Daily Writing

Tuesday, 14 August 2018

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

The question here, speaking of the angels, is actually tied directly to verse 7. In that verse, two words were used which are now repeated in this verse –

1:7 –And of the angels He says:

“Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”

1:14 – Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Further, the Greek word in verse 7 for “angel” (aggelos) is a noun which signifies a messenger. The Greek word in verse 14 for “sent forth” (apostelló) is a verb signifying the sending forth of a messenger. Everything about the wording chosen by the author is given in contrast to Christ who directs the angels, as opposed to the angels who are so directed. Further, it is Christ who brought about salvation through the purging of sin (verse 3), but it is the angels who minister (to Him) for those who will inherit salvation.

The construction of the verse in most English translations gives the sense that the service is “to” man. This is not the intent of the words. The service is “to God” as they are continually (the verb is a present participle, indicating on-going action) sent forth for those who will inherit salvation. As the service is “to God,” meaning the Son (as is noted in verse 7), then it is showing their subordinate position to Christ Jesus. Again, the supremacy of the authority and power of Christ is on full display in these words.

Understanding the structure now, we can see that the word “all” is an absolute term. Christ is elevated above every angel, and all are in subjection to Him. Every one of them is directed according to His will. Theirs is a function of service. The Greek word is leitourgikos, and it is only found here in the Bible. However, it is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament concerning those who served in the temple. It signified a “divinely-authorized (service) referring to sacred ministering that performs what is acceptable to the all-holy God” (HELPS Word Studies). It is where our modern term “liturgy” comes from. These heavenly beings perform a service to God, just as the human ministers performed to Him in His earthly dwelling.

As these beings are serving God and “for those who will inherit salvation,” we see that their duties are based on the now-complete redemptive work which Christ accomplished in His purging of our sins. It is He who secured our salvation; it is they who serve Him for the salvation we will inherit. The highlight is on Christ Jesus, and our Savior’s greatness in this regard will continue to be brought to light as we move into Chapter 2.

Life application: As was noted in the explanation of verse 3, it is not merely that man is a part of creation, but that he is the point of creation. Jesus created, He sustains His creation, and He died for His creatures to redeem them. He now sends forth angels according to His will for those who will inherit that salvation. When we consider this, it makes the work of Jesus Christ all the more amazing. Let us consider the love which is displayed in the workings of God in Christ, and let us be humble before Him, ever grateful for the marvel and the magnificence of what He has done.

Lord God, precious heavenly Father, from the breath of Your spoken word, all of creation came into existence. You possess all things, and You control all things. And yet, You still sent Jesus to redeem us when it is we who turned from You. For the endless ages to come, we will surely never be able to grasp the depth of the love You have for Your redeemed. To do what You have done is simply beyond comprehension. And so, dwell in our thanks and our praises. Be pleased, O God, to receive eternal thanks and praise from Your people. Amen.

Monday, 13 August 2018

But to which of the angels has He ever said:
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Hebrews 1:13

The author has been carefully contrasting the Person of Jesus Christ to the nature, being, and authority of angels. He just showed that God, through Christ, created. That reveals that He was there before the creation. He also showed that when the heavens grow old and are rolled up like a garment for replacement, He will be there to accomplish that task. That again reveals that He is outside and above the creation. As angels are created beings, and thus a part of the creation, Christ is “greater than” these creatures. He now contrasts them to the authority of Christ by beginning with, “But to which of the angels has He ever said.”

“He” in this verse is speaking of God. The question will be a rhetorical one. It is a question based on a statement which had been made to the Son. It is an appeal to Psalm 110, the most quoted psalm in the New Testament. It is specifically the first verse of that Psalm –

The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Jesus Himself used these words as a point of theology when speaking to the Pharisees of Israel, and which clearly point to the divine nature of the individual being spoken about in the Psalm –

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴² saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
⁴³ He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
⁴⁴ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?
⁴⁵ If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” Matthew 22:41-45

The point which Jesus was making is somewhat lost in the translation. The word “Lord” in this verse is translated from two different words in the Hebrew. The first is the divine name Yehovah (YHVH). The second use is from the word Adonai, meaning “My Lord” when one is speaking to Yehovah. Jesus’ question asks then, “How is it that David calls Him “My Lord,” (meaning “Yehovah”)? David was prophesying, and the words were then recorded in Scripture. How can Yehovah be His own Son?

It is with the understanding that Christ Jesus (the Son) is Yehovah that the author of Hebrews asks His question. To which of the angels has He ever said the words which follow that opening statement in the psalm. First, it was directed to Yehovah, and Yehovah is not a created angel. Secondly, the statement says, “Sit at My right hand.” The words take us right back to verse 3 where the author said that “when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” God had “through” the Son, purged our sins. After accomplishing this, Christ Jesus was granted the position of full authority and power of God, meaning the right hand. And not only was He granted that position, but He possesses it in a state of completion of work. To “sit down” means that the work (meaning the purging of sins) is accomplished. It is as clear of a statement of eternal salvation as one can get. If our sins are purged, then we are purged of our sins. The work is accomplished, fully and completely. From there, Yehovah says for Christ to sit “Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

The work on behalf of the people of God is complete, but the enemies of God continue to wage their war. The Messiah sits at the position of authority and power until the time they are vanquished. This includes the time when He shall rule among His people during the millennium (the thousand year reign of Christ mentioned six times in Revelation 20:2-7). After that time, a new order of things will come about as described in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, and further detailed in Revelation 21 & 22.

It must be understood again that the “right hand” is not a literal position, but a position which signifies authority and power. God is Spirit. He has no parts. The mind must be cleared of thoughts of the Son sitting next to the Father in a literal sense. Christ has purged our sins, He reigns now with all authority and power, and He will continue to do so until all enemies are vanquished, the last enemy being death (1 Corinthians 15:26 & Revelation 20:14). Only then will things ake on a new aspect.

The question has been asked, “To which of the angels has He ever said these things?” The answer is, “To none of them.” Christ is “greater than” the angels.

Life application: Again as in previous verses, Christ Jesus is shown to be the Lord God (Yehovah). When we acknowledge and worship the Son, we are giving glory to the Father. When we fail to give glory to the Son, we fail to give glory to the Father. Imagine those cults and aberrant sects who continuously pretend to glorify God while ignoring the Son. They have missed the key element of what God has done in the world for our salvation. Although it sounds pious to pray to Yehovah (YHVH) and make a pretense about a relationship with Him in this way, it is dishonoring of God to do so when Jesus is not included as the focal point of our worship of Yehovah.

Lord God, thank You so very much for granting us the glorious privilege of seeing You in the Person of Jesus. In Him, we have everything we need to understand You personally, intimately, and fully. Without Him, we are left with a void in our understanding of who You are and the glory You have accomplished for us. Thank You for our beloved Jesus – the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Thank You, O God. Amen.

Sunday, 12 August 2018

Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not fail.” Hebrews 1:12

This continues the quote found in Psalm 102, specifically verses 26 & 27 –

“Like a cloak You will change them,
And they will be changed.
²⁷ But You are the same,
And Your years will have no end.”

The “cloak” referred to here is found only in 1 Corinthians 11:15 and in this verse. It signifies “that which is thrown around,” and thus it is a covering like a mantle or cloak as an outer garment. The “heavens” of verse 10 are said to be destined to perish, wearing out like a garment. Because of this, the Son will literally roll them up (as the Greek signifies), and in so doing, they will be changed.

In the Old Testament, the heavens are described like an expanse which is spread out. One can think of how a tent or a scroll of parchment is rolled out. This is the thought which is now being referred to, but in reverse. As they were once rolled out, they will be rolled up, and a new expanse will be revealed in their place. This will be the new heavens and the new earth that Peter speaks of in 2 Peter 3.

With this in mind, we are then given a contrast in the Son. The thing which seems so enduring, and even permanent – meaning the heavens – is destined to wear out and be replaced. But of the Son, it says, “You are the same.” The heavens change; the Son remains unchanged in the process. The amazing event of the changing of the heavens will not affect the Son. They are created matter and are thus in time. But the Son is eternal. Because of this, the author – repeating the psalm – then says, “And Your years will not fail.” The meaning is that they will never end.

Though the current heavens and earth are temporary and will come to an end, the Son is unaffected by this. Because He was prior to creation, He is outside of His creation. When the order is changed, He will continue unaffected by that change; He is immutable.

There can be no doubt as to the nature of the Son. The attributes and properties which are ascribed to the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) of the Old Testament are now referring to the Son of God, Jesus Christ, in the New. Even a child can understand what is being said here, if presented with the evidence. Jesus Christ is the Lord God.

Life application: There should be no doubt in one’s mind concerning the deity of Jesus. If there is, it is based on presuppositions which have been taught into that person’s mind. If one comes to the Bible and simply take its words at face value, no other conclusion can be arrived at than that Jesus is the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim).

Lord God Almighty! It is You who created all things. You were there before they came into existence, and by the breath of Your mouth – by Your spoken Word – all things exist. As the world wears out, and as the heavens wear away, they will be rolled up and replaced. But You, O God, remain unchanged. We serve absolute greatness when we serve You. How great Thou art, O God! Hallelujah and Amen!

Saturday, 11 August 2018

They will perish, but You remain;
And they will all grow old like a garment; Hebrews 1:11

The words here are found in Psalm 102:26 –

They will perish, but You will endure;
Yes, they will all grow old like a garment;

It has already been seen in just the few previous verses that the Son was there at the beginning, thus meaning he was there before the beginning in an eternal, timeless state. It has also been seen that the Son is the Creator. Additionally, it was seen in verse 3 that He is the Sustainer of the created order. Now, the eternality of the Son is highlighted with the words, “They will perish.” This is speaking of the heavens specifically, which are mentioned in the preceding verse. The events spoken of were prophesied by Isaiah –

“All the host of heaven shall be dissolved,
And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll;
All their host shall fall down
As the leaf falls from the vine,
And as fruit falling from a fig tree.” Isaiah 34:4

Isaiah continues to speak of such things in Isaiah 51:6. Peter speaks of these things in 2 Peter 3:12, and Revelation 21:1 says that they will surely come to pass as well –

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”

The author of Hebrews thus demonstrates that the Son is above and outside of His creation. As noted, he is specifically referring to the heavens here, but the heavens are tied to the earth in the other cited passages. If the first heaven and the first earth are to pass away, and if He was connected to them as a created being, He would not endure. And yet He will. The author then confirms the psalm by saying that unlike Him, these things “will all grow old like a garment.”

The heavens are described like a garment which, even if carefully cared for, will eventually decay, become moth-eaten, fray, break down in the weaving, etc. When this occurs, the garment needs to be replaced. This symbolism will continue on into the next verse. But so will the contrast of the Son. Everything created has potential to decay and be replaced; the Son is eternal, and has no potential to be replaced. As angels are a part of the creation (the continued subject which is being contrasted to the Son), and as the Son is the Creator, the angels – like all of creation – are dependent on the Son for their continued existence.

Life application: When we worship Jesus Christ, we are not worshiping a mere man. We are worshiping the Man who came from God. He united with His creation to redeem us; He did not leave behind His deity and simply become His creation in the process. He is and will always remain God in His divine nature.

Glorious God, the mystery of the Trinity is one which is rather difficult for us to grasp. If we talk about it long enough, we will always fall into error concerning the matter. And yet, it is what Your word teaches, in both testaments and quite clearly. Help us to accept the tenet because it is what Your word teaches, but help us to be careful in our attempts to explain it. In the end, what Your word teaches will be understood more fully in the ages to come. For now, we praise You – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen.

Friday, 10 August 2018

And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands. Hebrews 1:10

The words of this verse are tied directly back to verse 8 which began with, “But to the Son He says.” From there, the remaining substance of verses 8 & 9 was applied to the Son of God, Jesus. The connecting Greek word kai, or “and,” continues that same thought then. The words are still directed to the Son. They continue to be given to show the superiority of the Son over the angels (verse 7 & 8), but they also continue to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is, in fact, God. The words are taken from Psalm 102. This verse consists of Psalm 102:25, and the coming two verses in Hebrews will continue to follow the verses of the psalm. With the addition of “Like a cloak” in verse 12, they are almost a word for word quote from the Greek translation of the psalm.

In Psalm 102:24, the psalmist’s words speak directly to God, and the words to Him then continue to the end of the psalm. It is without a doubt that the thoughts being now ascribed to Jesus, the Son of God, are intended to show that He is the means by which God accomplished the things now stated. To use them in some type of literary fashion, without this being the intent, would be to rob God of His glory. But in understanding that Jesus is the second member of the Godhead, it exalts God. And so, with this understanding, the author begins the quote with, “You, Lord.”

The word kurios, or “Lord,” can have a variety of significations. However, in the case of this citation, it is speaking of LORD (Yehovah of the Old Testament). This is based on the fact that “God” of Psalm 102:24 is called LORD eight times prior to His being called “my God.” The psalmist spoke to the LORD, and then He acknowledges that the LORD is his God. The author of Hebrews accepts this, applies it to Jesus, and then goes on to say, “in the beginning.”

This is speaking of the beginning referenced in Genesis 1:1. If the Son was there at the beginning, then He was there prior to that beginning. As there is, and can be, only one God (there can only be one Necessary Being), then the Son is God. It is He who “laid the foundation of the earth.”

These words demonstrate the creative hand of the Son. It confirms He is the God of Genesis 1:1, and the same God spoken of in John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-18, and etc. There can only be one Creator. All others are contingent beings, and no contingent being can create. To understand this, and the other First Principles of logic concerning the Creator, you can refer to this sermon: Click Here. 

The author continues his quote, which is being applied to the Son, with, “And the heavens are the work of Your hands.” Again, this is a direct thought from Genesis 1:1 where it is God who created the heavens and the earth. It is further seen, as noted already, that this God is the LORD (Yehovah) and that Jesus Christ is thus the incarnation of Yehovah. As already alluded to, for one to ascribe these creative efforts to a created being would be the epitome of blasphemy. It would be to rob God of His glory. But in understanding that God has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ in these ways, it exalts God. As seen in a previous verse, when one exalts the Son, they are exalting the Father. There is no jealousy within the Godhead, but a complementing of one another because of the very nature of the Godhead.

Life application: If you are following these commentaries, and are still in denial that Jesus Christ is the One being spoken of in the Psalm, and thus the LORD God (Yehovah), you are basing your denial on a presupposition. You have two options: drop your presupposition, accept Christ Jesus as LORD, receiving Him as such unto salvation, or you will be condemned for believing in a false Christ. Be wise, be discerning, and call on Jesus, who is God.

Glorious God, what an amazing story the Bible tells! You were willing to step out of the eternal realm in order to redeem us. You did all that was necessary, You accomplished the work by Your own hand, and then You simply ask us to believe that what You have done through Christ Jesus is sufficient. Turn our hearts to accepting the truth of Jesus, and save us from our fallen state. We believe! We receive! Thank You, O God, for what You have done. Amen.