THE EXEGESIS OF GOD
Heb. 1:3 “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power . . .”
The word “exegesis” is a Greek word transliterated into the English language. It is found in John 1:18: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” The words “hath declared” translate “exegeomai” and means, “to lead out, to draw out in narrative, unfold a teaching.” It means in our language according to the dictionary, "a critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text.” Preachers who go to seminary have classes they take called Exegesis. This class teaches one how to analyze a verse of Scripture by taking it apart word by word examining all parts and bringing the meaning out where it can be understood by rational beings. Jesus is the Exegesis of God according to John 1:18. Out text in Hebrews is a further description of John’s statement.
We are going to look at verse 3 in two parts. In this part of the verse we will see who the Son by whom God has spoken in finality reflects in the brightness of His glory, and who He is the express image of, and one of the things He is doing right now. Let’s look first at,
THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORY
Our text says, “Who being the brightness of his glory.” The word “being” is a present participle of the “to be” verb “eimi” meaning “I am.” The Son is Jehovah of the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-14). Again, it is present tense which means continuous action in the present. It is not, “He was the brightness of his glory,” it is, “He IS right now in the present tense.” He continues to be the “brightness of his glory.” If you want to see the glory of God, you must behold the Lamb. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Exodus 33:18 says, “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” Then is verse 22 of that chapter God answers Moses: “And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:”
We have the results of Moses vision of God recorded in Exo. 34:29-35: “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the Veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.”
What Moses saw is what Jesus is. The word “brightness” translates “apaugasma “ and means, “reflected brightness.” It is used “of Christ in that he perfectly reflects the majesty of God.” It means according to Vine, “effulgence, a shining forth, of a light coming from a luminous body.” Vincent says it means, “out raying.” The Son is the “effulgence, the shining forth” of the Shekinah seen in the Tabernacle and Temple. The word “glory” translates “doxa” and means, “splendor.” This word is used in John 1:14 where John says, “and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.”
