Study of Hebrews Lesson 2

Hebrews 1:1-4 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 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. 3 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, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

Hebrews 1:1 As I mentioned last week, the author of Hebrews just kind of tears out of the gate and into his subject matter However, knowing the subject matter of the book (Jesus’ superiority), verses 1-2 serve as the bridge from the Mosaic Law to the New Law

Hebrews 1:1 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, How did God speak to the fathers in the prophets? What are the many portions and ways? God gave the Jews ample opportunity to shape up and get the “Obey Me” thing right under the Old Law Did they obey?

Hebrews 1:1 The author is saying a few things here without writing them out God told us what He wanted of us He sent people to correct and rebuke us for not obeying We STILL didn’t listen and couldn’t get it right!

Hebrews 1:1 So what? Big deal! Huge deal!!! Why? James 2:10 The Jews couldn’t or didn’t want to obey the Old Law They weren’t going to magically, all of a sudden, START doing the right thing But what about the Pharisees? Weren’t they upholding the Law?

Hebrews 1:2 2 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. So, instead of sending yet more people, God moves things up a rung or five and sends … who? “spoken to us” – God didn’t just send His Son; His Son had a message! Now why is that important? Well, what was the message?

Hebrews 1:2 2 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. Why include these two highlighted descriptions of Jesus? Why does it matter that Jesus is the heir of all things? Or that it was through Jesus that the world was made?

Hebrews 1:3 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, … What does this add to the conversation on the previous slide? What does the first part of this verse say about Jesus? Is He a little bit like God? Notice it doesn’t say Jesus is an exact representation of God, but rather God’s nature Why? John 4:24

Hebrews 1:3 … and upholds all things by the word of His power. … Um, okay… what? This is more context as to exactly who Jesus is Who is in control of all things?

Hebrews 1:3 … When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, When did Jesus make purification of sins? Notice that this is a thoroughly Jewish way of saying, “He died for all sins.” So where is Jesus now? What does sitting at the right hand of God mean? Again, this is more about who Jesus is

Hebrews 1:4 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Is this a now event? That is, as it’s written, was Jesus sitting at the right hand of God? Is he still there? So, when He sat at the right hand of God, he became much better than the angels … In what way(s)?

Hebrews 1:4 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. How and why did Jesus inherit a more excellent name than the angels? These first 4 verses serve as an introduction to the letter by putting into contrast, right off the starting line, the Jews two choices

Hebrews 1:4 These first 4 verses serve as an introduction to the letter by putting into contrast, right off the starting line, the Jews two choices Do you pick the Law, where you have to maintain the Law to perfection or you suffer the consequences of not upholding any of it? Or do you pick Jesus, who died for your sins and is even now sitting at the right hand of God?