CHAPTER ONE

OVERVIEW:

Commentary on Hebrews, by John Gill

intention of this epistle being to demonstrate the superior excellency of the Gospel revelation to the legal one, the apostle begins with the divine author of it, in which they both agree, and observes that in other things they differ. The revelation under the law was made in times past, the Gospel revelation in these last days; the former was made top the Jewish fathers that were of old, the latter to the then present apostles; the one was made at sundry times, and in divers manners, the other was made at once, and in one way; the one was made by the prophets of the Lord, the other by his own son (vv. 1,b2), and therefore the latter must be the more excellent; in proof of which the author enlarges on the character of the son of God, with respect to his person, office, and glory; showing that he is heir of all things, the Maker of the worlds, of the same nature and glory with his father; is omnipotent, and upholds all things by the word of his power; is the High-priest of his people, who has made satisfaction for their sins, and purged them from them, and is now at the right had of God (vv. 2, 3). He goes on to prove that he is more excellent than the angels, by a variety of arguments, and these supported by testimonies from the Scriptures; as that he has a more excellent name than any of them, being called the Son of God (vv. 4,5), which is proved from Psalm 2:7; 2 Samuel 7:12-16. that he is the object of the worship of angels (v. 6), which is required of them, Psalm 97:7. that he is their Maker and creator (v. 7), which appears from Psalm 104:4. that he has an everlasting kingdom, is a righteous king, and is richly anointed above his fellows (vv. 8, 9), which is the sense of some passages in Psalm 14:6,7, and that he is the founder and former of the heavens, and of the earth, and will endure when they shall not (vv. 10, 11, 12), which is confirmed by testimonies out of Psalm 102:25, 26, 27, that he sits at the right hand of God, where none of the angels were ever admitted, (v. 13), as is clear from Psalm 110. and besides, the angels, as they are ministers made by him, they are sent out from him to wait on his people, the heirs of salvation, and minister to them, and therefore he must be greater than they are (v. 14).

 Hebrews 1:1‑14

OUTLINE OF HEBREWS
Part One: The Superiority of Christ’s Person (1:1-4:13)

INTRODUCTION: Hebrews 1:1-3 [Gods Perfect Spokesman]

The superiority of Christ is demonstrated through a number of contrasts. First, Jesus is contrasted with the Old Testament prophets.

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

·                    “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners” - “The God (who) of old (times past) in many portions (little by little) and in many ways”; Because of man’s limited ability to comprehend, God has chosen to reveal himself to humanity, little by little. He disclosed himself at times through the Law, and then again through Prophecy, Types, Shadows, Sacrifices, Visions, Dreams, Audible Voice, and Angels.

·                    “Spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets” - Spoke (is “having spoken) to the fathers (of us) by (means or agency of) the prophets...what did they speak of... the testimony of Jesus Christ as the spirit, object, and essence of all prophecy, which pointed to the coming Messiah, the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. For “To him give all the prophets witness,”

Þ      Acts 10:43— “43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

1.      “In time Past” - God spoke “originally” through the prophets to our forefathers.

2.      “Unto the fathers” - the patriarchs [patria means fathers] [arch means high](the “high fathers” or the founding fathers)

3.      “By the Prophets” - The prophets became the agents whereby God spoke...to the generations [the word prophet in the Greek means “to before see.”] Note that the words prophets and fathers are in the plural...God spoke to many and not just one.

·                    “In divers manners” - “in many ways” or “various ways”…

1.      In other words, God’s revelation did not come all at once, but progressively at different times and in different ways by means of visions, dreams, symbols, and the like.

2.      So God has clearly revealed Himself as One who “speaks”; that is, He communicates His will to mankind! What He revealed through His prophets “in time past” is now superseded the message that comes from the One that is far superior to the prophets…

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

·                    “Hath in these last days spoken unto us” - Spoke to us in these last days.

1.      Our Creator, our refuge, our daily sustaining God, has condescended to speak to us in these “last days,” days of the Gentile era and church age. This God spoke audibly from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him,”

2.      Literally, “at the end of these days,” which may be understood to mean either;

(a)    The closing of the Jewish period or age

(b)   The period of the Messiah…this denotes the final phase of history, brought on by the first coming of Christ, continuing until his second coming and the consummation of all things.

Þ      Hebrews 9:26— “26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Þ      1 Peter 1:20— “20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”

Þ      1 Corinthians 10:11— “11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

·                    “By his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things” - In (a) Son (manner), (Even by him) whom he appointed, assigned, or designed heir—heir restorer of all things...The Father “Loved the Son and committed all things into his hands,”…In other words, God has sent His Son to speak for Him…as wonderful as the prophets were, how can they compare to God’s own Son?

Þ      John 3:35— “35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”

There is no contrast because God’s Son is perfect and “appointed heir of all things.” What does “all things” include?

1.      All that the Father has.

Þ      John 16:15— “15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

2.      The authority to raise and judge the dead.

Þ      John 5:26-29— “26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

3.      The authority to rule in heaven and on earth.

Þ      Matthew 28:18— “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

4.      The authority that Christ possess now.

Þ      Acts 2:36— “36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Þ      Acts 10:36— “36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)”

Þ      Ephesians 1:20-22— “20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”

Þ      1 Peter 3:22— “22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”

Þ      Revelation 1:5— “5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

·                    “By whom also he made the worlds” - Through whom even or also he made, formed, fixed, or laid out the ages; NOT ONLY the “Heir” but the “Creator”!

Þ      John 1:1-3— “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Þ      1 Corinthians 8:6— “6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

Þ      Colossians 1:16— “16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

Jesus was the agent of the lay-out of the ages, the person by whom all creation came to exist. Not only were all things made by Him but they were made for Him.

1.      “These last days” - {eschaton} The rabbinic term indicated the time of the Messiah...”the last of these days.” Implies the last in order that is this period of the church...God’s last in order with his dealings with the world.

2.      “Spoken” - The aorist tense used in both God’s speaking by the prophets and also His speaking by Christ indicates that God has finished speaking in both cases.

3.      “By [his] Son” - instrumentality...everything flows through the Son.

4.      “Heir” - “assigned one” legally of all things. The word “heir” is derived from the term “lot” and referred to a situation in which lots were drawn to divide property or select a winner; the one who drew the lot was the heir. The word came to be used for dividing the property that a father left to his children when he died. When there was only one son, there would be only one heir. Christ is the heir of all things precisely because God has one Son and only one heir.

5.      “By whom also he made the worlds” - “made” is aorist tense which means that God at a point in time made all the ongoing ages.

3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

·                    “Who being the brightness of his glory” - Who being (existing as) the radiance of his glory. This radiance was perhaps reflected in Christ most fully before men on the mount of transfiguration. The active meaning has the idea of emitting brightness and the meaning is that shekinah glory of God radiated from Christ. Glory (doxa) refers to the brilliant radiancy from the person of God. Jesus is the very radiance of God’s glory.

Þ      John 1:14— “14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

·                    “And the express image of his person” - And the representation of his reality of being. The very character and attributes of God’s existence were visibly, audibly, and physically expressed in the person of Jesus Christ, so that Jesus declared, “I and my Father are one,” one in nature and essence being and existence.

Þ      Colossians 2:9— “9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Þ      Timothy 3:16 — “16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Þ      John 17:22 — “22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

1.      To Thomas Jesus would say:

Þ      John 14:7— “7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

2.      To Philip Jesus would say:

Þ      John 14:9— “9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

            EXPRESS IMAGE {an exact reproduction}: For the phrase “express image’ there is a single word in the original, a word transferred and familiar in our own language...that word is “character.” It is formed from the word signifying to sharpen, then to scratch or furrow with a sharp instrument, to write, to engrave. Our term, therefore, means a writing or engraving, and in this sense we often use it. So, also, as a form is engraved on a seal, and then stamped upon wax, the word indicates a figure stamped upon wax or soft metal. The figure impressed is precisely like the engraving and which determines it. The word accordingly signifies likeness. Then, from the notion of likeness it extends to that of sameness, so that we say of one’s combined qualities, they constitute his character, and more emphatically the character is the man. It is the man revealed and known. The Son of God is, then, the revelation of the person of God. Jesus Christ is God’s very Self revealed and known. He could say of Himself truly, as He said, “He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me.”

1.      “Brightness” - radiance (reflection) Christ is the reflection of God...Christ is the One ever existing as the radiance of God.

2.      “The express image” - exact characterization...the exact likeness or full expression of God’s very being.

3.      “Upholding all things by the word of his power” - upholding is a pres. act. part. which means that Christ is constantly upholding or that he always “carries about” all things. The concept is dynamic and not static...Christ’s work of upholding involves not only support, but also movement. Christ is the One who carries all things forward on their appointed course. Christ is the “Sustainer” of the universe!

Þ      Colossians 1:17— “17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

4.      “By the word of His power” - dative of instrument The “Word” is the means of His power!!! Power has the idea of ability. Christ is the one constantly holding up all things by the content of His ability [all He has to do is say he word and the universe is no more!]

5.      “Purged” - purification...Christ by Himself made us clean. “When he had” the aorist tense points to a completed action. Action that occurred before the purification. This is a clear reference of His death on the cross for our sins and speaks of His role as the “Redeemer.”

6.      “Majesty” - greatness of God on High...in heaven. Here Jesus sits and reigns.

Þ      Ephesians 1:21-22— “20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”

Þ      1 Peter 3:22— “22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”

CONCLUSION: God is clearly a God who speaks and by so doing makes His will known to mankind. He now speaks through His Son who is the appointed Heir of all things; the Creator; the brightness of God’s glory; the express image of His person; our Sustainer, Redeemer, and KING!

Þ      Matthew 17:5— “5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

INTRODUCTION: Hebrews 1:4-14 [Jesus’ Superiority to Angels]

Since the purpose of “The Epistle to the Hebrews” is to show the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant to the Law of Moses it is necessary that the “writer” has something to say about angels [Angels were an important part of the Jewish religion and appear throughout the history of Israel]. So it is that we find the comparison of the Son of God to the prophets of God followed by a comparison to the angels {Hebrews 1:4-14}.

The premise is clearly stated that the Son (Jesus) is “much better than the angles” and the reason in a nutshell is that “He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” The title “Son” is only given to Jesus and He alone can properly wear this name. Angels may be called “sons of God” collectively (Job 1:6), but no angel can be called “Son of God” individually! As evidence for the superiority of Jesus over angels, the “author” proceeds to offer scriptural support from the Old Testament.

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

·                    “Being made so much better than angels” - Christ is better in dignity and authority than angels; For angels are to worship and serve him in time and eternity.

Þ      Matthew 4:10-11— “10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.;”

Þ      Luke 22:43— “43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”}…the idea is that of superiority in dignity or worth or advantage...the fundamental idea being power and not goodness.

1.      Kartos- better, superior; The word is characteristic of this epistle and the idea is that of superiority in dignity, worth, or advantage. The fundamental idea being that of power and not of goodness.

2.      When Christ was risen from the dead, and ascended to heaven, He was placed at the right hand of God, where nobody else ever was placed or ever will be. Therefore, the age of Christ is superior to the past ages.

·                    “As he hath by inheritance obtained” - As (since or because) he has inherited (from his Father), an heir-setting, a right to the ownership jurisdiction, to rule and to reign over the earth which he died to redeem from its bondage to restore to His Father.

1.      The more excellent name is the “Son of God.” Christ’s name arises from His nature and His relation to God. His inheritance was obtained by means of His resurrection.

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

·                    “For unto the angels said he at any time” - “For to which of the angels did he ever say,” which individual angel or which band of angels did God the Father directly say, or assert, at any point in time?

·                    “Thou art my Son,” “Thou art Son of me,” or “you are my heir,” to inherit all my possessions, the universe---did God ever affirm such; make a pledge to an angel?

Þ      Psalm 2:7— “7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”

This Psalm depicts the enthronement of the Messiah (the Lord’s Anointed) Here Jehovah calls the Messiah “My Son.”

·                    “This day I have begotten thee” - Did God ever say to an angel “I have begotten you?” Paul rhetorically challenges...the answer is NO. Angels were created, but Jesus was begotten of the Father, that He might be heir-redeemer to all that the Father had.

Þ      John 1:14— “14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

1.      This begetting is the begetting of the incarnate Son and it marks the completion and the acceptance of His redeeming mission to our world.

2.      And the “begetting” has reference to the resurrection of Jesus.

Þ      Acts 13:33— “33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

Þ      Romans 1:4— “4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

·                    “And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” - The heritage redemption and restitution of all things have been pledged to Jesus Christ by the Father. And through faith in the Son, men may become heir inheritors of all things, jointly with the Son; but angels are not heirs to such; they are only servants

Þ      Hebrews 1:14— “14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

1.      Psalm 2:7 is quoted to point out the contrast between the Son and the angels.

Þ      Psalm 2:7— “7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”

2.      2 Samuel 7:14 shows that God promised David a son who would establish David’s house, throne, and kingdom forever

Þ      2 Samuel 7:14— “14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:”

This verse demonstrates Jesus’ superiority to angels…it proves that Jesus Himself was not an angel [this teaching is held by the Jehovah Witness]

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

·                    “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten” - that is, the first born from the dead; when he brings the first-begotten to earth again, in power and great glory.

Þ      Colossians 1:15— “ 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”

Þ      Acts 1:10-11— “10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Þ      Revelation 1:7— “7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Þ      Psalm 89:27— “Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth”

1.      Begotten from all eternity.

2.      “firstbegotten” does not always mean “first born.” It is also used in the Scriptures as a metaphor to describe one who occupies the rank and privilege of being firstborn (without literally being “firstborn”)

Þ      Psalm 89:20,27— “20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.”

3.      This term is used of Jesus to stress His preeminence over creation.

Þ      Colossians 1:15-18— “ 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

By virtue of being “Creator,” Christ maintains the rank and privilege of “firstbegotten.”

·                    “Into the world, he saith” - Into the inhabited earth...God says, As sure as I sent my only begotten Son into the world, the inhabited earth, to redeem men the first time, he shall send him the second time to restore all things to their original perfection, holiness, and beauty;

Þ      John 3:17— “17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. “

Þ      Galatians 4:4— “4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

·                    “And let all the angels of God worship him” - The Master is greater than the worshipper. Thus Paul concludes and affirms the excelling greatness of Jesus Christ above angelic beings, who never become Kings, Priests, Judges, or Heirs of God’s world, such is only given to Christ and to His obedient covenant children.

1.      No created being is or was ever worthy of worship:

a)      The angels refused worship.

Þ      Revelation 22:8,9— “8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”

b)      Peter refused worship.

Þ      Acts 10:25-26— “25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.”

2.      Jesus received worship.

a)      From the wise men.

Þ      Matthew 2:11— “11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”

b)      From the leper.

Þ      Matthew 8:2— “2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

c)      From the ruler.

Þ      Matthew 9:18— “18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.”

d)      From His disciples in the boat.

Þ      Matthew 14:33— “33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”

e)      From the Canaanite woman.

Þ      Matthew 15:25— “25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.”

f)        From the man born blind.

Þ      John 9:38— “38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”

g)      From the women and other disciples following His resurrection.

Þ      Matthew 28:9, 17— “9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.”

h)      From the disciples following His ascension.

Þ      Luke 24:52— “And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:”

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

1.      Angels are simply for the service of God. Their service can be as powerful yet as transient as “wind” or “flames of fire” if the need arises.

Þ      Ps. 104:4— “4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:”

·                    “And of the angels he saith” - and with regards to the angels he says, discloses, informs, or makes known the following information:

·                    “Who maketh his angels spirits” - the one making his angels spirits; forming them as spiritual beings, invisible beings...this shows the superiority of Christ to the angels...they are spirits...created beings (created by Christ and owe their existence to Him) and as such differ from God the Creator. This proves the Son to be very God.

·                    “And his ministers a flame of fire” - angels are ministers to God; they attend his presence; and are at ready to perform any service for Him.

8 But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.

1.      The Messiah is designated as GOD!!!! As such, He is promised an eternal throne, His rule shall be just, and He is personally committed to righteousness, anointed royally, and crowned with joy.

Þ      Psalm 45:6-7— “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

·                    “But unto the Son [he saith],” - But with regards to the heir-Son, the inheritance Son, who is more excellent than angel servants, God speaks, commits a vow, a covenant pledge, as follows:

·                    “Thy throne, O God,” - ascribes deity to Christ...The Son is far superior because He is here addressed as GOD!!! Christ is God by nature not by office. The Son, who is called God, has been enthroned…

·                    “[Is] for ever and ever:” - As God, Christ’s throne is for ever and ever...from eternity past through eternity future. The Son who is called God is enthroned and reigns forever and ever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed!

Þ      Daniel 2:44— “ 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

Þ      Luke 1:33— “ 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

·                    “A sceptre of righteousness [is]” - Christ is righteous because He is God, is throne is for ever because dominion and duration are ascribed to Him.

·                    “The sceptre of thy kingdom.” - His throne denotes his Kingly power, and government...his kingdom is everlasting for He has the sceptre (royalty) of righteousness or just government.

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Þ      Psalm 45:7— “7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Þ      Isaiah 61:1,3— “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Here we find a distinction of personalities with the Godhead which we learn through later revelation involves the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Son, Who is God, has been enthroned, and reigns over an everlasting kingdom with righteousness.

·                    “Thou hast loved righteousness” - Christ loves everything that is holy such as, righteous persons, righteous works, faithfulness and integrity. Christ in His earthly ministry was working out righteousness for his people, and encouraging righteousness in them, and He now leads his people in the way of righteousness. The righteousness that the saint now possesses is the “imputed” righteousness of Christ.

·                    “And hated iniquity” - Christ therefore, hates unrighteousness...WHY?...it is contrary to His very nature as God and Christ hates unrighteousness as man because He fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law.

·                     “Therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows”

1.      The anointer is “God the Father,” the anointed is the Son of God. Christ is not anointed as God but rather as the Mediator...to be Prophet, Priest and King. He is anointed not with a material oil but with a spiritual oil or the Holy Spirit;

Þ      Acts 10:38— “ 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

2.      Therefore, Christ is above His fellows which are the saints; and because we are of the same nature and of the same family, and are partakers of the same Spirit we shall be companions with Him through all eternity.

3.      Why was Christ anointed...because He loved righteousness;

Þ      Philippians 2:7,8— “7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Conclusion: The words may be rendered...thou lovest righteousness—because God, thy God, hath anointed thee.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

·                    “And, thou, Lord, in the beginning” - “And thou Lord, at the beginnings,” or according to the beginning or origin of all things,....this certifies the coexistence of Jesus Christ with God from the beginning or origin of all things, even from the creation of the angels.

1.      This also calls Jesus God…Psalm 102:24-27 addresses God using His covenant name Yahweh (or Jehovah). But the “writer” of Hebrews by divine inspiration applies this Psalm to Jesus. Such application would be blasphemy, unless Jesus was truly Deity! So while the Son is distinct from the Father, He and the Father are also the same.

Þ      Psalm 102:24-27— “24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. 25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”

·                    “In the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth” - ...this also shows the eternity of Christ...He had to exist before the foundation to have laid the foundation of the earth. This proves the deity of Christ for only deity can create.

·                    “And the heavens are the works of thine hands” - they are made by Christ and not the angels.

Þ      Psalm 19:1,2— “1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.”

. . . The present heaven and earth are products of Christ the Grand Architect of the Universe by whom they are also daily sustained, held together.

Þ      Colossians 1:17— “17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Þ      Acts 17:28— “28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

Þ      Psalm 102:26— “26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:”

·                    “They shall perish” - pass away or be dissolved

·                    “But thou remainest” - to remain to continue throughout - pres. act. ind. emphasizes the permanent continual existence. Christ shall be or exist forever, without end or cessation of being; as he existed before He created all things, so shall He exist in every essential element of His being when heaven and earth’s tainted things are gone forever.

·                    And they shall wax old as doth a garment” - the heaven and the earth, in time, will come to the end of their usefulness, in the present form of them;

Þ      Isa. 51:6— “6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.”

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Þ      Psalm 102:26-27— “26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”

Compare:

Þ      Hebrews 13:8— “8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

·                    “And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up” - shall lay them aside to be dissolved; one has described the visible heaven and earth as God’s vesture, vestment, or robe that has been defiled so badly that he can not always use them to declare his glory,

Þ      Ps. 19:1,2 — “1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.”

Therefore, both the creation and the dissolution of all things are attributed to God the Son,

Þ      II Thess. 1:6-9— “6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

·                    “And they shall be changed” - as to their form and use; not as to their being; they shall be altered, restored, or made new, even as our mortal bodies shall be made new in the regeneration, the restitution of all things of creation through the redemption wrought in Christ.

Þ      Revelation 21:1— “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

Þ      1 Corinthians 15:23-28— “23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

·                    “But thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” - expressive of the immutability of Christ...Christ is the unchangeable One, in all holy nature, attributes, and power.

Þ      Malachi 3:6— “6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

·                    “But to which of the angels said he at any time” - the preeminence of Christ established. God never designed to give anyone such honor other than Christ Himself...and He never gave it to anyone else.

·                    “Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” - Yet God said this about His Son... therefore, Christ must be greater than the angels.

Þ      Psalm 110:1— “1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

·                    “Are they not all ministering spirits” - Angels are servants of God, to Christ, and to God’s elect; therefore, they must be inferior to the Son of God.

·                    “Sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” - The word “sent” apostellomena is derived from the Greek root stello which means or signifies an authoritative commission for a specific purpose.

            Angels are sent forth, by God, with an authoritative commission to minister to those who shall come into the possession of salvation...God’s elect. We shall inherit God’s salvation...which is Jesus Christ...angels minister both in the temporal and the spiritual...Christ ministers in the eternal. They are sent forth by God, even Christ, so therefore, Christ must be superior to them.

CONCLUSION: Hebrews 1:4-14

In a very forceful manner, the “writer” to the Hebrews has shown Jesus’ superiority to the angels. He has done so by showing Jesus to be the “Son” and not the angels. Jesus is the “firstborn” who receives worship; He is “God” enthroned and anointed; He “Lord” (Yahweh) who is the eternal Creator whereas angels are created spirits; and Jesus is “Sovereign,” reigning at God’s right hand. All of these things are attributed to Jesus and not to angels.

While angels certainly have a special place in God’s plan for redeeming man, they are not the object of worship or adoration; only Jesus is worthy of such worship and adoration.

Þ      Revelation 5:11-12— “11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”