Hebrews 1:6-9
Notes
Transcript
Handout
He is Superior Because of His Honor
He is Superior Because of His Honor
Hebrews 1:6 (KJV 1900)
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
OT Law
OT Law
The next point in the author’s argument for Christ’s superiority over angels is His honor that is given to Him by the angels.
The first half of this verse there is no direct OT quotation. But the use of the word firstbegotten is significant.
the first born son under the law always had a place of authority over his brethren and to them belonged a double portion.
The first born was most always consecrated to the Lord.
The first born was most always next in line for king
The Worship
The Worship
The last part of this verse is a quotation from Ps.97:7
Psalm 97:7 (KJV 1900)
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, That boast themselves of idols: Worship him, all ye gods.
The Hebrew word for “gods” is “elohim”, which was used for little ‘g’ gods or goddesses or angles.
that is the word that is used here.
Anytime you see God, The noun ‘el’ was used specifically
I personally believe Paul used the word angles instead of gods because of the level they had placed angles on.
What a proof this was to them that the Son had been ‘made so much better than the angles’.
The angles were so far from being on the same level as Christ, God tells them to worship His Son.
Jesus was undoubtedly worshiped by angels in eternity past;
He was worshiped by angels during his thirty-three years on earth;
and He is worshiped in eternity present—a worship to which we have been given a dizzy glimpse:
Revelation 5:11–13 (KJV 1900)
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Angels (unless they are fallen angels) do not worship other angels, for that would be angelolatry!
The only one they can and do worship is God.
Our job is to lift up Jesus!
R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, Preaching the Word, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 1:37–38.
He is Superior Because of His Status
He is Superior Because of His Status
Next the writer demonstrates the superiority of Christ to angels by contrasting their statuses:
Hebrews 1:7 (KJV 1900)
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
The angels are servants
The angels are servants
Psalm 104:4 is quoted regarding the angels’ being servants:
Who maketh his angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire:
The Spirit’s purpose in quoting this verse in Hebrews 1 is evident: it was to point a contrast between the natures of the angels and the Son:
they were “made”—created; He is uncreated.
Not only were the angels created, but they were created by Christ Himself “Who maketh” which looks back to the last clause of v. 2, “He (The Son) made the worlds:” it is the making of the worlds that Psalm 104 speaks of.
Moreover, they are here termed not merely “the angels,” but “His angels!”
They are but “spirits,” He is “God;” they are “His ministers,” He is their Head (Col. 2:10
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
The Son is Sovereign
The Son is Sovereign
Hebrews 1:8–9 (KJV 1900)
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Here the writer quotes Psalm 45:6-7
Psalm 45:6–7 (KJV 1900)
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: The sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Lets break this down:
His throne, his scepter, his anointing give us the dimensions of his brilliant sovereignty.
His throne
His throne
This describes his Rule and Reign.
From His throne He rules and reigns with truth and righteousness.
His scepter
His scepter
Describes His Righteous authority
An Exposition of Hebrews Chapter 5: Christ Superior to Angels (Heb. 1:7–9)
The “scepter” is the badge of royalty and the emblem of authority. An illustration of this is furnished in the book of Esther
An Exposition of Hebrews Chapter 5: Christ Superior to Angels (Heb. 1:7–9)
When Ahasuerns would give evidence of his authoritative favor unto Esther, he held out his scepter to her (see Esther 5:2; 8:4).
Thou hath loved righteousness
This is much more than just doing righteousness.
These words reveal to us the spring of all Christ’s actions, even devotedness and affection unto the Father.
(Ps. 40:8 was the confession of the perfect One.
I delight to do thy will, O my God: Yea, thy law is within my heart.
(Ps. 119:97 revealed His attitude toward the precepts and commandments of Holy Writ.
MEM. O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
Herein we perceive His uniqueness. How often our obedience is a reluctant one! How often God’s will crosses ours; and when our response is an obedient one, frequently it is joyless and unwilling. Different far was it with the Lord Jesus. He not only performed righteousness, but “loved’ it.
He could say Thy law is within my heart. Ps.40:8 which is the seat of affections.
Because He loved righteousness He had to hate something
He hated iniquity.
These two things are inseparable: the one can not exist without the other. Amos 5:15
Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Where there is true love for God, there is also abhorrence of sin.
His anointing with the oil
His anointing with the oil
This was done to all kings that were appointed by God.
..of joy
refers to the heavenly joy that was his as sovereign King of kings.
It was “the joy set before him” Heb.12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Angels, his servants, may at his request take on wondrous forms, become seraphim thirty feet high or men 300 feet high, and perform feats beyond not only the capacity but the imagination of mankind.
But they are still servants.
He is the eternally enthroned, sceptered, anointed sovereign.
It is impossible to logically think of Christ and angels as peers, any more than we could of a sovereign and his slaves as equals.
R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, Preaching the Word, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 1:38–39.
How immeasurable the gulf which separates between creature and Creator!
The angels are but “spirits,” the Son is “God.”
They are but “ministers,” His is the “throne.”
They are but “a flame of fire,” the executioners of judgment, He the One who commands and commissions them.
Arthur Walkington Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews, (Swengel, PA: Bible Truth Depot, 1954), 50.