God Has Spoken in His Son

Hebrews

Hebrews 1:1-4

HEB_001

NET Bible Text

1:1 After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, 1:2 in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. 1:3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 1:4 Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs. The Son Is Superior to Angels

Simple Summary

Long ago, God spoke in many ways through the prophets. Now he has spoken fully and finally in the Son. The Son made the world, holds all things together, cleanses sins, and sits at God’s right hand, above the angels.

What This Passage Means

Hebrews begins with a strong contrast. God truly spoke to the fathers through the prophets. That earlier word was real, but it was partial and prepared the way.

In these last days, God has spoken to us in the Son. This does not mean the old words were false. It means God’s final and greatest word has now come in Christ.

The Son is described with great honor. God appointed him heir of all things, and through him he made the ages. He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of God’s being. He also sustains all things by his powerful word. So the Son is not a creature inside creation. He stands on the Creator’s side.

The passage then turns to his saving work. He made cleansing for sins. That is real priestly work done before God. After that, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. This shows finished work and highest honor. Verse 4 says he is far better than the angels, which prepares for the next part of Hebrews.

Important Truths

• God truly spoke through the prophets, but his final and climactic speech has come in the Son.
• “In these last days” means the decisive stage of God’s saving plan has arrived.
• The Son is the heir of all things and the one through whom God made the ages.
• The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of God’s being.
• The Son sustains all things by his powerful word.
• He made cleansing for sins and then sat down at God’s right hand.
• The Son is superior to angels.

Warnings, Promises, or Commands

• Warning: do not treat the prophets as false or untrustworthy. God really spoke through them.
• Warning: do not reduce “last days” to end-times speculation. Here it means the climactic stage of revelation in the Son.
• Warning: do not use verse 4 to say the Son was once a creature and later became divine. Verses 2”“3 already place him above creation.
• Warning: do not separate the Son’s divine identity from his work of cleansing sins. Hebrews joins them together.
• Promise: the Son has already made cleansing for sins and now sits in honor at God’s right hand.
• Command: listen to God by centering faith, worship, and obedience on the Son.

How This Fits in God's Plan

Hebrews shows the movement from God’s earlier speech through the prophets to his final speech in the Son. The Son fulfills what came before and now stands above all angelic messengers and all earlier revelation.

Simple Application

Do not treat Christ as one voice among many. Give him the central place in your hearing, worship, and trust, because God has spoken finally in him and your cleansing from sin rests on his finished work.