Hebrews 1-3 - God Spoke to Us in His Son

John MacArthur Bible Introductions - Hebrews

God’s Final Word in His Son

Heb 1:1-4 LSB - 

[1] God, having spoken long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 

[2] in these last days spoke to us in [His] Son, 

whom He appointed heir of all things, 

through whom also He made the worlds, 

[3] who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, 

and upholds all things by the word of His power; 

who, having accomplished cleansing for sins, 

sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 

[4] having become so much better than the angels, 

as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

Heb 1:5 LSB - [5] For to which of the angels did He ever say, "YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"? And again, "I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?

Psa 2:7 LSB - [7] "I will surely tell of the decree of Yahweh: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

Heb 1:8 LSB - [8] But of the Son [He says], "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE SCEPTER OF UPRIGHTNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM.

Psa 45:6 LSB - [6] Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Heb 1:9 LSB - [9] "YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS."

Psa 45:7 LSB - [7] You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your companions.

Heb 1:10 LSB - [10] And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING FOUNDED THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;

Psa 102:25 LSB - [25] "Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

Heb 1:13 LSB - [13] But to which of the angels has He ever said, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"?

Psa 110:1 LSB - [1] Of David. A Psalm. Yahweh says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet."

 

Rejoice, the Lord is King!

Author: Charles Wesley (1744)

1 Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

2 Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

3 His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv'n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

4 Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Warning Against Neglecting Salvation

Heb 2:3-4 LSB - [3] how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? That [salvation], first spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard, [4] God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Jesus, the Author of Salvation

Heb 2:8 LSB - [8] YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Heb 2:9-10 LSB - [9] But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels--Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. [10] For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

Heb 2:14-15 LSB - [14] Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Jesus Greater than Moses

Heb 3:1-3 LSB - [1] Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession--Jesus, [2] who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. [3] For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, in so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house.

Heb 3:5-6 LSB - [5] Now MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS HOUSE AS A SERVANT, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later, [6] but Christ [was faithful] as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope.

The law by Moses came

Author: Isaac Watts

The law by Moses came,

But peace, and truth, and love,

Were brought by Christ, a nobler name,

Descending from above.

Amidst the house of God

Their diff'rent works were done;

Moses a faithful servant stood,

But Christ a faithful Son.

Then to his new commands

Be strict obedience paid;

O'er all his Father's house he stands

The sovereign and the head.

Ihe man that durst despise

The law that Moses brought,

Behold! how terribly he dies

For his presumptuous fault!

But sorer vengeance falls

On that rebellious race,

Who hate to hear when Jesus calls,

And dare resist his grace.

Warning Against Unbelief

Heb 3:14-15 LSB - [14] For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, [15] while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME."