JESUS, THE PERFECT HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 7:1-28 / Keywords 7:27

Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

 

7:1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Jesus Like Melchizedek

11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,

    in the order of Melchizedek.”[a]

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn

    and will not change his mind:

    ‘You are a priest forever.’”[b]

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Footnotes

a. Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4

b. Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4

c. Hebrews 7:25 Or forever

1. Melchizedek was called the priest of God Most High. His greatness was testified by nis name, which means king of righteousness. He was described as the king of Salem, which means king of peace. He blessed Abraham, who was the patriarch of all Israel. Melchizedek was so great that he resembled the Son of God. He is considered a king forever. There were many priests in the line of Abraham and Levi, but Melchizedek was uniquely great.

 

2. The Levitical priesthood was imperfect. Jesus did not come in the line of those priests; he came in the order of Melchizedek. His priesthood is forever. He is the better hope by which we may draw near to God. He is the guarantor of a better covenant. He lives forever. He is able to save completely. Jesus is the perfect high priest for he was able to offer himself as an acceptable sacrifice for the sins of all. Jesus is the priest instituted by God and made perfect forever.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus, the perfect high priest. Bless me to come to God through him only.

One Word Come to God through Jesus

A FIRM AND SECURE HOPE

Hebrews 6:9-20 / Keywords 6:19

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

 

6:9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[d] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes

d. Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17

1. God calls his people to salvation. God is just. He is mindful of his people who seek him diligently. He will bring about for them everything he promised. The example of the sureness of God’s promise is Abraham. God promised to bless Abraham and make him a blessing (Ge 12:1-3). Abraham believed and obeyed. God confirmed his promise to Abraham with an oath. God swore on himself, making his promise an unchanging covenant (Ge 22:16-18). When Abraham believed and obeyed and waited patiently, God kept his promises. God does not lie.

 

2. We have been given the same hope, and it is equally firm and secure. This hope rests in God himself. It is the same hope as our forerunner, Jesus, exemplified in his life on earth. his hope became reality. We are called to hope. This hope is anchored firmly in the very throne room of God. Jesus is there interceding in our behalf, and we will be with him forever in the heavenly kingdom.

 

Prayer Lord, your promises are true. Bless me to live with the sure hope of the kingdom of God.

One Word Have hope in God

BECOME MATURE IN THE GOSPEL

Hebrews 5:11-6:8 / Keywords 6:1a

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity,

 

5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

6:1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Footnotes

a. Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals

b. Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms

c. Hebrews 6:6 Or age, 6 if they fall

1. God wants his people to grow in their understanding of the gospel. Jesus gave his life to make us God’s children and heirs of salvation. We are given this life to grow beyond the elementary truths, to explore the depths of the mind and heart of God. The author admonishes people to grow up, to be Bible teachers and living testimonies of the gospel. We are stewards of the message of the gospel of God’s Son. We should move forward as mature servants to the degree that God permits us.

 

2. God gave us every blessing. These heavenly gifts include being enlightened by God himself, sharing in the Holy Spirit, and knowing the absolute goodness of his word. We have been brought, in all these things, to God himself. To fall away after such blessings is like crucifying Jesus all over again. God blesses those who drink in his word and become fruitful. Those who fall away are like thorns and thistles, good only as burnt weeds.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to grow in your word and bear good gospel fruit. Make me a mature servant of God.

One Word Grow in God’s blessing

JESUS, OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 / Keywords 4:14

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

 

4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5:1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son;

    today I have become your Father.”[b]

6 And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,

    in the order of Melchizedek.”[c]

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes

a. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens

b. Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7

c. Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4

1. Jesus is the Son of God. He is also our great high priest. Our high priest knows how weak we are. He knows how we suffer because of our struggle with sin because he, too, was tempted in every way just as we are. The difference is that he defeated the power of sin. He gives us the confidence to approach God's throne. Because of his death for us, we have confidence in God’s mercy and grace given to us. This is the faith we profess: Jesus is our great high priest who meets all our needs.

 

2. Beginning with Aaron, the Israelites had a history of priests. They were mediators between sinful man and the holy God. Those priests had to offer sacrifices for themselves as well as for the people. On the other hand, Jesus is the sinless Son of God. He was appointed by God to be a priest, not in the line of Aaron, but as a spiritual descendant of Melchizedek (Ge 14:18). He appeared as a man, suffered, and submitted to death on a cross. Such obedience was his priestly service to God. So, God designated him to be our great high priest. He became our source of eternal salvation.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for giving your Son to be our great high priest. Bless me to hold firmly to him as my source of salvation.

One Word We have a great high priest

THE PROMISE OF ENTERING GOD'S REST

Hebrews 4:1-13 / Keywords 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 

4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b]

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c] 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

    do not harden your hearts.”[d]

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e] just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Footnotes

a. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith

b. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5

c. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2

d. Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8

e. Hebrews 4:10 Or labor

1. As Christians, we live with the hope of entering God’s rest. The idea of God's rest was described in Genesis 2:2. God meant for his creation to share in his rest. God called his people out of Egypt that they might dwell with him, but they refused to believe and perished in the desert. They only incurred God’s wrath. Under Joshua, the next generation entered the Promised Land, but the true and eternal rest that God promised still remains. David wrote about it in Ps 95: "Today" is now, the time to hear God’s voice. We taste God’s rest whenever we receive his word.

 

2. God's word is sharper than a double-edged sword. We cannot hide our real motives or the thoughts of our hearts from God. his word penetrates the soul and judges the thoughts of the heart. His word of promise is sure. When we believe and obey his word, he dwells in us to rule and bless. And we have sure hope of entering God’s eternal Sabbath rest.

 

Prayer Lord, help me hold your living word in my heart, obey you, and claim your promised rest.

One Word God’s word is a double-edged sword

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER DAILY

Hebrews 3:7-19 / Keywords 3:13

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

3:7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

8     do not harden your hearts

as you did in the rebellion,

    during the time of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,

    though for forty years they saw what I did.

10 That is why I was angry with that generation;

    I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,

    and they have not known my ways.’

11 So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”[b]

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said:

“Today, if you hear his voice,

    do not harden your hearts

    as you did in the rebellion.”[c]

16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Footnotes

b. Hebrews 3:11 Psalm 95:7-11

c. Hebrews 3:15 Psalm 95:7,8

 

1. The Psalmist spoke the word of God to caution the people to listen to the Lord. The Israelites were delivered from Pharaoh. They heard the word of the Lord directly. They saw miracles in the desert, but they hardened their hearts. They refused to obey the Lord and instead worshipped other gods. They went away from God and wandered without rest. “Today” for them meant the day God revealed his glory to them through his call and his word. God has revealed himself to us “today” through his Son. We must not harden our hearts but rather open our hearts to his love.

 

2. We are unbelieving in our sinful nature, but we are called to encourage each other continually. We have the blessings of sharing in Christ and the promise of entering into his eternal rest. We need constant encouragement to protect us from unbelief and hard hearts. God was angry with his people in the desert because they refused to receive him even after he delivered them from Egypt, out of the land of slavery. We have been led by Jesus himself out of sin and death to enter God’s eternal rest. We must share in Christ and encourage each other always.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to receive you with an open heart and be a source of encouragement to God’s people.

One Word Encourage one another daily

FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON JESUS

Hebrews 3:1-6 / Keywords 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

1. Thanks to Jesus, we are holy, and we share the same heavenly calling. Thus, we acknowledge his beautiful salvation work. He is our apostle and our high priest. Since his faithfulness and his priestly service to God is perfect, we are called to fix our thoughts on Jesus who can purify our minds. his beauty is unsurpassed in history or by anything in this world.

 

2. According to Jewish history, Moses was the most faithful in all God's house. However, God is the builder of that house. Since Christ is the Son of God, he is greater than Moses as the Son over God’s house. Moses was faithful to bear witness to God and to point the people toward the one who would provide salvation for them. He faithfully testified to what God would do in the future. Jesus came to build us into God’s house. We fix our thoughts on him so that we may be confident in the hope we have and the glory he reveals.

 

Prayer Lord, the world is full of temptations. Help me to fix my thoughts on Jesus and see his beauty. Bless me as a faithful servant in God’s house.

One Word Fix your thoughts on Jesus

THAT HE MIGHT MAKE ATONEMENT

Hebrews 2:1-18 / Keywords 2:17

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement forthe sins of the people.

 2:1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Jesus Made Fully Human

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,

    a son of man that you care for him?

7 You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;

    you crowned them with glory and honor

8     and put everything under their feet.”[b][c]

In putting everything under them,[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[g] 12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;

    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[h]

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”[i]

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[j]

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[k] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Footnotes

a. Hebrews 2:7 Or them for a little while

b. Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:4-6

c. Hebrews 2:8 Or 7 You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ 8 and put everything under his feet.”

d. Hebrews 2:8 Or him

e. Hebrews 2:8 Or him

f. Hebrews 2:8 Or him

g. Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.

h. Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22

i. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17

j. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18

k. Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers

1. We are always distracted by this world, but we must pay close attention to God’s salvation work. God’s salvation is testified to us in many ways, including by the Holy Spirit. This salvation cannot be ignored.

 

2. The salvation God provided is testified mainly in Jesus. He was made to be a man. God made mankind to be lower than angels, but he intended to bring mankind to glory. We don’t see the glory now, but we see Jesus as the one who was made fully human and also attained glory by his suffering. Jesus even became the pioneer of salvation to all people by his death. He shared in our human experience—including temptation, suffering, and death—in order to bear us to glory. In doing so, he faithfully served and fulfilled God’s will, and he perfectly atoned for the sins of the people.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for sending Jesus as a man. Thank you for his suffering and death for my sins. Help me to pay careful attention to him, that I may live in his salvation today.

One Word Jesus is my salvation

THE RADIANCE OF GOD’S GLORY

Hebrews 1:1-14 / Keywords 1:3

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.

 1:1 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. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The Son Superior to Angels

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;

    today I have become your Father”[a]?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,

    and he will be my Son”[b]?

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c]

7 In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,

    and his servants flames of fire.”[d]

8 But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;

    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”[e]

10 He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,

    and the heavens are the work of your hands.

11 They will perish, but you remain;

    they will all wear out like a garment.

12 You will roll them up like a robe;

    like a garment they will be changed.

But you remain the same,

    and your years will never end.”[f]

13 To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand

    until I make your enemies

    a footstool for your feet”[g]?

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Footnotes

a. Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7

b. Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13

c. Hebrews 1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)

d. Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4

e. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7

f. Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:25-27

g. Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1

1. God had revealed himself to the people of Israel throughout their history. He delivered them from their bondage in Egypt, led them by the pillars of cloud and fire, and gave them his word at the holy mountain. Whether they succeeded or failed, God never failed to reveal his love and faithfulness to them. Now, during these last days, Jesus, the Son of God, is the perfect revelation of God’s glory to all people. Through him, all things were created, and by his word, all things are sustained. God is perfectly revealed as the one who provides purification to sinners. Jesus is the Son. He is incomparably superior in all creation for he is the radiance and exact representation of God himself.

 

2. The author testifies to the Son’s superiority by comparing him to angels. Angels were highly revered by the Jews at this time. Since Jesus is the Son of God, how much greater is he than angels! The angels are his, and they worship him. The Son’s power and righteousness are eternal. God set him above all things for all eternity because he provided an inheritance of salvation for God’s people. Jesus is the perfect representation of our God.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for revealing yourself through your Son. Help me to look only to Jesus to know your eternal greatness.

One Word Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory