Jesus pre-eminence over everything!

Hebrews 1-2

The New King James Version Chapter 1

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

How does God speak to His children today? John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Jesus referred to, “Matthew 11:15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” John repeatedly uses the phrase in Revelation about the churches, He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. So how does that apply to us today as we read the Word of God? How do we develop, “An ear to hear,” The Spirit? One way is to not just read the Word of God but to Listen with our heart through meditation on what is being said.

To truly begin to grasp what the writer of this epistle is saying requires a grounding in the things of The Spirit. No natural man, hearing with fleshly understanding, will ever grasp the deeper things that The Spirit is wanting to reveal to us.

The writer immediately begins to lay out his case, (Verse 2) that that Jesus as God and The Son of God is the appointed Heir of all things and that it was , “He,” who created the universe. (Verse 3) That He is the brightness of the glory of God revealed to humanity and the image of God to us. It is He who single handedly upholds all things by the word of His power and purged us of our Sin. He has now taken the position of supreme sovereign over all creation sitting next to the majesty on high. No angel even comes close to meeting any of these requirements.

Why is the writer bringing up Angels? Colossians 2:18 “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,” Galatians 1:8 “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” Why would we as believers need Angels? Only if Christ Himself were not sufficient to get us into the presence of the Father. It sounds holy to think that a heavenly being would have greater access to the throne of God or perhaps a deceased relative or saint to intercede on our behalf. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 1:5–7

5.“For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”?

And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?

6. But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

7. And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.””

Hebrews 1:8–9 “But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.””

Hebrews 1:10–12 “And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.””

Hebrews 1:13 “But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?”

Hebrews 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

Chapter 2

Hebrews 2:1–4 “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” The heresies of those days are still around today. They are just repackaged and recycled to sound modern and appealing to modern seekers looking for a way around Christ. Angel worship and fascination with the heavenly beings are very popular today. Crystals, seeking the dead for access to heavenly knowledge, Gnosticism and attacks on the deity and humanity of Christ are everywhere. The writer is encouraging us to stand fast in the things we have learned from Christ Himself and the eyewitnesses who experienced life with Him. God Himself putting His seal on everything by miracles, signs and wonders.

Hebrews 2:5–9 “For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” How do we as believers even begin to process the magnificence and wonder of who Christ is and even more that He is willing to share all of that with us: 2 Timothy 2:11-12 “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. 12a If we endure we shall also reign with Him. Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

Hebrews 2:10–13 “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.””

Hebrews 2:14–18 “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”