Hebrews 1

Hebrews 1:1

To convince you of the superior excellency of the gospel dispensation above that of the law, I would have you seriously observe that God, who anciently at different times and in several degrees, and in different forms of dreams, visions, and immediate impulses, gradually communicated his mind relative to the redemption of sinful men to our forefathers, by his servants the prophets, 2. Has now, when the Jewish constitution is drawing to an end, and under the last dispensation of his grace, given us a far more complete manifestation of his will in the gospel, by a messenger infinitely more glorious, even his eternal, only begotten, and incarnate Son, who being by nature the most high and only true God, has an original right to inherit all things; and who, as Mediator, is God’s first-born, Head over all things to his church; and by whom, in the strictest connection and co-operation he made the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, and forms all the different ages and dispensations of time and eternity

Hebrews 1:3

Who being in his divine person, the illustrious brightness of the glory, and the most exact character and image of the person of the Father, having the very same nature and essential properties, and supporting and governing all ranks, orders, and individuals of creatures by the almighty operation of his mere will; when, as our great High Priest, he had by his own obedience and suffering fully expiated all the sins of his people, did in virtue of his finished atonement, and in correspondence to the dignity of his person, ascend to heaven in our nature, to take possession of a glorious state, the most fixed, durable, and inexpressibly exalted

Hebrews 1:4

Being in his person, and in his office of Mediator, inconceivably superior to the highest angels; having by nature, and by his Father’s appointment, a name, title, and character far too high to be applied to any of them

Hebrews 1:5

For (to consider this matter with respect to his divine nature) whom, even of the loftiest angels, did God ever represent as his essential, his eternal, his only-begotten Son?

Hebrews 1:6

Nay, when he brought him into our lower world to obey and suffer in our stead, he required all his holy angels to pay all divine honours to him, as his Son and their Creator

Hebrews 1:7

Again, when he speaks of Angels, those noblest of creatures, he represents them as created to be his servants for executing his will with great strength, speed, and activity

Hebrews 1:8

But, in a manner inexpressibly more exalted, he represents his Son Christ as a divine person, the true God, whose dominion is everlasting and unchangeable, and as ruling his extensive empire over all things with infinite equity, truth, and righteousness

Hebrews 1:9

And as one who has a natural and necessary regard to holiness and equity, and hatred of all iniquity, and who has brought in an everlasting righteousness, and is furnished with gifts, graces, and glory infinitely above the measure of angels or believers

Hebrews 1:10-12

Yea, as the Creator of heaven and earth, who himself existed from eternity, and as unchangeable in himself, while he changes all creatures at his pleasure

Hebrews 1:13

But which of the loftiest angels did ever God call to sit enthroned in majesty, power, and glory at his right hand, till sin, Satan, death, and all his and his people’s enemies, should be subdued under his feet as vanquished rebels?

Hebrews 1:14

Nay, are not all these spiritual beings placed in an infinitely lower station, being no more than messengers and servants of Christ, whom he employs in revealing his mind to, and in protecting, serving, and assisting in life or death his chosen people, who under him, and in his right, are through grace appointed to be highly honoured, and eternally to enjoy his complete salvation?

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—Blessed be God that he had spoken so much in mercy and grace to men, and that we have so full evidence of the divine authority of both Old and New Testaments. Wisely hath he suited the manner of his revelations to the state of his church and the necessities of mankind. And now we enjoy the fullest, the clearest, and last discovery of his will that is to be expected on earth. Unbounded is the glory of our Redeemer, as the Son of God and our Mediator. Being essentially one God with, but personally distinct from and equal to his eternal Father, he is the creator, proprietor, and preserver of all things. His blood, infinitely precious and powerful, atoned for and purges away our sins, and in virtue thereof he is enthroned at the right hand of God; there he for ever reigns the self-existent JEHOVAH, the eternal and immutable God, the object of adoration to angels and men. How honoured then are his saints, who are members of his flesh, his blood, and his bones. Safe are they under his care, and guarded and ministered to by millions of his angels. And rich is their provided, their prepared, their infallibly-secured inheritance of eternal salvation. How dead then ought they to be to this perishing world and all its concerns!