Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
Hebrews 1
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
Commentary:
1:1–4 Introduction: Summary of the Son’s Person and Work. Many themes of Hebrews are announced in this opening (a single Gk. sentence). These include the contrasting periods of revelation (1:1–2; cf. 2:2–4; 3:1–6; 4:14–5:10; 6:13–10:18), Jesus’ unique status as Son of God (1:2–3; cf. vv. 5–14; 3:1–6; 5:5–10; 7:26–28), his purifying work (1:3; cf. 9:11–10:18), and his supremacy (in this case to angels in 1:4; cf. 1:5–2:18). To the extent that this brief description of the Son parallels the understanding of “wisdom” in some extrabiblical Jewish literature (esp. Wisdom of Solomon 7:22–30), the author may also allude to the Son’s partaking of, and superiority to, wisdom.
1:1 Long ago contrasts here with “these last days” in v. 2. Two similar Greek words (polymerōs and polytropōs) emphasize the many times and many ways in which God has spoken. This speaking was through prophets, which in Jewish thought included the authors of both the prophetic and the historical books of the OT (even Moses and David; cf. Deut. 18:15; Acts 1:16; 3:22; 4:25; 7:37; 26:22). Our fathers are the OT patriarchs (cf. Heb. 3:9; 8:9), whom the author considers his audience’s spiritual forebears.
1:2 Four points of contrast occur between vv. 1 and 2: time of revelation (“long ago” vs. these last days); agent of revelation (“prophets” vs. Son); recipients of revelation (“fathers” vs. us); and, implicitly, the unity of the final revelation in the Son (cf. the “many times and in many ways” in v. 1, implying, by contrast, that this last revelation came at one time, in one way, in and through God’s Son). Since God has spoken finally and fully in the Son, and since the NT fully reports and interprets this supreme revelation once the NT is written, the canon of Scripture is complete. No new books are needed to explain what God has done through his Son. Now believers await his second coming (9:28) and the city to come (13:14). Jesus is heir of all things (i.e., what he “inherits” from his Father is all creation) by virtue of his dignity as Son (1:4). The preexistence, authority, power, and full deity of the Son are evident in his role in creating the world; cf. John 1:3, 10; Col. 1:16.
1:3 The greatness of the Son is further exhibited. Glory is often viewed metaphorically as light (e.g., Isa. 60:1, 19; 2 Cor. 4:4–6; Rev. 21:23), and here the Son is that glorious light of God. Jesus is the full and definitive representation, the exact imprint (Gk. charaktēr), of God’s real being (his nature, Gk. hypostasis). Thus the Son is identical in substance to God, being himself fully God. In all attributes and abilities, the Son is exactly like the Father. The Son, who created the universe (Heb. 1:2), upholds it by his own powerful word (cf. Col. 1:17). Jesus deals with the human need of purification for sins (see Heb. 9:11–10:18). Jesus ascends to the place of supreme authority (the right hand of God); see 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; also e.g., Mark 14:62; Acts 2:33; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; 1 Pet. 3:22. The fact that he has sat down there indicates that his work of salvation had been completed. Majesty also describes God in Heb. 8:1 (cf. Deut. 32:3; Ps. 145:3, 6; 150:2; Jude 25).
1:1 Long ago contrasts here with “these last days” in v. 2. Two similar Greek words (polymerōs and polytropōs) emphasize the many times and many ways in which God has spoken. This speaking was through prophets, which in Jewish thought included the authors of both the prophetic and the historical books of the OT (even Moses and David; cf. Deut. 18:15; Acts 1:16; 3:22; 4:25; 7:37; 26:22). Our fathers are the OT patriarchs (cf. Heb. 3:9; 8:9), whom the author considers his audience’s spiritual forebears.
1:2 Four points of contrast occur between vv. 1 and 2: time of revelation (“long ago” vs. these last days); agent of revelation (“prophets” vs. Son); recipients of revelation (“fathers” vs. us); and, implicitly, the unity of the final revelation in the Son (cf. the “many times and in many ways” in v. 1, implying, by contrast, that this last revelation came at one time, in one way, in and through God’s Son). Since God has spoken finally and fully in the Son, and since the NT fully reports and interprets this supreme revelation once the NT is written, the canon of Scripture is complete. No new books are needed to explain what God has done through his Son. Now believers await his second coming (9:28) and the city to come (13:14). Jesus is heir of all things (i.e., what he “inherits” from his Father is all creation) by virtue of his dignity as Son (1:4). The preexistence, authority, power, and full deity of the Son are evident in his role in creating the world; cf. John 1:3, 10; Col. 1:16.
1:3 The greatness of the Son is further exhibited. Glory is often viewed metaphorically as light (e.g., Isa. 60:1, 19; 2 Cor. 4:4–6; Rev. 21:23), and here the Son is that glorious light of God. Jesus is the full and definitive representation, the exact imprint (Gk. charaktēr), of God’s real being (his nature, Gk. hypostasis). Thus the Son is identical in substance to God, being himself fully God. In all attributes and abilities, the Son is exactly like the Father. The Son, who created the universe (Heb. 1:2), upholds it by his own powerful word (cf. Col. 1:17). Jesus deals with the human need of purification for sins (see Heb. 9:11–10:18). Jesus ascends to the place of supreme authority (the right hand of God); see 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; also e.g., Mark 14:62; Acts 2:33; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; 1 Pet. 3:22. The fact that he has sat down there indicates that his work of salvation had been completed. Majesty also describes God in Heb. 8:1 (cf. Deut. 32:3; Ps. 145:3, 6; 150:2; Jude 25).
Questions:
- The big idea from Sunday was that the UNKOWN God has made Himself KNOWN. Hebrews 1 says that God spoke long ago through the prophets, but now He has spoken through His Son. We don't have to wonder what God is like because He SHOWED us through Jesus. He revealed Himself in Scripture. Why? Because God WANTS us to know Him! Do you ever feel like God is hiding from you? How do you combat these feelings that you know are untrue?
- Think about this truth for a minute. God isn't hiding from you. He is right there to behold in the pages of Scripture. And no matter how much we know of Him, we've only just scratched the surface. Are you doing all you can to learn who He is by studying Scripture? How important to you is knowing God?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would remember that God is ALWAYS near.
- That you would have a hunger to know God more.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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