Hello! and Welcome to the first chapter on our study of the book of Hebrews!
So as for a bit of an introduction to the book of Hebrews, we don't actually really know who the author was.
Many believe it was Paul, others believe it was Barnabas and some others think it was or Apollos, but regardless who the author was, we know it's God speaking to us through His word.
It was written to the early church of Jewish believers, who at that time they were really struggling to keep their faith. At that time they believed the return of Jesus was going to happen right away, but as time goes on and on people are finding it harder to keep their faith because people are being separated or shut out from their own families, people are even being murder for their faith, so these people just wanted to go back to Judaism to make their lives easy...we cannot blame them. They were going through tough stuff, simply for calling themselves Christians.
So, as the author of the book, how would do encourage these people not to give up?
In chapter number one, the author points to the fact that Jesus is better and this is the theme throughout the entire chapter...Better than what? well, at that point the Jewish just had the law of Moses and the prophets, but both Moses and the prophets kept on pointing to Jesus was going to come.
VS 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.
VS 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. {Hebrews 1:1-2,4}
So what the author is saying that, even though the prophets and angels play an important role in our faith, what Jesus has done for us surpasses them all. He says that Jesus has obtained for Himself a more excellent name than all of them.
Doesn't this happen in our days? we tend to put on the pedestal the messenger rather than "the message" itself...call it pastors, prophets and angels. I've seen this specially happening here in Africa, where people trust and believe so much in the pastor or prophet that they believe they're the only ones who can pray for them, as if their prayers are the only ones that will work.
We forget that as children of God we have as much access to God as they do. It is only through what Jesus did that we have that access to God.
So the author then also mentions how Jesus is even greater than Angels:
vs 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?
vss. 13-14
To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”?
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
You see, Jesus is greater than any prophet, angel or heavenly visitation. We're so privileged to have the access and the opportunity to experience something most people were only promised to see and never got to experience in their lifetime.
Jesus is it. He is the One the Hebrews had been waiting for. He is the One we’ve been waiting for. He is the very image of God made man, and the gospel He brings is an exact representation of the heart of God. As NT Wright explains, the Law “was part of God’s preparation, part of the brilliant and beautiful wrapping in which the ultimate present, God’s gift of his own self in the person of the son, would be contained”
Jesus is highest. Jesus is best.
Jesus is God’s last, perfect, complete Word. He is THE ONE.
Let's look to JESUS today.
Have a blessed day xo
PS. you can take a look at this video as an intro to the book of Hebrews: