God's Son Christ Is So Much Better Than The Angels

Hebrews 1:5-7

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?”

But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:

“LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.”

And of the angels He says:

“WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS SPIRITS AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.”

(NKJV)

For the rest of chapter one the Holy Spirit is giving us a testimony about the greatness of Christ and that He is so much better than the angels. The angels are sent forth by God to minister to those who will inherit salvation. They know their place and purpose but mankind distorts what God has revealed about angels. Some in the first century worshiped angels and some do the same thing today. So God says His Son is greater than angels and we are to worship Jesus Christ.

In chapter one we find seven Old Testament quotes that the Holy Spirit uses in this epistle because it is written to Jewish Christians by the Apostle Paul. We will look at four of them in verses 5-7.

Verse 5:  For to which of the angels did He ever say: You are My Son, today I have begotten You?

• There are certain statements of Scripture that God has reserved for His Son.
• This is not said anywhere about the angels.
• God has one begotten Son. This makes His unique. No one has done what Jesus did, is doing, and will do.
• The quote is found in Psalm 2:7.
• Two points are being made: Christ is God's beloved Son and God raised His Son from the dead to live forevermore.

Christ is God's beloved Son.

• Psalm 2:7 (NKJV) I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
• Isaiah 42:1 (NKJV) Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
• Mark 1:11 (NKJV) Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
• Mark 9:7 (NKJV) And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!

God raised His Son from the dead to live forevermore.

• Psalms 2:7 (NKJV) I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
• Acts 13:33 (NKJV) God has fulfilled this for us... in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.
• Romans 1:4 (NKJV) Jesus Christ our Lord was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
• Another aspect of Christ being begotten of God is His virgin birth as the Son of God, (John 1:14).

Verse 5:  And again: I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?

• God never said this to any of His angels.
• The quote is found in 2 Samuel 7:14 (NKJV) I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me.
• This is an unique relationship between the Father and the Son. In Christ we can call God Father but we are not called “the Son.” In Christ we are children of God, (Romans 8:16).
• The Gospel of Mark records Jesus calling God Father in these passages Mark 8:38; 11:25-26; 13:32; 14:36 (NKJV). In the four Gospels we find Father recorded 193 times in the (NKJV). Except for a few of the references Jesus is the one speaking.
• While Jesus was on the earth He spend many hours in prayer to His Father. This was their sweet fellowship with one another. Luke 5:16 (NASB) But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
• Because Christ is God's Son He has inherited everything that is God's. In Christ we are joint heirs with Him (Romans 8:16-17).

Verse 6:  But when He (God) again brings the Firstborn (Christ) into the world, He says: Let all the angels of God worship Him.

• The quote is from Deuteronomy 32:43, (Brenton) Let all the angels of God worship Him and Psalm 97:7, (Brenton) ...worship Him, all ye His angels. 
• The Septuagint is a Greek version of the Old Testament.
• Hebrews 1:6 (NIV84) And again, when God brings His Firstborn into the world, He says: Let all God's angels worship Him.
• Christ is God's Firstborn in position (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15, 18; Revelation 1:5). Also, the word firstfruit is applied to the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23).
• In the past when did God bring Christ into the world?
• In the future when will God bring Christ into the world?
• What does God tell His angels to do when He brings the Firstborn into the world?
• The word worship means to revere and adore Christ. Psalm 2:12 says to kiss the Son.

Verse 7: And of the angels He says: Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.

• The quote is from Psalm 104:4.
• The context of Psalm 104 is that God is the Creator of all things. As we remember from our last lesson Christ and the Holy Spirit helped create all things.
• The Godhead created the angels. 
• Christ's “goings forth are from of old, from eternity” (Micah 5:2 NKJV).
• The angels ministered to Jesus (Mark 1:13; Luke 22:43; John 1:51).
• The angels will come with Jesus when He returns for His Church (Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7).
• There are many angels around the throne who worship the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:11-12).

So God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son. The Father is telling us who His Son is and that we are to look unto Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Christ we can draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith. Christ is so much better than the angels of God.

God Has In These Last Days Spoken To Us By His Son

Hebrews 1:1-4

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

(2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (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 at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they, (NKJV).

When we consider this epistle that was written (before 70AD) to the Christian Hebrews we see God exalting His Son Jesus Christ as superior to everything else. There are many contrasts found in this letter. Two of them are found in our passage. Christ and the prophets, then Christ and the angels. The prophets and angels have there place and importance but Christ is better. He is the One who saves us from the wrath of God.

Verse 1: God

• It is important to note that within the first few words of this verse God is mentioned. He is the author of this letter. I think the Apostle Paul was inspired by God's Holy Spirit to write this epistle to Hebrews Christian who were in danger of reverting back to the Old Covenant because someone or a group had come in among them as wolves in sheep's clothing desiring to lead them astray. This person or group was being led by Satan and his workers of unrighteousness.

• The theme of this epistle is: God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son. Christ has brought forth the “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20). In Jesus we can draw near to God with boldness. Therefore brethren we can enter the Holiest (Heaven) by the blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:19).

Verse 1: God spoke to the fathers by prophets.

• The prophets are known for this phrase: “Thus says the Lord.” The prophet Jeremiah uses it 92 times in the (NKJV). A true prophet says what God has said to him.

• Moses was a prophet, (Deuteronomy 18:15-22). So was Aaron his brother, (Exodus 7:1). It is important to consider Moses a prophet of God because he is the author of the first five books of the Old Testament, (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). See Joshua 8:31; Judges 3:4; Malachi 4:4; Luke 24:44; John 7:19.

• David the sweet psalmist of Israel was a prophet, (Acts 2:25, 30-31).

• Isaiah was a prophet, (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7: 52:13-53:12).

• God spoke to the prophets at various times and used different ways.

• Numbers 12:6-8, visions, dreams, and face to face.
• The prophets were to speak forth what God had said to them.

Verse 2: God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.

• The last days started when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. And then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, (Mark 15:37-38). And when Jesus returns the last days will end. So we must be serious about our fellowship with Christ in the time we have been given on this earth.

• God's Son, Jesus Christ, is the Prophet that He raised up like Moses, (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18).
  • God raised Him up for us.
  • He came from among Jews. He is from the tribe of Judah.
  • Him we shall hear. (NIV84) says, “You must listen to Him.”
  • The greatest sin to commit today is rejecting Christ. All other sins come from this one.

• Hebrews 2:1-4 tells us not to neglect this salvation that the Lord preached during His earthly ministry.

• John 1:14-18 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and that He has declared the Father to us.

• John 3:16 tells us about God's love for the world and that He gave us His only begotten Son and if believe in Him we shall not perish but have everlasting life.

• John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No comes to the Father except through Me.” See John 14:5-10 for the context of this passage.

• John 15:15, Jesus says, “I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

• Revelation 19:10 says that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Verse 2: God has appointed His Son as the heir of all things.

• God has put His Son at the center of His kingdom. We answer to Him. God is exalting His Son. Christ was crucified, and died, and buried, and rose on the Lord's Day so He could be the Heir.

• Christ is the heir of all things because He is God's only begotten Son.

• Because Jesus is the heir of all things He has authority over everything except His Father. Also see 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

• Matthew 28:16-20 is what we call the great commission. Jesus says this in verse 18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

• John 3:35, Jesus says, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.”

• John 17:2, Jesus prays to Father saying, “You have given Him (the Son) authority over all flesh.”

• Acts 10:36 says that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Also, see Revelation 17:14.

• Christ is the head of Church, (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Daniel 7:13-14).

• Christ is at the right hand of God which is a place of authority, (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; 7:55,56; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 10:12; 1 Peter 3:22).

• Romans 8:16-17 tells us if we are children of God then we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, and that we will be glorified together with Him.

Verse 2: God made the world through His Son.

• In Genesis 1-2 God gives us the creation account. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were working together to create all things. They are unified in their purpose.

• John 1:3, All things were made through Him (the Word), and without Him nothing was made that was made.

• John 1:10, The world was made through the Word.

• 1 Corinthians 8:6, Through the Lord Jesus Christ are all things and through Him we live.

• Ephesians 3:9, God created all things through Jesus Christ.

• Colossians 1:16, For by Christ all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth.

• Hebrews 2:10, By Christ are all things.

• Hebrews 3:4, He who built all things is God.

Verse 3: Christ is the brightness of His Father's glory and the express image of His person.

• The phrase “Christ is” is equal to I AM. Christ is eternal.

• John 8:24, Jesus said: “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

• Christ is the brightness of His Father's glory.

• John 1:1, The Word was God.

• John 1:14, The Word became flesh and we beheld His glory as the only begotten of the Father.

• 2 Corinthians 4:6, Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ, (CEV).

• Luke 9:32, Peter and those (James and John) with him saw Jesus' glory on the mount of transfiguration.

• 2 Peter 1:17, For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

• Christ is the express image of God's person.

• (NASB) Christ is the exact representation of God's nature.

• Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23, They shall call His name Immanuel which is translated God with us.

• John 1:1, The Word was God.

• John 14:8-10, Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

• 2 Corinthians 4:4, Christ is the image of God.

• Philippians 2:5-7, (ESV), Christ was in the form of God.

• Colossians 1:15, Christ is the image of the invisible God.

• Colossians 2:9-10, (CEV), God lives fully in Christ.

Verse 3: Christ upholds all things by the word of His power.

• Colossians 1:17, (NASB), In Christ all things hold together.

• Colossians 1:11, We are strengthened with all might, according to Christ's glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.

• John 1:4, In Christ was (eternal) life, and the life was the light of men.

• Romans 1:16-17, The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.

• Revelation 4:11, You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.

• Ecclesiastes 8:4, Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

Verse 3: Christ sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

• The phrase “the Majesty on high” is a reference to the glory, excellence, and greatness of God.

• Christ sitting down at the right hand of God is fulfilled prophecy.

• Psalm 110:1; Matthew 26:63-66; Mark 16:19-20; Acts 2:32-35; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 13; 4:14; 8:1-2; 10:12-13; 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:20-21; 3:21-22.

• As Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high He is ruling as the King and ministering to us as our Great High Priest.

• Zechariah 6:12-13 (NASB)  Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, a Man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. (13) Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”

• Christ is the Branch who has branched out from where He is.

• Christ builds the temple (Church) of the LORD.

• Christ bears the honor, sits, and rules on His throne as the King of kings.

• Christ is the kingly Priest on His throne.

• The counsel of peace will be between the two offices of King and Priest.

• Melchizedek was a king and priest during the time of Abraham, Hebrews 7:1-9. He is a shadow and type of Christ.

• So as Christ sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high as our kingly High Priest He ministers to us the counsel of peace that passes understanding.

Verse 4: Christ has become so much better than the angels because He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

• Christ is the Son of God.

• (45 times in the NKJV) Matthew 4:3,6; 8:29; 14:33; 26:63; 27:40,43,54; Mark 1:1; 3:11; 15:39; Luke 1:35; 4:3,9,41; 22:70; John 1:34,49; 3:18; 5:25; 9:35; 10:36; 11:4,27; 19:7; 20:31; Acts 8:37; 9:20; Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 1:19; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 4:14; 6:6; 7:3; 10:29; 1 John 3:8; 4:15; 5:5,10,12,13,20; Revelation 2:18.

• In Psalm 2:12 we urged to kiss (draw near to) the Son, lest He be angry, and we perish in the way. Blessed are all who put their trust in Him.

• We are told that every knee will bow before Christ and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to the glory of the Father.

As we can see this opening passage of Hebrews is quite full of spiritual meat for those who desire to partake of spiritual food. God is hallmarking His Son, Christ Jesus. Let us bow before the Lord and honor Him with our thoughts, words and deeds. Thank you Jesus for blessing us with so many spiritual blessings.

Searching for God

You will find the LORD your God if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29

Observations from Bible Readings

Exodus 22:31, You shall be holy men to Me.

John 1:17, Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

John 1:39, Jesus said: Come and you will see.

Job 40:4, Job said to God: Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?  I lay my hand on my mouth.

2 Corinthians 10:4, The weapons of our [spiritual] warfare are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

Bennett Spring Christian Church Camp 4th - 6th Grade July 2013

Christ's Obedience to The Will of God

Christ demonstrates His obedience to the Father in His sufferings:

Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)  He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

• In verses 42 and 44 Jesus prays the same prayer again to the Father.
• The focus is the Father's will being done in His life.
• Prayer: “Not as I will, but as You will.”
• See Mark 14:36 and Luke 22:42.

Hebrews 5:7-8 (NKJV)  Christ, “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,  (8)  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

Jonathan Blakely - Hebrews 10:28 - The Coming of The Lord