GOD'S PERFECT SPOKESMAN
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
In our introductory lesson, we saw how the Epistle to the Hebrews is unique in its beginning...
In our introductory lesson, we saw how the Epistle to the Hebrews is unique in its beginning...
There is no mention of the author’s name, nor the recipients
Rather, it starts like an essay
1 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, 2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; 3 who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
We also noted regarding the purpose of the epistle...
We also noted regarding the purpose of the epistle...
To encourage Jewish Christians to remain steadfast in their faith
And this is accomplished by showing the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant
That superiority is demonstrated through a number of contrasts...
That superiority is demonstrated through a number of contrasts...
The very first contrast begins in these first three verses
In which Jesus is contrasted with the prophets of the Old Testament
In this lesson, we shall take a close look at the contrast...
In this lesson, we shall take a close look at the contrast...
Noting how God spoke “in time past”, and how He speaks “in these last days”
And, by observing how Jesus is certainly qualified to be “God’s Perfect Spokesman”
We begin by considering what is said regarding...
DISCUSSION
GOD’S SPOKESMEN “IN TIME PAST”
GOD’S SPOKESMEN “IN TIME PAST”
1 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,
The expression “of old time” or “time past” (KJV)
Refers to the period of time prior to the coming of Jesus
That is, that period of time described in the Old Testament (Genesis-Malachi)
The text also says that...
GOD SPOKE “UNTO THE FATHERS IN THE PROPHETS”
GOD SPOKE “UNTO THE FATHERS IN THE PROPHETS”
The “fathers” would be the ancestors of the Israelites
The “prophets” would include great men like Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
The word for “prophet” refers to one who is inspired by God to speak for Him
21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
At times, the prophets themselves were unsure of what they spoke
10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. 12 To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
Verse 1 also tells us that...
GOD SPOKE “BY DIVERS PORTIONS AND DIVERS MANNERS”
GOD SPOKE “BY DIVERS PORTIONS AND DIVERS MANNERS”
Or, “at many times and in many ways” (ESV)
His revelation did not come all at once, but progressively at different times
His methods varied as well, using visions, dreams, symbols, etc.
So God has clearly revealed Himself as One who “speaks” - that is, He communicates His will to mankind!
What He revealed through His prophets “in time past” is certainly wonderful, but consider what we learn regarding...
GOD’S SPOKESMAN “IN THESE LAST DAYS” (vs. 2-3)
GOD’S SPOKESMAN “IN THESE LAST DAYS” (vs. 2-3)
2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; 3 who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
THE EXPRESSION “AT THE ENDS OF THESE DAYS” refers to the Christian Age
THE EXPRESSION “AT THE ENDS OF THESE DAYS” refers to the Christian Age
The Old Testament often spoke of “the latter days” or “last days”
2 And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
1 But in the latter days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow unto it.
As such it often had special reference to the age of the Messiah
The apostles spoke of their time as the time of this fulfillment
16 but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:
Thus it denotes the final phase of history, brought on by the first coming of Christ, continuing until His second coming and the consummation of all things
26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake,
11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
At “the ends of these days”...
GOD “HAS SPOKEN UNTO US IN HIS SON”
GOD “HAS SPOKEN UNTO US IN HIS SON”
God has spoken once again, but note the contrast!
“In time past” it was through “prophets” - but “in these last days” it is in “His Son”!
God has sent His own Son to speak for Him!
As wonderful as the prophets were - they cannot compare to God’s own Son?
Especially as we read on and notice...
THE EXCELLENCE OF “GOD’S PERFECT SPOKESMAN”...
THE EXCELLENCE OF “GOD’S PERFECT SPOKESMAN”...
Jesus is “appointed heir of all things”
The author may have had this Psalm in mind...
8 Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
for in verse 5 he quotes from
7 I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.
As the “beloved Son”, it is only natural that He would be the appointed heir
What does “all things” include?
All that the Father has
15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
The authority to raise and judge the dead
26 For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: 27 and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.
The authority to rule in heaven and on earth
18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
This authority Christ has even now
20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
22 who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Notice also that...
Jesus is the one “through whom also he (God) made the worlds”
Not only the “Heir”, but also the “Creator”
For it was through the Son that God created the universe
3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
16 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;
All things were created “through (or by) Him” (He is the Creator)
All things were created “for Him” (He is the rightful Heir)
Jesus is “the effulgence (or, brightness) of His (God’s) glory”
In Jesus we see the very radiance of the glory of God
Notice what John wrote...
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
When we behold Jesus, we see an extension of the glory of God!
Jesus is “the very image of His substance”
The NAS reads “the exact representation of His nature” and the ESV reads “the exact imprint of his nature”
He is the exact representation of God’s being and character
9 for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
Therefore Jesus could say...
To Thomas
7 If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
To Philip
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?
Jesus is “upholding all things by the word of His power”
Jesus is not only the Creator, but also the Sustainer of the universe
17 and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.
“in Him all things consist”
By His word the universe holds together!
All He has to do is say the word, and the universe is no more
Note well:
This illustrates the power of His Word
Shall we not listen when He speaks?
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Jesus has also “made purification of sins”
A clear reference to His death on the cross for our sins
This speaks to His role as our Redeemer, a theme that will be prominent later in this epistle
17 Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
28 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.
Jesus has also “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”
This Jesus did when He ascended to heaven
20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
22 who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Sitting at the right hand of God is a place of honor, but for Jesus it is also a place from which He reigns - as is seen in...
21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
22 who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
It is true that He is waiting for the His enemies to be made His footstool (Heb 10:12- 13), but He is reigning until that time
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.
1 Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Thus Jesus is truly “the ruler over the kings of earth”
5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;
14 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.
CONCLUSION
The sentence does not end with verse three...
The sentence does not end with verse three...
It continues on into verse four, with a declaration of Jesus’ superiority over angels
But that verse and the rest of the chapter we shall save for the next study
But what have we seen in this lesson?
But what have we seen in this lesson?
God is clearly a God who speaks, He makes His Will known to mankind!
And now He speaks through His Son, Who is:
The appointed Heir of all things!
The Creator!
The brightness of God’s glory, the express image of His person!
Our Sustainer, Redeemer, and King!
How can one turn their back on Him? Especially when the Majesty on high proclaimed at the Mount of Transfiguration
How can one turn their back on Him? Especially when the Majesty on high proclaimed at the Mount of Transfiguration
5 While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Are you heeding the words of the Beloved Son - God’s Perfect Spokesman?
Are you heeding the words of the Beloved Son - God’s Perfect Spokesman?