We Believe In Jesus: The ProphetSample

Jesus Prophetic Authority: Hebrews 2:2-3

In the ancient Near East, people recognized their obligation to respond to the messages that suzerain kings sent through their ambassadors. The consequences for ignoring these messages were serious. And the same is true of God’s revelation. When God reveals his will to his people, he expects us to listen to his words so that we understand what he requires, and to respond to him obediently so that we receive his salvation. Seen in this light, the words of Scripture that Christ gave through the Holy Spirit are not just someone’s personal perspectives on issues, or illustrative truths. They are the covenant messages of the great king, and they require an obedient response. As we read in Hebrews 2:2-3:

If the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation … was first announced by the Lord (Hebrews 2:2-3).

Those who reject Jesus’ word are doomed to suffer eternal covenant curses. But those who receive his message in faith and obedience receive the covenant blessings of salvation and eternal life.

Because Christ’s word in all of Scripture has always been intended to administer God’s covenant with his people, the best way to interpret it is according to the structure of the covenant. As we have seen, the basic elements of this structure are God’s benevolence toward us, the loyalty he requires of us, and the promised consequences of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

As we saw earlier, these elements were prominent throughout the Old Testament before Jesus was born. Christ’s apostles also wrote about these themes quite frequently after Christ’s ascension into heaven. And beyond this, we can see the same themes in the prophetic ministry of Christ during his earthly ministry. For instance, Jesus talked about God’s benevolence in passages such as Matthew 5:45 and 6:26-33. He taught the expectation of human loyalty, as we see in Matthew 25:14-30. And he emphasized the consequences that follow human responses, as we see in Luke 13:1-8 and 12:35-38. 

If we keep these covenant structures in mind as we read the Bible, it will help us understand the meaning of all Scripture. Whether we are reading historical narratives, or poetry, or wisdom literature, or epistles, or works of prophecy, we should always ask questions like: How does this passage reveal the benevolence of God toward his people? How does it reveal the loyalty he requires of his people? What does it say about the curses that come on those who refuse to be faithful? What blessings does it offer to those who hear and obey? Everything Scripture teaches relates to God’s benevolence, favor and help; to the requirements and laws he expects us to fulfill in our loyalty to him; and to the consequent rewards for obedience, and punishments for disobedience.

Followers of Christ are faced with countless questions and choices in the modern world. Every day, we make decisions about ourselves, our family, our work, our relationships, our churches, even national politics. The fact is that Christ’s prophetic word to us addresses all these topics and more. God’s covenant covers every aspect of our lives. And when we understand that Christ has given us his word as a means to live in obedience to God within that covenant, we are better prepared to understand that word, and to live in ways that honor God and lead to his blessings.