Hebrews 01
note: The Holy Spirit did not record the author of Hebrews. Some theologians have speculated the author to be Paul, Barnabus, Apollos, and many others. There are many clues in the text which point to Paul as being the author. These clues will be discussed as individual exegesis when they occur in Scripture. Dr. J. Vernon McGee wrote a very persuasive dissertation on this issue, which all serious students of this book should read. However, the emphasis of this study will be on the message of the epistle, with just some short notes about authorship. Since the Holy Spirit did not dwell on the authorship, the majority of this time will be spent on exegesis of the passages.
Introduction: God Has Spoken Fully and Finally in His Son
1:1 After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets,
This letter was written to believing Messianic Jews who were thinking about going back into Judaism under the Levitical system of the Mosaic Law.
God communicated to man in the Old Testament through the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. God spoke through agents who would in turn give the message to other men. These men were called prophets. Prophets gave divine information directly from God to man.
God gave these messages to prophets in various portions. He gave limited information and continually added revelation. He gave just one chapter of information to Obadiah. He gave 66 chapters of information to Isaiah. Haggai gave four prophecies in one month’s time. Moses and Daniel gave prophecies their entire life.
God gave these messages in different ways. Sometimes God revealed His messages through theophany, patriarchs, angels, prophets, laws, types, and letters. God used many other different methods.
1:2 in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.
The Greek word for “last days” is ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν (eschatou ton hameron), meaning the end of the days. The rabbinic term was “the messianic days.” Since the Messiah had arrived, the messianic days are here. The Old Testament gave progressive revelation, but Jesus gave the final revelation. After the epistles of the apostles, there was no more divine revelation which comes from heaven. Prophecies and miracles have died out. The next miracle worker will be the Antichrist. The modern-day charismatics are involved in white magic. They think their miracles and tongues are from God, but they are demonic.
The last divine message from God comes from the Son. Jesus gave the final word from God for seven reasons. First, Psalm 2:7 states that the Messiah is the heir of all things.
Second, the world was created through the Messiah. The Greek word is not κόσμος (kosmos), but αἰῶνας (aionas), meaning ages or dispensations. Jesus planned and is in control of God’s divine program since the beginning of time. He is the focal point of all history. He is the One who is involved with every dispensation and age of history.
1:3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Third, Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory. The manifestation of God was revealed to man through the Shekinah Glory. In John 1:14, Jesus was revealed as the Shekinah Glory dwelling inside the flesh of a man.
Fourth, Jesus is the image of the substance of God. He is a perfect representation of the image of God. Jesus possesses all the attributes of God, because He is God.
Fifth, He possesses the divine power which upholds all things. Science does not know what holds the atom together, but God does. Jesus is the one who holds all the atoms together and makes the universe run in its perfect order. As Jesus sustains all things, He is also moving all of creation to His one central goal.
Sixth, Jesus cleanses all sins. This is the role of Jesus in all of history. The author will explain the cleansing power of Jesus in chapters 5-7.
Seventh, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus sat down, because He finished His work. Jesus sits down at the right hand of the Father, because He is equal with God. His present work at the right hand of the Father is to intercede for believers. These attributes will be explained in more detail in later chapters.
1:4 Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs.
The Greek word for “became” is γενόμενος (genemenos), an aorist middle participle, meaning that Jesus became better than angels. Some versions (such as the King James), mistranslate this verse as “being made.” Jehovah Witnesses favor the King James Bible, because this mistranslation supports their heretical teaching that Jesus was made (or created) better than angels. However, γενόμενος (genemenos) is a verb of being. Jesus became better than angels at His incarnation. The incarnation was when Jesus the Son of God became Jesus the God-man. It is the one-time completed action of the past when Jesus incarnated Himself into a human. This was not an act of creation, but an act of the incarnation. Those who debate Jehovah Witnesses must understand the Greek usage in this passage, or they will lose an opportunity to defend the deity of Christ.
When God became man in the person of Jesus, He became a little lower than the angels. However, when He ascended back into Heaven and sat at the right hand of the Father, He became better than the angels again. In His deity, He always was superior to angels.
Jesus received a special name given to Him by God the Father. When Jesus returns, He will have a name written that no man can know but Himself. Philippians 2:9 states that He has received the name which is above every name. Believers may never know this name.
In verses 5-13, the author will quote seven times from the Old Testament to prove that Jesus is superior to angels. The mysterious author of Hebrews possessed extensive knowledge of the Old Testament.
The Son Is Superior to Angels
1:5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? And in another place he says, “I will be his father and he will be my son.”
First, the author quoted from Psalm 2:7. None of the angels received the rights of the first born. Jesus did receive the rights of the firstborn. Therefore, Jesus is superior to angels.
Second, the author quoted from 2 Samuel 7:14. The future son of David was prophesied to rule eternally over the kingdom of Israel. This promise was called the Davidic Covenant. No angel was ever promised to be born in the line of David and rule over the nation of Israel. Therefore, Jesus is superior to angels.
1:6 But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him!”
Third, the firstborn was a messianic title used for the Messiah in Psalm 89:27. The author also quoted from either Deuteronomy 32:43 or Psalm 97:7. When Jesus returns at His second coming, all of the angels will worship Him. It was forbidden to worship angels in the Old and New Testament. Jesus cannot be a created angel, as the Jehovah Witnesses falsely claim. Therefore, Jesus is superior to angels, because all angels will worship Him at His second coming.
1:7 And he says of the angels, “He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,”
Fourth, the author quoted from Psalm 104:4. The angels were created to be servants to Jesus. The Greek word is λειτουργοὺς (leitourgous), meaning religious servants (such as priests). Since the angels religiously serve Jesus, then Jesus is superior to angels.
1:8 but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.”
Fifth, the author quoted from Psalm 45:7-8. The Son sits upon the throne of God for eternity. No angel sits on the throne of God for eternity. Jesus is eternal, but angels were created. Jesus holds the scepter or righteousness of the Kingdom of God. No angel holds the scepter. God the Father anointed God the Son with the Holy Spirit. No angel was ever anointed with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Jesus is superior to angels.
1:10 And, “You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands. 1:11 They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment, 1:12 and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.”
Sixth, the author quoted from Psalm 102:25-27. Jesus was the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Jesus is eternal but the heavens and earth will perish. Since Jesus is the Creator and the angels were created beings, then Jesus is superior to angels.
1:13 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”?
Seventh, the author quoted from Psalm 110:1. In the ancient world, the one who sits on the king’s right hand was an equal king. When one king came to visit another, he would sit at the host king’s right hand.
Jesus will sit at the right hand until God the Father eliminates all the enemies of Jesus. This promise was never made to any angel. Therefore, Jesus is superior to angels.
1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, because His work is finished. However, angels are ministering spirits who are still busily working to aid others who inherit salvation.
The Bible does not teach guardian angels, but it does teach that angels perform services for those who inherit salvation. Matthew 18:10 states this care begins at infancy. In Psalm 91:11, these angels continue their assistance throughout the life of the believer. They guard the believer to make sure that nothing happens to them outside the will of God. Angels observe what believers say (Eccl. 5:6), they observe believer’s sufferings (1 Cor. 4:9), they observe what believer’s wear (1 Cor. 11:10), and they escort believers to heaven (Lk. 16:22).