Hebrews 1: The Wonder & Superiority of Jesus  

• v.1-3 God’s Final Word: His Son
• v.4-14 The Son Superior to Angels

v.1-3 God’s Final Word: His Son

v.1,2 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

v.3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

[Note: God’s communication: prophets in the past, His Son recently who reveals the Father in himself, after his work of redemption and now sits on high.]

v.4-14 The Son Superior to Angels

v.4-6 His Name – Son

v.4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

v.5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?

v.6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

[Note: Don’t put Jesus on the level of angels, his name is greater than theirs; he is acclaimed as the Son of God. Note Psa 2:7, 2 Sam 7:14; 1 Chron 17:13. The angels are required to worship him [Deut. 32:43]

v.7-12 His Role – Ruler

v.7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”

v.8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

v.9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

v.10 He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

v.11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

v.12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

[Note: Angels are servants of God [Psa 104:4] while the Son rules with the Father; he is higher than any other [Psa 45:6,7] and was alongside the Father in Creation [implied] – see Prov 8:27-31 / Jn 1:3. The world will wear out but the Son never will [Psa 102:25-27].

v.13,14 His Place – at God’s right hand

v.13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

v.14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

[Note: The Son now reigns beside the Father, [Psa 110:1] while angels are merely servants serving God and mankind.]

[Additional Note: The Flow of Writing: As indicated above, the writer seeks to exalt Jesus in the eyes of Jewish believers in order to help them resist the pressures of being both Jews and Christians.  He starts doing this by showing that Jesus is worth continually following because he is far more superior to angels. In the next chapter he will expound on this more fully.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: