I.) Some background
The book of Hebrews is definitely addressed to Christians. (Heb.3:1) " Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling..." (Heb. 6:4) ...and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost." (Heb. 10:19) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter..."
Not only is the book of Hebrews addressed to Christians, these Christians are Jewish Christians. Thus the title of the book, Hebrews. The writer of the book of Hebrews, who I firmly believe is Paul, and therefore from here on out will refer to the writer as Paul, assumes that those he is writing to have a working and experiential knowledge of the Mosaic Law and the sacrificial system which was centered on the Temple in Jerusalem. And when the letter of Hebrews was written, the Temple was still standing. (Heb.10:11) " And every priest standeth daily ministering...."
It is important to remember that the vast majority of the first Christians were Jewish. And of these, many would be priests under the Mosaic Law. (Acts 6:7) "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Now, though these many Jews, of whom were many priests, were truly saved, they didn't immediately abandon the Mosaic Law. And many of these priests would later give Paul trouble for not keeping the law. (Acts 15:5) But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
The Pharisees who were believers were saying this because through Paul's preaching many Gentiles were coming into the Church. And Paul was not putting them under the Mosaic Law. He was not requiring them to keep the law and be circumcised. James, who was the leader of the church in Jerusalem, agreed with Paul that these Gentile converts were not to be placed under the Law of Moses. (Acts 15:19) "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God." (Acts 15:24) "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ye must be circumcised and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment."
But, though James, and the many Jews and priests who were Christians in the Jerusalem church, did not put the Gentiles under law, He and the other Jews still continued under the Law. The still observed the Temple worship through the priests and sacrifices. And James would later be a stumbling block to Paul in tempting him to observe the Law.
Paul later would stop again at Jerusalem during his missionary journey's. He went to the church there and to James and told him what great things God was doing among the Gentiles. But, though James and the other Jews rejoiced in this, they wanted to show Paul the importance of the Jews remaining under the Law. ( Acts 21:20) "And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest , brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:"
James and the believing Jews were still zealous of keeping the Law. And James wanted Paul to show all Jews that he also was zealous for the law, as it had been reported that Paul taught contrary to the Law. There were some men that had taken a vow under the Law. James wanted Paul to, (Acts 21:21-24)" ...take and purify thyself with them...and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law."
(continued)
Stranger
The book of Hebrews is definitely addressed to Christians. (Heb.3:1) " Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling..." (Heb. 6:4) ...and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost." (Heb. 10:19) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter..."
Not only is the book of Hebrews addressed to Christians, these Christians are Jewish Christians. Thus the title of the book, Hebrews. The writer of the book of Hebrews, who I firmly believe is Paul, and therefore from here on out will refer to the writer as Paul, assumes that those he is writing to have a working and experiential knowledge of the Mosaic Law and the sacrificial system which was centered on the Temple in Jerusalem. And when the letter of Hebrews was written, the Temple was still standing. (Heb.10:11) " And every priest standeth daily ministering...."
It is important to remember that the vast majority of the first Christians were Jewish. And of these, many would be priests under the Mosaic Law. (Acts 6:7) "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."
Now, though these many Jews, of whom were many priests, were truly saved, they didn't immediately abandon the Mosaic Law. And many of these priests would later give Paul trouble for not keeping the law. (Acts 15:5) But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
The Pharisees who were believers were saying this because through Paul's preaching many Gentiles were coming into the Church. And Paul was not putting them under the Mosaic Law. He was not requiring them to keep the law and be circumcised. James, who was the leader of the church in Jerusalem, agreed with Paul that these Gentile converts were not to be placed under the Law of Moses. (Acts 15:19) "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God." (Acts 15:24) "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ye must be circumcised and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment."
But, though James, and the many Jews and priests who were Christians in the Jerusalem church, did not put the Gentiles under law, He and the other Jews still continued under the Law. The still observed the Temple worship through the priests and sacrifices. And James would later be a stumbling block to Paul in tempting him to observe the Law.
Paul later would stop again at Jerusalem during his missionary journey's. He went to the church there and to James and told him what great things God was doing among the Gentiles. But, though James and the other Jews rejoiced in this, they wanted to show Paul the importance of the Jews remaining under the Law. ( Acts 21:20) "And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest , brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:"
James and the believing Jews were still zealous of keeping the Law. And James wanted Paul to show all Jews that he also was zealous for the law, as it had been reported that Paul taught contrary to the Law. There were some men that had taken a vow under the Law. James wanted Paul to, (Acts 21:21-24)" ...take and purify thyself with them...and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law."
(continued)
Stranger