Readings: Hebrews 1:1-4
Quotes:
Peter T. O’Brien from the Pillar Commentary on Hebrews.
“The listeners were tired of bearing the shame of living outside their cultural heritage (13:13). Novel teachings (13:9) that stood over against the gospel (13:7-8) were becoming the focus of their attention, and some members began to withdraw from their meetings for Christian fellowship (10:25). The possible threat of persecution by state authorities might be avoided under the umbrella of Judaism’s protected status as a religio licita (permitted or approved religion) in the Roman Empire. But whatever the precise reasons, it is the outcome of such a turning away that is of great concern to the author.”
D.A. Carson and Douglas Moo from their Introduction to the New Testament:
“Christ, his sacrifice, and his priestly work are so relativized that they are effectively denied, and apostasy is only a whisker away. It is to prevent just such a calamity that the author writes this epistle.”
John Piper:
“Only the power of God’s superior promises in the gospel can emancipate our hearts from servitude to the shallow promises and fleeting pleasures of sin.”
From Arthur Pink’s commentary An Exposition of Hebrews:
“The new covenant is contrasted with the old covenant, not in the way in which the light of the knowledge of God is contrasted with the darkness and ignorance of heathenism, for the old covenant is also of God, and is therefore possessed of Divine glory. Beautiful is the night in which the moon and the stars of prophecy and types are shining; but when the sun arises then we forget the hours of watchfulness and expectancy, and in the clear and joyous light of day there is revealed to us the reality and substance of the eternal and heavenly sanctuary.”