Hebrews 1

Hebrews Chapter One

Make sure you get last week’s intro to Hebrews.  In what ways are we like the Hebrews? ____________________   __________________

unlike ? ________________   ________________  __________________

vs 1.  In the past God spoke ... through the prophets...   What was the role of the Old Testament prophet?  Luke16:16  How is it different from that of the New Testament prophet? 

Can you recall some of the many times and various ways?

vs 2. What are the last days?     spoke through prophets   has spoken in Son

Here is the first great contrast.  It doesn't downplay the prophets but contrasts the fullness in Son. It's not a break from the old but a consummation of the old.  The lack of an article before Son points to his character.  It is not through him but all that He is, did, said that God gave us the final revelation of Himself.  John 14:9

Heir of all: Ps 2:8; instrument of creation - Colossians 1:16,17 in and through!

We cannot translate ‘poieo’ into one word (made), it includes: produce, build, bring about, operate and to arrange in order.

vs3.  radiance  outshining of a luminous body. Vincent says, "The Son is the out-raying of the divine glory, exhibiting in Himself the glory and majesty of the divine Being."  Weis explains, "God lets His glory issue from Himself, so that there arises thereby a light-being like Himself."

exact representation  ‘Charakter’ coin mint, branding iron, impress, (it makes an exact image of the original) The Greeks used it as an idiom for a person's look alike features.

sustaining all things by his powerful word  From galaxies to subatomic particles, all space and time is held together in Christ. (Colossians 1:17)

after he had provided purification for sins,  he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  The real mind bender is the incarnation.  Once you can accept that, this follows as a matter of course.  His life and mission on earth were completed when He provided purification (aorist tense meaning a once and for all act) for sin. He sits (it is finished! As opposed to the priests who stood to minister) there now, in a body that paid our penalty in full declaring us to be rightful brothers and heirs. 

In this passage, we are given eight reasons Jesus is superior to the prophets 1.heir of all 2.creating agent of time and history 3. outshining of God's glory 4. exactly represents God to us 5.all we see is because his word keeps it so 6. the One who alone frees from sin 7. absolute Sovereign 8. our intercessor

Why would anyone want to go back to the office of a prophet when we have Messiah?

Son Superior to Angels

Angels have at least 4 functions: 1 They continually worship and serve God. (Job 38:7; Psalm 103:20; Revelation 5:9-12) 2 They communicate God’s message to man. (Daniel 10:10-15; Matthew 1:19-24; Luke 2:9-12; Acts 7:38, 53) 3 They minister to believers Psalm 34:7, including  jail breaks Acts 5:19, rejoicing over their salvation Luke 15:10, and present in the Church 1Corinthians 11:10, watching us with interest 1Corinthians 4:9, and escorting us home after this life Luke 16:22. 4 They help in the resurrection of the saints and in executing God’s wrath Matthew 24:31; 1Thessalonians 4:16-17; Matthew 13:39-42; Revelation 19:17-18; 20:1-3. (Read quote from CS Lewis’ Screwtape’s toast.)

vs 4. But Jesus is infinitely superior to them because the name He inherited is superior to theirs. Colossians 2:18, Revelation 22:8,9  angel simply means messenger, mediators of the Law, between God and man. Philippians 2:6-8 but the Son has rights and privileges. The name was announced at His birth (Luke 1:32) at His baptism (Mark 1:11) at the transfiguration (Luke 9:35) and in resurrection (Romans1:4)

vs5. Son Psalm 2:7, angels as sons Job 1:6, Ps 89:6, collectively but not individually.   2Samuel 7:13-14

vs6. Deuteronomy 32:43  LXX  includes the phrase (and let all the angels worship Him) Revelation 19:10; 22:9  If they worship him he must be vastly superior!

'begotten' is not birth but rank or position Psalm 89:27 1:4 Clark translates the 'again' as the Second Coming. Refer back to Romans 1:4

vs 7. Psalm 104:4 LXX  makes his angels winds, flames (variable nature to fit assigned task) Remember the story of Manoah? Judges 13:20

vs 8,9  Psalm 45:6,7   In Psalm 45 the Messiah is designated as God.  The joy came through suffering  - 12:2 as often does ours  12:3-11  Get a new picture of Jesus, He is more joyful than any one you've ever met. Do you think of Him that way?

vs10-12  Psalm 102:25-27  Creation is subject to change and decay but not the Creator!  Angels are creation; Jesus is the unchanging Creator.

vs 13-14  Psalm110:1  Be sitting  a permanent place. (from) my right hand - exercising power and authority with God.  Angels serve heirs of salvation, Jesus’ brothers and sisters. 

How does this chapter relate to our world today?  Hebrews 13:2

To you personally?

Do you know a story of angelic intervention? 

Why does he quote so many Old Testament passages?

Why is our world so wrapped up with angel encounters?

What should our focus be?