Hebrews 1:4-14
BE THANKFUL, A.M. 11/23/03
As you know, Thursday is Thanksgiving. I have already asked what you are thankful for. (I received testimonies earlier in the service.) You gave good answers.
Our text for this morning Hebrews 1:4-14 is not what you would normally think of as a “Thanksgiving Text”. It is actually a comparison of Jesus with the angels and showing that Jesus is actually better than the angels.
As we said last week, the Book of Hebrews is a book that is constantly showing us something better. The Word better is used thirteen times in this book. It is a book written to Jewish Christians who were tempted to bail out on Christianity and go back to Judaism. In this book we find lessons that show us that because Jesus Christ is better, there is a better way for us to live now.
Of course the principle subject of the Book of Hebrews is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And if there is anyone we should be thankful for at Thanksgiving or any other time of the year it is the Lord Jesus. As I examined Hebrews 1:4-14 I found at lead 5 reasons that we should be thankful for the Lord Jesus. WE SHOULD BE:
THANKFUL FOR HIS SONSHIP – Vss. 4-7
THANKFUL FOR HIS SCEPTER – Vss. 8-9
THANKFUL FOR HIS STROKE – Vs. 10
THANKFUL FOR HIS STABILITY – Vss. 11-12
THANKFUL FOR HIS SUPERIORITY – Vss. 13-14
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SONSHIP – Vss. 4-7
Like many people in America today, many Jews had this thing about angels. They liked to think about angels. They respected angels. They thought that angels could get them closer to God.
Angels are indeed special.
They are Spirit beings.
Psalm 104:4 - Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
They are often God’s messengers. Throughout the Old Testament and even into the New Testament, angels delivered messages from God.
The angels, in some special way, were involved with the giving of the law.
Acts 7:52-53 - Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: [53] Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
In spite of how special angels may be, the Lord Jesus is better than they are.
Hebrews 1:4 - Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Names in the Bible were more important than they are today. Often names reflected a person’s character.
When Jesus had purged our sins, that is died on the cross, was buried and rose again, he went back to Heaven and sat down on “the right hand of the majesty on high.” No angel ever sat at God’s right hand. That position was reserved for the One who God called “Son”.
It is an honor to be called “friend” or “best friend” by somebody. It is a greater honor to be called “son” or “daughter”.
Hebrews 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?
This portion of Hebrews contains many quotes from the Old Testament. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee is a quote from Psalm 2:7.
Jesus has always been God, the Son.
But there was a time of special declaration that Jesus is God the Son. That took place at the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Acts 13:33 - God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Romans 1:3-4 - Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; [4] And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The second quote in Hebrews 1:5, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son, is a quote from 2 Samuel 7:14. This quote, though it partially refers to Solomon, looks ahead to David’s Greater Son or descendent, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a tremendous father/son relationship within the Trinity.
Hebrews 1:6 - And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Jesus is called “the firstbegotten” or “first born”.
According to Warren Wiersbe “The title is one of rank and honor, for the firstborn receives the inheritance and the special blessing. Christ is the “Fristborn of all creation (Col. 1:15 NASB) because He created all things; and He is the highest of all who came back from the dead (Col. 1:18).”
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 2, (Victor Books, A division of Scripture Press, Wheaton, Ill., 1989) p. 281
When Jesus came into the world, the angels worshipped Him, showing His superiority.
Now you may be asking, “So Jesus is the Son of God, why should I be so thankful?”
You should be thankful if you know Jesus as your Savior, if you’ve been born again. This means that as the Son Jesus sits at the right hand of God. As the Son Jesus has special access to the Father.
Be thankful because the Lord Jesus is at the right hand of God interceding for you!
Hebrews 4:14-16 - Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 7:24-25 - But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. [25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
1 John 2:1-2 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SONSHIP – Vss. 4-7
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SCEPTER – Vss. 8-9
Hebrews 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. (A quote of Psalm 45:6)
What is a scepter? A scepter is a staff held by a ruler. It is an emblem of authority.
Our Lord Jesus has an emblem of authority. His scepter is a scepter of righteousness. He rules and will rule in righteousness.
If you are like me you do not like some of the things that have been going on in government lately. The recent decision by a court in Massachusetts to legalize gay marriage is an example.
But when the Lord rules in His coming kingdom, He will rule righteously. All the unrighteousness will be done away with.
Isaiah 11:1-5 - And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: [2] And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; [3] And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Be thankful! There is coming a day when nobody will be able to legitimately say that there is any unrighteousness anywhere. And what’s neat about this is that we, as Christians, are going reign with Christ in His kingdom!
Hebrews 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. (Ps. 45:7)
We are again reminded of Christ’s superiority because of His love for righteousness and hatred of iniquity.
If we know Jesus as Savior, we should love righteousness and hate iniquity also! We carry His name as Christians and should act accordingly.
1 John 2:6 - He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SONSHIP – Vss. 4-7
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SCEPTER – Vss. 8-9
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS STROKE – Vs. 10
Hebrews 1:10 - And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (A quote of Psalm 102:25)
Why does the universe exist?
Why does the world exist?
Why do we have beautiful scenery?
Why do the wonders of nature exist?
Why do you exist?
IT IS BECAUSE OF THE STROKE OF HAND!
For
the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
For
the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.
For
the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight.
For
the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Folliot S. Pierpoint, http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/b/fbeautye.htm
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SONSHIP – Vss. 4-7
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SCEPTER – Vss. 8-9
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS STROKE – Vs. 10
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS STABILITY – Vss. 11-12
Vs. 8 - But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:
The Lord’s reign is forever and ever. That’s stability!
Governments are not always stable.
Economies and jobs are not always stable.
Marriages and other relationships are not always stable.
Our minds are not always stable.
But Jesus is always stable.
He has always existed and he always will.
Hebrews 1:10-12 - 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. (A quote of Psalm 102:25-27)
Why this world is not even stable.
There is coming a day when this old world will be taken off and discarded like an old garment.
It shall be replaced with something new.
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 21:1-2 - And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Through this Christ will continue to exist but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Now why should you and I be thankful for this stability of our Lord?
What has He promised to those that believe on Him for forgiveness and salvation?
He has promised eternal life!
John 10:27-28 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Jesus would not be able to give us eternal life unless He himself is eternal. He will never die. He is stable!
Be thankful!
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SONSHIP – Vss. 4-7
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SCEPTER – Vss. 8-9
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS STROKE – Vs. 10
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS STABILITY – Vss. 11-12
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SUPERIORITY – Vss. 13-14
Hebrews 1:13 - But to which of the angels said he at any times, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Psalm 110:1 - The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Jesus is superior to the angels.
Jesus is waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool and He will reign for all eternity.
The angels, however, are not waiting to reign.
The angels, are serving now and will serve in the future.
In fact, we are and will be served by angels.
I can think of three ways angels serve.
1. ANGELS PRONOUNCE
It was an angel that told Zeharias that his wife would have a baby, John the Baptist.
It was an angel that told Mary she’d be the Mother of Jesus.
It was an angel that announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.
2. ANGELS PROTECT
One day the city that Elisha the Prophet was residing in was besieged by an enemy army. Elisha’s servant was scared.
2 Kings 6:15-17 - And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? [16] And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. [17] And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
3. ANGELS PROVIDE
One day the prophet Elijah, after fighting a great battle for the Lord was threatened by Queen Jezebel. He panicked and ran. I personally think that he was worn out from praying down fire from Heaven, praying for rain and outrunning King Ahab’s chariot. Jezebel caught Elijah with a threat at a weak moment.
1 Kings 19:4-6 - But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. [5] And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. [6] And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
Be thankful.
Angels are servants.
God will use them to pronounce, protect and provide.
But there is better news than this.
Be thankful because Jesus is superior to the angels.
It is Jesus who sits at the right hand of God.
It is Jesus who is to be thanked and worshipped.
If it weren’t for Jesus, the angels wouldn’t even exist!
BE THANKFUL!
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SONSHIP – Vss. 4-7
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SCEPTER – Vss. 8-9
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS STROKE – Vs. 10
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS STABILITY – Vss. 11-12
BE THANKFUL FOR HIS SUPERIORITY – Vss. 13-14