Synthetic Bible Studies by James Gray

• Title Page
• Pentateuch
• History
• Poetry
• Prophets
• Post Captivity Prophets
• Gospels, Acts
• Pauline Epistles
• General Epistles
  • Lesson 56: Hebrews
  • Lesson 57: James
  • Lesson 58: I Peter
  • Lesson 59: II Peter
  • Lesson 60: I John
  • Lesson 61: II and III John
  • Lesson 62: Jude
  • Lesson 63: The Revelation

is superior to the prophets!” Judaism was ministered to Israel through angels. “Christ is superior to the angels”! Judaism owes its position to that mighty man, Moses. “But Christ is superior to Moses”! Judaism is associated with the divinely instituted priesthood of Aaron. “Yes, but Christ is superior to Aaron”! These are, so to speak, the four points of the discourse, but the whole revolves around the single argument already indicated.

And yet the apostle does not go straight on with his argument. He makes a digression every once in a while, sometimes at the close of one division of his theme, and sometimes in the middle of it, for the purpose of warning his hearers, for the purpose of comforting them, or exhorting them to steadfastness in the Christian faith. And this we shall see as we proceed.

Outline

1. Christ is superior to the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3).

He is so in seven particulars:

• He is God’s Son.
• He is heir of all things.
• He made the worlds.
• He is the express image of God.
• He upholds all things.
• He Himself purged our sins.
• He is sat down at the right hand of God.

2. Christ is superior to the angels (Hebrews 1:4-2:18).

1. He has the more excellent name of Son (Hebrews 1:4-5).
2. He is worshiped by the angels (Hebrews 1:6).
3. He is Himself the Eternal God (Hebrews 1:7-12).
4. He is (as Mediator) awaiting the possession of the kingdom (Hebrews 1:13-14).
5. He is the ruler of the age to come (Hebrews 2:5-8).

It is in this division of our theme that we meet with the first of the digressions spoken of, one occurring in the middle of the argument (Hebrews 2:1-4) and another at its close (Hebrews 2:9-18). The first is in the way of warning, the second in the way of comfort. If the earlier dispensation, that of Judaism, punished every transgression, and disobedience, how shall we escape if we neglect this greater light, the heavenly origin of which was so unmistakably demonstrated by witnesses at once confirming and being themselves confirmed. And then, on the other hand, think of your privileges, your exaltation to the position of “brethren,” and your claims upon