The argument that Paul is the author of this letter might be supported by the final benediction of the writer. It sounds very much like Paul’s closings to his other letters. The author begins to wrap up his letter in Hebrews 13:20-21 saying, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

These two verses summarize much of what has been said throughout the letter. We don’t do God’s will; He does His will through us. It’s our faith and trust in the three elements of the good news that changes lives. First, we believe in the goodness of God. He’s a loving and caring God even when it doesn’t look like it. Second, he has forgiven our sins through our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross proven by His resurrection from the dead. Finally, we trust that He has a great future for us that transcends our trek through this valley of the shadow of death. Faith equips us with all good things that we might do the will of God through the power He gives us through the indwelling of His Spirit. Only faith pleases God! This ensures that it’s Jesus who gets all the glory. That’s the end goal of our writer’s assertions about the superiority of Jesus over all religious expressions.

Again, Kistemaker says, “Two major themes dominate the epistle: the high-priestly work of Christ, summarized in the expression blood, and the covenant that is eternal. In this verse, once again and for the last time these themes are highlighted. God’s covenant with his people will remain forever. That covenant has been sealed with Christ’s blood which was shed once for all (9:26; 10:10).[1] Lea’s concluding comments on the book of Hebrews are right on. He says, “The author of Hebrews points us to the superiority of Jesus Christ. He is superior to the prophets (1:1–3), superior to the angels (1:4–2:18), and to Moses (3:1–4:13). He provides a superior priesthood on the basis of a superior covenant (4:14–10:31). Not only is Jesus superior to the foundational aspects of Judaism, but He is also superior to any aspect of contemporary religion. This means that Jesus is not just one good option among many ways of drawing near to God; He is the only way. Because of the superiority of Jesus we must not neglect such a great salvation that He has provided with His sacrificial death (2:3; 10:1–18).”[2]

[1] Simon J. Kistemaker and William Hendriksen, Exposition of Hebrews, vol. 15, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 430–431.

[2] Thomas D. Lea, “The General Letters,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 627.