Text: He. 1:4-2:18

• Theme of the book is to hear the Word
• Corollary is that Jesus, whom we are to hear, is better than the prophets, angels, Moses, Melchizedek
• One pastor after preaching on the sins of Christians was reprimanded by a lady who said, "Well, after all, sin is different for the Christian than for the lost." "Yes!" replied the Pastor, "It is worse!"

1. Affirmation (Christ is better than the angels)
1. Angels in the OT Economy
1. Thousands of angels helped in the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai
2. "saints" = "holy ones"
3. Cp. Psalm 68:17; Acts 7:53; and Galatians 3:19; Deut. 33:2
2. 7 OT Affirmations
1. Psalm 2:7 "Thou art my Son"
1. Angels collectively are the sons of God, but none are the Son of God individually
2. 2 Sam. 7:14 "I will be to him a father..."
1. Continuation of the above idea that Jesus is the Son of God
3. Psalm 89:27 "I will make him my firstborn"
1. Quoted from the Septuagint
2. "Firstborn" does not always mean "born first"
1. Solomon was considered the first born even though he was actually the tenth in the genealogical line
2. It refers to the title and privileges that come with the position of the first born: the inheritance and blessing
4. Psalm 104:4 "maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire."
1. Christ is served by the angels
2. We are served by angels today
5. Psalm 45:6-7 "Thy throne O God..."
1. Cultists must mistranslate this verse
2. But it couldn't be what they say because angels minister around the throne, not seated on the throne
6. Psalm 102:25-27 "beginning hast laid the foundation..."
7. Psalm 110:1 "The Lord said unto my Lord..."
2. Application
1. First of five admonitions
1. Go from drifting to defying
2. The first danger (drifting) is subtle
2. Things we neglect that cause us to drift
1. The Son (1:2)
2. Word of God (4:12)
3. People of God (He. 10:25-26)
3. Exegesis
1. "slip" = "drift"
2. "transgressions" = sins of commission
3. "disobedience" = sins of omission
3. Explanation
1. Even though Jesus had a body, He is better than the angels
1. He regained the lost dominion
1. Man, though lower than angels, was given dominion over creation
2. Sin caused him to lose that dominion
3. Jesus regained it by demonstrating His power over:
1. Over the fish (see Matt. 17:24-27; Luke 5:1-11; John 21:1-11),
2. Over the fowl (Luke 22:34, 60)
3. Over the wild beasts (Mark 1:12-13)
4. Domesticated beasts (Mark 11:1-7)
2. He brings many sons to glory
1. We share in His nature
2. Does this because He is the "perfect Captain."
1. He is not "made" perfect, but His sufferings and death prove Him to be sufficient and perfect
2. He is the Captain, we are the crew!
3. He defeated the devil
2. He is a sympathetic High Priest