Hebrews 1—Christ Is Superior

Theme: God has spoken to us through His Son, who is superior to the prophets and the angels.

Key Text: Hebrews 1:1–3

Introduction to Hebrews

A. The Circumstances of the Book

Hebrews was written during a period of severe persecution

Its recipients were discouraged because of their suffering

Jewish Christians were being pressured to return to Judaism

The book was written to encourage them not to abandon Christ

B. The Two Major Thoughts of Hebrews

Christ is the way—Hebrews 1:1–10:18

The readers were following the right course

What they had been taught and believed was true

They must not turn away from Christ

Do not give up—Hebrews 10:19–13:25

Keep the faith

Follow the examples of faith

Endure through faith

Put faith into practice

Keep pressing forward

C. Another Way to Outline the Book

The evidence that God speaks through His Son—Hebrews 1:1–10:18

The meaning of that truth for us—Hebrews 10:19–13:25

D. The Superiority of Christ

The superiority of His person

Superior to the prophet

Superior to the angels

Superior to Moses

The superiority of His work

His priesthood

His covenant

His sanctuary

His sacrifice

I. The Main Thought of Hebrews 1

A. Christ Is Superior to the Prophets—Hebrews 1:1–3

B. Christ Is Superior to the Angels—Hebrews 1:4–14

C. The Thesis of Hebrews

The writer immediately introduces his central point.

Unlike many New Testament letters, Hebrews contains no customary personal greeting.

The writer begins directly with the supremacy of Christ:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.”—Hebrews 1:1–2

This statement summarizes the entire book:

God has spoken.

God has spoken finally through His Son.

Therefore, we must listen to the Son and remain faithful to Him.

Christ Is Superior to the Prophets

Hebrews 1:1–3

I. God Spoke in Time Past by the Prophets—Hebrews 1:1

A. The Meaning of “Prophet”

A prophet was not merely one who predicted the future.

A prophet was a spokesman or mouthpiece for God.

Aaron illustrates this relationship:

Aaron was Moses’ mouthpiece—Exodus 4:16.

Aaron was called Moses’ prophet—Exodus 7:1.

Therefore, a prophet of God was one who spoke God’s message.

B. God Spoke “to the Fathers”

“The fathers” refers to the Jewish nation.

God spoke to them through the prophets from Abraham to Malachi.

C. God Spoke “at Various Times”

Revelation was given at different times and under different circumstances.

Old Testament revelation was given gradually and in parts.

One prophet revealed one portion of God’s plan, while another supplied additional information.

Isaiah spoke concerning the kingdom.

Jeremiah revealed additional truths about the kingdom.

Amos and other prophets contributed other portions of revelation.

No single Old Testament prophet revealed the complete plan.

D. God Spoke “in Various Ways”

Through dreams—Numbers 12:6

Through direct communication—Numbers 12:8

Through visions

Through signs and symbolic actions

Through a donkey—Numbers 22

E. The Old Testament Revelation Was Incomplete

It was not imperfect because God failed in His work.

It was incomplete because it was not God’s final revelation.

It pointed forward to the fuller and final revelation through Christ.

II. God Has Spoken Through His Son—Hebrews 1:2

A. Christ Speaks in “These Last Days”

“The last days” does not refer merely to the final few days before the end of the world.

The expression refers to the final dispensation of God’s dealings with humanity.

The last days began with the establishment of Christ’s kingdom—Acts 2:17.

B. Christ Is Deity

Jesus is identified as the Son of God.

To claim to be the Son of God was to claim equality with God—John 5:17–18.

Therefore, the title “Son” affirms the deity of Christ.

C. Christ Is God’s Final Spokesman

God formerly spoke through many prophets.

God now speaks through His Son.

No additional prophet will replace or surpass Christ.

Anyone who claims to be a prophet bringing a new revelation after Christ contradicts Hebrews 1:1–2.

III. Seven Descriptions of the Son—Hebrews 1:2–3

A. He Is the Heir of All Things—Hebrews 1:2

A son naturally stands as an heir.

As the Son of God, Christ is the heir of all things.

This title emphasizes His supreme dignity and position.

He possesses all authority and occupies the highest place of honor.

B. He Is the One Through Whom God Made the Worlds—Hebrews 1:2

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each had a role in creation.

The Father planned creation.

The Son was the divine agent through whom creation was accomplished.

Other passages affirm Christ’s role in creation:

John 1:2–3

1 Corinthians 8:6

Colossians 1:15–16

Hebrews 11:3

No prophet created the world.

C. He Is the Brightness of God’s Glory—Hebrews 1:3

Christ is the radiance of the glory of God.

As the radiance reveals the sun, Christ reveals the Father.

God’s glory is seen in His Son.

The prophets revealed truths about God, but no prophet was the brightness of God’s glory.

D. He Is the Express Image of God’s Person—Hebrews 1:3

Christ is the exact representation of the Father’s nature.

The idea may be illustrated by:

The exact imprint made by a stamp

An image that perfectly represents its original

Christ bears the very stamp of God’s nature.

No prophet could represent the Father as perfectly as the Son.

To see the character of Christ is to see the character of the Father.

E. He Upholds All Things by the Word of His Power—Hebrews 1:3

Christ did not merely create the universe.

He continually sustains and governs it.

“In Him all things consist”—Colossians 1:17.

He keeps creation functioning according to its established order.

The planets remain in their courses.

The stars continue according to their order.

The universe operates by His power.

No prophet possesses this sustaining power.

F. He Purged Our Sins—Hebrews 1:3

Christ made purification for sins.

He offered Himself as the sacrifice for sin.

He is the propitiation through whom sins can be forgiven.

Hebrews 7–9 explains more fully how He accomplished this purification.

No prophet could remove humanity’s sins.

G. He Sat Down at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High—Hebrews 1:3

His sitting indicates that His sacrificial work was completed.

Old Testament priests stood daily because their work was never finished.

Their sacrifices had to be offered repeatedly.

Christ offered one sufficient sacrifice and then sat down.

The right hand is a position of honor, power, and authority.

1 Kings 2

Psalm 45

Matthew 20:20–23

Christ occupies the highest position of dignity and authority.

No prophet ever sat at the right hand of God.

H. The Argument Summarized

Christ is superior to every prophet because:

He is the heir of all things.

He created the worlds.

He is the brightness of God’s glory.

He is the express image of God’s person.

He upholds all things by His power.

He purged our sins.

He sat down at God’s right hand.

Christ Is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 1:4–14

I. The Importance of Christ’s Superiority to Angels

A. The Jewish View of Angels

The Jews held the prophets in high esteem.

They viewed angels as even higher than the prophets.

Many regarded angels as second only to God.

Some rejected Jesus as the Messiah and considered Him inferior to both prophets and angels.

B. The Writer’s Argument

Christ is greater than the prophets.

Christ is even greater than the angels.

Therefore, abandoning Christ to return to Judaism would mean turning from the greater to the lesser.

C. The Key Word “Better”—Hebrews 1:4

Christ has become “so much better than the angels.”

The word “better” appears repeatedly throughout Hebrews.

Hebrews speaks of:a. Better thingsb. A better hopec. A better covenantd. Better promisese. Better sacrificesf. A better possession

Everything provided through Christ is better.

II. Christ Has a More Excellent Name—Hebrews 1:4–5

A. His Excellent Name Is “Son”

God never called any angel His Son in the unique sense applied to Christ.

Christ possesses a relationship and position no angel possesses.

B. The Old Testament Quotations

“You are My Son, today I have begotten You”—Psalm 2:7.

“I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”—2 Samuel 7:14.

C. Psalm 2:7 and the Resurrection

Paul quoted Psalm 2:7 in Acts 13.

He applied it to the resurrection of Christ.

The resurrection powerfully declared Jesus to be the Son of God.

D. Second Samuel 7:14

The passage originally has reference to Solomon.

It also finds its ultimate application in Christ.

Christ came through the descendants of David and Solomon.

No angel received the name and position of the Son.

III. The Angels Worship Christ—Hebrews 1:6

A. The Old Testament Quotation

“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

The quotation may refer to:a. Psalm 97:7b. The Septuagint rendering of Deuteronomy 32:43

B. The Meaning

The angels are subject to Christ.

Christ does not worship angels.

The angels bow before and worship Him.

The one who receives the worship of angels is superior to them.

IV. Christ Is King; Angels Are Ministers—Hebrews 1:7–9

A. Angels Are Servants—Hebrews 1:7

The writer quotes Psalm 104:4.

Angels are compared to winds and flames of fire.

God uses them to accomplish His purposes.

They are servants, not sovereign rulers.

B. Christ Is God and King—Hebrews 1:8

The Father says to the Son:

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”

This statement affirms two truths:a. Christ is God.b. Christ possesses a throne and kingdom.

No angel is called God.

No angel possesses Christ’s eternal throne.

C. Christ Was Anointed Above His Companions—Hebrews 1:9

The quotation comes from Psalm 45:6–7.

God anointed Christ with the “oil of gladness.”

His anointing places Him above His companions.

Christ is therefore superior to all the angels.

V. Christ Is the Unchanging Creator—Hebrews 1:10–12

A. Christ Created the World—Hebrews 1:10

The writer quotes Psalm 102.

Christ laid the foundation of the earth.

The heavens are the work of His hands.

No angel created the universe.

B. Creation Will Perish—Hebrews 1:11–12

The created world is temporary.

It grows old like a garment.

It will one day be folded up and changed.

The universe is wearing down rather than continually improving.

C. Christ Remains Unchanged

Creation will perish, but Christ remains.

The universe changes, but Christ is always the same.

His years will never fail.

Christ is eternal and unchanging.

VI. Christ Is Lord; Angels Are Ministering Spirits—Hebrews 1:13–14

A. Christ Sits at God’s Right Hand—Hebrews 1:13

The writer quotes Psalm 110:1.

God said to Christ:

“Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Christ is Lord and ruler.

His enemies will ultimately be subjected to Him.

God never made this statement to an angel.

B. Angels Are Ministering Spirits—Hebrews 1:14

Angels are servants sent forth by God.

They minister for those who will inherit salvation.

The passage indicates that angels are active in some way on behalf of Christians.

Scripture does not reveal all the details of their work.

We should not speculate beyond what God has revealed.

C. The Contrast

Christ is Lord.

Angels are servants.

Christ rules.

Angels minister.

Therefore, Christ is superior to the angels.

Old Testament Quotations in Hebrews 1

Psalm 2:7—Hebrews 1:5“You are My Son, today I have begotten You.”

2 Samuel 7:14—Hebrews 1:5“I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son.”

Deuteronomy 32:43, Septuagint; possibly Psalm 97:7—Hebrews 1:6“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Psalm 104:4—Hebrews 1:7Angels are described as servants, winds, and flames of fire.

Psalm 45:6–7—Hebrews 1:8–9“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”

Psalm 102:25–27—Hebrews 1:10–12Christ is the unchanging Creator.

Psalm 110:1—Hebrews 1:13“Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Why the Writer Quotes the Old Testament So Frequently

The recipients claimed confidence in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

They might have questioned the authority of the writer.

The writer therefore appealed to the Scriptures they already accepted.

Their own Scriptures declared that:a. Christ is the Son of God.b. Christ is worshiped by angels.c. Christ is God and King.d. Christ is the eternal Creator.e. Christ is Lord at God’s right hand.

The Old Testament never made these declarations about an ordinary prophet or angel.

Conclusion

A. Christ Is Superior to the Prophets

He perfectly reveals the Father.

He created and sustains the universe.

He purified humanity from sin.

He reigns at God’s right hand.

B. Christ Is Superior to the Angels

He has the more excellent name of Son.

Angels worship Him.

He is King; they are servants.

He is the unchanging Creator.

He is Lord; they are ministering spirits.

C. The Central Message

God has spoken to us through His Son.

Christ is the only sufficient way to God.

We must listen to Him.

We must not turn away from Him.

We must remain faithful and never give up.