Winning the lottery, that’d be the best.
Spending time with family, that’s the best.
Hitting a hole in one is the best.
If only I had enough money to pay the bills, that
would be the best.
A good night’s rest, that’d be the best.
Oh, to be healthy again, would be the best.
If only all my kids were saved, that’d certainly be
the best.
Of all those things...
Jesus is better.
Jesus is Best.
Jesus is so sure that He is the best, He offers a
guarantee in Matthew 6:33.
“Seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be
added unto you.”
Seeking the best. That's what Hebrews is about.
They’re about to abandon Jesus because persecution is
rising.
Hebrews says hang on, don’t turn back, you have no
place to go but down, because Jesus is the very best.
TITLE:
Hebrews.
The title reveals that God makes...
Coffee. He brews. 😊
Sometime after the 1st century, the N.T. writings
were gathered, and given titles for convenience.
Hebrews doesn’t say it’s to the Hebrews. It doesn’t open
with a greeting like the other epistles. It doesn’t say: From Paul, or
Barnabus, or Whoever, to the Hebrews.
It just launches straight into the message and can be read
in under an hour. It looks more like a sermon than a letter.
Since the subject matter revolves around Israel’s history
and the Hebrew religious system of sacrifices and offerings, the title, Hebrews
is fitting.
(BTW: It wasn’t until the 13th century when chapters
were added, and the 15-16th century verses were added).
DATE:
Since the text implies that the temple sacrifices were
still in operation, it must have been prior to AD 70, when the temple was destroyed
by General Titus, who later became the emperor, after his dad, Vespasian, died
in 79.
Additionally, in chapters 10 and 12 we’re told persecution
was growing and then chapter 13 reveals that Timothy had just been released
from prison, thus, it was probably somewhere between AD 67–69.
WRITER:
Unknown. Some say, Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Apollos,
Luke, Philip, Priscilla, Aquila, or Clement of Rome.
Hebrews 2:3 says the writer was taught by those who heard Jesus. That seems to eliminate Paul as the writer, since Galatians 1:12 says he was not taught the gospel by any man, but direct revelation from Jesus.
We do know the Author is the Holy Spirit. If He
wanted us to know the writer, then we would.
PURPOSE:
To show the divinity and supremacy of Jesus, thereby encouraging
believers to hold fast and press on with faith and patience.
Hebrews 1:1,
God, who at various times and in various ways
spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
God spoke... Thank
You Father for initiating the conversation.
In the beginning God spoke the worlds into
existence, “Let there be...”
And there was.
Then, He created man and said, “Don’t...”
And we did.
We disobeyed His one command and rather than calling
out to Him, we hid from Him.
Nevertheless, rather than crushing us back into the clay
from which we came, He came calling for us.
He carried the conversation.
For thousands of years, He spoke through various times,
cultures, places and peoples, in various ways by visions and dreams and prophets
and priests.
Pause and think about this.
Nothing compares to what God has done. Nothing comes
close. No religion. No alleged revelation to any one person, Mohammed, Joseph
Smith, Budda or whoever, can hold a candle to what God has done.
2 Peter 1:20,
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own
interpretation.
There's nothing else like it. No one. No thing. Christ
is king! To serve him and love him is the greatest offer, the greatest honor
you'll ever get. Nothing else even comes close.
Jesus is best. Period.
Then, He had His Words, meticulously, flawlessly, jot
by jot, tittle by tittle, documented and miraculously preserved, providing undeniable
proof for the world to see that His Word is absolute Truth and endures forever.
Nevertheless, we didn’t listen.
The OT ends with our words being stout against the
Lord. We said, “What good does it do to serve the Lord? The heathen are happy,
the wicked are blessed.” (Malachi 3:13-15).
So, God paused the conversation. But that doesn’t mean He stopped listening.
There was a remnant who feared the Lord and did not
forsake the assembling together of themselves and they spoke often one to another
about the Lord. He hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written
about it (Mal. 3:16).
Then, He closed the OT, and the conversation, with one
last Word. It was a promise. I will come to You.
A comfort for some, a warning to others.
Then, all went silent. 400 years between Old Testament
and New, not another recorded Word from God.
Until the fulness of time had come God sent
forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to
redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption
as sons. (Gal. 4:4-7).
Once again, God initiated the conversation, this time,
in Person. It started as a cry, on a silent holy night, from a Babe, in a manger.
2 has in
these last days...
The Jews long understood the “last days” would begin
with the coming of the Messiah.
However, what most didn’t understand was that their Messiah
had come, in a Baby who grew to be a Carpenter by the name of Jesus in a despised
little village called Nazareth.
He came, just as He said 1000s of times, in 1000s of
ways, over 1000s of years.
Now pause and consider, for 1000s of years, it’s been
the last days, and just as He closed the OT saying, I will come to You, He
ended the NT saying, "Surely, I AM coming quickly." Rev. 22:20.
He's been
saying it 1000s of times, in 1000s of ways. Have you been listening? Are you ready?
2...spoken
to us by His Son,
Now we're going to hear 7 descriptions of Christ’s
divinity and supremacy.
1. The Word became flesh.
The prophets of old spoke the word of God, however,
Jesus, The Prophet, is the Word of
God. John 1:14, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Revealing that the old form of communication through a
man, through a prophet, wasn’t enough.
God never wanted that separation caused by sin. Separation
of Church and state was not something God or the Godly would ever pen. God hates
separation. He hates divorce.
When He pierced that silent night 2,000 year ago, the
very nature of His heart was revealed through the pen of the prophet who said, He
shall be called Immanuel, meaning God with us. Isaiah 7:14. Matt. 1:23.
So, after 400 years of silence He picked up the conversation
again with a better Mediator, the Son of God, the very living breathing Word
of God.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the
beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him
nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light
of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not
comprehend it. ...14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and
we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
It’s like, God was saying texting is not enough. We’ve
got to meet face to face.
For God so loved the world that He sent His
only begotten Son...the Word became flesh
2...whom He
has appointed heir of all things
2. Heir of all.
Heir of all things shows
the full extension of authority from Father to Son.
The Son and the Father are One in possession, position
and power.
2... through
whom also He made the worlds;
3. Creator of all.
The Father is the Source of creation, the Son is the agent.
By the Word
of God, the world was created. The Son is the Word.
Like, me saying I built this house with my own bare hands.
My hands are not separate or inferior to me, they are part of me, at one
with me.
(Disclaimer: if I built it, enter at your own risk
😊.
3 who being
the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person,
4. Exact radiance of God
Jesus is, the Word became flesh, the heir of all,
the Creator of all, the brightness of His glory, the express image of His
person.
Brightness,
only time used. Jesus illuminates, radiates, is the Light of God’s
glory. Light of the world.
The exact image of God.
He does not reflect God, like the
moon reflects the sun. He is the Son. S.o.n. He is God. Jesus said: If you've seen Me, you've seen
the Father. John 14:9.
He radiates the exact image of God.
3...and upholding
all things by the word of His power,
5. All powerful.
Omnipotent.
His Word holds the Power of God.
The same Word in the beginning that created all things, now holds all things together, and moving toward His sovereign conclusion, when all these things will end, and He by His Word will make all things new. Isaiah 65:17, Rev. 21:5.
3...when He
had by Himself purged our sins,
6. Perfect Sacrifice for sin.
Up till now we were seeing the Son, Jesus, as The
Prophet, the Word of God.
Now we see Him as our Great High Priest. The
Perfect Sacrifice for sin.
The priests of old purged our sins by offering sacrifices,
continually. But now we see Jesus, our Great High Priest, willingly become
the Perfect Sacrifice for sin.
He did not enter by the blood of goats and
calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own
blood, thus securing eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12.
3...sat down
at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
7. King of kings, Lord of lords.
Jesus, our Prophet, our Priest, finished His work and sat
down at the right hand (that’s the place of honor, authority and power), as
King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Jesus the Prophet is God’s Word to us.
Jesus the Great High Priest sacrificed Himself for
us.
Jesus the One who conquered all, reigns supreme, and
has prepared a kingdom for those who love Him, is King of kings, Lord of lords
We’ve just witnessed 7 descriptions of Christ’s
divinity and supremacy.
1.
The Word became flesh
2.
Heir of all
3.
Creator of all
4.
Exact radiance of God
5.
All powerful
6.
Perfect Sacrifice for sin
7.
King of kings, Lord of lords
4 having
become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained
a more excellent name than they.
Why after establishing the divinity and supremacy of
Christ did we bring angels into the conversation?
Well, we’ve already addressed how God spoke through
the prophets. Now we look at another vessel God uses to relay messages.
Angels, the word means messenger.
Angels are spirit beings created to minister.
Heb. 1:14.
The Jews of that time esteemed angels as the highest
beings next to God. There’s even talk that some drifted way out in left field far
from sound Biblical teaching and claimed that the archangel Michael’s authority
was equal to or surpassing that of the Messiah.
So, here and now, the preacher to the Hebrews sets the
record straight. Jesus is “so much better than angels.”
Today two religions claim Jesus is equal to angels. Mormons
(Latter Day Saints) and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Mormons, believe lucifer and Jesus are spirit
brothers. According to Scripture, that’s nonsense. lucifer was a created being,
that rebelled and was expelled from heaven. Mormons believe they are equal. I
don’t recommend it, but you can read more at: LDS.org.
Jehovah’s Witnesses at Watchtower.org claim Jesus is Archangel
Michael. Joseph Smith alleged an angel named Moroni showed him golden plates
that told him how the Christians had messed up and he was sent to straighten them
out.
1 Timothy 4:1, Now
the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.
Galatians 1:8,
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what
we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Lord, give us discernment. Keep us
clinging to Your Word, listening to Your Voice. None other.
Now the preacher of Hebrews drives home his angelic
point that Jesus is superior to angels by quoting 7 Scriptures that they all
knew. Lord willing we will look at that next time.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your powerful
Word. We pray Your Seed planted in our hearts today will bear much fruit to the
changing of eternal destinies, that of all those You’ve given us, none will be
lost.
Thank You, Lord.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s
Seed for you to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
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