Worship God's Son

     
                                                          Sunday School Lesson

                                            

Lesson: Hebrews 1:1-9                                                                                                 
Golden Text: “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” (Hebrews 1:3).

I.  INTRODUCTION.  False teachers in many early churches taught that God could be approached only through angels.  Instead of worshipping God directly, followers of these heretics revered angels.  Some false teachers even considered Jesus as the highest angel of God.  But Jesus is not a superior angel, and besides, angels are not to be worshipped (see Colossians 2:18; Revelation 19:1-10).  This week’s lesson clearly teaches that we should not regard anything or anyone as greater than Christ.  Jesus is God.  He alone deserves our worship.

II. BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON.  Hebrews is a letter written by an unknown Christian to present the superiority and sufficiency of Jesus Christ, and how He had replaced Judaism as God’s perfect revelation of Himself.  The Epistle to the Hebrews has no greeting or identification of its author, therefore the author is unknown.  The authorship has been debated since post-apostolic days.  In certain places of the letter, the language is like Paul’s and on account of the personal reference to Timothy (see Hebrews 13:23), some scholars have attributed the letter to Paul.  Although there is no conclusive proof that Paul is the author, Hebrews as a part of Scripture speaks with divine authority.  It is believed that the letter was probably written before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by Rome, since religious sacrifices and ceremonies are referred to in the book.  In addition, there is no mention of the temple’s destruction in the letter (see Hebrews 10:11).  The letter was written to encourage its Hebrew readers who had professed faith in Jesus as the Messiah, but were wavering in their faith.  Hence the author gives the exhortation to “hold fast” (see Hebrews 10:23) and to “go on unto perfection” (see Hebrews 6:1).
III. THE SON AS GOD’S FINAL REVELATION DESERVES WORSHIP (Hebrews 1:1-3)    
A. The Son’s superior message (Hebrews 1:1-2). 
1. (vs. 1).  Our first verse says “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.”  The text begins with the important truth that God has spoken.  God was not content to let people search for Him through conscience or nature.  He revealed Himself and His will though chosen instruments.  This was the only way God could restore sinful mankind to Himself.  The phrase “at sundry times” means that God spoke at different times giving His message to mankind in piecemeal fashion, bit by bit over a long period of time.  God also spoke in “divers manners” or in many ways.  For example He used an audible voice (see Exodus 33:11), dreams (see Daniel 7:1-28), and visions (see Ezekiel 1:1).  The Lord used history, law, parables, prophecy, poetry, and song to convey His message.  The writer said that God spoke or gave His messages “in time past.”  This refers to the Old Testament period.  During that time, God spoke “unto the fathers” the ancestors of the Jewish people through “the prophets.” 
2. (vs. 2).  This verse says “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.”  Even though God spoke in all these varied forms and manifestations, His revelation was still incomplete.  His complete revelation awaited fulfillment in the first coming of Messiah.  The writer of Hebrews said that the fulfillment has now come “in these last days.”  The period between Christ’s first coming and His second advent which is the time we are living in now, makes up “these last days” (see II Timothy 3:1; II Peter3:3).  The message from God “in these last days” was “spoken unto us by his Son.”  The climax toward which history was building has arrived.  God’s revelation has reached its final destination in Jesus Christ.  Note:  There will be no further word from heaven.  God’s Son embodies everything man needs to know about God.  God is seen not only in the words Jesus spoke, but in everything He is.  Jesus not only brought God’s message, He is God’s message.  All the divine messages in the Old Testament prepared for and led to God’s final revelation---Jesus Christ.  So, whoever encountered Jesus the Son encountered God (see John 1:1-2, 14; 14:7-9).  Since Jesus Christ is God’s final word to mankind, no one can afford to be neutral toward Him.  He demands a decision from us today just as He did from those who walked with Him during His earthly life.  A person’s eternal destiny hangs on whether they receive or reject Jesus Christ, God’s final Word (see John 3:16-18; 36).  The last part of this verse begins a series of reasons why Christ qualifies as God’s final revelation.  First, it’s because Christ is the One “whom he (God) hath appointed heir of all things.”  This means that since Jesus is God’s Son, He owns everything.  The created order belongs to Christ.  Though He has not yet come to earth to receive His full inheritance, it’s still His by divine right.  The last phrase of this verse gives the second reason why Christ qualifies as God’s final revelation.  It says “by whom (Christ) also he (God) made the worlds.”  The word translated “worlds” can be translated “ages” having the idea of time as well as space.  The word “made” is past tense implying a completed action at a point in time.  Therefore, this phrase probably means that at a divinely ordained time, Christ brought the universe into being, setting up an order that would develop through stages in history.  This is the creatorship that both John and Paul wrote about so clearly (see John 1:3; Colossians 1:16).  It’s only fitting that the Creator of all things should be God’s final revelation to mankind and worthy of our worship.
B. The Son’s superior nature and position (Hebrews 1:3).  Having given two reasons why Christ qualifies as God’s final revelation, this verse goes on to say “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.”  A third reason why Christ deserves to be God’s final revelation is because He is “the brightness of his (God’s) glory.”  The word “brightness” refers to the radiance that bursts out of a brilliant light.  An illustration of this is the sudden appearance of a glorious dawn at sunrise when the rays of light shatter every shred of darkness.  In the same way, the Son of God radiates the glory of God.  As the Shekinah reflected God’s glory on earth in Old Testament times, so did Jesus during His time on earth (see John 1:14; 2:11; 12:45-46; 14:9).  A fourth reason why Christ deserves to be God’s final revelation is because He is “the express image of his (God’s) person.”  Our English word “character” comes from the Greek word translated “express image.”  It was commonly used to identify the stamp or impression made on coins or seals.  As the impression was the exact image on the coin or seal, so Christ is the exact image of God’s person.  God’s character is exactly represented in Christ.  This means that Jesus is God Himself.  The Apostle Paul declared that in Christ dwells “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (see Colossians 2:9).  A fifth reason that Christ qualifies as God’s final revelation, and is worthy of worship is because He is “upholding all things.”  The word translated “upholding” means “bearing” or “carrying.”   In other words, everything that Christ has created He carries along to its intended purpose.  He cares for, preserves, and directs everything.  The Apostle Paul expressed this same truth in Colossians 1:17: “by him all things consist (or hold together).”  Christ does this “by the word of his power.”  Just as it took powerful divine words to bring the world into being (see Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11), it also requires the enabling word of Christ to keep it operating smoothly.  This is the superior nature of the One whom God sent as His final revelation.  A sixth reason why Christ deserves to be God’s final revelation, and worthy of our worship is because “he had by himself purged our sins.”  A clearer translation of this would be “having made purification of sins.”  This speaks of an action that was completed just once.  The Levitical priests had to minister continuously, offering countless sacrifices daily, but those sacrifices could not remove sin (see Hebrews 10:1-4).  Christ has provided for our purification from sin by the sacrifice of Himself, once and for all (see Hebrews 9:13-14, 25-28).  And because His sacrifice was perfect and final, never to be repeated (see Hebrews 10:12), He then “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”  The tense of “sat down” is in the past indicating a completed action at some point in time.  It could also read “took His seat.”  Unlike earlier priests who always stood because their work was never finished, Jesus “sat down” because His work was completed.  It should be noted here that Jesus only took His seat after He completed His purpose--- dying for the sins of the world (see Mark 10:45; John 17:4).  Having completed His work, Jesus “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”  The word “Majesty” is a synonym for God Himself, and the “right hand” signifies a place of honor (see Mark 10:37).  Having completed His redemptive work, Jesus returned to the position He occupied before His incarnation (see Philippians 2:5-7; Hebrews 2:9).    Note:  Jesus Christ is seated at God’s right hand.  The right hand was the traditional place of highest honor among oriental kings.  This was the ultimate exaltation of Christ by God the Father due to His redemptive death on the cross (see Acts 2:32-33; Philippians 2:8-9).
IV. GOD’S SON IS SUPERIOR TO ANGELS AND DESERVES TO BE WORSHIPPED (Hebrews 1:4-9)
A. The Son’s name is greater (Hebrews 1:4-5).
1. (vs. 4).  In this verse the writer still speaking of Christ continued to say “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”  The author of Hebrews had earlier shown the Son’s revelation of God as being superior to the revelation given by the prophets, and now he asserted Christ’s superiority over the angels.  The words “Being made” should probably read “having become.”  Jesus Christ has always been superior to angels, but the writer said that He was “made so much better than the angels” to emphasize what the Son did in becoming man and putting away the sins of men.  Jesus had become for a short time “lower than the angels” (see Hebrews 2:9), but has now returned to His rightful inheritance and “obtained a more excellent name than they.”  The better name that Christ has through divine inheritance appears to be a reference to His sonship.  As the unique Son of God, there can be no comparison between Him and the angels, for they are creatures and Christ is their Creator.  Therefore, the Father can never refer to any of them as “son” because that name belongs only to Christ.
2. (vs. 5).  As further proof that Christ is much more superior to angels, the writer posed two rhetorical questions: “For unto which of the angels said he (God) 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 Scriptures describe angels as exceedingly numerous (see Psalms 68:17; Mathew 26:53; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 5:11); their place is around the throne of God (see Revelation 5:11; 7:11); and they are “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (see Hebrews 1:14).  However, the author of Hebrews makes it plain with his questions that nowhere at any time did God say to angels “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”  This is a quote from Psalm 2:7, where God said to the Messiah, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”  Some people think that the words “this day” in this verse mean before God made the worlds.  If so, that would show that Jesus was always the Son of God.  Some people think it refers to the day when John baptized Jesus.  If so, this shows that Jesus as a man was the Son of God.  Some people believe it to be the day when God raised him from the dead.  In the letter to the Romans, Paul wrote that by raising Jesus from the dead the Holy Spirit called him the Son of God (see Romans 1:4).  The clear teaching of the Bible is that Jesus is and always has been the Son of God.  The second question the writer posed was at any time did God say to angels “I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”  The answer again is emphatically no!  This phrase was a quote from I Chronicles 17:13-14 where God said “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to me.”  The Lord spoke these words about King David's son Solomon.  However, the fulfillment of this statement is in Jesus Christ, because it never was or could be fulfilled in Solomon.  To the Jews, Solomon was a picture of the special king who was coming one day.  This special king, the Messiah, would be from the family of David.  He would always be king.  So the Hebrews took these words to mean that God will be the Father of the Messiah.  Jesus came as the Messiah and God is his Father.  No, God never said that he would be the Father of an angel.  As Jesus is the Son of God, he is superior to the angels and is worthy of our worship.
B. The Son’s honour is greater (Hebrews 1:6-7).
1. (vs. 6).  To further show that Christ is superior to angels, the author in this verse said “And again, when he (God) bringeth in the firstbegotten (Jesus Christ) into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”  The word “firstbegotten” can also mean “firstborn.”  In this verse there are two possible meanings for the phrase “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world.”  It could be a reference to the time when Jesus will come again to the earth. Then he will set up his government in the world and will be worshipped by all.  Or it may refer to the time when God exalted Jesus after He raised Him from the dead and at that time “all the angels of God worship him” (see Revelation 7:11). Jesus is God’s “firstbegotten” or “firstborn” because he is God’s only Son, and he was first to come alive again from the dead.  Whether  this verse refers to when God brings his firstborn, Jesus Christ into the world in His second coming, or to when He arose from the dead and sat on God’s right hand, God tells all his angels to honour and praise Him.  This shows that Jesus is superior to the angels just as God is.
2. (vs. 7).  Having shown the superiority of Christ to angels, here the writer discloses what God says about angels.  This verse says “And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”  The author of Hebrews quoted this verse from Psalms 104:4 where the psalmist praises God for His creation.  In doing so, the psalmist declared as does the author of Hebrews that first God “maketh his angels spirits.”  Second, this verse says that God also made angels “his ministers a flame of fire.”  The Greek word for “spirit” is “pneuma” and it means “breath” or “wind.”  As “spirits,” angels move about like the wind which was also a description of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:2-4).  Angels are also here called “ministers” or servants.  The Hebrew word for “angels” means messenger or representative.  Their mission is to (1) carry a message, (2) fulfill a special commission and (3) represent the one sending them.  They are called “a flame of fire” for they often appear as fire (see II Kings 6:15-17).  They are quick and powerful to do what God sends them to do.  However, angels can’t compare to Christ.  Even though angels are as impressive in their work as wind and fire, they are nevertheless only “his (God’s) ministers.”  But unlike angels, Jesus was not created.
C. The Son’s righteous kingdom (Hebrews 1:8-9).
1. (vs. 8).  In contrast to what God says about angels, this verse says “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.”  Whereas angels are merely God’s ministers, the Son is the divine Ruler of an eternal kingdom.  This verse is a quotation form Psalms 45:6 and it identifies the Son as God.  The Lord calls the Son God when He said to the Son, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.”  As God, the Son’s throne is eternal, lasting forever.  Unlike most earthly kingdoms, Christ’s kingdom will be marked by righteousness which is the meaning of “a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”  A “scepter” is a staff or wand carried as a sign of command or sovereignty of a king.  It refers to kingly office or power.  The fact that Jesus’ kingdom will be a righteous one confirms the millennial picture given by Isaiah (see Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-5).  Christ’s kingdom is a righteous one because He Himself is righteous. 
2. (vs. 9).  Still speaking about the righteousness of the Son, God continues to say to Him, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”  Since Christ is righteousness, God said that He “hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity.”  Jesus Christ has proven Himself to be free from any taint of corruption or any impure motives.  Jesus loves what is right.  He hates all that is evil.  In his life on earth He always did what was right.  He taught what was right.  He told of the punishment that is coming on all that is evil.  The words “loved” and “hated” describes the intensity of Christ’s commitment to righteousness.  Because of this, God has “anointed thee (Christ) with the oil of gladness.”  This statement most likely refers to “the joy that was set before Him” (see Hebrews 12:2) after Jesus left earth and was “highly exalted” (see Philippians 2:9).  No doubt this was a festive occasion!  Christ’s joyous exaltation is said to be “above thy fellows.”  The word “fellows” can also mean “companions.”  These companions are said to share in Christ’s joy, but to a lesser degree.  So who are these “fellows?”  Most likely they are the many sons or believers God is bringing into glory (see Hebrews 2:10), and whom Christ is not ashamed to call “brethren” (see Hebrews 2:11).  Jesus Christ, the eternal and righteous King has so thoroughly identified Himself with believers that He suffered the same temptations as we do (see Hebrews 2:14-18).  And now He shares His regal joy with us as well!     
                       
V. Conclusion.  This week’s lesson teaches that Jesus is the Son of God by revealing His characteristics.  He is worthy to be our Lord.  Although angels have been revered, there is no comparison between Jesus Christ and angels.  Angels are supernatural beings.  They are mysterious beings.  But like us, they are created beings.  Christ, the Son of God was not created, nor is He an angel: He is worthy of our worship.  Angels are not!