Hebrews 1:1-3 – Jesus is Greater Than the Prophets

Session 1 – August 3, 2020 – Men’s Morning Hebrews Haverim

Our Men’s Haverim group is reading through and discussing the book of Hebrews during the months of August and September. For more information, see this blog post.

The book of Hebrews provides a well-reasoned argument to Hebrew Christians undergoing great persecution that Jesus is superior to all things, and that they need to persevere through their trials to share in His glory.

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Hebrews 1:1-3 New International Version

Summary:

• God spoke through the prophets in the past but now speaks through his Son.
• The Son is described with seven attributes:
  • appointed heir of all things
  • creator through whom God made the universe
  • radiance of God’s glory
  • the exact representation of God’s being
  • sustainer of all things
  • purification for sins
  • seated at God’s right hand
• The gospel message can be seen in v. 3: he provided a sacrifice to cleanse us of our sin through His death, but was raised and now sits at the right hand of God.

Other Thoughts:

• Just as God chose to Moses, who spoke to Israel through Aaron (Exodus 4:14-15), He now speaks to us through His Son.
• Who is the Son? v. 3 describes Him and shows that when we see the Son we see God the Father.
• Jesus was the firstborn, entitled to a double portion of the Father’s inheritance, but as the first one raised, he received everything.
• God revealed His glory to Moses – in Exodus 33:18 Moses asks to see God’s glory, and God agrees to show his goodness in v. 19. But God also tells him that “man cannot see me and live” (v. 20), so God has Moses stand in a cleft of a rock (v. 22) and covers him with His hand until he passed by and tells Moses that his “face shall not be seen”. God’s glory is too great for man to behold, but Jesus shares in that glory.
• Do you truly believe that Jesus is who the Bible says He is?