Chapter 1
God Now Speaks Through His Son Jesus Christ
Heb. 1:1: God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
Before the coming of Jesus Christ to earth as a human being, God spoke to His chosen people Israel through different prophets or holy men of God. Oftentimes the prophet, by the revelation of God, would tell the people of future events and coming judgment on them for their sinfulness, idolatry, and intermarriage with pagan peoples. God would communicate His messages to these prophets by speaking directly to them like He did to Moses, or by dreams, visions, and angels. Many of these holy men wrote down these messages from God and it became preserved in the different books of the Old Testament.
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,
However, since the time of Jesus Christ coming to earth, we now hear from God through His Word. Jesus Christ is the Word of God who became flesh (John 1:1, 14). We are in the last days so we need to be careful to listen to what has been revealed to us in God’s Word, the Bible. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to us the truths and mysteries of the Word of God (John 16:13).
whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
The Father has given all of creation to His blessed Son. Jesus is the heir or beneficiary of all that has been created. This would seem evident as Jesus Christ created all things (John 1:3; Col. 1:16). He made the worlds so He owns them.
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,
This phrase proves that Jesus Christ is God. What else can we conclude? If Jesus has the same glory, appearance, and power of God, than He must be God. Here we see the duality of Jesus Christ as both man (Son of Man) and God (Son of God). We also see a glimpse of the Holy Trinity (Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Spirit). One God who exists as three separate, divine persons. Please refer to my e-book, Did Jesus Christ Claim to be God on www.free-ebooks.net for a more in-depth explanation of Jesus Christ as God the Son. Jesus holds all things together by His power (Cor. 1:17).
when He had by Himself purged our sins,
How did Jesus purge or cleanse us of our sins? As mentioned in the introduction, Jesus sacrificed His life as an atonement or pardon for our sins. He is our redeemer. He took the punishment or wrath of God for the sins of everyone who would become a Christian. He paid our sin debt by His crucifixion so that we would not have to pay for our own sins in the lake of fire. Our sins have been cleansed by His shed blood. He did this as our High Priest offering Himself to the Father in our place.
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
When Jesus ascended into heaven after his crucifixion and resurrection, He sat down on the right hand of the Father as He had finished the redemption of Christians (1 Peter 3:22). Right before Jesus died on the cross He said, “It is finished.” What is Jesus doing now? He is making sure the plan and will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven. He is interceding on our behalf as our advocate before the Father as Satan accuses us. He is preparing a special place for us in heaven. He will one day return from heaven in the clouds with His holy angels and holy saints. Saints are not super Christians who have been designated saints by men. All believers in Christ are referred to as saints in the Bible (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2). He will bring forth the consummation (the judgment, paradise for Christians, and damnation in the lake of fire for unbelievers).
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Angels are far superior to humans. They are more powerful and can travel great distances in the blink of an eye. However, they are far weaker than God. Angels are heavenly messengers of God who protect God’s people, worship Him, and do His bidding. However, Jesus Christ is God’s Son and no angel has that position of preeminence. Jesus’ name is truly more excellent than any of the angels for His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)! Yes, Jesus Christ is truly God as this verse states and He has inherited all of creation.
The Son is Superior to the Angels
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son”?
Although angels have a special relationship with God they are not as close to Him as Jesus Christ. None of the angels were ever called “My Son” by the Father. Only Jesus has that special title as the Son of God. If Jesus is the eternal Son of God, how is it said by the Father, “Today I have begotten You.”? One explanation is that Jesus was begotten of the Father when He was born in human form by the power of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed the virgin Mary and caused her to be pregnant with Jesus (Luke 1:35). That is the day the word “today” is referring to in verse 5. However, Christ did not begin His existence at His earthly birth. He was always with the Father even before time (John 1:1, 2, 14). The more accurate explanation is that the Son was eternally begotten of the Father. This is difficult for our finite minds to understand.
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
Jesus is the firstborn of the dead. (Col. 1:18). What does that mean? It means that when Jesus rose from the dead at His resurrection He was the first person to receive His eternal, glorified body. We too will one day receive glorified bodies at our resurrection when Jesus returns in power and glory (1 Cor. 15:51-58). Although Jesus has been worshiped by the angels before time, He should certainly be worshiped by them now because of His wonderful work of redemption for sinful mankind.
7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.”
Angels were created by Jesus. They reside in heaven. The fallen angels called devils or demons have been forcibly removed from heaven by God for trying to overthrow Him. Their evil demonic leader Satan, also called the devil, wanted to be God and rule in God’s place. Some of these demons are chained up in hell waiting for their judgment and eternal damnation in the lake of fire. Others have been allowed by God a certain amount of freedom to roam the earth. However, they too will be judged and eternally punished in the lake of fire.
Angels do not have bodies like humans but are spirits. We can’t see them but they are always close by protecting believers from harm. They can be in many forms. Sometimes they appear as men and can also be ministers of God who will one day cast unbelievers into the lake of fire.
8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Here God the Father is speaking to God the Son Jesus Christ. He calls Jesus “O God” which proves the Son is also God. The Father states that the Son will be on His throne forever. Jesus as King of kings will rule over the world in righteousness. He is the King of righteousness. What a comfort for believers to know that Jesus Christ will rule in righteousness, always doing what is right and good for them (Rom. 8:28).
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
Jesus always has loved righteousness. He hates sin, evil, and lawlessness. Jesus commanded us to love God and to love others. The Father has anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness. Our Lord has a greater measure of gladness than any created being. More than His disciples and more than His friends. He is glad beyond measure as He was chosen to redeem mankind from their sins. Only Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was found worthy to do this. (Rev. 5:4-9)
10 And: “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.”
The Father continues talking to His Son. He honors Jesus by calling Him “Lord” and states that Jesus is the Creator of all things.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
All of creation will grow old just like all tangible things do. The Bible tells us that when Jesus returns on the last day the heavens and earth will be destroyed in a great fire. (2 Peter 3:7, 10-13) Then God will create a new heaven and a new earth and the New Jerusalem will descend from heaven where all Christians will live with Jesus in righteousness. (Rev. 21) Even though the heavens and the earth will perish, Jesus Christ will remain as the eternal and immortal One.
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
Jesus will fold up all creation like a coat as He dissolves it with fire. The creation changes and wears out but not Jesus. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! (Heb. 13:8) Jesus Christ is eternal. He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, and the Alpha and Omega. (Rev. 1:8, 11)
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
To again emphasize Jesus’ superiority over the angels, the Father reminds us that He never told an angel to sit at His right hand until He made their enemies their footstool. However, that is exactly what the Father has said to His Son, Jesus Christ.
4 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Angels have many important purposes as they serve God. One of those purposes is to minister to and protect Christians. Think about all the many times you almost had an accident, especially when driving. Perhaps an angel prevented you from having an accident.