Two of my friends and I have decided to go through the book of Hebrews. Taking one chapter per week to see what we can learn from the text and to give us a better understanding of the text. I will continue to post regularly like normal but will also start to exegete the book of Hebrews. I hope it is not boring to you wonderful people called of God.
Hebrews 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 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?
Verse 1 through 4-GOD has now spoke to us through his SON. I immediately upon reading this thought of the parable of The Rich man and Lazarus(Luke 16:19-31). I am sure you all are very familiar with this text in which Christ said, "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Spoke to the fathers by the prophets-Fathers means generator or male ancestor in which the message was related to them by the prophets in Old Testament times. This is also a popular text that can be used to refute the Jehovah's Witnesses when it comes to the Deity and CHRIST being the 2nd Person the Trinity in which it says, "whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds" Christ is very much God and has always been with the Father and had a hand in creation. This is why in the Old Testament when God is spoke of the word is plural. The word is 'elohiym. Later it talks about Christ being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. I wrote of this earlier and this is where we get the(hypostasis) Hypostatic union. Christ being 100% man and 100% God. HE and HE alone has made the only efficacious propitiation for our sins. Having become so much better than the angels speaks in reference to the fact that the Bible says HE was made lower than the angels but not a change in state(still fully God and man) but rather a change of existence. He was lowered to a humble state to complete the will of God to be later raised to His rightful place after the atoning work He did for our sins.
Verse 5-14 These are direct quotes from Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14 speaking of the uniqueness of Christ. The firstborn is the same Greek word used here-Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the (prōtotokos)firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. Another confirmation of Jesus being very much God is the fact that in this text He is worthy of worship. Only God is scripture is worthy of worship. At times in scripture people were sharply rebuked for even thinking of worshipping an angel. Verse 14 regarding the angels-Simply states that angels are ministering spirits to aid us in our journey to be with Christ. A reference scripture is Matt 18:10 a different topic speaking of the seriousness of how we should view sin. But here it also talks about angels being of assistance with our journey to Heaven to be with Christ.
In essence the first chapter in Hebrews is a clear view of the superiority of Christ over created beings like angels and the superiority of Christ compared to the prophets in the Old Testament. Christ is fully God and humbled himself to later being exalted and to have a name above every name.
Phil 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
