Introduction
The first two chapters of Hebrews establish the truth that Jesus is the greatest in all creation. The author highlights Jesus’ humanity and divinity. In our last time together, we discussed how he warns his recipients about the real danger of drifting and falling away from Jesus. He encourages his readers to stay grounded in Jesus, who is the firm foundation of our faith.

Now, the author turns the attention from the angels to Moses.  This is deliberate, since Moses was revered in Judaism as the greatest of all men.  The author does not belittle or speak ill of Moses in any way but shows that even though he was the greatest among all men of Israel, Jesus is still far greater.

Hebrews 3:1 - 6
Vs 1: “Therefore” – Since Jesus destroyed death and is far superior to the angels, he became human, made propitiation for sins, was tempted, and suffered so that he could help those who were tempted and suffering.

The author now gives the readers three identities.  First, they are identified as siblings, “Dear brothers and sisters” – people who are members of the body of Christ and have been consecrated to service to God through Jesus. 

Second, they are recipients of God’s work… Those who are “called to heaven” they are the holy and anointed ones, believers and followers of Christ.

Thirdly, they are sharers, those who are joined and participate together in something. The people the author is addressing are all connected in Christ.

“Think carefully about this” – Consider, direct, or fix your mind on Jesus, who is an “Apostle,” “a messenger,” or “sent one.” He, the sent one, was sent by the Father to earth to accomplish his purposes. He is also our “High Priest,” signifying a sacrificial mission to humanity. As High Priest, he is sent to deal with the problems of humanity’s sins. Jewish sources indicate that the high priest was regarded as the fully accredited representative of God before the people on the solemn Day of Atonement. Although Moses is never designated as an apostle, the conception of him as one called, appointed, and sent by God underlies the term. The title “apostle or messenger and high priest” in Heb 3:1 points to the comparison that will be developed between Jesus and Moses in their office as appointed representatives of God.

Vs 2: “He was faithful to God” - Jesus has always been, is, and will be faithful to God. Moses is also described as faithful. One could argue that Moses was not as faithful as he could have been at times. Yet the writer does not criticize the man honored so highly by the Jews. Thus, he prefers to accept and declare Moses “faithful.” Yet he sees Jesus’ faithfulness as complete.

Vs 3 – 5: Moses was highly revered. He was considered great; as stated before, he was deemed the greatest man of Israel. However, as great as Moses was, Jesus is greater. Moses’ glory did not measure up to Jesus’ glory. How so? Moses was a faithful servant in the House of God, but Jesus was the builder of the house. Jesus, the one who makes the house, is worthy of more honor than the house, no matter how glorious the house may be. Moses was always a member of the people of God (Israel), and nothing more. He was great and honorable among his people, but there was no way he could be anything other than one of them. This is not the case with Jesus! He was more. We have read in previous chapters that Jesus became a true man and could truly call humanity “brothers and sisters.” But we would be mistaken if we stopped at calling him a mere man. Christ is more than man. He is the founder of the church, and the church was continuous with the OT people of God.

The official title “servant” appears only here in the NT and is used to contrast with Jesus; Moses is a servant, and Jesus is the Son of God. In context, it conveys dignity and respect, describing a relationship of affection and trust between Moses and God.

Vs 6:  Jesus is superior in the fact that he is the Son and is appointed to exercise his rule and authority over the house of God.

In 1 Sam 2:35, God promised that he would raise up a faithful priest and he would build a faithful house. This latter promise is taken up in v 6b. The undeniable position of “we are” emphasizes the collective understanding that the church is the “house of God.” We are the church, and Christ is over us.  Because Jesus is a faithful high priest in the service of God, Christians have the right and ability to draw near to God (cf. 4:15–16), and we can openly confess our faith, which is the source of our unshakeable hope.

Hebrews 3:12 - 19
Unbelief: Unbelief is not a lack of faith or trust. It is the refusal to believe God. It leads inevitably to turning away from God in a deliberate act of rejection.

This refusal to believe and disobedience is what kept the Israelites out of the Promised Land. 

Unbelieving hearts lead to falling away from God.

Vs 13:  The admonition “You must warn each other every day” may assume a daily gathering of the house church, which would provide the occasion for mutual encouragement. Christian fellowship is extremely important because it builds others up in faith and strengthens the body against falling into sin, rebellion, and apostasy.  This encouragement was a daily discipline and was a habitual act.

Vs 16 - 18: The author poses and answers three questions

1. Who were the ones who rebelled and hardened their hearts against God? Moses and the Israelites.
2. Who was God angry with for 40 years?  With sinners, the unfaithful, and those who died in the wilderness.
3. Who did he swear would not enter rest? Those who disobeyed. Sin is self-defeating and prevented Israelites from entering the rest of the Promised Land.

Hebrews 4:1 - 11
God has given the promise of rest.  Those who believe will enter into rest.

Rest
Commandment 4 Sabbath: Exodus 20:8
We do not live under OT rule and law. Jesus fulfilled the law. So, what should the Sabbath look like for us today? I believe, first and foremost, we should continue to take a day of rest from our usual work and activity, and that rest should involve worship. Gathering today to worship is participation in Sabbath rest. The point of the Sabbath is to “stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.” Resting in the Lord's presence through worship, fellowship, prayer, and communion is what the Sabbath should look like. 

The truth is that we don’t stop working on the Sabbath… Things still need to be done at home and in the church.  Meals need to be cooked, dishes washed, lawns mowed… Children need to be led during the Sunday School hour, babies need to be watched in the Nursery, music needs to be played, etc.  These shouldn’t be burdens, and I get that sometimes they do become burdensome, and when they do, we are to cast that burden onto God, and he will give you the strength and joy you need to complete it for his glory. 
 
Late author and Pastor Tim Keller sums up quite nicely what Sabbath means to us today, where he writes, “Only Jesus offers you a 'finished work' to rest in. In fact, the very definition of a Christian is not just someone who admires Jesus, emulates Jesus, or obeys Jesus. A Christian is someone who ‘rests in his finished work’ instead of your own. Remember, God was only able to rest in Gen 2:1-3 because his work was finished. A Christian is someone who knows that it would be quite all right if he or she died tonight. You've already finished your work--everything that has to happen within your lifetime has happened. The rest is gravy, icing. Gravy and icing is quite tasty, of course--but not absolutely necessary.”  Because of Jesus, essentially our work is finished.  Yes, we labor and toil day after day, but our final rest… our eternal rest is found in Jesus, and I can rest in that.

Vs 12 - 13: “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” This weapon is not only for defense but also for striking back. The Word of God is powerful; when Jesus was tempted in the desert, he used it to fend off the devil, and it was sufficient. It is living, active, and transformational. Everything about the Word of God points to Jesus, and Jesus is the fulfillment of the Word of God (I John 1:1). If you are a believer, you must cling to the Word of God; you must know it and love it, for in it is power, salvation, and truth.

The Word of God…
It is LIVING –meaning that it gives and contains life. God’s Word still speaks to the hearts of individuals today.

It is ACTIVE and has power. As I stated already, the Word of God has the power to transform and change individuals for God's glory.
​
It is PIERCING, which means it has the power to convict and correct.

​

Good Grief

Purpose: To talk to one another about grief.  Whether you are going through grief or have a loved one going through grief, it is important to know that grief is real and it is ever present.  Modern society may see grief as something to fix, but in fact it is something you carry and that stays with you. 

In this course, we will look at the realities of grief and how we can walk in and through it together in a healthy way... Good grief.  This does not mean it will be all puppy dogs and flowers; I can guarantee you this is not the case.  It is a course that will bring up strong emotions, tears, anger, regret, sorrow, doubt, and much more.  Healthy does not mean happy.  Good grief means you are going through the pain in a way that does not paralyze you and keep you in a place of continual desperation and despair.

Introduction
I’m not an expert on grief. I’m just someone learning to live in a life of grief I never planned for.

A textbook definition of grief: The natural psychological and physiological response to loss, particularly the death of a significant person, involving emotional, cognitive, behavioral, social, and physical reactions as a person adapts to the reality of the loss.

A simple definition: What happens to us when someone or something we love is no longer there.

C.S. Lewis writes, “Grief felt so like fear… The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed.”[i]

Until I lost Carrie, I was unaware of the large grieving community that exists. I was too self-focused to fully comprehend that so many others were hurting and grieving. Although I showed empathy whenever I heard of a tragedy, I was also guilty of passively saying the very things I don't like to hear today… “God’s got a plan in all this.”  “This tragedy may have surprised you, but it didn’t surprise God.” “She/He is in a better place now,” and the list goes on. In my self-focused world, I don’t think I was trying to be insensitive, but I was. Words… they can really bite.

Even the way I viewed death was shallow. I knew death was real, but death was certainly not something I needed to focus on. The death of my wife was certainly a foreign concept. Because we both knew, I was supposed to be the one who died first, and that reality was way down the road. Besides, we had plans; we were going to have grandbabies, see our children get married or pursue lifelong careers, we were going to travel together, and we lived our lives as regular normal people do: we argued, we cried together, we loved, we worshiped together, we criticized, we lovingly rebuked, we experienced job loss together, and we supported each other. Ultimately, we had each other, and even though we knew one day death would come, that was in the future… waaay in the future.

Then death came. In one quick moment, death snatched away the one I had spent over 30 years of my life with. I had known her longer than I had not known her. And one moment she was with me, talking, asking what we wanted for dinner, and the next moment she was gone… unresponsive.

I used to think death wasn’t so scary because the Bible tells us not to fear it, but death is scary. I have a new understanding and respect for death because it has knocked on my door and it has taken the one I loved most in this life. Death used to feel far away; now, death doesn’t feel so distant, and I am aware that life is fragile and death can be a real punch to the gut, and it brings the hardest things I have ever had to bear… grief.  Oh. Good ole grief. 

We are Getting it Wrong
The Reality of Grief
Mark Nepo writes in the forward to the book  IT’S OK THAT YOU’RE NOT OK, “In living our (lives), we are here to love and lose. No one knows why. It is just so. If we commit to loving, we will inevitably know loss and grief. If we try to avoid loss and grief, we will never truly love.”[ii]

We can learn from one another. Those who suffer carry a wisdom the rest of us need. We live in a society afraid to feel or to express feelings; this is why it is important to experience love and loss together and authentically.

The way we deal with grief in our culture is broken. The reality is that we all experience grief in some capacity, and the way the world around us views it is not helpful or healthy. When tragedy hits you, your life is forever changed, and how you respond shapes who you are today. Until recently, I can honestly say I did not know how to grieve or how to support and love someone who was grieving. I look back at those loved ones who lost a spouse, and I shudder when I think about how I “cared” for them. When Carrie died, I realized how insensitive I was and how bad a friend and support I was during the darkest days of their lives. I was so convicted by my insensitivity that I apologized to both for not being a good friend or support. Both graciously accepted my apology. From that point, I vowed to grieve well and to support those who are grieving.

Grief is not unique.  How we grieve is. We have all experienced grief and loss.  We’ve also felt misunderstood in our grief and loss. We’ve also been on the other side of grief as we stood by, helpless in the face of someone else’s pain. We say things to try to make people feel better, knowing full well that words can never make anything right. There is no victor in grief. It is common for grieving individuals to feel misunderstood, and for those who love us to feel helpless in the face of grief. Those of us grieving know that we need help and support, but we really don’t know how or what to ask for.

We all want to feel loved and supported in our grief, and we want to help those we love. Unfortunately, we either don’t know how or what to do, or we were just plain taught wrong.  Many of you were probably told at one point, in some capacity or another, to not trust your feelings, suppress them, and get on with life.  This is essentially what most of us are taught… maybe not literally, but certainly implied. Many people see grief as something to be fixed, overcome, or defeated.  We are not taught to see grief as something we should support. Unfortunately, this keeps us from caring for ourselves in our grief and hinders us from supporting those we love.

Our culture has not taught us how to navigate grief with the skills needed to be truly helpful. If we want to work through grief effectively, we must talk about it. We must understand that it is a natural process, not something to suppress, rush, or deny. So many people who are grieving don’t talk about their pain and grief. Sometimes it’s easier to put on a happy face and pretend all is well rather than be honest about our true emotions.
In the weeks to come, my hope is that we can look at the reality of loss, pain, and grief and learn together how to work and walk through grief. To see grief as something that is shouldered throughout life and not something to be fixed. 

Questions

1. What messages have you heard—from family, church, friends, or society—about how a person is “supposed” to grieve?
2. Why do you think we tend to treat grief as a problem that needs to be fixed rather than a reality that needs to be carried?
3. Why do you think we are so uncomfortable with grief, sadness, and loss? Why do we often feel the need to “fix” someone who is grieving?
4. What is something someone has said or done during a time of grief that was genuinely helpful? What is something that was meant to help but actually hurt?
5. If grief is not something we “get over,” what might it mean to grieve well—to learn to carry grief without allowing it to completely paralyze us?

[i] C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (New York: HarperOne, 2001), 3.

[ii] Megan Devine, It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand (Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2017), xi.

Introduction
An L.A. Times article titled "A sea cruise on a boat made of kiddie pools and buckets — what could go wrong?" dated May 9, 2021, recounts this story. Two college students in a homemade boat made from plastic kiddie wading pools, plywood, 20 5-gallon buckets, and duct tape were rescued off the coast of Santa Barbara early Saturday. The two male college students in their 20s set off from Isla Vista near UC Santa Barbara sometime Friday evening or early Saturday. Fire personnel received an emergency call at 2 a.m. from someone on shore who saw strobe lights they carried on board. They appeared to be drifting out to sea, said Mike Eliason, the Santa Barbara County fire spokesman. Fire personnel rescued them about 300 yards from the shore at 2:37 a.m.
 
The students did not explain why they were out at sea at that hour. Eliason said alcohol was not involved and that the voyage may have been part of a school project. Their school was not identified. “If this is happening at 1 p.m., I’m not sure there’s much commotion,” Eliason said. “When you’re going out in the middle of the night in a pitch-black environment, the timing is odd.” The students were not wearing wetsuits in mid-50-degree weather. In photos, one student wore only swim trunks, while the other wore shorts and a shirt. They were in separate wading pools attached to a single large piece of plywood and appeared to be paddling out to sea.
 
Eliason said the natural course and strength of the tides pulled the duo south, despite their efforts to head north. “They didn’t seem to be in any distress, but they were just floating out there,” Eliason said. “We managed to bring them back to shore, and they were grateful. I just wish they had planned whatever they were doing a little better.”

Hebrews 2: 1 - 4
Hebrews chapter 2 states the purpose of this letter. The author saw the great difficulty the readers were facing and that many were crumbling under pressure. He writes to encourage, or exhort, the recipients to stay grounded and anchored in their faith in Jesus Christ. Verse one contains a warning to his readers. The writer states that since Jesus is the creator, the radiance of God’s glory, the exact imprint of God, and the sustainer of the universe, he sits at the right hand of the Father. His name is more excellent than the angels and superior to them. Thus, they need to pay attention to the message they received. They are to pay attention so that they do not “drift away” or lose sight of their salvation.

The phrase “drift away” implies drifting off course. The overtones suggest holding a ship toward port or being anchored or fastened to the seabed, so it remains grounded and immovable. The implication is that the recipients must keep a firm grasp on the truth, so they do not drift away from the faith out of carelessness or apathy. Drifting is subtle. You only need to go to the beach, get in the Gulf, and sit in an inner tube or other floating device. If you do not pay attention or take measures to stay close to the shore, you are in danger of slowly drifting further from it. If you are not fully careful, you could drift to a point where you are too far out and need rescuing. This is the picture the writer of Hebrews is painting. Be proactive in your pursuit, understanding, and planting yourself in the firm foundation of the truth.
 
Vs 2 – 3: “the message God delivered through angels…” is another way of saying the word of God was spoken through prophets.  This message is reliable and legally valid because God spoke it.  There is no indication that Angels were present at the giving of the Law; however, Deut. 33:2 does declare that “God came with ten thousand holy ones.  Holy ones can be defined from the Hebrew word that means “Set apart ones.” 
 
This critical demand to pay attention to what we have heard in verse 1 anticipates the warning that the message of salvation can be ignored, resulting in devastating consequences or just retribution.  A lack of concern and care for God’s word invites “just retribution.”  Just retribution is a fair payment proportional to the offense or crime, according to God’s judgment. 
 
“This great salvation” means that they are faced with greater responsibility and greater consequence.  The question of how to escape is rhetorical, and the answer is that no escape is possible.
 
Hebrews 2:5 – 9
Vs 5: ‘the future world’ is the main subject of both this passage and the letter to the recipients; this is why hope is a recurring theme throughout this epistle. A good deal of the argument in Hebrews is that, in Jesus the Messiah, hope has already come into the world and is giving signs of the new world that will eventually come to be.
 
The continuing theme of the previous two passages is that God, from the beginning, appointed his Son to be superior to the angels. This time, though, he speaks of this superiority in terms of the future role given to the Son. In the coming world, God intends that the original order of creation should finally be realized: the world is to be ruled, wisely and creatively, by human beings who live in trusting obedience to God himself.
 
V6: Quotes Psalm 8:4–6
In this Psalm, David recognizes the “smallness” of humanity in comparison to the expanse of the universe. He is in awe that, in our “smallness,” God still remembers us. He is not a distant God who is far off. God doesn’t merely acknowledge humanity; we are on His mind, and He thinks about us.
 
No branch of science proclaims God’s greatness and man’s insignificance more eloquently than astronomy. The simple fact that distances must be measured in light-years (the distance light travels in a year) illustrates the point. Light travels 186,000 miles per second, and there are 31.5 million seconds in a year, so it covers roughly six trillion miles in a single year! Yet some stars are billions of light-years from Earth. One might almost think God is too busy running the universe to take any part in our lives. Sometimes we think of Him as a busy, distant father so involved in his work that he neglects his family (children). David knows better, though; God is not too busy for us. We are always on his mind.
 
“Son of man” emphasizes humanity's frail mortality. David’s question is, “Why does an infinite God even care about mortal man?” The answer is found in Jesus… Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man.
 
“Son of man” is Jesus' favorite self-designation, indicating the true meaning of his identity and ministry:

1. The humble servant who has come to forgive ordinary sinners (cf. Matt. 9:6)
2. The suffering servant whose atoning death and resurrection will redeem his people.
3. The glorious King and Judge who will return to establish God's kingdom on earth.

 
“care for him” means to pay attention, to visit, to look after. God cares so much for humanity that he became human, the lowest of humans, and gave his life as a ransom so we could forever be in fellowship with our loving Creator.
 
Vs 5: “You have made him…” We are created by God. We are not an afterthought or an accident of nature but a beautifully crafted creation of God.
 
“a little lower” … in the created order, we are created a little lower than the divine beings (some translations imply angels, while others suggest we are lower than God). This is a position of distinction and honor. God has placed humanity in the highest position of honor among any earthly creatures. We are a little lower than the heavenly beings, but God has put us in a place of honor. If we are not in awe that God cares for humanity, then it is certainly awe-inspiring to know that we are exalted to a place of honor.
 
“crowned them with glory and honor” … God has placed on our heads the right to be his Kingly representatives. We have the honor of bearing the image of God, since we are made in his likeness. We represent God… Let that sink in a bit. Maybe that will help you determine how you live your life. 
 
What responsibilities come with being kingly representatives? 
 
Vs 6: “You gave them authority over all things…” God has appointed humanity to have authority and rule over His creation. This does not mean an abusive, careless, or dictatorial authority, but rather one who lovingly and carefully tends to someone else’s belongings. If it wasn’t enough to be thought of and cared for by God, and placed in a position of honor, we are also given charge to care for His creation.  He has entrusted us with all He has created.
 
Hebrews 2:8 - 9
Vs 8: This clearly hasn’t happened yet. Humans are not ruling the world, bringing God’s order and justice to bear on the whole of creation. Everything is still in a state of semi-chaos.

Vs 9: Jesus is humanity’s representative. His exaltation as Lord after his earthly ministry, suffering, and death has placed him in the role set out for humanity from the beginning. He has gone ahead of the rest of us into God’s future, the future in which order and justice will come to the world. 

In the second half of verse 9, the author of Hebrews sums up: in his suffering of death, Jesus has, by God’s grace, been enabled “to taste death for everyone.” A good deal of the remainder of this letter will now be devoted to describing how this comes about and what it means. Until then, we need to rejoice that in Jesus, God has already conquered death on our behalf and is already ruling the world as its just and rightful Lord.
 
Hebrews 2:10 - 16
Since Jesus tasted death for everyone, it is fitting that he would bring salvation to the “many sons.” God’s purpose is to bring people to glory, and this happens through Jesus. Jesus was morally perfect, but through his suffering, temptation, death, and exaltation to the right hand of the Father, he is now adequate, complete, and fully qualified to carry out salvation and be proclaimed Savior or champion.  
 
Hearers familiar with the Hellenistic world knew that the legendary hero Hercules was designated ‘champion’ and ‘savior.’ They would almost certainly interpret the word savior in v 10 in light of the allusion to Jesus as the hero who came to the aid of the oppressed people of God. This representation of Jesus’s achievement was intended to recall one of the more famous labors of Hercules, his wrestling with Death, “the dark-robed lord of the dead.” The designation of Jesus as champion/savior in a context depicting him as a hero suggests that the writer intended to present Jesus to his hearers in language that drew freely upon the Hercules tradition in popular Hellenism.
 
Vs 11 - 13:  As the perfected and complete savior Jesus “sanctifies” and makes humanity holy.  Sanctify means to consecrate, make holy, or purify. 
to Jesus’ dependence on the Father in carrying out his earthly ministry.
 
Vs 14 – 16:  The purpose of Jesus becoming human.  Jesus needed to become human so humanity could be saved.  Salvation is attained through Jesus’ death on the cross.  What Jesus accomplished on the cross.

1. Jesus took on the form of mortal human nature so “he might destroy” the power of the evil oppressor who holds the power of death and “that he might deliver” those who had been enslaved.
2. He set free those in bondage to the fear of death. The author implies that the devil holds people in slavery because of their fear of death (15). Individuals can be freed from Satan’s “power” and liberated to serve God through forgiveness or cleansing made possible by Jesus’ death. He removes the danger of judgment and conviction for those who trust in him and gives confidence in life in the world to come.

Vs 16: The author continues his comparison of Christ to the angels, showing that Jesus did not come to save or aid the angels but extends his salvation and help to God’s children.

Conclusion
The warning of Hebrews 2 is not that we suddenly decide to walk away from Christ. The danger is that people slowly drift. They become distracted, careless, or simply stop paying attention. Before they realize it, they are farther from where they intended to be.
But the good news is that Jesus has not drifted. He has come to us, suffered for us, defeated death, and opened the way to God. So the answer is not to try harder to keep ourselves from drifting in our own strength. The answer is to keep our eyes fixed on Christ.
The question for each of us is simple: Are we holding firmly to Jesus, or are we slowly drifting away?
 

 
Introduction
Hebrews is a mysterious book in the New Testament. Its mystery stems from its unknowns. The author’s identity is unknown. The location of the church or community to which this epistle is addressed is unknown. The date it was written is also unknown. The reasons behind why the letter was written remain uncertain. The nature of the crisis that prompted the letter is also unclear. 
 
It is believed the letter is addressed to men and women who realize they can be threatened by adversity, and that there is a cost to discipleship. Some have called it a pastoral response to people who are tired, overwhelmed, and seriously considering abandoning their Christian commitment. The writer aims to encourage the recipients of this letter to stand firm in their faith in Christ.
 
As stated earlier, the author of Hebrews is anonymous. It is believed that the author is within the Pauline circle. The author mentions in Hebrews 13:23 that he expects to travel with Timothy, “our brother.” It is widely believed and accepted that the author is not Paul, but someone who considers himself among those to whom “the immediate hearers of the Lord had delivered the gospel.” It is probable that the author was a Hellenist Jewish Christian, a Greek-speaking Jew who was influenced by Greek culture. It was also written by an inspired theologian who was well-trained and understood the exposition of the Greek Scriptures.
 
Hebrews was most likely written for a house church in an unspecified city. Christians typically gathered in simple rooms within private homes. It was undoubtedly a small group, including household members and some of their close friends and associates. According to the World Biblical Commentary on Hebrews, “The cumulative weight of the evidence points to men and women who participate in a small house fellowship, loosely related to other house churches in an urban setting, whose theological vocabulary and conceptions were informed by the rich legacy of Hellenistic Judaism.”
 
Hebrews Outline
Introduction (Chapter 1:1–4)
First Theme: Jesus is Superior to the Angels (Chapters 1:5–2:18)
Second Theme: Jesus is a Compassionate and Faithful High Priest (Chapters 3:1–5:10)

1. Jesus is a faithful high priest (Chapters 3:1–4:16)
2. Jesus is a compassionate high priest (Chapter 5:1–10)

Third Theme: Exhortation, Jesus is the Source of Eternal Salvation, a Perfected Priest. (Chapters 6:1 – 10:39)

1. Exhortation (Chapter 6:1 – 20)
2. Jesus, high priest like Melchizedek (Chapter 7:1–28)
3. Jesus is the perfected priest (Chapters 8:1–9:28)
4. Jesus is the source of eternal salvation (Chapter 10:1–39)

Fourth Theme: Perseverance in the Faith (Chapters 11:1–12:13)
1: Faith (Chapters 11:1–12:2) O.T. examples of faith
2: Perseverance (Chapter 12:3–13) Persevere in faith
Fifth Theme: The Need to be Holy (Chapters 12:14–13:21)
Conclusion: Final Recommendations (Chapter 13:22–25)
Unfortunately, we will not be exhaustive in our look at Hebrews, but I will do my best to give a
 
Hebrews 1:1 - 4
Vs 1: The author gives some examples of ways God spoke to Biblical prophets and to Israel's ancestors.

1. He spoke personally to Adam and Eve in the Garden
   
2. Moses through a burning bush
   
3. To the High Priest In the Tabernacle – Tent of Meeting
   
4. Verbally, Samuel
   
5. Through Prayer

 
Vs 2: God has spoken to us through Jesus Christ. To know Jesus is to know God.
He is the “Heir of all things.” This title of dignity shows that Jesus has the rightful and supreme place in all the universe. His exaltation to the highest place in heaven after completing his work here on earth did not mark a new position but his return to his rightful place in heaven.
 
Vs 3:  Jesus radiates God’s glory… What does this mean?
According to theologian N.T. Wright, “The word used for ‘radiates’ is the Greek word character, the origin of our apparently identical English word… The word character in ancient Greek was widely used to mean just that: the accurate impression left by the stamp on the coin. And this is what the writer is saying about Jesus. It is as though He is the exact imprint of the Father’s very nature and glory has been precisely reproduced in the soft metal of the Son’s human nature. Now it is there for all the world to see.”
 
Jesus is also the sustainer of all things.  What does it mean to sustain?  How does Jesus sustain?

Jesus actively holds everything together through the power of his word. Just as the universe was created by spoken words, all of creation is maintained by God's spoken word.
 
Once Jesus gave His life on the cross of Calvary, He was resurrected and ascended back to the Father. After He ascended to the Father, He sat at the right hand of God. The right hand is a position of honor and authority.
 
Vs 4:  Jesus is greater than the angels because God has declared him greater. In the next section, we see specifically why He is greater than the angels.
 
Hebrews 1:5 - 9
Jesus Name is Superior
Vs 5:  Jesus is superior to the angels because of his inherited excellent name.  The author establishes this truth by citing two OT passages. 

• Psalm 2:7 “The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: ‘The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.’”
  
  This Psalm was an established Messianic Psalm. It was understood and believed to be fulfilled in the future by a descendant of David. Jesus is and has always been the eternal Son. It is believed this passage refers to Christ’s exaltation and enthronement as Son after the resurrection.
  
  
• 2 Samuel 7:14 “I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.
  
  This is another Messianic prophecy given to David in the Davidic covenant. The prophet tells David his son would build the temple (after his death) and establish a royal throne that will endure forever. Solomon built the temple, but he and all subsequent kings failed to fulfill the eternal throne that lasts forever. Therefore, the prophets looked forward to someone greater than the kings who would fulfill this prophecy. It was only fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
  
  

Jesus is superior because he is and has been the Son of God, proven by OT prophecies.
 
Superior Honor
Vs 6: Jesus is the firstborn. In Jewish culture, the firstborn is considered prestigious and honorable. The firstborn receives twice the inheritance of their siblings.  
Jesus was neither created nor born, but the title 'firstborn' is a title of honor indicating priority in rank.
 
Deuteronomy 32:43:  “Rejoice with him, you heavens, and let all of God’s angels worship him. Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles, and let all the angels be strengthened in him. For he will avenge the blood of his children; he will take revenge against his enemies. He will repay those who hate him and cleanse his people’s land.”

This verse is not in the Hebrew OT, but in the Greek OT.  This seems to be a reference to the Nativity.  When Jesus was born, the angels came and worshiped Him.  Angels do not worship angels; they only worship the one who is greater than they.
 
Jesus was worshiped in the past and will be worshiped in the future…

Rev. 5:11 – 13: "Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
 
Superior Status
Vs 7:  Quote of Psalm 104:4
Angels are servants, and Jesus is sovereign.  
Wind and fire – The meaning of this is not all clear, but the writer of Hebrews emphasizes that angels sometimes inhabit the wind and fire to do God’s bidding.
 
Vs 8–9: Quote Psalm 45:6–7
Points to Jesus’ sovereignty
·       Throne – He will reign forever.
·       Scepter – His authority is supreme
·       Anointing – A heavenly joy in recognizing he is the sovereign king.
 
Hebrews 1:10 - 14
Supreme Existence
 
Vs 10 -12: Quote of Psalm 102:25 – 27
Jesus is eternal… The heavens will perish, but Jesus remains forever. The heavens will be rolled up like a cloak, and it will change, but Jesus remains unchanging for all eternity.
 
Vs 13 – 14: No angel has ever had the privilege of sitting at the right hand of God.
Angels’ positions are not for ruling or supremacy.  Their role is to serve and minister to those who are saved and will inherit eternal salvation.
Jesus’ role is to rule supremely.
 
Conclusion
Why Jesus is Superior

1. He created the world
2. He is the radiance of God’s glory
3. He is the exact imprint of God the Father – character
4. He sustains the universe by His Word
5. He sits at the right hand of the Father
6. He has an excellent name
7. He has a superior honor – Title of honor and rank
8. He has a superior status – sovereignty
9. His eternal existence