Exhortation To Remain Faithfull (1:1-10:18)
The Superiority Of Christ (He 1:1-8:6)
The Better Medium (1:1-4:13)
Christ Is Superior To Angels (Heb 1:4-2:4)
JESUS: GREATER THAN THE ANGELS
Hebrews 1:4-14
Reading: Col 2:1-12
Songs: More About Jesus
Theme: to show that Jesus is greater then the angels; under we are under obligation to respect his word
INTRODUCTION
A. The subject of angels is certainly popular. Bookstores are filled with books on the subject of angels. Popular TV shows and movies ("Highway To Heaven", "Touched By An Angel", "It's A Wonderful Life," “Angles In The Outfield,” and "The Preacher's Wife") depict angels working in our lives. Angels were also an important part of the Jewish religion. The Jews counted it a great priviledge that the law was given through the medium of angels at Mt Sinai (cf. Deu 33:2; Psa 68:17; Ac 7:53; Ga 3:19; Heb 2). Angels appeared throughout the history of Israel. Since part of the purpose of "The Epistle To The Hebrews" was to show the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant to the Old Covenant with the Law of Moses, it was necessary that the writer discussed angels in relation to Jesus.
A. In a series of arguments in which the supremacy of Christ is established by placing him in contrast with various persons of honor and prestige. Jesus is said to be superior to the prophets (Heb. 1:1-3), to angels (Heb. 1:4-14), to Moses (Heb. 3:1-6), to Joshua (Heb. 4:3-13), and to Aaron (Heb.4:14--10:18). In keeping with the theme of the book, this is one of several attempts to dissuade Jewish Christians from departing from the faith and going back to the Mosaic Law or the Aaronic priesthood when Christ is far superior to them? As the writer of Hebrews continued his message regarding Christ’s superiority, he moved explaining Christ’s supremacy over the angels.
Discussion
I. CHRIST IS SUPERIOR BY NAME - MORE EXCELLENT (1:4).
A. Being made so much better than the angels ... (1:4a)
KJV
4 ¶ Being made <1096> (5637) so much <5118> better than <2909> the angels <32>, as <3745> he hath by inheritance obtained <2816> (5758) a more excellent <1313> name <3686> than <3844> they <846>.
Textus Receptus
4 tosoutw <5118> {D-DSM} kreittwn <2909> {A-NSM} genomenov <1096> (5637) {V-2ADP-NSM} twn <3588> {T-GPM} aggelwn <32> {N-GPM} osw <3745> {K-DSN} diaforwteron <1313> {A-ASN-C} par <3844> {PREP} autouv <846> {P-APM} keklhronomhken <2816> (5758) {V-RAI-3S} onoma <3686> {N-ASN}
1. Being made, Strong’s - 1096. ginomai GINOMAI ghin’-om-ahee; a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):— arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
TDNT-1:681,117; v AV-be 255, come to pass 82, be made 69, be done 63, come 52, become 47, God forbid + 3361 15, arise 13, have 5, be fulfilled 3, be married to 3, be preferred 3, not tr 14, misc 4, vr done 2; 678 1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being 2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen 2a) of events 3) to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage 3a) of men appearing in public 4) to be made, finished 4a) of miracles, to be performed, wrought 5) to become, be made
5637 Tense-Second AoristSee 5780
Voice-Middle Deponent See 5788
Mood - Participle See 5796
Count-137
(1) However, the Greek word for create is "POIEO" and that word is not used here.
(2) The Greek word used here is "GINOMAI" which means "to become.”
(3) Angels were created, Jesus is eternal and therefore was not created but has always been
b. Many of the religiously wrong have mistakenly used or misused this statement to claim that the words "being made" prove that Jesus was created by God, and therefore, by such reasoning, Jesus cannot be God, at best, a created god.
c. The problem in understanding “Being made” comes probably from taking the statement out of its context of “when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3).
(1) The “Being made” was in reference to his work in salvation, his humiliation and obedience unto death (Heb 5:8-9).
(2) The context of “being made” had nothing to do with Jesus’ existence but rather his having been exalted in glory and authority after having taken on flesh and having been then made “a little lower then the angels” (cp. Heb 2:7, 9).
d. His exaltation gave him a more excellent name.
B. "... as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they ..." (1:4b; Psa 2:7; Act 4:12; Eph 1:21).
4 ... as <3745> he hath by inheritance obtained <2816> (5758) a more excellent <1313> name <3686> than <3844> they <846>.
4 ... osw <3745> {K-DSN} diaforwteron <1313> {A-ASN-C} par <3844> {PREP} autouv <846> {P-APM} keklhronomhken <2816> (5758) {V-RAI-3S} onoma <3686> {N-ASN}
1. As verse five of our text reveals, Jesus is called the Son, a title that only he can properly wear.
Transition: Such a name placed Jesus high above the angles.
II. CHRIST IS SUPERIOR BY POSITION - PREEMINENT (1:5-14; Col 1:18).
Christ Is Superior In Position By Relationship
A. ... unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son ... (1:5; 2Sa 7:14 Mat 22:41-46).
5 For <1063> unto which <5101> of the angels <32> said he <2036> (5627) at any time <4218>, Thou <4771> art <1488> (5748) my <3450> Son <5207>, this day <4594> have <1080> <0> I <1473> begotten <1080> (5758) thee <4571>? And <2532> again <3825>, I <1473> will be <2071> (5704) to <1519> him <846> a Father <3962>, and <2532> he <846> shall be <2071> (5704) to <1519> me <3427> a Son <5207>?
5 tini <5101> {I-DSM} gar <1063> {CONJ} eipen <2036> (5627) {V-2AAI-3S} pote <4218> {PRT} twn <3588> {T-GPM} aggelwn <32> {N-GPM} uiov <5207> {N-NSM} mou <3450> {P-1GS} ei <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-2S} su <4771> {P-2NS} egw <1473> {P-1NS} shmeron <4594> {ADV} gegennhka <1080> (5758) {V-RAI-1S} se <4571> {P-2AS} kai <2532> {CONJ} palin <3825> {ADV} egw <1473> {P-1NS} esomai <1510> (5704) {V-FXI-1S} autw <846> {P-DSM} eiv <1519> {PREP} patera <3962> {N-ASM} kai <2532> {CONJ} autov <846> {P-NSM} estai <1510> (5704) {V-FXI-3S} moi <3427> {P-1DS} eiv <1519> {PREP} uion <5207> {N-ASM}
1. God the Father called Jesus “Son” when Jesus was “begotten.”
a. begotten, Strong’s - 1080. gennaw gennao ghen-nah’-o; from a variation of 1085; to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate:— bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
TDNT-1:665,114; v AV-begat 49, be born 39, bear 2, gender 2, bring forth 1, be delivered 1, misc 3; 97 1) of men who fathered children 1a) to be born 1b) to be begotten 1b1) of women giving birth to children 2) metaph. 2a) to engender, cause to arise, excite 2b) in a Jewish sense, of one who brings others over to his way of life, to convert someone 2c) of God making Christ his son 2d) of God making men his sons through faith in Christ’s work
5758 Tense-Perfect See 5778
Voice-Active See 5784
Mood - IndicativeSee 5791
Count-514
2. Two prophecies refer to the messiah as "Son."
a. The first a psalm depicting the enthronement of the messiah (the Lord's anointed), in which Jehovah calls the messiah "My Son" (Psa 2:7).
(1) Some say "begetting" has reference to the resurrection of Jesus, Ac 13:33; Ro 1:4.
(2)
b. The second had immediate application to Solomon, David's son but as the messiah (also descended from David - Jesus, the "son of David" - Mt 1:1; Mk 10:47; Joh. 7:42) who would receive the throne of David, 2 Sam 7:14
c. No angel was ever addressed as "Son".
d. Not only does this demonstrate Jesus is superiority to the angels, but it also proves that Jesus Himself was not an angel.
3. As with “Be made” (Heb 1:4), the religiously wrong have trouble understanding this verse as a result of pulling it out of its context.
a. On two notable occasions Jesus was audibly declared a son by the Father.
b. Following obedience in submission to baptism (Mat 3:15-17)
c. When transfigured before Peter, James and John, Moses and Elijah on either of his sides (Mat 17:1-5).
d. However, it was in the context of his death and resurrection that he was begotten, never again to die (Act 13:32-34)
Christ Is Superior In Position By Worship
B. ... he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him ... (1:6; Deut 32:43; Ps. 97:7).
.
6 And <1161> again <3825>, when <3752> he bringeth in <1521> (5632) the firstbegotten <4416> into <1519> the world <3625>, he saith <3004> (5719), And <2532> let <4352> <0> all <3956> the angels <32> of God <2316> worship <4352> (5657) him <846>. {again…: or, when he bringeth again}
6 otan <3752> {CONJ} de <1161> {CONJ} palin <3825> {ADV} eisagagh <1521> (5632) {V-2AAS-3S} ton <3588> {T-ASM} prwtotokon <4416> {A-ASM} eiv <1519> {PREP} thn <3588> {T-ASF} oikoumenhn <3625> {N-ASF} legei <3004> (5719) {V-PAI-3S} kai <2532> {CONJ} proskunhsatwsan <4352> (5657) {V-AAM-3P} autw <846> {P-DSM} pantev <3956> {A-NPM} aggeloi <32> {N-NPM} yeou <2316> {N-GSM}
1. In bringing “the firstbegotten into the world” the Father commanded the angels to worship the Son.
a. “Again” as in the last part of verse five, indicated the verse was another quote from the Old Testament.
b. As with “Being made” (Heb 1:4) and “begotten” (Heb 1:5), many have misunderstood the meaning of “firstbegotten.”
c. firstbegotten, Strong’s - 4416. prwtotokov PROTOTOKOS pro-tot-ok’-os; from 4413 and the alternate of 5088; first-born (usually as noun, literally or figuratively):— firstbegotten(-born).
TDNT-6:871,965; adj AV-firstborn 7, first begotten 2; 9 1) the firstborn 1a) of man or beast 1b) of Christ, the first born of all creation
(1) Jesus is described as "the firstborn".
(2) He was the “firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom 8:29) or “firstborn of every creature” (Col 1:15).
(3) In addition he is certainly the scriptures tell us he is the “firstborn from the dead” (Col 1:18).
d. The term "firstborn" was used in the scriptures as a metaphor to describe one who has occupied a privileged rank (without literally having been born first of parents).
(a) It was used by God in this way to refer to the nation of Israel (Exo 4:22).
(b) It was used by God in this way to refer to David, the youngest of eight (Psa 89:20, 27)
(2) The reference is not to the first in time as the first born child of parents, but first in title or position - the chief one (cp. Co 1:15-18).
(3) By virtue of being the creator, Christ Jesus maintained the rank and privilege of "firstborn"!
2. When the firstborn came into the world, and being the Son of God, the angels were commanded to worship him.
a. Properly, angels refused to be worshiped (Rev 22:8-9).
b. The apostle Peter refused to accept worship (Act 10:25-26).
c. However, Jesus received worship!
(1) from the wise men (Mat 2:11).
(2) from the leper (Mat 8:2).
(3) from the ruler (Mat 9:18).
(4) from His disciples in the boat (Mat 14:33).
(5) from the Canaanite woman (Mat 15:25).
(6) from the man born blind (Joh 9:38).
(7) from the women and other disciples following his resurrection (Mat 28:9,17).
(8) from the disciples following His ascension (Luk 24:52).
d. Since the greater (Jesus) received homage from the lessor (particularly angles), Jesus was greater then the angels.
Christ Is Superior In Position By Office
C. ... he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God... (1:7-9; Ps. 102:25-27).
7 And <2532> of <4314> <3303> the angels <32> he saith <3004> (5719), Who maketh <4160> (5723) his <846> angels <32> spirits <4151>, and <2532> his <846> ministers <3011> a flame <5395> of fire <4442>. {And of: Gr. And unto}
8 But <1161> unto <4314> the Son <5207> he saith, Thy <4675> throne <2362>, O God <2316>, is for <1519> ever <165> and ever <165>: a sceptre <4464> of righteousness <2118> is the sceptre <4464> of thy <4675> kingdom <932>. {righteousness: Gr. rightness, or, straightness}
7 kai <2532> {CONJ} prov <4314> {PREP} men <3303> {PRT} touv <3588> {T-APM} aggelouv <32> {N-APM} legei <3004> (5719) {V-PAI-3S} o <3588> {T-NSM} poiwn <4160> (5723) {V-PAP-NSM} touv <3588> {T-APM} aggelouv <32> {N-APM} autou <846> {P-GSM} pneumata <4151> {N-APN} kai <2532> {CONJ} touv <3588> {T-APM} leitourgouv <3011> {N-APM} autou <846> {P-GSM} purov <4442> {N-GSN} floga <5395> {N-ASF}
8 prov <4314> {PREP} de <1161> {CONJ} ton <3588> {T-ASM} uion <5207> {N-ASM} o <3588> {T-NSM} yronov <2362> {N-NSM} sou