Hebrews 1:1-14 (Part 2)

We are Studying the Amazing Sermon Letter of Hebrews

Last Time We Looked at Chapter 1 Verses 1-3

We Learned How God Spoke in Times Past Through Prophets

But in These Last Days (The Final Dispensation that We are Currently in), He Has Spoken to Us Through His Son

We Learned 7 Things About Who Jesus is and What He Came to Do

1. Jesus is Heir of All Things

2. Jesus is Creator

3. Jesus is the Radiance of God’s Glory

4. Jesus is the Exact Representation of God

5. Jesus is the Bearer of All Things

6. Jesus is Priest

7. Jesus is King

Let’s Read the First 3 Verses Again, and Then Read the Rest of the Chapter

Then We’ll Go Back and Break Verses 4-14 Down

Hebrews 1 (NASB)

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again, “I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me”? And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

And of the angels He says, “Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.

“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”

But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies A footstool for Your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

A Theme We Will Continue to See Throughout Hebrews is:

A Lot of OT Scripture is Quoted and Used to Make the Main Point of:

Jesus is Better, So Do Not Forsake Him

Last Week:

We Looked at Hebrews 1:4-6

The Author/Preacher is Making the Point:

Jesus is Better than the Angels Because He Inherited a Better Name

He is God’s Son

In Verses 4-6, the 3 Scriptures He Quotes are:

Psalm 2:7, 2 Samuel 7:14, Deuteronomy 32:43 (LXX)

The First 2 Show Us that God Called His Anointed King His Son

And the 3rd is a Command for the Angels to Worship God

Jesus is Being Referred to as God in this Text By the Hebrew Author

Jesus is God’s Son (God’s Anointed King)

Jesus is Deity/God

Jesus is to Be Worshiped By the Angels

Therefore Jesus is Better Than the Angels

Now We are Starting Verse 7 Tonight

Hebrews 1:7 (NASB)

And of the angels He says, “Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.”

Here He Quotes From Psalm 104:4

Psalm 104:1–4 (NASB)

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty, Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks upon the wings of the wind; He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.

In the Context of This Quote, God is Being Praised as Creator and Sustainer of All Things

And Verse 4 Seems to Say that God Sends Wind and Fire Through His Messengers, the Angels

In Other, Much Less Epic Words, The Angels Serve Him and Perform His Mighty Works

That is What God Says of the Angels

Hebrews 1:8–9 (NASB)

But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

This Quote is Taken From Psalm 45:6-7

This Psalm was Likely Written to Commemorate a Royal Wedding in Jerusalem

Psalm 45:1–7 (NASB)

My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.

Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One, In Your splendor and Your majesty! And in Your majesty ride on victoriously, For the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; Let Your right hand teach You awesome things. Your arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under You; Your arrows are in the heart of the King’s enemies.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.

God’s Anointed King Reigns With Justice and Righteousness

And He Will Reign Forever

The Hebrews Author is Drawing a Distinction Between the Angels and the Son (Jesus)

The Angels are God’s Ministers and Servants

Jesus is God’s Anointed King

Jesus is Better Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:10–12 (NASB)

And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; They will perish, but You remain; And they all will become old like a garment, And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”

Here the Quotation Comes From Psalm 102:25-27

It is Called “A Prayer of the Afflicted When He is Faint and Pours Out His Complaint Before the Lord”

And it is Exactly That

An Afflicted Person Crying Out for Help and Comfort From God

The Psalmist Realizes that His Days are Limited, and He Won’t Live Forever

But He Also Realizes that God’s Days are Not Limited

And He Will Keep On Living Forever

And that, No Matter How Long, God Will Always Keep His Word and Fulfill His Promises to His People

And That is Where the Psalmist Finds Comfort, God’s Eternal Nature and Faithfulness

Just as All Things Began With God, All Things Will Come to an End With God

The Hebrews Author is Declaring These Words to Be of Jesus

He Created All Things, and He Will Return to Bring All Things to an End

Jesus is Eternal

Jesus is Better Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:13 (NASB)

But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies A footstool for Your feet”?

This Final Quotation is From the Most Quoted OT Text in the NT - Psalm 110

This Psalm is Going to Be Referred to On Several Occasions in Hebrews

Psalm 110 (NASB)

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew.

The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head.

Not to the Angels But Only to Jesus Does God Say:

“Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Jesus is the Son and King at the Right Hand of the Father…

Who Will Conquer His Enemies and Rule Forever

This Footstool Imagery Came From the Oriental Custom of the Victor Placing His Foot On the Neck of His Defeated Enemy

Jesus is a Ruling, Conquering King

Angels are Not

Jesus is Better Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:14 (NASB)

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Angels are Spirits Who Minister and Serve Those Who Will Be Saved

Angels Serve Christians

How Do Angels Serve Us?

Lots of Ways and Likely More Than We Could Ever Fathom

They Execute God’s Judgement On the Wicked

Aid in Creating Opportunities for the Lost to Hear the Gospel

Give Strength and Encouragement to the Righteous

Whatever God Commands Them to Do

In Verses 4-14, the Author of Hebrews Quotes 7 OT Passages…

And Brings Up 4 Points that Prove Jesus is Better Than the Angels:

His Name is Greater - He is “Son”

His Nobility is Greater - He is Worshiped

His Nature is Greater - He is Eternal

His Position is Greater - He is at God’s Right Hand