Hebrews Outline

Theme: Resist the temptation to return to apostate Judaism by looking to Jesus Christ, who is worthy of our faithfulness and our love.

Jesus Christ is God’s Son incarnate (1:1-2:18).
1. Hearing from the One who is a Son (1:1-3).
  1. Hearing the Son means hearing a more complete revelation from God (vv. 1-2a).
  2. Hearing the Son means hearing the heir of all things (v. 2b).
  3. Hearing the Son means hearing the maker and sustainer of all things (v. 2c).
  4. Hearing the Son means seeing a perfect revelation of God’s own nature (v. 3a).
  5. Hearing the Son means hearing our Priest and King (v. 3c).
2. The claims of the excellent Son (1:4-14).
  1. A claim to God the Father (vv. 4-5).
  2. A claim to our worship (v. 6).
  3. A claim to eternal sovereignty (vv. 7-8).
  4. A claim to the Spirit’s anointing (v. 9).
  5. A claim to all creation (vv. 10-12).
  6. A claim to ultimate victory (vv. 13-14).
3. Paying attention to the claims of the Son (2:1-4).
  1. Pay attention because God speaks by His son (v. 1).
  2. Pay attention because what is said is reliable (vv. 2-4).
  3. Pay attention because there are consequences for neglect (vv. 1-3).
4. Reasons not to neglect the salvation of the Son (2:5-10).
  1. Because our future depends on faithfulness now (vv. 5-8).
  2. Because God did not neglect our salvation (vv. 9-10).
5. Belonging to the brotherhood of the son (2:11-18).
  1. The brotherhood of Christ is sanctified by the Sanctifier (v. 11).
  2. The brotherhood of Christ is done with shame (v. 11).
  3. The brotherhood of Christ is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy (vv. 12-13).
  4. The brotherhood of Christ is freedom from slavery (vv. 14-18).
    1. Freedom through His incarnation (v. 14a).
    2. Freedom through His atoning sacrifice (vv. 14b-16).
    3. Freedom through His intercession (vv. 17-18).
Jesus Christ is the Apostle of our profession (3:1-4:13).
1. What we see when we take a closer look at Jesus (3:1-6).
  1. We see His brotherhood (v. 1).
  2. We see His titles (v. 1).
  3. We see the inadequacy of Moses (vv. 2-4).
  4. We see the requirement of faithfulness (vv. 2, 5-6).
2. The profession of faith that truly saves (3:7-19).

Israel – local church correspondence in Hebrews

1. 1. The faith that truly saves is grounded in the Word of God (v. 7).
  2. The faith that truly saves is responsive to the Word of God (vv. 7-11).
  3. The faith that truly saves may not be possessed by all we call brothers (vv. 12-19).
2. The godly fear and eager labor of our profession (4:1-11).
  1. A terrifying possibility of unbelief (vv. 1-3).
  2. The importance of “Today” (vv. 4-9).
  3. A natural tendency for works-salvation (vv. 10-11).
3. Help brothers believe with the Word of God (4:12-13).
  1. It is living (v. 12a).
  2. It is powerful (v. 12a).
  3. It is sharp (vv. 12b-13).
Jesus Christ is the High Priest of our profession (Hebrews 4:14-6:20).
1. We have a great high priest (4:14-16).
  1. Our Priest is great and high (v. 14).
  2. The great and high One is our Priest (vv. 15-16).
2. What priests can teach every believer (5:1-4).
  1. There is a gulf fixed between God and man (v. 1).
  2. People need help with their sin (vv. 1, 3).
  3. That help must be gentle (v. 2).
  4. Our ministry must be God-called, not self-appointed (v. 4).
3. How Christ became High Priest (5:5-10).
  1. Through God’s appointment (vv. 5-6).
  2. Through suffering (vv. 7-8).
  3. Through completion (vv. 9-10).
4. The priestly work of hearing with Christ-like ears (5:11-14).
  1. Christ-like ears not not dull (v. 11).
  2. Christ-like ears listen with a sense of obligation (v. 12a).
  3. Christ-like ears are mature (vv. 12b-14a).
  4. Christ-like ears learn the difference between good and evil (v. 14b).
5. Things that do not accompany salvation (6:1-8).
  1. Getting saved repeatedly does not accompany salvation (vv. 1-2).
  2. Refusing to grow in grace does not accompany salvation (vv. 1, 3-8).
  3. Thorns do not accompany salvation (vv. 7-8).
6. The believer’s hope, which accompanies salvation (6:9-20).
Jesus Christ is Melchizedekian – both King and Priest (7:1-8:6a).
1. Christ our Melchizedek (7:1-3).
  1. The priesthood of the Most High (v. 1a).
  2. The source of victory and blessing (v. 1b).
  3. The object of true worship (v. 2a).
  4. The King of righteousness and peace (v. 2b).
  5. God’s eternal Son (v. 3).
2. Have you measured His greatness? (7:4-25).
  1. Do not underestimate His blessing (vv. 4-11).
  2. Do not underestimate His new plan (vv. 12-14).
  3. Do not underestimate His power (vv. 15-19).
  4. Do not underestimate His salvation (vv. 20-25).
3. His perfections (7:26-28).
  1. Our High Priest has a perfect sinless character (v. 26).
  2. Our High Priest offered a perfect sinless sacrifice (v. 27).
  3. Our High Priest is a perfect sinless fit for us (v. 28).
4. Our Melchizedekian Christian ministry (8:1-6a).
  1. God designed Christian ministry to be ruled by our High Priest and King (v. 1).
  2. God designed Christian ministry to magnify an offering of our High Priest and King (vv. 2-3).
  3. God designed Christian ministry to point to the greater ministry of our High Priest and King (vv. 4-6a).
Jesus Christ is Mediator (8:6b-10:39).
1. He is the Mediator of a better covenant (8:6b-13).
  1. The New Covenant finishes the job of atonement; the old covenant could not (vv. 8-9).
  2. The New Covenant changes the inside; the old covenant could not (v. 10).
  3. The New Covenant can give us a personal relationship with God; the old covenant could not (v. 11).
  4. The New Covenant forgives in mercy; the old covenant did not (v. 12).
  5. The New Covenant defines a glorious future in Christ; the old covenant defines a dismal past without Him (v. 13).
2. He mediates as High Priest through His sacrifice (9:1-14).
  1. The objects – God’s revelation through the tabernacle (vv. 1-7).
  2. A lesson about a problem—distance between us and our God (vv. 8-10).
  3. A lesson about the problem solved—life in glory (vv. 11-14).
3. Insights on the mediation of our Mediator (9:15-28).
  1. The mediation of our Mediator required the death of the Testator (vv. 15a, 16-17).
  2. The mediation of our Mediator required atonement for sin (vv. 18-27).
  3. The mediation of our Mediator secured our inheritance (vv. 15b, 28).
4. God’s will regarding our sins (10:1-18).
  1. It is God’s will that our sins be taken away (vv. 1-4).
  2. It is God’s will that our sins be judged (vv. 5-14).
    1. God’s Son had to become a man (vv. 5-7).
    2. God’s Son had to obey unto death (vv. 8-10).
    3. God’s Son had to be glorified as Mediator (vv. 11-14).
  3. It is God’s will that our sins be forgotten (vv. 15-18).
5. Responding to our Mediator – Obeying together (10:19-25).
  1. Let us draw near in worship (vv. 19-22).
  2. Let us hold fast the confession of faith (v. 23).
  3. Let us consider our assembly (vv. 24-25).
6. Obedience and the fear of the Lord (10:26-31).
  1. Recognize the inevitability of His judgment (vv. 26-27).
  2. Recognize the reasonableness of His judgment (vv. 28-29).
  3. Recognize the living Judge (vv. 30-31).
7. Special needs for times like these (10:32-39).
  1. We need a faith that saves the soul (v. 39).
  2. We need a reminder that inspires suffering (vv. 32-34).
  3. We need a confident endurance that depends on Christ (vv. 35-36).
Jesus Christ is the reason for faithfulness (11:1-12:29).
1. What faith is (11:1-3, 6).
  1. The power to live for things that cannot otherwise be lived for (vv. 1-2).
  2. The power to understand things that cannot otherwise be understood (v. 3).
  3. The power to please God in a way that He cannot otherwise be pleased (v. 6).
2. Faith’s cloud of witnesses (11:4-5, 7-40).
  1. By faith Abel offered to God (11:4).
    1. A sacrifice of faithful worship (Gen. 4:1-4).
    2. A better sacrifice than Cain’s (Gen. 4:5-9).
    3. A commentary about Abel (v. 4).
    4. A commentary for us (v. 4).
  2. By faith Enoch was transferred (11:5).
    1. A determination to walk with God (Gen. 5:24).
    2. A determination to speak for God (Jude 14-15).
    3. No fear of death (v. 5).
  3. By faith Noah prepared an ark (11:7).
    1. Reverence for God’s revelation (v. 7).
    2. Perception of unseen things that save (v. 7).
    3. Condemnation of the world (v. 7).
    4. Personal justification (v. 7).
  4. By faith Abraham obeyed (11:8-10).
    1. Voice obedience (v. 8a).
    2. Obedience while not knowing (vv. 8b-9).
    3. Obedience while anticipating (v. 10).
  5. By faith Sara had a child (11:11-12).
    1. A struggle with reasons not to believe (v. 11a).
    2. A victory in the one reason to believe (v. 11b).
    3. A blessing to those who came after her (v. 12).
  6. Dying faithful (11:13-16).
    1. Seeing God’s promises without receiving them (v. 13a).
    2. Strangers and pilgrims on the earth (vv. 13b-14).
    3. Not having turned back (vv. 15-16a).
    4. To receive their reward (v. 16b).
  7. By faith Abraham offered Isaac (11:17-19).
    1. While being tested (v. 17).
    2. Trusting God’s Word (vv. 18-19a).
    3. Illustrating the true meaning of Easter (v. 19b).
  8. By faith the fathers blessed their sons (11:20-22).
    1. Teach the importance of things to come (v. 20).
    2. Teach the importance of worship (v. 21).
    3. Teach the importance of doctrine – redemption and resurrection (v. 22).
  9. By faith Moses grew up to serve the Lord (11:23-29).
    1. Because of the faithful choices of others (v. 23).
    2. Because of the faithful choice he made (vv. 24-27).
    3. His service influenced the choices of others (vv. 28-29).
  10. Memorials of the faithful (11:30-40).
    1. Rahab – faith in grace that saves (vv. 30-31).
    2. The victorious – faith in grace that wins (vv. 32-35).
    3. The fallen – faith in grace that promises (vv. 36-39).
    4. Our duty – faith in grace that continues (v. 40).
3. How to be faithful (12:1-3).
  1. Pay attention to those set around us (v. 1a).
  2. Pay attention to what is set in front of us (v. 1b).
  3. Pay attention to the One who finished before us (vv. 2-3).
4. The Father’s nurturing of the faithful (12:4-11).
  1. Do not miss His encouragement (vv. 4-5).
  2. Understand His chastening (vv. 6-8).
  3. Obtain His goal (vv. 9-11).
5. Restoring faithfulness (12:12-17).
  1. Hear the prescription in the command to be healed (vv. 13-16a).
  2. Find the place for repentance to be healed (vv. 16-17).
6. The mount of refuge for the faithful (12:18-24).
  1. Sinai is the mountain of condemnation of the sinner (vv. 18-21).
  2. Zion is the mountain of refuge for the believer (vv. 22-24).
7. The God of the faithful is a consuming fire (12:25-29).
  1. We need to escape Him (v. 25).
  2. Much will not escape Him (vv. 26-28a).
  3. We must worship Him in an acceptable way (vv. 28b-29).
Jesus Christ is the reason for love (13:1-25).
1. Let brotherly love continue (13:1).
  1. Brotherly love requires selfless devotion (Rom. 12:10).
  2. Brotherly love requires learning from God (1 Thess. 4:9-12).
  3. Brotherly love requires purity (1 Pet. 1:22-25).
  4. Brotherly love requires unity (1 Pet. 3:8-12).
  5. Brotherly love requires spiritual growth (2 Pet. 1:7).
2. Love strangers (13:2).
  1. Love strangers by making them a priority (v. 2).
  2. Love strangers by caring for their material needs (v. 2).
  3. Love strangers for the spread of the gospel (v. 2).
3. Remember the prisoners (13:3).
  1. Because it is easy to forget them (v. 3).
  2. Because their suffering is lonely (v. 3).
  3. Because we share the same body (v. 3).
4. Honor marriage (13:4).
  1. Because it is honorable in every way (v. 4).
    1. Its covenantal picture.
    2. Its unity.
    3. Its wedding.
  2. Because its bed is undefiled (v. 4).
  3. Because God will judge sexual immorality (v. 4).
5. Do not love money (13:5-6).
  1. Money is an unworthy object for our love (v. 5a).
  2. Money can be an unhealthy source of discontentment (v. 5b).
  3. Money can never be an adequate substitute for God’s promises (vv. 5c-6).
6. Loving Christ (13:7-14).
  1. He is the example for my life (vv. 7-9).
  2. He is the altar for my life (vv. 10-12).
  3. He is the destination for my life (vv. 13-14).
7. Love’s sacrifice of praise (13:15-16).
  1. Always possible through Christ (v. 15).
  2. A fruit of true confession (v. 15).
  3. Includes real sacrifices (v. 16).
8. Loving your pastor (13:17-19).
  1. Respond well to his leadership (v. 17).
  2. Pray for him (v. 18).
  3. Truly miss him (v. 19).
9. Love’s motive – the greatness of our Shepherd (13:20-21).
  1. He is a great Sacrifice (v. 20).
  2. He is a great Priest (v. 21a).
  3. He is a great Lord (vv. 20b, 21b).
10. Listening with love (13:22).
  1. God has spoken many times and in many ways (Heb. 1:1-3).
  2. When God speaks, He does so as no other (Heb. 4:12-13).
  3. When God speaks, we must believe (Heb. 4:2).
11. Love’s brotherhood of suffering (13:23).
  1. Jesus is the Elder Brother in the brotherhood of suffering (Heb. 2:7-18).
  2. Jesus is the helping High Priest for the brotherhood of suffering (Heb. 4:14-5:10).
  3. Jesus is the rewarded Forerunner for the brotherhood of suffering (Heb. 6:9-20).
  4. Jesus is the victorious confidence of the brotherhood of suffering (Heb. 10:12-25, 32-39).
  5. Jesus is the inspiring example for the brotherhood of suffering (Heb. 11:24-27, 11:35-12:3).
12. Love’s holiness (13:24).
  1. God is a holy God (Heb. 12:10).
  2. Heaven is a holy place (Heb. 8:2).
  3. Saints are holy people (Heb. 3:1).
13. Love’s grace (13:25).
  1. Grace in Hebrews – Part One.
    1. We must be saved by grace (Heb. 2:8-10, 14-15).
    2. We must pray for grace (Heb. 4:15-16).
    3. We must obey the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:28-30).
  2. Grace in Hebrews – Part Two.
    1. We must not fall short of grace (Heb. 12:14-17).
    2. We must show grace in our worship (Heb. 12:28-29).
    3. We must be strengthened by grace (Heb. 13:9-14).

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