“My children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Intercessor with the Father—the righteous Messiah Yeshua. ² He is the atonement for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.”^{�1 John 2:1}

Who Wrote Hebrews?

Question:

I have no idea.

Answer:

“… as for the Epistle to the Hebrews, [Clement] says indeed that it is Paul’s, but that it was written for Hebrews in the Hebrew tongue, and that Luke, having carefully translated it, published it for the Greeks; hence, as a result of this translation, the same complexion of style is found in this Epistle and in the Acts: but that the [words] “Paul an apostle” were naturally not prefixed. For, says he, “in writing to Hebrews who had conceived a prejudice against him, he very wisely did not repel them at the beginning by putting his name.”(Eusebius, cited in Ellingworth, Paul. The Epistle to the Hebrews (New International Greek Testament Commentary (NIGTC)) (pp. 4-5). Kindle Edition.)

^“God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs.” (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Ein Sof Ohr

Infinite Light

משיח

שם חי

Mashiach

Living Name

^“Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,  how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,  God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will? For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels…” (Hebrews 2:1-5)

Pre-Time

6,000 Years

1,000 Years

Post-Time

(Modern Human History)

(Revelation 21 - 22)

(Revelation 19 - 20)

(Genesis 4+)

(Genesis 1 - 3)

Creation

Expulsion

of Adam

Return

of Yeshua

Re-Creation

Garden of Eden

This World

World to Come

Yemot HaMashiach

“The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.” (Ezekiel 18:20)

The Torah Equation of Death

^“Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,  and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring^§ of Abraham. Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.  For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:14-18)

^“Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;  but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Messiah, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end,  while it is said, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:12-15)

^“There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.  Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.” (Hebrews 4:9-13)

^“Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Yeshua, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.  For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.  Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

^“For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.” (Hebrews 5:1-3)

“There are certain sins for which the Kohen Gadol cannot effect forgiveness (see Yoma 86a). In this respect, a tzaddik is on a higher level than the Kohen Gadol, because the tzaddik can effect forgiveness for all sins (Likutey Halakhot I, pg. 163a).”

Rebbe Nachman’s Torah, Exodus-Leviticus, Breslov Research Institute, Kindle Edition, Location 9351

“You are my Son. Today I have become your father.” As he says also in another place, 

“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:5-6)

^“Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Messiah, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,  of the teaching of immersions^†, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. This will we do, if God permits. For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame. For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.” (Hebrews 6:1-8)

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil,  where as a forerunner Yeshua entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

^“Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the best plunder.  ⁵ They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the Torah, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham, but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives. We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,  for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.” (Hebrews 7:4-10)

^“Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?  ¹² For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.  For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.  ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.  This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,  who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life;  for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 7:11-17)

^“By so much, Yeshua has become the guarantee of a better covenant.  Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.  But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them. For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.   For the Torah appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.” (Hebrews 7:22-28)

^"Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,  a servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Torah,  who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as Torah.” (Hebrews 8:1-6)

^“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold, the days are coming”, says the Lord, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;  not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord.” (Hebrews 8:7-9)

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel 

after those days,” says the Lord: “I will put my laws into their mind; I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people. They will not teach every man his fellow citizen and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’  for all will know me, from their least to their greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.  I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first obsolete. But that which is becoming obsolete and growing aged is near to vanishing away.” (Hebrews 8:10-13)

In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first obsolete. But that which is becoming obsolete and growing aged is� near to vanishing away.”� (Hebrews 8:10-13)

Present Tense

In the Process of Passing Away, as this world (olam hazeh)

meaning, it has not yet passed away

^“Now indeed even the first^† covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary.  For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the show bread, which is called the Holy Place. After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden censer of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;  and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can’t speak now in detail.” (Hebrews 9:1-5)

Some translations translate the Greek word θυμιατήριον (thymiatērion) as "Altar of Incense", which is clearly incorrect. The Altar of Incense was in the Holy Place, not the Holy of Holies. The word simply means "a place where to burn incense" which can mean either the altar of incense or the censer, the latter of which is the meaning here. While the Book of Revelation uses the Greek word λιβανωτός (libanōtos) for the censer, it uses θυσιαστήριον (thysiastērion) for the Altar of Incense. Furthermore, the Greek Septuagint of 2 Chronicles 26, when describing King Manasseh using the censer in the Temple, uses the exact word that Hebrews does: θυμιατήριον (thymiatērion). The Septuagint also uses this word in Ezekiel 8:11, as does Josephus in Antiquities 4.2.4; 8.3.8. Other ancient writers do as well, such as Herodotus 4.162; Thucydides 6.46; Diodorus 13.3; Aelian v. h. 12.51.

“The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; which is a symbol of the present age (olam hazeh), where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.” (Hebrews 9:8-10)

Pre-Time

6,000 Years

1,000 Years

Post-Time

(Modern Human History)

(Revelation 21 - 22)

(Revelation 19 - 20)

(Genesis 4+)

(Genesis 1 - 3)

Creation

Expulsion

of Adam

Return

of Yeshua

Re-Creation

Garden of Eden

This World

World to Come

Yemot HaMashiach

^“But Messiah having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,  nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.  For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh,  how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:11-14)

“According to the Torah, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)

“…Israel’s spilled blood contains many lofty and hidden matters, be it blood spilled through embarrassment or other, actual spilled blood. For there are very many fallen souls which have no elevation except through the spilled blood of Israel; [that] of a great individual. In some cases, they have no elevation except through actual spilled blood.”(Likutey Moharan II, 83:11, Breslov Research Institute, pg. 225)

^“For the Torah, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.  Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:1-4)

KORBANOT

​

Korban Olah – “Burnt Offering”

Z’vach Sh’lamim – “Peace Offering”

Chatat – “Sin Offering”

Asham – “Guilt Offering”

Minchah – “Meal Offering”

“R. Phinehas and R. Levi and R. Johanan said in the name of R. Menahem of Gallia: In the Time to Come all sacrifices will be annulled, but that of thanksgiving will not be annulled, and all prayers will be annulled, but that of Thanksgiving will not be annulled. This is indicated by what is written, The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that say: Give thanks to the L-rd of hosts (Jer. 33:2)…”

Leviticus Rabbah 9:7, Soncino Press Edition

“… Resh Lakish said: [There are] seven (heavens), namely, Vilon, Rakia, Shehakim, Zebul, Ma’on, Makon, Arabot…Zebul is that in which [the heavenly] Jerusalem and the Temple and the Altar are built, and Michael, the great Prince, stands and offers up thereon an offering, for it is said: ‘I have surely built You a house of habitation [Zebul], a place for You to dwell in forever…”�Chagigah 12b, Soncino Press Edition

Yeshua’s Higher Dimensional Sacrifice

Daily Lambs

​

Passover Lamb

​

The Turtledove

​

The Red Heifer

​

L’ADONAI Goat of

Yom Kippur

​

Calf

​

Bull of

Shemini Atzeret

​

“Remember that if Adam had not sinned, the whole concept of areas that are sanctified and areas that are not would not have existed. The whole earth would have been likeגן עדן  (The Garden of Eden). . . Man would not have been required to bring himself close to G’d by means of an animal sacrifice; he himself would have been the sacrifice, much as is described by our sages when they tell of the archangel Michael offering the souls of the departed righteous on the Heavenly Altar (Chagiga 12)….We can therefore view the whole of this book,תורת כהנים  as theתיקון האדם rehabilitation of Adam, i.e. mankind.”�R’ Yeshayahu Horowitz, Shney Luchot HaBrit�Translated and Annotated by Eliyahu Munk, Volume 2, pg. 681

“(The Rekanati) says that every concept can be described by means of some metaphor, example. The relation of the metaphor to the concept it represents is like that of a shadow to the object that casts it, from which it is inseparable. The life-force, רוח (ruach, spirit) of the beast which serves as the offering is derived from theשור  (shor, ox) of the four חיות (chayyot, living creatures) in Ezekiel’s vision. When the animal rises in the form of smoke after being offered on the altar, it re-unites with its source in the מרכבה (merkavah), G’d’s celestial chariot. The life-force of the bird which serves as an offering similarly reunites with the חיה chayyah called eagle…”�R’ Yeshayahu Horowitz, Shney Luchot HaBrit, Translated and Annotated by Eliyahu Munk, Volume 2, pg. 708

“Adam had been created and placed in Gan Eden in order עבדה ולשמרה to work and preserve it” (Genesis 2,15)…He himself was meant to be the “service” or, as we expressed this later, the “offering.” He was a “living sacrifice.” While alive in a body, he was supposed to be what the souls of the righteous are nowadays after they have left this earth and their bodies behind and when the archangel Michael offers their souls on the Celestial Altar…Man is supposed to be close to this image of himself since man of this earth was created in the image of the (Man, Adam) who sits on the “throne” in the Celestial Regions, the mystical dimension of (Atzilut)…”�R’ Yeshayahu Horowitz, Shney Luchot HaBrit, Translated and Annotated by Eliyahu Munk, Volume 2, pg. 698-699

“…the need for the mission of Mashiach ben Yosef came about as result of the sin of Adam. In theory, had Adam not sinned and brought about tremendous spiritual damage to himself and the world, there would not have been a need for the tikun olam efforts of Mashiach ben Yosef, in every subsequent generation. Mashiach ben Yosef thus comes to rectify that damage and return mankind to the state of Adam before the sin.”�Yonah as Mashiach ben Yosef, R’ Daniel Krentzman

“…Atik includes all time and space – yet transcends it all. The soul of Mashiach “resides” within Atik, and it is from this level that all his powers will be drawn. And, since he transcends time and space, Mashiach can transcend every transgression ever committed and rectify it – for since he can transcend everything ever done, he can bring each person to a state prior to his having sinned. . . With the power inherent in this exalted level, Mashiach will be able to bring the world to a state of perfection.”�Mashiach, Who, What, Why, How, Where, When, by Chaim Kramer, Breslov Research Institute, pg. 209

^“Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,  not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” �(Hebrews 10:24)

“Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service (avodah). Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of G-d.”�Romans 12:1-2

Red Heifer that Removes the Impurity of Death

L’ADONAI Goat of Yom Kippur

Asham Offering of Isaiah 53

Pure Dove of the Metzorah

Olah Offering that ascended Into Heaven

Ram that Took the Place of Yitzhak

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin

of the world!”�John 1:29

^“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen. For by this, the elders obtained approval. By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:1-3)

Our sages teach in Mechilta:

​

“If one believes in Moses, it is considered as believing in the One Who spoke, �and the world came into being.”

R’ Gedaliah Aharon Kenig �CHAYEI NEFESH: Prayer, Prophecy & the Role of the Tzaddik �(Kindle Locations 2463-2467).

אִם־​כֵּן הָאֱמוּנָה בָאָה מִתּוֹךְ הַשְּׁמוּעָה וְהַשְּׁמוּעָה עַל־​יְדֵי דְבַר־​הַמָּשִׁיחַ

“So them faith comes by hearing,

and hearing by the Word of Messiah.”

Romans 10:17

“…the righteous will live by his faith.”�Habakkuk 2:4

צַדִּיק בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ יִחְיֶה

“Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,  ² looking to Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

^“For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,  the sound of a shofar, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,  for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”. So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,  to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Yeshua, the mediator of a New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling �that speaks better than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:18-22)

^“Let brotherly love continue. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.  Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”  So that with good courage we say, "The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:1-6)

^“Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Yeshua, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Yeshua the Messiah, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

(Hebrews 13:20-21)