Hebrews 1:1-3

Key Themes

There are Several Themes that We Will See Throughout This Book

Jesus is Superior

The Law of Moses

Over and Over Throughout Hebrews, the Law/Covenant of Moses Will Be Referenced

Access to God

Several Times We Find the Phrases “Draw Near To” and “Come to” in Hebrews

All of These References are About How These Jewish Christians Should and Can Have Access to God

Faithfulness/Perseverance

Faithfulness is a Huge Theme in Hebrews

The Book is All About Jewish Christians Remaining Faithful to Jesus

Without Faith, it is Impossible to Please God

Jesus, Our Eternal High Priest

He is Able to Sympathize With Our Weaknesses as a Human

And Not Only is He the High Priest, But He is Also the Sacrifice

We Have Salvation and Hope Because of Our High Priest

Key Words

Better

Typically Used to Speak of Jesus’ Supremacy

Perfect

Used to Speak of Jesus’ Sacrifice and Our Status in Him

Eternal/Forever

Used to Speak of Jesus’ as Our High Priest

But Also of Our Salvation and Inheritance in Him

Outline

Jesus is Better Than the Angels (1-2)

The Supremacy of God’s Son (1:1-14)

Warning Against Neglecting Salvation (2:1-4)

The Author of Our Salvation (2:5-18)

Jesus is Better Than the Mosaic Law (3-10)

Jesus is Greater Than Moses (3:1-6)

Warning: Enter Into God’s Rest (3:7-4:13)

The High Priesthood of Jesus (4:14-10:18)

Call to Faith & Endurance (10:19-12:29)

The Full Assurance of Faith (10:19-39)

Hall of Faith (11)

Endurance Until the Kingdom Fully Comes (12)

Concluding Exhortations (13)

Chapter 1

Hebrews 1:1–3 (NASB95)

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

This is How, What I Believe to Be a Sermon, Started Off

There is a Lot Said About Jesus in These 3 Verses

Let’s Break Them Down

Hebrews 1:1 (NASB95)

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

In Times Past, God Spoke Through Prophets to the Fathers

“Prophets” Refers All Those Who Spoke the Word of God

“Fathers” Refers to the Jewish Audience’s Jewish Ancestors

They Did This at Different Times

And They Did This in Different Ways

Some Told Narrative Stories of Israel’s History

Some Wrote and Sang Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

Some Wrote and Spoke Proverbs

Some Wrote and Spoke Laws

Some Spoke of the Visions They Received

They Spoke as They Were Carried Along By the Holy Spirit in Many Different Ways

The Entire OT is God Speaking Through the Prophets to the Israelites in Many Portions and in Many Ways

Hebrews 1:2 (NASB95)

in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

In the Past, God Spoke Through Prophets to Our Spiritual Forefathers

But in These Last Days He Has Spoken to Us Through Jesus

“Last Days” = the Christian Dispensation

At the Establishment of the Kingdom (Reign/Rule) of God…

The Final Dispensation of Time Began

We are in the Last Days

Jesus Isn’t Like the Other Prophets that Came Before Him

He is More Than a Servant of God

He is God’s Son

He is Better/Superior to the Prophets

Now the Author of Hebrews is Going to List 7 Key Elements of Who Jesus is and What He Came to Do

Jesus is Heir of All Things

What All is Included in “All Things”

Everything!

Jesus Has Inherited the Authority to Rule Over Everyone and Everything

He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords

He is Heir of All Things

To Go Along With the Purpose of the Book…

Why Would Anyone Want to Forsake Jesus, the Heir of All Things?

Hebrews 1:2 (NASB95)

in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

Jesus is Creator

The NT Makes it Very Clear that Jesus was Not Only Present During Creation…

But He was the Acting Force Behind the Creation

John 1:1–3 (NASB95)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Colossians 1:15–16 (NASB95)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Why Would Anyone Want to Forsake Jesus, the Creator of All Things?

Hebrews 1:3 (NASB95)

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is the Radiance of God’s Glory

In the OT, God’s Glory was Synonymous with His Presence

Like the Light From the Sun that Shines Down On Earth…

Jesus is the Radiance of God Who Came Down to Earth

We Aren’t Able to Go to the Sun to Experience it’s Light and Heat

It Would Kill Us Immediately

But the Sun Sends it’s Light and Warmth Down to the Earth in a Way that We Can Experience it and Live

We Aren’t Able to Go to God in Heaven and Experience His Glory

We Would Immediately Die

But We Can Experience the Glory of God Through Jesus and Live

There is Virtually No Difference Between Looking at the Radiance of Light and Looking at Light Itself

There is No Difference Between Looking at God and Looking at Jesus

Why Would Anyone Want to Forsake Jesus, the Radiance of the Glory of God?

Hebrews 1:3 (NASB95)

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is the Exact Representation of God

If You’ve Never Seen My Dad, All You Have to Do is Look at Me

I Look Just Like My Dad

VK Used to Look Exactly Like Me

But I Think She is Starting to Look a Lot Prettier Than Me Now

The Greek Word for “Exact Representation is Only Found Here in the NT

In Other Greek Writings it Can Be Used for the Resemblance of Children to Their Parents

Jesus Looks and is Exactly Like His Father

Colossians 1:15 (NASB95)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

If You Have Seen Jesus, You Have Seen God

Jesus, Like His Father, is God

And They are Perfectly United in All Things

Why Would Anyone Want to Forsake Jesus, the Exact Representation of God?

Hebrews 1:3 (NASB95)

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is the Bearer of All Things

The Word for “Upholds” = to Carry/Bear Something to a Particular Point

Colossians 1:17 (NASB95)

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Not Only Does Jesus Sustain and Hold All Things Together

But He Carries All Things to a Particular Point

He is the Sovereign King Who is in Complete Control of Peoples, Nations, Empires, Events, Seasons

Nothing Happens Outside of His Authority

Jesus is Not Only the Creator of All Things, But He Bears All Things

He Doesn’t Bear/Sustain All Things With Great Effort

He Bears All Things By the Word of His Power

Just as a King’s Word Has Power and Authority…

So That When He Speaks, Things Get Done…

So the Son of God Simply Speaks, and the Universe and Everything in it is Sustained

Why Would Anyone Want to Forsake Jesus, the Bearer of All Things?

Hebrews 1:3 (NASB95)

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is Priest

Hebrews Will Go into Deep Detail On the Priesthood of Jesus

Here We’re Told that He Made Purification for Sins

This Reminds Us of the Day of Atonement in the OT

When the High Priest Would Make a Sacrifice of Atonement for the Sins of All of God’s People

Jesus Made Purified Us From Our Sins By Sacrificing the Perfect Lamb On Our Behalf, Himself

Why Would Anyone Want to Forsake Jesus, Our Priest?

Hebrews 1:3 (NASB95)

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is King

After Atoning for the Sins of the World…

Jesus was Exalted and Enthroned at God’s Right Hand

Jesus is Sitting, Implying that He Has Finished His Work in Purifying Our Sins

He is Sitting at God’s Right Hand, Which is a Position of Honor

He Rules with the Authority and Power of God Himself

Why Would Anyone Want to Forsake Jesus, Our King?

These Last 2 Elements of Who Jesus is and What He Came to Do are What the Author of Hebrews Will Stress Above the Rest

Jesus is Priest Who Sacrificed Himself for All Humanity

Jesus is the Exalted Son of God Who is Seated On the Throne of Heaven