The writer to the Hebrews well knew (as all Jews) that it was dangerous to come close to God. They knew the Scriptures that said (Exodus 33:20), "No one may see me and live." They knew (Genesis 32:30) where Jacob exclaimed to Peniel, "I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." And they would recall (Judges 13:22) when Manoah (Samson’s father) said to his wife, "We are doomed to die! We have seen God!"

The Day of Atonement was the one day of the year that they could draw close to God and worship Him because the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies for them and sacrifice on their behalf. It was dangerous to enter the presence of God, and if one lingered too long, they could be struck down. In view of this, the nation needed a covenant, so God offered a special plan. This unique access to God, however, was conditional. The scene is recorded in Exodus 24:3-8.

"When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the LORD has said we will do." 4 Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

"5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey." 8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Since everyone has sinned (which puts up a barrier between them and God), a sacrifice would have to be made, which would open the way that was closed by sin. What the nation needed was a perfect priest who could offer a perfect sacrifice one time for all time. That, (the writer to the Hebrews is saying), is exactly what Christ was able to do and did. He alone can take us to God.

When we consider the vastness of the universe, we begin to realize the meaning of that statement, Christ made the universe. The sun is 865,000 miles in diameter, and if we could somehow put 1.2 million earths inside it, there would be room for 4.3 million moons. The next nearest star is Alpha Centauri and is five times larger that our sun.

Traveling at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second), it would take four hours to reach the planet Pluto (which is 2.7 billion miles from the earth). Having reached that point, we would still be well within our own solar system. The North Star is 400 trillion miles away, but is considered nearby (in relation to known space). The Bible says that Jesus is the Maker of it all.

The Old Testament was given over 1,500 years by forty writers and in thirty-nine separate books, but each with its own truth. He used visions, dreams, a parable, a sign or a symbol but it was always God speaking because the writers were inspired by God’s Holy Spirit. Some of the Old Testament is narrative, some poetry or prophecy, some doctrinal and some warnings but all of it is God speaking many times and in different ways. (2 Peter 1:21), "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

Christ is superior to the angels in several ways. They are angels but He is called the Son of God (vs 4-5). The angels are worshippers, but Jesus is worshipped (6). Angels are creatures but Christ is the Creator (7-12). God’s angels are the ministers of salvation but Jesus is the Author of salvation (13-14).

[Hebrews 1:3] "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

No one has ever seen God but they have seen Jesus who said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father," (John 14:9). As the sun lights our earth, Jesus shines the light of His truth into our hearts. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life," (John 8:12). God sent His light, in the Person of His Son.

The phrase exact representation is the Greek term used for the impression made by a die or stamp on a wax seal. Jesus is the personal imprint of the Father. Colossians 1:13-15 says, "For he [Christ] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." From the word image comes icon, because Jesus is an exact copy of the invisible God.

Christ not only made all things and will inherit all things, He also holds them all together. Everything in the universe is sustained by the Lord Jesus. If the rotation of the earth slowed or distances changed, instant destruction would occur. The surface of the sun is 12,000 degrees Fahrenheit, so if the earth were any closer everything would burn up, and any further everything would freeze. Jesus, the preeminent Power, maintains it all in perfect alignment, measurement, and speed. It was a marvelous work when Jesus created the world, and it is wondrous that He sustains it all, but far greater is the accomplishment of atonement for our sins (Hebrews 7:27).

It is interesting to note that there were no seats in the Tabernacle because God expected the priest to stand and offer sacrifices over and over again for the sins of the people. His work was never done so he never sat down. Jesus offered one sacrifice one time for everyone and sat down. His work was finished. He accomplished what the old covenant could not do even after centuries of sacrifices. God approved of His work, raised Him from the grave, and was taken into heaven to be seated at the Father’s right hand.

[Hebrews 1:4] "So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs." There is power and authority in the Name of Jesus. (Philippians 2:9-11), "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

[Hebrews 1:5-6] "For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God’s angels worship him."

The quotation from 2 Samuel refers to King David (Luke 1:32; John 7:42; Revelation 5:5 and others). No single angel had ever been called a son of God. As with all true believers, angels are collectively called sons of God or children of God because He created them and they should represent Him. No angel is called son of God in Scripture because they were not related to Him in that way. The Father/Son relationship is only between the first and second Persons of the Trinity.

[Hebrews 1:7] "In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." The Bible often speaks about angels. There are 108 direct references to angels in the Old Testament and 165 in the New. The purpose of their creation is to render special worship and service to God. They can appear in human form. Hebrews 13:2 says to be careful how we treat strangers because we may be entertaining angels unawares. At Christ’s resurrection, angels had the appearance of lightning with garments brilliant white (Matthew 28:3-4).

Angels are intelligent and have emotions. They rejoice when a sinner repents (Luke 15:10). The Apostle Paul said (Galatians 1:8) that the apostles (or an angel from heaven) could preach to us. Angels are not subject to death and can act with incredible speed. Some have names like Gabriel (referred to as a mighty angel) or Michael (who is head of the armies of heaven). Lucifer is the name Satan had before he fell. Angels assist God and they ministered to Christ at the conclusion of His temptation. (Matthew 4:11), "Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."

[Hebrews 1:8] "But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,

and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom." This is one of the most important statement in all of Scripture because it is saying that Jesus is God eternal. Anyone who says that Jesus is just a man, one of the angels, a prophet of God or anyone less than God has rejected God. "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever." God the Father is acknowledging God the Son! This is the most powerful and irrefutable proof of the deity of Christ in the Bible.

The Lord Jesus has an eternal throne from which He will rule for all eternity as King. He is the eternal King, with an eternal kingdom. In saying "righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom" we know that Jesus always acted in righteousness and will always judge in righteousness.

[Hebrews 1:9] "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." Jesus always loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, so we should love God’s standard and hate the world’s. When there is true love for God, there is total hatred for sin. It is called righteous wrath (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46).

The point is made. Jesus is greater than angels who are only His companions. In his sermon at Cornelius’ house, the Apostle Peter tells of God anointing Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 10:38). Psalm 2:2 and many other places tell of this anointing. Messiah is a transliteration of the Greek word for Anointed One. Jesus’ supreme title is the Messiah, the Christ, or God’s Anointed One.

[Hebrews 1:10-12] "He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end."

This quotation from Psalm 102 reveals that Christ is better than angels because He eternally exists. Since Jesus was in the beginning to create, He must have existed before the beginning. (John 1:1) "In the beginning was the Word." Just as we roll up an old shirt and discard it, one day Jesus will discard the old heavens and earth. (2 Peter 3:10), "The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire." Revelation 6:14, "The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place."

Hebrews 1:12 says, "you remain the same, and your years will never end," which refers to Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." The healing, power, and victory Jesus gave to many in the Bible, is available today if we ask in faith and do not doubt. (Matthew 21:21-22), "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

[Hebrews 1:13-14] "To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"

Within Hebrews chapter 1, there are seven quotations from the Old Testament. This is from Psalm 110:1 and emphasizes the full superiority of Christ over angels. No angel was ever promised a place at God’s right hand. Only the Son will sit here. The entire universe is subject to God’s Son. (Philippians 2:10), "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."

In God’s eternal plan, Jesus is destined to be the ruler of the universe. (Revelation 19:15-16), "Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

Thus we now know that the Son of God is superior to angels in every way (and this fact is supported again and again in the Old Testament). Jesus is God in human form. He is the Mediator of a new covenant that gives access to God’s throne of grace. This first chapter clearly shows the deity of Christ and reveals His divine names.

He is called Son, Lord, and God. He is able to create, sustain, govern, redeem and forgive sins. He is to be worshiped by angels and all other creatures in the universe. In all of these ways and more, the superiority of Christ is proclaimed. This message concludes with Hebrews 2:1-3.

"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him."