Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Our Lord is Coming
Hebrews 1:1-12Some Jews in the first century believed in Jesus as the Messiah yet desired all of Judaism’s ceremonies. The distinctions between Christianity and Judaism were blurry, and many individuals were unsure of their primary identity. Some of these may have been addressed in the book of Hebrews. It appears to have been composed for those who already believed in Jesus as the Messiah. The book claims that Jesus is superior to Judaism because he brings truth to the table that Jewish rites can only hint at. The readers should perceive Jesus as the embodiment of their religious identity.
There is a contrast between ancient and modern in the first statement. God spoke with the patriarchs in various ways: certain things to one person, some to another, a different piece to someone else many years later, and so on. God would communicate in a thunderous voice at times, a whisper at others, and a vision. That is in stark contrast to how God has communicated through his Son. Jesus is a Son, not a prophet, and as such, he has a complete revelation of what God wishes to disclose. This is conclusive. The prophets only had a hazy vision of Jesus Christ’s day, yet he is the fulfillment of everything they prophesied. God has communicated with us via his Son.
God made him “heir of all things, through whom he also created the universe,” according to verse 2. Even before anything existed, he was named heir. He is the Universe’s Architect and Owner. Furthermore, “He is the precise imprint of God’s very nature and the mirror of God’s splendor, and he maintains all things by his tremendous word” (verse 3). Unbelievers may consider it blasphemy to express such things.
Now the author gets to the main subject of the letter, the subject that he will develop in much more detail: “When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” You must pay attention to Jesus if you want your sins cleansed and cleaned, for he is the one who makes the path for us. He is in the presence of God, and he wields considerably more power than the prophets because they had only part of the truth. They wrote true, but it was only part of what we needed. Now we have Jesus, and we have all that we need in him. The author now introduces the subject of the first chapter, which argues that Jesus is better than angels: “As the Son of God, he is by nature superior to the angels, who are messenger servants of God.” He does not bother to show that these verses are genuinely about Jesus; he appears to assume that the audience already knows that. He is writing to a friendly audience, not a hostile one, on this subject.
However, to prepare them for the topics he will cover in subsequent chapters, he wants to remind them of Jesus’ greatness, and he begins by comparing him to angels. “For to whatever of the angels has God ever said, ‘You are my Son; today I have born you?’” Hebrews 1:5 ‘I shall be his Father, and he will be my Son,’ or anything similar?” God never spoke this to any angel, but he did say it for Jesus. Then prove that Jesus is better to angels. He does not bother to show that these verses are genuinely about Jesus; he appears to assume that the audience already knows that. He is writing to a friendly audience, not a hostile one, on this subject.
However, to prepare them for the topics he will cover in subsequent chapters, he wants to remind them of Jesus’ greatness, and he begins by comparing him to angels. “For to whatever of the angels has God ever said, ‘You are my Son; today I have born you?’” Hebrews 1:5 ‘I shall be his Father, and he will be my Son,’ or anything similar?” God never spoke this to any angel, but he did say it for Jesus. The following two quotes are significantly lengthier. ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the upright scepter is the scepter of your dominion,’ he says of the Son. Because you have loved righteousness and despised evil, God, your God, has anointed you with oil of gladness that surpasses that of your colleagues.” (quoting Psalm 45:6-7).
Again, no attempt is made to explain why these lines may be applied to Jesus Christ, even when they explicitly refer to him as God: “And, ‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak, you will roll them up, and like clothing, they will be changed. However, you are the same, and your years will never end.” The author appears to be reminding the readers of something they have previously learned. The argument is that the Son is the King, while the angels are only slaves.
Dear God, make us an instrument in your hands and help us be truthful and loyal to you than follow those false prophets.
Mathew Abraham Varghese