The Letter to the Hebrews
Why Cling To The Word About Jesus
Hebrews 1:5-14
We just started a new series on the Letter To The Hebrews – so let’s turn to Hebrews chapter 1. If you need a Bible, raise your hand and we’d be glad to bring one to you that you can use. Hebrews 1 is on page 1001 in the Bibles we are passing out.
This letter was written to a small house church in Rome which was struggling spiritually. And one of their greatest problems was that they had become lax in their clinging to God’s Word (2:1).
Their Bibles stayed closed. They did not open their Bibles and read, memorize, study, meditate. They were more interested in the latest gossip or chariot race or political developments. Their attention had drifted from the Word of God.
So that’s the first issue the author tackles – as you can see in ch.2 vs.1 –
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
Notice that word “therefore.” That word shows that all of chapter one is leading to this verse as the conclusion. And that’s what you see when you read chapter one.
Here’s an overview with arcs. In chapter one the author starts by saying since God has spoken to us in His Son (in 1:1-4), and since Jesus the Son is superior to the angels (in 1:5-14), therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard (in 2:1).
So the reason we should pay much closer attention to the Word of God is because God has spoken to us by His Son who is superior to angels.
But this raises a question – If God has spoken to us personally by His Son, why do we need to pay close attention to truths we have heard? Why not just pay close attention to Jesus? Why do we need to bother with truths we have heard?
See, in chapter one the author tells us the amazing truth that God has spoken to us by sending His own Son. Jesus the Son of God was here so we could know Him personally – have relationship with Him personally. So we could think the point is – since God has spoken personally by Jesus -- therefore cling to Jesus. Know Jesus. We don’t need to bother with words – with reading – with a book; Christianity is about a real relationship you can have with Jesus.
So which is it? Do we cling to Jesus – or do we cling to words about Jesus?
The author of Hebrews would say – both. It’s all about a relationship -- knowing Jesus Christ, loving Jesus Christ, trusting Jesus. And – it’s all about words – because the way to know Jesus Christ is by paying much closer attention to these words -- by clinging to God’s Word.
See, God has chose to have us know Jesus through the truth of this book. These words are not given to us just to be some sort of academic pursuit. They are given to us so that we can meet the living Jesus in them.
Tuesday I got a phone call that caused me fear and worry. And I know that when I am feeling fear and worry – I’m not seeing Jesus, I’m not trusting Jesus. So how can I see, and trust Jesus? By clinging to Jesus as revealed in this book.
So I clung to Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” That since God did the very costly act of delivering His own Son up for me -- surely He would give me everything else I needed. I didn’t actually open up this book and read that verse. But I quoted it to myself in my mind – and prayed over it – and as I did that I saw God’s love and faithfulness – and so strengthened that I trusted Him – and the fear and worry left.
I met Jesus in the words of this book. That’s why the author says what he does in 2:1 – let’s read that again --
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
So – pay much closer attention to this book about Jesus – cling to this book about Jesus – and you will know Jesus.
But there’s a problem. The author knows that his readers have bought into false teaching about angels that would keep them from clinging to this book about Jesus. The Bible says there are angels. Angels are not God. Angels are created, spiritual beings who serve God.
But these believers had gotten the idea that angels were superior to Jesus. That it was angels who determined what happened in their lives. That it was more important to connect with angels than with Jesus.
So the author knows that he’s got to set them straight about angels. So in vv.5-14 the author clears up their wrong thinking about angels – and at the same time he gives us four more reasons for why we should cling to these words about Jesus. So -- why should I cling to these words about Jesus?
First – because Jesus is the only Son of God and He is worshiped by the angels. Imagine you had bought into the idea that angels were more important than Jesus. That on God’s org chart there was God – and then His angels who run things on earth and who connect you to God – and then Jesus is way down here. Think of how these verses would have blown you away – start with v.3 to get the flow of thought –
3 He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. [And what was that name? Keep reading.]
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son [that’s the name], today I have begotten you"?
This is a quote from Psa 2:7 – and refers to how, after Jesus’ death, by raising Jesus from the dead God publicly displayed Him as Son, honored Him as Son, in a sense begat Him as Son. He had always been His Son – but by raising Him from the dead Jesus publicly honored Him as His Son.
Sons are the same kind of being as their fathers. Jonathan – by being Brandon’s son, is the same being as Brandon – a human being. And Jesus – by being God’s Son -- is the same being as God the Father – God. So Jesus is the Son of God. But God never says any angel is His Son.
Keep reading in v.5 --
B Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?
This is a quote from 2Sa 7:14 – and again shows that Jesus is the Son of God.
Keep reading --
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."
This is a quote from Psa 97:7 which refers to the Second Coming. And when Jesus is called “firstborn” it doesn’t mean he was created. The firstborn son was pre-eminent over the other sons. So for Jesus to be firstborn is another way of saying that He is pre-eminent.
And notice -- God has commanded all the angels to worship Jesus.
So when you cling to Jesus in these words, and worship Jesus in these words -- the Father is smiling. And you don’t need to wonder if the angels are wanting some of your worship. They aren’t. In fact at the Second Coming you will see all the angels on their faces worshiping Jesus.
The second reason we should cling to these words about Jesus is – because when I cling to Jesus I am clinging to God Himself. First he quotes from Psalm 104:4 --
7 Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire."
So the point is that angels are ministers OF God. But then vv.8-9 show that Jesus IS God.
Vv.8-9 are from Psalm 45. They talk about a King who both IS God and who is anointed BY God. This is a description of God’s Son – Jesus. Look at vv.8-9 --
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." [Psa 45:6-7]
So how can Jesus God’s Son be a King who both IS God and is anointed BY God? It’s because the Bible teaches that God is three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. That does not mean that each member of the Trinity is one-third of God. No. It means that each member of the Trinity is Himself fully God. The Father is fully God. All of who God is – is in the Father. And the Spirit is fully God. All of who God is – is in the Spirit. And – the point of this passage – Jesus Christ is fully God. All of who God is – is in Jesus.
So -- cling to these words about Jesus – because Jesus IS God.
The third reason we should cling to these words about Jesus is because – Jesus, who created everything, will never change. Look at vv.10-12. Because he has just shown from Psalm 45 that Jesus is fully God – He can apply Psalm 102’s words about God to Jesus --
10 And, “You, 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.”
Imagine that you are on iceberg that is disappearing – with everything slowly melting away. That’s a picture of life here on earth. Your house will one day be torn down. Your health will diminish. Your job will disappear. Your money – of no value. Everything is slowly melting away.
But then imagine a massive ocean liner pulling up next to your iceberg called “The Word of God” with Jesus as the captain. He says – get in – that iceberg is melting. Someday it will be gone. But this ocean liner will remain forever.
See – when you cling to money, or career, or your house – you are on that iceberg. But when you cling to these words about Jesus -- you are on the ocean liner. So – cling to these words about Jesus.
The fourth reason we should cling to these words about Jesus is found in vv.13-14. Start with v..13 --
13 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”?
From eternity past Jesus had been equal to God the Father in every way. But to save us from our sin -- 2,000 years ago he laid aside His divine privileges and lowered himself far, far, far down to be a lowly man. And He allowed Himself to be nailed to a Cross to pay for our sins. So after the Father raised Him from the dead and brought Him to heaven – He seated Jesus at His right hand – a place of equality with God the Father – where Jesus rules as King over the entire universe.
So for those in this house church in Rome who had been taught that angels were superior to Jesus – the author wants them to understand that when you look at the Father’s right hand you don’t see the angel Gabriel – or Michael the archangel. You see Jesus.
So if the angels aren’t at the right hand of God -- what are they doing? They are sent out to serve us – those who are going to inherit salvation. You can see that in v.14 --
14 Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
So the reason we should cling to these words about Jesus is because Jesus is king over everything (v.13) and because God will use angels to help us (v.14). Think about that. One reason God created angels is to minister to us and serve us and help us on the road to salvation.
When Jesus was fasting for 40 days in the wilderness -- angels came and ministered to him.
When Jesus was praying in Gethsemane – an angel came and strengthened him.
When the apostles were in prison an angel came and unlocked the prison doors.
An angel told Philip to go to a desert road where he met the Ethiopian eunuch who was reading Isaiah 53 – and led him to faith.
When Peter was in prison an angel broke his chains and freed him.
When Paul was on a boat in a storm an angel told him what was going to happen.
Now be careful. We do not start looking for angels. We do not start praying to angels. We do not start focusing on angels. The whole point of these verses is to focus on Jesus not on angels.
But the author wants to encourage us to cling to these words about Jesus because God will use angels to help us. You are not on your own. God will give you all the help you need.
So – cling to these words about Jesus.
Questions?
So – Mercy Hill Church – cling, cling, cling to these words about Jesus.