The New Testament book of Hebrews is an epistle that contains more than eighty quotations and references to the Old Testament Scriptures. In fact, there is at least one Old Testament reference in each of the thirteen chapters of this book. While it is certainly helpful to possess a good understanding of these references in advance, it’s important to note that this letter has some important things to say to everyone, even those with a limited understanding of these Old Testament passages.
For instance, the Biblical book of Hebrews is a book that prompts Christians to act upon what they believe. That call to action is illustrated by the words, “Let us…”, a phrase that appears one dozen times within the pages of this letter. Those exhortations are balanced by nine appearances of the word “lest.” That word is repeatedly followed by a description of the negative consequences that are sure to follow an attitude of spiritual neglect.
Hebrews 2:1 provides us with a good example of this idea…
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (NKJV).
One author concludes our introduction to this letter by summarizing an important premise from this book along with the value of this epistle for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences alike…
“What men needed was a perfect priest and a perfect sacrifice, someone who was such that he could bring to God a sacrifice which once and for all opened the way of access to him. That, said the writer to the Hebrews, is exactly what Christ did. He is the perfect priest because he is at once perfectly man and perfectly God. In his manhood he can take man to God and in his Godhead he can take God to man. He has no sin. The perfect sacrifice he brings is the sacrifice of himself, a sacrifice so perfect that it never needs to be made again.
To the Jew the writer to the Hebrews said: ‘All your lives you have been looking for the perfect priest who can bring the perfect sacrifice and give you access to God. You have him in Jesus Christ and in him alone.’ To the Greek the writer to the Hebrews said: ‘You are looking for the way from the shadows to reality; you will find it in Jesus Christ.’ …Jesus was the one person who gave access to reality and access to God. That is the key-thought of this letter.” (1)
(1) Barclay, William. William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, “Introduction To The Letter To The Hebrews”