The Book of Hebrews is about Jesus Christ. The first three verses give the reader a big clue as to what they will be reading as they proceed: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews is not only about Jesus Christ, it is about His superiority over everything the intended audience has ever thought of as important. The unknown author is attempting to teach Jesus and His preeminence over everyone and everything.

The writer sets up his audience in chapter one by speaking of the past and how God spoke to people. It appears as if he is setting his listeners up for a climax. God at one time spoke through prophets, but then He spoke through His Son. Given the description of the Son here it is evident that He is superior to the prophets and forefathers. But then the author speaks of angels and how the Son is superior to angels. None of them, though they are glorious creatures, were ever told to receive worship (1:6) or sit on a throne that lasts forever (1:8) or to sit at God's right hand (1:13). The author then puts angels in their rightful place by calling them exactly what they are -- "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation" (1:14). That is what they are, but Jesus is better.

In chapter two the writer warns that careful attention must be given to what they have heard. The message from angels was binding, but since Jesus is greater than angels His message most certainly cannot be ingored. The world is not subject to angels, and the writer attempts to show this by quoting various psalms and showing how Jesus, who came as a man, had everything put under His feet and has nothing that is not subject to Himself. Jesus was made perfect through suffering, and it is not the angels He helps but Abraham’s descendants (2:16). Jesus was made like His brothers so that He would become a merciful and faithful high priest making atonement for the sins of the people. No angel could do that, but because Jesus was tempted in every way he is able to help those who are being tempted (2:18).

In chapters three and four the writer, once again, speaks of the superiority of Christ. He tells how Jesus was faithful to God who appointed Him -- just as Moses was faithful to God’s calling. Now it is Moses whom Christ is compared to. The writer just bluntly states it in verse three: "Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses..." Moses was faithful, and he was held in the highest esteem by this predominately Jewish audience. He testified as to what would happen in the future, but Christ is said to be faithful over the house of God which is the entire body of Christ. Moses led a large group of people who hardened their hearts and were unable to enter into God’s rest. The writer encourages the audience that since Christ is better than Moses His rest is greater as well. Steering clear of sin is what will keep that hardness from creeping in so that the superior rest offered by Christ will be enjoyed. In 4:8 Joshua is spoken of as the one who, though he led the Israelites into the Promised Land, still did not give the Israelites rest. He was a great and might warrior, faithful to God, but Jesus has come to provide rest by allowing people to enter into God’s rest.

Now since Christ is such a great high priest, greater and mightier than anyone who has gone before Him, the writer insists that the faith they profess should be held on to with a firm grip. This high priest is one who can sympathize with the weaknesses of all men because He too had been tempted in every way -- yet He was without sin. Christ is superior to any high priest because He had been tempted in every way, and what other high priest could ever have said that?

They were selected from among men in order that they might represent matters related to God in the form of sacrifices. The high priests, however, had to offer sacrifices on thier own behalf because they too were sinful men. Christ was sinless though, and His high priesthood is superior as a result. This superiority over the high priesthood comes also from the fact that Jesus did not take this honor Himself. Jesus, like Aaron, was called by God, but Jesus was told to sit at God’s right hand and is called a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (5:6).

In chapter six the writer admonishes the audience to move on from the elementary teachings about Christ and seek the next step. His superiority cannot be seen as well through elementary teachings, and the author wants the audience to understand why Christ is superior to the old high priesthood even though He is not in the Levitic line. He goes on to expound on who Melchizedek is in relation to Abraham in order to, once again, show how Christ is superior to that.

Chapter seven is a brief history lesson for the audience given to set the stage for what the author wants to prove, namely, that Christ is a high priest forever -- not just for a short period of time like their human high priests were. Even Abraham is seen giving a tithe to this Melchizedek, and Abraham was the "Father of the Jews." From Abraham came Isaac, from Isaac, Jacob, and from Jacob, Levi who was the father of the priestly line. Jesus came from Jacob’s line through another son named Judah which meant that He was not qualified to be a priest. The writer, however, is enlightening the audience here by comparing the priestly line of Melchizedek, who came long before Levi, with Jesus. All of this is to show Christ’s superiority over the Levitical priesthood, namely the high priesthood who descended from Aaron. Christ is superior here as well because, as verse 18 states, the former regulation was weak and useless. Furthermore, Jesus became a priest through an oath by God Himself as evidenced from Psalm 110:4. Christ lives forever making Him superior to any high priest who lived before Him, and He meets all the needs of the people, unlike the Levitical high priesthood. His sacrifice is once for all (7:28).

Chapter eight tells the point of the whole matter. The high priest has sat down at the right hand of the Father. He lives to make intercession for all believers. His ministry is superior to the one Moses set up with the tabernacle, and it is founded on better promises (8:8). If the first covenant (law) had been superior then another would not have been made through Jesus Christ, but God found fault with the people and made a covenant where He would write the law on their hearts and minds; He would be their God and they would be their people. All people would know Him from the least to the greatest, and there would no longer be any need for people to admonish others to know the Lord. By calling this covenant new the former one is obsolete (8:13).

Chapter nine begins by recapping worship in the tabernacle and the purpose of the high priest on the Day of Atonement. Even from the outset of this chapter it is plain to see that the author is making another point in order to illustrate Christ’s superiority. He speaks of the tabernacle and its contents and the priests along with their functions. The turning point in this chapter is in verse 11 where the author says, "When Christ came as a high priest..." The point is clearly made that His tabernacle is greater and more perfect. He was able to enter the Most Holy Place without having blood, and this was not proper for the earthly high priests. They had to make atonement for their own sins, but Jesus was sinless. He entered by His own blood, and He is able to cleanse the consciences of all people from the acts that lead to death so that all may serve the living God (9:14).

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming (10:1). If the law is what is viewed as good by the readers of this book -- and it is only a shadow -- then obviously something better is coming, and this is precisely what the author is saying. The sacrificial system could never make those who offered them perfect at any time. Christ recognized this and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice. In this instance He is superior to the sacrificial system. God was not pleased with the old order of things, but He was pleased with Christ who came to do His will. God set aside the first in order to establish the second. Jesus died once and for all, and daily/annual sacrifices are no longer needed because His sacrifice is simply better. Since it is better there is no use in observing the old order of sacrifices offered daily and annually. With this established by the author he now admonishes his audience to move forward and persevere in this faith.

Chapter 11 sets out a whole host of Old Testament heroes who were faithful. The author recognizes many, and in chapter 12 he encourages his audience to throw off all that might hinder them and run the race with perseverance. The key here is found in verse 2 where focusing in on Jesus, who is the author and perfector of faith, is taught. It is not the law that is to be looked at, rather it is Jesus. Jesus endured the cross and its shame, and He now sits at God’s right hand. He now calls His children "sons," and because He loves these "sons" He disciplines them. The readers are not at the base of Mount Sinai where if they touched the mountain they died back in the time of Moses. Now they have come to Mount Zion, the Holy, heavenly city of God. Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant between God and man, and His blood is better than the blood of Abel (12:24).

When all is said and done in the Book of Hebrews it is clear that the main argument the author is making is that Christ is superior to all. He is superior to the angels, to Moses, to the high priest, and to the old covenant. He is superior to everything, and once this predominately Jewish the audience is made to see this then they will put aside the old way of doing things. The author is attempting to paint two pictures. On one side he pictures all that his audience reveres and sees as important. On the other side he paints a picture of Jesus. When the illustration is finished it is clear from the author’s viewpoint that Jesus Christ really is superior and greater in every way to that which was held in high esteem by this Jewish audience. Since Christ is greater than all else there is no legitimate reason for anyone to cling to that which is inferior. Christ is better.