On this page you will find Bible Commentaries on Hebrews 1: 3.
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Loading ...Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
4 Bible Commentaries on Hebrews 1: 3
What we can see here is how superior Christ is among all other creation. Just by looking in the passage, we can all these three things that made Him superior.
Christ is the one whom the Israelite’s forefathers and prophets talk about (v.1).
Even the ancient Scriptures that the Israelites recognizes tells us of the harmony that these scriptures tells about Jesus Christ. The passage tells us that He has been revealed in various ways, in various times.
As far as we can remember, the Old Testament is composed of 39 books, and all of them were written in different historical times, cultures, locations and situations, yet they points out to a common end point, Jesus Christ. This what makes the Bible more reliable because the fact that it was written by different people in different time, cultures, location and situations, no other book that was ever written that could match the credibility of the Bible.
The credibility of the Bible and its teachings about Jesus Christ is truly indisputable. Though there are many people who questions the authority of the Bible, they did it out of ignorance and without knowing what they are asking. They are doing it because they are blind to see the truths that lies even in the history of the Bible.
The most amazing thing that we can see in the passage that we are reading is the mode of revelation of God about Jesus Christ. The passage says, God revealed himself to humanity in “various ways.”
Starting in the book of Genesis, God revealed himself to Adam and Eve, though it did not literally mentioned how He revealed himself to them, but one thing is clear, Adam used to hear God. Adam, the first human can talk to God directly.
God also revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush. To the Israelites, by pillar of cloud, fire, thunder, and even through the rock that gave them water to drink. God also revealed Himself through the Judges of Israel, and through prophets. And even through the Holy Scriptures that has been the guide of the Israelites all through out their lives.
Christ is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of His being (v.3).
We have been talking about God’s revelation to mankind, here is how God revealed Himself ultimately so that man can relate to what God wants to happen, it is through Jesus Christ.
Verse three is a very nice verse to quote: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power…” Here we can see how wonderful our God is. God did all things He could in order to reveal Himself to humanity, to reach us even as we have been proven to be disobedient.
Many people asks how does God look like? The Bible gave us clear message that Jesus is the express image of his person. This does not only concern the physical appearance of Jesus and God, but also the inner nature and attributes of being like a God.
Sometimes, we humans with our “very limited” knowledge, we try to rationalize God and His capabilities which really falls short to what He can do. Some people really disagrees to the idea that God is there while Jesus was on earth. For them that is too impossible to happen. But the longer that we study and stare upon the Scriptures, we can see how the impossible things are just simple and very possible to the God of gods, and Lord of lords.
Christ is the foundation of the world (v.10).
The clearest passage that I can quote in relation to this passage is in John 1:1-3
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
We can see many things in here including Christ’s deity and his existence before time. And one of the clearest things that has been stated here is Him being the foundation of the creation of the earth. This is the main reason why I wonder why the Big Church over emphasize the role of Mary in the Bible. They attributed things that Mary did not do, and it include “Mary being the Mother of God.”
This statement is very dangerous since it implies that Mary is divine and belongs to the family of God, which is completely a blasphemy. The Bible only recorded the essence of three deities, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. If Mary also posses such deity, then it cannot be called Trinity anymore. This why we always have to be careful in what other people teaches. We have to be vigilant in things that we learn and not just simply accepting like an edible food but once you ate it, it will poison you.
Commentary by vince olaer
Posted on:
11/14/2008 14:46 pm 
(1)The writer of Hebrews used 7 expressions to point out the superiority of Jesus Christ in Heb.1:2,3.In Heb.1:2,we find the following two expressions.
(i)”Hath appointed heir of all things.”
(ii)”By whom He made the worlds.”
(2)In Heb.1:3,we find the following 5 expressions.
(iii)”The brightness of His glory.”
(iv)”The express image of His person.”
(v)”Upholds all things by the Word of His power.”
(vi)”Had by Himself purged our sins.”
(vii)Sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.”
(3)”The brightness of His glory”=He is the sole expression of the glory of God(the Light-being,the out-raying or the radiance of the divine)-Amplified version.
“That was the true Light,which lighteth everyman that cometh into the world.”John 1:9.Read John 8:12;Isaiah 9:2;49:6;Luke 2:32.
“and we beheld his glory,the glory as of the only begotten of the father.”John 1;14;Read John1:1;2 Peter 1:17,18;Matt.17:2.
“to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor.4:6.
Jesus Christ radiates the glory of God.
Commentary by AlexPosted on:
11/14/2008 03:42 am
1)Let us go to the last part of this verse.”….when he had by offering Himself an offering of sins and riddance of guilt,He sat down at the right hand of God”.Heb.1:3(Amp).The high priestly work of Jesus Christ for making atonement for our sins is one of the main points of discussion in this Epistle.
2)”he had by himself purged our sins”.The ministry of Levitical priests was not effective in producing complete atonement.Heb.7:11,12.But it served as a shadow of of the high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ.The Day of Atonement imagery was the focus of discussion in chapters 9&10 of this epistle & it was concluded that Jesus Christ has completed the sacrificial part of the high priestly work and the redemption of sins has been accomplished.Heb.10:12,13;18.Read Rom.3:24-26.For the sake of atonement,he need of offer any sacrifice further.Rom.10:10.
3)The expression “he sat down on the right hand of God of the Majesty in heaven” signifies the finished work of Jesus Christ as high priest with redemption of sins & the purpose of God has been fulfilled.The expression is taken from Heb.110: which is used frequently by the writer.Heb.1:13;8:1;
10:12,13;12:2.
4)We are sustained by the continual intercession of Jesus Christ enthroned as priest as well as king on the right hand of God.Heb.7:24,25;Rom.3:34;1 John 2:1.Read Is.53:12.
5)As we have a great high priest,that is passed unto the heavens,Jesus Christ,the Son of God,let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy & find grace in time of need.Read Heb.4:14-16
Commentary by AlexanderPosted on:
9/11/2008 03:13 am
1) “The express image of His person”
“He is the perfect imprint & very image of(God’s)nature”-Amplified version.It is a strong expression of the deity of Christ.”For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col.2:9.”Who(Jesus Christ)is the image of God.” 2 Cor.4:4.”Who (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God.” Col.1:15.”Who(Jesus Christ)being the form of God.”
Phil.2:6.Jesus said,”.he that hath seen Me hath seen the father.”Read John 14:9.Jesus Christ expresses the very character of God.
2)”Upholding all things by the Word of His power”-All things are sustained by the Word of His power.In Col.1:16,we read,”For by Him(Jesus)were all things created.” & in Col.1:17,we read “by Him (Jesus) all things consist.”
(In Him all things hold together.)We see that Jesus Christ is powerful not only in creation but also in maintenance.
3)”Had by Himself purged our sins”-Read Titus 2:14;Acts 15:9;Heb.9;14.
The death of Jesus Christin our place to appease the wrath of God & to deliver us from the judgment of God is an important theme which is discussed in detail in this Epistle.Read Rom.5:9.The sin problem has once for all been solved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
4)There is a correction in commentary No:1.Read the matter in serial no:3.
The expression”sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high” is taken from Psalm 110:1 & not Hebrews 110 as mentioned by mistake.
5)”sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high”
The atonement work has been completed by Jesus Christ as High Priest by offering Himself as sacrifice for sins.Rom.6:10;Heb.7:27;10:12.The enthronement of Christ on the right hand of God signifies the absolute superiority of Jesus Christ not only over the O.T.prophets but also over the angels.Read Heb.1:13 where the quotation of Psalm 110:1 is used fully to show the superiority of Jesus Christ to the angels.