Hebrews 1 by RMM

Hebrews 1:1-4

In the old days, God spoke through different people, such that what they said was the word of the Lord. The prophets got bits and pieces of the story, but, there is one that gives the whole thing. Listen to what is so special about God’s son:

Heir, creator, glory, image, mover, savior, ruler

Let me ask you this: has any angel ever been called any of these things? No.

1:5-14

Vs. 5, Father and Son, Jesus takes on his father’s business, and is declared as Son, not just employee. He is the inheritor of the family business, and what is that business? In Ps 2:8 all the Son needs to do is ask, and the nations will be given to him. In Mt 28 he tells us he has inherited all authority, and he sends us out to make students of all nations, those who are his inheritance.

Vs 5b He is a Son to the Father like Solomon is to David. But Solomon was to build a temple and a kingdom that did not last, Jesus is the Son who builds a temple and a kingdom that does last. We are that temple, the church, the dwelling place of God.

Vs 6. is about angels not receiving worship, but giving worship. Just like in the opening where Jesus is called the shining forth of the Glory of God, in Ps 97:6 and 7 Jesus is the glory of God revealed for everyone, all nations and even the angels to worship.

Vs 7. is the writer’s description of the Son as the image of the Father, and he quotes ps 104:4 showing that the angels change their image, in fact, we are later told to be careful, we could be talking with someone who looks like a person, but is really an angel.

Vs 8,9 is about what the Son is carrying along; not just the physical universe (though that is true too). The Son is carrying along a bride and a promise of princes and princesses in psalm 45:10ff.

Vs 10,11 is from Psalm 102 a prayer for the afflicted. Notice in verses 18-22 the emphasis is on the formation of a people that comes through the work of the afflicted one. He purifies a people.

Vs. 13 concludes the list of 7 attributes with an emphatic declaration of the SON as the King in Psalm 110.

Conclusion: No prophet or angel is anywhere near the majesty of the Son who not only reigns over the universe, but specifically is the hope of people called to be God’s people.