It is important to study the Book of Hebrews in
the light of all Scripture, and not as an isolated book.
Even though the author is not directly named, it is
generally believed that Paul was the writer of this
great book.
The main message of Hebrews is summarized in
chapter 6:1, “…let us go on unto perfection”
(spiritual maturity). In chapter 1 we see Christ’s
superiority over the prophets and the angels, those who
delivered God’s Word in the old dispensation. As you
read the Book of Hebrews, note how often the writer
related to the word of the Old Testament. He uses many
quotations from the Book of Psalms; yet few of us ever
look for Christ in the Psalms.
Chapter 2 continues the argument of chapter 1,
that Christ is better than the angels. In chapter 3 we
move into the third argument for the superiority of
Christ: Christ is better than Moses. Of course, Moses
was the great hero of the Jewish nation, and for Paul to
prove Christ’s superiority over Moses was for him to
prove the superiority of the Christian faith over
Judaism. Paul’s motive here was to prevent the people
from going back to Judaism, when Christ offered so much
more.
The warning in chapter 3:12 applies not only to
the Hebrews, but also to believers today. Unbelief is
the one besetting sin of Christians, and this unbelief
comes from an evil heart. It is one thing to trust God
for salvation, and quite another to surrender our wills
and lives to Him for daily guidance and service. Many,
many Christians are still wandering in the wilderness of
defeat and unbelief. They have been saved out of Egypt,
so to speak, but they have never crossed into the
Promised Land to claim their inheritance in Christ. Sin
in the life of the believer is deceptive. It begins
small, but continues to grow until it affects our entire
outlook on living. Doubting God in one point can lead to
unbelief in many points. Those who doubt and disobey are
inviting God’s chastisement and possible judgment in
this life. Unbelief is a serious thing. For a Christian
to live a life of unbelief is to live a defeated life,
never knowing the joy of a surrendered life of trust in
the Son of God, who gave His life to save us eternally,
but who also gives us life more abundantly now.