Matthew Henry Commentary Hebrews 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Hebrews 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Hebrews 1
"God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in [his] Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" — Hebrews 1:1-3 (ASV)
God spoke to His ancient people at various times, through successive generations, and in diverse ways, as He saw fit: sometimes by personal directions, sometimes by dreams, sometimes by visions, and sometimes by divine influences on the minds of the prophets.
The gospel revelation is superior to those previous ones, as it is a revelation God has made through His Son.
In observing the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ, we observe the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Father (John 14:7). The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him—not symbolically or as a figure, but truly.
When, after the fall of humanity, the world was breaking apart under the wrath and curse of God, the Son of God, undertaking the work of redemption, sustained it by His almighty power and goodness.
From the glory of Christ's person and office, we now turn to consider the glory of His grace.
The glory of His person and nature imparted such merit to His sufferings that they constituted a full satisfaction to the honor of God, who had endured an infinite injury and affront because of human sins.
We can never be thankful enough that God has, in so many ways and with such increasing clarity, spoken to us, fallen sinners, about salvation. That He Himself should cleanse us from our sins is a wonder of love beyond our greatest capacity for admiration, gratitude, and praise.
"having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they. 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? And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame a fire: but of the Son [he saith,] Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands: They shall perish; but thou continuest: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a mantle shalt thou roll them up, As a garment, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, And thy years shall not fail. But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?" — Hebrews 1:4-14 (ASV)
Many Jews had a superstitious or idolatrous respect for angels because they had received the law and other messages of the Divine will through their service. They viewed them as mediators between God and men, and some even went so far as to offer them a kind of religious homage or worship. Therefore, it was necessary for the apostle to insist not only on Christ being the Creator of all things, and therefore of angels themselves, but also as being the risen and exalted Messiah in human nature, to whom angels, authorities, and powers are made subject.
To prove this, several passages are cited from the Old Testament. When comparing what God says there about the angels with what He says to Christ, the inferiority of the angels to Christ clearly appears. This is the office of the angels: they are God's ministers or servants, to do His pleasure. But how much greater things are said of Christ by the Father!
And let us acknowledge and honor Him as God; for if He had not been God, He would never have done the Mediator's work, and would never have worn the Mediator's crown. It is declared how Christ was qualified for the office of Mediator and how He was confirmed in it: He has the name Messiah from His being anointed. Only as Man does He have His peers, and as anointed with the Holy Spirit; but He is above all prophets, priests, and kings who were ever employed in the service of God on earth.
Another passage of Scripture, Psalms 102:25–27, is cited, in which the almighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ is declared, both in creating the world and in changing it. Christ will fold up this world as a garment, not to be abused any longer, not to be used as it has been. Just as a sovereign, when his garments of state are folded and put away, is still a sovereign, so our Lord, when He has laid aside the earth and heavens like a garment, will still be the same.
Let us not then set our hearts on that which is not what we perceive it to be, and will not be what it now is. Sin has made a great change in the world for the worse, and Christ will make a great change in it for the better. Let the thoughts of this make us watchful, diligent, and desirous of that better world.
The Savior has done much to make all men His friends, yet He has enemies. But they will be made His footstool, either by humble submission or by utter destruction. Christ will go on conquering and to conquer. The most exalted angels are but ministering spirits, mere servants of Christ, to execute His commands.
The saints, at present, are heirs, not yet come into possession. The angels minister to them in opposing the malice and power of evil spirits, in protecting and keeping their bodies, and in instructing and comforting their souls, under Christ and the Holy Spirit. Angels will gather all the saints together at the last day, when all whose hearts and hopes are set on perishing treasures and fading glories will be driven from Christ's presence into everlasting misery.
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