Hebrews 1

Preparation

Pray

Let the people see you. Let the people recognize you. Don’t let my sinfulness get in the way of your people hearing the word of God. Guide, shape, craft, and let it all be Spirit empowered. Otherwise, what’s the point? In your name, amen.

Just Meditate

Questions for the passage / first illumination

We are in the last days now. We have been in the last days since the accession of Jesus Christ. / 2

Why does Jesus need to be “appointed?” / 2

In what way was the world created through Jesus? / 2

Radiance / 3

Exact / 3

Uphold, what if he were to let go? / 3

He sat down / 3

Why use language like “inherited” / 4

What does he mean by “begotten” / 5

The Father deeply loves the Son, they are one

Why use language like “firstborn?” / 6

There is a slight shift at 6

Everlasting throne / 8

Why? He loved goodness and abhorred evil / 9

Why is it a big deal that he is greater than angels? It seems obvious?

You are the same / 12

Angels are sent out to serve / 14

Angels serve Christians / 14

Mood/Emotion of the Passage

Confident

Compelling

Bright

Revealing

Word-studies

begotten

Inherit

Cross References / Passages that illustrate

None for now

Commentary

Context / Overview

“The original recipients were jewish Christians.” - ESV Study

“The implication is that these are so inferior to Christ that it is futile to return to them.” - ESV Study

“It would have shocked the typical Jewish reader to hear that a man was higher in rank than angels. Jesus Christ was fully human, but he was fully divine. This makes him superior to the angels” Malcolm B. Yarnell III, “Hebrews,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1948.

“Hebrews is a book deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Hebrews has 29 quotations and 53 allusions to the Old Testament, for a total of 82 references. Significantly, Hebrews does not refer even once to the books of the Apocrypha.” - Guzik

“The recipients of Hebrews were Jewish Christians struggling to persevere in their commitment to Christ in the face of temptation and persecution.” Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 2019), 1452.

“The Son is a Prophet through whom God spoke his final word to human beings. The Son is a Priest who has removed the blot of sin from our ledger. He is a King exalted by God to a supreme place of honor.” Thomas D. Lea, Hebrews, James, vol. 10, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 9.

Versus

1

“Saving the best for last is always God’s rule.” Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Hebrews, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Jessi Strong, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 6.

“long ago vs. last days, prophets vs. son, fathers vs. us, many times vs. his son” - esv study

2

“Jesus inaugurated the “last days,” which stretch between his first coming and his second. We are in the last days and will be so until Christ returns.” Terry L. Wilder, “Hebrews,” in CSB Apologetics Study Bible, ed. Ted Cabal (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1522.

“Suffice to say that, in the most appropriate language of the Nicene Creed, Christ is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.” He is co-equal with the Father, though how that is, we do not know.” Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Hebrews, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Jessi Strong, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 7.

“in the first century an inheritance could be passed on to an heir well before the benefactor’s death.” Terry L. Wilder, “Hebrews,” in CSB Apologetics Study Bible, ed. Ted Cabal (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1522.

“Anyone today who boasts of having a “new revelation from God” is deceived. God is not giving revelations today; He is illuminating His once-for-all revelation in Christ.” Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 676.

3

“As God the Father brought the world into being through speech (Gen 1:1–2; compare Heb 11:3), so the Son sustains all things by means of His speech” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Heb 1:3.

“Instead of having to continually offer sacrifice (Heb 10:1), the Son is able to sit down—His work is complete” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Heb 1:3.

“on the Day of Atonement, the high priest alone made sacrifice for the sins of the entire nation” Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1437.

“By contrast, when the high priest entered the most holy place in the tabernacle/temple to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people, there was no chair. He couldn’t sit because his work was never done. The sacrificial system was God’s temporary solution, pointing forward to something better.” Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 2019), 1452.

“Is it not a wonderful thing that he made purification for our sins even before we had committed them? There they stood, before the sight of God, as already existent in all their hideousness. The sweepers of the streets, the dishwashers of the kitchen, the cleansers of the sewers have honorable work compared with this. Yet the holy Christ, incapable of sin, stooped to make purification for our sins.”Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1641.

4

“Jewish tradition held that angels were the highest messengers of revelation. The word “angel” means “messenger” W. C. Fields, “Hebrews,” in The Teacher’s Bible Commentary, ed. H. Franklin Paschall and Herschel H. Hobbs (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1972), 775.

5

“Christ was “begotten” from the virgin tomb when He was raised from the dead. Colossians 1:18 calls Him “the first-born from the dead.” Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 677.

6

“firstborn is a title that conveys preeminence in family lineage and rights of inheritance.” - esv study

The term firstborn had a specific meaning for Hebrew people. The firstborn son in a Jewish family had a special rank. He received special privileges and responsibilities. His inheritance included a double portion of the estate and family leadership after the father’s death. This term was used to show the supreme position of the Son of God. He was not the first of God’s creations. The Son of God and the Father stand in contrast with the created order. The Son has created this order in the plan of the Father, but the Father and the Son have always existed. They are uncreated. The term firstborn shows the matchless superiority of God’s Son.” Thomas D. Lea, Hebrews, James, vol. 10, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 17.

“The title is one of rank and honor, for the firstborn receives the inheritance and the special blessing.” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 281.

7

8

“The Greek word used here refers to a staff used by a ruler; it serves as a symbol of leadership and authority.” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Heb 1:8.

9

“Happiness and holiness go hand in hand. That is why crowds flocked to Jesus. Wasn’t He the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3)? Certainly. But there was also a gladness and joy about Him unlike that of any other human being in history. Jesus was immensely attractive to the crowds because holiness and happiness are directly proportional.” Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1438.

12

“Everything around us changes, but He will never change. He is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Creation is like an old garment which will one day be discarded in favor of a new one.” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 282.

13

“Here the author emphasizes the exaltation of the Son to the right hand of God - the position of priviledge and power.” - esv study

“The imagery likely refers to hieroglyphics on the footstools of Egyptian kings that depicted foreign enemies—symbolizing their subjugation. Compare also Josh 10:24, where Israelite leaders put their feet on the necks of defeated enemy leaders.”John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Heb 1:13.

14

“Verse 14 summarizes the place of the angels: they are ministering spirits, not enthroned sons; and their work is to minister to us who are heirs with Christ in His wonderful salvation.Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 678.”

“Comparing Hebrews 1:2 and 1:14, “It is particularly noteworthy, as bearing on the main theme of the Epistle, that both Christ and Christians are described as heirs.” (Thomas)”

Application

Relational application (love your neighbor)

Thinking application (mind)

“Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is the brother of the archangel Michael. Mormons also deny Jesus is superior to the angels..” Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1437.

“We typically start by talking about what Christ has done for us without first giving a clear testimony of who Christ is.” - Mohler

Feeling application (heart, soul)

“ Surely, if Christ upholds all things He can uphold me.” Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Hebrews, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Jessi Strong, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), / 3

Action application (strength)

Illustration

Verbal Illustrations

“In C. S. Lewis’ book The Chronicles of Narnia, when Lucy finally sees Aslan the Lion—a picture of the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ—she cries, “Aslan! Aslan! You’ve grown so much bigger.”“No, Lucy, you’ve grown so much bigger—and the bigger you grow, the bigger I’ll seem to you,” replied Aslan.”Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1437.

David Platt - send the son example / 1

The beginning of star wars / 1

“The literal translation of the term “express image” refers to the method used to imprint coins in biblical times, whereby a piece of metal would be pounded against a stamp of the head of Caesar, making an “express image.” Although the stamp and the coin were two separate entities, both bore the same image.” Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 1436. / 3

Compare to modern leaders who have moral failures / 8

Spring cleaning / 12

Visual Illustrations

Levi’s old garments / 11

The prophets were like puzzle pieces - Jesus was like the picture on the box / 1

Audience

pains/problems

passions/purposes

Questions/arguments they may have for the text

Pre outline

Main Ideas of the text

So what?

What would this look like lived out?

Title ideas

Hold On

Myth Busters

Jesus is

Potential Outlines

Myth 1: The Old Testament is irrelevant. Myth 2: We may be in the last days...

Jesus is the final word. Jesus is the heir. Jesus is…

The past vs. the present, …