WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

An international Sunday school lesson commentary

For Sunday December 6, 2020

 

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CALLED TO BE HEIR

(JESUS CHRIST is GOD’s SON)

(Matthew 1:1-17 and Hebrews 1)

 

   The Apostle Matthew begins his Gospel account with a genealogy that is intended to serve as “a record of origin” of the ONE he believes is “the anointed ONE of GOD”. The name, “JESUS”, which means, “savior” in English, “JEHOVAH is salvation” and “MESSIAH” in Hebrew, and “CHRIST”, in the biblical Greek, all denote the Anointed ONE WHO is the SON of the LIVING GOD, and SAVIOR of the accepting world.  

    In Matthew 1, verses 1-17, this original disciple of JESUS identifies key ancestors in the line of CHRIST, with special emphases on HIS descent from King David of Israel. This information is critical because the Old Testament stresses the fact that the promised MESSIAH would come from David’s line.

    Matthew also wants us to understand that this descendent was conceived by a unique work of the HOLY SPIRIT in fulfillment of one of the most unusual prophecies in Old Testament Scriptures. His genealogy account answers the most important questions that a Jewish person, or anyone else, might rightfully ask about anyone claiming to be the anointed SON of the LIVING GOD.

    Hebrew genealogies typically skip generations and are often arranged in groups so that they can be memorized more easily. Here in Matthew’s account of JESUS’ genealogy, he uses groups of 14. This may be symbolic of the numeric value of the name “David”.

    In Hebrew numerology the letters in the name “David” adds up to “14”. It is believed by some scholars that this is why Matthew chose to use only 14 generations in each of the three periods listed. Listing JESUS in the last series of 14 would probably be something that is significant to the Jewish readers of that day, whom, Matthew sought to convince of JESUS’ fulfillment of the promises of “the Davidic Covenant” from GOD to David in the book of 2 Samuel in chapter 7.

    Long ago, GOD spoke “many times and in many different ways” (polymeros kai polytropos) to our ancestors, through the prophets. However, today, GOD continuously speaks to us through HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, WHO is personified in “the Holy Scriptures”.

    “Prototokas” is the Greek word that is used in chapter 1, verses 2, and 6, of the book of Hebrews, for the term “SON”. Throughout the New Testament, it is a word that is only used in reference to JESUS HIMSELF, and it means, quite simply, “FIRSTBORN”. It is a technical theological term that “affirms JESUS’ supreme rank and unique relationship and position in the family of GOD”. That is why, even the angels of GOD, worship the SON.

    The “right hand” is the traditional place of power and authority in the biblical sense, and so, JESUS not only possesses eternal life and existence, by being at the right hand of GOD the FATHER in Heaven, HE also exercises all of the power and authority of Heavenly Deity. As FIRSTBORN, GOD promised everything to the SON as an inheritance, and through HIM, HE made the universe and everything in it.

    In the New Testament Greek, the word used for “brightness” is “apaugasma” (apow-gas-mah), and it is a “brilliance”, “effulgence”, or “light”, which is reflected from one place, or object, to another place or object”. JESUS is the “LIGHT” that wants to shine on all mankind, and gives each of us that light, so that we too, can shine that light on  someone else, making them able to see their way through the darkness that presses to  dominate this world. And so, here in Hebrews 1:3, that is the word that is being used by the author of GOD to describe JESUS CHRIST in his original Greek rendering.

    Also in verse three, the author uses another interesting Greek term to depict JESUS. That term is “charakter” (khar-ak-tare), and it means “express image”. It is from that word that we derive our English word “character”. It is “an exact copy, or representation of”, and, it is like “a seal”, “an impression, or stamp”.

    Here the author attempts to establish the person of JESUS CHRIST as being superior to any other prophet, or intermediary that GOD had sent prior to HIS coming. He also sought to affirm that JESUS is truly “the SON of the living GOD”, and, is the “exact spiritual image” of GOD HIMSELF. And so, in JESUS, and through HIS behavior, we are able to see exactly what GOD is like.

 

 

JESUS IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS

Hebrews 1:4-14

 

   In Hebrews 1:4-14, the writer turns his efforts toward proving that JESUS is also superior to angels. In verse 4, he says, in effect, that, JESUS’ superior name serves to add to HIS credentials. In biblical times, a person’s name often summed up who they were. The name “JESUS” means “JEHOVAH is salvation”, and thereby, the very term “SAVIOR” makes HIM eternally superior to any angel, just simply by way of HIS more excellent name.

    Verses 13 and 14 serve to remind us of the most important reason why angels should not be the focus of our worship. And that reason being, is that, angels are only “servants of GOD”. Most of them are “spirits” sent from GOD to care for those who will eventually receive salvation. I say “most of them”, because satan also commands a host of angels. We are told of this fact in both Matthew 25:41, and Jude 1:6.  Therefore, it is JESUS, not angels, WHO should always be the focus of our Faith.

    In the final analysis, the true meaning of life is contained in the person of CHRIST JESUS. HE is our “direct access” to GOD the FATHER in Heaven. However, we must listen closely for the meaning of the truth we have heard about HIM, lest we be in danger of drifting away from the ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF.

    If GOD is able to spin the Universe into orbit, tell the sun where to rise, and the oceans where to stop, then certainly, HE can satisfy our quest for the meaning of our existence, direct our path through this life, and, at one and the same, save our souls, and secure us for all eternity, through CHRIST JESUS, our RISEN LORD.

 

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

 

 

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