HEBREWS: A LETTER OF EXHORTATION

“I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation…” — Hebrews 13:22

---

Hebrews Is a Book of Exhortation

• A letter written to encourage believers to persevere in faith.

Hebrews Is a Book of Warnings

1. Warning not to neglect our great salvation.
2. Warning not to harden our hearts against the Holy Spirit.
3. Warning not to become slothful.
4. Warning not to draw back into apostasy.
5. Warning of sin and rejection of Jesus.

Hebrews Is a Book of Comparisons

• Jesus is greater than the prophets.
• Jesus is greater than the angels.
• Jesus is greater than Moses.
• Jesus is greater than Joshua.
• Jesus’ priesthood is greater than the priesthood of Aaron.
• The new covenant is greater than the old.
• The blood of Christ is greater than the blood of animals.

Hebrews Is a Book of Redemption Themes

• The sufferings and exaltation of Jesus Christ.
• The high priestly ministry of Christ.
• The new covenant.
• The blood of Christ.
• The reward for enduring faith.

---

OUTLINE OF HEBREWS

1. The Son Revealed (Ch. 1)

• The Son in whom God speaks is greater than the prophets (1:1–2).
• The glory of the Son (1:3).
• The superiority of the Son to angels (1:4–7).
• The exaltation of the Son (1:8–14).

2. First Warning

• Do not neglect our great salvation (2:1–3).
• God’s power confirming the gospel – a foretaste of the world to come (2:4–5).
• Humanity lower than angels (2:6–8).
• Jesus’ humanity and suffering for us (2:9–10).
• Jesus accepts us as His brethren (2:11–13).
• Jesus defeated the devil (2:14–15).
• Jesus is the seed of Abraham (2:16).
• Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest (2:17–18).

3. Jesus, Our Apostle and High Priest (Ch. 3–4)

• Jesus is faithful to God (3:2).
• Jesus is greater than Moses (3:3–6).

Second Warning:

• Do not grieve the Holy Spirit or harden your hearts (3:7–15).
• Israel’s failure in the wilderness because of unbelief (3:16–19).
• Entering God’s true Sabbath rest: the finished work of Christ (4:1–11).
• Nothing hidden from Christ (4:12–13).
• Our great high priest in the heavens (4:14–16).

4. Jesus the Perfect High Priest (Ch. 5–7)

• The ministry of the high priest (5:1–4).
• Christ called and perfected as high priest (5:5–11).

Third Warning:

• Against slothfulness leading to apostasy (5:11–6:12).
• Spiritual growth and the Word of God (5:12–14).
• The principles of the doctrine of Christ (6:1–3).
• Qualifications for permanent apostasy (6:4–8).
• God’s faithfulness and encouragement (6:9–11).
• Abraham as an example of faith and patience (6:12–15).
• God’s promises and oaths give strong confidence (6:16–18).
• Jesus in the presence of God is our hope (6:19–20).
• Christ’s priesthood after the order of Melchizedek (7:1–24).

5. The New Covenant and the Blood of Christ (Ch. 8–10)

• Jesus’ more excellent ministry (8:1–6).
• The old covenant replaced by the new (8:7–13).
• Earthly sanctuary and sacrifices as shadows of Christ (9:1–10).
• Christ fulfills the foreshadowing (9:11–15).
• Only Jesus’ blood can take away sin (9:18–22; 10:1–4).
• Christ came to do God’s will (10:5–14).
• The Holy Spirit testifies to Christ’s finished work (10:15–18).
• Invitation to draw near to God by the blood of Jesus (10:19–22).
• Exhortations to persevere in faith (10:23–25).

Fourth Warning:

• Against willful sinning and drawing back (10:26–39).

6. Enduring Faith and Godly Living (Ch. 11–13)

• The faith of the great cloud of witnesses (11:1–12:1).
• Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (12:2–4).
• The Lord’s chastening (12:5–11).
• Exhortation to press on in faith (12:12–14).

Fifth Warning:

• Beware of sin and rejecting Jesus (12:15–29).

7. Practical Exhortations (Ch. 13)

• Continue in brotherly love.
• Show hospitality to strangers.
• Remember prisoners and the mistreated.
• Be faithful in marriage.
• Be free from the love of money; trust God’s promise.
• Remember and follow faithful leaders.
• Avoid strange doctrines; establish hearts in grace.
• Bear Christ’s reproach.
• Offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually.
• Do good and share with the needy.
• Submit to godly leaders.
• Pray for the writer and his companions.

Closing:

• Benediction and encouragement (13:20–21).
• Appeal to accept the letter as a word of exhortation (13:22).
• Final greetings and blessing (13:23–25).