
Hebrews 1
Hebrews 1 presents a compelling portrait of Christ's superiority and divine nature, emphasizing His role as the ultimate revelation of God, surpassing all prophets and angels. This chapter begins with affirming Jesus as God's final and complete revelation to humanity, proceeding to establish His superiority over angels through a series of Old Testament quotations that highlight His divine status and eternal kingship.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV)
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
The opening verses highlights God's progressive revelation to humanity. In the past, He spoke through prophets in various ways, using visions, dreams, and direct messages to guide His people. However, in these last days, God has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate revelation of His character and will. Jesus, as the appointed heir of all things and the one through whom God created the universe, uniquely reveals the Father's glory and purpose. While this passage emphasizes Christ's superior role as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, it does not imply the end of prophetic guidance. The New Testament affirms the continuation of prophecy as a spiritual gift (e.g., Acts 2:17-18, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11), indicating that prophets after Christ and the apostles would point back to His teachings and support the church in its mission.
Hebrews 1:3-5 (NKJV)
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 at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?
This passage highlights the unparalleled nature and mission of Jesus Christ. As the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, Jesus perfectly reveals the Father’s character and will. He is not only the Creator but also the Sustainer of all things, holding the universe together by His powerful word. Through His sacrificial death, He provided purification for sins, completing His work of redemption. His exaltation to the right hand of God signifies His supreme authority and divine nature, a position that surpasses all others, including the angels.
In verse 5, the unique Sonship of Christ is affirmed: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You," referencing Psalm 2:7. Acts 13:33 clarifies that this begetting refers to Christ's resurrection, not to the day of eternity or His birth from Mary, but rather His being "born from the dead." This begetting marks Jesus as the first legitimate child of God in the sense of being fully accepted into God’s family as the resurrected, glorified Son. As the last Adam, He opened the way for all who are in Him to be legitimately accepted into God's family, creating a new humanity. His resurrection not only declared Him the Son of God with power but also established Him as the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18), providing the foundation for the redemption and adoption of all believers into the family of God.
Hebrews 1:6-7 (NKJV)
6 And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
The text emphasizes Christ’s divine superiority over angels. Verse 6 declares, “Let all the angels of God worship Him,” affirming Jesus’ worthiness of worship, a privilege reserved for God or a divine being, and highlighting His divine Sonship revealed at His incarnation and exaltation. Verse 7 contrasts the nature of angels as created servants, described as “spirits” and “a flame of fire,” tasked with carrying out God’s commands and ministering to humanity (Hebrews 1:14). Together, these verses underscore Christ’s unique status as the Son of God, His supremacy over all creation, and the honor He alone receives above heavenly beings.
Hebrews 1:8-9 (NKJV)
8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
This section emphasizes Christ’s divine kingship, eternal authority, and perfect character, while providing insights into His relationship with the Father. In verse 8, the Father addresses the Son, saying, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,” affirming Christ’s divine nature and His role in the governance of the universe. The use of the term “God” here acknowledges Christ’s divine essence and authority, yet it does not equate Him with the Supreme Being or the true God, the Father. Instead, it highlights Christ’s exalted position as a divine being and His unique role in the plan of salvation, operating in perfect harmony with the Father.
Verse 9 elaborates that Christ’s love for righteousness and hatred of lawlessness led to His anointing “with the oil of gladness” above His companions, signifying His distinction from created beings and His exaltation as the Son of God. The "companions" refer to believers who partake in His mission and blessings, but Christ’s anointing reflects His unique victory over sin and His preeminence in heaven and earth. This passage underscores Christ’s divinity, His subordinate yet vital role in God’s plan, and His exaltation by the Father as the rightful ruler over all creation.
Hebrews 1:10-12 (NKJV)
10 And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
These verses emphasizes Christ’s eternal nature and role as Creator and Sustainer of the universe. In verse 10, the Father declares that Christ “laid the foundation of the earth” and that “the heavens are the work of Your hands,” affirming that Jesus is the divine agent of creation. Verses 11-12 contrast the transient nature of creation with the unchanging nature of Christ. While the heavens and the earth will perish, grow old, and be changed like a garment, Christ remains the same, and His years will never end. This highlights Christ’s immutability, eternal existence, and divine authority over all creation, reinforcing His superiority and eternal kingship. These verses affirm that, though creation is subject to decay, Christ’s nature and reign are unchanging, offering believers an anchor of hope in His unshakable power and divine character.
Hebrews 1:13-14 (NKJV)
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
The final verses of the chapter further distinguish Jesus from the angels. Using another Old Testament reference, the text highlights that no angel has been invited to sit at God’s right hand, a position of honor and authority exclusively granted to the Son. This demonstrates His superior status and the ultimate defeat of His enemies. The chapter concludes by defining the role of angels as ministering spirits, assigned to serve those who will inherit salvation, thus reinforcing the idea that they are servants rather than rulers, in contrast to the exalted and sovereign Son.