Hebrews 1:3 study notes part 4
These are adapted from a study I was part of about 5 or 6 years ago. They are intended as a starting point for study.
For context here is Hebrews 1:1-4
In this part we'll look at the 5th point from the original thread.
He sat down at the right hand of God.
The Hebrew Levitical Priests offered sacrifices repeatedly: the Day of Atonement, purification, feasts, etc. It went on and on. It was much better to have a saviour who paid it all once and then it is finished. His atoning work was done, and Jesus sat down.
This is significant because it is done. In John 19:30 Jesus says "It is finished."
Now I'm no Greek scholar, so check it out for yourself if you aren't either.
In Greek Jesus's statement is one word-Tetelstai. This word has been found used in business documents for the same period as Christ's crucifixion. It meant the debt was paid in full.
This is significant--Jesus' death did pay for the sins of His people. It truly is finished in that way. If it is finished, we can not add to it, we can not lose it, and we can not have to make up for anything after death. There are those who teach we add to Christ's work, that we can lose salvation, and that we pay for sin after death. John 19:30 and Hebrews 1:3 say otherwise.
It is not only significant that Jesus sat down, but it is also significant where He sat.
He sat down at the right hand of God.
This signifies power, authority and honor. Before His death Jesus said-"All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:27)
After His resurrection, Jesus tells His disciples-"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18) Then He gives them the Great Comission-"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
They could accoplish this because of Jesus' authority, as He sits at the Father's right hand.
While Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, he also intercedes for His people--as seen in Hebrews 7:25: "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
This means that His people have a Victorious Saviour-He didn’t just die. He has accomplished Salvation. He has power and He uses it. He intercedes for His people. We are secure in Him if we are truly His-We should never take this for granted but live accordingly.
Those who do not believe have no Saviour and so no salvation. They have no intercessor and no security. They have no hope, unless they repent and believe.
The five statements about Jesus in Hebrews 1:3 have lots of overlap. This emphasizes who Jesus Christ is, what He did, what He does, and even what He will do.
He truly is better than anybody or anything before or after Him.
Amen.
(My main references for this study were-John Owen's Commentary on Hebrews, Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary, and Kenneth Wuest's Hebrews translation & commentary. I also referenced study notes in The MacArthur Study Bible & the New Geneva Study Bible, (Which is now called the Reformation Study Bible.) Any deviation I have made from these is my own fault.)
For context here is Hebrews 1:1-4
In this part we'll look at the 5th point from the original thread.
He sat down at the right hand of God.
The Hebrew Levitical Priests offered sacrifices repeatedly: the Day of Atonement, purification, feasts, etc. It went on and on. It was much better to have a saviour who paid it all once and then it is finished. His atoning work was done, and Jesus sat down.
This is significant because it is done. In John 19:30 Jesus says "It is finished."
Now I'm no Greek scholar, so check it out for yourself if you aren't either.
In Greek Jesus's statement is one word-Tetelstai. This word has been found used in business documents for the same period as Christ's crucifixion. It meant the debt was paid in full.
This is significant--Jesus' death did pay for the sins of His people. It truly is finished in that way. If it is finished, we can not add to it, we can not lose it, and we can not have to make up for anything after death. There are those who teach we add to Christ's work, that we can lose salvation, and that we pay for sin after death. John 19:30 and Hebrews 1:3 say otherwise.
It is not only significant that Jesus sat down, but it is also significant where He sat.
He sat down at the right hand of God.
This signifies power, authority and honor. Before His death Jesus said-"All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:27)
After His resurrection, Jesus tells His disciples-"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18) Then He gives them the Great Comission-"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
They could accoplish this because of Jesus' authority, as He sits at the Father's right hand.
While Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, he also intercedes for His people--as seen in Hebrews 7:25: "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."
This means that His people have a Victorious Saviour-He didn’t just die. He has accomplished Salvation. He has power and He uses it. He intercedes for His people. We are secure in Him if we are truly His-We should never take this for granted but live accordingly.
Those who do not believe have no Saviour and so no salvation. They have no intercessor and no security. They have no hope, unless they repent and believe.
The five statements about Jesus in Hebrews 1:3 have lots of overlap. This emphasizes who Jesus Christ is, what He did, what He does, and even what He will do.
He truly is better than anybody or anything before or after Him.
Amen.
(My main references for this study were-John Owen's Commentary on Hebrews, Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary, and Kenneth Wuest's Hebrews translation & commentary. I also referenced study notes in The MacArthur Study Bible & the New Geneva Study Bible, (Which is now called the Reformation Study Bible.) Any deviation I have made from these is my own fault.)
posted by pilgrim at 10:54 PM
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