Hebrews 1:5-14
Scripture: Hebrews 1:5-14 (ESV)
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 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.” 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”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Growing up one of my favourite songs was 99 Red Balloons by Nena. Although as I learnt the song it was in English. Imagine my shock at hearing the song in the original German, many years later, and realising that the German version sounded, at least to my years, so much better. And that is from the same artist singing the same song, just in a different language. Now imagine you’re listening to a cover band version of a song. The cover band is good, but they’re not the original. No matter how well they play, they’re not the legendary band you fell in love with. As the author of Hebrews now gets into the crux of his sermon, he begins by showing us that Jesus if far better than the angels. Jesus is the original, the angels, as impressive as they are, only point us to something greater.
In Hebrews 1:5-14, the author wants us to understand that Jesus is the superior messenger. He compares Jesus with angels to show Jesus’ supremacy. The early church needed this reminder. Angels were special, but the writer of Hebrews sets the record straight: Jesus is God’s ultimate messenger. He is God’s Son. No angel ever got called “Son” in the way Jesus did. Angels worship Jesus, not the other way around.
But now think about how this applies to us. It seems to me that our main problem here is how we often elevate the wrong things, even good things like angels. I mean, just be honest with yourself for a moment, wouldn’t you love to receive a special message from God, sent by an angel? How amazing would that be? But the crookedness of the human heart means we can admire messengers and miss the message.
Hebrews 1:4-15 remind us that Jesus isn’t just another messenger. He’s the message Himself. He’s the one who laid the foundation of the earth, whose kingdom is everlasting, and who sits at God’s right hand. He isn’t just sent by God, He is God.
Jesus loves righteousness and hates wickedness. He stands forever, unchanging, while everything else fades. This passage echoes Psalm 102, emphasizing Jesus’ eternal nature. The angels, though powerful and holy, are only servants. They serve us, those who inherit salvation. But Jesus? He saves. His throne is eternal, and His reign is just.
So, what does this mean for us? It means we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, the original, not the cover band. Angels and other messengers are good, but they should lead us to worship Jesus, not themselves. We must remember who we follow and why.
He’s worthy of all our devotion. Don’t get distracted by the special things of being a Christian at the expense of the one called Christ.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to see You for who You truly are. We often get distracted by the good things in life and forget that You are the ultimate. Remind us of Your eternal reign and righteousness. Thank You for being our Savior and not just a messenger. Help us to worship You with our whole hearts. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge
Today, take a moment to reflect on areas where you might be elevating something or someone above Jesus. Write down those distractions and pray, asking God to help you refocus on Jesus, the true and ultimate source of our faith and salvation.