Christ is a Better Christ is a Better Messenger Messenger

Lessons from HebrewsLessons from Hebrews

IntroductionIntroduction

► Jesus Christ is God’s spokesman for Jesus Christ is God’s spokesman for today. When angels spoke, their today. When angels spoke, their message was unalterable (Heb. 2:2). message was unalterable (Heb. 2:2).

►Moses received the binding ordinances Moses received the binding ordinances on Sinai (Heb. 10:28). on Sinai (Heb. 10:28).

►However, Christ is better than the However, Christ is better than the angels, better than Moses, better than angels, better than Moses, better than all others who came before (John 1:17; all others who came before (John 1:17; Heb. 1:1-4).Heb. 1:1-4).

Introduction Introduction

► The Greek word The Greek word kreittōn, kreittōn, translated “better,” translated “better,” occurs a total of nineteen times in the NT – occurs a total of nineteen times in the NT – thirteen of which are found in the letter to the thirteen of which are found in the letter to the Hebrews. Hebrews.

► BDAG say it “(1) pertains to being of high BDAG say it “(1) pertains to being of high status, more prominent, higher in rank, status, more prominent, higher in rank, preferable, better; (2) pertains to having a preferable, better; (2) pertains to having a relative advantage in value.”relative advantage in value.”

► Louw & Nida define it as: “(1) pertaining to Louw & Nida define it as: “(1) pertaining to being superior to something else in being superior to something else in characteristics or function; (2) pertaining to characteristics or function; (2) pertaining to having a higher status in comparison to having a higher status in comparison to something else.”something else.”

Identification of the SonIdentification of the Son

►The Son of God (Deity)The Son of God (Deity)►The Son of Man (Humanity)The Son of Man (Humanity)

The Son of GodThe Son of God

►The title “Son of God” is used of The title “Son of God” is used of relationship and character. relationship and character.

► Jesus Christ is the very Son of God, the Jesus Christ is the very Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father (Heb. 1:1-Only Begotten of the Father (Heb. 1:1-2, 5; 5:5). He is the manifestation of 2, 5; 5:5). He is the manifestation of God in human form (John 1:1-3, 14). God in human form (John 1:1-3, 14).

The Son of GodThe Son of God

► Jesus is a reflection of God’s glory, Jesus is a reflection of God’s glory, nature and power. nature and power.

►His accomplishments are unparalleled: His accomplishments are unparalleled: He upholds all things by the word of He upholds all things by the word of His power; He made purification of His power; He made purification of sins; having completed his work, He is sins; having completed his work, He is now seated at the right hand of the now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3-4). Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3-4).

The Son of ManThe Son of Man

►The Hebrews writer uses the title, “Son The Hebrews writer uses the title, “Son of Man,” to communicate the Lord’s of Man,” to communicate the Lord’s humanity (Heb. 2:5-9; cf. Ps. 8:3-8). humanity (Heb. 2:5-9; cf. Ps. 8:3-8).

The Son of ManThe Son of Man

► Jesus employed this expression to Jesus employed this expression to describe:describe: His kinship with mankind (Matt. 8:20; 11:19), His kinship with mankind (Matt. 8:20; 11:19), His divine authority (Matt. 9:6-8; 12:8), His divine authority (Matt. 9:6-8; 12:8), His mission (Matt. 18:11; 20:28), His mission (Matt. 18:11; 20:28), His rejection and agony (Mark 8:31; 9:31), His rejection and agony (Mark 8:31; 9:31), His temporal judgment upon Jerusalem (Matt. His temporal judgment upon Jerusalem (Matt.

24:27, 30), 24:27, 30), and His final judgment of all mankind (Matt. and His final judgment of all mankind (Matt.

13:41-42; 25:31-32).13:41-42; 25:31-32).

Supremacy of the SonSupremacy of the Son

►Better than AngelsBetter than Angels►Better than MosesBetter than Moses

Better than AngelsBetter than Angels

► Jesus is better than the angels – Jesus is better than the angels – perfectly reflecting God’s nature, glory perfectly reflecting God’s nature, glory and power (Heb. 1:3-4).and power (Heb. 1:3-4).

►As the Only Begotten of the Father, As the Only Begotten of the Father, the Christ Child was worshipped by the Christ Child was worshipped by angels (Heb. 1:5-6; Luke 2:8-14). angels (Heb. 1:5-6; Luke 2:8-14).

Better than AngelsBetter than Angels

►Angels are God’s ministering servants, Angels are God’s ministering servants, but the Son shares equality with the but the Son shares equality with the Father (Heb. 1:7-8, 14; Ps. 104:4). Father (Heb. 1:7-8, 14; Ps. 104:4).

►Angels are powerful (Ps. 103:19-22), Angels are powerful (Ps. 103:19-22), but Christ is more so (1 Cor. 8:5-6; Col. but Christ is more so (1 Cor. 8:5-6; Col. 1:16-17).1:16-17).

Better than AngelsBetter than Angels

►Certain angels sinned (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude Certain angels sinned (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6), but Christ remained sinless (2 Cor. 6), but Christ remained sinless (2 Cor. 5:20-21; 1 Pet. 2:21-25).5:20-21; 1 Pet. 2:21-25).

►Both angels and Christ render service Both angels and Christ render service (Mark 10:45; Rev. 22:8-9), but He also (Mark 10:45; Rev. 22:8-9), but He also commands (Matt. 28:18-20), angelic commands (Matt. 28:18-20), angelic powers being subject unto him (1 Pet. powers being subject unto him (1 Pet. 3:21-22).3:21-22).

Better than MosesBetter than Moses

► Jesus is higher than Moses (Heb. 3:1-Jesus is higher than Moses (Heb. 3:1-6). 6).

►Not a building, but the Builder; not a Not a building, but the Builder; not a servant, but the Son – Christ is servant, but the Son – Christ is superior to the lawgiver of Mt. Sinai superior to the lawgiver of Mt. Sinai (Mark 9:2-8). (Mark 9:2-8).

Better than MosesBetter than Moses

►Because of his faithless transgression Because of his faithless transgression at Meribah, Moses was not allowed to at Meribah, Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:8-enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:8-13, 23-24; 27:13-14; Deut. 3:23-29), 13, 23-24; 27:13-14; Deut. 3:23-29), and the mantle of leadership passed to and the mantle of leadership passed to Joshua (Num. 27:15-23; Deut. 31:23).Joshua (Num. 27:15-23; Deut. 31:23).

Better than MosesBetter than Moses

►However, the sinless Son of God has However, the sinless Son of God has gone before us into heaven. gone before us into heaven.

►He ever remains our Faithful Leader He ever remains our Faithful Leader and Guide, Captain and Commander, and Guide, Captain and Commander, Savior and Redeemer (Heb. 4:14-16; Savior and Redeemer (Heb. 4:14-16; 7:26-28).7:26-28).

Blessings & Duties of SonshipBlessings & Duties of Sonship

► Being adopted into God’s family, we share a Being adopted into God’s family, we share a precious relationship with the Father and the precious relationship with the Father and the Son (Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:4-7; Heb. 2:9-13).Son (Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 4:4-7; Heb. 2:9-13).

► Recognizing that Jesus is that prophet like Recognizing that Jesus is that prophet like unto Moses (Deut. 18:15-19; Acts 3:17-26), unto Moses (Deut. 18:15-19; Acts 3:17-26), let us faithfully hear and heed His message let us faithfully hear and heed His message (Heb. 2:1-4). (Heb. 2:1-4).

►We must submit to the Father’s discipline, We must submit to the Father’s discipline, training and instruction (Heb. 12:4-11; cf. training and instruction (Heb. 12:4-11; cf. Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

ConclusionConclusion

►Wisdom pleads, “My son, hear and Wisdom pleads, “My son, hear and heed the will of God” (Prov. 1:8; 1:10; heed the will of God” (Prov. 1:8; 1:10; 2:1-5; 3:1, 11-12)!2:1-5; 3:1, 11-12)!

► If you are outside of Christ, obey the If you are outside of Christ, obey the gospel and enjoy the blessings of gospel and enjoy the blessings of sonship; have faith in the Lord Jesus, sonship; have faith in the Lord Jesus, and be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-and be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-29).29).