INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES Hebrews Lesson 1
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Hebrews Chapter 1

Memory verses for this week:  1 John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

Introduction:  We begin a new study on Hebrews this week.  The authorship of Hebrews is not totally clear, but it is generally believed that Paul wrote the book.  This letter ends with “Grace be with you all” as does all the others Paul wrote.  Another reason we believe Paul wrote this book is because of the verses in II Peter where Peter declares that Paul had written a letter to the same people as he had.

 Peter 3:15-16   And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

 

I.  Jesus Christ, the Better Spokesman

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Jesus is far superior to the prophets.  God spoke to the forefathers by the prophets in may separate revelations and in different ways.   Peter tells us that holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:21   For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

Gods word is replete with examples of God speaking through the prophets of the Old Testament like Moses, Noah, Abraham, Joshua, Isaiah, and many others.

Genesis 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.   3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

2 Peter 2:5  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;  

In these last days, God has spoken unto us by His Son.  God commands that we hear him.

Matthew 17:5   While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Obedience to God means to have the blessings of God; disobedience means trouble and misery on every hand.   God speaks unto us by His Son directly and by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.   The Son is the one whom God has established to be Heir of all things.   The worlds were created by the Son with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

John 1:1-3  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Hebrews 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Verse 3 declares that Christ is the express image of God.  He who was crucified is the one who, at this very moment, upholds all things by the word of His power.  When he purged our sins by Himself, he sat down on the right hand of God.  None but a divine person could sit down there upon the throne of the universe.

Colossians 1:15   Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

II.  Jesus is Better than the Angels

Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Heb 1:5  For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Paul uses many Old Testament scriptures to prove that Christ is Superior than the angels.  Christ is much better than the angels because by inheritance He has a name superior to their names.  Verse 5 was taken from Psalms 2:7.  This has reference to the conception and birth of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was to be called the Son of God.

Philippians 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Revelation 19:16   And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Luke 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Albert Barnes in Barnes’ Notes on the Bible commented this about Christ being better than the angels.

Being made so much better—Being exalted so much above the angels. The word “better” here does not refer to moral character, but to exaltation of rank. As Mediator; as the Son of God in our nature, he is exalted far above the angels.

Than the angels—Than all angels of every rank; see notes on Eph. 1:21; compare 1 Pet. 3:22. “Angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject unto him.” He is exalted to his mediatorial throne, and all things are placed beneath his feet.

As he hath by inheritance—Or in virtue of his name—the Son of God; an exaltation such as is implied in that name. As a son has a rank in a family above servants; as he has a control over the property above that which servants have, so it is with the Mediator. He is the Son of God: angels are the servants of God, and the servants of the church. They occupy a place in the universe compared with what he occupies, similar to the place which servants in a family occupy compared with that which a son has. To illustrate and prove this is the design of the remainder of this chapter. The argument which the apostle insists on is, that the title “the Son of God is to be given to him alone. It has been conferred on no others. Though the angels, and though saints are called in general “sons of God,” yet the title” the Son of God” has been given to him only. As the apostle was writing to Hebrews, he makes his appeal to the Hebrew Scriptures alone for the confirmation of this opinion.

A more excellent name—To wit, the name Son. It is a more honorable and exalted name than has ever been bestowed on them. It involves more exalted privileges, and entitles him on whom it is bestowed to higher respect and honor than any name ever bestowed on them. 

Heb 1:6  And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Heb 1:7  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Angels were to worship Jesus Christ.  They are created beings and never occupy any other place than that of a servant.  Jesus is the Son forever… He is the first and the last.

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

Numbers 22:31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Rev 1:8  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was,

 

III.  Earth and Heavens are the Works of Christ’s Hands

Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Heb 1:10  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Heb 1:11  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

Heb 1:12  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Christ was with God the Father in the Beginning.  The bible says that all things were made by him… Angels, earth, heaven, man, etc.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The creation shall change, but Christ remains the same forever.  The day is coming when the unchanging Lord will come and fold the heavens and earth up.  This will be after the thousand year reign of Christ.

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

2 Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 

Heb 1:13  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Our Lord does have enemies.  Satan is against Christ and wants to be worshipped as the Lord of this world.   Satan had the power of death according to Hebrews 2:14

Hebrews 2:14   Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 Death is the last enemy that shall be destroyed.

1 Corinthians 15:26   The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament said this about verse 14.

Are they not all—There is not one of them that is elevated to the high rank of the Redeemer. Even the most exalted angel is employed in the comparatively humble office of a ministering spirit appointed to aid the heirs of salvation. “Ministering spirits.” A “ministering” spirit is one that is employed to execute the will of God.

 

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

 

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