HeBrews: A Better Blend
Welcome back to our study in the book of Hebrews. As you will recall, I’ve entitled this study HeBrews: A Better Blend because the book of Hebrews is all about better things. I hope you found some time to ponder Hebrews 1:1-4 last week. Those four power packed verses are quite the bomb!! Let’s move on to the remainder of chapter 1 this week.
If I had to offer you one sentence that would summarize the book of Hebrews it would be this: Jesus is better than anything. Hebrews is all about the supremecy of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews used this sermon to attempt to convince the readers of Jesus’ supremacy over the old ways of Judaism. We will see this in glorious display as we go through this study because it is all about the better things Jesus offers.
- Please read Hebrews 1: 5-14. Here is a link to it in case you don’t have a Bible handy.
As soon as the author of Hebrews takes a breath from verses 1-4, he launches into the first discourse about Jesus being better than angels.
Angels? Where did that come from?
More background. Because angels figured so prominently in the Old Testament, many Jews exalted angels to a high place. Some of them believed the Old Covenant was given by angels to Moses. Other Jews believed that God had a ‘congress’ of angels whose purpose was to provide advice and guidance to Him. As you can see, these false beliefs went a long way toward causing an almost god-like persona to be assigned to angels. In fact, Gnosticism allowed angels to be worshipped and reduced Jesus to an angel. In short and without going into a whole study on angels, the writer of Hebrews knew this topic of Jesus’ status as compared with angels must be addressed.
- What is Jesus called twice in our verses from Hebrews 1 this week? Hint: the answer is ‘Son’.
Consider an interesting thought from John MacArthur: “Son is an incarnational title of Christ. Though His sonship was anticipated in the Old Testament (Proverbs 30:4), He did not receive the title of Son until He was begotten into time. Prior to time and His incarnation he was eternal God with God. The term Son has only to do with Jesus Christ in His incarnation. It is only an analogy to say that God is Father and Jesus is Son – God’s way of helping us understand the essential relationship between the first and second Persons of the Trinity.” (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Hebrews. P.27.)
Jesus is BETTER than the angels. The writer of Hebrews is beginning his orchestration of the Christology of Jesus. He wants his audience to understand that Jesus is not another angel. He is the eternal Son of God who is worshipped by the angels. He was not a created being, but rather He is the creator of the universe. He will never grow old, nor will He ever die again. In fact, He is, even now, seated in the place of honor at the right hand of God in heaven. In verse 14, the writer deals the final blow by telling his readers that angels are spirits sent to minister to those who will receive the salvation provided by Jesus.
Anything you and I perceive as greater than Jesus becomes an idol to us and we are in grave danger of worshipping it. Just as the Hebrew Christians idolized angels, you and I have a propensity to idolize things or people in our culture. We worship money, children, homes, jobs, health, spouses, friends, abilities, our looks, status and so much more. Even today angel worship occurs. Jesus is better than all of these. We are wise if we keep created things in perspective. Only Jesus is the Son of God, the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Only He came to die in order that you and I might have eternal salvation. Jesus is BETTER.
MEDITATION MOMENT:
Do you agree with the comment by John MacArthur? What are your thoughts about this quote? There are no right or wrong answers.
What things or people tend to rise up as idols in your life?
