The Epistle To The Hebrews - Executable Outlines

Mark A. Copeland
1. Literally, “at the end of these days”, which may be understood as referring to either:
a. The closing period of the Jewish age (cf. Milligan)
b. The period of the Messiah (most commentators)
2. The Old Testament often spoke of “the last days” - e.g., Isa 2:2; Micah 4:1
3. As such it often had special reference to the age of the Messiah
a. The apostles spoke of their time as the time of this fulfillment - Ac 2:16-17
b. Thus it denotes the final phase of history, brought on by the first coming of Christ,
continuing until His second coming and the consummation of all things - cf. He 9:26;
1 Pe 1:20; 1 Co 10:11
B. GOD “HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON”...
1. God has spoken once again, but note the contrast!
2. “In time past” it was through “prophets”; but “in these last days” it is by “His Son”!
a. God has sent His own Son to speak for Him!
b. As wonderful as the prophets were, how can they compare to God’s own Son?
-- There is no contrast, especially as we read on and notice...
C. THE EXCELLENCE OF “GOD’S PERFECT SPOKESMAN”...
1. Jesus is “the appointed heir of all things”!
a. The author may have had Psa 2:8 in mind, for in verse 5 he quotes from Psa 2:7
b. As the “beloved Son”, it is only natural that He would be the appointed heir
c. What does “all things” include?
1) All that the Father has! - Jn 16:15
2) The authority to raise and judge the dead - Jn 5:26-29
3) The authority to rule in heaven and on earth - Mt 28:18
4) This authority Christ has even now! - Ac 2:36; 10:36; Ep 1:20-22; 1 Pe 3:22;
Re 1:5
2. Jesus is “through whom He (God) also made the worlds”!
a. Not only the “Heir”, but also the “Creator”!
b. For it was through the Son that God created the universe - cf. Jn 1:3; Co 1:16
1) All things were created “by (or through) Him” (He is the Creator)
2) All things were created “for Him” (He is the rightful Heir)
3. Jesus is “the brightness of His (God’s) glory”!
a. In Jesus we see the very radiance of the glory of God!
b. As John wrote, “...we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father...” - Jn 1:14
c. When we behold Jesus, we see an extension of the glory of God!
4. Jesus is “the express image of His (God’s) person”!
a. He is the exact representation of God’s being and character! - cf. Co 2:9
b. Therefore Jesus could say...
1) To Thomas: “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; and
from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” - Jn 14:7
2) To Philip: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father;” - Jn 14:9
5. Jesus is “upholding all things by the word of His power”!
a. Not only the Creator, but also the Sustainer of the universe - cf. Co 1:17 (“in Him all
things consist”)
1) By His word the universe holds together!
2) All He has to do is say the word, and the universe is no more!
b. Note well:
Sermons From Hebrews 7