Chapter 1

God Has Spoken by His Son

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

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;

The Word of God has always been the means by which Almighty God communicated with humans. In Old Testament times the Word of God was communication by the prophets in various ways such as through word, writing, visions, dreams, songs, and signs. In the first-century AD the Word of God was revealed in bodily form ("in the flesh") of Jesus of Nazareth. (John 1:1,14) As the embodied Word of God, Jesus only spoke the words of his Heavenly Father. He says, "I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." (John 8:28, NIV)

As the Word of God, Jesus was also the generator of all things. In the creation account of Genesis chapter one God speaks and through his word all things spring into existance. Colossians 1:16, NIV says, "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible ... all things were created by him and for him."

The 2nd verse says that Jesus was the creator of worlds. The scope of this includes the heavens and the earth, the invisible and the visible. However, it is much more. To further understood more clearly what is meant by the plurality of words by replacing the word with a synonym such as age or period. "Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (2 Peter 3:6) Through Jesus, all worlds, past, present, and future are created - the worlds of old, the worlds at present, and the new heavens and earth to come.

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:

This verse echoes what is written of Jesus in Colossians 1:15,17: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ... He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (NIV)

While on earth, Jesus reflected the intense brightness and glory of his Father. John writes, "we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father" (John 1:14) Yet even then such magnificant glory pales compared to the glory that he received when he came into his kingship. Jesus gave a preview of this glory to three of his apostles when he was transfigured before them and, "his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." (Matthew 17:2, NIV)

It is by means of the authority given to Jesus that he purges our sins. While on earth Jesus showed his authority to forgive sin and backed it up through his healings. (Matthew 9:2,6) This was just on a small scale to the atoning work that Jesus peformed at his death. Of him, it is written, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14, NKJV) Our purification takes place by means of a cleansing or blotting out. It is not a covering over, but a complete elimination.

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

When it says that he has inherited a name, the implication is that the name was formerly possesed by another party, a relation - in this case God the Father. Philippians 2:9, NIV says of Jesus, that "God gave him the name that is above every name." In the Revelation of Jesus he speaks of this "new" name, a name that only he knows. (Rev 3:12; Rev 19:12)

It is through this name that we inherit life. Joh 20:31 says "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (Mat 25:34, Rev 21:7)

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?

The author here quotes verse 7 of the second psalm which speaks of God's messianic king. Jesus is at the right hand of majesty, and all nations of the earth have been given to him. He rules them from Zion, the Holy Mountain of God. This is not an earthly location but a heavenly one. (See Hebrews 12:22) The apostle Paul similarly links the fulfillment of this Psalm to Christ Jesus at Acts 13:33.

In the NT God declares Jesus to be his son. (1) Before his conception. (Luke 1:32,35) (2) At his baptism. (Matthew 3:17) (3) At the transfiguration. (Matthew 17:5) (4) At his resurrection. (Acts 13:33)

In the Jewish Scriptures angelic beings were sometimes known as "sons of God". (Genesis 6:2) Yet by quoting the Psalm the author of Hebrews here implies a different, more intimate relationship which he further elaborates upon.

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

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

The author here quotes Psalm 104:4. The angels are ministers and servants before Almighty God. At the time when Hebrews was written a household would be made up of blood relations and servants. The slaves of the household would not have a share in an inheritance that the children would receive. The son would receive the inheritance over all of his Father's household, including the servants. (Compare Galatians 4:1-7)

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.

The 8th verse of the second psalm says, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." (Psalms 2:8) Being delcared as his son, and exalted to his right hand, Jesus inherits all that is his father's. We can see how this makes his relationship with his father unique; for what angel is said to own what is the Father's?

It is with the scepter of righteousness that he measures the kingdom. "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet" (Isa 28:17) His rule will be measured by his righteousness. "Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity." (Psa 98:9) The scepter is given to him by his father, and therefore the standards of righteousness are also from him. It is his annointing to wield that power with his Fathers name.

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

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

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

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.

Isa 59:17 "For He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head. And He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was covered with zeal like a cloak." Jesus Christ is "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" and is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Revelation 22:13; Hebrews 13:8)

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

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

With fleshly kings and governers of the earth God made clear that their position and authority was only by his appoitnment. God, through the prophet Daniel, made this clear to Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the Babylonian empire, when he said, "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." (Daniel 4:25). Likewise, to the Roman governer Pontius Pilate Jesus said, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19:11, NIV) They were his servants, and tools in his hand. This was true of the Assyrian empire that God described as a rod in his hand. (Isaiah 10:5) Just as their are earthly governments within the heavenly realm there also exist "principalities and powers" (See Colossians 1:16) But, no matter how powerful these may be they are mere servants under Sovereign God.

To the Romans, Paul writes, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) In this way, angels, good and bad, are but servants to the heirs of the household of God. Jesus, in contrast to angels is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" and has "all authority in Heaven and on earth." (Revelation 19:16; Matthew 28:18)