HEBREWS:
The Name High Over All
By Richard Brooks
Evangelical Press. 458 pages. £15.99
ISBN 978 1 783 971 619
This is a sermonic commentary on the book of Hebrews, based on the ESV text, in the new Welwyn Commentary Series.
The chapters in the book match those in the biblical text. There is a short Introduction briefly addressing matters of authorship, date, purpose and recipients. One helpful feature of the commentary is that each time another biblical reference is cited, the text of the cross-reference is provided in full. Intentionally, other commentaries on Hebrews are not quoted, nor is the original Greek text. Also, there are no footnotes or endnotes and there is no bibliography, although some useful other commentaries are mentioned in the Introduction.
This is a thorough, expository commentary on the biblical text – its purpose being to reflect the intent of the original author, namely to set forth the glory and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ as the one without equal. It is warm and worshipful and is a commentary that can be read devotionally.
There is much to assist preachers in the structuring of sermons on Hebrews, with helpful headings provided throughout. For example, in Chapter 7, comparing the priesthood of Jesus with the Levitical priesthood, we see that Jesus occupies a better office, possesses a better life, introduces a better hope, guarantees a better covenant, exercises a better ministry and exhibits a better character.
The passages in Hebrews 6 and Hebrews 10, warning about apostasy, are considered to refer to a person who professes faith in Christ but who doesn’t actually possess faith in Christ. But a fourfold purpose for the true believer is identified – to warn against giving up in the Christian life, to guard against presumption, to encourage self-examination and watchfulness over our hearts, and to urge us to press on.
Overall, this is a non-technical and easily accessible commentary with heartfelt and direct application, that leads us to worship the one who bears ‘the name high over all’ who has purchased for us such a great salvation.
