Hebrews 1:1-14 - The Supremacy of Christ

I'm going to start telling you about my daily reading. Daily readings are important for our spiritual maturity and our spiritial wellbeing. It is like a daily telephone call to the Lord, just to talk over some things; discussions freestyle and you end up getting something from the conversation that you never expect. 

I insist that when doing my daily readings i have a Bible, a commentary and i set aside some time for prayer. These things are absoloutly essential for me in order to get it right. Let me reassure you, that i continually say "me" because it might not be right for you, and as i am staunchly opposed to Legalism, you can do what you feel your heart is telling you to do.

So todays Bible reading is from Hebrews 1:14 and i have my little commentary before me called, "Hebrews thru Revelation - Wisdom today and forever" by Dr Robert Rayburn, Dr Stephen Leston, accompanied by Dr Mark Strauss.

1 After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, 2 in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. 3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? And in another place he says, “I will be his father and he will be my son.” 6 But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him!” 7 And he says of the angels, “He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,” 8 but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.” 10 And, “You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment, 12 and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.” 13 But to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?

The passages are directed towards the Jews, to align them with the pre-jesus history and the current Christian history. He is dotting the I's and crossing the T's of Jewish religious history.  You'll notice that throughout the passage, whilst raising Jesus importance above everything (vs 1&2) he never says Jesus message was any different to that of the Prophets or Moses. It is only the dignity and authorty of Jesus Christ that is far greater than any other because he is no less than the SON of God, creator of all things (again vs.1-2) 

I want to point out a comment made by the writer to the Jews, about Jesus "inheriting a better name" as in 1:4. This didn't mean he did not have it by right all along. After all, the writer has just attributed the whole universe to Jesus. The rewards and inheretance that are due to Jesus because of his incarnation, death and ressurection will be shared by those who place their faith in him. What a blessing!