Jesus alone is Prophet, Priest, and King
The letter to the Hebrews was written to a community of messianic Hebrews. Some of them had come to faith in Christ, while others were considering trusting Him. Those who put their faith in Christ and turned away from the legalism of Judaism, faced great persecution. Some of them may have been tempted to do what those in the Qumran community had done and lower Christ to the level of an angel. Qumran was a messianic Jewish religious commune near the Dead Sea who taught that the angel Michael was greater than the Messiah. The worship of angels was a part of their reformed Judaism.
In disputing this error, the writer of Hebrews wrote that Jesus had become ‘so much better than the angels,’ and had inherited a more excellent name than they had.
Hebrews chapter 1 continues – “For to which of the angels did He ever say: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You’? And again: ‘I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son’?
But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’
And of the angels He says: ‘Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.’
But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.’
And: ‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.’
But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’?
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1: 5-14)
The writer of Hebrews uses Old Testament verses to establish who Jesus is. He references the following verses in the above verses: Ps. 2: 7; 2 Sam. 7: 14; Deut. 32: 43; Ps. 104: 4; Ps. 45: 6-7; Ps. 102: 25-27; Is. 50: 9; Is. 51: 6; Ps. 110: 1.
What do we learn? Angels are not ‘begotten’ of God like Jesus was. God is the Father of Jesus. God the Father miraculously brought about Jesus’ birth on earth. Jesus was born, not of man, but supernaturally through God’s Spirit. The angels are created to worship God. We are created to worship God. Angels are spirit beings with great power and are messengers who minister to those who will inherit salvation.
We learn from the above verses that Jesus is God. His throne will last forever. He loves righteousness and hates lawlessness. Jesus alone is anointed Prophet, Priest, and King.
Jesus laid the foundation of the earth. He created the earth and the heavens. The earth and the heavens will one day perish, but Jesus will remain. The fallen creation will age and grow old, but Jesus will remain the same, He does not change. It says in Hebrews 13: 8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Today, Jesus sits at the right hand of God continually interceding for those people who come to Him. It says in Hebrews 7: 25 – “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
One day every created thing will be subject to Him. We learn from Philippians 2: 9-11 – “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
REFERENCES:
MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997.
