The Word Made Fresh
1Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in various ways through the prophets, 2but now he has spoken to us through a Son, the one who is appointed heir of all things, and through whom all the worlds were created. 3He, then, is the true reflection of the glory of God and the exact copy of God’s very existence. And he carries everything by the power of his word. He removed our sins from us and then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven, 4and he is now as much above the angels as his name is more excellent than theirs.
5After all, did God ever say to an angel, “You are my Son; I have given you birth today”? Or “I will be your Father and you will be my Son”? 6And also, when he delivers the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7Then, about the angels he says, “He makes his angels like the winds that blow, and his servants like blazing fire.” 8But, about the Son, he says “Your throne is forever, O God, and so is your kingdom’s scepter. 9For you love righteousness and hate wickedness. That is why God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of gladness.”
10He also says, “In the beginning you established the earth, Lord, and even the heavens are the work of your hands. 11Both heaven and earth will wear out like a garment and perish, but you will remain. 12You will roll them up like an overcoat and they will be changed, but you will stay the same for all eternity.”
13But has God ever said to any of the angels, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies no more than a foot stool for your feet”? 14Aren’t the angels all spirits who serve God, sent to help those who will inherit salvation?
Commentary
The letter to the Hebrews does not read like a letter, but more like a sermon. We don’t know who wrote it; Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Priscilla, Apollos – all have their fans. We don’t know to whom it was written or where it was composed. At some point early on someone penned the title “Letter to the Hebrews” to it, and that is the name that stuck. Perhaps it is called that because it treats the Jewish priesthood with great familiarity. But none of these questions need burden us. Our task is to understand what it says.
1-4: The introduction is not a greeting but a faith formula, a creed. The “our ancestors” does indicate that the author and intended readers were Jewish Christians. The statement is about the Son, without giving his name (but of course that is not necessary). It lingers on the origin of the Son and on the exaltation of the Son, condensing his earthly ministry, told in all the gospels, into six words: “He removed our sins from us …” He is “the exact copy of God’s very existence,” an eloquent way of expressing the incarnation. He is now superior to the angels; but wasn’t he always?
5: Quoting Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14, the author demonstrates a relationship between God and the Son which the angels do not share.
6: This quote is more difficult to place. It is close to Psalm 97:7, but the psalm does not specifically mention angels.
7: Psalm 104:4 bestows upon the angels mighty and mysterious qualities.
8-13: Psalm 45:6-7, clearly a coronation hymn, describes how God has elevated the Son “above your companions.” I am at a bit of a loss to explain why Psalm 102:25-27 is quoted in verses 10-12. Perhaps the idea that “both heaven and earth will wear out like a garment and perish,” is intended to show that the angels are not immortal, but the Son is? And, of course, only the Son, not the angels, are invited to inhabit an exalted position in God’s hierarchy as verse 13 has it, a quote from Psalm 110:1.
14: He asks a rhetorical question, intended to demonstrate that the angels are in service to the followers of the Son, Jesus. The whole point, then, of verses 5-14 is to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus Christ over the angels.
Takeaway
We are not to worship popular and powerful people. Nor are we to worship those we love, or our own ideas and successes. We are to worship only God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.