Hebrews Lesson 2

Introduction

Give us 30 minutes and prepared a sermon. And uh we normally try to quit by about twenty after ten, and that gives me about right at thirty minutes. I hope you have your Bibles with you. I’ll encourage you to be opening to the book of Hebrews. It’ll help you to follow along the lesson. So, well, if you have your New Testament open, or really this first chapter, you might say is the outline for our lesson today. A couple of weeks when I began to study from Hebrews, I I made the point that I believe it is a lesson or a letter that really is needed in our generation. It was written to Christians of the first century, who perhaps have been Christians for some length of time, maybe even amongst whom might we might say we’re second generation Christians.

And so the writer first of all encourages them to evaluate what they have in Christ Jesus. How that He is mediator of a better covenant, established upon better promises, and with a hope of everlasting life, what really they had should not be taken lightly, or fact that they should not become indifferent toward it and neglectful of it and drift away from it. I say that really is a lesson we need in ourselves. We live in a time where virtually we don’t fear any oppression by coming out as we have this morning. And for the most part, our lives as a Christian goes along pretty well. Our persecutions really are not physical in the sense of being arrested and thrown in prison or even facing death, not in this country.

And so it’s rather easy for us to become complacent. Maybe even to sort of take for granted what we have. Oh, we’re here. And I appreciate the fact that you’ve gotten up on a Sunday morning and you’re here at the nine o’clock hour, and we know it’ll be twice as many at the 11 o’clock hour, but nevertheless, we’ve come. And I say in some respects, I speak to the choir, to the chorus, you might say. When I say, don’t become complacent about what it means to be a Christian. The fact is, in Christ Jesus, there is no standing still. Either we’re continuing to grow in the faith, or else we’re drifting away. As the saying goes, when you’re green, you’re still growing. But when you become ripe, you begin to rot.

And we’ve gotten to the point where we know enough, and we don’t really spend a lot of time in prayer or a lot of time in the daily reading or thinking or meditating about the word of God. It’s so easy for us to just sort of take for granted what we have. And not to thrill. That’s what it means to really be a Christian. Even the song we’re just singing, how many of us really thrilled to praise him, to praise him for what he has done for us, the opportunity we have to grow in Christ Jesus. The letter of Hebrews does start like all uh like none other of the New Testament letters. It doesn’t start with the salutation as though it’s from Paul to the church at, like many of the other epistles began.

It simply starts in the middle of the subject, God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son, whom he is appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. Who, being the brightness of his glory, the expressed 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, having become so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. What does that mean to you? He’s obtained a more excellent name than angels. So what?

What does that mean? We sometimes sing the song, Do you know my Jesus? I wonder if somebody were to ask you, tell me, what am I supposed to know about Jesus? And there may be different things you would probably describe as the one who came in the flesh, who was crucified, who arose from the grave the third day, and all those things are true, but how many of us would start, well, you know, he’s better than the angels? How many of us think that way? What does that mean? Who are the angels? Well, when we think of the Bible, the description of angels, we first of all say, well, we know they were around the throne of God. Book of Revelation particularly speaks about the angels, thousands upon thousands, singing, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God.

1. You Are My Son

Angels are not God, they are a level lower than God, but they’re greater than you and me in the flesh. In fact, in Hebrews 2 and verse 9, when it speaks of Jesus, he made himself a little lower than the angels. In the flesh, we are lower than angels. And angels are lower than God. But Jesus Christ has a name that is greater than the angels. So what? What does that mean? And yet, in the rest of chapter 1, we find seven Old Testament quotations that are describing what does that mean that Jesus has a name that is greater than the angels. So let’s look at these. First of all, he begins by saying in verse 5, for which of the angels did he ever say, You are my son, today I have begotten you.

Well, obviously the answer to the question is, none. None of the angels did he ever say this. But it says he was Lot and an angel. Our Jehovah’s Witness friends have the theory or the doctrine that Jesus was created as an angel and later became a God, small g, is the way they would read John chapter 1, verses 1 through 3. But this verse really says that’s not so. Unto the angels, did he ever say, You’re my son? No. But to Jesus Christ he did. In fact, when he came in the flesh, though he made himself a little lower than the angels, he came as God’s only begotten son. As we know passages like John 3.16, God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

He’s called God’s Son. The rest of this verse, and again the scripture says, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. It’s really a quote from 2 Samuel chapter 7 and in verse 14, which really is applied in that passage to Solomon, the son of David, and whom, of course, God did love and did discipline as a son. But the ultimate application, and certainly in this passage, is it refers also to Jesus Christ. Actually, this is an answer to not only to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, it’s an answer to Islam. Are you aware that the Muslims teach that Jesus was not really God’s son? They say, Oh, we believe in Jesus. He’s a prophet of God. Like, you know, Muhammad was a prophet of God.

But Jesus is more than Muhammad. He’s more than a prophet of God. They denied that Jesus came, was crucified, that he arose from the grave. They deny that. They say, oh, that’s just manufactured by his disciples. His followers said he was the Son of God, but he really wasn’t the Son of God. The fact is, I say that the Jews understood better than even the Muslims do about who Jesus is. Well, Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. It wasn’t just manufactured by his disciples. You have a Bible, look at John, the Gospel of John chapter 10. In John chapter 10, and in fact, in verses 30 through 39, a time where the Jews encountered Jesus and accused him of being a blasphemer. When Jesus said in verse 30, I and my father are one.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works I have shown you from my Father. For which of these works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy. And because you, being a man, make yourself God. That wasn’t his disciples saying that. That’s what the Jews who rejected him. You make yourself God. And it’s blasphemous. Verse 34, Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said you are gods? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken. Do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, you’re blaspheming? Because I said I am the Son of God.

2. The Firstborn Worshipped by the Angels

If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do, though you do not believe me, believe the works that you may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him. Therefore they sought again to seize him, but he escaped out of their hand. They accused him of blasphemy. They understood his claim that he was the Son of God. Indeed, the Jews did ultimately crucify him, but he did arise from the grave. But back to Hebrews chapter 1, not only does verse 5 declare that he is the Son of God, verse 6 describes him as the firstborn who himself receives worship of the angels. Verse 6, but when he again brings the firstborn into the world, he says, quote, let all the angels of God worship him.

The word firstborn doesn’t always mean in Scripture, born first. But rather it describes rank, it describes honor. Jesus Christ is the firstborn in the sense that he is of highest rank. In Colossians, in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 15, the scripture says of Jesus, he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Now that doesn’t mean born first, it says that he was the firstborn, that he is rank, he is over all creation. For by him all things were created that are in heaven, that are on earth, visible and invisible, where the thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through him and for him. That’s why he has the rank as the highest. He’s the firstborn of all creation.

In fact, in verse 18 of Colossians 1, he’s the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence. He has preeminence.

But again, in the scripture, it speaks of him being worshipped by the angels. That all the angels of God worship him. That again is says that he’s more than just an angel. Angels should not be worshipped. They worship him. You may recall in Revelation chapter 19, after the angel reported to John that after describing the battle of Armageddon and the defeat of the devil, the beast and the false prophet, and it speaks of how that the marriage supper is prepared, and those who believe will be involved in that marriage supper. The scripture says in Revelation chapter 19, verses 9 and 10, when he said to me, right, Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb, he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.

3. He Himself Is Served by Angels

John then said, I fell down at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, See that you do not do that. I’m your fellow servant, and your brethren who have testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. When John wanted to worship the angel who was reporting such great news, he said, Don’t worship me. Angels are not to be worshiped themselves, but angels worship the Lord. That scene is really repeated in Revelation 22, verses 8 and 9. A second time, John is told, Don’t worship an angel. He’s of your fellow servants. Jesus, therefore, is a name that is greater than the angels. Indeed, not only is he the Son of God, he is worshipped by angels. But look again in chapter, Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 7, he himself is served by angels.

For verse 7, and of the angels, he says, who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire. This is a quotation from Psalm 104, and in verse 4. He describes angels and their strength as being as strong as spirits. New American Santa Version says, as winds or tempests. These are those who ministered to Jesus Christ, and they are irresistible as a flame of fire.

You recall, no doubt, in Matthew chapter 4, when Jesus was tempted to the devil after having fasted for 40 days. The devil, first of all, said, If you be the Son of God, then make these stones bread. And Jesus, of course, refused that every man should live, not by bread alone, but by the word of God. And the devil then took him on the pinnacle of the temple and said, Cast yourself down, for it’s written. He shall give his angels charge concerning you, that shall not dash your foot against a stone lest they lift you up. Again, Jesus said, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God. And then a third time, of course, he took him to a high mountain and showed him all the glory of the kingdoms of the world.

And the devil then promises, You know, these I’ll give you if you’ll just worship me. And Jesus replied, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, him only shall thou serve. Now think of the situation. Tempted directly by the devil. The next verse, Matthew 4 and verse 11, says, Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him. We probably overlooked that verse more often. Angels came and ministered to the Lord at a time of great trial of his faith, of who he really is. But not only at the trial of the testing of Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, later in Luke chapter 22 and in verse 43, as Jesus has gone aside from his disciples, and he prays, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

4. Your Throne, O God, Is Forever

Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. Luke 22 and verse 43 says, Then an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. An angel appeared to strengthen the Son of God. Angels who are not God, but who are ministers from God, came and ministered to Jesus. Now we’re talking about Jesus in the flesh, who is now a little lower than angels in that condition physically. Angels ministered to him. They are not affected by the weaknesses, the impurities, the imperfections of the flesh. But they, considering the strength and power of an angel, while they are great and they are powerful, no angel has been exalted to God’s throne. Only Jesus. In fact, back in chapter 1, verses 8 and 9. Now we have a fourth description that makes them better than angels.

Verse 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. You’ve loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. Now directly you see this quote, a quote again from Psalm 45 and in verse 6, describes him as God. Your throne, O God, is forever. Your throne. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. Again, an answer, I would say, if you ever have a discussion with a Jehovah’s Witnesses, use this verse. It describes Jesus as God. And you notice it’s capital G, it’s not a small G, God. Christ has been exalted to a much higher position than angels.

He is described even as God on His throne. His deity is affirmed by this quotation from the Psalm. In fact, because of His righteous character, his kingdom is described as one of immaculate holiness and power. We know passages like Ephesians 1, which describes how that when he was raised from the dead by the power of God, seated at his right hand, describes him as far above. Listen, all principality, power, might, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come. And God has put all things under his feet and gave them to be a head over all things of the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1 20 through 23.

Jesus Christ, on God’s throne, deserving to be on the throne, indeed at the right hand of the Father.

5. The Eternal Creator at God’s Right Hand

Possess deity. But then the fifth description in chapter 1, verses 10 through 12, when it describes him as the eternal creator. And this verse is quoted from Psalm 102, verses 25 through 27. Reading in verse 10, and you, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens of the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain. They will all grow old like a garment, like a cloak, you will fold them up, and they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will not fail. Christ, not an angel, but Christ laid the foundation of the world. By him the worlds were created. Look back up in verse 2, the last phrase of Hebrews 1, verse 2, where the scripture says, through whom also he made the worlds.

And we probably more of a may quote from John chapter 1, the Gospel of John. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him. Without Him was not anything made that was made. He is the one by whom even the creation of the world came to be. But then the last phrase in verses 13 and 14, Hebrews 1, which says, But to which of the angels has he ever said, Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool. Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? What it really says, angels are his servants. He’s not one of them.

While on earth he was a little lower than the angels in the flesh. But what did God say of him? Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. Of course, the answer. Again, this is like in the form of the question, but to which of the angels has he ever said this? And the answer, like back up in verse 5, none. He didn’t say this to angels. He said it about his son, Jesus Christ. Indeed, we we know this same verse quoted from Psalm 110, was also quoted by the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost, and as he summarized that great sermon in Acts 2, how that Jesus indeed is the Christ. And by which indeed the response of the Jews, what shall we do?

They were cut to the heart. They became believers. And Acts 2 is when Peter then responded to these who now believe Christ to be the Son of God, to be the one who was crucified, who arose from the grave the third day. That’s when Peter said to these believers, repent and be baptized, every one of you. In the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Great is our Lord Jesus Christ. Seven different Old Testament quotations, applying Him as even greater than the angels. But then the last verse of chapter 1 to me is a comforting verse. Not only did they minister to Jesus Christ, he says they are sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.

I’d hope every adult in this auditorium is a Christian, a faithful Christian. And among those whom the scripture says the angels minister to you. You ever wonder how does God carry out his providence? You ask in prayer for God’s assistance, for his help, for his comfort. How does God answer that prayer? I believe there’s providence of God. I don’t always can say, well, you know, I know this exact incident was God’s hand involved, but I can look back on my life, and you probably can yours and say, Well, you know, there have been times that I just know it had to be God’s hand was involved in this or that. Could it be angels as those sent for to minister even unto the heirs of salvation?

What a powerful thought. That even as they ministered to the Son of God in time of struggle and trial, that they can minister unto us. You see how Hebrews starts off with, evaluate what you have in Christ. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t become complacent about what you are as a child of God. You know, I often say to the congregation, remember who you are and where you’re going. What do I mean by that? What a privilege to be a child of God with a hope of eternal life. It is not something to take lightly or just say, oh, okay, I’m a Christian, I’ll be every Sunday, I’ll come to worship. And it’s more than that. That’s to be an enthusiasm. In fact, when Saturday comes, don’t think of how I can stay up so late at night and you know I’ll drag up maybe in the morning and try to get there.

6. Give the More Earnest Heed, Lest We Drift Away

Prepare for the Lord’s day. It is the day to worship the Lord. But now, with that said, look at chapter 2. What’s he pointing toward? In chapter 2, the first four verses starts with the word, therefore. And you surely know in the Bible how important that word is. It always says, based on what I’ve just written or said, therefore, look what. We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved it steadfast in every transgression and disobedience received a just reward. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

God also bearing witness, both with signs and wonders, with various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will. A question here. In this whole four verses. We must give the more earnest heed. What do you mean by that? The more earnest heed, the less what happens. In other words, the more earnest heed is let’s be involved with it. Let’s be on fire about it. It’s not something to be complacent with and just sort of take for granted. It is the most important thing you can deal with in your life. But why, Lord? Lest what we drift away. Lest we. The King James Version says, let them slip. Good another way of putting. When you drift, you’re letting them slip. How many of you who’ve obeyed the gospel?

Who’ve been baptized for the remission of sins, can take your Bible and to some neighbor of yours say, Oh, look here, here’s what you need to do to be saved also. Can you do it? Or has it slipped from you? Have you drifted away from even the first principles of telling someone else what to do to be saved? Lest we let them slip. Not only maybe we are not able to say that to our friend or neighbor, but if we’re not careful, it may mean that we’re on the verge of falling away. You ever thought about that? What’s the step of becoming an unfaithful Christian? It starts off by neglect of the word. And it’s a slow process, it doesn’t happen overnight. But here in the process, we we let them slip.

You might say the epistle of Hebrews, and we said this a couple of weeks ago when I first introduced the letter, throughout has messages of warnings, lest we drift away. Throughout it has that. In fact, if you have a Bible like I do, you can just look across the page. Now, if you’re on these mechanical kind of Bibles, you can’t do this, and I think that’s one of the reasons I don’t like those mechanical Bibles. But go across to the next page, chapter three, and verses twelve through fourteen. What’s he saying? Look at the comparison involved with this. Chapter 3 and verse 12, beware, brethren. Lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in what? Departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily while it is called a day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

You mean Christians can become hardened through deceitfulness of sin? Yes. For we have become partakers of Christ if what? We hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. There’s some involvement here in our attitude toward the scripture. In fact, chapter 4 and verse 1. Therefore, again, is that word, therefore. Since a promise remains of entering his rest, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have come short of it. You feel the warning. Well, back in our text of chapter 2, when he says, Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away, and then he gives us some reasons for this. When he says, For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense or received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

What’s he talking about in verse 2? The word spoken through angels. What’s that word? Well, not only from this scripture, but really from others, we know he’s talking about the law of Moses. Passages like Galatians 3 and verse 19 says that it was ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator. We say, well, Moses spoke it. He was the mediator, but the scripture says it was even even through angels to Moses. Acts chapter 7, verse 53 also confirms that very point. As well as this passage. Through angels it was administered by the agency of a mediator. But what’s the real point? The law of Moses. Do you think it’s as great as the gospel? And I’m sure all the Bible students say, oh no, the law was to bring us to Christ, but we’re no longer in the law of Moses.

We don’t go to the Old Testament to learn how to become a Christian or really how to live as a Christian. We go to the New Testament, the gospel. But the law of Moses was important. It was given by God. And the point here is it proved steadfast. What do you mean, steadfast? It proved to be just for every person. It wasn’t that God said, okay, I’m going to execute my law. Here are some who disobeyed it and I’m going to punish them. Here’s somebody else disobeyed it, but I love them and I won’t punish. No, it’s the same for everyone. It is a system that was just. In fact, he says they would receive a just reward. So, what does the scripture say? What’s the reward?

Well, again, keeping in Hebrews, but look at chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12 and in verse 25. The scripture says, see that you do not refuse him who speaks. Wouldn’t that be Jesus Christ? That’s how we started the letter of Hebrews. God speaks to us through Christ. So see that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused him, who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven? What’s he saying? Even they did not escape when they disobeyed the law of Moses. We won’t either. In fact, one more passage while we’re there in Hebrews. Look with me to Hebrews chapter 12. Kind of lost my place here. Where in verse 25.

Actually, I want to do Hebrews, uh Hebrews chapter 12, verse 25, where he says, How shall we escape? I’m in the wrong place. See that you do not refuse him who speaks. For if they did not escape, who refused him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from heaven. Now go to chapter 10, it is. In chapter 10 and verse 28 through 31. Chapter 10, verse 28 through 31. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy? Who has trampled the Son of God underfoot? Counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of Grace.

Conclusion

For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord, and again the Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God. What a passage. If the law of Moses proved steadfast that every disobedient received the reward, the law said, who are we to think we can escape if we neglect the great salvation? Well, I think there’s enough there for us all to say, well, certainly we won’t escape. That’s the implication. So what’s the driving point as the writer opens up this great letter of Hebrews? Remember Him through whom God speaks today. We have a great Savior. We have a great covenant, the law of Moses. Let’s follow it carefully. Neglect, don’t neglect.

That is a word sometimes referred to as the unintentional sin. You may have heard the saying, the road that leads to hell is paved with a brick of good intentions. But good intentions won’t do. We need to have obedience unto the Lord. Don’t neglect to obey the gospel. Don’t neglect to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us close with a word of prayer. Almighty God, we are so thankful for your love. For the great salvation’s been made possible through Jesus Christ. A salvation made known and for all the world. But a salvation that’s made possible through faith and obedience of Jesus Christ. Help us, therefore, to have that attitude of diligent, earnest heed unto your word, and to keeping it in our lives, to teaching it to our loved ones, to living in such a way that heaven will be our home.

To this end we pray, O Lord, your blessings upon us. In the name of Christ. And amen.