V. 3 – Radiance of the glory of God – He is the brightness, he shines forth. It actually denotes relationship to the original. This notion cannot be divorced or considered apart from the source. It is the essence/visible attestation of what is not visible. Just as the rays of the sun shine forth making everything else visible, Jesus shines forth as the radiance of God’s glory – the ultimate visible attestation to something we can no longer see.

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If God’s glory is the sum total of his essence – of his character, then Jesus is the full revelation and visible representation of his character. God’s glory was, at one time visible on earth. He hovered over the waters in the beginning. His character was revealed in the creation of everything that was good. It was there when he shut the door to the ark. However, those were not manifestations of his glory in the same way that we might think of the “glory” that was visible in the burning bush or delivering the tablets to Moses, filling the Tabernacle, filling the Temple, or departing the Temple. God’s “glory” in those instances is an unfiltered revelation of his character. There is no filter if you will.

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You cannot stare at the sun indefinitely without going blind – in the same sense, sinful man cannot behold the unfiltered glory of God. This is why people fell on their faces or had to turn away when God’s glory showed up. However, Jesus arrived on planet earth in a middle-class family wearing normal clothes and living as a virtual nomad. And the author of Hebrews has the nerve to say he is the radiance of the glory. That is why the next phrase is vital – he is the radiance of his glory because he is the exact imprint of his nature.

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He is the exact copy or representation. It literally has the idea of being of the exact character or essence. Jesus came to serve, not to be served, but there were moments when we see the unfiltered glory. It showed up on the Mount of Transfiguration, it showed up at the resurrection, it showed up at the ascension. He not only associates with the glory of God (like the angels – they are like him because they are created by him and have similar characteristics), but he is the essence and source of the glory. He is of the same kind. People did not realize that the baby born in 4 BC in a cave was the express image of God’s glory, but his sinless life, miracles, divine nature, and salvation bore witness to who he was. He will return in full, unfiltered glory in the end, but here, the author is reminding these people of who Jesus was. It was a reminder not to forget that it wasn’t just the carpenter’s son, he is the ultimate visible expression of God’s glory on earth. Too, it has the idea of a seal, it is a stamp of authority and power.

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He upholds the universe – He supports, he sustains, he preserves, he governs – not just the world, but the idea of all things. When the Bible says by him all things consist, there is a literal truth there. Without his sustaining power, nothing would still be here.

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Word of his power – This is rhema – the word for utterance. This is not the same word John uses in John 1 – Logos denoting the very person and nature of God. Rather, this harkens back to Genesis and creation where he “spoke” and everything came into existence just as he intended. There wasn’t a moment where a giraffe said, “I don’t’ like my legs” or Pluto argued that it would like to be closer to the sun. He spoke – and it was accomplished.

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It was accomplished because of his innate power – this short phrase speaks to his omnipotence. He has the power to create and sustain. No one gave him his power. God did not make Jesus powerful – this isn’t teaching similar to cults that Jesus somehow became God. Rather, this power is innate by nature of his character and who he is.

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When he had himself – Do not underestimate the exclusivity of this claim. When he had – himself – in case you’re wondering who did it 😊. He was finished with sending messengers through whom he would speak. He came and did it himself. See, all of those people spoke of a Messiah to come, but could not secure redemption. He acted on behalf of mankind, but also by his own power/initiative

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Purged – this is a compound word that notes ceremonial and moral cleansing. He went through the ceremony of dying during Passover while the sacrificial lamb was being killed in the Temple. He fulfilled prophecy, but he also removed sin. For all of those sacrifices that could not remove sin, he in one act cleansed all of us forever. This is will eventually lead us to Hebrews 10:14 which is my favorite verse in all of Scripture.

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Sins – To miss the mark, to not win the prize, offenses. It doesn’t matter if we miss the mark by an inch or a mile – we still missed and could not do anything to gain perfection.

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Sat down – this is such an awesome idea. It is in the active tense – he sat, but he didn’t later get up. He continues to sit. The Tabernacle carried no instructions for seating. Priests were expected to remain active representing that their tasks were never done – the work of atonement was never complete. Eventually, the Temple itself had an area for resting, but not while priests were on active duty. However, Jesus finished his work on the cross (Jn. 19:30). He continues to sit, to tarry, or dwell. He didn’t take a break until redemption ran out or started waning as it did every year when they made another sacrifice. He hasn’t needed to lift a finger. Eventually, the author is going to develop this argument more in chapter seven – ten so I’m not going to elaborate more on this, but his audience would have been so aware of the weight of this statement. It was a total contrast to the norm of the priesthood.

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On – this is a fixed position that no one can usurp. It doesn’t waver or move. The right hand is the position of power

Majesty – divinity/greatness – ultimately, God the Father

High – lofty/highly esteemed – in the Old Testament we are introduced to El Elyon (the Most-High God) in Genesis 14:20 – incidentally – who are we meeting? This is so awesome to think about the parallels here and the way the author is getting ready to set up his arguments regarding Jesus as a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus sat down at the position of power and equality/of voice beside the Most-High one – who was introduced at the precise time of the introduction of Melchizedek. This author and the Holy Spirit are just phenomenal with the parallels.

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V. 4 – There’s a lot here –

Being made – this is a really complicated argument even though we often read it and move on. So how did the eternal God become better than the angels? It is important that we understand what the author is actually saying. This word can have incredibly varied meanings including becoming, being made, proving himself to be, to perform, to come to pass. Some scholars, which I appreciate, note that in the original Greek the word “made” is actually not implied in the original translation. So you could read this as being as much superior to the angels. Regardless, what is important to understand is that this argument is contingent upon verse three. He had descended to earth, lived as a man (and was made a little lower than the angels in terms of visible glory according to Hebrews 2:9). However, when he returned to heaven – after he purged our sins and sat down, he assumed his rightful and permanent place. He had fulfilled his role in redemption. He has always eternally existed, and been more powerful than the angels. He created them and his name – his character – who he is by nature is better than theirs. So this  carries the idea that:

1. His name has not changed – he has always been of the same nature as God so he has always been better than the angels

2. The work of redemption and exaltation revealed the glory of God in a new way that had not fully been seen before

3. This is tied to the notion of sequence on some levels that he was abased and then proved to be superior because he was able to do something that no angel could ever hope to accomplish

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Angels – messengers – it may seem strange that he picked this first and not the law or sacrificial systems which might seem the most natural target for the thing that would be pulling them away, but the Jews had actually grown very superstitious over the year and in some circles had begun to pay a level of homage and honor to angels that should have been reserved for God. It was as close as they got go an actual idol post exile. They often believed that angels served as mediators between God and man instead of understanding that they were ministering messengers. The author is getting ready to argue that Jesus is the only mediator of the new covenant. So, the author is almost like let’s pause and just clarify that they are not of the same nature as Jesus. They are powerful and have a measure of glory because of who they were created by, but they are not glorious by nature. Their glory was conferred, it is not innate. The author very quickly is like, time out – let’s not get confused. Jesus wasn’t just some messenger from God, he was God in human flesh. The rest of the book doesn’t work if Jesus is only equal to the angels.

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By inheritance – by default – through nature of who he is in relationship to the Father

More excellent – surpassing/better

Name – literal name, character, authority, surname (carries notion of family affiliation). It wasn’t just his name – it is the Godhead and all the weight that carries. We know so many “names” or revelations of God’s character, but I love that we get to Revelation – at the end of all things and it says, “He has a name written that no one knows but himself.” (Rev. 19:12). The sheer overwhelming majesty of who he is by nature cannot be overstated or ever perfectly understood and yet this God has chosen to speak to us. He has chosen over thousands of years of human history to reveal to us his character, his eternal plan, and these people sitting in Jerusalem were thinking about walking away from this personal Savior and yet unfathomable God in exchange for such a small fragment of his revelation. C.S. Lewis talks about us being content with mud puddles because we don’t understand what is promised when someone offers us a holiday by the ocean. They were settling for a part of God and the author is trying, desperately to get them to understand that they are proposing to trade Jesus for so much less than what he is.

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Better name than theirs – I love this so much – the root/associated word of this word “autos” (which is basically a placeholder for pronouns) literally means baffling wind or air. The author here is highlighting that by nature, God created these creatures. He gave them their very life or breath. This collective “they” does not minimize the important roles that angels have played through history. God has used them mightily. However, it does emphasize the ephemeral nature and minuteness in comparison to the eternal, enduring, innate power and constancy of Christ. He is the eternal Son of the eternal Father who assumed his rightful place after accomplishing the task that he had agreed to – namely redemption.

Angels are not the final revelation. Their name is not the one that will be exalted. We worship the one who is seated – who tarries – who dwells in the position of power. He hasn’t stepped off of his throne. He will never need to do more for redemption. Eventually, he will leave to judge, but he cannot be shaken. Study to know his name, his character, his nature and what he is calling us to do, but don’t forget to be in awe over the fact that he still has names that no one knows. He is inexhaustible and that is why he is God and we are not.

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Don’t make the mistake of dismissing the glory of Jesus. Yes he is love, and peace, and joy, and the man who healed the blind, but he is of the same nature as God. He is returning to judge. He is eternally holy. He will reign forever over all – we must decide if we will acknowledge him as such now or if we will kick and scream for our own way thinking, somehow, we can substitute other things for the very glory of God.