first prophets, then a son

Good morning friends,
Our reading this morning is from Hebrews. Hebrews is an interesting book because tradition has called it a letter, but it really doesn't have that shape. It was written to explain Christ's ministry to believers, it seems especially to believers who were Jewish (hence the title). One of my teachers had a theory that the author had been a priest in the temple before coming to know Christ, because the book makes lots of reference to Jewish sacrifice and other worship ceremonies. Throughout Hebrews one notices lots of scripture quoted. Whenever scripture is quoted in the New Testament, it is from the Old Testament. Our ancestors in the faith only had the Old Testament; the writings that became the New Testament weren't considered scripture yet.

The most quoted piece of scripture in Hebrews is Psalm 110, so much so that some writers think of Hebrews as an interpretation of Psalm 110. Our passage this morning also has quotes from other Psalms (Google is a great tool to find out where these quotes come from). Our passage today seeks to show how Christ is much greater than the angels. In a nutshell, angels (and prophets) are servants of God, Christ is God's firstborn son. Some of this seems obvious to us today, but remember our ancestors had to figure out how to think about Christ's ministry. It's interesting to look at how they used the scriptures to figure that out.

God bless,
Sam

Hebrews 1:1-12

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 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 his Father, and he will be my Son”? 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 servants flames of fire.” 8But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter 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.” 10And, “In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; 12like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.”