The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 1:1-4, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”

It could well be argued that historically there has been greater argument over the authorship if Hebrews than there has over its content. Indeed, that is sad because the richness of the message of this epistle speaks well to every generation.

The Jewish people have historically suffered persecution largely because they were Jewish. Their worship of the LORD set them well apart from the multiple gods of other nations. It was this epistle that was written to encourage them. It tells them that they are “better” because of the LORD Jesus Christ. All of their instructions in the Old Testament had for centuries pointed them to the Savior. It was He, who would channel them into the Christian faith. Thus, the key word to all Jews in this epistle is the word “better.”

The author’s argument displays the glory of the Person and work of Jesus Christ (1:1-10:18). The LORD Jesus is greater than the prophets of old. He is greater than the angels, greater than Moses or Joshua, even greater than Aaron. Jesus reigns higher than all!

Following his argument, the author makes an application: we ought to live this new life “…because of Christ Jesus’ life and work” (10:19-13:25). Among other things, he encourages the Jewish believers (and us) to “…lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Heb. 12:1). If this “application” was meaningful in the time in which it was written, how much more meaningful it ought to be to us, who live 20 centuries later!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

P. S. Attached is a brief position paper I authored many years ago. Hopefully, it will be helpful.

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom