HEBREWS CHAPTER 1 “GOD HAS SPOKEN”

PAUL BEGAN the letter with a very revered word, familiar to the Hebrews; “God.” This was a common ground on which to start his argument. It, too, was true that Yehovah - God was speaking and is still speaking. The Hebrews were being reminded of the words they had followed and that had been followed by their forefathers for centuries. Yehovah - God had spoken “unto the fathers by the prophets.” Yehovah - God had spoken “at sundry times” or different, and many times. Some translations for this use “in many portions.” Yehovah - God had also spoken in “different manners.” This, refers to many and different manners. The word of Yehovah – God had come through visions, dreams, the law, the Urim and Thummim (as used by the high priest), and by direct communication. God had spoken to many of the outstanding faithful ones; Noah, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Isaiah, and others.

Paul sets forth his argument, God “has” in these last days spoken to us by His son” (vs. 2). We understand at least two reasons for writing in this manner. 1) The Israelites were familiar with the prophecies about the last days. They knew that a change was to be made in the earth, and the people. The prophets had said there would be warnings. 2) Paul was allowing that the warning and admonition were coming from God, through the Son.t The word of Paul follows this line of thinking, “You have believed the word of the ‘fathers.’ Now God is speaking to you again, and it is through His Son.” As Jesus said, “You believe in God, believe also in me” [John 14:1] Paul was using the same plea.

The King James reading, “heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (v. 2) has caused many to believe that Jesus was the creator of the world and therefore either preexisted with God or was God. Neither is true! The Emphatic Diaglott reads, “On account of whom he constituted the ages.” As one studies, it is not difficult to see that God created all things with His Son Jesus in mind. All things were created because of Him and to give to Him. Daniel 7:14 points out the giving of “all people, nations, and languages” to Jesus. The angel told Mary that Jesus would become a ruler. The prophets foretold that this “ruler” would rule over all the earth. Ephesians 1:21-23 teaches that God will give to Jesus “power, and might, and dominion” over all things, both in heaven and in earth. This was the first step in the procedure of Paul to show the Hebrews the greatness of Jesus.

This One also, through whom God had spoken, was the true representative of God; so much so that He was “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (v. 3). Remember, the subject still is “Yehovah - God”; the first word of the chapter. Of this verse the Emphatic Diaglott reads, “An exact impress of the substance of Him.”

A great Biblical doctrine must be recalled in this setting. The Israelites believed in a “living God.” They also believed Yehovah - God to be a being, a person. This God had walked in the Garden of Eden; He had talked to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others; He had shown them that they were like Him in bodily form. But of none of the ones mentioned had anything like this been said of them. Jesus only, the son of the “living God,” could show forth the “Father” in his person – he was and is the outshining of the glory of Yehovah - God. Jesus is the “light of the world.” He shows Yehovah - God in every attribute that he possesses. What a testimony! This had never been said of Abraham or Moses. They were servants, faithful and used of God, but never in a way as to show God’s full character and person.

The “son” through whom Yehovah - God had spoken as “upholding all things by the word of his power” (v. 3); that is, God’s power.

Centuries before, Moses had been told to prophesy about one who was to come who would be “a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). This “Prophet” was to “speak unto them all that I shall command him.” Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, He does the works” (John 14:10). Jesus was given by our heavenly Father to speak the Father’s words and to reveal the character, desire, and life of the heavenly Father. None of the forefathers of the Israelites had ever been given such a privilege; yet they had known God and had shown what they knew of Him to their children.

Hebrews 1:4-14, gives a description of Jesus in comparing his likeness and greatness to others. In no other place in the Scriptures can an equal description be found of the son of Yehovah - God. Angels were held in high esteem by the Israelites. And why not! An angel had spoken to Abraham, Hagar, Moses, Joseph, and others. An angel had gone before the children of Israel when they came out of Egypt. (See Exodus 23:20.) We might further mention that an angel had appeared to Balak, Manoah (father of Samson), Elijah, Daniel, Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, Zacharias (father of John the Baptist), and Philip. Therefore, an angel to the Israelites was a very important being. The one whom God had sent to speak and through whom God was being revealed was “much better than the angels,” the reason being, “He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (v. 4). God had never said to any angel or to any of the forefathers, “You are my son.” Neither had God ever said to any one of them, “Sit on my right hand.” The angels had a purpose in the plan of God. They were and are “ministering spirits.”

The Savior whom the Hebrew disciples had chosen to follow was everything any Israelite had ever known in any servant of God and much more.

In Hebrews Chapter 1, Paul quite firmly established the following facts to the Hebrew brethren

1) God had spoken to the “fathers by the prophets;”

2) He had spoken to the “fathers” many times in many

ways,

3) now (these last days) God had spoken through His son.

4) the son was the true Representative of God, even the “express image of His person;”

5) the son was “much better” than the angels; better than anyone else, which included the “fathers.” For “God, even thy God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Written by Francis E. Burnett and edited and added to by Bruce Lyon