Post by arete on Feb 19, 2014 20:52:48 GMT
Introduction:
It has been said that repetition is the key to all learning (Robert Bruner)… It has been said that repetition is the key to all learning… If so, then the author to Hebrews wants us to really learn something about the Son. He will be repeating much of what he said in his introduction, but he will be saying it by relying on the authority and proof of Scripture. He will be teaching us again that the Son is superior in every way and to everything and he will be reinforcing what he says with seven portions of the Old Testament…
Context:
The author of Hebrews began this book by founding his writing on the fundamental reality of God and focusing on the superiority of God’s Son. The Son is ultimate fulfillment of God’s revelation of himself to man. The Son is the Creator. The Son is the exact imprint and the perfect radiance of God and his glory. The Son is the Savior. The Son is superior, sits at the right hand of God and is lofty over the angels. From this opening premise, the author of Hebrews now proves his assertions by referencing the past revelation from God. God has spoken, the author reminded us. Now we join the author as he shows what God has spoken and emphasizes the superiority of the Son over all things, even the angels…
Body – 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?
The Standing of Angels (vv. 5-7)
The Jewish faith held angels in high regard. They were spiritual messengers bringing the Word of God or working as extensions to God’s will. As such, they should be held in high regard. But in that age, like this one, some people came close to worshiping these messengers or attributing to them the glory owned by God alone. Playing off this, the author wants to strike home the fact that the Son is superior in every way and is in fact God.
The author asks a rhetorical question about angels and references Psalm 2 (v. 5a). To which angel did God say this? Not one of them. Psalm 2 was known to be a Messianic prophecy. The term begotten is tied to the first verses establishing eternal nature of the Son. He is eternally begotten; the angels aren’t.
The angels are not the unique Son of God (2 Samuel 7:14) (v. 5b). The author wants us to really get this into our head and heart. The reference here was first spoken in regards to David’s son, Solomon. Jesus Christ is the true descendant and perfect heir to David’s throne. No angel is the messianic king.
The angels owe worship to the firstborn Son (Deuteronomy 32:43) (v. 6). From Deuteronomy 32 and a Psalm 97, it is emphasized that only God can be worshiped – and for the angels to be directed by God to worship the Son – the Son is God. Also, the word, “firstborn” carries a lot of weight. It is the same term that reminds us that the Son is: the firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15; 18); the firstborn from the dead Rev. 1:5); and the firstborn of many brothers (Rom. 8:29). These are unique ministries of the unique Son
The angels are created beings (Psalm 104:4) (v. 7). This reference to Psalm 104 is focusing on the word, “makes”. The idea is that the angels have substance and ministry from God and are created beings to fulfill those things. The Son is the creator and is superior to the created.
Illustration:
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (Colossians 1:18)
Application:
Jesus Christ is superior and worthy of worship because of who He is. He is the firstborn of all creation. He is the firstborn from the dead. He is the firstborn of many brothers. He is the unique and eternal Son of God.
The Superiority of the Son (part 2) (vv. 8-12)
The author makes it clear that the Son is different, superior, to the angels (v. 8a). He marks this contrast with “but”. He also continues with Scripture references and underscores that when we read the Scriptures, we are hearing what God has said.
The Son is God (the angels aren’t) (vv. 8b-9)
1. The author clearly identifies the Son as God (v. 8b). The reference is Psalm 45 and is written to the king of Israel. The Son is the true heir to the kingdom. The author of Hebrews takes a portion written to God and applies it to the Son. This is one of the many clear statements of the divinity of the Son and his divine attributes of eternality and total sovereignty. The Son is forever, his authority over all things is absolute, and his authority is forever.
2. God, the Son, is perfectly holy (v.9). He loves righteousness. He hates wickedness. Because of who he is, God anointed him with the oil of gladness in an honor that surpasses any other honor of anyone or anything anywhere. The Father proclaims the superiority of the Son.
The Son is the Creator and sustainer of all things (the angels aren’t) (vv. 10-12).
1. The Son is the creator from the beginning (vv. 10-11). This is from Psalm 102. The name for God is applied to the Son. Again, we are confronted with the Son’s godhood. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth. The created order will perish; it will end. Like a garment, creation will wear out and will one day be changed – a veiled reference to the future new heaven & new earth.
2. The Son is not part of the Creation (v. 12). Continuing in Psalm 102, the author highlights the main difference between the Son and everything else. One is the Creator; the rest is the created. The Son is forever. He has no beginning. He has no end. He is wholly other, wholly different than his creation. He is superior.
Illustration:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4 ESV)
Application:
Jesus Christ is superior and worthy of worship because He is our Creator. He is God. He is Sovereign. He is the One who made us and owns us. He is the lover of righteousness and hater of all wickedness. He is loftier than anything in creation. He is also the One who will rule over the end and create a new heaven and new earth. He is the eternal God.
The Service of Angels (vv. 13-14)
The author returns again to angels and the fact the Son is superior to them (v. 13a). The speaker again is God and the Scriptures are God’s voice to us.
The angels are not seated by God (v. 13b). The Scripture is from Psalm 110. The angels serve God before his throne. As such, like servants, they would not be seated in their Lord’s presence. The Son, however, is seated at God’s right hand. Also, all who refuse to bow before the Son as Lord, Creator, and Savior will one day be made to bow down.
The author began this section with a question. He ends it with another (v. 14). The question is again rhetorical and is meant to emphasize the superiority of the Son. Angels are ministering spirits. They are tasked with serving those who have inherited salvation. This is an important ministry. However, it still pales in comparison to the ministry of the Son who is the one who makes salvation possible.
Illustration:
Jesus, who died for thy sins, is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. We can never ascribe too much to Jesus. But He is worthy also to be believed… to be trusted with all, for all, before all; to be loved more than any other;... to be followed, wherever He may lead us, through evil report or good report; to be preferred to ease, pleasure, wealth, health, to anything and everything. Jesus is worthy to be our example, our confidant, our king, and our all. He is worthy of all He requires, all we can give, all His people have done for Him or suffered in His cause. – Puritan James Smith
Application:
Jesus Christ is superior and worthy of worship because He is both Lord and Savior. He sits at God’s right hand. His enemies will be laid low. Those he saves are ministered to by his servants, the angels.
So What? What does this mean for us? How shall we live? What are we to believe?
Apart from Scripture, all belief is mere emotion and opinion. By all means, we should be emotional in our belief; we should have informed opinion on what we believe and why. Like the author of Hebrews, our emotion and opinion on faith is only as good as its foundation. The author has founded his teachings on Christ firmly and fully upon the Scriptures. Only believe and trust in matters of faith and life those things that are based on the truth of God’s word. Never put stock in anything that contradicts the Word. Be certain you know what you believe about God, Jesus Christ, his will, salvation, and a life of faith and where in the Scriptures God says…
Awe of Christ is a good and precious thing. “It is distressing that today the church is so seldom excited or overwhelmed with Jesus” (Louis Evans). In faith, we can too easily let ourselves grow accustomed to Christ and treat him with lukewarm affections. Passages like Hebrews should stir within us the passion and fire of the love we have toward our Savior. When your worship and adoration for Jesus Christ cools, turn to the Scriptures and to God in pray to inflame you again. Pray that God so stir that flame of love that you ignite other believers and shine Christ’s light to the lost who need such a Savior so desperately.
Finally, let us see the cliffhanger the author leaves us in at the close of chapter 1. If the Son is so much loftier than angels, then he is so far beyond us, who can hope to know him and have a relationship with him. The holy angels are as perfect as a created being can be. If Christ is so vastly superior to them, and he is, then he is so far beyond us we could be tempted to despair as to, “Who then can be saved?” The stage is set. Read ahead if your curiosity is aroused. See the wonder of the incarnation and how Jesus Christ stooped so low as to be among us, to take on our humanity and to save us from our sins.
Benediction:
"For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6 NRSV)
It has been said that repetition is the key to all learning (Robert Bruner)… It has been said that repetition is the key to all learning… If so, then the author to Hebrews wants us to really learn something about the Son. He will be repeating much of what he said in his introduction, but he will be saying it by relying on the authority and proof of Scripture. He will be teaching us again that the Son is superior in every way and to everything and he will be reinforcing what he says with seven portions of the Old Testament…
Context:
The author of Hebrews began this book by founding his writing on the fundamental reality of God and focusing on the superiority of God’s Son. The Son is ultimate fulfillment of God’s revelation of himself to man. The Son is the Creator. The Son is the exact imprint and the perfect radiance of God and his glory. The Son is the Savior. The Son is superior, sits at the right hand of God and is lofty over the angels. From this opening premise, the author of Hebrews now proves his assertions by referencing the past revelation from God. God has spoken, the author reminded us. Now we join the author as he shows what God has spoken and emphasizes the superiority of the Son over all things, even the angels…
Body – 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?
The Standing of Angels (vv. 5-7)
The Jewish faith held angels in high regard. They were spiritual messengers bringing the Word of God or working as extensions to God’s will. As such, they should be held in high regard. But in that age, like this one, some people came close to worshiping these messengers or attributing to them the glory owned by God alone. Playing off this, the author wants to strike home the fact that the Son is superior in every way and is in fact God.
The author asks a rhetorical question about angels and references Psalm 2 (v. 5a). To which angel did God say this? Not one of them. Psalm 2 was known to be a Messianic prophecy. The term begotten is tied to the first verses establishing eternal nature of the Son. He is eternally begotten; the angels aren’t.
The angels are not the unique Son of God (2 Samuel 7:14) (v. 5b). The author wants us to really get this into our head and heart. The reference here was first spoken in regards to David’s son, Solomon. Jesus Christ is the true descendant and perfect heir to David’s throne. No angel is the messianic king.
The angels owe worship to the firstborn Son (Deuteronomy 32:43) (v. 6). From Deuteronomy 32 and a Psalm 97, it is emphasized that only God can be worshiped – and for the angels to be directed by God to worship the Son – the Son is God. Also, the word, “firstborn” carries a lot of weight. It is the same term that reminds us that the Son is: the firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15; 18); the firstborn from the dead Rev. 1:5); and the firstborn of many brothers (Rom. 8:29). These are unique ministries of the unique Son
The angels are created beings (Psalm 104:4) (v. 7). This reference to Psalm 104 is focusing on the word, “makes”. The idea is that the angels have substance and ministry from God and are created beings to fulfill those things. The Son is the creator and is superior to the created.
Illustration:
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (Colossians 1:18)
Application:
Jesus Christ is superior and worthy of worship because of who He is. He is the firstborn of all creation. He is the firstborn from the dead. He is the firstborn of many brothers. He is the unique and eternal Son of God.
The Superiority of the Son (part 2) (vv. 8-12)
The author makes it clear that the Son is different, superior, to the angels (v. 8a). He marks this contrast with “but”. He also continues with Scripture references and underscores that when we read the Scriptures, we are hearing what God has said.
The Son is God (the angels aren’t) (vv. 8b-9)
1. The author clearly identifies the Son as God (v. 8b). The reference is Psalm 45 and is written to the king of Israel. The Son is the true heir to the kingdom. The author of Hebrews takes a portion written to God and applies it to the Son. This is one of the many clear statements of the divinity of the Son and his divine attributes of eternality and total sovereignty. The Son is forever, his authority over all things is absolute, and his authority is forever.
2. God, the Son, is perfectly holy (v.9). He loves righteousness. He hates wickedness. Because of who he is, God anointed him with the oil of gladness in an honor that surpasses any other honor of anyone or anything anywhere. The Father proclaims the superiority of the Son.
The Son is the Creator and sustainer of all things (the angels aren’t) (vv. 10-12).
1. The Son is the creator from the beginning (vv. 10-11). This is from Psalm 102. The name for God is applied to the Son. Again, we are confronted with the Son’s godhood. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth. The created order will perish; it will end. Like a garment, creation will wear out and will one day be changed – a veiled reference to the future new heaven & new earth.
2. The Son is not part of the Creation (v. 12). Continuing in Psalm 102, the author highlights the main difference between the Son and everything else. One is the Creator; the rest is the created. The Son is forever. He has no beginning. He has no end. He is wholly other, wholly different than his creation. He is superior.
Illustration:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4 ESV)
Application:
Jesus Christ is superior and worthy of worship because He is our Creator. He is God. He is Sovereign. He is the One who made us and owns us. He is the lover of righteousness and hater of all wickedness. He is loftier than anything in creation. He is also the One who will rule over the end and create a new heaven and new earth. He is the eternal God.
The Service of Angels (vv. 13-14)
The author returns again to angels and the fact the Son is superior to them (v. 13a). The speaker again is God and the Scriptures are God’s voice to us.
The angels are not seated by God (v. 13b). The Scripture is from Psalm 110. The angels serve God before his throne. As such, like servants, they would not be seated in their Lord’s presence. The Son, however, is seated at God’s right hand. Also, all who refuse to bow before the Son as Lord, Creator, and Savior will one day be made to bow down.
The author began this section with a question. He ends it with another (v. 14). The question is again rhetorical and is meant to emphasize the superiority of the Son. Angels are ministering spirits. They are tasked with serving those who have inherited salvation. This is an important ministry. However, it still pales in comparison to the ministry of the Son who is the one who makes salvation possible.
Illustration:
Jesus, who died for thy sins, is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. We can never ascribe too much to Jesus. But He is worthy also to be believed… to be trusted with all, for all, before all; to be loved more than any other;... to be followed, wherever He may lead us, through evil report or good report; to be preferred to ease, pleasure, wealth, health, to anything and everything. Jesus is worthy to be our example, our confidant, our king, and our all. He is worthy of all He requires, all we can give, all His people have done for Him or suffered in His cause. – Puritan James Smith
Application:
Jesus Christ is superior and worthy of worship because He is both Lord and Savior. He sits at God’s right hand. His enemies will be laid low. Those he saves are ministered to by his servants, the angels.
So What? What does this mean for us? How shall we live? What are we to believe?
Apart from Scripture, all belief is mere emotion and opinion. By all means, we should be emotional in our belief; we should have informed opinion on what we believe and why. Like the author of Hebrews, our emotion and opinion on faith is only as good as its foundation. The author has founded his teachings on Christ firmly and fully upon the Scriptures. Only believe and trust in matters of faith and life those things that are based on the truth of God’s word. Never put stock in anything that contradicts the Word. Be certain you know what you believe about God, Jesus Christ, his will, salvation, and a life of faith and where in the Scriptures God says…
Awe of Christ is a good and precious thing. “It is distressing that today the church is so seldom excited or overwhelmed with Jesus” (Louis Evans). In faith, we can too easily let ourselves grow accustomed to Christ and treat him with lukewarm affections. Passages like Hebrews should stir within us the passion and fire of the love we have toward our Savior. When your worship and adoration for Jesus Christ cools, turn to the Scriptures and to God in pray to inflame you again. Pray that God so stir that flame of love that you ignite other believers and shine Christ’s light to the lost who need such a Savior so desperately.
Finally, let us see the cliffhanger the author leaves us in at the close of chapter 1. If the Son is so much loftier than angels, then he is so far beyond us, who can hope to know him and have a relationship with him. The holy angels are as perfect as a created being can be. If Christ is so vastly superior to them, and he is, then he is so far beyond us we could be tempted to despair as to, “Who then can be saved?” The stage is set. Read ahead if your curiosity is aroused. See the wonder of the incarnation and how Jesus Christ stooped so low as to be among us, to take on our humanity and to save us from our sins.
Benediction:
"For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6 NRSV)