Hebrews Part 2
Notes
Transcript
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Recap:
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
In the OT, God spoke BY the prophets.
And he only only spoke to “Our Fathers”
Which is referring to the ancestors of the Jews.
Hebrew is a word that means “Crossed over”
Jew is a word that refers to the name of Judah
The Royal tribe of the Southern Kingdom.
Today Hebrew and Jew can be interchangeable
However, the slight difference in their origin could imply
that the writer was intending to address all Hebrews.
And so, in verse 1, when he says “our fathers”
He talking about everyone born to Jacob.
All 12 tribes.
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
So, in the OT, or former age, God spoke BY the prophets
But in the NT, or last days, or second age, God has spoken by his Son.
And we broke down the original language here to show that it does not say “his”.
It just says he has spoken to us by Son.
And the “BY” here is most often translated as “in”.
So, it could really say, God has Spoken to us IN Son.
Because the Son is, Immanuel, God with us.
The Son has been appointed heir of all things.
And yet, at the same time,
creator of the world.
Again, we talked about how God is not limited by time
He is able to be both heir of all things and creator of all things at the same time.
We pulled in many other Scriptures last week to show this is consistent
Including John 1.10
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
This is where we left off last week.
We made it to the middle of this verse.
To recap the first part.
I’m going to replace the pronouns with its antecedents for clarity.
The Son is the radiance of the Glory of God the Father, and the exact imprint of God the Father’s Nature.
Radiance there can mean brightness or refection depending on the context.
I personally think reflection is the better word.
The Son is not an extension of the Father
Like rays are an extension of the S-U-N.
Rather, the S-O-N is a reflection of the Father.
Which is by the analogy connected to this clause says…
The Son is the exact imprint of God the Father’s nature.
Jesus said…
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Paul said…
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
and…
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
and…
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
So, when you look at the face of Jesus Christ
You are seeing the Only God there is
God the Father.
Because the Son is a reflection of the Father
The exact imprint of the Father
ok, back to our text.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
The Son (who is God) upholds the universe by the word of his power.
How could the Son uphold the universe if he is not God himself?
And we are certainly still referring to the Son based on the context
because the next sentence says…
After making purification for sins.
This is a direct reference to the cross
Where the Son of God died for our sins.
After this, the Son sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.
This last clause here refers to the ascension of Christ.
Let’s talk about the phrase “sat down at the right hand”.
first, the words “down” and “hand” are not in the original Greek text.
The word “sat” comes from the Greek word Kathizo
It means to sit, or be seated.
It can also mean “to put in charge of, to appoint, to install”.
So, for example, a ruler can be “seated” in a position of power.
A Congress member as a “seat” in the house.
When a Senator resigns, there is an empty “seat”, etc.
It is in this figurative sense, that I think the word is being used here.
The Son is not sitting is a literal chair.
He is being “seated” in a position of power.
Like a Senator taking a seat in Congress.
It doesn’t mean a Senator is now forever sitting in a chair in a building in Washington.
But the Senator has assumed a position of power and leadership.
So, in Heb 1.3, the Son is being appointed to a position
and it is a position of power
which brings me to my next point.
right hand doesn’t mean a literal right hand.
Again, hand is not even in the Greek here.
Only the word Dexia, which simply means “right”.
(as in the opposite of left),
So, to interpret "sitting at the right hand" as only a literal physical position
would be too literal and would miss the profound meaning intended by the author.
The writer just said that the Son is the exact imprint of the Father’s nature
And has the power to hold up the universe
but when the Son was “making purification for our sins”
He couldn’t hold onto that power
because he could not die
But “AFTER” making purification of Sins
the Son then ascended to his position of Power.
Not in a physical seat next to the Father
but in a position of power as the Father.
Here's why the literal interpretation would be problematic and what the phrase truly conveys:
God is Spirit: The Bible clearly teaches that God is spirit (John 4:24). As a spiritual being, God does not have a physical body with a literal "right hand" in the way humans do. To insist on a purely physical interpretation would project human limitations onto God.
11 And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.
12 Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice.
15 “Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire,
16 beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
God made it clear to Moses, I do not have a form or shape.
A form would be a limitation
That’s why God doesn’t have a body
A body is like a border…
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
So, God does not have a “right hand” or a “right hand side”.
He has no sides at all.
The imagery of the Son being at the right side of the Majesty
Is just that… imagery, not literal.
Because God doesn’t have a right side.
2. Figurative Language (Anthropomorphism): When the Bible describes God with human characteristics (like hands, eyes, ears, sitting, etc.), it's using a literary device called anthropomorphism. This is done to help humans understand abstract divine concepts in terms they can relate to. We understand what the word “right” signifies in terms of action, power, and interaction.
3. Cultural Significance of the word “Right": in ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures, the "right" was universally recognized as the place of:
Honor and Privilege: To be seated at the right side of a king or ruler was the highest mark of honor and favor.
Authority and Power: It symbolized shared authority and the delegation of power. The "right-hand man" was the trusted second-in-command who acted with the king's authority.
Strength and Efficacy: The right hand was often the dominant and stronger hand for action, battle, and blessing. So “right” because associated with power.
So, the literal word “right” is talking about a direction, the opposite of left.
But the figurative word “right” is talking about power.
And since the word “sit” is talking about an appointed position, not the act of sitting down.
Then when we put “sit” and “right” together
We talking about a appointed position of power.
But whose power?
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
the word “Majesty ” is in the genitive sense.
The is similar to the possesive form in English.
You can say “Jacob’s house” to show possesion
or you can say “House OF Jacob”, and say the same thing.
You either add an apostrophe “s”
or the word “of” in English to show possession.
In Greek, you change the ending of the root word to form the genitive sense of that word.
So, Majesty is in the genitive, but what does the Majesty posses?
a right hand
“Right hand OF the Majesty”.
But remember, “right hand” doesn’t mean a literal hand.
Hand is not even in the original text.
“right” means power.
So, the Majesty possesses the power.
But wait…
The Son has now been seated, or appointed to the posistion of that power
Not a new power
Not his own power
but the power owned or possessed by the Majesty on High.
And “High” here is a reference to what we would call “heaven”.
So, To be absolutely clear:
The Son is not in a physical position next to the Father. The Son is taking a figurative seat of power, honor, and authority, which is the very power belonging to the "Majesty on High" (aka God the Father).
that’s why Jesus said..
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
God became a man at the birth of Jesus.
Immanuel, God with us.
And then after the cross
He went back to his position of power outside of time and space (aka heaven)
This lines up exactly with Philippians chapter 2.
And it seems the writer had Paul’s words in mind
Or, perhaps Paul has his own words in mind
When he then says…
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
We could read Philippians chapter 2, or Hebrew Chapter 1, but the writer is saying the same thing.
So, the writer is making a case here that the Son is God
And to back up his argument
He then quotes many OT passages.
Because he is talking to Hebrew people
and so he must use their own Scriptures
to prove that the Son is God in every way possible
He is the exact imprint of his nature
he has the power to uphold the universe
and even though he is heir of all things
he is also the creator of all things
and right now, he is in a position of power that only belongs to God
These are all assertions
but his evidence is going to come from the OT, not the NT
And we are going to dive into those OT passages now.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
Recall his assertion from verse 4,
the Son is higher than the angels
According to Hebrew tradition
The created order is God, Angels, men, Animals, Plants and finally inanimate objects like land, water, rocks, etc.
So, if the Son is above the Angels
and the only thing above angels is God
then the Son is God
To prove that the Son is above the angels
Paul first quotes Ps 2.7
7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
We looked at this passage when we were talking about the tribulation
This psalm is about the Day of Wrath
and in verse 7
God identifies who will carry out the wrath
The Son.
We know that the Son is coming back again in the flesh
And it will be for this very reason… wrath.
But Paul uses this prophecy to show that the one who will bring about this wrath is “begotten” by God the Father.
We would point the NT to argue this…
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
But the Writer is appealing to Hebrews,
so He points to the OT book of Psalms
to show that Jesus isn’t just a Son of David
He is also the Son of God.
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
After quoting Ps 2.7, Paul then quotes from 2 Sam 7.14
13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
This is when God was making a covenant with David about his son always being on the throne.
And the Hebrews would have known this was about the Messiah
And yet, here God says, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.
So, the Messiah is not just the son of David
The Messiah is also the Son of God.
Right there in the OT, it says the Messiah will be the Son of God
And the Jews missed it.
Paul didn’t miss it.
He pointed it out to them to show them that Jesus is God.
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
This is a quotation of Deut 32.43
43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people’s land.”
However, when we read it in English, it doesn’t sound the same.
But when we read this same verse in the Greek Septuagint
which was the Greek translation of the OT that the 1 Century Jews in Roman Provinces would have been most familiar with….
We find in there, that the wording is the same as what is being quoted in Heb 1.6
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
So, we know that the author is quoting from the Septuagint based on this verse.
Because the wording matches exactly.
So, when the son was begotten
All the angels did worship him
And we also see the angels worshipping the Lamb in the book of Revelation
So, by quoting Deut 32.43, the author is making another assertion
That the Son IS YWHW himself.
Because the context in that passage is meant to direct worship to YHWH alone
and if the Son is ever worshipped by angels
and he was worshipped by angels
then the Son IS YHWH in the flesh.
or… the exact imprint of the Father.
7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
This is an exact quote of Ps 104.4
4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
Remember, the word “angel” just means messenger.
So, God says this about the angels.
He makes them into wind and fire
And if you recall the created order.
elemental things are the lowest order
God, angels, mankind, animals, plants, and then things like wind, fire, earth, etc.
So God says, I will make my angels into wind
He can lower them
Which is why Lucifer and his angels fell to the earth.
They have the ability to fall even below the earth.
But, in contrast, VS 8 says that about the Son, God doesn’t say he will fall.
He says that he will reign forever.
8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
This is a quotation of Ps 45.6-7
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
As you can see, it is verbatim.
Let’s go back to Heb 1.8
8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
Now when we are zoomed in at the verse by verse level
It is easy to miss the forest for the trees
So, let me at this point remind you of two things.
First, notice the list of Jesus’ superiorities
His name is greater than the angels
His dignity is greater than the angels.
They had to worship him
His nature is greater
His the exact imprint of God’s nature
And the Angels are “Created” to serve
Secondly, Let us notice the roles that Jesus assumes
He replaced the prophets of the OT
He replaced the priests of the OT
Now we are about to see how he replaced the Kings of the OT.
There is a system to Paul’s arguments here.
He is not just trowing out random words
He is building a solid argument that Jesus is supreme
He is not just a prophet, he is God speaking directly to us
He is not just a Priest with limited atonement power
He purified all our sins on the cross, once and for all.
He is not just a man, he is the King of Kings.
And that is what is happening here in verse 8.
8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
The psalm being quoted here, ps 45 is about the marriage of a King
It was originally sung at real weddings for Kings of Judah.
And here, Paul is applying it to the Son of God.
And this first part of it identifies the Son as GOD
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever”.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
This second part is identifying the dual nature of Christ.
He wasn’t just God
He was Flesh.
And here we see the word “companions”
It means “fellows”, and carries with it the meaning for equality with humanity.
Which is why Paul said, “he made himself a little lower than the angels”.
There are some who will use the verse to argue that the because God calls the Son God
Then the Son is either another God or another person in the Godhead.
However, this entire argument has set out to prove that the Son is God himself
The exact imprint of His nature
The one who has the position of power of the Majesty on High.
God himself speaking to us in the Son, and not by the Prophets.
So, if the author was trying to then make the case the Son is another God
or even another person inside of God
It would be a deviation from his original and overall argument.
What we see instead here is exactly what Jesus said to the Pharisees
He used the same exact argument with them
he just quoted a different Psalm to do it.
41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.”
43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’?
45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
This is exactly what is being argued in Hebrews Chapter 1 Using Ps 45.
Jesus used Ps 110.
However, Paul uses Ps 110 also, in verse 13 to reiterate the point.
Which is, how can David call his own Son LORD?
The answer is that the Son is God manifested in the flesh
That is the only way Christ can be both Son of David
and also be God at the same time.
David didn’t call his Son, God the Son.
David called his Son YHWH.
This confused the Pharisees and it confuses a lot of Christians today
How can Jesus be both Son and God at the same time.
He is Son through the flesh
and God through the Spirit
3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit…
We have to stop here.
I wanted to make it to the end,
but I don’t want to rush past anything,
especially in this first chapter
Because this is the outline of the entire argument being made in the book.
That the Son is Greater
He is a better prophet
A better priest
A better King
with a better Covenant
and a better solution for sin and salvation.
His name is greater
His power is greater
He is greater
Because He is God.
The only God.
