A Commentary of the Book of Hebrews
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: King James Version
Bible Study Hebrews 1: 1-14
Introduction to the Epistle to the Hebrews
Introduction
The Epistle to the Hebrews stands as one of the most profound and majestic books in all of Holy Scripture. Its great theme is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ. The writer demonstrates that Christ is superior to angels, superior to Moses, superior to Joshua, superior to Aaron, superior to the Levitical priesthood, and the mediator of a better covenant established upon better promises.
The Puritans loved the Book of Hebrews because it exalts Christ, encourages perseverance, warns against apostasy, and comforts believers with the certainty of Christ's finished work. John Owen devoted seven massive volumes to his exposition of Hebrews, considering it one of the richest treasures in Scripture for understanding the person and work of Christ.
Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and temptation to return to the ceremonies and shadows of Old Testament Judaism. The inspired author urges them to hold fast their profession and continue steadfastly in Christ, for all the ceremonies of the Old Covenant find their fulfillment in Him.
Author
Humanly speaking, the author remains unknown.
Throughout church history several names have been proposed:
The Apostle Paul
Barnabas
Luke
Apollos
Clement of Rome
The Puritans generally leaned toward Pauline authorship while acknowledging that Scripture itself does not explicitly identify the writer.
John Owen argued strongly that Paul was the author, while recognizing that the Holy Spirit chose not to reveal this with certainty. Other faithful scholars have suggested Apollos because of the book's eloquent Greek style and deep understanding of the Old Testament.
Ultimately, the divine Author is the Holy Spirit.
As Peter reminds us:
"Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21)
Therefore, the authority of Hebrews does not rest upon knowing the human writer but upon its divine inspiration.
Date of Writing
Most conservative scholars place the writing of Hebrews between A.D. 64 and A.D. 68.
Several observations support this date:
The Temple sacrifices appear to be still functioning (Hebrews 8:4; 10:1-3).
The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 is not mentioned.
Timothy was recently released from imprisonment (Hebrews 13:23).
The readers were experiencing persecution but not yet the widespread imperial persecutions that followed.
A date shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem is likely.
This timing makes the warnings and exhortations especially significant. God was preparing Jewish believers to understand that the Old Covenant system was about to disappear forever.
Recipients
The letter was written primarily to:
Jewish Christians who were tempted to abandon Christ and return to Judaism.
These believers had:
Suffered persecution (Hebrews 10:32-34)
Endured hardship for their faith
Become spiritually sluggish (Hebrews 5:11-14)
Faced pressure from family and religious leaders
Needed encouragement to persevere
The message remains equally relevant today for Christians tempted to compromise, drift from Christ, or seek salvation through works and religious rituals.
Theological Purpose
The primary purpose of Hebrews is:
To demonstrate the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ and to exhort believers to persevere in faith.
The author seeks to show:
1. Christ Is the Final Revelation of God
"God... hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Christ is God's final and fullest revelation.
2. Christ Is the Perfect High Priest
Unlike earthly priests, Christ:
Never sins
Never dies
Never needs a successor
Intercedes continually for His people
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him" (Hebrews 7:25).
3. Christ Offered the Perfect Sacrifice
The sacrifices of the Old Covenant could never remove sin.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12).
4. Christ Established a Better Covenant
The New Covenant provides:
Complete forgiveness
Direct access to God
Internal transformation
Permanent redemption
5. Believers Must Persevere
The book repeatedly warns against:
Drifting (2:1)
Unbelief (3:12)
Apostasy (6:4-8)
Despising Christ (10:26-31)
The Puritans viewed these warnings as means God uses to preserve His elect and keep them vigilant in the faith.
Major Themes
The Supremacy of Christ
The central theme of Hebrews.
Christ is superior to:
Prophets
Angels
Moses
Joshua
Aaron
The Levitical priesthood
The Old Covenant sacrifices
The Priesthood of Christ
No New Testament book develops Christ's priestly ministry more fully.
The Better Covenant
The New Covenant surpasses the Old in every respect.
Perseverance of the Saints
True believers continue in faith because God preserves them.
Faith
Hebrews 11 provides Scripture's greatest chapter on faith.
Heavenly Worship
The earthly tabernacle pointed to heavenly realities fulfilled in Christ.
Outline of Hebrews
I. The Superiority of Christ's Person (1:1–4:13)
A. Christ Greater Than the Prophets (1:1-3)
B. Christ Greater Than the Angels (1:4–2:18)
C. Christ Greater Than Moses (3:1-19)
D. Christ Provides Better Rest Than Joshua (4:1-13)
II. The Superiority of Christ's Priesthood (4:14–7:28)
A. Christ Our Great High Priest (4:14–5:10)
B. Warning Against Spiritual Immaturity (5:11–6:20)
C. Christ After the Order of Melchisedec (7:1-28)
III. The Superiority of Christ's Covenant (8:1–10:18)
A. A Better Covenant (Chapter 8)
B. Earthly and Heavenly Sanctuaries (Chapter 9)
C. The Once-for-All Sacrifice of Christ (Chapter 10)
IV. Exhortations to Perseverance (10:19–12:29)
A. Hold Fast Your Profession (10:19-39)
B. The Hall of Faith (Chapter 11)
C. Run the Race Looking unto Jesus (Chapter 12)
V. Practical Christian Living (13:1-25)
A. Christian Duties (13:1-17)
B. Final Exhortations and Benediction (13:18-25)
A Puritan Assessment of Hebrews
The Puritans regarded Hebrews as a handbook for the Christian pilgrimage. It teaches believers to turn their eyes continually toward Christ.
John Owen wrote:
"The glory of Christ is the principal subject of this Epistle."
Thomas Watson observed:
"Christ is the treasury in which all the riches of grace are laid up."
Hebrews continually calls believers away from self-righteousness, ceremonies, traditions, and earthly confidence to rest entirely upon Christ alone.
The message of Hebrews may be summarized in a single sentence:
Do not go back; go on. Christ is better.
As the writer declares:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
This is the great call of Hebrews for every generation of believers: to fix their eyes upon Christ, persevere in faith, and trust wholly in His finished work until they enter their eternal rest.
Text:
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 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? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Verse by verse commentary:
Verse 1: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,”
Verse 1: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,”
The Book of Hebrews, similar to the Book of Genesis, does not attempt to prove that God exists; instead, both books take His existence as a foundational assumption. Beyond assuming there is a God, this verse presents a second premise: that God has spoken. As an intelligent Person who has endowed humanity with intelligence, He has chosen to communicate with us through the inspired Word of God. In this context, the writer refers specifically to the divine inspiration of the Old Testament revelation.
The phrase “sundry times” indicates that God did not reveal His entire truth to one person at once but added to it over many years. For instance, while God communicated with Abraham through dreams and the angel of the Lord, He did not reveal the Law or the Ten Commandments until the time of Moses. Later, God informed David—but not Abraham or Moses—that a Savior-King would come from his lineage. Although God originally intended to be Israel's only King, He eventually granted their request for a human ruler, using that very lineage to bring the Messiah into the world in the fullness of time. Thus, the Bible demonstrates a progressive development of truth.
Furthermore, “divers manners” refers to the various methods God used to communicate over long periods. His revelation came through dreams, the Law, types, rituals, history, poetry, and prophecy, showing the diverse ways He reached out to different men throughout history.
Verse 2: “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”
The revelation delivered through God's Son possesses a qualitative superiority over the messages conveyed by the prophets. While Moses, recognized as the preeminent prophet, served faithfully as a servant within God’s household, Christ reigns over that same house with the authority of a Son. Consequently, though the Son speaks in a manner similar to the prophets, His word represents the definitive and final revelation of God.
Furthermore, God has designated Him as the heir of all things. Although He existed in equality with the Father in His divine nature, His role as the God-man and Mediator led the Father to appoint Him as the universal heir. In this capacity, He serves as the sovereign Lord over all creation, acting as the absolute director, governor, and disposer of every person and all circumstances.
Verse 3: “who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
The phrase “who being the brightness of his glory” can be understood as “the outshining” or “the effulgence.” We can look to the physical sun as an illustration; we cannot look at the sun directly without being blinded, yet we know its nature through its rays which provide light, heat, and healing. Similarly, our knowledge of God would be minimal without the revelation provided through His Son. Jesus Christ is the visible brightness of God; although no one has seen God, He is revealed to us today through the Lord Jesus just as the sun is revealed by its rays.
Regarding the “express image of his person,” the Greek term used is charaktēr, which refers to an impressed character like a steel engraving and is the origin of our word “character.” Christ is the revelation of God because He is God; He is the exact copy and image of God, rather than merely printed material.
When the text mentions Him “upholding all things by the word of his power,” it is not speaking of the infant Jesus in Bethlehem but of His ongoing role. He not only brought all things into existence by His word but continues to hold the entire creation together.
The statement “when he had by himself purged our sins” highlights that Christ provided the necessary cleansing for our transgressions. This act on Calvary is the only “purgatory” found in Scripture; because He paid the full penalty and purged our sins, there is no other purgatory for those who trust in Him. Through His work, those who come to Christ receive complete forgiveness and full redemption, being accepted in the Beloved.
Finally, that He “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” is a central message of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Upon returning to the Father’s throne, the Lord Jesus received a glory and majesty He had not previously held. His act of sitting down does not imply inactivity or weariness, but rather signifies that the work of our redemption was finished and complete.
Verse 4: “being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
The Book of Hebrews dogmatically asserts the superiority of Christ over the angelic host. While angels served a significant role in Israel's history—acting as the mediators through whom the Law was delivered and represented by the golden cherubim on the mercy seat and those woven into the tabernacle veil—they remain created beings. Even the seraphim witnessed in Isaiah's vision are distinct from the Creator.
The term "angel" denotes nothing more than a "messenger". These celestial messengers find their purpose in worshipping the Lord Jesus. Consequently, because He has inherited a name far more excellent than theirs, Christ stands as better than the angels.
Verse 5: “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?”
This verse marks the start of a sequence of seven Old Testament citations, six of which originate from the Psalms. Indeed, the Psalms provide more insight into Christ than any other individual.
The prophecy found in Psalms 2:7 finds its fulfillment in the resurrection of Christ, as noted in Acts 13:33. While the monarchs of Israel, including David, were considered "sons of God" through adoption, this specific heir was uniquely "begotten" by God. Unlike angels, who are created entities and never destined for the throne, this royal figure is the very Son of God, not merely an angel or archangel. This prophecy was realized directly before them.
Verse 6: “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”
Angels offer worship to the Son as He stoops to take upon Himself our human likeness. In this context, the term "Firstbegotten" signifies being "of the highest rank" rather than indicating a chronological sequence of birth. Similar to its usage in Exodus 4:22, it denotes being "most desired" or "chosen".
Verse 7: “And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
By referencing Psalm 104:4, the author provides further scriptural evidence that angels are subordinate to the Son of God. Among the seven Old Testament citations found in chapter 1, this particular quote is unique as it bears no relation to the Davidic Covenant. Instead, its purpose is simply to characterize the essential nature and role of angels. The angels are described simply as “ministers” or “servants,” which stands in direct opposition to the Son’s royal enthronement as seen in verses 8 and 9.
Verse 8: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”
By selecting Psalm 45:6, the author points toward the divine nature of the Davidic and Messianic King. This served to reassure the original audience of God's unwavering commitment to His covenantal oaths. While the current era focuses on the church as the primary vehicle for spreading the gospel across all nations, God remains mindful of His specific promises to Israel and the Davidic throne. Christ presently advances His kingdom through the church, yet a future awaits where the Son of David will reign in a visible, earthly millennial kingdom, proving God's total faithfulness.
This continuity of divine purpose encourages believers to find joy in knowing that the God gathering a people today will ultimately bring His redemptive plan to full completion. Such assurance was meant to embolden the hearers to "hold fast" (10:23) to the superior hope they found in Christ. Just as God was faithful to the promise of the incarnation, so too will He be faithful to His future promises for Israel.
Verse 9: “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
Jesus Christ came to establish eternal righteousness, fulfilling every requirement of the Law through His holy works and righteous path. By finishing transgression and ending the destructive power of sin, He has restored righteousness as something both beautiful and desirable for all mankind.
God confirms Christ's unique qualifications and installation as the Mediator. His title, Messiah, originates from this divine anointing, which symbolizes both His empowerment by the Holy Spirit and His formal inauguration into the roles of prophet, priest, and king. The phrase God, even thy God underscores this confirmation, rooted in the eternal covenant of peace between the Father and the Son. In His capacity as man and Mediator, God is rightfully called the God of Christ.
This consecration was performed with the oil of gladness, representing the joyful readiness with which Jesus embraced His mission. It also points to the reward that awaited Him—the crown of glory and eternal gladness granted after His earthly suffering.
Furthermore, Christ is anointed far above [His] fellows. While He has no equal in His divine nature, as a man and an anointed servant, He possesses "fellows"—yet His unction infinitely surpasses theirs in rank and authority.
Verse 10: “ And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:”
This profound declaration affirms the Lord Jesus Christ as the Creator of the universe. In this passage, a significant distinction is established: whereas angels are categorized as created beings, the Lord is identified as the supreme Creator.
Verse 11: “they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;”
The eternal and immutable nature of the Son as God remains fundamental to His role as High Priest. It is through Him that the eternal inheritance promised to believers is preserved.
Verse 12: “and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.”
Maintaining an eternal perspective, the brethren and co-laborers in Christ were encouraged by the assurance of ultimate victory. The author anticipated a future sovereignly governed by Christ, who remains immutable throughout all generations.
Verse 13: “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?”
This particular verse constitutes a direct quotation from Psalm 110:1, which holds the distinction of being the most frequently cited psalm within the New Testament corpus. The Psalter serves to articulate the doctrine of the deity of Christ, providing a more comprehensive and intricate theological portrait of His person than is found even within the Gospel narratives.
Verse 14: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
In contrast to the angels, who are designated as servants to those "who shall be heirs of salvation," the Son occupies a position of supreme heavenly authority. These celestial beings serve not only Christ but also His followers, who, through their union with Him, participate as co-heirs in His rightful inheritance. Consequently, Christ's people are accorded a status that surpasses that of the angels..
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