Hebrews 1:4-14

Christ Superiority over the Angels

Intro: Tonight we are beginning our survey of this radical book – The Epistle of Hebrews

A) Hebrews has been called to ORPHAN EPISTLE – because we don’t know who wrote it

B)Suggestions : Barnabas name = Son of Encouragement – Because of encouraging nature:

1) Apollos – who was described as an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, - Eloquent nature – Strong Ref. To OT. Scriptures

C) Paul – Favorite Choice – MINE –

Both internal and external evidence support the authorship of Paul..

A)The writer was a Jew acquainted with the details of Mosaic ritualism

Peter makes mention of Paul writing a letter to the Jews / 2 Pet.3:15

B) (Heb. 10:34). The author of this epistle had been in prison in the locality where the ones addressed resided

1) (Heb. 13:19, 24). He was at that time in prison in Italy

C) (Heb. 13:23Timothy was his companion and messenger).

1) When Paul was in Rome in prison he used Timothy to carry messages,

and he sent him on a trip from the west to the east (Phil. 2:19).

D) (Heb. 13:19) The writer hoped to be liberated. This is the same thought that is expressed in Philippians 1:25 and Philemon 1:22.

E) Many of the points & truths explored in this epistle are also found in similar fashion in many of Paul’s other writings

( Too many to note but we will – make some references as we go along

Why is the Language Different – Paul wrote in Hebrew & Luke Translated it into Greek.

But Needless to say it lacks the signature of a Human Author

1) Where the rest of the epistles – begin w/ Peter or w/ Paul or w/ James – the Human author is identified – Hebrews Uniquely begins w/ God

"Let all who thirst for God, the living God, draw near & listen" - Murray

Read v.1-14

Been Looking on Sundays at v.1-3 1^st God Has spoken –

A) Jesus Christ is the revelation of God climaxed. Final Word

Portraits – last week & this week

B) PURPOSE OF BOOK – Jews ……………. Judaism

1) Contrast Jesus w/ all that they Looked to

C) Begins in v. 4-14 – Jesus w/ the Angels

These verses incredible verses in affirming the Deity of Christ. Temptation only see as ammunition cult groups

A) I want to caution you against only seeing them as just that & missing the description of who our Redeemer is!

B) To See theologically effects mind; to see devotionally penetrates our

hearts! Both are needed

1) The purpose of this epistle is the unfolding of the person and the work

of the Son!

The Jews had a special high regard for angelic being / ministry

A.) They counted it one of their great privileges that the law was given through ministration angels

B) Stephen Acts 7:53 - "You received law by direction of angels but did not keep it"

1)Gal 3:19 "Law was appointed by angels"

The Jews however took their importance to extremes!

A)Because of the Talmudic writings and popular rabbinical interpretations and ideas, the Jewish people had begun to embellish the basic Old Testament teachings about angels.

A.) Their belief in importance angelic ministry - evolved into belief that 200 angels controlled movement stars!

B.) A special angel known as Calendar Angel controlled never ending succession days, months, years!

C.) Another mighty Angel took care of seas; another frost, dew, rain, snow, thunder, lightening

1.) Others were wardens of hell, torturers of the damned

D.) Teaching that really had no basis biblically & denies sustaining power of God - "Word of His Power"

But to make us better appreciate – Our Lord – Consider a few things the Bible does tell us about Radical Beings called Angels –

A)Angels are spirit beings and do not have flesh and bones. But they do have bodies. & they are capable of appearing in human form.

Hebrews 13:2 we are warned to be careful how we treat strangers, since we might be entertaining “angels without knowing it.”

B) Angels may also appear in other forms. Speaking of an angel at Christ’s resurrection, Matthew reports that “his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men” (Matt. 28:3-4).

C) This angel appeared in dazzling, brilliant glory.

D) Angels can speak to men, as recorded many places in Scripture.

1) Angels continually Worship & Praise the God they serve ! Psa.103 :20

E)Angels are highly organized and are divided into ranks,

1)The various ranks apparently have supervisory responsibilities over

thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, authorities,

F) Angels minister to believers Psa.34:7/ Heb. 1:14

1) Angels will be the AGENTS of God’s Judgments on the earth before

the Trib. – See Rev

JESUS IS SUPERIOR – 6 WAYS mentioned here – pulls from 7 O.T. Messianic passages 6 of them are from the Book of Psalms.

A) J. V. Magee called Psalms the The H-I-M book because Psalms have more to say about Christ than they have to say about any other person.

It is the hymn book of the temple, but it is all about Him; it is praise to Him.

B) So the Lord pulls from the Psalms to built His case of the Superiority of the Son over the Angels -

1^st SUPERIOR IN NAME - ⁵For to which of the angels did He ever say:

“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? PSA 2:7

And again:“I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?

A)This is a quotation from 2 Samuel 7 This is God's promise to David when He made His covenant with him:

¹²“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.

B)Now this had partial application to Solomon – but Primary to David’s greater son – Jesus – Establish His Kingdom forever

So 1^st thing we read is Jesus has a more excellent name than the angels!

A.) Michael Arch Angel - "Who is like God" / Gabriel - Man of God

Lucifer - Bright star - Anointed Cherub

B.) Michael glorious might as commander and chief heaven's army

1) Gabriel glorious in ministry: bearer messages from God to man

2) Lucifer - glorious in majesty as anointed Cherub - Ezk 28:14 refers to

him as the highest of all created intelligence

But as mighty and glorious as they were they did not compare with Him - More excellent name - Son!

A.) Here we see first aspect - Superiority - He is the Son!

B) Now There are two basic events in relation to which Jesus Christ is Son-

1) 1^st His virgin birth and His resurrection.

C) He was not called a son until He was born into this world through the virgin birth.

1) The Sonship of Christ is connected with His incarnation

D)In describing one of the predictions of this birth Luke says, “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God’” (Luke 1:35).

1) Baptism “Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased

2^nd The son Through the Resurrection

A) His sonship came to full bloom in His resurrection.

Paul points this out in Acts 13:30-33 this taking place at resurrection -

But God raised Him from the dead. "He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. "And we declare to you glad tidings--that promise which was made to the fathers. "God has fulfilled this for us their children, 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.'

B) Term "begotten" means to bring forth!

C) At the resurrection He was brought forth and His glory was revealed in power over the grave!

1) So Superior in Name - He is the Son

2^nd Superior Position v.6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:“Let all the angels of God worship Him.” PSA 97:7

A)Term first born is one that most of cult groups try to claim as a proof text to say Jesus was created.

B.) Word "first born" is Proto Tokos in Greek. It is a word that has nothing to do with an event in time! i.e., a birth

C.) It refers rather to position: The first son to be born was not always the “first-born.”

1) Esau, for instance, was older than Jacob, but Jacob was the first-born.

Solomon – first born – 10^th son born to David.

D) Genesis 49:3 gives a good description of first-born: “Reuben, you are my first-born; my might and the beginning of my strength, pre-eminent in dignity and preeminent in power.”

E) Might, strength, dignity, and power-these describe the meaning of first-born it is a right-to-rule word, an authority word.

1) And Jesus Christ is the supreme First-born, He has supreme right-to-rule

Son. - He is SUPERIOR IN HIS POSITION

V.6b “Let all the angels of God worship Him.

A) Note that God’s Angels are worshipping Jesus /Worship of Jesus is Primary activity of Angels in Heaven –

B) John Bunyan – said that if Jesus is not God – there is a whole lot of Idolatry going on.

1) Commandments – Worship only God – serve

C) Worship is the Activity of heaven – What about w/ us ?

Old Turkish Proverb that says – As the Music is so are the People of that Country

A) So I ask you – what are Your Songs like – Are You singing the Blues cause all You can see is the Problems in Your Life ?

1) Or Are you singing Praise to the Lord for WHO HE IS & all that He has done for You

B) Are You singing about Your Heavenly CITIZENSHIP because not focusing on the temporal but the eternal

C) Tell my kids Grumbling & Complaining / moaning & Groaning is the Language of Hell – ( all they are going to be doing )

D) Praise / thanksgiving Blessing & Gratitude is the Language of heaven – When we see the Lord

1) Which Music fills your House ?????

3^rd Superior Honor & Vocation V. 7,8a -

A) Angels serve v,7 Psa 104:4

B) If we could see heavenly realm – amazed!

1) 2 Kings 6: Syria - Gehazi; Elisha / Chariots of fire!

Denise - ROBBERY

C) Balaam

1) Daniel in Lions Den

Billy Graham calls Angels God’s SECRET AGENTS – they carry out God’s will where ever & what ever He would call them to do

A) They are sort of like the President – when he travels he never does so

alone ( doesn’t take a Bus or a cab) Has his Entourage set things up for

B) So too when Jesus comes to the earth – when he was born – He is not Alone ( there are Angels surrounding Beth. Announcing His Birth)

1) When He was in the Wilderness being tempted by Satan / when the time of Temptation was completed – Angels came & ministered to Him

C) At His Rez – Angels sitting in the tomb

They are the 1^st Policemen – there in the Garden ( Keep man out after the Fall)

A) Then they are seen again in Gen. When they come to the Home of Abe for Dinner – ( Maybe had Angel food cake for Desert )

1) Then seen as BOUNCERS – Punishing Sodom & Gomorrah

B) Acts 12 they are seen Springing – Peter out of Prison

So Angles serve but Jesus reigns :

A)As ruler they are His subjects; servants; chain of command!

1.) V.14 - work for Him as ministering spirits to aid those who will

inherit salvation

B)The Angels are His servants but He is the King who reigns –

1) In verses 8,9 we see _3_ things about Character of His Rule

1^st Eternal Rule v. 8 – Your throne oh God is Forever

A) Christ sovereignty is seen in reference to throne!

1.) Earthly thrones are symbols of power, but always pass with time.

Kings come and go - kingdoms rise and fall

B) His throne is forever !!!!!! He is a King eternal - His dominion is an everlasting dominion! Christ Dynasty will never end

Also a great proof text for the Deity of Christ "Your throne, O God."

A)This is God the Father calling the Son God! Do you want to deny that Christ is God manifest in the flesh?

B)If you do, UNDERSTAND that you are contradicting God Himself. God called the Lord Jesus God. So what are you going to call Him?

1) He is God manifest in the flesh. He is superior to angels because He is going to rule over the universe.

C) He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is going to rule over the earth some day.

2^nd thing note – Righteous Rule scepter of righteousness - scepter of your kingdom

A)These verses are a quotation from Psalm 45:6-7 which is one of the great messianic psalms.

B)Psalm 45 tells us that there is One coming in the line of David who will rule in righteousness.

1) David is so thrilled about this prospect that he says, ". . . My tongue is the pen of a ready writer" (Ps. 45:1).

C) What about us – Excited about Righteousness

Jesus is a righteous King! Right on! His motives, character, His actions - only right!

A)He only does that which is right –YOUR LIFE / He brings your way - what is right

B)Most of earthly kings - own affairs at forefront - expand their own kingdom - people's interest not first / broken campaign promises

C) This verse reveals both Jesus’ actions and His motives. He not only acted in righteousness, He loves righteousness. / Do we

How often do we do what we know is God’s will, but do so without joy, in unwilling obedience – ( Little Boy I’m standing on the inside )

A)Jesus, however, loved righteousness. “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

B)That is true righteousness. It never varies from what is true, just, good.

C)Jesus never varies; His motives, His actions, His character never vary. He is total righteousness.

1) Displayed in everything Jesus did was His love for righteousness

D) He is righteous toward you!

Because Christ loves righteousness, He hates lawlessness.

A) So too If you love God’s right standards, you will hate wrong standards.

B) These two convictions are inseparable. One cannot exist without the other. You cannot truthfully say, “I love righteousness, but I also like sin.”

1) When there is true love for God, there will be total love for righteousness and total hatred for sin.

3^rd JOYFUL RULE – Anointed with oil of Gladness

A)Anointed with oil of joy or gladness/ Oil & gladness - representative H.S.

JOH 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

JOH 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

B)His Kingdom is one of everlasting gladness and joy unspeakable and full of glory!

1) One of the Biggest Misconceptions – Jesus is always angry

Movies Gospel Road / Jesus / Jokes – log out of eye ! Sarcasm

C) Word Joy appears 151 times in the Word / Rejoice over 200 times

1) In Heaven / in Millennium – Celebrating – rejoicing – why do we do so little of it Now - CELEBRATE JESUS

Reign of Christ – Eternal / Righteous / Joyful

A)Not Oppressive / not some cosmic kill Joy / doesn’t desire to make your life a bummer

B) Why so many rules ? Why does He say don’t do this & that ?

1) Answer : Wages of sin is death – he knows that it will destroy you

D) Ask Samson – Bound / eyes gouged out / Grinding

1) That is what sin does Sin Blinds / Binds ? Grinds

E) Jesus wants to give ABUNDANT LIFE - Bless us

1) Worst day w/ Jesus is better than the Best day w/out Him !!

4^th He is Superior in His Existence – 2 Reasons

1^st Creator – Author laid foundations - heavens are His work!

A.) Col 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible,

B.) Incredible power - creating; sustaining John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

2^nd Finisher – End v.11-12 - They will perish He will remain unchanged – v.11 heavens = sky & atmosphere /

A.)Motion produces friction; friction wear; wear disintegration

The whole material universe is like some vast clock -slowly running down

B.) Our sun is burning out Without some intervention from on high, things will eventually fold in on themselves; stars and universe have cycles

C) This earth is fading A billion zillion years from now the Lord will be sitting on His throne, deathless in His energy and force

D)He is therefore superior to angels in title, in worship, in nature; in existence, and finally destiny!

5^th Superior Destiny v.13,14

A)No angel has ever been promised a place at God’s right hand. Only the Son will sit here.

The destiny of Jesus Christ is that ultimately everything in the universe will be subject to Him. “At the name of Jesus every knee [will] bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth” tongue confess(Phil. 2:10).

B) Jesus Christ, in God’s plan, is destined to be the ruler of the universe and everything that inhabits it.

In this brief 14 verse chapter we see the glory and deity of Christ established by Divine names: He is called Son, Lord, and God!

A.)By Divine Works: He creates, sustains, governs, redeems, and purges sin

B.) By Divine Worth: He is to be worshipped by angels and all the other creatures in the universe

C.) By Divine Attributes: He is all knowing; all powerful; unchanging and eternal

1.) In all these ways the superiority Christ is proclaimed

May the reality of His deity permeate our minds and apprehend our hearts. This week - every week - may we find ourselves - basking in the glory of who our redeemer is!