Untwisting the “Letter to the Hebrews”

This “Letter to the Hebrews” has been used by many teachers to take away from, or twist, God’s own words about His covenant and His Aaronic Priesthood. They slander the very system that God, through Yeshua (Jesus), established in His Torah (Law). Instead of trying to understand the Hebraic-ness of this letter; they look at it with a Greek mindset and uphold centuries of misinterpretation. Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:16, that some were already doing the same to Paul’s letters, in his day:

• “…his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”

THE AUTHOR(S)

The author(s) of the “Letter to the Hebrews” in the Apostolic Writings is unknown. The King James translators of the Bible attributed this letter to Paul, but most modern scholars do not agree with this assumption, based on a comparison with Paul’s letters and his writing style. Some have attributed this letter to Barnabas or Apollos or others. However, the author(s) is not identified in the letter. The author(s) have some connection to Timothy (Heb 13:23).

It is possible there was more than one person contributing. One thing that we know for certain, they were extremely knowledgeable of Yeshua, the function of the Aaronic High Priesthood and the Hebrew Bible (Septuagint [LXX] translation). Most agree that the letter was written prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. since there is no mention of this event. We believe it was divinely inspired as it anticipates a time when there will no longer be a Temple or a High Priesthood.

The letter begins by establishing who Messiah Yeshua is with:

• His position, in relation to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as Creator;

• His position in relation to Angels;

• His coming, and suffering death, that resulted in His receiving special glory and honor;

• His role in relation to Moses, as the one who “built the house”; and

• His position as the “High Priest,” from the order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron.

The author(s) provides us with the MAIN POINT of this letter in Hebrews 8:1:

• “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every High Priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Law [Torah]; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’"

This letter was written for us to understand the role of the Aaronic High Priesthood and the role of Melchizedekian Priesthood. It must be read in this context. It is NOT about destroying/abolishing any of God’s Law, as Yeshua stated in Matthew 5. It is about God fulfilling one of the main promises of the Abrahamic Covenant; sending us the Mediator of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34).

We have pointed out many times in previous articles the importance of accurate translations and looking for continuity throughout ALL Scripture. God does NOT change! The foundation of our house must be built on God’s Torah (Law), not man’s opinion. Everything in the Apostolic Writings must be filtered through what God established in His Law and the Prophets. This will result in good, sound, biblical hermeneutics. This will also prevent us from adding to, or taking away from, God’s Word.

PURPOSE OF QUOTING JEREMIAH 31

Many teachers miss the reason the author(s) quoted Jeremiah 31 and teach that Yeshua wiped out the whole Levitical priesthood. In doing so, they belittle the Temple system that God Himself established. The author(s) quote Jeremiah, 31:31-34, word for word, in Heb 8:8-12 and repeat part of it again in Heb 10:16-17. This is critical to our understanding, as this Scripture tells us what God will do in the future:

• “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

This event has not yet occurred. God tells us that in the last days, He will end Israel’s punishment and forgive the iniquity of both the House of Israel and the House of Judah. He will bring ALL twelve tribes, and the God-Fearers from the nations who have joined them, from the four corners of the earth to the Land of Israel, and completely write His Law on their hearts. EVERYONE will then know Him. HalleluYah!

Yeshua told us about this coming event in Matthew 24, as did John, in his recording of “The Revelation.” We know that sin will not be abolished until after the Messianic kingdom (1,000-year reign of Messiah) when God will renew the heavens and the earth and the New Jerusalem descends from heaven.

This is why Messiah Yeshua, being the perfect High Priest from the order of Melchizedek, and currently seated at the right hand of God in heaven, is a much better High Priest than the earthly Aaronic priesthood (Heb 8:6). Keep in mind as you read this “Letter to the Hebrews,” the author(s) are only addressing this aspect of God’s Covenant. The rest of the Abrahamic Covenant and its membership requirements remain intact.

TRANSLATION ISSUES

There are a couple of important translation issues in Chapter 8 that have led people into error by translators inserting the word “covenant” into the text. The New King James version of the Bible uses “italics” when inserting the word “covenant” in verses 7 and 13, indicating this word has been inserted for clarity and has not been translated from a corresponding Greek word. Most publishers will tell you this in their “Preface.” The first insertion is in Heb 8:7:

• “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.” (NKJV)

• “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.” (NIV – did not use italics)

• LITERAL TRANSLATION: “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” (Interlinear Bible - words that are not underlined have been inserted)

In context here, the word “first” refers to the “Aaronic High Priesthood;” NOT God’s Covenant with Abraham or the role of the Levitical priesthood in the future. We know by reading the Torah (Law), it was God who selected Aaron as High Priest, who was a symbolic picture (type) of Yeshua. Yeshua is the One who held, and still holds, the position of High Priest in the heavenly Temple.

In summary, by inserting the word “covenant” in this letter, translators have caused teachers to misinterpret this phrase and teach there was fault with God’s Law. This understanding is the furthest from the truth. Again, the word “covenant” is not there!

LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD TEMPORARILY SET ASIDE – NOT ABOLISHED

In Chapter 7, it clarifies that the Levitical priesthood is not permanently removed. It has been temporarily set aside. As we know from reading the Book of Ezekiel, the Levitical priesthood will be present in the future Ezekiel Temple, which the “Branch” (Yeshua) will build (Zech 6:12). We read in Heb 7:11:16:

• “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law….” (NKJV)

• “Therefore, if it had been possible to reach the goal through the system of cohanim derived from Levi (since in connection with it, the people were given the Torah), what need would there have been for another, different kind of cohen, the one spoken of as to be compared with Malki-Tzedek and not to be compared with Aharon?...” (The Complete Jewish Bible)

Again, the main point of this “Letter to the Hebrews” is that Yeshua is the “High Priest” in the heavenly Temple; the one not made by man, and where man CANNOT enter. This transition from Aaron to Melchizedek was necessary since there is no longer an earthly Temple for a descendant of Aaron to enter the Holy of Holies, once a year, to intercede for the nation of Israel, with the blood of bulls and goats (Heb. 10:3-4).

The Greek word, in Hebrews 7:12, “Metatithemi,” translated as “changed,” can also mean “transfer.” Dr. David Stern, author of the “The Complete Jewish Bible,” in his commentary, states concerning this Greek word:

• “The context makes it overwhelmingly clear that no change or transformation in Torah [Law] is envisioned other than in connection with the priesthood and the sacrificial system. The term ‘metathesis’ implies retention of the basic structure of the Torah, with some of its elements rearranged (‘transformed”); it does not imply abrogation of either the Torah as a whole or of mitzvot [commandments] not connected with the priesthood or the sacrificial system.”

God allowed His second Temple to be destroyed in 70 C.E., as with His first Temple in ~586 B.C.E. Each time, there was no functioning structure for the Aaronic priesthood to offer korbanot (draw-near offerings). We know that when Yeshua returns, He will rebuild Jerusalem and will build the next Temple (Zech 6:12), which we believe is Ezekiel’s Temple. There will be Levites from the seed of Zadok serving in this third Temple (see Ezekiel 39:21-29; 42; 44-46).

In Ezekiel’s Temple, there will no longer be a requirement for the High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies once a year; Messiah Yeshua will occupy that space. However, there will be an outer alter to draw near to God, which is the purpose of all of God’s offerings.

The taught ones of Yeshua, including Paul, participated in bringing korbanot (draw-near offerings) to the outer alter AFTER the resurrection of Yeshua and His return to heaven (Acts 21). The offerings on the outer alter have nothing to do with Yeshua’s death or His being the High Priest. It was, and will be in the future Ezekiel Temple, an alter for worshipers to enter the presence of God in His Temple.

THERE REMAINS A SABBATH-KEEPING FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

Here, in the Letter to the Hebrews, is a directive for believers in Yeshua to observe the Sabbath day, which identifies us with the Creator (Ezek. 20:12). It compares resting on the Sabbath to resting in Yeshua, our salvation.

Many teachers have spiritualized this commandment by saying a physical rest is no longer required. We believe one cannot truly rest in Yeshua without resting on His Sabbath. These two are not diametrically opposed to each other but are part of the whole of God’s Covenant.

The author(s) tie Yeshua, the High Priest, with the day that identifies Him as Creator. In Hebrews 4:5 &7, they quote from Psalm 95. Their conclusion is in Hebrews 4:9-11:

• “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”

Dr. David Stern tells us in his commentary on verses 9-10:

• “A Shabbat-keeping, Greek sabbatismos, used only here in the New Testament. In the Septuagint, the related Greek word ‘sabbatzein’ was coined to translate the Hebrew verb shabat when it means “to observe the Shabbat.” The usual translation, ‘There remains a sabbath rest,’ minimizes the observance aspect and makes the role of God’s people entirely passive.”

• “Christians often assume that the New Testament does not require God’s people to observe Shabbat and go on to claim that Sunday has replaced Saturday…v. 9 shows that Shabbat-observance is expected of believers…”

We can see here that the author(s) of Hebrews were not advocating breaking any of God’s Law but keeping them in a way that honored the “Master of the Sabbath,” Messiah Yeshua (Luke 6:5). This was the goal from the beginning in Genesis 2.

FINALLY

This whole letter has a Day of Atonements (Yom Kippurim) theme. Its emphasis was on Yeshua being our High Priest, from the order of Melchizedek, who became the Yom Kippurim offering for the nation of Israel, and for our personal sins. This offering of Himself was once and for all.

In Heb 10:24-25, the author(s) exhort us, in the context of Yom Kippurim, to continue observing the Day of Atonements (not Sunday) as commanded in Leviticus 23, but with the understanding that it points to our High Priest, Yeshua’s earthly return:

• “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

“The Day” in this verse is a shorten form of the “Day of the Lord” or the "Great and Terrible Day of the Lord." It refers to a Day of Atonements in the future when Messiah will return to earth and judge the nations. This day is explained more in Isaiah 66, Zechariah 14, and Revelation 19.

May we be ready!