NOV 18

Hebrews 1:3

Memorise Hebrews 1:3

“…Jesus’ threefold Messianic office as prophet, priest and king…”

WHAT IS THE MAIN THEME OF HEBREWS?

The main theme of Hebrews is Jesus’ threefold Messianic office as prophet, priest and king. No one else in the Bible has fulfilled all three offices perfectly. Hebrews 1:3 summarises this for us. It first shows how Jesus is God Himself, having in Him the “brightness of [the Father’s] glory, and the express image of His person”. In the Old Testament times, God spoke to His people through prophets (Hebrews 1:1) but in “these last days”, God has “spoken unto us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:2) who fulfils His role as a prophet by “upholding all things by the word of his power”. Christ is the ultimate prophet because He is not merely just a channel for God’s Word but He Himself is the Word (John 1:1).

Hebrews 1:3 then goes on to describe how Christ “had by himself purged our sins” as a priest used to do in the past by offering up animal sacrifices as atonement for the people’s sins. However, the priests of old were themselves sinful men who had to first offer sacrifices for their own sins before they could act on behalf of the people (Hebrews 7:27). They also had to continually offer sacrifices to atone for new sins as “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). By His own blood, Jesus Christ did what an endless flow of sacrifices could not do. He once and for all offered His own body as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and being “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26), His one sacrifice appeased God’s righteous wrath and stayed His judgment on us (Hebrews 10:14).

Having offered Himself for us, He then took His place at the “right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12), making intercession for us at the throne of God. This last picture of Christ at the “right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3) paints Him as the true King who will soon return to earth to rule.

Jesus is the King of kings but yet He made himself “a little lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:9) so that He could be the “great high priest” for us who “cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-15). As He had “suffered being tempted”, He is thus able to “succour” or help “them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16).”

Thought: What other verses in Hebrews support Jesus’ roles?
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Thy Son who is the true King, Prophet and Priest.