 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||
|
 |
Sermon Outline
Hebrews 1:4-2:4: The Son Superior to the Angels
A. Christ Superior to the Angels: Hebrews 1:4
…..having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
1. So, what’s the deal about angels?
a. see 1:1 – the REAL question here is about the importance of revelation
b. see 2:2 – it was believed in Jesus’ day that the Law of Moses had been given or mediated to him by angels. This belief is meant to underscore the importance of the Word. (See Deut. 33:1ff; Psalm 68:17; Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19)
2. So, what is being contrasted here is the Word brought by the Son on the one hand and the word given by angels on the other. To make that contrast, the person and significance of Son and angels respectively have to be compared.
B. Seven Old Testament Quotations Used to Prove His Point
1. Hebrews 1:5a – from Psalm 2:7 (Words spoken at Jesus’ birth [Lk 1:32], baptism [Mk. 1:11], transfiguration [Lk. 9:35] and by Paul [Rom. 1:4; Col. 1:18] and John [Rev 1:5].)
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?
2. Hebrews 1:5b – from 2 Sam. 7:14 and Ps. 89:26-27 (Spoken by Nathan to David [2 Sam. 7:12ff, taken up by Isaiah [7:14; 9:6; 11:1] and spoken to Mary [Lk. 1:32ff])
Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?
3. Hebrews 1:6 – from Deuteronomy 32:43, the Song of Moses (LXX only, but in ancient Hebrew manuscripts too. Firstborn carries idea of precedence and heir. NT speaks of Jesus as being first to rise form the dead [Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5; Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15], the latter speaking to his eternal Sonship. Oh, and who is this “Him”? Yes, the Son!)
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.”
4. Hebrews 1:7 – from Psalm 104:4 (angels are God’s servants, sent at his command)
Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
5. Hebrews 1:8-9 – from Psalm 45:6-7 (This is all about kingship and sovereignty! Jesus as incarnate God the Son calls God “God.” Note “anointing” theme – 1 Sam 16:13; 2 Sam 7:16; Isaiah 61:11; Luke 4:18ff)
(8) But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. (9) You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
6. Hebrews 1:10-12 – from Psalm 102:25-27 (“O Lord” is from LXX. We often miss the most profound statements about the Son – this is one. See also Heb 13:8)
(10) And, “You, O Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; (11) they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, (12) like 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.”
7. Hebrews 1:13 – from Psalm 110:1 (one of most cited OT passages about Jesus – Mk. 12:35; 14:62; Acts 2:34; Rom. 8:34; 1 Cor. 15:25; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; 1 Pet 3:22 plus a dozen times in Hebrews!)
And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
C. Hebrew 1:14 – The Ministry of Angels
Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
1. The mighty angels are to be servants of man, “sent out” (by the King, by the Son), for the sake of those men and women who will inherit salvation.
2. Their role is in assisting the servant-King in “bringing many sons to glory.”
3. Many believe that this “calling” was at the root of the original angelic rebellion. “Us serve them?”
D. Hebrews 2:1-4 – Therefore Do Not Neglect the Son’s Word
(1) Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (2) For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, (3) how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, (4) while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
1. “Drifting away” implies a carelessness of mind, apathy, inattention, or neglect.
2. Note the comparison – and heed it – between the Word brought by angels and the Word brought by the Son. This harkens back to 1:1-4.
3. This word of salvation was spoken by the Lord, attested by those who heard, and underlined by signs and wonders and gifts. So, listen up!
4. This is the pastoral passion of the writer – that these believers not drift away. The consequences are too great – see Matthew 10:14-15; 11:20ff; Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 2:20ff.
5. How may WE drift, and are we safer than these if we do? |
 |
|
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
