Hebrews - Recipients

The importation of Judaism into Christianity was an issue that the apostles dealt with as the gospel spread and Jews were converted. The letters Galatians and Hebrews written to the early churches deal with this issue.

The letter of Hebrews was written by someone with apostolic authority who was well versed in the old covenant law prior to the destruction of the temple and the sacrificial system that occurred in AD 70. It was addressed primarily to Jewish converts who were trying to import the laws and traditions of Judaism into Christianity. Some scholars believe that these Jewish Christians were attempting to merge with a Jewish sect, such as the one at Qumran near the Dead Sea. Others suggest that they were the "large number of priests who became obedient to the faith" mentioned in Acts 6:7.

The writer argues that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, and that the new covenant that He made with the disciples in the upper room supercedes the old one.  Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant, a "better covenant", therefore there is no longer a need for priests. Under the old covenant, priests were required to be descendants of Levi. But Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, yet He is the High Priest from the order of Melchizedek, who was likely Jesus Himself. Jesus is the Mediator between God and man, which means that man can go directly to Him without having to go through a Levitical priest or someone who has been specially "ordained." God has equipped His people with the ability to hear Him themselves.  He has equipped them with the Holy Spirit in order to serve Him, guide them, and teach them. 

Under the old covenant, the people were required to take their offerings to the temple and the priest was required to offer the sacrifice for them. But under the new covenant, there is no need for sacrifices to be made because Jesus is the one time sacrifice for all. He sacrificed Himself as the perfect Lamb during Passover, fulfilling the Passover. There is no longer any need for God's people to observe Passover because of Jesus.

There is no longer any need for God's people to take offerings to the temple in order to have a priest sacrifice them or offer them up to the Lord. The Jewish temple was destroyed by God in AD70 because there would no longer be need for it because of Jesus. Jesus is the Temple, therefore the only sacrifice that God requires from His people is to offer themselves to Him as living sacrifices. 

The early church was comprised primarily of Jews, and these were all things that the apostles had to correct and teach those who were of the belief that practices of Judaism had to be brought into the church and practiced by Christians. Christians are not under the law of the old covenant because of Jesus. Practitioners of Judaism do not believe in Jesus and therefore they continue to practice the old covenant law  - at least as much they are able to without offering animal sacrifices. Christianity and Judaism are not the same... one believes in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God who offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for sin, and the other does not.