In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; 2 in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, 3 who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
God’s self-revelation to Israel’s ancestors (Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah etc.) was given through the Old Testament (OT) in fragments. God in His mercy and generosity spoke to us often and in many ways (v. 1). The early Jewish and Gentile Christians believed that the end-times were triggered by Jesus’ eternal sacrifice, made one for all time, for the purification of the sins of mankind so that mankind could be redeemed (Heb. 9:24-26). They were living in the final age waiting for the return of the glorified Christ which was thought to be imminent. God has revealed his saving power to the world in his Son who is the radiance of God’s goodness and glory, not a servant like the prophets. The Son through whom the universe was created is a perfect reflection of the very being of God. He is the Word of God who communicated God’s message clearly to the world and who achieved eternal redemption for mankind by his blood (Heb. 9:12). The Son guides and sustains all that he created in the universe and when he had completed his redemptive work, he entered into the glory he had with the Father before his incarnation (Phil. 2:6-11). We too as children of God hope in this glory (Rom. 8:16-17). Being fully divine and fully human, Jesus was inferior to the angles in his human nature, but far superior to the angels in his divine nature because he inherited the name the “Son of God (Jn. 1:49; Mk. 1:1)”.
Almighty God, hear the
pleas of your children and show us what must be done to fulfill your will and
give us the strength to do what you show us. This your children pray through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. AMEN!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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