Hebrews 1

The author of this earnest and theologically rich epistle is unknown to the church. Perhaps that is as it should be, given that the unusual verses that introduce this letter focus so emphatically on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as the final Word for the people of God. The author that is used by God to write this inspired revelation that would become a part of the New Testament is not as important to us as the One he writes about, the very radiance of the glory of God. Jesus is the Son of God to whom we must look in the day of persecution, that we might live the life of faith.

The structure of the opening two verses of the book in the original Greek is worth our attention.

Verse 1- A: Many parts and many ways,
B: of old, C: God spoke, D: to the fathers, E: in the prophets.

Verse 2- A: - Missing – There is no echo of “many parts and many ways,”
B: in these last days (echoing “of old”), C: He spoke (echoing “God spoke”), D: to us (echoing “to the fathers”), E: in a son (echoing “in the prophets”).

But where is the echo of “many parts and many ways?” The Old Testament Word in the Hebrew Scriptures came to us little by little and in various ways. In Genesis 3:14-15, the center of the account of the Fall, God revealed the whole story of redemption, but in seed form. Little by little He told His people more, and He did this through men like Hosea and Ezekiel who not only spoke His word, but who also lived out the parable of His love and justice before their eyes.

But who is this Son of God who speaks, first on earth, and then from heaven, and who can add to the story of God once the Son has spoken? He is “the heir of all things” and the One “through whom also He created the ages,” the Alpha and the Omega, “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” He is the God of creation and providence, for He “upholds the universe by the word of His power.” His coming is the supreme revelation of God, and His being and works are the center of both the Old Testament, spoken to the fathers in the prophets, and the New Testament, spoken to the New Covenant community of Jews and Gentiles who believed in Him and called upon His Name.

If this seems to place Jesus and His gospel too high, let your heart be persuaded by the message of the Hebrew Scriptures that Jesus is the Lord, our God, and that by His cross, the One who is at the right hand of the Father made “purification for sins.” By these Old Testament verses, it should be obvious that He is far superior to anything in all of creation, even the angels, who while they are powerful and impressive, are actually servants to the heirs of salvation, both on earth and even in heaven, that place where so many of the Lord's servants now live.

Be impressed then, that God was talking about Jesus in Psalm 2, when He said, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” When God was talking to David about a promised everlasting King, He was talking about Jesus, David's son, but also David's Lord, since God had said, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.” He is not a super-angel, but the God with God who is worshiped by angels. He is the great divine King of Psalm 45. It was this Son who is called God in that enthronement song, and who was anointed by God His God with the oil of gladness, the Holy Spirit, beyond His companions. He is the Yahweh, Jehovah, Adonai, LORD, of Psalm 102 who made the heavens and the earth, and who always remains when all of creation is renewed at His command. He is the amazing Lord of Psalm 110 who hears these words from His Father, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

This great divine and human Prophet, Priest and King has come. He is the Final Word, and that Word has been spoken. We need no other Word to add anything to Him. Even the New Testament Word is His speech from heaven, yet it is not an utterly new idea, but the inspired interpretation of an old and good Word that came to God's people little by little and in various ways, but has now been fulfilled before us in the Son of God.

If we must suffer for this great Word of God who suffered and died for us, this is our privilege and our calling. To shrink back from Him is a mistake. To walk in faith as His followers is both our destiny and our delight.