The first chapter of Hebrews is giving Jesus the credibility that He is God's Son and not just another angel of the Lord, and giving Him the honor and glory. Not only is Jesus over the angels, God the Father has made Jesus superior to all and everything in subjection to Him. God gave His Son Jesus the authority of God over all. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice and died for our salvation. Jesus was human just like use and Jesus is God just like the Father. That's why He is able to help us.
Even though we don't know who wrote the book of Hebrews, the letter is believed to be written probably between 60-70 AD, to Christians in a time of trial, as an encouragement in crisis to focus on Jesus.
Who Jesus is:
- God's Son
- the firstborn heir of all things
- the radiance of God's glory
- the exact imprint of God's nature
- superior to angels
Where Jesus is:
- He is sitting at the right hand of God now.
- He was there at the time of the creation of the world.
What Jesus is doing and has done:
- God created the world through Jesus.
- Jesus upholds the universe by the word of His power.
- Jesus made purification for sins.
God used humans to speak to us at many times in different ways (Hebrews 1:1):
- In Jacob's dream, he saw a ladder from earth to heaven with angels and the Lord promised him that He'd take care of him. (Genesis 28:10-15)
- God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. (Exodus 3:1-6)
- Thunder and lightning, loud trumpet blast, thick dark smoke, God gave the ten commandments through Moses. (Exodus 20:1-21)
- Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the Lord. The Lord spoke through the donkey, and the Lord opened Balaam's eyes to see the angel. (Numbers 22:28,32)
- The Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21)
Now God speaks to us through Jesus in these last days (Hebrews 1:2).
The author makes a point to state that Jesus is superior to the angels (Hebrews 1:4-14).
Maybe the author was suggesting that the readers thought that Jesus was an angel or a prophet. Apparently, some people worshiped the angels (Colossians 2:18).
Angels are:
- to bow down to worship Jesus (Deut. 32:43)
- not to be worshiped (Revelation 22:8-9)
- wind (Heb. 1:7)
- a flame of fire (Heb. 1:7)
- used, changed, and worn like garments (Heb. 1:11-12)
- perishable (Heb. 1:11)
- ministering spirits (Heb. 1:14)
- servants (Heb. 1:14)
- messengers of God (Exodus 23:20, Matthew 28:2-7)
- God commands them to guard and protect His followers (Psalm 91:11)
Jesus:
- God's one and only begotten Son
- God's anointed
- sitting on throne at the right hand of God
- His kingdom never ends
- was at the beginning of creation
- will live forever
- His enemies are a footstool for His feet
So, if we believed the angels, how much more so we should believe Jesus.
