This Epistle was evidently written as the ancient Hebrew economy was passing away in the growing glory of the Christian Church. Perhaps Jerusalem had already fallen under the arms of Titus. It was addressed to Hebrew Christians, who were settled in a definite locality (13:23). The writer is not certainly known. Luther thought that it was written by Apollos, and this view has had several learned advocates. But many ascribe it to the Apostle Paul, which was the opinion of the early Fathers. The object of this noble treatise is to counsel those to whom it was addressed to bear their persecutions with equanimity, and to forego, with contentment, the external attractions of the Temple service, because of the transcendent glories of Christianity surpassing those of the Mosaic ritual. The penalties of apostasy would therefore be the more terrible as the claims of Christianity were the more compelling. (Meyer)

The New and Better Covenant

I. Christ the Surety of the New Covenant, Hebrews 1:1-5:10
   1. He Is a Divine Redeemer, Hebrews 1:1-4
   2. He Is Superior to Angels, Hebrews 1:5-14
   3. He Has Accomplished Redemption through Suffering, Hebrews 2
   4. He Is Greater than Moses, Hebrews 3:1-4:13
   5. He Is a Great High Priest, Hebrews 4:14-5:10
      (Comment on the Argument and Direct Appeal to Readers, Hebrews 5:11-6:12)
II. The Relation of the Two Covenants, Hebrews 6:13-10:39
   1. The Promise to Abraham, Hebrews 6:13-15
   2. Its Realization by Us, Hebrews 6:16-20
   3. The Unchanging Priesthood, Hebrews 7:1-17
   4. The Covenants Contrasted, Hebrews 7:18-8:13
   5. The Institutions of the Old Covenant Fulfilled in the Person and Work of Christ, Hebrews 9:1-10:18
   6. The Greater Privileges and Responsibilities of the New Covenant, Hebrews 10:19-39
III. Faith, the Common Factor of the Two Covenants, Hebrews 11-12
   1. The Achievements of Faith under the Old Covenant, Hebrews 11
   2. The Summons to Faith under the New Covenant, Hebrews 12
IV. Practical Admonitions, Hebrews 13:1-21
​
Conclusion, Hebrews 13:22-25 – Through the Bible Day by Day