Hebrews 1

The Apostle testifieth that God indeed spoke formerly by the Prophets to the Fathers, but now unto us by his son. 2. Whose Deity, Majesty, and office he briefly describes. 4. Proves afterwards out of diver’s places of the old Testament that the glory of the son far excels the glory of the Angels. 8. That he hath a divine and eternal Throne, and that he is anointed above all his fellows. 10. Proves further that Heaven and earth were made by him, and shall have an end, but that he hath neither beginning nor end. 13. and that he only fitteth at the right hand of his Father, 14. but that all Angels are ministering spirits.

1. God [Namely, the Father, as appears by the name some which is exprest in the end of the verse] having in former times [namely, in the times of the old Testament] frequently [that is, at various seasons and opportunities Gr. In many parts] and variously [namely, by speeches, dreams, visions, apparitions, See Numb. 12. 6.] spoken to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days [so the Apostle calls the time of the new Testament, because under the same there is no more alteration to be expected, but all things are to abide without adding or taking away, as was taught and ordained by Christ, until the last day. See also Joel 2:28. Acts 2:17.] spoken unto us [namely, the Apostles, and other Hebrews, who have heard the word from his own mouth, and by whom the same is spread abroad throughout the whole world] by the Son: [Gr. In the Son, i.e. the proper and only begotten Son of the Father, manifested in the flesh, John 1:14. For otherwise the Prophets were also children of God, and so are also all believers, John 1:12. 1 John 3:1.]

2. Whom he hath made heir of all things [this is right of being Lord and professor of all things the son of hath not only for that he created all things as the following word imports but he is also made of heir of all things for that he was chosen by the father from all eternity to be the mediator 1Peter 1.20 and was by him brought into the world when he caused him to assume the humane nature Luke 1:32 and 2.11 Hebrews 16 And finally when having accomplished the work of our redemption he exalted him unto his own right hand Ephesians 1:21,22 Philippians 2:9,10,11] by whom also he made the world [Gr the ages as Hebrews 11:3 that is the world with all that is therein John 1:3 Colossians 1.16which the apostolic adds to that which goeth before as the first reason why the father made an heir and Lord of all namely seeing he created all things by him whereupon the other reasons in the following verse follow taken from the glory of his person and equality with the father and from the preservation of all things.]

3. Who being the splendor of his glory namely in whom the whole glory of the father that is his divine essence and divine properties perfectly are and as in an express image are set before our eyes which some understand as of Christ according to his humane nature in which by his doctrine , works and miracles are fully revealed unto us ,the wisdom, righteousness omnipotence and bottomless mercy of God as is also showed John 1:14,and 14.9,10,11 but considering that those titles are here given to the son of God as a creator and preserver of all things which belongs to him only according to his divine nature therefore these two titles must be understood of Christ forasmuch as he is the eternal son of God and a light from eternal light of one essence and glory with the father nevertheless distinguished from the subsistence of the father by whom the father executes his operations and shows his properties even as the sun by its light doth shine ] and the express image [or impression because of the person of the son perfectly represents the person of the father as an impression doth the seal wherefore he is also called the image of the invisible God Colossians 1:15] of his subsistence [Gr hypostacos that is subsistence or person whereby is understood the person off the father as he is distinct from the son and subsists himself and in himself and is as the original of the person of the son by eternal and ineffable generation see Proverbs 8:22 c Micah 5:1 John 1 verse 14.18] and ears all things [that is support or preserves causeth to subsist Colossians 1:17] by the word of his power [that is by his almighty will or command Psalms 33:9] after that he by himself accomplished the purification of our sins [this is a new reason why the son of God is made heir and Lord of all things namely because he accomplished the purification of our sins when now he hath assumed the flesh and offered up himself unblameable to his father through the eternal spirit and as our only high priest and therefore is set at the right hand of God as our everlasting King whereof in the fifth and the following chapters will be treated more at large]set at the right hand of the majesty in the highest heavens [the exposition hereof see on 1Corinthians 15.25 Ephesians 1:20 and elsewhere.]

4. Being become so much more excellent then the angels as he hath inherited[namely according to his divine nature by his eternal generation of the father with which the human nature is united in unity of person for Christ is but one son in which the se two natures subsists]a more excellent name above them [Gr a more different or more divers name that is more worthy or more excellent see after chapter 8.6 which name is the name of the son as the following verse shows]

5. For unto whom of the angels did he ever say thou art my son [namely my proper and natural son for otherwise the angels also are children of God in respect that they were created by God and after his own image and adopted to be children see Job 1:6 Psalms 89:7] today [that is from eternities which is called today because in eternity there is neither beginning nor end but a duration which is always present others understand it in the time of which eternal generation was manifested in the world] I have begotten thee ? [or born namely by eternal supernatural and comprehensible generation for he speaks of such a birth in which manner no angels nor man were brought forth but only the son wherefore he is also called the only begotten of the father Job.1.18 and the proper son of God Romans 8:32 this place is also applied to resurrection from the dead Acts 13:33 because then he was powerfully showed to be the son of God as Paul speaks Romans 1:4] and again I will be for a father to him and he shall be to me for a son ?[these words are indeed uttered for Solomon as a type of Christ who should build a temple for Jerusalem but principally understood as Christ Jesus as thing signifies who alone built the spiritual temple that is the church of God and the Lord thereof as the apostle hereafter chapter 3,4,5,6 testifieth and who only hath a kingdom without end as the angel declares Luke 1:32,33]

6. And when again he bringeth the first born into the world [namely in the 97 Psalms were there is a description of the coming of the Lord into the world to set up a kingdom which was fulfilled when Christ became men and dwelt amongst us full of grace and glory Job 1.14when also the multitude of the heavenly host worshipped him and magnified his name Luke 2:13 &c] he saith and let all the angels of God worship him.

7. And unto the angels [or of the angels of Hebraism see Genesis 20:2 Isaiah 41:7] he saith indeed who maketh his angel spirit [that is as spirit or swiftly to obey him] and he minister a flame of fire and lightning to execute his commands powerfully ]

8. But unto the son he saith[or of the son as Revelation 7]thy throne O God is to all eternity [these words in the 45 Psalm must be necessarily be understood of Christ the true bridegroom and king of his church for that the Jews they must be understood of Solomon is absurd for as much as Solomon is nowhere called God neither was his throne eternal but endured only forty years and his scepter nor the scepter of his successors was not always a scepter of righteousness seeing here were many faults and iniquities in the government of him and of his successors as the books of the king testify and it is not probable that the marriage of Solomon and the daughter of Pharaoh must continually be praised and sung in church of God as the superscription of Psalms imports which is so clear that the Jewish Rabbins themselves acknowledge that this Psalm must be understood of Messiahs but the authority of the apostle is here sufficient and beyond all contradictions by the throne is understood the glory and by the scepter the power of his government]the scepter of the kingdom is the right scepter [that is a scepter of right or righteousness where no crookedness or injustice hath no place .]

9. Thou hast loved hated iniquity therefore O God thy God [see the annotate on John 20:17] hath anointed thee [namely with the holy ghost which he hath received without measure in his humane nature John 3:34]with oil of gladness [so the gifts of the holy ghosts are called because they make the hearts of men cheerful and joyful in God and ready and willing to their calling Acts 10:38]above thy fellows [that is thy brethren or other children of God of whom Christ is the first born for all the members of Christ’s body that is of his church are partakers of one-self spirit with Christ yet so that the fullness of gifts is in Christ the head but in the other members according to the measure of the gifts of Christ see 1John1.16 Ephesians 4:7.]

10. And [namely to or of the son of faith as verse 8 which words the apostle here testifieth that they are spoken of son of God as also the scope of the Psalm shows seeing there speaks of the restoration of the kingdom of God and of the enlarging of the same among the Gentiles both which were done by Christ Psalms 102:14 &c]thou Lord in the beginning [namely of a creation of all things as Genesis 1:1 John 1:1]hast founded the earth and heavens are works of thy hands.

11. The same shall perish but thou ablest always [namely from everlasting without change as it is also testified of Christ Revelations 1.8 and 22.13 see also Hebrews 13:8] and they all shall wax old, even as a garment.

12. And as a covering shall thou roll them together [namely that is put about somewhat to covet and preserve something against rain,wind and heat which when it is used enough is wont to be rolled up and to be laid aside]they shalt be changed [see 2 Peter 3:10] but thou art the same and thy years shall not cease.

13. And unto which of the angels did he ever say sit at my right hand [see hereof verse 3 and the annotate on 1Corinthians 15 verse 24, 25] until I shall have thine enemies a foot of thy feet?

14. Are they not all ministering spirits [or serviceable that is which are always at Gods service or stand ready before him minister see Isaiah 6:2 Ezekiel 10:1,8 Daniel 7:10 Zachariah 1.8 &c Revelations 5.15cwhich are sent forth for ministry [namely by God and by Jesus Christ himself Revelations 1.1 &c here is none therefore of angels expected which are not sent forth by God for the service of the faithful as some think] for the sake of those who shall inherit salvation.