Hebrews 1 Commentary
According to God, Abraham is a prophet. Gen. 20 verse 7. Moses is also a prophet. Deut. 34 verse 10. The Book of Acts refers to David as a prophet. Acts 2 verse 30. We could add more personalities to the body of known prophets through whom God spoke to humanity. Verse 1 probably refers to the entire Old Testament as it narrates the stories of several personalities identified as prophets.
Verse 2 refers to the last days as the days commenced by the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They coincide with the Old Testament’s notion of the last days. They are the days of the Son. Verse 2.
The term ‘Son’ is a big word. Your mind immediately goes back to the several mentions of the “Son” in the Old Testament. Notable among them is Isaiah’s son born to us – the Son with the government on His shoulders – One called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9.
The gospels confirm Jesus Christ as Isaiah’s Immanuel. Isaiah 7. Immanuel means “GOD WITH US”. It is always in the present; never past, never a future event, but always present – God with us. Doesn’t it look like a version of the sacred ‘IAM’ name of the LORD God Almighty?
The author of this volume proceeds with the coronation ceremony of Jesus Christ as the Creator God Himself, “the exact representation of his being.” He sustains His creation by His powerful word. The gospel of John agrees. The word was with God and the word was God. John 1.
Jesus Christ is celebrated by the Old Testament in various ways. Of course, in a language of the Old Testament. But even here, it is always done in the heaviest language possible.
“You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? The “becoming” is interesting. It suggests a state not previously existing. The “IAM” God becoming flesh and taking on this incredible title – the firstborn, the second Adam. It leads us to think of God recreating life once again in the image of His Son.
The Gospel of Luke reports that Adam was the son of God. Luke 3 verse 38. So Jesus is the son (Son) of God in a way that connects his birth to creation – the new creation. It also echoes the prophetic message that the LORD would make all things new in the last days. The Son becomes the firstborn of the new order. Like Adam, Jesus faces temptations. Unlike Adam, Jesus overcomes and here we are, saved and happily matching to Heaven!
Hebrews is written in a tone that oozes knowledge but at the same time, leaves you scratching your head in utter amazement at the many things you simply don’t know.
Jesus is the subject of this book. He is far above our knowledge. He is the LORD, God Almighty. The “becoming” or “bringing up” means we can look at another title: The Son of God. At the same time, He is the Son of Man, probably because of his supposedly human ancestry. These titles and these offices exist as service points or bank outlets. It is a complete cast for humanity. We need anything else.
We need permanency, justice, joy, perfect parenting, a father figure, a hero, righteousness, peace… and much more. Jesus combines it all in one element – Himself.
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