I am going to start a series of posts on the book of Hebrews. Before we start any study or book, it’s good to know who is writing and who they are writing to. However this book is a bit mysterious in origin, because the author of the book is unknown. Some say it sounds like Paul, but not enough like him to be him. They guess it could be Barnabas, Luke, Apollos or another one of the people who worked closely with Paul. The book ends with an ending that Paul used, “Grace be with you all”. It mentions that it was written in Italy around when Paul was there. Some denominations like Jehovah’s witnesses maintain that Paul wrote it. Others like Lutherans, think the book is not only NOT written by Paul, but antilegomena, meaning the authorship and usefulness are questioned. The book is written to people who either know Old Testament scripture, or at least need to hear commentary about Old Testament scripture in light the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Hebrews you hear a lot of comparisons of various things, ultimately in order to illustrate the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

I usually reference this first verse or two of Hebrews 1 as a proof or support text to describe the nature of prophecy and the changing role of God’s use of Prophets in these end times. This is pertinent because lots of people claim to be prophets in this day in age and culture. It is important to be equipped to have an understanding of truth so you are not deceived or tricked by people who claim to be not just people of God, but prophets. And in reality when people claim to be prophets, we realize they are just making guesses, and haven’t seriously read this part of the New Testament. So this first verse of Hebrews is often referred to by me. I wrote an entire post about it. However, it’s kind of like quoting the first two sentences of a book, and going no further. So I’m attempting to go a bit deeper into Hebrews 1.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

So we know God used prophets to speak to ancestors before, but now he speaks to us by his Son. I talk about this a lot, and I’ve written a post about prophecy from this part of Hebrews 1. One of the main ways the Author of Hebrews teaches and explains scripture is by a comparison. Already the author is making his first comparison. He is comparing the prophets to the Son; at the same time he compares the old with the new. In the old days God used prophets, but now he speaks to us by His Son. How does Jesus Christ compare to the prophets of the Old Testament? They both claimed to bring the people the true Word of God. Elijah raised the dead, just like Jesus did. Prophets warned the people of the dangers and traps of sin, and urged them to return to a right relationship with God. Jesus did the same. The Prophets encouraged people to follow the Law, and although Jesus preached Grace, He also said that not a letter of the law was removed. Jesus said it was worse to be tied with a large millstone and thrown to the bottom of the ocean than to demonstrate or teach any young ones that sinning is ok. Jesus was a prophet. Even Muslims would agree with me, so whats the big difference?

2 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.

The Son of God was not just a prophet, but he was appointed to be heir of all things. The heir is the successor or inheritor of property or status or rank. The prophets were not appointed to be heirs, the same way Jesus was. We will talk about heirs and inheritance more later. What else is written here in this half verse? God created the universe through His Son, the word made flesh, Jesus Christ. That concept is mind-blowing, and profound. It takes some time to appreciate it. But it’s casually tacked on the end of the sentence of verse 2. God Created the universe, not alone, but through his Son. What we find is the letter of Hebrews references the Old Testament very often, and already, the author is alluding to the very first thing written in scripture. Genesis 1:1. First sentence: In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Therefore, God created all things through His Son. So we have the first two examples of Christ’s superiority over prophets, He was the Heir of God’s kingdom, and He was instrumental in God’s creation of the universe. Let’s move on. What else does Jesus do, what else is in the person or character of Jesus that separates him from prophets??

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.

Jesus Christ is the radiance of God’s Glory. For us to see God’s glory clearest, we should look to Jesus Christ. For a physical 3 dimensional creature made from matter, in space time we can’t see God’s glory directly. But we can see the Son. We read about the radiance of God’s Glory. Other translations say the brightness of God’s Glory, So God’s Glory is radiating or shining. When you use the word “Radiate” in a scientific sense, it is one of the ways that energy or power is transmitted from one place to another. There are various ways to transmit heat or energy. Conduction, which is where heat is moved by touching some solid to another. A metal bar is heated on one side, and the heat conducts to the other end. Another way to transmit heat is convection. Convection is heat or energy transfer through fluid movements, either in a liquid or gas. A convection oven works when hot air is blown around a cold object to heat it. It’s a lot like conduction, but using liquids or gases as the medium of conduction. Then there’s radiation. When the sun warms a room what happens? The sun’s light travels 93 million miles through a vacuum in 8 minutes and radiates onto the earth and the light is absorbed here. Radiation does not need a medium of transfer. So God’s glory is transmitted like a beam of light from where God lives (a totally non physical and non temporal realm, beyond space and time) and radiates to a three dimensional place at a time. There is no physical medium of transfer like metal or air, because those don’t contain God the Father and God the creator’s existence. But God’s glory RADIATES to Jesus, who is the exact representation of God’s being. The way to represent God’s celestial being on a physical universe is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the complete way that God used to represent himself to us. The prophets spoke God’s words, but Jesus Christ was God’s word that became flesh. Not only was it through Jesus that God created the heavens and earth, but all things are sustained by this Word that became flesh. No Prophet can measure to the supremacy of Jesus. Prophets would preach the necessity of purification, but Jesus provided that purification for our sins, and after that purification, he was done. There are no more sacrifices needed, and as a testament to the completeness of His own work, Jesus Christ sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”[a]?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”[b]?

So now the author of Hebrews is comparing Jesus Christ not just to the human beings who were prophets, but also to Angels. Again, Jesus Christ is superior to the angels. The author said in verse 2 that Jesus was the Heir of “All Things”. Now this author is saying that Jesus inherited something superior to angels. That thing that Jesus has inherited is his Name. Not the name Jesus, but the name “Son”. God called Christ his son. The verse that is referenced here in footnote [a] is Psalm 2:7. Let’s jump to Psalm 2 and take a look.

1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

Psalm 2 talks of conflict. The nations rise up against God. They plot, they scheme against God. These rebellious people band together against God and against His anointed (Jesus) and they plan to break the chains and shackles of God. What chains and shackles are they seeing? The Yoke of Jesus is EASY and His burden is light. We believers know that To be a slave to God means we are no longer a slave to SIN. To be a slave to righteousness means that we are no longer slaves to wickedness. Our Human nature is the root of our disobedience, but when we put to death the idea of our self, and our flesh, we become free. But rebellious people think that a world with God, and a life dedicated to God’s kingdom is a type of slavery with shackles and chains. God Scoffs at humanity’s insolence and laughs at our schemes. God rebukes the proud and terrifies those who rise against him. Psalm 2:6-8

6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have begotten you.
8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

God says He installs a King, HIS king.. Jesus is that foretold King on Zion. Not just King Saul or David or Solomon who rules Jerusalem. All of those kings are pointing to a better king to come. The book of Hebrews goes deeper into this idea later, and I hope to preach about it soon. But it’s important to know Jesus is this Anointed King of Zion, a King who will reign over not just Jerusalem, but the ends of the earth, for all eternity. That is the Inheritance that Jesus receives. And Jesus is not just this king, but God calls him Son. God says You are My Son, today I have Begotten you. That puts Jesus into a category that is above all angels and all things that were created, because God Begat him. The word begat is a very powerful word. A man or woman can create a sculpture, but they beget a child. It’s beyond creating something, because the being that is Begat is the same thing or nature that you are. When you beget something, You impart and pass along your characteristics and attributes; the things that make you YOU. Some definitions use Begat to mean “give birth to” but that’s not necessarily the same thing. To beget something means to cause that something to be. To cause existence.  To give rise to something else. Sometimes at churches they recite various creeds or statements of beliefs. When describing Jesus, one of those creeds say he was Begotten, not made. God didn’t make Jesus, he didn’t create Jesus, he Begat Jesus, and that means that Jesus shares that glory of God that no other being in all of creation can share. We are created in the image of God, but Jesus was begotten as a Son and an exact representation of God’s being. That’s what it means to be a true begotten son. And talking about sonship, Remember what happened when Jesus was Baptized? I’d written about John the Baptist here, but let’s turn to Matthew 3:16-17 has an account.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

It’s not a mere coincidence or a lucky similarity that at that first baptism, everybody hears the voice of God. And what the voice says is not random or “just so happens.” God is telling everyone that Jesus is the Son that they should have been reading about. The Son that was predicted thousands of years before. God could have said, “repent for my kingdom is near”. God could have said “Stop sinning” but God wanted everybody to know without a doubt that Jesus was His Son. Jesus was the Beloved son of God. Everything that we read in Psalms points to a father and son relationship, and here you have it! What is crazy is how simple it all is, and yet how hard it is for even the smartest scholars to understand. Pharisees and Chief priests, Teachers of the Law didn’t even understand. Even John the Baptist himself, the Man who just baptized Jesus, even he asked later, “are you the one, or should we expect another?” While at the crucifixion, a Roman centurion who wasn’t present at this miraculous baptism said, “surely this was the son of God!”

What does the second footnote point to? 2 Samuel 7:14 and 1 Chronicles 17:13? Let’s read 2 Samuel 7:11-17 to get the whole verse in context. The footnote references 1 Chronicles 17:13 also, but these two verses are nearly verbatim.

b: 2 Samuel 7:11-17; 1 Chron. 17:13

“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.

King David wanted to build God a house. He said to Nathan, “here I am in a house of cedar, and God is in a tent.” Nathan thought it was a good idea, but that night God sent his word to Nathan asking, “did I ever say to any ruler, Why have you not built me a house?” Basically paraphrasing, God was saying, “I never demanded a house. This is not something I required from you. I have been with you and I will continue to be with you.” We learned that it’s not about building God a House. It’s about worshipping God. But David’s heart for God was rewarded. God said, “don’t build me a house.” “I will establish a house for you..” David’s offspring will be raised up. Long after David is dead and resting with his ancestors, God will bring up a member of David’s flesh and blood. David’s Kingly, Royal Line. God will establish that kingdom.

13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.

Verse 13 says The Kingdom that will be established FOREVER., That King will build a house for God’s name. That King will endure. That king will be known as God’s SON. And When he does wrong, (or in the case of Jesus Christ, mercifully takes on the wrongdoing of others) the Son will be punished by the Father, with rods and floggings inflicted by human hands. This language is chilling how accurately it points to the suffering messiah. The King who suffers for his People.

15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

However, God’s love will not be taken away. God’s love for His Son will endure. It is important to understand 2nd Samuel. It’s crucial to see the prophecy and the fulfillment of the prophecy. When Jesus was beaten and flogged by human hands, many people saw that as proof that Jesus was a fraud. The High Priests Annas and his son in law Caiphas would mock Jesus. When Jesus was on the cross, paying the price for your sins and my sins, people believed that his suffering was some sort of evidence that Jesus was NOT the Son of God. They couldn’t be more wrong! If you read the Old Testament, and read the prophecies, you see that because Jesus suffered, because he was beaten and flogged, because he was punished, this actually bolstered the claim that Jesus was the eternal King of the Jews, whose throne was established forever. Although Jesus was forsaken, although Jesus suffered and felt the condemnation that we deserved, we realize that God’s love and God’s favor was not taken away from Him. God removed his favor from Saul. We can read about this in 1st Samuel 15:27.  Basically Saul was a sinful and disobedient king. He didn’t wait for Samuel to make sacrifices, he didn’t follow instructions, he lied about not following instructions. So God found a new King to replace Saul. When Samuel told this to Saul, Samuel turned away. As Samuel left, Saul tore Samuel’s priestly robe. This was a terrible thing to do to one of God’s priests, but Samuel explained to Saul the symbolism. The Lord God tore the kingdom of Israel away from Saul, in order to give it to someone better. Someone more obedient. God gave the Kingdom of Israel to David, and not just to David, but to the line of David going forward. Just like that, God removed his favor, and his love. God changed Kings, but he made a promise that he wouldn’t take it away from David or the line of David. Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. Hebrews 1:6

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c]
7 In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”[d]

[c] Deut. 32:43
[d] Psalm 104:4

So God brings his firstborn, his only begotten son into the world, and what does he say? Let the Angels worship the Son. Are angels powerful? Yes. Any time somebody encounters an angel in the Bible, the angel usually starts by saying “Fear Not”. They are powerful. Are they to be respected? Yes. But they are not superior to Christ. Angels can’t compare to the glory of the Son. The angels worship the Son, just like we worship the Son. The footnote points to Deuteronomy 32:43. The Verse says that God will avenge the blood of his servants and he will make Atonement for his land and His people. Vengeance belongs to God, and the weird thing about God’s vengeance is God uses His vengeance to punish his Son. His vengeance is always Just when taken against us. But it is unJust when it’s taken upon his own son. When God applies vengeance to something that’s righteous, it’s called propitiation. It’s atonement. Because God provides atonement for his people, the angels are commanded to rejoice and worship. Footnote [d] is from Psalm 104:4, which primarily talks about how praiseworthy God is. How powerful He is, and how he commands nature, the waters, the winds, the fires. In the context, this Psalm affirms that everything, including the Angels, is subject to God’s authority. We will finish the post with a bit more on angels, so let’s continue to Hebrews 1:8-9

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.
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.”[e]

Footnote [e] says that Verses 8 and 9 reference Psalm 45:6-7. This Psalm is about a wedding between a King and his Queen. The King is an anointed king, a messiah. The King is described as the most excellent or exalted of men. The king is described as one who speaks Grace. One who is anointed and blessed by God forever. This King is majestic, powerful, accomplishing much, and an advocate for the honest, upright, righteous and humble. The King is dangerous to cross or rise up against. His enemies will be defeated. Then the verse; “Your throne, Oh God, will last forever and forever.” So the Psalmist was talking about the king, but now the Psalmist says, “O God.” This means the King is a representation of God. What’s weird is the author of Hebrews explains that the Psalmist is actually quoting the words of God, so essentially the New Testament interpretation is that God is calling the King, “O God” which also means that Christ is referred to as God by God the Father Himself. The scepter is a special stick that a ruler or king uses when he rules his people. The scepter describes how the king rules and ultimately that is determined by the character of the King himself. The righteous scepter, or the scepter of justice means that the King is righteous. The King is just. The bible teaches that there is none, not one who is righteous. All fall short of the glory of God. So how can we have a king who’s throne is eternal, when we are mortal? How can we have a king with a righteous scepter when there are none who are righteous? The King would need to have the characteristics of God himself. This king is exalted and set above his companions. The King is anointed by God. There is only one King who can fulfill those requirements. Now Hebrews 1:10

10 He also says,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 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.”[f]

Hebrews 1:10 references footnote f: which is Psalm 102:25-27. That Psalm begins as a lamentation. A person who is weak with distress cries out to God in his affliction. The person is forgets to eat, is reduced to skin and bones, ashes are his food, tears are his drink, enemies taunt him, he can’t sleep, and he’s lonely. But then the Psalm changes and starts talking about God’s character. God is enthroned forever, He is compassionate and shows pity. God listens to the prayer of the destitute. The Psalmist says that even though his own strength is broken and his own days seem to be cut short, God is powerful, and God’s years go on through all generations. The Psalmist praises God about the foundation of the Earth. It is another verse that references creation, saying “In the beginning”. The physical universe and all the things we see before us testify to God’s greatness. In the book of Romans, chapter 1:20, Paul says that we are without excuse

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

The things that were created, the things that were made, they point to God’s greatness. They point to his eternal power and his divine nature. They give us a reason to worship God; not just a reason to worship God, but they leave us with no excuses to dishonor or ignore God. Later we read that all things that are seen are passing away. There is an expiration date on all of us, and on the universe. The psalmist from psalm 102 remembers that even though his days are numbered, God’s days aren’t. There will be a time where God will roll up the foundations of the earth and the heavens. God will change everything, the earth and the heavens, everything that we can see, God will change His creation like a garment. However God himself will not change, He is eternal. God’s years will never end. That makes God supreme. God also promises that his King will be enthroned forever. That also makes God’s son, God’s King for eternity, Jesus Christ supreme also.

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”[g]? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

The footnote [g] is from Psalm 110:1. This psalm deserves its own sermon, and will definitely be referenced later in Hebrews, so I will save the time of going to that verse for later. If you like homework, read Psalm 110.
Throughout the Bible, we see angels doing various things to assist God’s Kingdom. At Sodom and Gomorrah we see angels as warriors. Angels prepare the way and guard God’s people in adversity. Jesus was ministered to by angels after his temptation by Satan. Angels are frequently used as messengers to people that God needs to speak to. Sometimes they deliver instructions, sometimes they are used to explain things that are unclear. Sometimes they are seen by people, and other times they are seen by animals. Angels are referred to as mighty ones who do God’s bidding. At the end of the Age, angels will separate out the wicked from the righteous. Angels are an interesting type being that God uses to advance his Kingdom, to continue His story. But they are not for worshipping. In Revelation 19:10 an angel was telling John what to write about the wedding supper of the Lamb. John mistakenly fell to worship the angel, and the angel said “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant. Worship God! The spirit of prophecy bears testimony to Jesus!” In Colossians, Paul warns the reader: “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.” Angels are powerful, but Jesus Christ is supreme. So what does this mean for us? I believe Hebrews 1 explains the supremacy of Christ. But if we aren’t worshipping angels or prophets, what’s a good take away from Hebrews 1?  Here’s a great application Philippians 2:5-11

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is superior to the prophets, Jesus is superior to the angels. But how did Jesus live? He didn’t expect us to understand “supremacy” or equality with God. He made himself nothing and became a servant. God became man. Born in a barn. Died the death of a scoundrel or outlaw. He humbled himself and throughout his life he showed us obedience all the way to death. He washed feet, held lepers, healed blind, fed the hungry. How do we relate to each other? With the same mindset of Christ. We are humble servants, not looking for personal status or gain. We live our lives as worshippers, where our knees bow, our tongues acknowledge, and our actions glorify Him.