THE SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW COVENANT OVER THE MOSAIC COVENANT

SPECIAL TOPIC: The Superiority of the New Covenant Over the Mosaic Covenant

A basic outline of the book

Heb. 1:1-3	Superiority of the Son over the prophets
Heb. 1:4-2:18	Superiority of the Son over the angels
Heb. 3:1-4:13; 4:14-5:10	Superiority of the Son over the Mosaic Covenant
Heb. 6:13-7:28	Superiority of the Son over the Aaronic Priesthood
Heb. 5:11-6:12	Superiority of the believing Jews over the unbelieving Jews
Heb. 8:1-10:18	Superiority of the Son over the procedures of the Mosaic Covenant
Heb. 10:19-13:25	Superiority of the Son advocated and revealed in believers

This is an example of the rabbinical hermeneutic called "Lesser to Greater."

Special Topic: Rabbinical Hermeneutics

List of theological emphases

Heb. 1:1-3 ‒ He is the superior revelation (the prophets)

Heb. 1:4-2:18 ‒ He is the superior mediator (angels)

Heb. 3:1-6 ‒ He is the superior servant (Moses)

Heb. 4:14-5:10; 6:13-7:28 ‒ He is the superior priest (Aaron)

Heb. 8:1-13; 9:15-22 ‒ He is the superior covenant (OT)

Heb. 9:1-11,23-28 ‒ He is the superior sanctuary (temple)

Heb. 9:12-14; 10:1-18 ‒ He is the superior sacrifice (animals)

Heb. 12:18-29 ‒ He is the superior mountain (old covenant at Mt. Sinai and new covenant at Mt. Zion)

The heart of the book of Hebrews is the comparison between the Mosaic covenant and the New Covenant in Christ. This contrast is often expressed by the term "greater" (kreittou/kreissou), which means "better," "superior," "more excellent," "more valuable," "higher rank." This is a recurrent key theme in Hebrews.
1. much better than the angels (cf. Heb. 1:4)
2. better things concerning you (cf. Heb. 6:9
3. lesser is blessed by the greater (cf. Heb. 7:7)
4. a better hope (cf. Heb. 7:19)
5. a better covenant (cf. Heb. 7:22
6. a better covenant based on better promises (cf. Heb. 8:6)
7. with better sacrifice (cf. Heb. 9:23)
8. a better possession which abides (cf. Heb. 10:34)
9. a better resurrection (cf. Heb. 11:35)
10. a better country (cf. Heb. 11:16)
11. God has provided something better (cf. Heb. 11:40)
12. His sprinkled blood speaks better than Abel's (cf. Heb. 12:24)

In light of Jesus' superiority there is a series of warnings against rejecting His gospel (i.e. the New Covenant, cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-36) or reverting to Judaism (i.e. Old Covenant).

Heb. 2:1-4
Heb. 3:7-4:13
Heb. 5:11-6:12
Heb. 10:19-39
Heb. 12:14-29

Theological Emphases
1. The New Covenant in Jesus is the fulfillment and goal of the OT (cf. Matt. 5:17-20)
2. The New Covenant is far superior to the Mosaic Covenant, which has passed away (see my exegetical notes on the Olivet Discourse of Jesus and my new [2024] commentary on Revelation; both free online).
3. I think the best, most relevant commentaries on the OT are
  1. Galatians 3
  2. Hebrews

Special Topic: Paul's Views of the Mosaic Law