Heb 1:5 Jesus, Son of God
In Heb 1:4 we covered how Jesus is far better than the angels. Heb 1:5 begins a series where the author of Hebrews points specifically to fulfilled Old Testament prophecies describing the Messiah and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. These are given to strengthen one’s faith by clarifying what OT scriptures were fulfilled in Christ and offering explanation for things previously not understood. The entire book of Hebrews continues to do this, addressing believers undergoing extreme trials, suffering, and possibly persecution, who consequently were considering returning to the life they knew before coming to Christ (1 Pet 3:14-15).
Let us begin.
Heb 1:4-5 Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE? And again, I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON?
Heb 1:5 unto which of the angels said He This is to address those who have tried to place angels (called the sons of God in the OT Gen 6:1-8; Job 1:6-7; 2:1; 38:4-7) in a position superior to the Messiah. To paraphrase this: “Where,” in any of the Old Testament references to the sons of God, “did the Father ever refer to them as: Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee?” The answer, of course, is “no where.”
There is no record anywhere in the Bible of angels (even when referred to as sons of God), as ever being anything more than God’s created beings, fashioned specifically to serve and carry out defined purposes. Please see Heb 1:4 Jesus is better than the angels for more reference on angels.
Heb 1:5 THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE? This refers specifically to Psalm 2:7, but actually is calling to remembrance the whole of Psalm 2 (Psa 2:1-12).
Psa 2:1-6 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His Anointed, saying,3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set My King upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:1-2 Why do the heathen rage… against His Anointed Right off the bat we see the reference to “Thou are My Son, this day have I begotten thee” is no common reference to just “any” son. It’s distinctly a reference to Psa 2:7, which in context refers to the Messiah and not to any angel. So in looking at Psm 2, the point is immediately made: the Anointed One; Messiah is better than mere angels.
The word for heathen is gowy, which means the gentiles, nations, or those who do not know God. Thus the idea behind Psa 2:1-6 is that the heathen rage and counsel together (Psa 2:1) against the Lord and His Anointed One (Messiah) who is God’s Son! For more on who the Gentiles represent please see Gentiles What Are They Now.
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:7 Thou art My Son this day have I begotten Thee? This verse not only declares the Lord’s Anointed (Psa 2:2) will be His Son (2 Sam 7:14), but also will be a specific day of birth for God’s Son.
Psa 2:8,9 Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psa 2:8 Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for Thine inheritance Here, the LORD offers the heathen (Gentiles) to His Son for an inheritance. This speaks of the Gospel being given to Gentiles, fulfilled in the creation of the church which became a part of Jesus’ inheritance (Eph 1:17-20).).
Psa 2:10-12 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.
Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling Ths is always a wise thing to do. All the kings and judges of the earth are admonished to serve the LORD with fear, and any rejoicing must be done with trembling.
Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry An admonishment to kiss the Son (give Him honor, respect, reverence, loyalty, and praise). In other words, pay your due respect for this is the Son of God! You don’t want to anger the Son of God!
Heb 1:4-5 Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE? And again, I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON?
So we see how Heb 1:4 builds up towards Heb 1:5: He’s “so much better than the angels,” because God never decreed any angel to be His Son!
Heb 1:5 And again This is like saying, moreover or in addition.
Heb 1:5 I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son This refers specifically to 2 Sam 7:14, but, again, urges the Hebrews to call to remembrance what’s going on in that passage. In 2 Sam 7:1-17, David desires to do something good for the LORD and decides to build the LORD a house to dwell in (2 Sam 7:2,7). So the LORD responds to this by sending Nathan the prophet back to David saying, it is God who will build a house for David (2 Sam 7:11b)! The LORD adds that, after David has died, He will also set up a Seed (or Heir) from David whose kingdom He - the LORD - will establish (2 Sam 7:12).
2 Sam 7:11b,12 …the Lord telleth thee that He will make thee an house. 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy Seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish His kingdom.
2 Sam 7:11b He will make thee an house… when thy days be fulfilled God will make David a house after David is dead and buried.
2 Sam 7:12 I will set up thy Seed after thee which shall proceed out of thy bowels The LORD says this Heir will be a human, born from the semen of David. This heir will be born long after David is dead. God says He will be the one setting this up to happen. That means it’s going to have God’s stamp of authorship upon it.
2 Sam 7:12 I will establish His kingdom God plainly says that He will be the one establishing this kingdom for David’s heir.
2 Sam 7:13,14 He shall build an house for My Name, and I will stablish the throne of His kingdom for ever. 14 I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son. If He commit iniquity, I will chasten Him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.
2 Sam 7:13 He shall build an house for My Name In 2 Sam 7:11 God said He would make David a house. Here, God clarifies that, saying, David’s Heir will build a house for God’s Name. This is alluding to what is about to be said in vs. 7:14 (God will be His Father and He will be God’s Son). To put is plainly, Jesus is not only David’s Heir, in the human sense, but He is also God’s heir! In that Jesus is God’s Son and Heir, He carries on God’s Name and represents it. Every thing the Son does affects His Father’s Name.
2 Sam 7:13 I will stablish the throne of His kingdom for ever This is to say, God will establish the throne of His kingdom for eternity. In saying thus, it infers this “Seed of David” will have eternal life!
2 Sam 7:14 I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son This says David’s Heir will be the Son of God. Not only will He have eternal life and live forever, but God will make Him His Son. This title God gives to no one, but Jesus. How could this One be both an Heir of David (a human) and also the Son of God? Through the virgin birth wherein the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, mother of Jesus, so that Jesus Christ could be born (Lk 1:34-35).
2 Sam 7:14 If He commit iniquity, I will chasten Him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men Though Jesus committed no iniquity Himself, this speaks of the LORD allowing Jesus’ death upon the cross, because of the accusations made against Him. He willingly went to the cross to pay the price for our inquities.
Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, THOU ART MY SON, THIS DAY HAVE I BEGOTTEN THEE? And again, I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON?
So we see that Heb 1:5 packs quite the wallop in terms of pointing directly to the Supremacy of Jesus the Messiah (Anointed One) over angels (Heb 1:4). Jesus is the Messiah (Psa 2:2), God is His Father and He is the Son of God (Psa 2:7, 2 Sam 7:14). Yes, sir, because in just a few lines, to the Jewish mind, it says a lot more than it appears to on the surface.
Peace out!
Loris