Hebrews 1 Commentary: The Supremacy of Christ
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
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;
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;
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
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?
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
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.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
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.
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
The book of Hebrews is a powerful exhortation to Jewish Christians, urging them to hold fast to their faith in Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the superiority of Christ over all other figures, including angels and the Old Testament system. Hebrews 1 lays the groundwork for this argument, establishing Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God and highlighting His divine nature. This chapter serves two crucial purposes: to affirm that God speaks to humanity, particularly through Jesus, and to demonstrate Jesus's unparalleled supremacy, especially compared to angels. Understanding these truths is vital for solidifying our trust in Jesus as the complete and final means of salvation.
God's Final Word: Spoken Through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3)
The author begins by contrasting God's past communication with humanity through prophets with His present and ultimate revelation in His Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1 reminds us that God, in His transcendence, is unknowable unless He chooses to reveal Himself. Throughout history, He has graciously "pulled back the curtain" on spiritual matters, disclosing Himself through various means—prophets, angels, and even, as the Old Testament recounts, through unusual instruments.
However, Hebrews 1:2 declares that in "these last days," God has spoken to us definitively through His Son. "These last days" refer to the entire New Testament era, spanning from Christ's birth to His return. Jesus, by taking on flesh, became the incarnate revelation of God, making the Father known in a way never before possible (see John 1:1, 14, 18). While God used various means to reveal Himself in the past, He now channels everything through His Son. Jesus is God's final Word on every subject.
The author then elaborates on the Son's identity and role. Jesus is the "heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:2), meaning God has entrusted all creation to Him. Moreover, He is the very agent of creation: "through whom also he made the world" (Hebrews 1:2). When God said, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), Jesus, as the Word, was the active power bringing it into existence (John 1:1-3).
Hebrews 1:3 further describes the Son as "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being." Jesus Christ possesses all the divine attributes. He couldn't be the "exact expression" of God without being God Himself. The author of Hebrews aligns with John (John 1:1) and Paul (Philippians 2:6) in affirming Jesus's divinity. He not only embodies all the attributes of God but also sustains all things by His powerful word. He is both the creative and the sustaining power of God.
This truth offers immense comfort. If Jesus Christ has the power to keep the universe from unraveling, He certainly has the power to hold you together in the midst of your struggles! This is why believers must never give up hope.
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:3 highlights that after Christ accomplished His work of redemption, "after he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." In the Old Testament tabernacle/temple, the high priest never sat down because his work of offering sacrifices for sins was never finished; it had to be repeated continually. The sacrificial system was a temporary solution, a "layaway plan," pointing forward to something better. But when Jesus died on the cross, He declared, "It is finished" (John 19:30)—the sin debt was paid in full. With His resurrection, His work was complete, and He took His seat at God's right hand, the place of authority and power, guaranteeing our final victory. Believers can therefore have assurance of divine victory in their lives, a theme that will be revisited throughout Hebrews.
Superior to Angels: An Eternal Distinction (Hebrews 1:4-14)
The author transitions to demonstrating Jesus's superiority over angels, a crucial point for Jewish Christians who may have held angels in high regard, perhaps even viewing them as intermediaries between God and humanity. Hebrews 1:4 states that Jesus "became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."
The author then uses a series of Old Testament quotations to support this claim (Hebrews 1:5-14). He emphasizes that God never addressed an angel as "My Son" (Hebrews 1:5, quoting Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14). This title, "Son of God," signifies a unique and intimate relationship with the Father, a status never bestowed upon angels.
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:6 reveals that angels are commanded to worship the Son: "let all God's angels worship him." Worship is due to God alone (Exodus 20:3-5), and the fact that angels worship Jesus underscores His divine nature. Verses 7-14 contrast the nature of angels, who are described as "winds" and "flames of fire" – servants with a changing nature depending on the tasks assigned to them – with the unchanging and eternal nature of the Son. He is not worshipping; He is worshipped. He reigns eternally (Hebrews 1:8-9, quoting Psalm 45:6-7) and is the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Hebrews 1:10-12, quoting Psalm 102:25-27).
The chapter concludes by reiterating the role of angels as "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). They are servants, not rulers, and their primary purpose is to assist believers in their journey towards salvation.
Our Partnership with Christ
The psalm quoted in Hebrews 1:9 speaks of Christ's "companions." The idea of being a "companion" or "partner" of Christ appears several times in Hebrews (e.g., 3:1, 14). Believers have the opportunity to be Christ’s companions, His partners, who will rule with Him as part of His inner circle. This honor is distinct from justification. Those who accept Him as their sin-bearer gain entrance by grace into the kingdom of God as heirs. But your participation as Christ’s companion or partner determines the level of your inheritance in the kingdom.
Even Christ Himself had to inherit a name (Hebrews 1:4) even though He was appointed as an heir (Hebrews 1:2). You are an heir by grace. But your obedience and participation with Christ determines your benefits and privileges in the kingdom. If you are a Christian, you have been saved to become a partner and to rule with Christ. You can’t lose your salvation, but God doesn’t want you to lose out on partnership—the calling He has on your life. How important is this to God? He has assigned ministering angels to oversee you and make sure you receive your inheritance in time and in eternity (Hebrews 1:14). However, faithfulness to the King is the criteria to become part of Christ’s administrative cabinet when He establishes His earthly millennial kingdom on His return (3:14; see Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:16-17).
In summary, Hebrews 1 powerfully establishes the supremacy of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, over all creation, including angels. He is the ultimate revelation of God, the heir of all things, and the sustainer of the universe. Understanding these truths is crucial for maintaining unwavering faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. The chapter serves as a foundation for the rest of the book of Hebrews, which will further explore the implications of Christ's superiority for our lives.
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
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;
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;
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
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?
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
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.
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
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.
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
The book of Hebrews is a powerful exhortation to Jewish Christians, urging them to hold fast to their faith in Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the superiority of Christ over all other figures, including angels and the Old Testament system. Hebrews 1 lays the groundwork for this argument, establishing Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God and highlighting His divine nature. This chapter serves two crucial purposes: to affirm that God speaks to humanity, particularly through Jesus, and to demonstrate Jesus's unparalleled supremacy, especially compared to angels. Understanding these truths is vital for solidifying our trust in Jesus as the complete and final means of salvation.
God's Final Word: Spoken Through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3)
The author begins by contrasting God's past communication with humanity through prophets with His present and ultimate revelation in His Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1 reminds us that God, in His transcendence, is unknowable unless He chooses to reveal Himself. Throughout history, He has graciously "pulled back the curtain" on spiritual matters, disclosing Himself through various means—prophets, angels, and even, as the Old Testament recounts, through unusual instruments.
However, Hebrews 1:2 declares that in "these last days," God has spoken to us definitively through His Son. "These last days" refer to the entire New Testament era, spanning from Christ's birth to His return. Jesus, by taking on flesh, became the incarnate revelation of God, making the Father known in a way never before possible (see John 1:1, 14, 18). While God used various means to reveal Himself in the past, He now channels everything through His Son. Jesus is God's final Word on every subject.
The author then elaborates on the Son's identity and role. Jesus is the "heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:2), meaning God has entrusted all creation to Him. Moreover, He is the very agent of creation: "through whom also he made the world" (Hebrews 1:2). When God said, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), Jesus, as the Word, was the active power bringing it into existence (John 1:1-3).
Hebrews 1:3 further describes the Son as "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being." Jesus Christ possesses all the divine attributes. He couldn't be the "exact expression" of God without being God Himself. The author of Hebrews aligns with John (John 1:1) and Paul (Philippians 2:6) in affirming Jesus's divinity. He not only embodies all the attributes of God but also sustains all things by His powerful word. He is both the creative and the sustaining power of God.
This truth offers immense comfort. If Jesus Christ has the power to keep the universe from unraveling, He certainly has the power to hold you together in the midst of your struggles! This is why believers must never give up hope.
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:3 highlights that after Christ accomplished His work of redemption, "after he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." In the Old Testament tabernacle/temple, the high priest never sat down because his work of offering sacrifices for sins was never finished; it had to be repeated continually. The sacrificial system was a temporary solution, a "layaway plan," pointing forward to something better. But when Jesus died on the cross, He declared, "It is finished" (John 19:30)—the sin debt was paid in full. With His resurrection, His work was complete, and He took His seat at God's right hand, the place of authority and power, guaranteeing our final victory. Believers can therefore have assurance of divine victory in their lives, a theme that will be revisited throughout Hebrews.
Superior to Angels: An Eternal Distinction (Hebrews 1:4-14)
The author transitions to demonstrating Jesus's superiority over angels, a crucial point for Jewish Christians who may have held angels in high regard, perhaps even viewing them as intermediaries between God and humanity. Hebrews 1:4 states that Jesus "became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."
The author then uses a series of Old Testament quotations to support this claim (Hebrews 1:5-14). He emphasizes that God never addressed an angel as "My Son" (Hebrews 1:5, quoting Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14). This title, "Son of God," signifies a unique and intimate relationship with the Father, a status never bestowed upon angels.
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:6 reveals that angels are commanded to worship the Son: "let all God's angels worship him." Worship is due to God alone (Exodus 20:3-5), and the fact that angels worship Jesus underscores His divine nature. Verses 7-14 contrast the nature of angels, who are described as "winds" and "flames of fire" – servants with a changing nature depending on the tasks assigned to them – with the unchanging and eternal nature of the Son. He is not worshipping; He is worshipped. He reigns eternally (Hebrews 1:8-9, quoting Psalm 45:6-7) and is the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Hebrews 1:10-12, quoting Psalm 102:25-27).
The chapter concludes by reiterating the role of angels as "ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). They are servants, not rulers, and their primary purpose is to assist believers in their journey towards salvation.
Our Partnership with Christ
The psalm quoted in Hebrews 1:9 speaks of Christ's "companions." The idea of being a "companion" or "partner" of Christ appears several times in Hebrews (e.g., 3:1, 14). Believers have the opportunity to be Christ’s companions, His partners, who will rule with Him as part of His inner circle. This honor is distinct from justification. Those who accept Him as their sin-bearer gain entrance by grace into the kingdom of God as heirs. But your participation as Christ’s companion or partner determines the level of your inheritance in the kingdom.
Even Christ Himself had to inherit a name (Hebrews 1:4) even though He was appointed as an heir (Hebrews 1:2). You are an heir by grace. But your obedience and participation with Christ determines your benefits and privileges in the kingdom. If you are a Christian, you have been saved to become a partner and to rule with Christ. You can’t lose your salvation, but God doesn’t want you to lose out on partnership—the calling He has on your life. How important is this to God? He has assigned ministering angels to oversee you and make sure you receive your inheritance in time and in eternity (Hebrews 1:14). However, faithfulness to the King is the criteria to become part of Christ’s administrative cabinet when He establishes His earthly millennial kingdom on His return (3:14; see Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:16-17).
In summary, Hebrews 1 powerfully establishes the supremacy of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, over all creation, including angels. He is the ultimate revelation of God, the heir of all things, and the sustainer of the universe. Understanding these truths is crucial for maintaining unwavering faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. The chapter serves as a foundation for the rest of the book of Hebrews, which will further explore the implications of Christ's superiority for our lives.