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Okay, Hebrews chapter 1, I'll 
just pick up reading in verse 1. God, who at various times 
and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the 
prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom 
He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He 
made the worlds, who, being the brightness of His glory, and 
the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the 
word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat 
down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become 
so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained 
a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did 
he ever say, You are my son, today I have begotten you. And 
again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. 
But when he again brings the firstborn into the world, he 
says, Let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels, 
he says, who makes his angel spirits and his ministers a flame 
of fire. But to the son He says, Your 
throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness 
is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness 
and hated lawlessness, therefore your God has anointed you with 
the oil of gladness more than your companions. And you, Lord, 
in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens 
are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain, 
and they will grow old like a garment. Like a cloak you will fold them 
up, and they will be changed, but you are the same, and your 
years will not fail. But to which of the angels has 
he ever said, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies 
your footstool? Are they not all ministering 
spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Amen. week or two weeks ago we introduced 
this book three weeks ago we noted that it was written to 
Jewish Christians those among the Jewish people who had believed 
the gospel and had now been pressured to turn back from following Jesus 
Christ to go back to the temple to go back to the Old Covenant 
rites and ceremonies and sacrifices whether it be family pressure 
or economic pressure definitely in Hebrews 10, it alludes to 
the fact that they were already suffering for the cause of Jesus 
Christ. With all this pressure, the temptation 
was there to go back to that which was safe, that which was 
acceptable, that which was favorable among men. And so Paul, as we 
argued, is the author of this particular letter, writes to 
these Christians to tell them not to turn back, not to go to 
the old covenant, not to go to the tides and the shadows when 
they have the substance which is Jesus Christ. And then the 
apostle does this by setting forth the superiority of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter 1 verses 1 to 3, he 
says that Jesus is supreme over the prophets. Doesn't mean that 
we don't read Isaiah, we don't read Jeremiah, we don't read 
Ezekiel, Jesus is supreme over them. In the section we're looking 
at this evening, Christ is supreme or superior to the angels. He is over the angels. In the 
next section, he will set forth the superiority of Jesus Christ 
over Moses. and then later on over the high 
priesthood in Israel. So Christ being up here, don't 
look here. Christ being here, don't go back 
there. The way to cause men to be faithful 
to Christ is to set Christ before them and encourage them to continue 
to look unto Him. And so we're going to take up 
this evening chapter 1 verses 4-14 the supremacy of Christ 
over the angels. We might ask the question, why 
would the apostle need to do this? Why in the world would 
he have to demonstrate that Jesus was over the angels? We'll look 
at two quotes from two older brothers, as I think they speak 
very well to the issue. John Calvin said it was a common 
notion among the Jews that the law was given by angels. They 
attentively considered the honorable things spoken of them everywhere 
in scripture. And as the world is strangely 
inclined to superstition, they obscured the glory of God by 
extolling angels too much. That's very perceptive. It's not to be argued. God did use angels. God does 
use angels. In fact, in this very context, 
in chapter 1 verse 4, are they not all? ministering spirits 
sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. They've 
done great things in the past, but as Calvin says, the world 
is strangely inclined to superstition. They obscured the glory of God 
by extolling angels too much. It was therefore necessary to 
reduce them to their own rank that they might not overshadow 
the brightness of Christ. says this after he comments on 
the unique role of angels, he says, thus the Jews esteemed 
angels more highly than man. To be told that the Messiah himself, 
God the Son incarnate, had become man made him in their eyes inferior 
to the angels. If they look at the angels as 
higher than men, when they heard that the Messiah was a man, they 
might conclude that he is less than or inferior to the angels. So Pink says, therefore, was 
it necessary to show them from their own scriptures that the 
mediator, God manifests in flesh, possessed a dignity and glory 
as far excelling that of the angels as the heavens are higher 
than the earth. That's why he spent so much time 
setting forth the supremacy of Christ over the angels. And it is interesting, seven 
quotations from the Old Testament. Obviously he is dealing with 
people that knew the Old Testament. And he takes these things and 
he applies them to this particular argument. concerning the supremacy 
of Jesus over the angels. So there are two sections in 
this passage. The first is the statement of 
the truth in verse 4, and then the confirmation of the truth 
in verses 5 to 13. Notice the statement of the truth, 
verse 4. having become so much better 
than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent 
name than they. He states it. He just puts it 
out there. He has become much better than 
the angels. And this having become. Jesus 
as God was always superior to the angels. Remember the context. He's dealing with Jesus as the 
Messiah, Jesus as the mediator, Jesus as the God-man in his unique 
role as the Son of God who came into this world as the surety 
of a new covenant to secure the salvation of his people. So of 
course Jesus was always more important and more excellent 
than the angels, but in his role as mediator. And then notice 
what he says here in verse 4. Having become so much better 
than the angels. This phrase is going to come 
up several times in the book of Hebrews. So much better or 
superior. Remember the whole thrust of 
the book. is to demonstrate the glory and 
the majesty of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant. The Old 
Covenant was good. The Old Covenant wasn't evil. 
It wasn't wicked. It wasn't bad. But it pointed 
forward to something far more glorious and something far more 
excellent. That temple that stood in the 
Old Covenant time, as beautiful as it was, is far exceeded by 
the beauty and the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so 
as we move through this epistle, we will see that phrase come 
up again and again. Here, we see that Jesus is better 
than the angels. In chapter 6 verse 9, you can 
turn there, just to see, just to glance at what we are arguing, 
that the new covenant is better than the old. In Hebrews 6 verse 
9, It says, but we love it. We are confident of better things 
concerning you. Yes, things that accompany salvation, 
though we speak in this manner. Chapter 7, verse 7, chapter 7, 
verse 7, speaking about Abraham giving to Melchizedek. Now, beyond all contradiction, 
the lesser is blessed by the better. Chapter 7, verse 19, 
for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand, there is the 
bringing in of a better hope. Chapter 7 verse 22. By so much 
more, Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Chapter 
8 verse 6. But now he has obtained a more 
excellent ministry in as much as he is also mediator of a better 
covenant, which was established on better promises. You see what 
he's doing. Don't go backwards. don't go 
back to the temple, don't take your lamb to the priest, don't 
take the knife and bury it in the throat of that animal. We have a better sacrifice, we 
have a superior way, we have the fruition. fulfillment of 
what all these things existed for in the first place. Chapter 
9, verse 23, Jesus is a superior sacrifice. The New Covenant has 
a superior sacrifice. Therefore, it was necessary that 
the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with 
these, but the heavenly things themselves would better sacrifices 
than these chapter 10 verse 34 chapter 10 verse 34 for you had 
compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering 
of your goods knowing that you have a better and an enduring 
possession for yourselves in heaven. in the midst of what we read 
here, you joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods. How 
does a man ever joyfully accept the plundering of his goods unless 
he looks forward to that which is better. Of course we can deal 
with this travail, this trial, this difficulty, because we have 
a better hope, we have better promises, we have more waiting 
for us. A perfect example is in chapter 
11 with Moses. In chapter 11, We read in verse 
24, By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called 
the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction 
with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of 
sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ's greater riches than 
the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the reward. Moses didn't 
suffer because he was a monk. Moses didn't suffer because there's 
something intrinsically holy about suffering. He suffered 
because he esteemed the greater riches that he had with Christ. For Moses it was simple. Do I 
want happiness, joy, and peace right now in Egypt? Or do I want 
the exceeding riches of heaven? It's a no-brainer. If I gotta 
suffer now in order to get this, I will gladly suffer now in order 
to get this. You see, the whole book of Hebrews 
is designed to promote that in us. Look to Christ. There is 
much more in Him than there is in that temple compound. There 
is much more in Christ acceptance with your family. There is much 
more in Christ than a good job. There is much more in Christ 
than economic prosperity. In Christ you have exceeding 
great riches. In 1135 there is a there is a better resurrection 
or 1116 backing up just a moment Moses was a bit of an excursus 
there looking at these betters of the superiority just so you 
can get a lay of the land as we move through this book in 
chapter 11 verse 16 but now they desire a better that is a heavenly 
country therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God 
for he has prepared a city for them." What a glorious statement 
that is. They desire a better, that is, 
a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed 
to be called their God. Our God is not ashamed of us. 
Our God loves us. Because of what Jesus has done, 
the God who was angry with us is now in love with us and is 
not ashamed of us. I think we picked a good one 
in this book of Hebrews to work through on our Wednesday night 
studies. Notice 1135. 1135. Women received their dead 
raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting 
deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. 1140. God having provided something 
better for us. that they should not be made 
perfect apart from us and chapter 12 and verse 24 chapter 12 verse 
24 to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant and to the blood 
of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel you 
see that's the thrust of the book of Hebrews to show us the 
superiority of Jesus and the new covenant Not to say that 
Moses and the Old Covenant were evil or bad or anything like 
that. There was grace there. People 
were saved then. They were saved by the same grace 
and the same faith and the same Lord Jesus. But all of that pointed 
forward to the fullness of our Lord Jesus Christ. So going back 
to Hebrews chapter 1 verse 4, the Apostle says, having become 
so much better than the angels, and he illustrates this with 
two particulars in verse 4, his position and his name, as he 
has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. We 
already saw in verse 2, he was appointed heir of all things. Again, not as God, but as God-man. This is in line with what Jesus 
said in Matthew 28, 18. All authority in heaven and on 
earth has been given to me. Well, as God, Jesus, didn't you 
always have all authority? Yes, but if the God-man is the 
Messiah, he has been given all this authority by the Father 
stationed at his right hand. And so he has become so much 
better than the angels because he has this inheritance. The 
Lord gave him all things. The Lord gave him universal dominion. The Lord gave him absolute rule 
and sovereignty. No angel has that. I don't care 
how good the angels are, none of them possess the reigns of 
the universe. In fact, some of the more recent 
commentators speak of the Qumran community. Perhaps you've heard 
of them. That's where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in about 
the mid part of the 20th century. Well, the Qumran community was 
sort of an ascetic group. contemporaries contemporaries 
with the Pharisees and Sadducees and all that sort of thing. Well 
there are certain writings that indicate that they thought Michael 
the Archangel would be over the Messiah. Well Paul is saying 
that is not the case. Michael the Archangel does not 
hold the reigns of the universe. That is Jesus Christ and His 
alone. And it says He has by inheritance 
obtained a more excellent name than they. Beautiful statement 
there. I don't know that we're going 
to look for one particular name. What name is that? Is it Jesus? Is it Yeshua? I just think it 
means His dignity and His power and His authority. Yes? I'm just 
going to give you a round of thoughts that I'm curious about. You know in Luke about 3 or 4 
where the Lord is tempted by the devil in the second temptation 
where the devil shows him the kingdom and says keep that now 
etc. etc. In a sense, then before 
Christ rose from the dead, was that an accurate statement? In 
a sense, yeah. It goes along with Revelation 
20, the fact that the devil is bound so that he cannot deceive 
the nations any longer. The devil did have a certain 
amount of sway prior to the ascension of our Lord Jesus. Yeah. No, not power to bequeath it 
on him. No, but he did exercise a certain 
amount of reign over the ungodly world at that time. Yeah, for 
sure. And notice here, he has obtained 
a more excellent name than they. And I think this is another argument 
for Pauline authorship of this letter. Go to Ephesians chapter 
1 for just a moment. Ephesians chapter 1, while it 
does not say that Jesus has a particular name, it says that he has been 
exalted above every name that is named. Ephesians 1 verse 19, 
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe 
according to the working of His mighty power which He worked 
in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him 
at His right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality 
and power and might and dominion and every name that is named 
not only in this age but also in that which is to come. You 
have to appreciate this. This, again, is speaking about 
Christ, after he has finished his work of redemption. Not Christ 
as God, but Christ as God-man. The Father was so pleased with 
his son's work that he exalted him to this position. The father 
is well pleased with his beloved son, so he confers upon him the 
kingdom. He gives him this dominion and 
this authority. And in verse 22 it says, And 
he put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over 
all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of 
him who fills all in all. And then turn over to Philippians 
chapter 2. Philippians chapter 2. Again, 
the same concept. After Christ, we'll just pick 
up reading here in verse 8, and being found in appearance as 
a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point 
of death, even the death of the cross. This is so blessed and 
so wonderful. Because of what Jesus has done, 
therefore God does this. God also has highly exalted him 
and given him the name which is above every name. That at 
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven 
and of those on earth and of those under the earth. And that 
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory 
of God the Father. This displays or this demonstrates 
the fact that Jesus is supreme over angels. Jesus is supreme 
over all men. Jesus is supreme over all things. He is the universal sovereign. Revelation 19 verses 11 to 16 
indicates something of the glory of the name of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. And again, I don't think it's 
one particular name that is in view. Some secret word that believers 
learn and they just utter it. But rather the idea of his dignity 
and dominion that he possesses by virtue of his life, death, 
and resurrection in obedience to his father for the salvation 
of the elect. God has given him that name which 
is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every 
knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord and 
that to the glory of God the Father. So if you're familiar 
with the prophet Isaiah, you'll know that language comes out 
of the prophet. That it's at the name of God 
every knee shall bow. Well God the Father is saying 
that that is going to happen with God the Son, even the Lord 
Jesus Christ. Any questions at this point? So in verse 4, the apostle states 
the truth that Jesus is better than the angels. Now he confirms 
that in verses 5 to 13 as he appeals to the Old Testament 
scriptures. This is not novel. This isn't 
so because Paul says it's so. It's so because the word of God 
says it. It's so because it's true. Notice, 
just trying to break these seven quotations from the Old Testament 
down. I've broken it down into four 
sections. The first, his relationship to 
the Father. Secondly, his relationship to 
the angels. Thirdly, his deity. And fourthly, 
his sovereignty. So the Old Testament pointed 
to this reality, that Messiah would be superior to the angels. Notice first his relationship 
to the Father. Where does the Apostle go in 
verse 5? What's that a quotation of? You 
are my son, today I have begotten you. What is it? No. Psalm 2. That's right. Psalm 2. You are my son. Today 
I have begotten you. And again, I will be to him a 
father and he shall be to me a son. That's 2 Samuel chapter 
7. So notice verse 5. For to which 
of the angels did he ever say? You see the argument? Did God 
the Father ever say this to any of the angels? No, He did not. God the Father only said this 
ever to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, it is true that 
angels are called sons of God. Job 38 and verse 7. It is true 
that Christians are called sons of God. We are adopted as sons 
according to Romans 8 and Ephesians 1 and in 1 John. Behold what 
manner of love the Father has bestowed on us. that we should 
be called the sons of God now that is true angels and and Christians 
are called sons of God but there's only one called the son of God 
there is only one unique son of God and that's the only begotten 
son even Jesus Christ our Lord now here in chapter 1 verse 5, 
when it says you are my son, today I have begotten you, as 
I said this is from Psalm 2 verse 7. A lot of men, a lot of theologians 
in the Trinitarian controversy have argued that this refers 
to what's called eternal generation of the son. The son has always 
been eternally generated from the Father. There's distinction 
amongst the persons of the Godhead. The Father generates, not generates, the 
Son is begotten of the Father and the Spirit proceeds from 
the Father and the Son. Those are the relationships between 
the persons of the Godhead. I don't think that's what's in 
view here. When we compare other scriptures, I believe what Paul 
is referring to here in his quotation from Psalm 2 verse 7 refers specifically 
to the exaltation of Jesus as the God-man. Turn to Acts 13 
for just a moment. Acts 13 and verse 33. Not discounting that doctrine 
of the eternal generation of the sun, but simply saying that 
that's not what's in view here in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 5. 
I think it's more along the line of what we find here in Acts, 
excuse me, chapter 13. Paul is preaching in Pisidian 
Antioch. He speaks of Christ's death. 
He speaks of Christ's resurrection. Notice in verse 30, But God raised 
Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by 
those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are 
His witnesses to the people. And we declare to you glad tidings, 
that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled 
this for us, their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. 
As it is also written in the second psalm, You are my Son, 
Today I have begotten you. So he applies that to the resurrection. At the resurrection of Christ, 
that was the vindication of this glorious Savior. Turn to Romans 
chapter 1 for a moment. Romans chapter 1, verse 3. concerning his son Jesus Christ 
our Lord who was born of the seed of David according to the 
flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according 
to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. 
That empty tomb proclaimed that He was indeed the Son of God 
with power. It declared it, it vindicated 
it, it demonstrated it, it showed it beyond any possible misinterpretation. And I think that's what's in 
view here in Hebrews 1 verse 5. For to which of the angels 
did He ever say, you are my son, today I have begotten you. Philip Hughes says, in other 
words, resurrection, ascension and glorification should be viewed 
as forming a unity, each one contributing to the exaltation 
of the son to the greatest heights of power and dignity. So what 
he's saying is the angels do not occupy this position. The 
angels were not resurrected. They were not ascended into heaven. They were not exalted to sit 
down at the right hand of the majesty of God on high. Jesus' 
relationship to his father is unique. Jesus' relationship to 
his father is different than ours. according to Romans 817, 
but he is the heir. He is the victor. We are blessed 
by virtue of our union with him. He is blessed by virtue of his 
blessedness and of the fact that he is fulfilled all of the obligations 
placed upon him by his father. Remember when God tells Abraham 
to take Isaac up to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him? Remember what 
he says? Take your son, your only son? Well, Abraham had another son, 
didn't he? He had Ishmael. But He had one 
that was unique, one that was beloved, one that was the child 
of promise, one that the Son shone upon. That's why the Father 
says, take Thine only Son. And I think that's how we understand 
John 3.16 as well. God's only begotten refers, could 
refer to that eternal generation, but could also refer to the fact 
that He is that one above all others. That beautiful one, that 
glorious one. the one upon whom the sun shines, 
the one who is the apple of his eye. Take thine only son, he 
says. So his relationship to the Father 
is seen in Psalm 2 verse 7, and is seen as well in 2 Samuel 7 
and verse 14. For to which of the angels did 
he ever say, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to 
me a son. Now 2 Samuel 7 is very important. Hopefully you're all familiar 
with what goes on in 2 Samuel 7. Remember you have various 
covenants in history. There's a covenant made with 
Adam. There's a covenant made with 
Noah. There's a covenant made with 
Abraham. There's a covenant made with Moses and the nations. And 
there's a covenant made with David. And the covenant made 
with David is a covenant having to do with kingship. Having to 
do with a kingdom. Having to do with a king. And 
Jesus is the heir of that promise in 2 Samuel chapter 7. Now of course, in the context, 
Solomon was a blessed son of David, who would occupy the throne, 
who would exercise the reign of peace, who would see expansion, 
who would see good things happen. but he would end in a very bad 
way. The kingdom after him would be torn into two. There would 
be a division among the people of God. There would be a breach 
between the North and the South. So whatever contemporary semi-application 
that promise has in 2 Samuel 7 to the line of the kings of 
Judah, we see that it points forward to the one who has fulfilled 
this in Luke chapter 1. Luke chapter 1, verse 29, But 
when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered 
what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, 
Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And 
behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a 
son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and 
will be called the Son of the Highest. and the Lord God will 
give him the throne of his father David. 2 Samuel 7 comes to realization 
in the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice in verse 31, and 
he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom 
there will be no end. That is precisely what is defined 
there in that Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7. Turn to Acts 2 
for a moment. Do you love the way the Bible 
all fits together? That makes me so happy. Makes 
me want to do a jig. I just love to see how God promised 
and how it all comes to fruition and how the apostles then explain 
it for us and such that we can't miss it. We cannot make mistakes 
here because it's so clear. It's so, in one sense, so very 
easy. It's as if the apostles put the 
pieces together for us, the Spirit guides and directs us and leads 
us so that we get this comprehensive view of what God and Christ is 
doing in terms of reconciling the world unto Himself. And He 
has, by His grace, included us in this marvelous plan. Notice 
in Acts chapter 2 and verse 29, Well, just backing up to give 
you a bit of a context, he is speaking of the resurrection 
of the Lord Jesus. And not only to prove or to confirm 
that the scriptures taught this, he goes back to Psalm 16, which 
was written by David. But he says it wasn't about David. 
Though David wrote it, it wasn't about David. It was about David's 
greater son. And that's what he says here 
in verse 29. Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of 
the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and 
his tomb is with us to this day. Isn't that great? This is the 
way it is. David wrote Psalm 16, but it 
wasn't about him. Notice, verse 30. Therefore, 
being a prophet, and knowing that God has sworn with an oath 
to him, this is the Davidic covenant, swore with an oath to him, that 
of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise 
up the Christ to sit on his throne. He, foreseeing this, spoke concerning 
the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul was not left in 
Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has 
raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore, being exalted 
to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father 
the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured out this which you 
now see and hear. For David did not ascend into 
the heavens, But he says himself, the Lord said to my Lord, sit 
at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. 
Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that 
God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and 
Christ. So when does Peter tell us that 
Jesus sat on David's throne? His resurrection. He rose from 
the dead. He ascended on high. He's not 
waiting to become king. He sat down on David's feet. there's a group of people they're 
called British Israel they teach that Britain and America are 
the ten lost tribes of Israel they believe that Jesus is going 
to return and sit on the throne in Scotland then you can trace 
David, you know, all the queens and kings of England and Scotland, 
you can trace back to David. Because they believed that the 
Americans and the Brits are true Israel. Right? But the idea being that there 
is a throne somewhere that they believe that Jesus is waiting 
to occupy. According to Peter, in Acts 2.30, 
He's not waiting to occupy. He has occupied. He has sat down. He has universal authority. He has absolute sovereignty. 
He is over the angels. He is over kings. He is over 
empires. He is over men. He is over all 
things. He is even over the devil. He 
has all authority in heaven and on earth. he is not waiting to 
rain, but he is currently raining. And his foot, as it were, is 
lowering upon all of his enemies. They will ultimately be crushed. 
The last enemy will be death. And after that, Jesus will present 
the kingdom to the Father. and then God will be all in all. That's how the Bible tells us 
things are going to happen. If you don't believe me, turn 
to 1 Corinthians 15. A lot of people wonder what's 
going to happen in the future. Well, Jesus is going to come 
back and consummate the age. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 
20. But now Christ has risen from 
the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 
For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection 
of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even 
so in Christ all shall be made alive, but each one in his own 
order. Christ the firstfruits, afterward 
those who are Christ's at his coming. Then comes the end. Notice 
that. He comes, then comes the end. 
Not he comes and sits on a throne in Scotland. Not he comes and 
sits on a throne in Palestine. He comes and then comes the end. 
When he delivers the kingdom to God the Father. When he puts 
an end to all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign 
until he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy 
that will be destroyed is death. For he has put all things under 
his feet. But when he says all things are 
put under him, it is evident that he who put all things under 
him is accepted. The idea again is that Jesus 
as the mediator is presenting this kingdom that he has secured 
to his father. And then we read, now when all 
things are made subject to him, then the son himself will also 
be subject to him who put all things under him, that God may 
be all in all. That's what we're waiting for. 
That's awesome. That's a positive view of the 
future. That's the one that Christians 
should imbibe. Now, there may be a lot of difficulties 
between us and there, but there is coming. That is what's going 
to happen. Jesus is going to come and consummate 
the age. So you see, back in Hebrews chapter 
1, to confirm the truth that Jesus is superior to the angels, 
he highlights his relationship to the Father. And now notice, 
secondly, his relationship to the angels. How could Jesus be 
less than the angels based on what the Old Testament says and 
the Apostle quotes here in verses 6 and 7. Notice verse 6, but 
when he again brings the firstborn into the world. Now this is a 
bit of a Tricky statement here in verse 6. But when he again 
brings the firstborn into the world. The way the New King James 
renders it, it seems to refer to his second coming. But when 
he again brings the firstborn into the world. That means that 
in the future, when the Lord Jesus comes back into the world. Or we could read it, but when 
he says again, When he says again, the language could go either 
way, the idea being that it refers to his first coming or his incarnation. 
Is he referring to something that happened already or something 
that's going to happen? I think he's talking about the 
incarnation. Again, I think it fits best with 
the context, the reference here to the firstborn. And then he 
says, let all the angels of God worship him. Now, let me just 
tell you something. If you look for this verse, you're 
gonna have a tough time. It is either Deuteronomy 32, 
43, or Psalm 97, 7. And even if you look in your 
New King James, you're gonna look and say, wow, that just 
doesn't look like the same thing. The Apostle here is using what's 
called the Septuagint, the great translation of the Old Testament. So if you happen to have a Septuagint, 
you will check it, and you'll say, oh yeah, that's in there, 
that's just right. So, but the idea here is, look 
at what he says, when he again brings the firstborn into the 
world, he says, let all the angels of God worship him. You see the 
argument. How could the angels be better 
if they're supposed to worship Him? Right? The one who is worshipped 
is superior to the worshipper. None of us would come in here 
on a Sunday, hopefully, and say, wow, we're better than God after 
we render up worship. No. That's just inconceivable. And again, the Paul isn't arguing 
against angels. Not that the angels are challenging 
the authority of Jesus. The angels are not trying to 
usurp anything here. He is simply telling these Jewish 
Christians that Jesus is over the angels. And the reason we 
know this is because the angels of God worship Him. they bow 
before him, they confess him, they glorify him. Remember in 
Isaiah chapter 6, when the prophet sees the Lord high and lofty, 
when he sees that vision of God most high, and he hears the angels 
crying out, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole 
earth is filled with his glory. John 12, 41 tells us that Isaiah 
saw Jesus. When Isaiah reports that in Isaiah 
chapter 6, it is the second person of the Trinity that is being 
glorified there by the angels. How could the angels possibly 
be over the one whom they are worshipping? You see, it's a 
great argument. When he again brings the firstborn 
into the world, he says, let all the angels of God worship 
him. Sometimes people trip on that statement, the firstborn. Oh, Jesus was born. Well, yeah, 
Jesus was born. The fullness of the times, God 
sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law. Firstborn 
doesn't always mean the first one born, but it also means the 
one who has preeminence. God says of the nation of Israel, 
they were his firstborn. That doesn't mean they were the 
first of the nations, it means they were the ones God set his 
love upon. So firstborn here means he is 
the preeminent one, the eminent one glorious one. Psalm 89 verse 27, the psalm 
of the covenant says, also I will make him my firstborn, the highest 
of the kings of the earth. We see this spoken of or this 
phrase referenced of Jesus in Romans 8, Colossians 1 and Revelation 
chapter 1. So the angels worship Jesus. And then in verse 7, of the angels, 
he says, who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame 
of fire. They're not over Jesus because 
they worship him and because they're servants. I mean, angels 
are glorious, wonderful beings. Later on in chapter 2, quotation 
from Psalm 8, man is made a little lower than the angels. There's 
a pecking order. There's a hierarchy. Angels are 
better than us. They're over us. But they're 
not over Jesus. They're ministering spirits. 
And it's interesting. They are over us in the packing 
order. But notice in verse 14, are they not all ministering 
spirits sent forth to minister for those who inherit salvation 
for us? You talk about humble beings. 
They're going to minister for us? We're sinful vile wretches. They just dutifully obey God. That's the issue. They just obey. 
and they do it joyfully and happily, but it's interesting in the packing 
order we are below the angels and so they are servants, they 
are ministers. Psalm 104 interestingly enough 
is a psalm of creation basically rehearses the seven days of creation 
and God employs his angels in that particular task. But we're 
going to stop there Just because I want to make sure we don't 
rush through His deity and His sovereignty. And if you want, 
in preparation, read Psalm 45, Psalm 102, and Psalm 110 for 
next week. Those are where the quotations 
come from as the Apostle highlights the glory of Christ and His supremacy 
over the angels with reference to His deity and His sovereignty. Well, any questions or comments?