IV. Doxology (18) 2 Peter 3:18 To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Jesus is Better Than the Prophets Hebrews 1:1-4
1. Jesus is better than the prophets. 2. Jesus is better than the angels. 3. Jesus is better than Moses. 4. Jesus is better than Aaron. 5. Jesus is better than the Old Covenant.
Hebrews is a very unique book. We re not even sure who wrote it. The book itself gives us very little information about its origin, its author, or its original readers.
The title found in most ancient manuscripts is, To the Hebrews. Hebrews was written to Jewish believers. We can also conclude that the original readers were Hellenistic Jews.
Hebrews was most likely written before the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 A.D. We don t know for sure who wrote it, but there s plenty of evidence that it was an apostle (possibly Paul) or a close associate of an apostle.
Hebrews 1:1-4 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.
The very first thing the writer of Hebrews focuses on is the fact that God has spoken to us. We are completely unable to know anything at all about God, unless He chooses to reveal Himself to us.
If God had not chosen to reveal Himself to us, we would have no knowledge of how we got here, no understanding of our purpose in this life, and no hope for eternal life. Romans 1:21-22 they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Not only did God reveal Himself to us, He s also a relational God. Because of that, He created us to be in a relationship with Him. Throughout the history of the world, man has continually sought to know God.
There are two ways in which God has chosen to reveal Himself to us: general revelation and special revelation. General revelation is the revelation that is available to all people. One of the primary sources of general revelation is nature.
Psalm 19: 1-2 1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.
Romans 1:18-19 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Special revelation is when God speaks to specific people, in specific places, at specific times. Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
Hebrews 1:1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. (CSB) Before the time of Christ, God s special revelation came primarily through the Jewish prophets.
Hebrews 1:1-2 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.
There s a contrast between long ago and in these last days.
There s also a contrast between God s prophets and His Son. Hebrews 1:1 1 God spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets Hebrews 1: 2 2 in these last days (God) has spoken to us in His Son
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;
In the Old Testament the prophets spoke the words of God. However, the New Testament tells us that Jesus is the Word of God. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
Hebrews 1:1-2 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.
Jesus is fully God. He possesses all the divine attributes. He is God in the flesh.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible John 1:3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Hebrews 1:3 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,
Jesus is the radiance of [God s] glory. John 1:14 we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father. Today, there s no need for a physical manifestation of God s glory on earth, because Jesus was the ultimate manifestation of His glory.
Jesus is the exact representation of [God s] nature. Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power. Not only is Jesus the creator of the universe, He s also the all-powerful sustainer of the universe.
Hebrews 1:3 When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, The first three verses of Hebrews combine to proclaim that Jesus is far better than the prophets of old.
Hebrews 1:4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.