“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways” ~Author of Hebrews

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Family, Good News, Hebrews, Hebrews 1, Jesus, Listen, Speak

Hello. Is anybody listening? God is speaking. Jesus has something to say. We are no longer living in “long ago”. The very Son of God is talking to us.

Am I listening? Am I hearing Jesus? What is He saying as I read the four good news books?

1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.| Hebrews 1:1-3

Christian Standard Bible. (2017).

A man from Leeds, England visited his doctor to have his hearing checked. The doctor removed the man’s hearing aid, and the patient’s hearing immediately improved! He had been wearing the device in the wrong ear for over 20 years!

Someone asked the pastor, “Do you have a deaf ministry in your church?” He replied, “There are times when I think the whole church needs a deaf ministry — they just don’t seem to hear me.”

There is a difference between listening and really hearing, Jesus often cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” This statement suggests that it takes more than physical ears to hear the voice of God. It also requires a receptive heart. “Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:7–8).

Can we dig deeper?

at different times — In Greek, “in many portions.” All was not revealed to each one prophet; but one received one portion of revelation, and another. To Noah the quarter of the world to which Messiah should belong was revealed; to Abraham, the nation; to Jacob, the tribe; to David and Isaiah, the family; to Micah, the town of nativity; to Daniel, the exact time; to Malachi, the coming of His forerunner, and His second advent; through Jonah, His burial and resurrection; through Isaiah and Hosea, His resurrection. Each prophet only knew in part; but when that which was perfect came in Messiah, that which was in part was done away with.

in different ways — For example, internal suggestions, audible voices, the Urim and Thummim, dreams, and visions. The Old Testament revelations were fragmentary in substance, and manifold in form; the very multitude of prophets shows that they prophesied only in part. In Christ, the revelation of God is full, not in shifting hues of separated color, but Himself the pure light, uniting in His one person the whole spectrum.

Spoke — The expression usual for a Jew to employ in addressing Jews. So Matthew, a Jew writing especially for Jews, quotes Scripture, not by the formula, “It is written,” but “said,”.

in time past — From Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, for four hundred years, there had arisen no prophet, in order that the Son might be the more an object of expectation. As God (the Father) is introduced as having spoken here; so, God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit.

the fathers — The Jewish fathers. The Jews of former days.

in — A mortal king speaks by his ambassador, not (as the King of kings) in his ambassador. The Son is the last and highest manifestation of God; not merely a measure, as in the prophets, but the fulness of the Spirit of God dwelling in Him bodily. Thus, he answers the Jewish objection drawn from their prophets. Jesus is the end of all prophecy, and of the law of Moses.