Hebrews 1
CHAPTER 1
The supremacy of Christ
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last times spoken to us in the Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, on account of whom also He structured the ages. 3 Who being the brightness of His glory and the exact image of His person, upholds all things by the word of his power. When he had accomplished the purification of sins, he then sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in Heaven. 4 He thus became so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Christ greater than Angels
5 For to which of the angels said He at any time: You are my Son, this day have I begotten you? And again: I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world He says: And let all the angels of God worship him.
7 And of the angels He says: Who makes His angels winds, and His servants a flame a fire.
8 But of the Son He said: Your throne, O Mighty One, is for ever and ever, and the sceptre of your kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
10 And: You, Lord, in the beginning did lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. 11 They shall perish, but You continue; and they all shall wear out as does a garment, 12 and like a cloak You shall roll them up as a garment, and they shall be changed; but You are the same and Your years are without end.
13 But of which of the angels has He said at any time: Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of those that shall inherit salvation?
Commentary
1:3 Jesus was the reflection of God’s glory, His image- but not God Himself. He is seated now at the right hand of God, begotten by Him (v. 5), and God is called ‘his God’ (v. 8). All this language is inappropriate if Jesus is God Himself.
1:5 Here and throughout Hebrews 1 and 2 it is emphasized that Jesus wasn’t an Angel. The Watchtower and others are wrong to claim that He was.
1:14 All of the Angels are serving God, and involved in caring for us whom He is preparing to inherit eternal life in His Kingdom. All the Angels are obedient to God and doing His work- there are no sinful beings in Heaven.
