New Covenant from Old
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, I’m grateful for Your Word, the Bible, and for all that it has taught and continues to teach me.
Read Hebrews 1:5-14
[5] For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? [6] And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” [7] In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” [8] But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. [9] You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” [10] He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. [11] They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. [12] You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” [13] To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? [14] Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What is the comparison here and who is the greatest?These verses, full of Old Testament references that the first readers of Hebrews would no doubt have been very familiar with, continue to underline the importance of Christ. Perhaps, as Jewish converts, they were struggling to come to grips with who Jesus is–the fulfillment of their faith–so the writer first takes the trouble to establish that Jesus is God’s son (5). He then uses the Old Testament to show that, rather than just being an entity in itself, it points towards Jesus, the Son of God, the son of David, worshiped by angels, a righteous king, the creator, eternal and seated at God’s right hand. It’s also possible that these people were attracted to angel worship, so this passage confirms Jesus as superior in every way to angelic beings, whose purpose is to serve God’s people (14). Either way, the superiority of Jesus is firmly proclaimed. The Old Testament provides a foundation for what was to come–the one who, as the writer later says, is “the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (12:2 TNIV).
Apply
Reflect on Jesus as this chapter shows him: everlasting, majestic and enthroned on high. Then worship him.
Closing prayer
Show me more of Yourself and Your glory, Lord Jesus. Help me to know You and worship You as You deserve.
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