"They Saw the Son of Man Descending," by Walter Rane
How do the teachings and practices of the Old Testament point us toward Christ? (See Jacob 4:5.) This is the overarching theme of the Epistle to the Hebrews. In it, we learn how Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies, how the ordinances performed in the ancient tabernacle symbolized His atoning sacrifice, and the role He plays as our "great High Priest" (Hebrews 4:14). Throughout the epistle, we are reminded that Jesus came to earth so that He could understand what we are going through and help us through the trials we face. We can be confident in His ability and desire to save us. (See Hebrews 2:16-18, Hebrews 4:15-16, Hebrews 5:8-9.)
Who wrote this epistle? It has traditionally been attributed to Paul, but from the earliest days, that attribution has been questioned. All of Paul's other epistles begin with his name, but this one (like 1 John) launches immediately into the content without identifying the author. Its tone and verbiage are different from the foregoing epistles, and it emphasizes some unique topics, such as the role of priesthood and the details of the ancient tabernacle. On the other hand, we know that Paul was a Pharisee, trained by the respected teacher Gamaliel, and fully capable of explaining the gospel in terms which Jewish scholars would understand. (See Acts 22:3, Acts 26:5, Philippians 3:5.) Additionally, this epistle touches on a number of themes which appear in other Pauline epistles, including the concept of milk before meat (1 Corinthians 3:2, Hebrews 5:12-14), the importance of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15, Hebrews 6:2), and the metaphor of our mortal life as a race (1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Hebrews 12:1). The last chapter contains a rapid-fire series of admonitions, reminiscent of Romans 12:9-21 and 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22, and the letter ends with an assurance that Timothy will visit the recipients, which sounds a lot like 1 Corinthians 16:10-11 and Philippians 2:19. (See Hebrews 13:23.) For these reasons, on this blog, I refer to the author of Hebrews as "Paul," even as I acknowledge that we don't know for sure who wrote it.
Here are some of the principles I've learned from this epistle:
1. Jesus is able to succor us because of His mortal experiences.
To succor someone is to run to them in response to an urgent cry for help. It implies an instinctive empathy, an immediate understanding of the person's suffering and a desire to help. Paul tells us that Jesus intentionally became one of us, not taking on "the nature of angels," but rather, "the seed of Abraham." Why? So that He could understand us. "In that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:16-18).
Alma taught the same principle in the city of Gideon:
He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
Alma 7:11-12
We can take confidence in the knowledge that Jesus knows what it feels like to be human, that He is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Hebrews 4:15).
Here is a blog post which talks more about the Savior's ability to succor us: What Does It Mean to "Succor" Someone?
2. Prophets lead us to Jesus Christ.
God corrected Miriam and Aaron when they tried to argue that there was nothing special about Moses. "[He] is faithful in all mine house," God declared (Numbers 12:7). One meaning of this is that out of all the Israelites, Moses was uniquely steadfast in following God. But as Paul points out, Moses was faithful in God's house, not over God's house. God was the leader, and Moses was His servant. "Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant…. But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we" (Hebrews 3:1-6).
Prophets bring us closer to God. Prophets encourage us to develop our own connection with Him. Nephi wrote, "If ye believe not in these words believe in Christ." But then he added, "If ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ" (2 Nephi 33:10). And President Russell M. Nelson has urged us to "do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation" ("Think Celestial!" General Conference, October 2023).
Here's a blog post about the role of prophets: "Faithful in All My House"
3. We will find God's grace if we seek it.
Ruth and Hannah both spoke of their desire to "find grace," and both acted on their hope that they would receive it. (See Ruth 2:2, 1 Samuel 1:18.) Grace in these passages means favor or kindness. Both Ruth and Hannah knew that they could not earn the blessings they sought, that they relied on the generosity of someone more powerful than themselves.
Book of Mormon prophets testified that Jesus Christ is "full of grace." (See 2 Nephi 2:6, Alma 5:48, Alma 9:26, Alma 13:9.) Moroni encouraged us to come unto Christ and receive the grace that He offers us. (See Moroni 10:32-33.)
The apostle Paul extended the same invitation, urging us to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
Here's a blog post about those words of encouragement: Finding Grace.
4. God's word can inspire us to productive action.
Mormon and Paul both described the word of God as "quick and powerful." (See Helaman 3:27-30, Hebrews 4:12.) The word "quick" in this context means "living." If we are willing to engage with the word of God, it can be both a clarifying and an energizing force in our lives.
Several of the early revelations received by Joseph Smith open with this imagery. For example, an August 1830 revelation opens with these words: "Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Lord, your God, and your Redeemer, whose word is quick and powerful" (Doctrine and Covenants 27:1).
Here's a blog post about the ability of scripture to motivate us to action: "Quick and Powerful" – Helaman 3:29.
5. God's blessings usually come gradually.
God promised to "multiply" Abraham. (See Genesis 22:17.) In the epistle to the Hebrews, Paul points out that Abraham didn't receive that blessing all at once. Instead, "after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise" (Hebrews 6:13-15).
Nephi similarly received a promise that his people would "prosper in the land" (1 Nephi 2:20), but only many years later did he report that they had begun to "prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land" (2 Nephi 5:13).
The Lord is willing to bless us all with a "multiplicity of blessings" (Doctrine and Covenants 97:5, 28). We must not become discouraged if those blessings are slow to come. Like Abraham, and like Nephi, as we patiently persist with faith in God, we will see the promised blessings grow over time.
Here's a blog post on that topic: A Multiplicity of Blessings
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