Hebrews 1:5-14 Jesus Exalted

Chuck Musselwhite

Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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Intro: Antonius, Hebrew Christian

Building Update

Hebrews written to Jewish Christians in Rome who were struggling with their commitment to Jesus

Antonius lived in a slum in Rome

He lived a meager existence with stale bread, some vegetables, and sour wine

At one time he was a tailor’s apprentice, but once he gave his life to Jesus lost that

Now he worked at a produce shop with a cruel boss who took every opportunity to ridicule the Christian

He was the poorest in his church

Even rich men’s slaves fared better than he did

His grandfather was the synagogue leader and had almost died over his anger of Antonius’ conversion

Even now many of his family members treated him like a gentile and didn’t speak to him

Loneliness closed in around him like a wet damp blanket

Under Claudius, Christians had been persecuted

People weren’t being martyred, but they were being harassed

Emotional fatigue was setting in

His Christian experience was different than he had expected

At first he was full of joy, but the church had taken a beating and many of the house churches had become discouraged

Many had left the church

He had missed the last few church meetings and he was entertaining thoughts of leaving

There was a meeting that night

Rumor had it that the church had received a letter from far off

He went and their leader, a 70 year old man named Christian, told them they were the first to be read a new letter

With eager excitement he began

Hebrews 1:1–2 ESV

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Maybe you are a worn down, discouraged Christian

Today’s message is for you

Read Hebrews 1:5-14

Transition:

The theme of the first two thirds of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is better

He is better than the angels, the law, the sacrifices, and the priests

While we will look at how Jesus is superior to angels this morning the real theme is that Jesus is being exalted

The writer is talking to people who have grown up hearing about angelic visits to their people

They have heard of the great works by God through people like Moses and Elijah

It would be natural to think the mystical and supernatural are superior to the physical

Jesus was in the flesh, angels are spirits

As the Hebrews are being beaten down by their surroundings they need to be reminded that Jesus is the one to turn to, not angels

The writer of Hebrews exalts Jesus

Jesus is God’s Son vs. 5

Jesus is exalted because He is God’s Son

The writer starts this section by asking a question

Which angel did he ever call His Son?

Angels are referred to the sons of God in the Bible

But they are never referred to in the manner that Jesus in Psalm 2

Psalm 2:7 ESV

I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

Jesus is exalted above the angels because he is the the son of God

The angels had always been ministers and messengers.

Only Christ is the Son.

The angels are created servants. Obviously, it is better to be a son than a servant (Luke 15:19).

In fact, sonship in the Hebrew culture spoke of equality—not subordination (John 5:18). There is no more lofty title or position

Bear in mind that to any first-century Jewish reader, the title “Son” would be a declaration of equality with the Father

So when Jesus was called “Son of God,” it was understood categorically by all as a title of deity, making Him equal with God and (more significantly) of the same essence as the Father

Jesus Receives Worship vs. 6-7

Next, Jesus is exalted because Angels worship & serve him

Jesus is superior to the angels because they worship and serve Him

This word was used both as an idea and to designate the one born first.

Since the firstborn son was “first in line” and received the position of favor and honor, the title “firstborn” could indicate that someone was of the highest position and honor.

Many of those not born first in the Bible are given the title “firstborn.”

David is an example of this

Even though Christ humbled Himself, even though He was made for a time lower than the angels, the angels are to worship Him.

vs. 6 Angels worship Him

The Bible speaks a great deal of angels.

There are 108 direct references to angels in the Old Testament and 165 in the New.

The primary purpose of their creation was to render special worship and service to God

Angels are spirit beings and do not have flesh and bones. But they do have bodies.

Whatever heavenly form angels have, they are capable of appearing in human form.

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

Angels are not subject to death. Scripture nowhere indicates that they die or can be annihilated.

A third of them fell (Rev. 12:4), but they still exist as demonic spirit beings.

Each is a direct, permanent creation of God and stands in personal relationship to his Creator.

Their number, therefore, neither increases by procreation or by additional creation nor decreases by death or by annihilation

Revelation 5:11–12 ESV

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

This Son who became a man is higher than angels.

He is the very God that the angels had always worshiped.

It is an absolute sin and violation of the most basic of God’s laws to worship anyone but God.

So if God Himself says that the angels are to worship the Son, then the Son must be God!

In His incarnate person, even as in His eternal person, Christ is to be worshiped.

vs. 7 Angels serve Him

The second thing we see about about angels is that they serve Jesus

Psalm 104 is quoted here

Psalm 104:4 ESV

he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.

Psalm 104:4 demonstrates that Jesus the Messiah is Lord over the angels.

They are His angels and His ministers.

The angels belong to Jesus, and He is not among them.

Jesus is Anointed & Righteous vs. 8-9

Jesus is exalted because He is the anointed one and rules in righteousness

vs. 8a Throne is forever

The first part of verse 8 expands on the difference between Christ’s nature and that of angels.

Writer is quoting Ps 45

Here is one of the most amazing and important statements in all of Scripture: Jesus is God eternal!

Those who say Jesus was just a man, or just one of many angels, or one of many prophets of God are lying

Jesus is no less than God.

The Father says to the Son, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.

God the Father acknowledges God the Son.

I believe this verse gives the clearest, most powerful, emphatic, and irrefutable proof of the deity of Christ in the Bible—from the Father Himself

Jesus Christ has an eternal throne, from which He rules eternity as God and King.

He is the eternal King, with an eternal kingdom, and an eternal scepter of righteousness.

vs. 8b Scepter is Upright

Psalm 45:6-7 plainly says that God the Father calls the Son God.

When the First Person of the Trinity spoke to the Second Person of the Trinity, He called Him God.

This is unique and powerful evidence of the deity of Jesus.

Psalm 45:6 ESV

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

Upright scepter

vs. 9a Loves Righteousness

This verse reveals both Jesus’ actions and His motives.

He not only acted in righteousness, He loved righteousness.

How often do we do what we know is God’s will, but do so without joy, in unwilling condescension?

Jesus, however, loved righteousness.

1 John 1:5 ESV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God never varies; His motives, His actions, His character never vary.

He is total light. He is total righteousness.

Displayed in everything Jesus did was His love for righteousness.

Because Christ loves righteousness, He hates lawlessness.

If you love God’s right standards, you will hate wrong standards.

These two convictions are inseparable.

One cannot exist without the other.

vs. 9b Anointed w/ Oil of Gladness

This passage shows striking interaction between the Persons of the Trinity.

“God, Your God” speaks of the Father and His position of authority over the Second Person of the Trinity.

“You” refers to the Son.

“Anointed” has in mind the ministry and presence of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity.

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Jesus is Eternal vs. 10-12

Jesus is exalted because He is eternal

In this quotation from Psalm 102 the Holy Spirit reveals that Christ is better than angels because He exists eternally

vs. 10 Laid Foundation of Earth

If Jesus was in the beginning to create, He must have existed before the beginning and therefore be without beginning. “In the beginning was the Word

vs. 11 Heavens Perish

Just as you would roll up and throw away an old, worn-out garment when you are done with it, Jesus one day will discard the heavens and the earth.

Isaiah 34:4 ESV

All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.

During the Tribulation, as if the heavens were to be stretched to the limit and the corners then cut, they will roll up just like a scroll.

The stars are going to fall, come crashing down to earth, and every island and mountain will move out of its place.

The whole world will fall apart.

Men come and go. Worlds come and go. Stars come and go.

Angels were subjected to decay, as their fall proves.

But Christ never changes, is never subject to change, is never subject to alteration.

He is eternally the same. He is therefore superior to angels in title, in worship, in nature, in existence, and finally in destiny.

Jesus is Sovereign vs. 13-14

Jesus is exalted because he is sovereign

vs. 13 Seated at Right Hand

Now for the seventh time in this chapter, the writer to the Hebrews quotes the Hebrew Scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus the Messiah is far superior to any angelic being.

He quoted Psalm 110:1 to show again that God the Father said things to Jesus the Messiah never said to angelic beings.

Psalm 110:1 ESV

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

The Messiah has this exalted place and posture in heaven.

Anyone who sits in the divine presence shows that they have the perfect right to be there.

There are no seats for the angels around the throne of God, because they are constantly busy praising God and serving Him.

Yet Jesus can – at the invitation of God the Father – sit at the right hand of God the Father.

vs. 14 Angels are Ministering Spirits

Daniel 7:9–10 ESV

“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

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