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   Introduction:

 The main theme of The Book of Hebrews is Atonement. Hebrews shows GOD’s Purpose in Atonement, and how vital and necessary Atonement is for growing and developing mature Christians.

— Hebrews chapters 8 thru 10 gives a word picture of JESUS in Heaven, where HE performs the detailed activities involved with The Day of Atonement. All the other chapters introduce or support that central theme – of JESUS’ Atonement process.

— Chapters 1 thru 7 introduce JESUS as The High Priest, who makes Atonement for Believers. Included in these first 7 Chapters we find The Church (The Brethren, and Believers.) Heb 2:10-13, 12:23.  These Believers are often called ‘The Body,’ and this term is used in a legal way by JESUS to initiate The New Covenant in The Communion Service.

— Chapters 11 thru 13 conclude and apply Atonement to Christians in a practical and ongoing way - by involving Faith, Discipline, and Brotherly Interaction.

 The ongoing process of Christian growth and maturity is covered in various parts of The New Testament. Ongoing in that The New Testament deals with The Body (Trumpets) and Mercy/Forgiveness (Atonement.) Hebrews is written to encourage Christians to grow, and it shows how Atonement facilitates growth through Mercy and our Reconciliation with GOD and HIS Righteousness.   

 (One Aspect of Hebrews and The Day of Atonement, which Observant Jews undertake each year, is Reconciliation between Brothers. They mix two ideas together in the way Jews do by tradition every year. – Using the ten days between Trumpets [Rosh Hashana] and Atonement [Yom Kippur] to reconcile their faults before The Judgment on Atonement.)  Forgiving one another is not dealt with in Hebrews, but it is covered in many other N T books. Hebrews promotes Reconciliation between GOD and Believers, and shows JESUS as The One Who enables this Reconciliation. This enables Christians to mature into full grown sons of GOD.

 The Book of Hebrews contains many comparisons and contrasts - there are over 250 ‘ands’ in Hebrews - most of these indicate a comparison or a contrast. Of course these are too numerous to list here, but as you read Hebrews, keep this in mind. We have a New, and Better Covenant, we have The Perfect New Testament and the Old Testament Types, we divide ‘Soul and Spirit.’ etc. etc.  Thus we have Two Goats in Leviticus 16. JESUS is both our Slain Passover Lamb and The Living High Priest for Atonement so it took two goats to represent HIM in The Atonement Type-ology.

 The O T process of Atonement consisted of two parts. First, the ongoing day to day processes of covering sins. This was done by various sacrifices. Second, the Day of Atonement, which occurred once a year. As we go through Hebrews, we will see both of these processes involve Jesus’ work in Heaven on our behalf. Once and only once Jesus completed the Day of Atonement activities, but HE constantly is dealing with the ongoing work of cleansing and applying mercy to believers who come to Him by faith.

 Jesus is the mediator between God and man. The process of Atonement involves a mediator or middle man, (and an innocent sacrifice which covered the separation between GOD and man.)

    Now Let Us Go Into The book of Hebrews Chapter by Chapter:

Many of the verses quoted herein are from George W. Buchanan’s Translation of Hebrews, but The King James Version is used as well.