You Should Have Known
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Text: Hebrews 1:1-4
I. The writer of Hebrews addresses the Jewish people concerning why God changed His worship and laws
A. He does so by citing passages from the Old Testament to prove points that if you just thought about it for a while you realize it must be so
II. The Messiah is greater than the angels
A. Hebrews 1:5 - Messiah is given the position of a son - Psalms 2:7; II Samuel 7:14
1. The writer points out that this designation is never given to any angel
2. Therefore, the Messiah is greater because he is given a greater designation
B. Hebrews 1:6 - The angels are commanded to worship the Messiah
1. The quote is from the Septuagint version of Deuteronomy 32:43. Our Old Testaments are based on the Massoretic text and the phrase is not there.
a. The Masoretic text has one line:
"O nations, rejoice His people."
b. Quram (4QDeutq) has a double line:
"O heavens, rejoice with Him
Bow to Him, all divinities."
c. And the Septuagint has two double lines:
"O heavens, rejoice with Him
Bow to Him, all sons of the divine.
O nations, rejoice with His people
And let all angels of the divine strengthen themselves in Him."
2. It is interesting because in the context of Deuteronomy 32:43. It would have appeared to have been a reference to God, the Father, instead of the Messiah
C. Hebrews 1:7-14 - Ministers versus Ruler
1. Hebrews 1:7 - The angels are servants - Psalms 104:4
a. Servants do not rule
2. Hebrews 1:8-12 - The Messiah is Lord and God - Psalms 45:6-7; 102:25-27
a. Cannot be talking about God, the Father, because it says God has a God.
b. At first you would think that Psalms 102:25-27 applies to the Father and is arbitrarily being applied to the Son. But reading Psalms 102:13-16 we realize that it is talking about Jesus’ first coming
3. Hebrews 1:13 - Ruling at God’s right hand - Psalms 110:1
D. The conclusion is that the Messiah is not an equal of angels, but superior to angels.
III. The Messiah’s law is more important
A. Hebrews 2:1-4 - No specific example is given, but a note that the Old Testament was delivered through angels whose word had to be followed. Violations were punished.
1. An implication is then drawn. If the Messiah is superior, then his words are more important than those of the angels.
B. Hebrews 2:5-8 - The world is subject to the Messiah - Psalms 8:4-6
1. Made lower than angels but then crowned above angels.
2. Given rule over all things, that would include angels
IV. The Messiah would share with men - Hebrews 2:9-18
A. He is called the brother of men - Psalms 22:22
B. Trust in him with those given to him - Isaiah 8:17-18
C. The writer is arguing that to be a brother, he had to share what we experience. To be given to him, he had to save us.
V. These are beautiful points about the placement of Christ above every name - Philippians 2:5-11
A. But I want you to take notice of something else. None of the proof text directly made the writer’s points.
B. The points are there if you think about it. You realize that it cannot be any other way.
C. In other words, the arguments are based on necessary inference – not direct commands or examples.
D. Necessary inference is one way God expects His people to establish the truth.
