163. HEB 1:1-2. THE VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS OF THE DIVINE MIND TO MAN
Heb_1:1-2. The Various Communications of the Divine Mind to Man
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son."’97Heb_1:1, Heb_1:2.
Introduction’97Author of the epistle’97Persons to whom it was addressed’97Its general scope and design’97Contains a most full and comprehensive exhibition of the person, offices, and work of the Saviour.
In the text two things, 1. The Revelation God gave to Man before Christ appeared. And, 2 The Revelation which he gave by Christ.
I. The Revelation which God gave to Man before Christ appeared.
"At sundry times and in divers manners, God spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets." God revealed his mind,
1. At sundry times.
He did so to Adam when in innocency. After the fall; Gen_3:9, &c. To Cain; Gen_4:9. To Enoch; Jdg_1:14. To Noah; Gen_6:8-22. To Abraham and the patriarchs; Gen_12:1, &c.; Gen_28:10-22. To Moses; Exo_3:1-22. To Samuel, to David, and to all the prophets down to Malachi. To John the Baptist; Mat_3:1, &c. God revealed himself,
2. In a variety of ways.
"In divers manners." He sometimes appeared and spake with an audible voice; as to Adam, Cain, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, &c. He sometimes spake by angels; he did so to Lot, to Daniel, Mat_10:10, &c.; to Zechariah, to Philip, to Peter, &c. He sometimes spake by signs and symbols, when he caused fire to descend and consume the sacrifices, and when he filled the temple with the cloud of his glorious presence; 1Ch_21:26; 2Ch_7:1, 2Ch_7:2. God most frequently revealed himself,
3. By the prophets.
Men inspired to reveal his will, and who sometimes received express revelations to deliver to the people, Isa_38:4; Dan_2:19; 2Ti_3:16. They wrote their prophecies, &c. as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Notice.
II. The Revelation which God hath given to us by Christ.
"Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son." Let us consider in reference to this revelation,
1. The time specified.
"These last days." The various dispensations God has given to the world are here likened to days. The first of which was from Adam to Noah; the second, from Noah to Abraham; the third, from Abraham to Moses; the fourth, from Moses to David, or perhaps to the return from the captivity; the fifth, to the personal appearance of Christ; the sixth or last days, from Christ’s incarnation to the period when he shall appear the second time to introduce the day of sabbatical rest and millennial glory.
2. The person by whom this revelation was made.
"His own Son." Not as of old, when he revealed himself by prophets or by angels, but now, by his uncreated fellow, his equal in greatness, power, and authority His essential, only-begotten, and well-beloved Son, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.
3. The revelation itself.
"Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." And the revelation made by Christ included all things necessary to salvation. All that was necessary concerning the true God’97concerning man’97concerning the soul’97concerning the resurrection of the body’97concerning eternal life, and the only way of obtaining it. Now the revelation given by Christ was superior to that given to the fathers by the prophets, inasmuch as he possessed qualifications infinitely superior to them. Unbounded wisdom and knowledge; the Holy Ghost without measure Could reveal God’s mind on all subjects and at all times. His revelations were more clear, more full, more gracious. His revelations were intended for the whole world, and for every man His revelations, in connection with what the Holy Spirit taught the apostles, have perfected and concluded the inspired canon, and now none can add or diminish except at the peril of the Divine displeasure How grateful we should be for it’97how we should study it’97feel interested in it’97believe it’97and obey it! How fearful the doom of those who reject it!
Autor: JABEZ BURNS