Hebrews 1:5-14

5 For to which of the angels did he ever say,

You are my Son;
today I have become your Father,

or again,

I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son?

6 Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

And let all God’s angels worship him.

7 And about the angels he says:

He makes his angels winds,
and his servants a fiery flame,

8 but to the Son:

Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.
9 You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, your God,
has anointed you
with the oil of joy
beyond your companions.

10 And:

In the beginning, Lord,
you established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain.
They will all wear out like clothing;
12 you will roll them up like a cloak,
and they will be changed like clothing.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.

13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?

Behind the Curtain

It seems possible that the recipients of Hebrews were feeling

of being Christians.

A Constellation of Seven Quotes

There are seven quotes which the preacher of Hebrews brings into focus to describe Jesus.
The first two describe what God did

say about angels.
The second two describe what God

Reveal Answer

say about angels.
The last three are quotes from the

Reveal Answer

which portray the glory of Jesus.

Why all the talk about angels?

It seems the preacher of Hebrews is less concerned about the glory the people saw in

and more concerned that they aren’t seeing enough glory in

Reveal Answer

.

Hans Holbein the Younger’s Body of the Dead Christ in the Tomb, c. 1520

Remembering Jesus’ physical presence in this world, especially in the depths of his worst experiences, reminds us that “This isn’t the whole

!”

In this life, the true glory of Christ can only be

.

Quote from Tom Long:
The Jesus who was made “for a little while lower than the angels” was, is, and always will be the Son exalted above all things, “superior to the angels.” The Jesus who suffered a humiliating death at the hand of evil is the same Son who is “the reflection of God’s glory.” The “heir of all things through whom God created the worlds” is the very one who, for our salvation, became one who had nowhere to lay his head and “endured the shame” of the cross.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. How does Jesus’ divine nature help you in life? How does his humanity do the same?
2. What do you think of Holbein’s painting of the body of Christ in the tomb? What grabs your attention?
3. How does the preacher’s talk about angels connect us more deeply to Jesus?