Sunday School Lesson for December 13, 2020 - Called to Be Immanuel - Matthew 1:18-25 NASB

 

Matthew 1:18-19 NASB

18 Now the birth of Jesus the [a]Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been [b]betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to [c]send her away secretly. 

Luke 1:56 The Message

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.

Matthew 1:18-19 The Message

18-19 The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn’t know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.

Forgive me, but I’m going to park here for a few minutes. So, the picture above is of my mom and dad on their wedding day. That’s them holding hands. That’s my grandmother standing back against the wall. That’s my dad’s oldest sister standing next to my mom. Oh, and that is Rev. O.T. Arnold, the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, who officiated the wedding. That’s the church we grew up in. My cousin, Rev. Roy Jones currently serves as the pastor. But my parents were married at my grandmother’s home. Hmm?

One day, when I was about nine years old, I was looking through my parent’s scrapbooks. I was looking at pictures like the one above. In my exploration, I came across my parent’s marriage certificate. The wedding date was November XX, 195X. As I’m kinda just sitting there, staring at the certificate, I have this kind of unfolding realization that I was born one month and one day later… exactly. So, as this all begins to dawn on me, I go find my mom and our conversation goes something like, “Mom! I was born one month and one day after you and dad got married?!” With a little bit of a smirk and a little bit of a scowl on her face, my mother responded, “And!?” The half smirk said, (You figured it out!) The half scowl said, (“You little red S.O. Blank…!”) In essence, “Ok, now go get you some bizness!”. I smile at the memory because in that moment I grew up a little bit and the world wasn’t so perfect anymore.

One more thing. I was born three months early, so the young bride you see in the photo above (my mom) is about five months pregnant. She doesn’t look like it, does she? But I would guess that all of the individuals pictured above knew it. Hmm? Did I mention that my parents weren’t married at our home church, right down the street, but at my grandparent’s house? Hmmm?

This is similar to the unfolding reality that is occurring with young Joseph in Matthew 1:18-19 above. A brief overview of the circumstances surrounding the birth of our Savior, Jesus reminds us that the archangel Gabriel, God’s messenger angel informs Mary that she will be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and conceive a son, the Messiah, the Son of God. Upon receiving this news, she leaves Nazareth and travels south about one hundred miles to somewhere near Jerusalem. She stays with her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant,  the (soon to be) mother of John the Baptist for three months, then returns home.

Upon her return, Joseph, to whom Mary is betrothed, sets out to complete their engagement period with the final marriage ceremony. However, there is a “But”. In Jewish culture, the normal betrothal, or engagement period lasts one full year. During that year, the bride-to-be stays home and learns the particulars of being a good wife while the groom-to-be goes to the plot of land he will receive as an inheritance from his father and, under the guidance of his father, begins building the home that he and his bride will live in. We see a simile of the betrothal process reflected in Jesus’ words of comfort to His disciples in John fourteen.

John 14:1-3 NASB

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; [a]believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many [b]rooms; if that were not so, [c]I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.

But, after three months of being physically separated from his betrothed, Joseph discovers that Mary is pregnant. How? When? Why? Who? So many questions. No immediate answers. How did Joseph find out? Again, I don’t have an answer, and the bible doesn’t offer one. Here’s what I do know. As I stated above, in the Jewish culture, the engagement period lasts one year. Upon Mary’s return, Joseph discovers this untimely pregnancy. Whether Mary shared the news with him in secret or whether the mothers of the bride and groom uncovered the secret and brought it to Joseph’s attention (Mary probably doesn’t ‘look’ pregnant yet, see the picture above), Joseph began to ponder his options. You see, according to custom, being betrothed to marry was as binding as being married. To end a betrothal required a Writ of Divorce, just as was required for marriage. So then, Joseph appears to be going the extra mile for Mary and ‘divorce’ her before the consummation of the marriage. In doing so, he is exercising his option to ‘divorce’ her because in some way he has become dissatisfied with her. He would be fully within his rights to do so. 

Deuteronomy 24:1 NASB

1 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, that he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and [a]sends her away from his house,

Matthew 19:7-8a NASB

 7 They *said to Him, “Why, then, did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8a He *said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to [e]divorce your wives…

What’s notable is Joseph’s continuing commitment to and obvious affection for Mary. He makes a choice to put her away privately, rather than publicly. To divorce her publically would be to bring her before the elders of the village and plead his case against her, exposing her to the shame and humiliation of the moment. It could also lead to her eventual death by stoning. According to Jewish custom, an alternative option was to present her a writ of divorce in the sight of two witnesses. That is all that was required. No-fuss. No-muss. The reason it was so simple was that Judaism, in Jesus’ day, was decidedly patriarchal favoring the whims of the man over the needs of the women. Women were regarded as property, not as partners. The same still holds true today in the Middle East (and a lot of other places, including America).

Matthew 1:20-21 NASB

20 But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for [d]the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for [e]He will save His people from their sins.”

From Malachi to Matthew, for four hundred years, the bible is silent. But, in this moment in time surrounding the birth of Christ, things begin to move in the Spirit. Zacharias and Elizabeth, both past child-rearing age, are visited by Gabriel, the Herald of God, who announces that they will have a child. A young virgin, Mary is visited by that same angel and learns that she will be the mother of the Messiah. And then there is Joseph. Joseph receives the first of several angelic visitations.

Breaking up is hard to do. In the emotional darkness that engulfed Joseph, as he struggles toward the decision to divorce the love of his life, Mary, he too receives a visit from an angel of the Lord, presumably Gabriel. The angel brings news that is both wondrous and relieving. “Do not be afraid…”. These are the most wonderful words a believer can hear from on high. To the faithful, the directive to “Fear not” from a messenger of God, from the Word of God, or from Jesus Himself, is music to the ears, a soothing balm to the troubled soul. Joseph is immediately … encouraged. The angel goes on to explain that Mary has not been unfaithful, Joseph’s love for her had not been misplaced. And then the angel, in his next words, both informs Joseph’s and gives him a charge. Suddenly, Joseph, a man found faithful and just in the eyes of men, has been found so in the eyes of Heaven. He and his bride to be will have the awesome responsibility of being the parents of the Messiah. In just a very few moments, Joseph transitions from a very weighty personal decision concerning the girl he loves to, now carrying the weight of eternity on his shoulders. He has been called. Called by God.

Matthew 1:22-23 NASB

22 Now all this [f]took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through [g]the prophet would be fulfilled: 23 “Behold, the virgin will [h]conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him [i]Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

Matthew takes a moment in his narrative to explain to his readers that in this moment, the fulfillment of prophecy was unfolding. Be reminded that his mission was to prove in the ears and hearts of his listeners that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. He brings to their remembrance the words of Isaiah, the prophet to King Ahaz, some seven hundred years prior to the time of Jesus’ birth.

Isaiah 7:14 NASB

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the [k]virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him [l]Immanuel. 

Joseph Steps Up and Mans up…

Matthew 1:24-25 NASB

24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 [j]but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he named Him Jesus.

That’s right. Joseph goes into ‘full-grown man’ mode. He steps all the way up and embraces the call of God on his life. He accepts God’s Heavenly assignment. He steps all the way up and takes Mary as his bride. He steps all the way up and takes his bride with him on a one hundred mile journey to Jerusalem, maybe because he simply will not entrust the care of Mary and her unborn child to anyone other than himself. Joseph steps up and puts up with what had to the gossip surrounding the fact that before their scheduled wedding, his betrothed gave birth.

We live in a time when families get blended in many different ways. Many are the couples who are making a relationship work, even though one or both parties bring children into the relationships from previous relationships. While that is not Joseph and Mary’s exact situation, it is similar, in that a conscious decision must be made to take responsibility for those children who are a part of the mix. Yes. It takes a man to love someone else’s child as though he or she were his own. Yes. Joseph stepped up.

There’s more good news to share as I close this lesson. I mentioned earlier that today’s text recorded the first of several visits by angels. But not Joseph only. The shepherds saw a heavenly gathering of angels that defies the imagination. The wise men (Magi) followed a star, a sign in the heavens. Then there was Simeon, then Anna, the prophetess. Then John the Baptist. Then Jesus. Suddenly Heaven began to speak regularly. The promised revival and restoration had begun. It didn’t stop there. On the Day of Pentecost, after the Resurrection, the Holy Ghost descended from God to His Church. He came bearing gifts. God has not stopped communicating and blessing his people in wondrous and supernatural ways since the time of ….. Joseph.

Selah,

wb

(The Exhaustive overview of) Sunday School Lesson for December 6, 2020 - Called to Be Heir - Matthew 1:1-6,16-17; Hebrews 1:1-5 NASB

 

Vocare - (verb) to invoke, to call. This is the root word for voice and for vocation. It was believed in ancient times, that your job, your life’s work was your ‘calling’. The source of that calling was always believed to be divine. God calls. He always calls. He always will...call. When He speaks, He calls. God’s desire is that we come to Him in restoration. This series of lessons will explore the call of God on the lives of many of His servants throughout Scripture, starting with Jesus.

Matthew 1:1

1 The [a]record of the genealogy of [b]Jesus the [c]Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Matthew, a tax collector despised and rejected by his people, called by Jesus as one of the original Apostles. Called, in fact, back to his people, the Jews, to prove the heritage of Jesus, the Messiah. So then, the Gospel of Matthew begins the process by doing something that the Jews would consider necessary. Matthew lays out the genealogy of Jesus. Why was this necessary? Because God clearly indicated throughout Scripture that a Messiah, a Savior would be sent by Him to redeem the nation of Israel. That promised Messiah was to descend from Father Abraham and from King David, thus fulfilling two covenant promises; to make Abraham a father of many nations and for the throne of David to be an eternal throne.

Matthew 1:2

2 Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered [d]Judah and his brothers.

Abraham. Called out of the land of Ur, a place where many gods were followed. Called to a place where the One, True God could reveal Himself. His name was Abram, which meant ‘High Father’, really more of a title than a name. Selah (Consider that for a moment). Why not call one with such a name into the process that reveals the true ‘High Father’? God changed his name to Abraham, meaning ‘Father of many nations’. The significance of the ‘ham’ appended to Abram’s name was that it signified the ‘Ruach Ha’Kodesh’, the Breath of God, The Holy Ghost. It was as if God was adding His Shekhinah, His Glorious Radiance to the personage of Abram. Abraham then, becomes a type, a shadow of our Father in Heaven and a progenitor of God’s promise to redeem.

Issac. You remember him. He was the child of promise. When both Abraham and Sarah were well beyond childbearing age, God gave them Issac, whose name means ‘laughter’. God rejected Ishmael and gave them Issac, thereby signifying that God would provide salvation, not by the will of man, but by His Spirit. Issac must also be remembered for asking his father the question, “I see the wood. I see the fire. Where is the sacrifice.” It was that Issac, who then went obediently to the altar, understanding through his father’s cryptic response, ‘God will provide’ that he was the intended offering. It was Issac that Abraham was willing to offer up to God, reckoning that if he offered him up to God, that God would raise him up again unto life.  In Issac, the typology of Christ is completely illustrated, from birth to the cross, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to resurrection. Hallelujah!

Jacob, the thief. He wrested the birthright from his brother, then he outright stole his blessing. He just wanted more than his brother, Esau. He wanted the things of God more than his brother did. Scripture says Esau despised his birthright. Don’t blame Jacob. Jacob, who met encountered God at the stairway to Heaven. Jacob showed that same perseverance later in life when essentially duped by his father-in-law, he worked for twenty-one years to secure the love of his life, Rachel. That same perseverance would serve him well as he wrestled the angel of the Lord until daybreak at the river, Jordan. He prevailed that day and earned a new name, Israel, meaning ‘One who has power with God’. Thus would a nation be called. And from that nation, God called a savior.

Judah, the fourth child of Jacob by his first wife, Leah. His name literally means, ‘I will praise the Lord!”  The tribe of Judah would grow to become the most powerful and prominent of the tribes of Israel. In Revelation, the fifth chapter Jesus would be identified as the ‘Lion of the Tribe of Judah’ and as ‘the Lamb who was slain’, who is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and ….praise! Hallelujah!.

Matthew 1:3

 3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered [e]Ram. 

Tamar. Her name translates, ‘Date Palm’, after the palm trees in Cana. Not all was honorable that happened by the hand of Judah. When his daughter-in-law, Tamar was widowed by the death of Er, Judah’s son, she suddenly found her rightful inheritance slipping from her grasp. So she hid her true identity from Judah and by him, conceived twins. When she was found to be pregnant, Judah called for her to be burned. When she, subsequently, proved to Judah that he was the father, he relented, declaring her to be ‘more righteous’ than himself. Tamar’s example was one of righteousness ‘imputed’. She did nothing so honorable as to earn her inheritance. It was imparted to her by God. He would not allow her to be denied. She is eternally remembered and honored as the first woman named in the genealogy of Christ. 

Perez. His name means, ‘to burst forth’, or ‘breached’ because he burst forth first from his mother’s womb even though all indications were that his brother would be born first. However the order of birth was finally determined, Perez became a progenitor of Christ.

Perez was the father of Hezron, whose name means ‘Enclosed’. Most likely, his name indicates that he was born during the early period of the Egyptian captivity. So then Hezron foreshadows the early life of Christ, in that his parents fled to the safety of Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath.

Hezron fathered Ram, whose name means ‘Exalted’. Though born in captivity, his name reminds him every day that he is the product of royalty. There were three prominent tribes among the Hebrews: Levi, Judah, and Ephraim. All were found to be loyal to God. Of them, the tribe of Judah was the ‘Lion’, signifying power and loyalty. Even in slavery, these tribes remained true to their call to godliness. 

Matthew 1:4

4 Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon.

Amminadab. His name meant, ‘My people are generous’ and, or ‘My people are noble. What is indicated in the name of Amminadab is the faithfulness of God toward His people and the faithfulness of God’s people toward Him, even while in bondage. By this time, they are three generations into the Egyptian captivity, yet Amminidab’s name indicates that God’s chosen people are flourishing because they are applying God’s principles of generosity in giving and are receiving God’s reciprocal response in His blessing exceedingly and abundantly above their expectations. (Won’t He do it?!). There is a concept in the study of Christianity that suggests that “When you cannot see God’s hand, trust His heart”. It is in the time of Amminadab that Pharoah becomes fearful of the emerging prosperity of the Hebrews and orders the murder of all male Hebrew newborn. It is in the time of Amminadab that Moses, the Deliverer of the Hebrews’ was born. In fact, Amminadab would eventually become the father-in-law of Aaron, the older brother of Moses.

Nashon. A Chief of the tribe of Judah. Literally named as a ‘prince’ of the tribe of Judah and a prominent leader of the people of Israel. According to Hebraic history, Nashon was the first to walk into the Red Sea at its parting. It is recorded that he walked into the water chin deep before it began to part. Nashon. It is recorded in Scripture that he was appointed by Moses a leader of the peoples, responsible for the census of his tribe. He also was the first to bring the offering, for his tribe, for the dedication of the tabernacle. 

Salmon. His name is a derivation of the name Solomon, which means, ‘Peace’. As the son of Nashon, he would have been of the generation of Hebrew children born in the desert. He would have been among those children who would have had to make a recommitment to God, to include circumcision, as none born in the wilderness had been circumcised. He was one of that group who entered the promised land with Joshua. Finally, he would have probably been one of the spies sent into Jericho. Most probably, it was he who agreed to protect Rahab and her family if she would help them escape their pursuers. A type of ‘mediator’ for the lost.

Matthew 1:5

5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse. 

Yes, that Rahab. Rahab, the harlot. Her name means, ‘spacious’. Her actions towards the Israeli spies indicate that she was a ‘hooker with a heart’. Beloved, there are so many people who become victims of their circumstances or are just victimized by the people around them. Women and children are routinely victimized by people in power simply because they have no ability to escape. While the inclination among ‘good Christians’ is to blame victims for their condition, Jesus does not. Rather, He chose her and placed her in a position of eternal honor. What a beautiful expression of God’s great Grace.

Boaz. His name means ‘swiftness’. He was a man of wealth and honor. Though his name meant swiftness, he seems to have been very ...patient. When we encounter him in the Book of Ruth, he is not a ‘young’ man. He seems to have inherited his mother’s spacious heart, her capacity for accommodating strangers and people in need. We further observe that he has the heart of his father, Salmon who ‘redeemed’ Rahab, a Caananite woman through marriage. Boaz first opened his harvest to a stranger, Ruth, so that she could glean the leavings of his fields. He offered her the protection and fellowship of his servants, though she was a stranger from a strange land. Ruth, at Naomi’s urging, placed herself at his feet, he swiftly stepped up and stood up for her as her ‘Kinsman Redeemer’. This is a direct typology of Christ. His actions placed him in the genealogy of Christ as the grandfather of David.

Ruth, the Moabitess. The foreigner. The immigrant. Her name means, ‘Friend’. She was a friend to Naomi, her mother-in-law. So much so, that when her father-in-law died followed by the deaths of her own husband and her brother-in-law, she clung to her mother-in-law and followed her back to her home in Bethlehem. She famously declared to her mother-in-law, Naomi, “Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” God heard her and honored her faithfulness to a woman who could profit her nothing. God honored her and Naomi by placing her among the Royalty of the lineage of Christ.

Obed, the grandfather of David. His name means, ‘worshipper’. In his name alone we find the strength of his heritage as a member of the tribe of Judah. From ‘Praise’ in the name Judah to ‘Worship’ in the name of Obed, we find the perfect example of our approach and attitude to the God of all of creation. We also find, in Obed, the character traits that would be handed down to his grandson, David, that would endear to God as ‘one after God’s own heart.

Jesse. His name means, ‘Gift’ or ‘God exists’. In his name, we find prophetic inferences to the Messiah. He, as the father of David, was responsible for creating an environment within his home that would inspire a poet of David’s stature, that would acknowledge and encourage a vision of a God so big that Goliath was but a mere ant in his eyes. He gave Israel the most beloved King, and through David, an eternal throne through Christ.

Matthew 1:6 

6 Jesse fathered David the king.

David fathered Solomon by [f]her who had been the wife of Uriah.

David. His name means, ‘Beloved’. He was the second and greatest King of the nation of Israel. He wrote most of the Psalms of the bible. He defeated giants and consolidated all of the tribes of Israel under one king. He was a man after God’s own heart. He received the promise from God that there would always reside, on the throne of Israel, someone from his bloodline. This was a direct reference to the coming Messiah, Jesus who will forever sit on the throne in Heaven to rule over all creation.

Bathsheba. Her name means, ‘Daughter of the oath’. Though unnamed in Matthew’s writing, she is correctly identified as the former wife of Uriah (the Hittite). Former because through a series of sordid events, David exploited her sexually (is it really consensual when so much power is involved?), then when it was discovered that she was pregnant, tried to hide his sin, then had her husband murdered as the ultimate attempt in hiding his sin. He then married Bathsheba and sought to return to business as usual. That was not to be. Nathan, the prophet exposed David’s sin and his crimes. It was only then that David submitted himself to God in full repentance and was restored to right fellowship with God. God showed Bathsheba favor by giving her a second child by David, who was, by then, her husband. That child would be the child chosen of the nineteen children that David fathered to be the child who would be the path of promise to the Messiah and come to be regarded as a great king in his own right. She was Queen Mother to the boy, Solomon.

Solomon. The boy who would be king. His name means, ‘Peace’. While his father David may have been the most beloved king of Israel, Solomon was regarded as the wisest. In his day, he was regarded as both the wisest and wealthiest man of his time. Solomon was a ‘Biyn’. In the Hebrew culture, this title is reserved for very wise people. The accompanying thought to this title is that said wisdom is imparted directly from God. The most famous of Scriptures surrounding the life of Solomon occur with the dedication Temple. In that episode, God was so satisfied with Solomon’s offering and dedication that He prompted Solomon to ask for whatever he wished. When Solomon asked for wisdom, so that he, a child, might properly lead God’s people, God was so pleased that He rewarded Solomon with all that He asked. All of that and he placed in in the royal genealogy of Christ.

So then, in this morning’s lesson, we find royalty and humility, Courage, and coarseness. All facets of the human condition reflected in the genealogy of our Lord, Jesus Christ. And why not? Did he not come to save the entirety of humanity?

Matthew 1:16

16 Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the [a]Messiah.

Finally, in these last three figures, we glimpse one of the beloved traditions of the Jewish culture: the use of very traditional, very famous names from Jewish history. Little is known of Jacob, also called Heli (or Eli) in the Gospel of Luke. In Jacob, we see a nod to royalty, a direct line back to Father Abraham, a look forward to the King of Kings. In Heli, we see a nod to the great figures of the Levitical line, Moses and Aaron, who was the first High Priest of Israel. Looking forward, we see our Great High Priest, our Mediator, Jesus Christ. 

In Joseph, again we see a nod to one of the greatest figures of biblical history. Like Solomon, Joseph was recognized as a Biyn, a Seer, a Prophet. So great was his esteem that at the pinnacle of Egypt’s greatness, Pharoah turned over all authority to him. We will learn more about Joseph, the husband of Mary and (step) father of Jesus in subsequent lessons, but from a genealogical standpoint, it is as though God providentially want to foreshadow Jesus, the coming Messiah as the eternal King, Priest, and Prophet of God’s everlasting Kingdom.

Finally, there’s Mary. Her name was very popular in Jewish culture, as it is a derivative of the name of Miriam, the sister of Moses. Miriam drew Moses out of the Nile to become the Deliverer of Israel. Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior, the Deliverer of all of Creation. Their name was derived from the Egyptian word ‘mry’, which means “beloved”. Certainly, both women are beloved. Miriam rebelled against her brother, Moses. In doing so, she brought some shame to her otherwise stellar narrative. But God! We serve a God who always redeems. whose every thought of us is love, whose every action towards us is redemptive.

I would like to think that every remembrance of Jesus’ genealogy by Matthew’s Jewish readers invoked some of the fondest memories of His ancestors. I hope the same for my readers as well. We serve an awesome God. Who, but God could craft so beautiful a mosaic of heritage as is created in just some of the history of these beloved saints.

That was exhausting! I am in awe of God!

Hebrews 1:1

1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

While there is some question of the identity of the author of Hebrews, the influence of Paul, the Aged is evident. Like Matthew, the writer is speaking to a predominately Jewish audience. Hence, the title, ‘Hebrews’. I would argue that the very title speaks to the mindset of the readers and frames the argument presented by the author, in that, the history of the Hebrews finds it’s origins in Abraham, whereas the history of the Jews or Israel begins with Jacob. So then, in titling the letter Hebrews the writer seeks to invoke God’s covenant with Abraham, to make of him, the Father of many nations.

The book opens with the observation that God has reached out to men in various ways at various times, revealing Himself and His purpose in portions, never fully, all at once. This is evident in the many, many names of God, revealed over a number of centuries through many different prophets. Upon closer examination, we understand that each time reveals a portion of Himself, it was situational. In essence, God was whatever was needed in any given situation, revealed as He declared Himself to His servants,. Thus, He was never fully revealed, but rather, our knowledge of Him was cumulative, as he continued to unfold the revelation of Himself over time.

Hebrews 1:2

2 [a]in these last days has spoken to us [b]in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the [c]world. 

Based on what we know about the audience, it can be assumed that the purpose of this tome was to encourage this body of Jewish Christians who understood their heritage as being foundational to their faith. With the persecution they were facing as strangers in a strange land, they questioned whether their faith in Christ had been misplaced. In some ways, they wanted to go back to their old ‘praying grounds’. Heritage runs deep in every ethnos. Based on the study of the genealogy of Christ that we reviewed in the book of Matthew, one can understand how this young Jewish-Christian community would look back to the pillars of their heritage because they did not understand that Christ was the chief cornerstone on which all of those pillars were built. The author’s task was to present Christ as greater than the heroes and the previous covenants that once made Israel a great nation and the Hebrew a great people. He makes and presses the point here in verse two that Jesus IS the complete and final revelation of God. He’s greater than. Greater than the prophets and pillars of Israel that had come before Him.

Hebrews 1:3

 3 [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and [e]upholds all things by [f]the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Christ is greater than the Patriarchs because he precedes them. In fact, he has no predecessor. In John’s Gospel He is identified as the Word of God, who was from the beginning, or more accurately, has always been and will always be. Eternal. That fact alone makes Him one with God, or more accurately, God in the flesh. Emmanuel! These facts inform the audience then, that Christ, being the final, revealed (and much-awaited) presentation of God holds all of the power and majesty and honor and glory befitting the only one and true God. And by His majesty and power, He not only created all things, but upholds all that is by His mighty power. And because they are His, that same power that upholds all of Creation holds them. What a Blessed Assurance!

Hebrews 1:4

4 having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

There are seven archangels named in the Jewish historical records. Only three are named in protestant Christian literature: Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer. Michael is held in the highest esteem by followers of the Hebrew tradition. In Christian tradition, Gabriel is well regarded in that he literally speaks for God. Lucifer, before the fall, was the leader of worship in Heaven. Yet, as powerful as each of these entities are, they pale in comparison to the Creator of all things, Jesus. Angel worship was in vogue a few years ago in some Christian circles. The flaw in that thinking is the same fatal flaw that leads followers of false religions into idolatry. All of the angels are created beings and as such, are not worthy of our worship. Only Jesus is worthy of our praise. There is one name above all others. The name of Jesus.

Hebrews 1:5

5 For to which of the angels did He ever say,

“You are My Son,

Today I have fathered You”?

And again,

“I will be a Father to Him

And He will be a Son to Me”?

“Behold O Israel! The Lord, thy God is One God.”  Jesus said, “I and the Father are One.” Beloved we only understand the Triune nature of God by faith. We accept it as an essential article of our faith in God. Jesus repeatedly identified Himself as the ‘I AM’, literally the eternal, one true God. What that means is that there is only ONE in all of eternity whose makeup is completely and entirely unique. Only God is Divine. Literally, Only He was not made or formed. Rather, He simply IS. And He IS Divine. And He is uniquely Divine. We know Him as Jesus. He is all we will ever need. Ever.

 

Selah,

 

wb