Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
Comment: Hebrews written about 30 years after Jesus died and rose again does not name the author, which to me is of no significance because it is in the Bible, which is the Word of God. The Triune God of the Scriptures spoke clearly to the Jews and to all who did and do read the Old Testament. At last He speaks through ‘the Son’, a strange name for part of the co-equal, co-eternal part of the Triune God. The Messiah, promised in the Old Testament, was God becoming flesh so that He could be seen, heard, die and rise again. So He was God become man. In the Old Testament He was promised as the Messiah who would be a descendant (son) of David. In fact He was born the son of Mary in a miraculous birth. She claimed to be a virgin, the Bible in the OT promised (Is 7 v 14) that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, and the NT states in Luke 1 v35 that the Most High was the Father. Something believable but incomprehensible to our minds.
Thus talking about the Son in this passage, a number of things are claimed about the unnamed Jesus.
- He is the voice of God, whose nature is the exact imprint of God’s Glory and Nature. He upholds the Universe.
- He has dealt with sin effectively and sits now on the throne of the Universe with God the Father.
- The Jews honoured angelic beings. He is far superior to angels in His Sonship. A sonship which God is pleased to announce in several places in the OT and by direct speaking from heaven in the NT.
- Jesus’ kingdom is proclaimed by His Heavenly Father, with whom He, Jesus, is co-equal God, to be eternal, righteous, to please God the Father who pours over Him the ‘oil of gladness’. His companions, I think, include the angelic hosts of Heaven and those who on earth He is pleased to call His brothers (see later).
Prayer. This passage simply amazes me, O God.
As I read it! 