October 13: Hebrews 1
Jesus, the Language of God
1 Throughout our history God has spoken to our ancestors by his prophets in many different ways. The revelation he gave them was only a fragment at a time, building one truth upon another.[a] 2 But to us living in these last days,[b] God now speaks to us openly in the language of a Son,[c] the appointed Heir of everything, for through him God created the panorama of all things and all time.[d]
3 The Son is the dazzling radiance of God’s splendor,[e] the exact expression of God’s true nature—his mirror image![f] He holds the universe[g] together and expands it[h] by the mighty power of his spoken word.[i] He accomplished for us the complete cleansing of sins,[j] and then took his seat on the highest throne at the right hand[k] of the majestic One.[l]
Jesus, Greater than Angels
4 He is infinitely greater than angels, for he inherited a rank and a Name[m] far greater than theirs. 5 For God has never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:
“You are my favored Son, today I have fathered you.”[n]
And this:
“I will be the Father to him, and he will be the Son to me.”[o]
6 And again, when he brought his firstborn Son into the world:
“Let all my angels bow down before him
and kiss him in worship.”[p]
7 And about his angels he says,
“I make my angels swift winds,
and my ministers[q] fiery flames.”[r]
8 But about his Son, he called him “God,”[s] saying,
“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever
and you will rule your kingdom
with justice and righteousness,[t]
9 For you have cherished righteousness
and detested lawlessness.
For this reason, God, your God, has anointed you[u]
and poured out the oil of bliss on you[v]
more than on any of your friends.”
10 And he called him Lord,[w] saying,
“Lord, you formed the earth in the beginning[x]
and with your own hands you crafted the cosmos.[y]
11 They will both one day disappear,
but you will remain forever!
They will all fade like a worn-out garment,
12 And they will be changed like clothes,
and you will fold them up and put them away.
But you are ‘I AM.’[z]
You never change, years without end!”[aa]
13 And God has never said this to any of his angels:
“Take your seat next to me at my right hand
until I force your whispering enemies[ab]
to be a rug under your feet.”[ac]
14 What role then, do the angels have? The angels are spirit-messengers sent by God to serve those who are going to be saved.[ad]