Overview
A word of exhortation addressed to a Jewish community that had come to believe in the Messiah. It sets forth Yeshua as the Son of God, superior to the angels and to Moses, and as high priest after the order of Melchizedek, and it urges the readers to hold fast their faith amid suffering.
Theme Yeshua, the high priest and mediator of a better covenant, and faith that endures to the end
Historical background
Because the text describes the tabernacle service in the present tense and does not mention the destruction of the Temple, many scholars date it before AD 70. The recipients were a community that had endured persecution and loss and was in danger of drawing back from the faith (Hebrews 10:32–39). The greeting from those from Italy (Hebrews 13:24) has suggested a connection with Rome. The letter offers an extended exposition of the new covenant promise of Jeremiah 31:31–34.