Hebrews

Although it does not explicitely name the people that is addressed to, this Epistle is definitely targeted to a Jewish audience. There is an emphasis of the relationship of Christ to the Levitical priesthood and the temple sacrifices. It repeatedly quotes Old Testament scripture to confirm its assertions. So, it is commonly accepted that this book of the New Testament was addressed to the Jewish Christians of Palestine, especially those in Jerusalem.

It was clearly written before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70; and if Paul was the writer, it seems likely that it was written from Rome in AD 61-63.

One of the purposes of this Epistle seems to be that of preparing Jewish Christians for the approaching fall of Jeusalem, after which the sacrifices and other temple rites were brought to an abrupt end by the Roman army.

The author attempted to explain to Jewish Christians that animal sacrifices were no longer of any use, since the killing of a bullock or lamb could never take away sin. Those sacrifices were intended to be a picture of the coming sacrifice of Christ; and, as such, they had served their purpose and were no longer needed.

While the book of Romans was addressed to the capital of the Gentile world (i.e., Rome), the book of Hebrews was addressed to the capital of the Jewish nation (i.e., Jerusalem). Romans has to do with the relationship of the King to His Universal Kingdom, while Hebrews has to do with the relationship of the King to the One Nation out of which He came.