Thursday 25th
Hebrews 1:5-14
NIV (v5) – ‘For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?’
ESV (v5) – ‘For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?’
As we continue from yesterday we move into these remaining verses in Hebrews chapter 1 which tell us that Jesus is greater than the angels, (a) because he has a name that is superior (v4), (b) because he is the Son of God (v5), (c) Because he is to be worshipped (v6), (d) because he is enthroned as God forever (v8), (e) because he was involved in creation (v10), (f) because he is eternal (v12) and (g) because he sits at God’s right hand (v13). Nothing that is said about the Son can be said about the angels, and the writer then concludes this chapter with the question that answers itself about angels, ‘Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?’ (v14)
What a chapter this first one of Hebrews is in showing us who the Son is through whom God is speaking to mankind in these last days. And what a Son he is, the one who although equal with God, did not think equality something to be grasped, but humbled himself to be born of a woman so that he might become our redeemer Saviour and that we in responding could become heirs of salvation, purchased of God, born of the Spirit, washed in his blood.
The writer refers to the Old Testament as he puts forward his theology in this chapter concerning the Lord Jesus Christ,(the word used for this is Christology – the doctrine of Christ) He has referred to Psalm 2:7, 2 Samuel 7:14, and most commentators seem to agree that he refers to Deuteronomy 32:43. I have these references handwritten in my Bible with handwritten notes (I don’t know where from) to remind me that in his Christology, the writer refers back to the writings, the prophets and also to the law, it is a reminder for us that in our preaching and teaching of the word of God we should always check out Scripture with Scripture and see that what we preach is in harmony with the whole of the word of God.
We can readily conclude from this chapter and the various ways in which we see that the Son is superior to the angels is what we read in another epistle, ‘Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of Godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.’ (1 Timothy 3:16)
I conclude our meditation from chapter one by sharing the opening verses of the next chapter, 2:1-4 ‘Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.’
To sum it up, if the law which was delivered by the angels was reliable and meant what it said and resulted in the outcomes that it portrayed, how much more should we be accepting and believing what God has spoken and done through his Son? In these last days as he is continuing to speak through his Son, that is through his accomplished work at Calvary, how will we escape if we neglect to believe and accept. I close with these words, if you have not responded to the call of the gospel and have not yet committed your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, think on it today, for behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.