It is urged that appeals not to fall away from the living God (3:12) (cf 9:14) can only be addressed to Gentiles since for Jews to abandon the distinctive doctrines of Christianity and return to Judaism would still leave them firm monotheists. Once again, this is speculation generally from non-Christians. To reject the supreme and final revelation of God in Christ would be to reject the living God Himself; there is no alternative religion, just as there is no alternative God and no alternative salvation history. Christ Himself is compared and contrasted with angels (1:5-2:9) and Moses (3:1-6); His sacrifice is compared and contrasted with the Levitical system (chapters 8-10) and stresses that the Levtical system and the Law (i.e. the Law of Moses) were not reality, but only a shadow and copy (Hebrews 10:1-4). Alternatively, the readers are constantly addressed as standing in continuity with Israel (they were Jews , e.g., 2:2f.; 4:1f.; 11:40; 12:25-27). They were not as the Epistle of Barnabas claims a "new people" of God in opposition to "earlier folk." To "fall away from the living God" is synonymous with harding of the heart (3:8, 13, 15). All of this points to Jews who had fallen away from Christianity and returned to Judaism. Given the passage in Hebrews 10:11, where we are told that the priests were still operating in the temple, we can assume that the mention of the Heavenly Zion in 12:22 alludes to the fact the readers were living in the earthly Jerusalem.
The Book Of Hebrews
The Outline Below is from Sunset and Gerald Paden. This outline is based on subject matter.
The Divinity of Christ – Hebrews 1:1-14
The Humanity of Christ – Hebrews 2:1-18; 4:14-16; 5:1-10
The Priesthood of Christ – Hebrews 7:1-28; 8:1-4
The New Covenant of Christ - Hebrews 8:5-13; 9:15-23
The Sanctuary of Christ – Hebrews 9:1-12; 9:23-28
The sacrifice of Christ – Hebrews 9:13-15; 9:23-23
The privilege of Christians and warnings relative to it. - Hebrews 10:19-35.
I. The Text 1:1-4 1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
II. The Paraphrase__________
(1) Jesus Christ lived in the last days and the church was established in the last days (see Isaiah 2:4 ff). Thus, the last days were two thousand years ago. The last days of God's theocratic reign over Israel is the subject.
(2) God, through his Son has fully revealed His nature, and His purpose, which stretches back through the prophets and creation. The Son has made it possible for sins to be purged away. He has been exalted to God's right hand and has been given a supreme title, higher than the angels.
A. "The end of the ages." Paul and the church at Corinth lived at the end of the ages (see 1st Cor. 10:11). The end of those ages was 2000 years ago.
B. See 1st Peter 1: 18-20___Jesus came to earth in the "last times" 2000 years ago.
C. Jesus announced the end of the ages in AD 32 (Matthew 24:2) and finally in AD 70 the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.
D. See Matthew 12:32, "this age and the age to come."
E. So, the message of Chapter one is that God sent His final message to man, thus there is no return to the law of Moses. The Temple is about to be destroyed (Heb. 10:25, they could see the day coming) and there is no going back.
F. In verse 1-2 we notice the verbs. They have God as their subject. Christ is related to God in Verse 3 as (effulgence) and (exact expression); v.4 (He has inherited), strongly implies the activity of God, so whatever is said or implied about God may be said about Christ.
III. Verses 1:1-2a These verses compare God speaking through the prophets and now speaking through the Son.
A. God spoke through the prophets, but only in part. No prophet ever had the complete message.
B. "Has spoken" the aorist tense suggests a completed period in the past. It will not be back.
C. Notice the article with "the prophets." The 1st century readers know exactly who the prophets are.
IV. What all of this means!
A. God has appointed Christ as heir________enthronement
B. Through Him He created the universe________action in the universe
C. He reflects God's Glory________His relation to God
D. He bears God's stamp______His relation to God
E. He upholds the universe_____action in the universe
F. (When He made purification)____(reason for)
G. He sat down at God's right hand___enthronement
There are 8 exact points in verses 1:2-4 to prove the deity of Jesus.
a. He is the heir of all things
kleronoman=owner, recipient, possessor. Used to state the rightful owner but can be used to express some activity of God (i.e. Noah inherited righteousness, Heb. 11:7).
b. Appointed heir, (Gal. 4:1) means heir elect-----becomes heir in Acts. 2. See the change of names in verse 8 and 10 from God to Lord meaning ruler.
c. He is the creator
1. He made the ages-- literal translation.___________to make, to establish, or to accomplish.
2---- Jesus created the world and all things in it. Jesus was the God of the Old Testament (See John 1:1).
d. He is the Brightness of His glory----O Theos, (the replica of God)
1.______He is the reflection or radiance.
2.---He is the effulgence of God. Means brightness and Doxa (Glory) In Phil. 2:6 Jesus emptied Himself of His glory while coming to earth. In John 17:5, He prays to have His glory returned as it was in the beginning.
e. He upholds all things
1. According to the Hebrew writer, it is Jesus who allows the world to continue.
2. He uphold as things (see Col. 1:15) in Him all things consist.
f. He is purification for sin (sin creates impurities).
1. He made purification for sins. Purification demands an act of God (Isa. 59---none can bear up). Acts 20:28, God purchased with His own blood, man cannot measure up.
g. He sat on the right hand of God (Ps. 110:1) (Acts 2:24ff). This is the act of enthronement. Jesus is king.
Christ is Better Than Angels 5-14
5For to which of the angels did He ever say,
"YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU"?
And again,
"I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM
AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?
1. The Heavenly voiced that greeted Christ at His baptism also used in this text (Psalms 2:7) announcing the Son ship of Christ (Mark 1:11).
2. Christ is better than angels (5-14) Notice the name change in verse 8 to verse 10.
3.--- a.”Thou art my son.....
He is begotten, same as in John 3:16 but means that today I have enthroned you!! See Psa. 2:7.
This is borrowed from Psalms 2:7 and the coronation of David. God never said to any angel that you are my son.
4. I will be His father and He will be my Son (II Sam. 7:14). David was wanting to build a house for God but God did not mean a house of cedar. That house was built by Solomon after David died. That means God did not want David associated with the physical temple in Jerusalem. God always intended for the house of David to be a spiritual house and not a physical house. The physical house (the temple in Jerusalem) belongs to Solomon and not David. David's temple is established in Acts the 2nd chapter or the church.
6And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
"AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM."
7And of the angels He says,
"WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS,
AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE."
1. “And again, this time He is marked as the One the angels worship. The first two quotes were that He is the Son of God. He is the Firstborn because He was here before the Earth was created. All the angels are commanded to worship Him.
2. Ps.104:4 the place of angels in the divine administration of the universe. Angels execute the divine commands with the speed of wind and the strength of fire.
8But of the Son He says,
"YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER,
AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.
9"YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS;
THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU
WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS."
1. God calls Jesus Son and then calls Jesus God (this is the enthronement process).
2. Thy throne is forever and ever.
Then God calls Jesus "God" and consecrates Him. The term to anoint with oil means to set apart. Scepter is a sign of royalty and oil is to consecrate or anoint.
3. The oil of gladness is to consecrate or anoint. Jesus is complete righteousness. His comrades are the other Davidic Kings.
Verse 10 "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
11THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT, 12 AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP;
LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED
BUT YOU ARE THE SAME,
AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END."
Jesus founded the earth in the beginning.
1. Jesus laid the foundation of the world and all in it. That means in Genesis chapter one we encounter Jesus.
2. Since Jesus made everything, those things made will perish but Jesus will remain.
3. Jesus never changes like the elements of the earth. He is eternal
4. In the end, Jesus will roll everything up like a scroll.
13But to which of the angels has He ever said,
"SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES
A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"?
14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
1. Angels are the proof
a. There was never a time that God enthroned an angel.
b. It was/is only Jesus who sits at the right hand of God.
2. Verse 14, as proof of the above statement, the angels work for Jesus who dispatches them to saints in need.
a. Providential care____1st Peter 1:14
b. Matt. 13, angels are reapers
c. Luke 16___they carried Lazarus
d. Angels were the mediators of the 1st Covenant Acts 7.
An Overview of Hebrews Chapter One
God has spoken these last days to us through His Son. The term Son, generally means “nature or likeness.” It also meant co-equal, which is different than the way we use the term. In the New Testament it is used as a man made to be like God or a man who is God.
The Hebrew writer states that the message spoken to the fathers and the prophets before time was only a part or in portions and now the final message is spoken through Jesus. Jesus was appointed heir all all things. The term in context means heir elect or potential Lordship. Jesus became heir in Acts the 2nd chapter.
In verse 3, Jesus is the effulgence of God's glory, that is to say the brightness of God Himself, or that which is visible to us. Jesus gave up His glory and came to earth on His own free will. In Phil. 2:7 He emptied Himself and in John 17:5, He prayed to have His glory returned to Him as it was before the foundations of the earth. Jesus was also the image or exactness of God. That is, Jesus is the etching. Jesus is also the substance or essence of God. He is the one who holds the world in balance with His powers. Jesus made purification for our sins. This also demands a deity. Only a ruler sits down with the majesty on high. In Psalms 2:6, God said that He would sit His King. It speaks of the Priesthood of Jesus. The Levitical Priests could not sit down because their work was not finished (Heb.7:27). Jesus sits down because His job is finished.
The Divinity of Jesus
God has spoken in these last days to us through His Son. The term Son in the first century was used to describe nature___character___and not relation. It also meant co-equal. This is much different than how we currently use the term. In the NT it us used as a man made to be God or a man who is God.
The Hebrew writer states that the message spoken to the fathers and the prophets before time was only in portions (parts) and now the final message is spoken through His Son. Jesus is appointed heir of all things. The use of the term 'heir' means potential lordship____or heir elect. This was a plan before the world was founded. Jesus became heir in Acts the 2nd chapter. In verse 3 we find that Jesus is the effulgence of God's glory (Doxa) and the brightness of God Himself. Jesus gave up His glory and came to earth of His own free will. (Phil. 2:5ff). He prayed for His glory to be returned to Him in John 17:5 but was denied.
In verse 3 we find that Jesus is the image, which is to say He is the icon of God. The image (icon) is etching. The word substance means that Jesus is the essence of God. Jesus is the One who holds the world and all things in check with His Word (Power). Jesus also made purification for sins and that requires a Deity. Only a ruler sits down.
Psalm 2:6- God says,"I will sit my king," which is the enthronement of Jesus. This also speaks of the Priesthood of Christ. The Levitical Priesthood stood while they worked (Deut. 17:12) but Christ sat down because His work was finished.
In Verse 4 we are told the Jesus became so much better than the angels as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Thus, the writer uses angels to prove deity.
He tells us that Jesus is exalted above all angels and prepares us for v. 5 where we have God speaking to Jesus.
Thou art my Son____meaning co-equal (Psalms 2:6). God says this day have I begotten (enthroned) Jesus. The kingly reign of Christ begins in Acts chapter 2 when Peter announces the installation (Acts 2:34). "I will be to Him a father and he will be to me a Son" (II Sam. 7:14) is the decree that establishes the relationship.
In verse 6 we are told that the angels of God worship Jesus. God commands angels to worship deity (Psalms 7:7). "Who makes His angles winds" tells us that Jesus sends the angels to do His will. In verse 8, God speaks to Jesus and calls Him God. The throne is established forever. The term Scepter represents royalty. In verse 9, God calls Jesus God and consecrates Him. To anoint is to set apart. To anoint with the oil of gladness is to make Jesus King of kings.
Verse 10- God calls Jesus Lord (Psalms 102:25).
Jesus has now been made ruler. The term Elohim is introduced to make this point.
Verse 11 Jesus created everything.
Verse 12 Jesus will be the one who ends all things (Psalms 110:1).
Verse 13-14 Once again, angels prove the deity of Christ.