Jesus Is Better
Our righteousness is found in Christ alone. Our traditions, customs, and culture do not provide us any inheritance or standing before God, and thus cannot be the lens through which we view our relationship with Him. The epistle to the Hebrews highlights that these things cannot save us and reminds that our identity is not found in them, but rather in Jesus who is better. Jesus followers are exhorted to look to Him, endure to the end, and warned not to fall away. Jesus is better!
Find resources for your family to help your study of Hebrews on this page.
reading plan
The Old Testament is quoted and alluded to throughout Hebrews. The author reflects on Jewish traditions, customs, and heroes of the faith in order to show Jesus’ supremacy over them all. An understanding of these themes and individuals gives us a greater comprehension of the teaching of Hebrews. This reading plan walks through the entire Old Testament.
Each week includes two sections: weekly study and weekly reading. The weekly study text follows along with the primary preaching text for the week, coming from Hebrews or key cross references. The weekly reading is a book of the Old Testament.
resources
Commentaries
Commentaries are Bible reference tools that contain observations and explanations of biblical text. Use a commentary to aid your study of a passage, answer questions that arise during your own time of in-depth study, or to help remind you of primary themes throughout the book.
The recommended Hebrews commentaries below are also available in the Resource Center.
Study Bibles
A study Bible is a helpful study tool that contains the full Bible text with additional resources. They often include tables, charts, articles, outlines, and book introductions, as well as brief commentary notes on many verses and passages.
View a recommended study Bible below or in the Resource Center.
class
View video and audio recordings from a two-day course from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary that walks through key theological observations and applications throughout the epistle to the Hebrews.
jesus is better series
Intro to Hebrews
The epistle to the Hebrews is saturated with rich theology that reminds readers that Jesus is better and He is supreme over everything that we are tempted to trust in. With its anonymity and extensive references to Old Testament Jewish culture, Hebrews also poses unique interpretive challenges. Use the resources below to aid in your introductory study to the book of Hebrews.
Blueprint Guide spotlight: Bible Study
To Read
- Time to (Re)Discover Hebrews – Sinclair Ferguson
- Introduction to Hebrews – The Gospel Coalition
- Hebrews | Commentary – The Gospel Coalition
To Watch / Listen
Series: Jesus is the Better Revelation
Our first series, Jesus is the Better Revelation, examines Hebrews 1-2. God has made Himself known through Jesus. His revelation is superior to that of even the angels, for He Himself is God in the flesh. “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest” (2:17).
Blueprint Guide spotlight: Is the Bible Trustworthy?
To Read
- God’s Final Word – Ligonier
- The Son Surpasses Old Covenant Messengers – The Gospel Coalition
To Watch / Listen
- Jesus Greater Than Angels – SBTS
- God Has Spoken – Sinclair Ferguson
- Jesus Christ: Infinitely Superior to Angels – John Piper
- The Danger of Drifting from the Word – John Piper
Series: Jesus is the Better Rest
We long for rest. In our sin, we look to satisfy this craving in all kinds of ways. Hebrews reminds us that not only is it the Lord who promises rest and is the one who will bring us into His rest, but that Jesus himself is our rest. We will find our rest in Him alone.
This series walks through Hebrews 3:1-4:13. The Israelites rebelled against God as they were led by Moses in the wilderness, and they were not able to enter the Lord’s rest because of their unbelief. We will see that the Lord models rest for us, foreshadows rest for the Hebrews, and promises that in Christ we can strive to enter His rest.
Blueprint Guide spotlight: Battling Busyness Through Devotion to Jesus
To Read
- A Rest for Any Restlessness – Desiring God
- Faithful like Moses, the Son Surpasses Moses – The Gospel Coalition
- Tabletalk Devotionals through Hebrews 3 – Ligonier
To Watch / Listen
- Jesus Greater than Moses – SBTS
- Do Not Harden Your Heart in the Day of Trouble – John Piper
- Jesus’ Rest is Better Than All the Rest (Hebrews 3:7-4:13) – D.A. Carson
Series: Jesus is the Better High Priest
In the Old Testament, the high priest offered sacrifices in order to atone for sin. These descendents of Levi who filled this role were the only ones able to enter into the holy places where the presence of God dwelt. The people of Israel needed these priests to make sacrifices on their behalf so that they could receive forgiveness for their sins.
Israel’s high priests sacrificed animals; Jesus gave up Himself (Heb 7:27). Israel’s high priests also had to atone for their own sins; Jesus is a holy and innocent sacrifice (Heb 7:26). Israel’s high priests had to continually make these sacrifices; Jesus was a sacrifice for us “once for all” (Heb 7:27). Jesus is the Better High Priest!
Blueprint Guide spotlight: Praying Scripture
To Read
- The Eternal Priest Surpasses Old Covenant Priests, Sanctuary, and Sacrifices (4:14–10:35) – The Gospel Coalition
- Wherever He Is, We Are Welcome: Heaven’s Great High Priest – Desiring God
- Levi and Melchizedek – Ligonier
To Watch / Listen
- Jesus, Our Great High Priest – Hebrews 4:14-6:20 – SBTS
- Can Jesus Really Understand My Temptations? – Desiring God
- Who was Melchizedek? – Honest Answers | SBTS