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| 1 In many parts and in many ways long ago the God having spoken to the fathers by the prophets, in last of the days of these spoke to us by a son, |
Unto the fathers – To his people Israel. R2407:6
By the prophets – Old Testament Scriptures. R1146:1
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| 2 whom he appointed an heir of all things, (on account of whom also the ages he made,) |
Spoken unto us – The same authority claimed as that which was accorded to the Old Testament Scriptures. R1146:1
By his Son – A different manner from that in which he spoke in olden times. R4092:4
Our Lord Jesus and his testimonies were but further developments of the great divine plan. R2407:6
The Son declared that those who received the apostles received him. (Matt. 10:40) R3764:1
God has closed the canon of his revelation by speaking to us through his Son and the apostles. R2400:5
Heir of all things – Promised. E38
Not the "man Jesus," but the "new creature" Jesus who became heir of all things. R4440:5
As heir of all things he will be the representative of the Father to all eternity. R5086:4
He became heir of all the gracious promises of God's Word. R5186:4
The Lord Jesus is the heir, and the only heir, under the covenant typified by Sarah, who died before the bride of Isaac was called. R1386:6
Those who are Christ's are heirs together with him. R1617:4, 458:1, 398:4
All men should honor the Son--not as the Father, but as the Father's direct representative. OV351:4
"I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness." (Psa. 17:15) "We shall be like him." (1 John 3:2) T67
Possibly including also great works beyond the Millennial Age. F70, F722; A306; E31; R5183:5; SM484:1
By whom – Prior to his incarnation. R1673:3
Worlds – Greek, aionios; meaning ages. R21:4*
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These last days – The Gospel Dispensation. R78:2 |
| 3 who (being an effulgence of the glory and an exact impress of the substance of him, sustaining and the things all by the word of the power of himself,) through himself a purification have made of the sins of us, sat down at right of the majesty in high places; |
Who being – Since his resurrection. A211; B108; R5579:5, 4667:3, 2600:6, 1592:1; Q366:6
Brightness – Effulgence. R316:2*
Of his glory – Of the father's glory. R89:3
The express image – In the Greek is the word character. R4417:3
The character-likeness of the Heavenly Father, full of grace and truth. R4417:5
Each Christian, in proportion as he receives the spirit of the Lord, gradually becomes a copy of God's dear Son, and therefore a copy of the Father. Q452:4
The perfected new creature. R348:4
Of his person – Of the Father's person. R5269:1, 89:3
Of his substance. R316:2*
The glorious body which belongs to the divine nature. R1806:2, 2600:6, 2318:2, 1262:4, 546:3, 279:2, 142:3
Which we cannot suppose to be marred by the scars of thorns, spear or nails. R2479:4
Purged our sins – When he ascended up on high he presented his merit as satisfaction for the sins of his followers. R4667:3
The basis on which divine justice and love may operate toward fallen mankind. R2407:6
By humbling himself to become a man and die the ignominious death of the cross. R5430:1
Made purifications of sins by his death. R316:2*
Which he could not have done had he partaken in any sense of his mother's imperfections. R776:2
Sat down – Not literally, but in the sense that he is next in honor and dignity to the Father. Q72:T
On the right hand – Higher than all other planes of spirit being. R5181:6
Justice provided a great reward for God's faithful Son. R5430:2
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| 4 by so much greater having become of them messengers, by so much more excellent beyond them he has inherited a name. |
So much better – Superior to. R486:4
As the divine nature is superior to the angelic nature. A176, A203; R453:5, 616:2*
Jesus was in his resurrection made better than angels, as he had in becoming a man been made a little lower than the angels. R856:6
Having become, by so much, better. R316:2*
Glory and honor far superior even to the excellent glory he had with the Father before the world was. R872:5
Than the angels – Other spiritual beings. R458:1
"Far above all principalities and powers." (Eph. 1:21) F65
By inheritance – Inherited. R316:2*
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| 5 To which for did he say ever of the messengers: A son of me art thou, I to-day have begotten thee? and again: I will be to him for a Father, and he shall to me for a son? |
Unto which of the angels – To none of the angels was such a message sent. CR316:3
Said he – The Father. R279:2, 142:3
My Son – My special Son. R1005:3
Have I begotten – Greek, gennao. When used in connection with God, it should always be rendered beget or begotten. R837:1
Born. SM141:T
Jesus' life came directly from heaven. R1031:1*
The only direct creation of the Father. R5992:6, 5748:1, 4964:3, 1514:6, 1278:3, 1060:4
"The beginning of the creation of God." (Rev. 3:14) R5972:3, 5748:1, 5351:3, 5239:1, 4098:1, 2773:3
The "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Rev. 22:13) R5748:1, 1599:1, 1514:6
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| 6 when but again he may lead in the first born into the habitable, he says: And let worship him all messengers of God. |
And again when he bringeth – After his resurrection and ascension. R2156:2
When he again bringeth. (Revised Version and King James margin.) R4695:4*
The firstbegotten – The firstborn--Jesus--firstborn from the dead, to the divine nature, at his resurrection. R458:1
All the angels of God – At the time of his resurrection. R4668:5
All of God's holy ones. R2156:4
Myriads of myriads sang a new song. R2156:2
Giving fallen angels a chance to prove whether they are willing to become angels of God once more. R4695:4*
Worship him – Acknowledge him. OV307:6
Render the homage due to his nature and office. R458:1
While our Lord was glorified at his ascension, the full demonstration that all the angels of God worship, reverence and obey him will be at his second advent. R2156:4
Reverence him as Christ shall forever be associated with the Father in the everlasting Kingdom. R3683:5
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| 7 And concerning indeed the messengers he says: He making the messengers of himself spirits, and the public servants of himself of fire a flame; |
His angels – The word angel is Scripturally used in a broad sense as signifying the exercise of divine power in connection with human affairs. R5278:1
Spirits – Greek, pneuma, meaning invisible power. R18:5, 579:2
His ministers – Or servants. Any and every agency and power that divine providence uses is a part of that care over his people. R5257:5
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| 8 concerning but the son: The throne of thee the god for the age of the ages; a sceptre of rectitude the sceptre of the kingdom of thee. |
Thy throne – Authority and rulership. A92
O God – Greek, theos. Used of any mighty one, the same as Elohim in the Hebrew. R5749:2, 354:1
A sceptre – Right to rule. B83
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For ever and ever – Literally: "for ages of ages." The Greek language had no single word that equated to the English word "forever." They did, however, have a way of expressing "forever." They simply double up the word "ages." In the Authorized Version (KJV) this is usually expressed as "for ever and ever." See The Reign. |
| 9 Thou didst love righteousness, and thou didst hate lawlessness; on account of this anointed thee the God of thee, oil of extreme joy beyond the associates of thee. |
Loved righteousness – All God's work is perfect, and every variation from that perfection must be the result of disobedience; the unalterable law is that the disobedient shall perish. SM65:3
Christ's Kingdom will cooperate with all in their endeavors for righteousness. R5057:5
Eventually none will have life on any plane except those who have learned to love righteousness. A303; R4999:3
Hated iniquity – Wickedness. R1151:5*, 1335:3*
All the brethren of the Lord Jesus must take the same stand regarding sin, especially sin in ourselves. R5702:5
Even thy God – The mighty One above even thee. R354:1
Christ never claimed to be "one in person." E49
Anointed thee – Jesus was anointed to be the Head of the church class. R5359:4
The oil of gladness – The holy Spirit. F131; R4341:2
Above thy fellows – As head over his brethren and fellowheirs. F131; R4341:2, 354:1
Head over all things to the Church--all the angels shall worship him. CR395:4
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| 10 And: Thou in a beginning, O Lord, the earth didst form, and works of the hands of thee are the heavens. |
And – Verses 10-12 are quoted from Psa. 102:25,26. R4222:2, 448:3
Laid the foundation – Jesus was used in the creation of the world. R448:6, 370:4
Of the earth – The present social order. R3154:6, 1814:1,
And the heavens – Powers of spiritual control. A318; R3154:6
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| 11 They shall perish, thou but remainest; and all as a garment shall become old, |
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| 12 and like an upper garment thou wilt fold them, and they shall be changed; thou but the same art, and the years of thee not will fail.
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Shall be changed – Rearranged; made over. R3154:6
Some change will take place in the near future, making the earth more fit for kingdom conditions. R3154:6, 4222:6
A new order, social and religious--the new heavens and the new earth. R1814:2, 3154:6, 4222:3,6
They need a change, not because of any imperfection in the original arrangement, but because it was departed from through sin. R4222:6
Thou art the same – Superior to all change. R4222:2
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| 13 To which but of the messengers did he say ever: Do thou sit at right of me, till I may place the enemies of thee footstool for the feet of thee? |
Which of the angels – Unto none of the angels, but to Him who was superior, chief over the angels; the only begotten of the Father. R490:4
He brings forward the angels, but only to set them aside in the presence of Jesus. R174:2*
Said he – Jehovah. E49
Quoted from Psalm 110:1. R2935:1
On my right hand – In the place of highest favor and power. A92; R2935:2
The Lordship of Jesus after his suffering and trials were ended. R810:4
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| 14 Not all are public serving spirits, for service being sent forth on account of those being about to inherit salvation? |
Are they – The holy angels. R2179:3, 4214:4; Q437:4
Ministering spirits – Servants. CR316:6
Ministers of mercy. R99:5*
Spirit beings continually surround the "elect"; divine power surrounds God's people. R2377:6, 4214:4; CR314:4
Spirit beings can be and frequently are present, yet invisible. A182; R2974:3, 348:3, 261:5, 18:3
These holy angels are looking out for the Church's interests, and are reporting us if we are not in the right way. They shield us from harm; they assist us, or give us stripes, according to our need. Q437:4; R4823:5, 657:2*, 143:4
The angels are present as the representatives of the Lord to do any needed work for us according to his will. R2140:5
Creatures of God, full of loving benevolence, esteeming it a privilege to serve those who will be highly exalted above them. R1478:6
These do not operate in darkness, nor through "mediums." R2179:3
Doubtless the angels of the Lord are as present with his people as ever. R5606:1
"The angel of the Lord encampeth round about." (Psa. 34:7) F76; R2974:3, 578:6, 265:2, 18:3
"In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father." (Matt. 18:10) F76; R5634:3, 4214:4, 2377:6, 657:2
Sent forth – In this dispensation Christ controls the angels. R61:5*
To minister – To serve. R3798:1
To oversee our interests. R4823:5
Any departure from the reverence of the Lord, on our part, would cause a corresponding separation from this holy protecting influence. R4218:4
We have very little reason to expect that God will use any of the spirit beings to do a service that may be done by his people. R5816:6
For them who shall be – Unto those who shall be. R3004:2
Heirs of salvation – Each one of the Church. Q437:4
The saints. R657:2*, 3965:1
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