Hebrews Chapter One

(Continued from: "Introduction: A Look at Those Troublesome Hebrews Passages")

The Hebrews have a special relationship with God –there can be no doubt about that. He has communicated with them in extraordinary ways: through the prophets, the angels, the Law, and those magnificent miracles. But something extraordinary changed when Jesus came.

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 (Hebrews 1:1-3a)

These first few verses point out that Jesus has completed what the prophets began!

Jesus Contrasted with the Angels

Although the angels are powerful and holy and have roles as messengers, God's Son is greater –supreme in every way. The Old Testament is filled with prophesies about Him so that when He came to live among the Hebrews those two-thousand years ago, they would welcome and respect Him above all others.

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." (Hebrews 1:3b-7)

These verses begin our exploration of some Old Testament references.

"You are My Son, Today I have begotten You," is an excerpt from Psalm two. The words themselves point to His Son's birth and their Father-Son relationship. When read in its entirety, the Psalm prophesies even more. It foretells that the world leaders are constrained (they have been "chained" and "fettered"). They can only accomplish what He and His Father have pre-planned. It also says that the Son would be: the anointed One; installed as King on Mount Zion; and, the Owner, Ruler and Judge of the earth and all that is in it. Lastly, there is a warning –everyone will either join with the Son ("take refuge in Him") or perish.

Next, "I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to Me," is from Second Samuel, chapter seven. By reading the quote as it is presented here in Hebrews, we see a restatement of their Father-Son relationship. By reading more from that chapter, we see the symbolism. Just as Solomon oversaw the building of the temple that King David planned, so Jesus is overseeing the building of the eternal temple that His Father planned. Additionally, the passage tells that His Son would: have an eternal kingdom; be a descendant of David; be punished for sin by God (using men as instruments to insult, beat, flog and kill Him); and God's love for Him would never end.

The quote, "and let all the angels of God worship him" takes us to Deuteronomy, chapter 32. There, the Father describes His Son as being: God; the Rock; the Life Giver; the Healer; the Deliverer; the Avenger; the One who will make atonement for the land; and the One that the angels worship.

At the end, there is an allegory of angels being wind and fire. It's from Psalm 104 and pictures the angels assisting God –adorned in His glory– creating the universe. The significance here is that the angels are subordinate to the Son.

The Father's Description of His Son –Jesus

This next Hebrews passage begins with "But of the Son He says". Those few words make an emphatic declaration: the Old Testament passages –from which these quotes come– contain God's description of His Son!

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." (Hebrews 1:8-12)

The first quote comes from the Psalm 45. Here, God proclaims that His Son is God –with an eternal throne –ruling His kingdom. The psalm goes on to say: He is a man; He demonstrates the godly characteristics of truth, humility and righteousness; He will judge the nations; and He is King over all mankind.

The remainder of this section repeats Psalm 102:25-27, stating that the Son has power and authority over His creation. Just as simply as we put on a clean set of clothes, He will restore the heavens and earth to their pristine state –never to be corrupted again. Earlier in Psalm 102, verses 18-22, the new earth's inhabitants are described as His people –formerly held prisoner and doomed to death –but then brought together and set free to eternally praise and serve Him. These are the Bride of the Lamb.

The Hebrews knew their Scriptures when Jesus lived among them just as they know them now. Those Scriptures –of which we have read only a few– contain many, many insights to the fact that God was going to send His Son in human form to totally eradicate corruption and death caused by sin.

Separate from Angels

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? (Hebrews 1:13-14)

"Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet" is the first verse of Psalm 110. In the psalm, the Father describes His Son's authority –specifically, on the Day of the Lord's wrath –at the Battle of Armageddon. The Son will rule over His enemies; His kingdom will be centered in Jerusalem (Zion); He will be an eternal Priest; and He will lead His army to crush all of His enemies. God didn't give any of His angels this authority. It was reserved exclusively for His Son.

The Son and the angels have separate roles in God's plan. His Son is the "way" to salvation –to eternal life. The angels' role is to minister to those who follow the Son to that eternal life. In the next chapter, we'll look at some the messages that those "ministers" proclaimed.

Continue reading: "Chapter Two: The Son's Message is More Important than that of Angels"