Hebrews 1:1-10

1 Though the title, "Hebrews" is not inspired, the opening strain shows that this epistle is addressed to Israelites "whose are the fathers" (Rom_9:5), and who alone had the oracles of God. No author is given. This is an inspired omission. It is a grave mistake to seek to supply one. It is fatal to put Paul's name here, for his ministries are distinct from and above all that this epistle has for the Hebrews.

2 The Son is the Speaker to Whom the Hebrews are directed. His glories, as they relate to the kingdom and their blessing, is the great theme of the epistle. Beginning with a brilliant cluster, showing His relationship to God, He is given a place superior to angels, and to all the great figures in Hebrew history.

2 "Tenant" seems the nearest word in English for one who has the possession and enjoyment of a thing, yet is not the owner. But it should also include the distribution by lot. So we have used the phrase "enjoyer of the allotment". The whole universe was created for the Son

(Col_1:16). He is the Image of the invisible God, and He it was Who made the eons. Thus the Hebrews are introduced to the higher glories of the Messiah of their ancient Scriptures.

3 We speak of seeing the sun, but it is hid behind its brilliant beams. So the Son is the Effulgence of the invisible God. The shekinah glory, which filled the temple, was a token of His presence. God condescends to assume certain characters in relation to His creatures in order to reveal Himself to them. Even as Father, He cannot be known except through the Son (Joh_14:9-10). It is only through His Emblem that God reveals Himself. Not only the creation, but the operation of the universe is in His hands. The entrance and presence of sin in the universe is all accounted for by one word He has made a cleansing of sins. It is evident that, in His grand concerns, sins are considered only as a temporary stain on His escutcheon, already disposed of in truth, as they will be eventually in fact. The right hand of the divine

Majesty is the true place of the One Who wields all the power of God, and Who, for creatures such as we, is the only One in Whom we can apprehend and approach the Deity.

4 The term "messengers", often rendered "angels", does not denote nature but office. They may be men. Many in the Hebrew Scriptures, as well as John the Baptist (Mat_10:11), his disciples (Luk_7:24), the Lord's disciples (Luk_9:52) are called by this appellation. Applied to celestial beings it denotes those who are God's couriers, who have the power of moving about freely in the universe, and thus perform the duties of messengers. Our Lord Himself is God's Chief Messenger (1Th_4:16). The Hebrew oracles had come through messengers. The law was prescribed thus (Gal_3:19). Now all further revelations will flow through the only begotten Son.

5 God has had many "sons". When earth's corner stone was laid all the sons of God shouted for joy (Job_38:7). Adam was a son of God (Luk_3:38). The prophet Hosea foretells the time when all Israel shall be called the sons of God (Hos_1:10). So that the particular point in this passage is the introduction of His Son, not by creation, but by begettal. He is His only begotten Son (Psa_2:7; Mat_1:23; Luk_1:32-33; Joh_1:14). As such He is infinitely better fitted to communicate the heart of God to man.

5 This, in its first application, was said of Solomon (2Sa_7:14) the type of David's greater Son.

6 See Psa_97:7 and Deu_32:437 The messengers are like the forces of nature, mere instruments to carry out His will (Psa_10:44).

8 As Christ, He reigns over the next eon, including the thousand years. After that, in the new earth, He reigns as Son. This is called "the eon of the eon", because it is the fruit of His reign during the preceding eon. When the Son has reigned to such purpose that there is no further need of His rule, He abdicates, turning over the kingdom to God the Father (1Co_15:28; see also Psa_45:6-7).

10 The Greek term here used means "originally." There is a remote possibility that it denotes "through sovereignties" and that these (Eph_3:10; Col_1:16) may have been associated with the Lord in the foundation of the earth, much as the saints in Israel will be in the administration of the kingdom. Thus the term would correspond to "hands" in the parallelism"