfleshed to be the Son of man (Jn 1:14).
Hebrews 1 launches us directly into high Christology. The attributes of the exalted Son are displayed for us to marvel, even to worship Him who God (the Father) calls “God” (1:8). As in Colossians 1, also high Christology, we learn that this God-man is the Creator of the heavens and the earth (1:10).
If one is to fix his eyes on Jesus (12:2), there may be no better place to do so than Hebrews 1. In fact, with His name above every other name (1:4; Phil 2:9), we are positioned to compare others to whom adoration is commonly misappropriated.
In seeing Jesus as the exclusive Savior (Jn 14:6; Titus 1:4; 2:13), the author warns us not to drift away from pure devotion to Christ. Being body and soul, men have a spiritual element within them that finds spiritual things alluring — like angels. Angels cannot save sinners estranged from God; but that was Jesus’ exclusive mission from heaven — to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Jesus is the Savior of His family — bringing many sons to glory (2:10).
The death of Messiah is baffling (a mystery), until it is explained to us. That, Jesus, our merciful and faithful high priest came to our aid, in propitiating the anger and wrath of God against us, means we must understand something of how He did so (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:1).
Christ died for us (1 Cor 15:3), the just for the unjust (1 Pet 3:18), the God-man for the ungodly (Rom 5:6). In order to be in the position to do this, He left the glory of heaven and descended for a time below the angels (Phil 2:5–11). So, if a man only sees Jesus as a man, he will look above Christ for his salvation (e. g. Arians; Jehovah’s Witnesses). He will worship angels, even demons as they endeavor to deceive him, even posing as Jehovah.
In chapter 3 of Hebrews, Jesus Christ is presented as the faithful Son, over Moses, who was a faithful servant (3:2). Men like Korah fell away from faith and obedience during Moses’ day. There is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9). The warning against falling away from pure and exclusive devotion to Christ remains. God’s wrath remains against either pure or partial idolatry.
Old Testament ethnic Israel repeatedly rebelled against Yahweh, even becoming the example of unbelief and disobedience (1 Cor 10). There was no rest in the land because the people of Israel hardened their hearts toward Yahweh. It is the Word of God itself that cultivates the hardened soil of the heart (4:12). Once the ground is broken, the seed of the Word is deposited in the same way. Faith will manifest where good soil has been prepared and the Word planted (Mt 13).
At the end of chapter 4, we move from the comparison of Jesus to angels, then Moses and Joshua — representative of warrior kings who lead their family/nation — to the great high priest, whom the writer has already identified as “a merciful and faithful high priest” (2:17). This is a comparison to Aaron, Moses’ brother, and whose family was ordained by Yahweh to serve as priests in the tabernacle/temple.
Men need a priest to represent them in their weakness. The priest stands between men and God to work as a mediator, offering sacrifices for sins (5:1). The old system was never meant to be permanent, however. It was only a type and shadow of the reality to come in the future. Jesus, who is identified as the true Israel (Is 49:1–7), came as the Apostle from heaven (3:1), to gather and represent them before God. He is the source of eternal salvation for those who believe and obey Him, in truth (5:9).
At the end of chapter 5 of Hebrews the author identifies the problem with the Jews, who do not receive nor believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of God (Jn 1:11). There is nothing wrong with the Word of God, the Word of righteousness (5:13). There is nothing wrong with the method of communicating the message — the preaching of the Word (Rom 10:13–15; 2 Tim 4:2). The problem is with the heart of the hearer (Ezek 36:26; Rom 10:8–10) of God’s Word, Christ being preached (1 Cor 1:18; 2:2)
People love religion, which is fleshly endeavor masquerading as spirituality, even though they hate God (Rom 1:30). If they actually loved Yahweh, the God of Israel, then they would love His only begotten Son when they heard His name and about His works (Jn 8:42). It is the gift of heaven when one encounters the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 10:45), who testifies to the excellencies, the superiority, and the supremacy of Christ Jesus — the one Mediator between God and man (Jn 15:26; 1 Tim 2:5).
People are warned in Hebrews 6 that they themselves are revealed by what results from preaching and hearing of the word of Christ (Rom 10:17). They will either produce good fruit, or manifest thorns and thistles, based on what is in them when they encounter the Spirit and the Word.
The promise (Word) of God will spur the recipient believer on to love and good works that will not be forgotten by God (6:10; Jas 2:18, 20, 26). The Word manifests faith in Christ (Rom 10:17; Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29) but also hope in those promises He has made. God’s Word, Jesus Christ, is our only hope (1 Tim 1:1; 2 Tim 1:1).
Jesus, resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven, is the forerunner of His people into that place (6:20). He has promised to go and prepare a place for us in His Father’s house, where there are many mansions (Jn 14:2–3). There, as high priest, He serves after the order of Melchizedek, the man who served as king/priest of Salem back in Abraham’s day (Gen 14:18; Ps 110:4; Heb 7:4).
Jesus’ priesthood is the perfect one that is perpetual because He is eternal (7:3; 13:8), as is the eternal covenant that secures an eternal salvation (5:9; 9:15; 13:20), declared by an eternal Gospel to be proclaimed (Rev 14:6). All of this was made reality by Jesus’ one-time, once-for-all-His people for all time, sacrifice of Himself (7:27; 10:12), as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29).
In summary, Hebrews chapter 1–7 presents high Christology, where we learn the superiority of Jesus Christ to everyone and everything. The author shows us the perfections of Jesus’ Person and works. Simply put, Jesus is better than what was revealed in the Old Testament and what the Jews were trusting in (see also Romans 10).
In conclusion, we must bow before Christ Jesus; and confess Him as our sovereign Lord, King, Priest and Prophet of the Most High God because He Himself is God enfleshed. As the Son of God, He has created all things and upholds all things by the Word of His power. As the Son of man, Jesus ever lives, as our great high priest, to make intercession for God’s chosen people, given to Him by the Father before creation and redeemed at the cross. It is Him we proclaim, in part from Hebrews 1–7…to the glory of God.
David Norczyk
Howell, Michigan
May 15, 2025
Hebrews 1–7
