Brian Hamilton

Hebrews 1–4:13

In response to a community who evidently holds angelic revelation in very high regard, the author explains that (1) while God used to communicate in many ways through the prophets, he has recently spoken just through the Son, who “is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being” (1:3); and (2) abundant scriptural evidence points to the fact that Jesus is higher than angels. “Therefore,” the author deduces, “we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it” (2:1).

Indeed, just as Jesus “for a little while was made lower than the angels” (2:9) but is now exalted because of his suffering, so shall we be exalted if we are obedient. Jesus, in order to make our salvation complete, took on suffering and equality with humanity—both humanity and its perfecter share the same Father, and so Jesus is able to call us his brothers and sisters. He can help us who suffer, because he himself suffered. Therefore, just as Moses was faithful to God, and as Jesus was even more faithful, so too must we maintain a heart that does not turn away from the living God. If we harden our hearts and cannot believe, we cannot enter God’s rest.

Today, the Sabbath, the day of God’s rest, we must not harden our hearts. The word of God is “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (4:12), so it is no use hiding.

19 January 2007 |
tags: Epistle to the Hebrews, New Testament