Better Things in the Book of Hebrews
The writer of the Book of Hebrews in the Bible wishes to demonstrate to his readers how Jesus is better than the Old Testament system of faith and practice. The Jewish people practiced their religion, and certain ideas were important to them. Let us consider how Jesus makes those things better.
Better Son (Heb 1:4) — Jewish people have long considered their ethnic people group to be God’s beloved son. Even today, a Jewish person would read Isaiah 53 and tell you this is a prophecy about the Jewish people and their political plight in the history of the world. The writer of Hebrews wants his Jewish readers to see how the Son of God is really Jesus Messiah.
As we will observe, Israel served as a type to be fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The opening chapter of Hebrews serves as one key chapter of high Christology. Along with John 1, Colossians 1, and Revelation 1, the reader of the Hebrews 1 is given an especially important concentration of knowledge pertaining to Jesus’ identity and function.
The angels are higher creatures than humans. As created spirits they serve God in diverse capacities. The Son of God left His exalted position and humbled Himself below the angels and became enfleshed (Jn 1:14). As the sinless Son of Man (Heb 4:15; 7:26), Jesus is the fairest of Israel (Is 49:3). As the federal head of God’s chosen people (Rom 5:12–21; Col 1:18), He accomplishes all things in our stead and for our benefit. Jesus is the better Son, who is bringing many sons to glory (Heb 2:10).
Better Salvation (Heb 6:9) — The Jewish people had a sense of their need for God’s salvation. They understood sin and the separation from God. They viewed the Gentiles as much further away than themselves. After all, to them, Yahweh was the God of Israel, but there was evidence of God having mercy on the Gentiles, too. There was the Court of the Gentiles in the Temple itself. A peculiar remnant of Gentiles, known as “God fearers,” would attach themselves to the Jewish people and convert to Yahweh-ism.
Crucial to salvation was the removal of sin by way of the Temple cult and sacrificial system. The Jews had the very raw and real picture of reconciliation with God through the blood sacrifice of animals in a system of substitutionary atonement (Lev 14). The system was temporary, and it anticipated something better and more permanent. Unfortunately, it bred a notion for works-based salvation through the keeping of the Law.
When Jesus Messiah came, He fulfilled the old system and He Himself was the anti-type. He is the sacrifice, the high priest, and even the Temple itself. Jesus is a better salvation because what is required of us is complete in Him.
Salvation from God comes to God’s elect people by grace. God is merciful and gracious to order, execute, and apply salvation to the people to whom He gives faith (2 Pet 1:3; Phil 1:29). As the Reformers highlighted, salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone, as revealed in the Scriptures alone.
Better Promises (Heb 8:6) — Sinful man is and has nothing without God. Idol imposters, that is, demons posing as gods, make promises but do not have the power to keep them. They are liars and deceivers. Yahweh made promises to Abraham, to Moses, to David and the prophets. All of the promises God made in the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The promises of a new covenant also find their fulfillment in Jesus, who summed up these blessed promises with His own terms: inheritance; eternal life; reign; glory; etc.
One significant promise pertaining to the new covenant was the promise to send the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26). The Holy Spirit applies the new covenant works of Christ and fulfills God’s promises to His covenanted people. What the Father had promised, Jesus fulfilled. What Jesus promised, the Spirit fulfilled. There are promises not yet fulfilled, but the promises which have already been fulfilled serve as our great confidence and hope for all things being fulfilled in Christ. When promises are fulfilled, they prove to be better.
Better Covenant (Heb 7:22) — The old covenant consisted of the Law of Moses, the priesthood, and the Temple. It was on-again, off again, supported by kings and prophets, but even the prophetic word given to the prophets included an expectation of the new and better covenant (Jer 31:31–34; Ezek 36:22–32).
Jesus is everything to the new covenant. He is the sacrificial lamb. He is the high priest. He is the guarantee. His blood was the redemption price paid in full for the sins of His people (Mt 1:21). The Israelites celebrated the Passover, which pointed to the Lamb of God, who said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood (1 Cor 11:25).” It is called an, “eternal covenant (Heb 13:20).” For this reason alone, it is better.
This eternal covenant is called a “covenant of grace.” Grace is from God, which means whatever is required in the covenant is graciously provided by God. His grace for keeping all obligations is sufficient for us. Jesus is our faithful covenant keeper with God the Father.
Better Sacrifices (Heb 9:23; 11:4) — Man was separated from God because of sin. God showed Israel what was needed to approach Him who is holy. The animal sacrifices under the old covenant were types of the Lamb who sacrificed Himself. Jesus laid down His life for His people, an atonement for their sins.
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. His sacrifice occurred one time on the Cross of Calvary. It was for all of His people past, present, and future (Rev 5:9). Just as Abel’s sacrifice was better than Cain’s sacrifice, so Jesus’ sacrifice was better than all of the sacrifices that came before Him. There is now no other sacrifice which can restore our right relationship with God. We have the righteousness of Christ, which means we have right standing before the judgment seat of God. We have peace with God through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain for us. This is better.
Better Blood (Heb 12:24) — Abel was righteous when he offered a blood sacrifice from his flocks (Gen 4). The blood of his substitute spoke of his faith in God’s provision for what was required of him. As Abraham told Isaac, “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering (Gen 22:8).”
The blood of Jesus washes and purifies those for whom it was shed, and upon whom it is sprinkled. Our faith is in the blood sacrifice of the Lamb, slain once for all of us who find ourselves in Christ’s covenant agreement with God the Father.
The blood of bulls and goats, which is a way of saying, ‘old covenant sacrifices,’ were not sufficient to permanently remove our debt of sin. Jesus’ blood is better because it has made for permanent atonement. Our sins: past, present, and future have been forgiven. Is there anything better?
Better Resurrection (Heb 11:35) — All people will be resurrected from the dead (Jn 5:29). Some will be raised to judgment, while those who have been baptized into Christ will be raised to life. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25).” He promised to give us this life, which holds the promise of life with a resurrection body. There is hope for this failing flesh.
Resurrection from the dead was known and even debated by the Jews, but the resurrection of Jesus from the dead informs us of the quality of the body. Our resurrection from the dead will grant us glorified bodies, which cannot sin, nor can they be harmed in any way. As with Jesus’ resurrected and glorified body, we will live forever, body and soul. Resurrection to life in Christ is better than resurrection to judgment.
Better Hope (Heb 7:9) — The old covenant came with many shadows and types. There was a hope in a coming Messiah, but the Jewish people did not understand His purpose. They had hope in a temporal glory for their people, in a physical land, with a material blessing. We have a better hope.
The new covenant brings a better hope to God’s blood bought people. We have hope in the return of Jesus Christ and hope in the same type of resurrection He experienced. As our bodies decay, and we see death all around us, there is great hope because of the course we have seen our Savior take to the throne of God in heaven. The better promises inform our better hope of a better future. We need to raise our interests above the temporal, to the heavenlies, where Christ is seated in glory. Our hope is in heaven. This is better.
Better Country (Heb 11:16) — The Israelites hoped for the land of promise in Canaan. How much better is heavenly Zion amidst the new heavens and the new earth? People of faith have the privilege of worshiping God in Spirit and truth wherever they find themselves. They have the better hope of worshiping Him face to face in the celestial city.
The Israelites faced many trials and temptations before entering the land of milk and honey. The people of the new covenant also face trials before we enter the gates of pearl and saunter along the streets of gold (Rev 21–22).
Even when Israel had secured the Promised Land, it was a tempestuous experience to prosper and secure the land. Our better country has the Almighty as its Sovereign King, and there is no threat from anything. Truly, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God (Heb 4:9). It is resting in the arms of Jesus.
Better Possession (Heb 10:34) — Israel was plundered by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Christians are encouraged to let goods and kindred go. The loss of the material world is the loss of that which has base value. Fear not those who kill the body but fear Him who has the power to cast the body and soul into eternal hell. Paul wrote, “I count all things as loss.” Better to lose what we cannot keep, for something we cannot lose. Knowing Jesus is our better possession with surpassing value.
Better Ministry (Heb 8:1) — The ministry of the Israelite priests was temporary and needed replacement, but the ministry of Christ is better. His one-time sacrifice on the Cross, for all His people, is sufficient for all time. His ongoing ministry as the mediator between God and man is eternal (1 Tim 2:5). We have a living and glorified advocate with the Father. He ever lives to make intercession for us.
Christians are employed in this better ministry as heralds of the good news of the Gospel of peace with God through Jesus Christ. Animals, lavers, altars, temples, etc. are no longer a laborious operation. Because Jesus’ ministry was better, we have a better ministry to make His name great among the nations. This is so much better.
Better Together (Heb 11:40) — God revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He continued to reveal himself through Moses and the prophets. A remnant in every generation was found to be people of faith. Their faith was in the Word of God and the expectation of all that was revealed in prophecy. When Christ came and fulfilled the Scriptures and the covenant, the attraction to Israel reversed direction and became a global promotion to the nations (Acts 1:8).
The ingathering of God’s people from every tongue, tribe, and nation is our delight (Rev 5:9). We are witnesses to the Holy Spirit’s work to call out to the elect in the world and gather them into the fold of faith. Together, the communion of saints from every generation and from every location is preparing for the wedding banquet (Mt 22), the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19). Christ is all and in all, and all things are better in Him.
The writer of Hebrews accomplished his objective in showing us all things better in Christ Jesus, our Lord. The Old Testament scriptures illustrate our New Testament key concepts. The New Testament scripture, especially Hebrews, demonstrates how Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was foreshadowed. In other words, Jesus is better.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
March 16, 2021
