Scripture Reading : Hebrews 1
Theme : Superiority of Jesus Christ over Angels
The author of Hebrews is unknown. The book is filled with references and quotations of the Old Testament and Jewish practices, since it was primarily written to Jewish believers. The author might have chosen to remain anonymous in order to attribute the authorship ultimately to the Holy Spirit. For example, when quoting from Psalm 95:7-11, the author wrote that “the Holy Spirit says” (Hebrews 3:7). In the first chapter, the author argues that Jesus Christ is superior over angels due to at least three reasons.
- Jesus is God. In the Old Testament, God spoke to Israel through prophets. Jews understood “last days” to refer to the coming of the Messiah (or Savior). The Messiah, Jesus, is not just another human prophet who has received God’s anointing; He is God’s Son, and He is God (Hebrews 1:3, 8). Jesus is eternally the Son of God (John 1:1-3), having no beginning, just like God. Hebrews 1:5 does not refer to Jesus becoming the Son of God at a certain time in history, but simply conveys the fact that Jesus is God. That is the reason why the Jews wanted to kill Jesus for claiming to be God’s Son, since that is the same as claiming to be God (John 5:18).
- Jesus is the King. Jesus’ throne will last forever, indicating that He is the eternal King, who will rule and judge the unrighteous. No angel is given this authority to judge, and His enemies will be made to submit and bow down to Him (Hebrews 1:13).
- Jesus is the Creator. Hebrews 1:10-12 shows that Jesus is the One who created all things (John 1:1-3, Col 1:16). Angels have no power to create, because they are “sent to serve”.
Praying the Scripture
- Jesus said in Matthew 13:17, “For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” Let us thank God that He has spoken to us through His Son, whose Word has been given to us in the Bible.
- Jesus is the King who “loved righteousness and hated wickedness” and God will make His enemies a footstool for His feet. Let us pray that we will submit to His authority now, as His people, before it is too late and we are forced to submit to Him during judgment, as His enemies.
- Jesus is superior to angels (and also everything else), because He is God, King and Creator. Let us praise and worship Him in our prayers.
经文：希伯来书1
主题：耶稣基督远超过天使
希伯来书的作者是不明的。既然这本书主要是写给犹太信徒的，因此它充满了旧约引文及犹太的习俗与做法。作者选择不留名，或许是要将这份名义最终归给圣灵。例如，在引用诗篇95:7-11时，作者写道“圣灵有话说”（来3:7）。在首个篇章中，作者辩说耶稣基督远超过天使，而其因至少有三：
- 耶稣是神。在旧约里，神借着先知向以色列说话。犹太人晓得“末世”指的是弥赛亚（或救主）的降临。那位弥赛亚——耶稣，并不只是另一位受到神恩膏的人类先知；祂是神之子，也是神（3, 8节）。耶稣永远是神的儿子（约1:1-3），没有开始，同神一样。5节指的不是耶稣在历史的某个阶段成为神的儿子；它传达的仅是耶稣是神这事实。这就是犹太人为什么因耶稣称自己是神的儿子想杀祂，既然这同等于说明自己是神（约5:18）。
- 耶稣是王。耶稣的宝座是永永远远的，说明祂是永恒的王，要掌权并审判不义。审判的权柄不是天使能领受的，而祂的敌人总有一日会被迫顺服并向祂屈膝（13节）。
- 耶稣是创造主。10-12节表明耶稣是造万物的（约1:1-3，西1:16）。天使没有创造的能力，因为他们是“奉差遣…效力”的。
用经文祷告
- 耶稣在马太福音13:17说：“我实在告诉你们：从前有许多先知和义人要看你们所看的，却没有看见；要听你们所听的，却没有听见。”让我们感谢神借着祂的儿子向我们说话，而祂的话已为我们记载在圣经上了。
- 耶稣是“喜爱公义，恨恶罪恶”的王，而神会使祂的仇敌做祂的脚凳。让我们祷告我们能趁现在就是顺服祂的权柄，作祂的子民，以免后悔已晚，在审判之日作祂的仇敌，被逼顺服。
- 耶稣远超过天使（及一切），因为祂是神、君王及造主。让我们在祷告中赞美敬拜祂。
