HEBREWS 1:1-14
ANGELS AFFIRM AN
ANOINTED’S ADVANCEMENT
I. THE ANOINTED: Hebrews 1:1-3
A. Announces.
B. Accomplishes.
C. Administrates.
II. THE ARGUMENT: Hebrews 1:4, 5
A. Advantageous.
B. Achievement.
C. Analogy.
III. THE ANGELS: Hebrews 1:6-14
A. Assignment.
C. Activities.
C. Approbation.
The writer to the Hebrews waists little time in establishing the fact that Christ is better. He is better than everything that the readers had known in times past. Through out the letter, the writer states that Christ and His religion is better in twelve different ways to the Old Testament and the former way of serving God.
Like a brilliant lawyer, the writer builds his case to prove that we who follow Jesus have the best in this world and in the world to come. In the passage before us, the writer starts out by telling his reader that Christ is better than the angels. He ends his argument in chapter 12, verse 24, by affirming that the sacrifice of Christ is better than Abel’s. By so comparing this sacrifice of Abel’s slain lamb to the Slain Sacrifice of Christ-he concludes his writing by assuring his readers that the best sacrifice of God’s plan was the last recorded in the Holy Writ as compared to the first animal sacrifice in the Bible.
Here, in chapter one, the writer lays his foundation for what is to come and slowly, methodically, he builds his case unto a crescendo of glory and rapture for we servants of Christ. It is important to remember the time frame in which he wrote his letter. It was in the first century of Christendom and the Judiazers were busy trying to tear down what Christ had accomplished. The Romans were busy trying to snuff out Christianity. The Gnostics were busy trying to impinge the reality of flesh, spirit and soul. There were heretics already loose in the Christian Church. The different churches of Corinth and those mentioned in the Book of the Revelations were already showing signs of internal discord. Amongst all of this background, the writer of the Hebrews takes stylus to parchment and says in only the brilliant manner in which he was able to write, “Fellow believers, just let me tell you how precious your faith is by comparing things around you and I will prove that we have it “better” than all the rest. Furthermore, we are headed to a “better” place, bought and purchased by the Blood of Jesus, a “better” land than what we have this side of eternity.” Although this letter was of much importance in his day, the passing of time has not diminished the value of these “betters” that he mentions. If any thing, these “betters” are looking “better” every year that God withholds the return of Jesus for His Bride. Friends, it can only get better and better the longer we serve Jesus here and then go home to be with Him in the future.
I see three things about the first “better” of this book. I see where the writer introduces Jesus to his readers as THE ANOINTED One, in verses one through three. Next, I note THE ARGUMENT for his position in verses four and five. Finally, I see where he introduces THE ANGELS and their lesser place in verses six through fourteen.
I. THE ANOINTED: The writer begins his work by going straight to the point of establishing just who this Jesus was. It appears that the writer has much to say and does not wish to waste anyone’s time in trying to identify this ANOINTED One. He assumes that his readers know of Whom he is speaking and he begins to build his case by telling all just how much “better” is Jesus than the angels of which he will soon write.
First of all, the writer introduces Jesus by simply saying whereas God had sent prophets of old to Israel and to the world, He-in His wisdom-has sent Jesus, His Son, the Maker and Upholder of all that has been made. This is a powerful statement. To think, that He the Creator, a Member of the Trinity, the One of Whom John wrote about being the Creator of the world, came to His world to personally Announce to mankind His plan of salvation. Friends, do we realize just Whom we serve? We serve the Creator of this world and the universe. Do we fully grasp the fact that this One whom we serve, talks to us, through the agency of the Holy Spirit? Do we fully comprehend that Jesus forgives us, hears our prayers, abides in us? This Creator and Sustainer of this world thinks we are so important that He wants to communicate with us. The writer of the letter introduces this Jesus for who He is-God’s Son and He has come to speak to us in the flesh and now in the Spirit. The time of the intermediaries vanished when Jesus was born-God now talks directly to we mere mortals. What a Saviour!!!
Next, in verse three, the writer speaks of not only the description of Jesus, but of what He Accomplished for we humans. First of all, He came to speak directly to all, then He came to save all. It is important to note that the writer says Jesus came in order to He purge our sins, “by Himself.” Wow! If we are not on shouting grounds now, we had better check our spiritual temperature. To think, that Jesus, “by Himself” did what no offering of bulls, goats, sheep and birds could ever do-purge our sins. He needed no one to help Him do what only He could do. The Creator of the Universe, left His abode in heaven, took up man’s temple of clay, slept in the open, went hungry, faced Satan alone-at least twice, was thirsty, became tired, was mocked, openly scorned, devilishly rejected and brutally killed. Yet He arose from that borrowed tomb, a Victor over Death, Hell and the Grave, accomplishing our salvation, “by Himself.” Glory to God in the highest. He did what was impossible for anyone else to do and He did it alone. This ought to make us aware of how important His salvation is to we mere mortals and just how much we are in His debt.
Then, I notice what happened after His work of redemption-I see how He Administers His accomplishments-He takes the place next to His Father: He sits on His right side. There, He intercedes for we His followers. Once His work was accomplished on this Earth, by Himself, He returned to Heaven and took His seat at the Right side of the Father. This “right side” of the Father is important for we Christians. First, He left Heaven to come to this Earth to tell us personally about Himself, being the Creator and Sustainer of this world. Then He accomplished the work of salvation for us, “by Himself” and then returned to Heaven. His work now finished, He sat down next to the Father where He still resides to intercede for we humans. From His seat, He Administers His salvation to this lost world. From this place, He receives the adoration of the worshippers in Heaven. And, from this place, He will someday leave to come back to this Earth to gather His bride unto Himself.
The writer of our text, carefully establishes just who this One is because he is getting ready to prove that He is not an angel but One better than an angel and better than all of God’s work-He is God.
II. THE ARGUMENT: The writer to the Hebrews has taken time to establish the credentials of Jesus, alluding to His work both as the Creator and the Sustainer of His work. He also reveals to his readers that Christ came in person to deliver the message of salvation and to point man toward God, superseding the prophets of old. Now, in verses four and five, the writer sets forth the argument to establish the superiority of angels. His line of thought is interesting to observe. He is going up the scale from men who were prophets to angels, being superior to man, and then stating that Christ is better than these two entities.
The first part of his argument lies in the fact that Jesus has certain Advantages over all other beings. The Jews of old regarded the angels as beings with certain specific roles and powers. The Old Testament contains references to the role that angels played in various interchanges with man on God’s behalf. Even in the New Testament, there are references to angels doing certain specific things that are beyond the scope of man’s ability. Yet, the writer of the Hebrews states that Jesus has a superior role than the angels. He reminds his Jewish/Christian readers that if they regard the angels as superior beings, Jesus is better than them by using the words, “…so much better.”
These things we accept at face value and it appears that the writer is repeating facts which we already know, yet do we really comprehend the concept of the Advantages that Jesus posses over the celestial beings? What is the name of that angel that died for mankind? Who of the heavenly host created and sustains the universe? Who of the angelic host sits at the right side of the Father. If people hold the angelic beings as something very special in God’s economy, then we need to look up and beyond the host and see who Jesus really is. He is the one who is… “so much better.” Why is it that people will talk about their “guardian angel” and reject Christ and His mercy? Why is it that people will look to created things and refuse to recognize the Creator? Why do people look to the stars for their guidance and refuse to look to the Star of Bethlehem for salvation? Are we any different than the readers of this letter? The writer is trying to convey a very complex truth to all of us so we can arrange our priorities correctly and worship Him who is greater, better than all else.
From the Advantage of Christ’s superiority, the writer to the Hebrews builds his ARGUMENT for the Christ being better than all else by listing a few of the Achievements of Jesus. One of these blessings comes from something Jesus did not do-He obtained, by inheritance, a better name than all else. As is given here, the writer tells his readers that Jesus inherited a better name by virtue of being the Son of God. He did not have to earn this better name; He did not have to pay a price for the name; and, He did not have to do anything to receive the name which is better than all else. He was given the name because He is God’s Son.
The name of Jesus is better due to who He is; due to who His Father is; the name of Jesus is better due to His very essence and it is better than all other names. The name of Jesus is better than Allah, Mohamed, Confucius, Buddha or any of the Hindu gods’ names. The name of Jesus is better than any name of any kings, queens, prime ministers, presidents, chiefs, judges, governors, senators, representatives, etc. The name of Jesus is better than the name of Gabriel and Michael. The name of Jesus is better than the name of Lucifer and all of his devotees. The name alone, is better than all else. The name, given to Him by the angel when he visited Mary, is better than all else. The writer of the book wants his readers to grasp that this Jesus whom he has revealed in the previous verses, posses a name that can save any sinner, heal any broken heart, mend all broken ways and is superior to all else because He is God’s Son. The name, the name, the name-is better than all other names. The Achieving of this name was nothing He did for Himself-but was given to Him by His Father.
Then I note the last part of this line of THE ARGUMENT the writer uses to prove how much better is Jesus than all else by Analogy. Note how the writer shifts from discussing the better name of Jesus to the superiority of Him over the angels. He asks some rhetorical questions to his readers regarding the vicissitudes of the facts at hand. No where, did God ever equate any angels with Jesus. Nowhere did God ever accord any of the angelic hosts a special place and treatment as He afforded His Son. The writer clearly reveals the line of demarcation as is set in Heaven revealing and guarding the superiority of Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is Better-He is the Saviour of the World. There is none other like Him. He reigns supreme and constant. He came to this Earth in Person to communicate to lost man about a better way of living. The Creator and sustainer came, died, arose, took His seat besides His Father, retains the only unique and supreme name due to His Father, and he is better than all else because God never extended any invitations to others as he did to His Son. Jesus is better than all else.
III. THE ANGELS: I have looked at The Anointed One and have studied THE ARGUMENT given by the writer of the Hebrews in trying to prove that Jesus is better than all else. Now I need to spend a few moments on THE ANGELS as is recorded in this first chapter, verses six through fourteen.
The writer to the Hebrews has now firmly established the superiority of Christ and he turns his attention to THE ANGELS. The first thing I notice regarding these celestial beings has to do with their Assignment. In verse six, the heavenly host is commanded to worship Jesus, not vice a versa. The Bible tells us in the Book of the Revelations that some of the angelic host worship God all the time. Here, the writer tells us that the angels are commanded to worship Jesus and rightly so. He is superior and better than they and it is only common knowledge that the lesser worships the greater. I also see something else in these verses or rather it is not what I see that intrigues me. I do not see any verse where the angels refuse to obey their Assignment. Just the opposite appears to be the truth: they comply with the command of God and Adore the Anointed One’s Advancement over them.
From complying with their Assignment with complete obedience, I note the Activities of the Heavenly host. I observe their actions as regarding the adoration of the one who is Better than they in verse seven. The author of the book of Hebrews states that these angles, these who are the lesser are made spirits and a flame of fire. God, in His infinite wisdom, decreed that there would be only One Jesus but many angelic spirits and flames of fire. The tasks they do is ongoing whereas the one event of Christ is now completed. The angels are to this day and this hour still continuing to do God’s commands as spirits and flames of fire while the Anointed one who is better than all sits besides His Heavenly Father, interceding for His saints. The contrasts between the lesser and the Greater is stark and obvious. As I read the Bible, I am aware of the fact that there will be a day when Christ shall come back for His bride. However, I note that the angels will be busy at that event while Christ comes back, gathers His Church and returns to Heaven. Christ’s work is complete all for the final act yet the angels are never finished with their work. No wonder the writer to the Hebrews says that Christ is better-he is correct.
Finally, I note the Approbation of the tasks given to these angels in verse fourteen-they are to administer to we Christians in our walk with Jesus. Jesus brought the good news to man in a human form. The Creator and the Sustainer of all became man for us so that He could die in our place. Once His work was done, He returned to His Father and sits on the right side of Him while the angels worship Him. These angels, these lesser than He, are given the tasks of worshipping Him because of His Name and because He is Better than they. At the same time, these angles are ministering spirits sent forth into this world to help we Christians and to teach us how to better worship the better One now and when we enter Heaven. The writer has done a good job in laying out the ground rules and the basis for that which is to come as he continues to reveal to all we readers of all time that Christianity is better than the Old Law and better than anything this side of eternity.
