Hebrews
The Superiorityof Christ (part 2)
Jesus: Superior to Angels
Hebrews 1:4-14
A Brief Look at the Biblical Teaching of
AngelsOld Testament – 108 direct
references
New Testament – 165 direct references
A Brief Look at the Biblical Teaching of
AngelsThey are created beings and their number is set, neither
increasing or decreasing
They are highly intellegent and have emotions as they
rejoice when a sinner is converted – Luke 15:10
A Brief Look at the Biblical Teaching of
AngelsThey can move with
incredible speed and have tremendous power
The best description of them are mighty warriors and God's special servants
A Brief Look at the Jewish beliefs about angels in Jesus' day
Many teachings about angels were being embellished
Angels were believed to be a senate or council for God
A Brief Look at the Jewish beliefs about angels in Jesus' day
There were many different types of angels with various
names
Every child had a guardian angel
A Brief Look at the Jewish beliefs about angels in Jesus' day
There were many different types of angels with various
names
Every child had a guardian angel
A Brief Look at the Jewish beliefs about angels in Jesus' day
Angels had much to do with the ordination and mantaining of the law
Angels were sometimes elevated so high they were
worshipped
Hebrews 1:4-14 (ESV)4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is
more excellent than theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are
my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
Hebrews 1:4-14 (ESV)
6And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world,
he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.” 7Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
Hebrews 1:4-14 (ESV) 8But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is
forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9You have
loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
Hebrews 1:4-14 (ESV)
10And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in
the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11they will
perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a
garment,
Hebrews 1:4-14 (ESV)12like a robe you will roll
them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are
the same, and your years will have no end.” 13And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right
hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your
feet”?
Hebrews 1:4-14 (ESV)
14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out
to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit
salvation?
5 Reasons why Christ is
Superior to Angels
4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is
more excellent than theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are
my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
1) Christ has a Superior NAME
Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:17
The author is quoting from the Greek Old Testament
Septuagint - LXX
The majority of the Old Testament was originally
written in Hebrew
1) Christ has a Superior NAME
According to Jewish thought, a person's name revealed his essential nature and could express rank and
dignity
1) Christ has a Superior NAME
Then: Believers were being pressured to return to
Judiasm by demoting Jesus down to a great angel who
did great things
1) Christ has a Superior NAME
1) Christ has a Superior NAME
Now: Believers are asked to say Jesus was just a good
man or put Him on the same level as every other god or belief system in the world
2) Christ has a Superior HONOR
6And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world,
he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.”
OT Ref. (Psalm 97:7)
2) Christ has a Superior HONOR
This tells of the deity of Christ
This gives the status of Christ in regard to the angels
Angels WorshipChrist is Worshipped
2) Christ has a Superior HONOR
Then: Believers were asked to deny the deity of Christ and say He was no better
than an angel
Then: Believers were asked to cease their worship of
Christ and say He was not worthy of such honor
2) Christ has a Superior HONOR
Now: Believers are asked to deny the deity of Christ and say He was no better than
just a good man
Now: Believers are asked to mingle their worship of
Christ and say many are worthy of such honor
3) Christ has a Superior STATUS7Of the angels he says, “He makes
his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” 8But of the Son he
says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of
uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated
wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil
of gladness beyond your companions.”
Psalm 104:4 and Psalm 45:6-7
3) Christ has a Superior STATUS
Truth Revealed – The angels are servants the
Son is sovereign
3) Christ has a Superior STATUS
Then: Believers were encouraged to proclaim
that the angels were powerful and Christ was
weak and had no authority
3) Christ has a Superior STATUS
Now: Beleiver's are encouraged to say that
man is powerful and Christ is weak and has no
authority
4) Christ has a Superior EXISTENCE
10And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the
beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11they
will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,
12like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be
changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no
end.” - (ref. Ps 102)
4) Christ has a Superior EXISTENCE
Then: Believers were confronted with an argument
that Jesus could not be greater than the angels because the
angels have been around longer, therefore they should
deny Christ and go back to the old ways
4) Christ has a Superior EXISTENCE
Now: Beleiver's are confronted with an argument
saying what authority and power does a carpenter's Son have on my life 2000
years after he died?
5) Christ has a Superior VOCATION
13And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your
feet”? 14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to
serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
(OT Ref. Psalm 110:1)
5) Christ has a Superior VOCATION
Truth Revealed - Angels serve – Christ commands the
servants
5) Christ has a Superior VOCATION
Then: Christ is superior to the angels in every way –
therefore all believers should be confident in Him and Him
alone
5) Christ has a Superior VOCATION
Now: Christ is superior to the angels in every way –
therefore all believers should be confident in Him and Him
alone
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