The book of Hebrews has got to be one of my favorite books in the Renewed Covenant (New Testament). The exact author is unknown. Some Bible scholars say Paul, some Barnabas, and others name someone else as the possible author. One thing is for sure – whoever wrote the letter had a complete understanding of temple service. Despite the many who find this letter difficult to understand and distort its meaning I find it completely in alignment with all other Jewish literature. I will state emphatically that I find no discrepancies in the letter.
We do know from Acts 4:36 that Barnabas, also called Joses, was from the tribe of Levi. If he were the author, this could explain his understanding of all things pertaining to the temple. He was also given the nickname, Son of Encouragement or Son of Exhortation perhaps because of his genuineness of serving others.
To begin this study we first need to read the opening section of Hebrews verses 1-14 ( since the author is quoting from the TeNaKh I will put those scriptures in parenthesis):
At many times and in many ways, God spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets. In these last days He has spoken to us through a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He created the universe. (John 1:3) This Son is the radiance of His glory and the imprint of His being, upholding all things by His powerful word. When He had made purification for our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Psalms 110:1) Thus He became as far above the angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father”? (Psalms 2:7) And again, “I will be to Him a Father, and He will be to Me a Son”? (2 Samuel 7:14) And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Psalms 97:7) And regarding the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, and His servants a flame of fire.” (Psalms 104:4) But regarding the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.” (Psalms 45:6-7) And, “In the beginning, Adonai, You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They shall pass away, but You remain. And they will all wear out like clothing. And like a robe You will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed; but You are the same, and Your years shall never end.” (Psalms 102: 25-27) But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? (Psalms 110:1) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out for service to those about to inherit salvation?
In these first 14 verses much can be observed:
First, in times past God chose to speak to His people through the prophets but now one greater or more EXALTED than a prophet of old has come – the Son!
Second, the Son is heir of all things and all things were created through him; with the Son laying the foundation of the earth.
Third, the Son is in the very image, or exact representation, of the invisible Creator God, and the Son upholds all things by His word of power. The Son, through Himself, purged us of our sins and sat down on the right hand of the Creator Father (the right hand signifies authority and power).
Fourth, the Son is EXALTED high above the angels. In fact, it denotes that the angels must worship Him.
The next verses, speaking also of the Son, that I would like to share is in chapter 3:3-6:
For He has been considered worthy of more glory than Moses, even as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses surely was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, for a witness of things to be spoken later. But Messiah, as Son, is over God’s house—and we are His house, if we hold firm to our boldness and what we are proud to hope.
We see here that the Son, who is the Messiah Yeshua, is not only EXALTED above prophets and angels but also over Moses. The author further states that Moses was a servant of God's house but the Son has been placed over God's house.
I could continue on in this letter but I am going to try to stick to one point only, and that is that the author of Hebrews is clearly showing that the Son, whom he calls Yeshua the Messiah, is superior above all. Later in the book he shows that Yeshua is indeed superior to even the Aaronic priesthood in that He came to reestablish an earlier preisthood – the firstborn priesthood (Melchizedek priesthood). (As a side note about this EXALTED Son - look at chapter 2 verses 10-18 where we are told that the Son took on flesh and blood to be like the children. Well, my brain logically tells me that if the Son had to “take on flesh and blood” then He must assuredly not have originally been flesh and blood. The author's point in establishing this fact is that the Son had to come in flesh and blood to rescue the children. Some want to say that Yeshua (Jesus) is not divine. Scripture blows this doctrine).
What Hebraic point could the author be making here by appealing to his readers that the Son, Messiah Yeshua, is EXALTED? Is there a hidden agenda here that first century readers (Hebrews) would have completely understood but the point is lost to modern readers who have been far removed from the context and culture of that day? I hope to answer this question and shed some light on the intent of this letter.
At this point let's delve into some Hebraic insight!
Hebrews understood, even the Jews of today, that there have been many messiahs throughout history. They consider Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Cyrus to have been messiahs, just to give a few examples. (There have also been many anti-messiahs throughout history). They traditionally looked for a messiah that was just a mortal human being. However, within the scope of historical Jewish writings, a divine Messiah who is greatly EXALTED above all, can also be found.
In Zechariah 4:6-7 it is recorded:
Then he responded to me by saying, ‘This is the word of Adonai to Zerubbabel saying: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Ruach!” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. He will bring out the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace” to it.’
Jewish and Christian Scholars agree that these scriptures refer to a coming Messiah.
Rabbi Tanhuma Bar-Aba in Midrash Tanhuma, Parashat Toldot, comments on these verses from Zechariah.
“This refers to Messiah the Son of David. And why is he called 'great'? Because he is greater than the Patriarchs, as it is written 'Behold My servant shall deal wisely, He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high' (Isaiah 52:13). He shall be more exalted than Abraham, of whom it is said 'I lift up my hand', reflecting the same Hebrew word (Genesis 14:22). He shall be more extolled than Moses, ….'And shall be very high', that is higher than the ministering angels, ….”
Likewise, in the Yalkut Shimoni, remez number 2:571, the same wording is used:
“Why did God call the Messiah “great mountain”? He is greater than the fathers. More exalted than Abraham... Greater than the ministering angels...”
Concerning the above Rabbinic statements Rabbi Shapira continues: “The origin of most of the midrashim in the Yalkut is unknown but it is based on midrashim that were lost over time. Most scholars believe that some of these midrashim in the Yalkut dated back to the 1st and 2nd century or even earlier. In this remez (meaning “hint” in Hebrew), … the Messiah will be greater than the patriarchs, higher than Abraham, lifted up above Moses, and higher than the ministering angels”.(The Return of the Kosher Pig, by Itzhak Shapira, copyright 2013; pg 86)
Contained within those Rabbinic comments are parallels resembling exactly what the author of Hebrews stated: that Yeshua the Messiah, the Son, was greater than the ministering angels and Moses. Could this ancient understanding about the coming Messiah be what the author of Hebrews had in mind when he pinned these words? Seems highly likely to me!
While these comments do not denote a divine Messiah as such, they do bring out that the Messiah will be higher than any other human being that has ever existed. To Jews, Moses was the greatest man who ever lived. Even the Torah says of him, "There has not risen a prophet in Israel like Moses" (Deutetonomy 34:10), but Messiah is EXALTED higher!
They say that he is even EXALTED higher than the angels. How is it possible for a mere human to be higher than the angels? How is it possible for the Psalm to say,“Let all the angels of God worship Him” (Psalms 97:7) if He was only a mere human? God shares His glory with no one! We are commanded to worship no one but Him, yet here the Son, Yeshua Messiah, is to be worshipped!
Now, let's examine how the Targum Jonathan (Aramaic) translates Zechariah 4:6:
And he answered and spoke to me saying, “This is the word of the Lord with Zerubbabel, saying 'Not by strength, not by might, but by my Memra,' says the Lord of hosts.
Our Ancient Paths has written many articles about the Memra, Logos, and Word, which are synonymous. In the Targums, the Memra appears in Genesis chapter one and is with God, and is God. In the Renewed Covenant, John states the same in John 1:1-5 and uses the word “logos”. John is speaking of Messiah Yeshua who cannot be a mere human but divine in nature.
If Jewish literature proclaims that Zechariah 4:1-7 is speaking about Messiah and the Targum translates the scripture with the use of Memra in place of Ruach, the Spirit of God, then it should be easy to see how the author of Hebrews relates that Messiah Yeshua had to become “flesh and blood” like the children that He came to save.
As we continue looking at these same verses we will also discover another hidden mystery. The mystery of the capstone which will bring "grace, grace" to it'.
Rabbi Lichtenstein ties this verse with Isaiah 28:16:
Therefore thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a firm foundation—whoever trusts will not flee in haste.
The Rabbi writes: “'I lay in Zion for a foundation stone, a tried stone, a costly cornerstone' refers to King Messiah, as Zechariah wrote (3:9, 4:7)”. [1]
The Rabbi then ties the stone of Zechariah 4:6-7 to Romans 9:32-33.
It is clear from all of this that the author of the book of Hebrews was trying to show that the Messiah Yeshua was divine and exalted higher than all. It is pretty clear that he did not invent this ideology but was pulling from Rabbinic thought of his day. He saw in Yeshua a divine Messiah who was the Memra (God in the flesh) and one who was exalted even above Moses and the angels.
I hope that this has added clarity to the Jewishness of Messiah Yeshua, His first century apostles, and the writings of the Renewed Covenant (New Testament).
Blessings as you study His Word,
Leisa
[1] Rabbi Yechiel Tzvi Lichtenstein. Derech Hakodesh (Jerusalem:
Keren Ahavah Meshehit, 2007),131 (as translated by Rabbi Itzhak Shapira in his book The Return of the Kosher Pig. Lederer Books, 2013, pg 90)
All scripture is from the Tree of Life (TLV) version unless otherwise noted
Thank you Liza what a blessing 🌈💕