“Hebrews 1”

Saturday, September 02, 2017

This first chapter has two major sections.

Verses 1-3 point out the superiority of Jesus over the Old Testament prophets. Though God revealed His will “in time past” at various times and through many different ways, the primary source of His revelation was prophets. These were inspired spokesmen of God. Sometimes they revealed the future, but that was not the focus of their work. Ultimately, they were men (and a few women) who, by the process called inspiration (a God breathed message), told the people to whom they were sent, what the Lord wanted them to do.

Verses 4-14 remind us that Jesus is superior to (“so much better than” – verse 4) the angels. The angels were heavenly spokesmen for the Lord. The word, angel, simply means “messenger.” They were “ministering spirits” sent to help the people of God on their way to salvation.

But Jesus is far better than all the prophets and all the angels put together. He is the One through whom God has revealed His final will for mankind, in the dispensation called “the last days” or the Christian Age. Jesus taught that His words will judge us in the last day (John 12:48). His gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all people (Romans 1:16). We are warned not to add to His word or to take anything away from it (Revelation 22:18-19).

Christ is the One whom God called “My Son” (Hebrews 1:5). Not once did He say that to any angel.

He is the One who is worthy of worship, not the angels (verse 6).

Jesus is the king on His eternal throne and righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom (verses 8-9). To be like Him we must be holy and pure.

He is eternal. “Your years will not fail” (verse 12). This is a reference to His deity.

That’s why the Bible calls Him Savior.

--Roger Hillis

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