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Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
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| 1 In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, |
Unto the fathers – To his people Israel. R2407:6
By the prophets – Old Testament Scriptures. R1146:1
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| 2 in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages; |
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 the brightness of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence, bearing up also the all things by the saying of his might through himself having made a cleansing of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the greatness in the highest, |
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 having become so much better than the messengers, as he did inherit a more excellent name than they. |
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 For to which of the messengers said He ever, 'My Son thou art I to-day have begotten thee ' and again, 'I will be to him for a father, and he shall be 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 and when again He may bring in the first-born to the world, He saith, 'And let them bow before 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 unto the messengers, indeed, He saith, 'Who is making His messengers spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire;' |
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 and unto the Son: 'Thy throne, O God, [is] to the age of the age; a scepter of righteousness [is] the scepter of thy reign; |
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 didst hate lawlessness; because of this did He anoint thee God, thy God with oil of gladness above thy partners;' |
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, at the beginning, Lord, the earth didst found, and a work of thy hands 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 these shall perish, and Thou dost remain, and all, as a garment, shall become old, |
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| 12 and as a mantle Thou shall roll them together, and they shall be changed, and Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.' |
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 And unto which of the messengers said He ever, 'Sit at My right hand, till I may make thine enemies thy footstool ' |
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 are they not all spirits of service for ministration being sent forth because of those 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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