Hebrews 1:1-4 (NKJV) God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 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, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
V1 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets…” Various times refers to the different times that God gave revelation. All revelation was given at the right time to the right people with the right words for them. God is perfect. The various ways refers to how revelation was received by the prophet/prophetess. Sometimes it was direct, “Thus says the Lord” as to Moses, Isaiah, etc. Sometimes it was by the Urim and the Thummim by the ministry of the High Priest (Numbers 27:21 and 1 Samuel 23:2). Sometimes by dreams (1 Kings 3:5) or visions (1 Samuel 3:11-15). Sometimes by an angel (Daniel 9:21-22). Sometimes through an Apostle (1 Thessalonians 4:15). Sometimes by the Lord Jesus. All revelators are prophets going by different titles as priest, prophet, Apostle, etc.
V2 “…has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…” The last days might refer to the last days of the Old Testament period with John the Baptist being the last prophet (Matthew 11:13). Then, the ministry of transition began with the Lord Jesus. The Son refers to the Lord Jesus (Psalm 2:7, Hebrews 1:5, and Matthew 3:17). Jesus, the Son, was appointed to be the heir of everything. Jesus is the creator (Genesis 1-3).
V3 “…who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” Jesus has the brightness of God’s glory, because He is God (1 John 1:5). The Greek word for “brightness” is (G541) ἀπαύγασμα apaúgasma, which means a reflected brightness as a bright light reflecting off a mirror. The brightness of Jesus is the same as the brightness of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for “express image” is (G5481) χαρακτήρ (charaktḗr, which means not the image itself but an exact and perfect replica of the original. The express image of God is the essence of God the Son is the same essence as God the Father. Essence refers to the stuff that God is, namely, God is a spirit (John 4:24) and to the character traits of God. The Lord Jesus has the power (ability and the authority) to command with a word as He did at the Creation. Purged carries the idea of total evacuation of sins and the sin nature (John 1:29, 1 John 2:2, and 1 Peter 2:24). The guilt from sin is gone (Hebrews 10:22); the sin nature is gone (2 Corinthians 5:27)! Sat down as He is now waiting to return at the right time. The right hand of God is the seat of highest honor. Jesus is the heir. The “Majesty” on high is God the Father.
V4 “…having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Not better because of works, teaching, service, etc., but because who He is by nature. It is proven as the writer will now show.
Jesus is superior to all people, angels, and creation.