Pay Closer Attention
Notes
Transcript
Introduction/Review
Introduction/Review
Review
Review
In the previous lesson, we talked why people drift away from Jesus: It’s because they don’t know him.
So, the author of Hebrews is trying give these people a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what he’s done for them.
This is an important lesson for us because we tend to ignore theology to focus on the practical. We must talk about the practical, but we also must deal with theology.
We need to know who our God is so that we can truly have a relationship with him.
So, when these Christians were drifting away, the Author of Hebrews gave them theology… Theology is important.
We see this with our kids...
Studies show that 50 - 70 % of teens leave religion when they leave home.
It’s not because our kids don’t know the practical… It’s because they don’t know the theological
So, to prevent his audience from drifting further away, the author of Hebrews teaches theology… He teaches them about Jesus.
Intro
Intro
This theme continues in our lesson today. We are going to study through Hebrews 1:5-2:4 and see what we can learn about our savior.
We are going to begin with Hebrews 1:5-14, and at the end of the lesson, we will deal with Hebrews 2:2-4.
In Hebrews 1:5-14, the preacher continues to tell us about Jesus, but in this section he focuses on how Jesus is greater than the angels.
In this section the preacher gives us three points on how Jesus is greater than the angels, and for each point he uses two quotations from the Old Testament.
This is how the lesson will be laid out. We will take a look at the three points that the author is making, and then we will deal with the beginning of Hebrews 2.
The Son Has A Special Relationship With the Father
The Son Has A Special Relationship With the Father
Hebrews 1:5.
5 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”?
In this verse, we have the first two quotations from the Old Testament: one from Psalm 2 and the other from 2 Samuel 7. The author uses these verses because they share a common theme.
Both of these verses talk about how Jesus is God’s son. “to which of the angels did God say…”
It’s interesting that in the Old Testament, the angels were called sons of God, so what’s the point?
The point is that Jesus is God’s son in a special way. In a way that the angels could never be God’s son.
Throughout scripture, Jesus is described as God’s only son. (John 3:16, John 3:18, 1 John 4:9). In the Greek, that word does and can mean only, but it can also mean unique or one of a kind.
I lean towards the idea of Jesus being unique, and here’s why. Throughout scripture, we see that there are many sons of God.
The angels
Israel
Disciples of Christ
I think that the idea is that Jesus is unique. He’s one of a kind. He’s a son in the way that neither we nor the angels could ever be.
So, the idea in this verse is that Jesus has a special relationship with the Father. John 1:18. The angels do not, so Jesus is greater than the angels.
The Angels Are Servants Of The Son
The Angels Are Servants Of The Son
Hebrews 1:6-7.
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
The Firstborn
The Firstborn
This small section starts with “when he brings the firstborn into the world.
In the previous lesson, I called Jesus the second son, so what’s going on here? In a sense, Jesus is the firstborn and only son of the father. In another sense, Jesus is the second son (or the second Israel).
It reminds me of how God considered David his firstborn. Psalm 89:27.
27 And I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
In the context, it’s clear that this is referring to David. Psalm 89:19-27.
19 Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said:
“I have granted help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
21 so that my hand shall be established with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him;
the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27 And I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
David was not literally the firstborn… The idea is that David is going to be the prominent king.
The Quotations
The Quotations
Once, we move past this statement, we see the second group of quotations: one from Deuteronomy 32, and the other from Psalm 104. Again, these verses are used because they share a common theme. The idea is this: The angels aren’t greater than Jesus. The angels are servants to Jesus.
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
Jesus is greater than the angels.
If you look back over the last century, it’s evident that there was a fascination with angels.
Think about the many TV series and movies that deal with angels.
Touched By An Angel
Angels in the Outfield
The Preacher’s Wife
The point is that our culture has a fascination with the mystic and spiritual things… Things like angels. What if they knew that Jesus was greater than the angels?
So, that’s the point. The angels worship and serve Jesus because he is greater.
The Son Is Eternal
The Son Is Eternal
Hebrews 1:8-12.
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
In these verses we see the last group of Old Testament quotations: one from Psalm 45 and the other from Psalm 102.
Again, these quotations share a common theme.
The idea is that The Son is eternal and will reign forever.
The angels are not eternal… The angels are a part of this worlds created order, but this fallen, broken world will not last.
Jesus the eternal one, will fold up this order and replace it like an old, battered garment. There will be a new order… a new creation where there is no brokenness, sin, or death.
Jesus will rule for eternity and will usher in God’s new order. The angels will not.
So, what’s the author of Hebrews trying to teach us? He’s trying to teach us that Jesus is greater…
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Application: We Must Pay Closer Attention
Application: We Must Pay Closer Attention
Well, how can we apply this to our lives? The author of Hebrews helps us. Hebrews 2:1-4.
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 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, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Since Jesus is greater, we must pay closer attention. The author of Hebrews actually uses an argument from lesser to greater.
When the people in the Old Testament failed to listen to the words of the angels, they were punished. Well, who’s greater: the angels or Jesus? So, we must pay closer attention.
What does this mean?
We need to be good readers of scripture… We must study the Bible well.
How do we do this?
Let me give you a practical way that we can do this while reading Hebrews: When you come across a quotation from the Old Testament, go back and read the entire context.
When the author of Hebrews quotes from the Old Testament, he has the entire context in mind.
When the audience reads these Old Testament quotations, they have the context in mind.
We need to do the same. When we come across these OT Quotations, we need to go back and read the entire context. When we do we will understand the text on a deeper level
So, let’s go back and put these Old Testament quotations back into their context so that we can add some depth to our understanding.
The Son Is The Anointed King.
The Son Is The Anointed King.
Hebrews 1:5.
5 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 I said earlier, the first quotation is from Psalm 2:7.
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
In this context, we see God and his Anointed King. Then God says to the king: “You are my son, today I have begotten you.”
1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
So, this quotation doesn’t only show Jesus’ special relationship with The Father. It also shows that Jesus is the anointed King.
The second quotation is from 2 Samuel 7:14...
14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
but let’s put this verse into it’s context. 2 Samuel 7:12-14.
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
In the context, God is making a covenant with David, and God tells David that his son will reign forever.
So again, this quotation doesn’t only show Jesus’ special relationship with the Father. It shows that Jesus is God’s anointed King…
This is something that the angels can’t claim.
The Son Is The God Who Created/Rules The World.
The Son Is The God Who Created/Rules The World.
Hebrews 1:6-7.
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
The first quotation is from the Greek version of Deuteronomy 32:43.
Deuteronomy 32:43 (LES2)
43 Delight, O heavens, with him
and worship him, you sons of God.
Delight, O nations, with his people
and prevail with him, all you angels of God.
For he will avenge the blood of his sons,
and he will avenge and he will repay the enemies with vengeance,
and he will repay those who hate,
and the Lord will cleanse out the land of his people.’ ”
In this context, we see the Song of Moses. In this song, Moses is praising the God who brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt in spite of the people’s constant rebellion.
In the first section of this song, Moses wonders why Israel would rebel against the God who both created and blessed them. They rebelled despite the Lord of history saving them from Egypt.
In the second section, Moses talks about how Israel sinned against the God who created them and provoked his anger.
In the last section, Moses talks about how the God who destroys and creates will judge the nations, but save his people. This is where we find our quote about the angels worshipping the God who’s in charge of everything.
So, this quotation doesn’t only show that Jesus is greater than the angels. It also shows us that Jesus is the God who’s in charge… The God who created and rules the world.
The second quotation is from Psalm 104:4...
4 he makes his messengers winds,
his ministers a flaming fire.
but let’s put this verse in it’s context. Psalm 104:1-9.
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2 covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
4 he makes his messengers winds,
his ministers a flaming fire.
5 He set the earth on its foundations,
so that it should never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,
so that they might not again cover the earth.
This psalm is all about how awesome and majestic God is because he created and rules the world.
So again, these quotations don’t only show us that Jesus is greater than the angels. They show us that Jesus is the God who created and rules the world (including the angels).
The Son Is The Bridegroom Who Will Always Care For His Bride.
The Son Is The Bridegroom Who Will Always Care For His Bride.
Hebrews 1:8-12.
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
The first quotation is from Psalm 45:6-7.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
Let’s put these verses in their context Psalm 45:1-17.
1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
4 In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
forget your people and your father’s house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12 The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people.
13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
with her virgin companions following behind her.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
In the context, a king is marrying his bride, and this is a love song that’s dedicated to the event.
In the middle of this love song, the poet writes his hope that the king will reign forever.
At the end of this song, the king and his bride are married, and they both receive blessings from this wedding.
So, this quotation doesn’t only show us that Jesus is eternal. It also shows us that Jesus is the groom, we are the bride, and he will take care of us.
The second quotation is from Psalm 102:25-27.
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
This psalm is actually a psalm of lament. The psalmist is afflicted, faces death, and hopes that God will hear him. At the end of the psalm, the psalmist says that God is the everlasting God who will take care of his people.
So if we think about these quotations together, they don’t only show us that Jesus is eternal. They also show that Jesus is the eternal bridegroom who will always care for his bride.
This is something that the angels CAN NOT CLAIM. The angels are not the eternal one. The angels are not the bridegroom. They are servants of the bridegroom.
Because of these things we must PAY CLOSER ATTENTION
So, we see that paying close attention to scripture can help us to see things that we wouldn’t normally see just skimming the text.
Conclusion
Conclusion
It’s interesting that we pay close attention to things are important to us.
If sports is important to us, we can spend hours looking over stats and watching footage. It’s important to us, so we pay close attention.
If a book series in important to us, we can spend hours researching characters and looking into theories. It’s important to us, so we pay close attention.
Is scripture important to us? Are we paying closer attention to the words of our God?
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 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,