RichardB

The Letter to the Hebrews, 7:27 shows how radical this was, in contrasting the regular sacrifices in the temple with Jesus' sacrifice, "once for all".

As many others have said, almost everything in these verses points to the Son being divine himself. To be the One through whom the universe was made is in itself significant, but also shows that He is co-eternal with the Father, since He must have existed 'before' time and space were created. As the older form of the creed puts it, He was "begotten of His Father before all worlds".

Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 has been most meaningful to me, in combination with the accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection in the Gospels and elsewhere in the New Testament. Signs and wonders mean different things to different people - some remain sceptical even in the face of evidence which would be readily accepted by others. Many of us need first to regain a sense of wonder at the miracle of creation all around us. Romans 1: 20, 21 strikes a salutary note in this respect. I believe we can also sometimes see Christ at work in the lives of others we meet, even those who are not Christians themselves. I am sure that God was active in my life, even before I acknowledged Him. When Jesus tells us that whatever we do "to the least of these ... " we do to him, this is not just a legal fiction. He is really present in all those we help or hurt.

We are not immune to drift when we have not anchored ourselves in Christ, who is the Rock of our Salvation (Psalm 95), on which we must build (Matthew 7:24). When we put ourselves first, we are swept away by all the cares, pleasures and fashions of the world. This is shown in the Parable of the Sower by the seed among the thorns, and also the seed on rocky places. The author (authors?) of Hebrews says that we must pay more careful attention to what we have heard. We have to make Jesus the Lord of our lives. I'd like to add my thanks to Tabatha for reminding us of the letter to the Colossians on Q1. Colossians 2: 6,7 seems very relevant here: Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him. Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.[GNB]

It is difficult to use human language to describe the relationship between Jesus and God the Father without using metaphor. To describe it as a "biological" relationship seems misleading, since biological relationships are between created beings. If the word is used to convey the idea that the very life of the Father is fully expressed in his Son, it may be helpful. I think the author of Hebrews uses "Son" to convey the idea that Jesus shares the nature of God the Father, unlike any created being. Perhaps we can say that the relationship between a human father and son is a metaphor of the relationship between God the Father and God the Son, rather than vice versa? As for the weight of the Son's words in comparison with those of the prophets, I think the difference lies not so much in what they said, but that Jesus shows us in his own life, and in his sacrificial love, what God is like. I'd just like to add today that, in J.B. Philips' translation, 'The Letter to Jewish Christians' begins as follows: God, who gave to our forefathers many different glimpses of the truth in the words of the prophets, has now, at the end of the present age, given us the truth in the Son. In other words, Jesus didn't just tell us the truth, He is the truth. [Edited May 1st 2007]

Hi! This is my first bible study online. I discovered this site while searching for the Parable of the Tenants, and found a page from your study of Luke's Gospel. Rechecking that page just now, I find you also included a passage from Daniel, which I recently read myself and was moved by (the Rock whose kingdom is everlasting). I signed up for Hebrews as it is the first one starting after I found your site.