HEBREWS CHAPTER 1
JESUS CHRIST IS GOD’S SON
THE SON IS GREATER THAN THE ANGELS
This is not a commentary. It is what I believe God is teaching us in His Word. It is solely based on my convictions and faith. Please share with me if you have a different view on any scripture covered in this study.
Pastor Allan
Hebrews is probably one of my favorite books in the New Testament. The audience of Hebrews were Jewish Christians in effort to persuade them that the Law of Moses had been fulfilled through Jesus Christ, and that certain ordinances were no longer necessary for Gentile Christians. The book paints an image of Jesus as divine, a priest who intercedes for us before the Father. Written at the time Nero was heavily persecuting Christians, it encouraged the Saints to persevere and hope for a brighter future.
Christians are being persecuted today around the world. Many are being martyred for their faith. Persecution seems to be growing in America at an alarming rate. In my opinion, it is going to get worse and worse until Jesus returns. So, I hope this study in Hebrews will encourage us to persevere and trust that there will be a brighter future.
Hebrews was written somewhere between 67 to 69 AD. Probably earlier in that period rather than later. This is based on the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, which occurred in 70 AD, and not mentioned in this book.
Who wrote the book of Hebrews. Some say it was Paul who wrote it in Hebrew and Luke translated into Greek. Others say it was Apollos or Barnabas. So at the end of the day, the author is uncertain. Chapter 2:3 seems to suggest that the author was a disciple of one of the apostles. The positive identification of the writer is not all that important, however we can say with certainty that it was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And that’s good enough for me.
Let’s unpack chapter one and see what God is teaching us and how it can impact our lives. We should always pray asking the Holy Spirit to give us insight and understanding as we study God’s Word.
Hebrews 1:1 NLT
[1] Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.
The writer of Hebrews doesn’t spend time on developing the existence of God. He must have assumed his readers knew that God existed. You might have talked to people that claim to be an atheist and say God doesn’t exist. This is an invalid claim because they cannot prove that God doesn’t exist. All they can say is, “I don’t know if there is a God.” That makes them an agnostic. What does God say about His existence?
Psalm 19:1-4 NLT
[1] The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. [2] Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. [3] They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. [4] Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
Romans 1:20 NLT
[20] For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
People will have no excuse for not knowing God. Just open your eyes, and look at His creation.
The writer established the fact that God talked to people in times past through the prophets. A prophet was a person called by God to deliver His message to the people about an event that would take place in the future. They would be considered a false prophet if the events did not happen just as God predicted one-hundred percent of the time.
In the Old Testament many prophecies have been fulfilled and some have not. They are future to this writing. We can have confidence that future prophecies will happen just like others that have been fulfilled.
Hebrews 1:2-3 NLT
[2] And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. [3] The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
We are living in a time called the church age. In verse 2 it is referred to as the final days. The last or final days started when Jesus came, ministered, was crucified, died and resurrected on the third day. God says He has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus has predicted that He will return to rescue His followers before He brings judgment down on a sinful, evil, disgusting world that is no better than Sodom and Gomorrah. Just like in the days of Noah.
Now I know some folks say, it has been 2000 years and this hasn’t happened yet. I was in Home Depot some years back getting a key made for a Dodge van we had at the time. I told the guy I would go out to my van, try it and be right back. He said, “Someone else said He was coming back and it has been 2000 years.” My response was, hold on, be patient and it will happen according to God’s timing.
Why should I believe in the prophecy that Jesus is coming back? There are several reasons: God is outside of time, therefore 2000 years might be like 2 days to Him; many prophecies have been fulfilled exactly like they were predicted, and the others are future to us; God does not lie; and God always keeps His promises. So pay attention as God speaks to us through Jesus.
I want to point out some attributes of Jesus mentioned in these 2 verses before I move on. Jesus is: Heir; Creator; Revealer; Sustainer; Redeemer; Ruler; and Supreme.
Hebrews 1:4 NLT
[4] This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
The writer is telling us in these verses that Jesus is far superior than the angels, because of the attributes or qualities mentioned in verses 2-3.
Hebrews 1:5-14 NLT
[5] For {God} never said to any angel what he said to (Jesus): “(You) are {my} (Son). Today {I} have become (your) {Father}. ” {God} also said, “{I} will be (his) {Father}, and (he) will be {my} (Son).” [6] And when {he} brought {his} supreme (Son) into the world, {God} said, “Let all of {God’s} angels worship (him).” [7] Regarding the angels, {he} says, “(He) sends his angels like the winds, (his) servants like flames of fire.” [8] But to the (Son) {he} says, “Your throne, O (God), endures forever and ever. (You) rule with a scepter of justice. [9] (You) love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O (God), (your) {God} has anointed (you), pouring out the oil of joy on (you) more than on anyone else.” [10] {He} also says to the (Son), “In the beginning, (Lord), (you) laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with (your) hands. [11] They will perish, but (you) remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. [12] (You) will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But (you) are always the same; (you) will live forever.” [13] And {God} never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at {my} right hand until {I} humble (your) enemies, making them a footstool under (your) feet.” [14] Therefore, angels are only servants-spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
This section was more than a little confusing to me. I created a little legend: {God the Father}; (Jesus/God the Son). You may not find it confusing, but it may help some to understand who is being addressed.
There was a tendency to worship angels in the early church.
Colossians 2:18 NLT
[18] Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
Galatians 1:8 NLT
[8] Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.
Hebrews shows us Jesus is superior to angels. Angels are under the command of Jesus and they will worship Him.
God the Father tells Jesus that His throne will endure forever. Sin is judged now. The unrepentant sinner will be separated from God at the time of death and will face the Great White Throne judgment. At that time they will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone forever.
There will be a time in the future when Jesus will rule and judge sin from His throne in Jerusalem. This is the called the Millenium period which will last 1000 years.
The writer goes on to say that Jesus created the heavens and the earth. They will be recreated after the Tribulation period eliminating the effects of sin. Jesus will live forever and never change. He will continue to detest sin and will judge accordingly.
John 1:3 NLT
[3] God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
Genesis 1:1 NLT
[1] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
At this writing, Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand interceding for you and me. Angels have not had this honor bestowed on them. Jesus is our High Priest. Hebrews addresses Jesus’ priesthood in greater detail later in the book.
Do you believe in Guardian Angels? Verse 14 tells us that angels are servant/spirits sent to care for those who have been reborn spiritually. I have heard many stories of believers who found themselves in emergency situations and rescued by a person who appeared and disappeared without explanation. Guardian Angels? I think so!
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PASTOR ALLAN