Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 3): The Historical Background of Hebrews

Hebrews in Light of Grace (Part 3): The Historical Background of Hebrews

The Need for Context in Scripture

When we approach any specific portion of Scripture without first understanding its historical and dispensational background, confusion follows very quickly. Hebrews is one of the clearest examples of this. It stands as the fifty-eighth book of the Bible, and it leans on the foundation already laid in the fifty-seven books before it. If isolated passages from Hebrews are lifted out of that larger line of revelation, it becomes easy to misread truths that are plainly established elsewhere in the Word of God.

To read Scripture accurately, a believer needs to recognize that God speaks across different time periods and to different groups of people. Every word of God is pure, plain, and right to those who seek truth, but spiritual clarity also requires us to respect the distinct settings in which God revealed His plan (Ps.12:6; Prov.8:8-9). That is why a faithful study of Hebrews must trace the movement of Scripture from creation through the calling of Israel, observing how God’s dealings develop across time. Without that context, someone could easily take a handful of verses from Hebrews and use them to challenge clear doctrines given to us for the present age of grace.

Two Realms, Man's Creation, and Earthly Dominion

The story of Bible history begins at the very start of creation. When God brought the universe into existence, He established two primary realms: the heaven and the earth (Gen.1:1). Scripture identifies the heaven as the location of God’s supreme throne, while the earth was fashioned to be His footstool (Isa.66:1). These were not empty spaces without meaning. They were filled with order, authority, government, and purpose.

Within these two realms, God established a complete system of rule. All things in heaven and on earth—visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers—were created by Jesus Christ and for Him (Col.1:16). Every authority structure was originally designed to carry out the divine will and reflect the absolute glory of the Creator (Rev.4:11). This is also where the repeated biblical pattern of the number twelve becomes significant, as it appears in connection with governmental perfection: the twelve constellations, the twelve months of the year, the twelve tribes of Israel, and the twelve apostles who will sit on twelve thrones (Gen.49:28; Matt.19:28; Rev.21:12-14).

So from the beginning, Scripture presents creation not merely as a physical environment, but as a governed order under God’s throne.

The Trap of Being "Too Good" for God

The Trap of Being "Too Good" for God

Imagine working your entire life to build a flawless reputation, only to find out that your hard work was actually keeping you from what you needed most. Most of us think the greatest danger to our souls is outright rebellion—doing things we know are wrong. But there is a much quieter, far more subtle trap that catches well-meaning people every day: the trap of inward self-sufficiency.

It is the danger of being so focused on your own goodness that you miss out on God's mercy.

The Turning Point

This exact scenario played out during the Apostle Paul’s missionary travels. When confronting a group of deeply religious people who refused the free gift of salvation, he delivered a startling wake-up call:

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." (Acts 13:46)

The Issue: Evaluating by the Wrong Standard

The irony in this moment is massive. These people didn't walk away because they thought they were too sinful for God. They walked away because they thought they were too good.

They were judging themselves by a flawed metric: their own ability to keep rules, maintain an immaculate image, and earn their standing. When you live by a spiritual checklist, you naturally start comparing yourself to those around you. You look down at others, feel pretty good about your own efforts, and conclude that you are doing just fine on your own.

Man has become as one of Us, to know good and evil

Genesis 3:22 — “The man has become as one of Us, to know good and evil”

When God says in Genesis 3:22 that “the man has become as one of Us, to know good and evil,” He is not announcing that humanity has gained divine wisdom or holiness. Instead, He is declaring that humanity has crossed into a realm that belongs to God alone—the realm of moral authority. Scripture consistently uses the phrase “knowing good and evil” to describe the ability to make independent moral judgments, not the possession of divine insight. For example, Deuteronomy 1:39 describes children as those who “do not know good and evil,” meaning they lack the maturity to make independent moral decisions. Likewise, in 2 Samuel 14:17, the woman of Tekoa praises David as one who can “discern good and evil,” referring to his judicial authority. These passages show that “knowing good and evil” is about claiming the right to decide, not about becoming morally enlightened.

This is exactly what Adam and Eve seized in the fall. Before sin entered, God alone defined what was good (Genesis 1), what was not good (Genesis 2:18), and what was forbidden (Genesis 2:17). But by eating from the tree, they rejected God’s authority and claimed the right to define morality for themselves. This is the tragic fulfillment of the serpent’s promise: “You shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). They did not become divine; they became self‑authorities, attempting to determine right and wrong apart from God. This moral autonomy is the essence of corruption, because humans now judge good and evil through a fallen nature rather than through God’s holiness. Scripture later describes this condition repeatedly: “Every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). The fall is therefore not merely the breaking of a rule—it is the birth of human self‑rule.