Hebrews 1:5-14

Hebrews 1:5-14

In the second session of our study of Hebrews, the preacher of Hebrews is building a case for Jesus being superior to the Angels.  He quotes from several OT passages is demonstrating that the second person of the Trinity, the Eternal Word, has always been and will always be, God.  My notes follow the video

Hebrews 1:5-14

1. Thesis of this section: Jesus is better than the angels.
2. Why does this matter (David Guzik’s study guide to Hebrews)?
1. Because we often best understand things when they are set in contrast to other things.
2. Because the Old Covenant came by the hands of angels to Moses, but a better covenant came by a better being, Jesus. It might have been easy for first century Jews to dismiss the gospel thinking it came at the hands of mere men - the apostles. But here we see the Divine (superior to angelic) coming of the gospel.
3. Because there was a dangerous tendency to worship angels developing in the early Church (Colossians 2:18, Galatians 1:8), and Hebrews shows that Jesus is high above any angel.
4. Because there was the heretical idea that Jesus Himself was an angel, a concept which degrades His glory and majesty.
5. Because understanding how Jesus is better than the angels helps us to understand how He is better than any of the "competitors" to Him in our lives.
3. Vs. 5 “You are my son.  Today I have begotten you.”
1. Ps. 2:7
2. Not origin.  The son was already living to have heard the phrase from the Father.  
3. One possibility.  Some event marked the beginning of the “Father-Son” relationship.
1. Incarnation? Phil 2:6-8; John 5:19
2. Baptism? Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; Matt 3:17
3. Resurrection? Romans 1:4
4. Another: The context in Psalm 2 is the eternal decree of God centering around the triumph Messiah in Rev 19, and the language that seems temporal is figurative.  Jesus is eternally in a father-son relationship that has always meant submission of his will and equality of his character.
1. “Only Begotten” G. Monogenes, One of a kind.  Unique.
2. Always used an illustration of equality of substance with God the Father
1. John 1:14,18
2. John 3:16, 18
3. Hebrews 11:17
3. In God’s creation, something is always begotten “after its kind,”
1. Gen 1
2. Jesus, begotten of the Father, is of the same kind as the Father. That’s the point.
4. VS 5. I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a son
1. 2 Sam 7:16.  Davidic covenant
2. One level of interpretation is that it applies to Solomon, but Solomon does not fulfill the all of the passage.
3. Christ alone is the final fulfillment of Messianic Kingship.
5. Vs. 6
1. “Again” modifies “brings,” not an introduction as in vs 5.
1. “And when he again brings the firstborn into the world”
2. Messianic Kingdom is in view here. Eschatological.
2. “Firstborn” again, does not talk about origin.
1. Positional title. One who will inherit
2. Gen 43:3; E. 4:22;
3. Some people not born first are given the title as a position (David in Ps 89:27; Ephriam in Jer 31:9.
4. God himself is called by the rabbis “Firstborn of the World” in that he has rights to all things.
5. Jesus is uncreated (John 1:1; Col 1:15)
3. “World” is “inhabited earth,” not kosmos or even gar.
1. Used most frequently of the roman empire.
2. The renewed Roman empire of antichrist will be invaded by Messiah, and in that invasion, he will be worshiped.
3. Rev 19:1-10
4. Let all God’s angels worship him
1. Not a direct quote from the manuscripts which make up any modern version.
2. Quoted from the LXX in Ps 97:7 and Deut 32:43.  The Septuagint was scripture to the author of Hebrews.
6. Vs 7: Of angels..
1. Quote from Psalm 104:4
2. Transient nature of angels believed by Jews.  Sent in whatever form is necessary for their assignment.
3. Wind=spirit.  Here, “Wind” is better, Of course they are spirits.
4. Flames of fire:
1. With Manoa (Judges 13)
2. Seraphim=flaming ones.
7. Vs 8: of the Son…
1. Quote is of Ps 45:6-7.
2. One of a few places where the Father calls the Son “God.” If He does, why shouldn't we?
3. Also of Messianic importance.  Kingdom of Jesus on earth in Millennium.
4. Uprightness, holiness in contrast to lawlessness.
5. Anointing in general, and the oil of gladness in particular, represent the Holy Spirit.  Trinity present in this picture.
6. Preposition should be “with your companions,” not “beyond.”
1. Supremacy of Jesus is well-demonstrated, but this is speaking of his communion with all the saints.  
2. The H.S. is poured out on him and also on us, members of His Kingdom.
8. Vs 10-12:
1. Creation and eschatone bookends to the power and activity of Jesus.
2. 2nd law of thermodynamics present in these verses.  All the verbs for degredation are ongoing present participles.  
1. perish→ are being destroyed
2. are wearing out
3. The universe is running down and needs to be replaced with an eternal version. (Rev 21-22)
3. Jesus is eternal, in juxtaposition to a universe that is running down.
1. But you are! the same
2. your years will have no fading out or growing dim. Similar sense as to what the universe does, but God (Jesus) will not.
9. Vs 13
1. Psalm 110:1
2. He has never elevated an angel to co-regent. Nor can any other being share his throne.
3. Sit out of my right [hand].  Jesus and the Father are of the same substance. His place of honor is because he is one with the Father.
4. Not “beside him”
1. Deut 4:35-39
2. Deut6:4
3. Deut 32:39
4. 2 Sam 7:22
5. 1 Chor 17:20
6. Isa 43:10-11
7. Isa 44:6-8
8. Isa 45:21
5. All of Christ’s enemies will be destroyed 1Cor 15:24-28
6. Then, Jesus will give the universe back to the Father, restored.  
7. Then, the end will come.
10. Vs 14:
1. Service is so emphasized in the Greek, “For are they not all spirits in holy service, being sent out in service of those who are inheriting salvation?”
2. They are active in the work of the kingdom on behalf of the saints.