The Witness of Scripture to the Son's Greater Honor (1:5-14)

Introduction:

Last week, we began our study of the book of Hebrews by setting the context of this great theological sermon on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the prologue from verses 1-4, which declared that his person and work was the final revelation given by God to his people.

We saw how the original revelation began long ago and was spoken by the prophets to the fathers in many ways and at many times. We also saw that the Son, the final revelation, was and is the exact imprint of the father, radiant in his glory, creating all things, and yet distinct from the father by the title of Son.

However, this final revelation did by no means undermine the original revelation given by the prophets as we will see this morning since that revelation was the witness to the Son’s greater honor! This we hope to unpack this morning, as we see how Hebrews 1:5-14 expounds on the prologue from verses 1-4.

Text: Hebrews 1:5-14

Hebrews 1:5–14 ESV

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Main Idea: The authority of God’s written revelation, provides validity for God’s living revelation, Jesus Christ.

So we ended last week’s text with this statement fro verse 4, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Main Question: Why is it necessary that Jesus, the final revelation, be superior to the angels?

1. Being lower then the angels denoted humanness

Psalm 8:4–5 ESV

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

2. So for a time, Jesus voluntarily took this position of humanity (“lower then the angels”), but in his resurrection and ascension, he is declared to be the Son of God in power.

3. Therefore, if the scriptures could prove that Jesus was and is superior to the angels, it validates that Jesus is indeed the God-Man!

Throughout these two sections, the contrast between angels and the Son of God is mentioned. It should be noted that the OT scriptures use by the writer of Hebrews, emphatically assigns their fulfillment to Jesus!

Rather then take time out and do an exhaustive study on angelology, I have chosen to go through each section, and will at that time define a revealed aspect of these marvelous, supernatural beings that play such an important role in God’s eternal plan.

In doing it this way, I believe we will stay in context and the flow of the message showing the superiority of Jesus to the angels.

It should suffice to say, that next to the god-head himself, there are no greater supernatural beings who are more powerful, worshipful, beautiful, and fearsome then these created ministers of God!

I. Jesus is Superior to the Angels in His Sonship (5-7)

For to which of the angels did God say - the conjunction for begins the comparison drill down...

A. The Psalms Declared His Sonship (5)

Taken from Ps 2:7

Psalm 2:7 ESV

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

This Psalm is what we would call a Messianic Psalm, meaning , that there is an exchange between God the Father and His anointed one (messiah), God the Son.

In verse 7, two important points:

You are my Son - shows that the messiah was declared by Yahweh to be his Son.

today I have begotten [perf, act, ind - to become the parent of] you - two truths regarding the word begotten in reference to Jesus:

Eternally Begotten- means that Jesus, the messiah was eternally begotten by the Father. The Son is eternally generated by the Father. This generation, or begottenness, never had a beginning. The Son has always existed and has always been fully God even though He is begotten of the Father. And the Father has always begotten the Son such that the Son and the Father are both fully God. This means that Jesus is both uniquely God’s Son, and that He alone is only God’s Son.

BTW, unbegottenness is the unique personal property of the Father, begottenness is the unique personal property of the Son, and procession is the unique personal property of the Holy Spirit.

Begotten in Time - when Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, denoting his messianic work of redemption.

The main take away here is that no angel was ever begotten of the Father and declared to be his Son.

BTW, some people might say, but what about the title given to the angels as “sons of God” (Gen 6:2; Job 2:1; 38:7)? In each case, it was a designation of subordination or origination, not relationship.

Also note that believers are called Son’s of God, however, we are Son’s of God solely as a result of our adaption alone, and will never be divine in our natures, only partakers.

Therefore, Jesus was the only Son who was begotten!

B. The Prophets Declare His Sonship (5)

Taken from 2 Sam 7:14 - BTW, in the Hebrew Bible 1 & 2 Samuel are part of the prophets.

This prophesy was given to King David by Nathan the prophet to declare that his Kingdom would be an eternal kingdom

Though his son Solomon would be the immediate fulfillment in the building of the temple, Solomon disobeyed God, and so the greater fulfillment was speaking of the Messiah Jesus who would one day ascend the throne of David and rule all nations forever more.

C. The Law Declares His Sonship (6)

when he brings the firstborn into the world - a title that conveys preeminence in family lineage and rights of inheritance. It does not mean that Jesus was created

Colossians 1:15 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Taken from Deut 32:43 - here we are focused on the worship of the Son, the promised avenger of blood, by the angels.

As part of the Song of Moses that was given to help Israel remember the greatness of God, the necessity of obedience, and the consequence of disobedience.

D. The Psalms View of the Angels (7)

Taken from Ps 104:4 -

note the parallelism between, angels, and ministers

winds - noting there invisible movements; not immutable, as compared to the son which we will see next.

a flame of fire - noting their powerful ability to both guide or destroy

II. Jesus is Superior to the Angels in His Lordship (8-13)

A. The Eternality of His Lordship (8-12)

But the Son he says - this again in comparison to what was just said about the angels.

Verses 8-9: Taken from Ps 45:6-7 - Here we see that the eternal throne of God, the place of God’s eternal, sovereign rule, is occupied by the Son of God

Verses 10-12: Taken from Ps 102:25-27 - The Psalmist denoted the Son’s immutability, compared with the constant changes of creation; an attribute assign only to God and not to his creation.

Hebrews 13:8 ESV

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

B. The Realm of His Lordship (13)

Begins again with a comparative statement regarding the angels - And to which of the angels has he ever said,

Taken from Ps 110:1 - we see the Psalmist declaring that Yahweh is positioning the Son to view that outcome of his eternal plan to included his Lordship over all the kingdoms of this world, and the conquering of all enemies, bringing them into subordination to his Lordship.

This, I believe to be during the Millennial reign of King Jesus on the earth.

Psalm 2:9 ESV

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Revelation 19 depicts a rider on a white horse, who is faithful and true, and is called the Word of God, or King Jesus!

Revelation 19:15 ESV

15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

C. The Angelic Role in our Salvation (14)

ministering spirits sent out for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation - whatever this role means, it is certain that God uses them in some way to preserve those who are God chosen elect. This gives us confidence that God will lose none he has chosen, and each one will be brought to salvation.

This is going on even though the angels are unable to fully comprehend salvation.

1 Peter 1:12 ESV

12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Here Peter tells us that we are well provided for; the prophets were prophesying for us, and the angels were caring for us even though they sought to understand salvation.

So What?

Do we understand that when we say that Jesus is our Savior and Lord that we are acknowledging the that he is the unique, only Son of God?

Do we recognize, that although angels are the most powerful being in the universe outside of the god-head, they are only ministering spirits, used by God in his eternal plan and are not in any way to be worshipped or exalted.