Hebrews 1:5

Letters to the Faithful - Hebrews 1:5

Berean Standard Bible

For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?

King James Bible

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?

Greek Text:

Τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων· Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε; Καὶ πάλιν· Ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν;

Transliteration:

Tini gar eipen pote tōn angelōn: Huios mou ei sy, egō sēmeron gegennēka se? Kai palin: Egō esomai autō eis patera, kai autos estai moi eis huion?

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For to which of the angels did God ever say:

This phrase emphasizes the unique status of Jesus Christ compared to angels. In Jewish tradition, angels were highly revered as messengers of God, but they were never given the title of "Son." This rhetorical question highlights the superiority of Christ over angels, a key theme in the book of Hebrews. The author is addressing a Jewish audience familiar with the Old Testament, where angels are often mentioned but never in the context of being God's Son.

“You are My Son;

This declaration is a direct reference to Psalm 2:7, a royal psalm that was originally used in the context of the coronation of Israelite kings. In the New Testament, this verse is applied to Jesus, affirming His divine sonship and messianic kingship. The title "Son" signifies a unique relationship with God, indicating both divinity and authority.

today I have become Your Father”?

The phrase "today I have become Your Father" signifies a specific point in time, often interpreted as the resurrection or ascension of Christ, where His divine sonship is publicly declared and affirmed. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of adoption or declaration of kingship, where a king would be publicly recognized as the son of a deity. In the context of Jesus, it underscores His eternal relationship with the Father and His role as the promised Messiah.

Or again:

This introduces another scriptural reference to further support the argument of Christ's superiority over angels. The author of Hebrews frequently uses Old Testament quotations to build a case for the preeminence of Christ, appealing to the authority of Scripture.

“I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?

This is a quotation from 2 Samuel 7:14, part of the Davidic Covenant, where God promises David that his offspring will have a special relationship with Him. While this initially referred to Solomon, its ultimate fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ, the descendant of David. This covenantal promise highlights the eternal kingship and divine sonship of Jesus, setting Him apart from all other beings, including angels.

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Grace and peace be multiplied to you, beloved brothers and sisters, from God our Father, who reigns in majesty above all creation, and from His Son, the radiance of His glory, through whom all things were made and are sustained. I write to you with a heart stirred by the surpassing greatness of our Lord, moved by the eternal truth that has been revealed to us, that we might stand in awe of the One who is exalted above all powers and principalities, the One who alone bears the title of Son, begotten of the Father in a manner beyond our comprehension, yet made known to us for our salvation.

Consider, dear friends, the weight of this divine mystery: that the Almighty, who spoke the heavens into being and set the stars in their courses, has declared to One alone, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” This is no mere utterance, no casual word spoken in passing, but a proclamation of eternal significance, a decree that resounds through the ages, setting apart the Son as the heir of all things, the One through whom the Father’s purpose is fulfilled. To none among the heavenly host, to no angel, however radiant or mighty, has such a word been spoken. The angels, though they serve with power and splendor, are but ministers, flames of fire sent forth to do His bidding. But the Son—He is the very imprint of the Father’s being, the One who shares His nature, His authority, His eternal throne.

And again, the Father has spoken, saying, “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son.” This is the covenant of divine love, the bond that unites the Father and the Son in a relationship so profound that it is the foundation of all that is true and good. In this declaration, we see the heart of God revealed—not a distant ruler, but a Father who delights in His Son, who establishes Him as the cornerstone of His redemptive plan. The Son, in His obedience and love, fulfills this relationship, taking His place as the mediator between God and humanity, the One through whom we are reconciled and brought near.

O beloved, let this truth sink deep into your souls! The One who is called Son is not only the Creator and Sustainer of all things but also the Savior who has spoken to us in these last days. In times past, the voice of God came through prophets, through dreams and visions, through laws written on stone. But now, He has spoken through His Son, whose word is final, whose authority is unmatched, whose sacrifice has cleansed us from sin once for all. This Son, who bears the name above every name, has taken His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having accomplished what no angel, no prophet, no priest could ever do. He has made purification for our sins, and in Him, we find the hope of eternal life.

Therefore, I urge you, do not drift from this truth. Do not let your hearts grow dull or your minds wander from the glory of the Son. The world may entice you with fleeting pleasures, and trials may press upon you with unrelenting force, but fix your eyes on Him who is greater than all. He is not a servant among many, but the Son over the house of God, and we are that house if we hold fast to our confidence and hope. Let His word dwell richly in you, for it is living and active, sharper than any sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, revealing the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

And let us not merely hear this truth but live it. As those who have been called by the name of the Son, let us walk in a manner worthy of our calling. Let love abound among you, as it does between the Father and the Son. Let your lives reflect the purity and holiness of the One who has redeemed you. Serve one another with humility, knowing that the Son Himself took on the form of a servant, humbling Himself even to death for our sake. And proclaim His name boldly, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

To those among you who are weary, who feel the weight of sin or the sting of doubt, I say this: the Son is your advocate, your high priest, your intercessor. He has not left you to struggle alone but stands before the Father on your behalf, His blood speaking a better word than the blood of any sacrifice. Come to Him, cast your burdens upon Him, and find rest for your souls. To those who are strong in faith, I charge you to strengthen your brothers and sisters, to bear one another’s burdens, and to shine as lights in a world that gropes in darkness.

Finally, beloved, let us worship the Son with all that we are. Let our lips sing His praise, our hands lift high in adoration, our lives be a living sacrifice to His glory. For He is worthy—not only because He created all things, not only because He upholds all things, but because He loved us and gave Himself for us. He is the Son, the radiance of the Father’s glory, the One who reigns forever. May your hearts be filled with the joy of knowing Him, and may your lives be a testament to His unending grace.

I pray that the God of all grace, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, will keep you steadfast, fill you with His Spirit, and guide you into all truth. May you grow in the knowledge of Him who is above all, through all, and in all, until the day when we see Him face to face. Farewell, dear ones, and may the peace of our Lord abide with you always.

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O Eternal and Almighty God, Father of glory and source of all that is, we come before Your throne with hearts bowed in reverence and lips trembling with awe, for You are the One who reigns supreme, whose majesty fills the heavens and whose love has stooped to embrace the earth. We lift our voices in adoration, captivated by the mystery of Your divine nature, and we stand in wonder at the Son, whom You have declared begotten of Your very being, the One who bears Your likeness and radiates Your splendor. To You alone, O Father, and to Your Son, we offer our worship, for You have spoken a word of eternal weight, exalting Him above all creation, setting Him apart as the heir of all things, the One through whom Your purposes are fulfilled.

We pray, O Lord, that You would open the eyes of our hearts to behold the glory of Your Son, who is not merely a messenger among the hosts of heaven but the very imprint of Your essence, the One who shares Your throne and upholds the universe by the word of His power. Grant us, we beseech You, a deeper understanding of His supremacy, that we may never confuse Him with the angels, nor diminish His honor by comparing Him to any created thing. May the truth of His divine sonship take root in our souls, transforming our thoughts, guiding our steps, and filling us with unshakeable hope.

Father of mercy, we thank You for the covenant of love You have established with Your Son, a bond so profound that it is the foundation of our redemption. You have declared Yourself His Father, and He Your Son, and in this sacred relationship, we glimpse the heart of Your grace. We pray for Your people, scattered across the earth, that they may be drawn into the fellowship of this love. Unite us, O God, as one body, bound together by the Spirit, reflecting the unity and affection that exist between You and Your Son. Let Your church shine as a beacon of Your glory, proclaiming the name of the Son to every nation, tribe, and tongue.

We lift before You those who are weary, whose hearts are heavy with the burdens of this world. O Father, let them find rest in the Son, who has made purification for their sins and now intercedes at Your right hand. Comfort the brokenhearted, strengthen the faint, and renew the faith of those who waver, that they may know the Son as their advocate, their high priest, their Savior. For those who walk in darkness, who have not yet heard or believed, we plead that Your Spirit would move mightily, revealing the Son as the light of the world, the One through whom salvation comes.

O God, we pray for courage and boldness among Your people, that we may live as those who belong to the Son. Guard us from the temptations that seek to draw us away, from the voices that would diminish His worth or obscure His truth. Fill us with Your Spirit, that our lives may be a living testimony to His grace, our words a faithful proclamation of His gospel, and our deeds a reflection of His compassion. May we serve one another in humility, love one another with sincerity, and honor the Son in all that we do, knowing that He humbled Himself for our sake and now reigns in glory.

We ask, O Lord, that You would purify our worship, that it may rise as a pleasing offering before You. Teach us to sing the praises of the Son with fervent hearts, to lift our hands in adoration, and to offer our lives as a sacrifice of gratitude. Let our gatherings be filled with the joy of His presence, our prayers be emboldened by His intercession, and our hope be anchored in His eternal reign. Keep us steadfast, O God, until the day when we see Him face to face, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of Your name.

Now, O Father, we entrust ourselves to Your keeping. Guard Your people by Your mighty power, guide us by Your unerring wisdom, and fill us with the peace that flows from knowing Your Son. May Your kingdom advance, Your will be done, and Your glory be revealed through the One who is above all, through all, and in all. To You, O God, and to Your Son, be all honor, praise, and dominion, now and forevermore. Amen.