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God Spoke Through His Son

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many different ways. But now in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son. God has chosen his Son to own all things, and through him he made the world. The Son reflects the glory of God and shows exactly what God is like. He holds everything together with his powerful word. When the Son made people clean from their sins, he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven. The Son became much greater than the angels, and God gave him a name that is much greater than theirs.

This is because God never said to any of the angels,

“You are my Son.
    Today I have become your Father.” Psalm 2:7

Nor did God say of any angel,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son.” 2 Samuel 7:14

And when God brings his firstborn Son into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[a] Psalm 97:7

This is what God said about the angels:

“God makes his angels become like winds.
    He makes his servants become like flames of fire.” Psalm 104:4

But God said this about his Son:

“God, your throne will last forever and ever.
    You will rule your kingdom with fairness.
You love right and hate evil,
    so God has chosen you from among your friends;
    he has set you apart with much joy.” Psalm 45:6–7

10 God also says,

“Lord, in the beginning you made the earth,
    and your hands made the skies.
11 They will be destroyed, but you will remain.
    They will all wear out like clothes.
12 You will fold them like a coat.
    And, like clothes, you will change them.
But you never change,
    and your life will never end.” Psalm 102:25–27

13 And God never said this to an angel:

“Sit by me at my right side
    until I put your enemies under your control.”[b]Psalm 110:1

14 All the angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation.

Footnotes

  1. 1:6 “Let . . . him.” These words are found in Deuteronomy 32:43 in the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament, and in a Hebrew copy among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
  2. 1:13 until . . . control Literally, “until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

God’s Final Word: His Son

In the past God spoke(A) to our ancestors through the prophets(B) at many times and in various ways,(C) but in these last days(D) he has spoken to us by his Son,(E) whom he appointed heir(F) of all things, and through whom(G) also he made the universe.(H) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory(I) and the exact representation of his being,(J) sustaining all things(K) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,(L) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.(M) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.(N)

The Son Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father”[a]?(O)

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”[b]?(P)

And again, when God brings his firstborn(Q) into the world,(R) he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c](S)

In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.”[d](T)

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;(U)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions(V)
    by anointing you with the oil(W) of joy.”[e](X)

10 He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.(Y)
11 They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.(Z)
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,(AA)
    and your years will never end.”[f](AB)

13 To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand(AC)
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool(AD) for your feet”[g]?(AE)

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits(AF) sent to serve those who will inherit(AG) salvation?(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7
  2. Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13
  3. Hebrews 1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)
  4. Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4
  5. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7
  6. Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:25-27
  7. Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1