Different discoveries made of the Divine will to the ancient Israelites by the prophets, Hebrews 1:1 . The discovery now perfected by the revelation of Jesus Christ, of whose excellences and glories a large description is given, Hebrews 1:2-13 . Angels are ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation, Hebrews 1:14 . read more
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners - We can scarcely conceive any thing more dignified than the opening of this epistle; the sentiments are exceedingly elevated, and the language, harmony itself! The infinite God is at once produced to view, not in any of those attributes which are essential to the Divine nature, but in the manifestations of his love to the world, by giving a revelation of his will relative to the salvation of mankind, and thus preparing the way, through a long... read more
Last days - The Gospel dispensation, called the last days and the last time, because not to be followed by any other dispensation; or the conclusion of the Jewish Church and state now at their termination. By his Son - It is very remarkable that the pronoun αὑτου , his, is not found in the text; nor is it found in any MS. or version. We should not therefore supply the pronoun as our translators have done; but simply read εν Υἱῳ , By a Son, or In a Son, whom he hath appointed heir... read more
The brightness of his glory - Απαυγασμα της δοξης The resplendent outbeaming of the essential glory of God. Hesychius interprets απαυγασμα by ᾑλιου φεγγος , the splendor of the sun. The same form of expression is used by an apocryphal writer, Wis. 7:26, where, speaking of the uncreated wisdom of God, he says: "For she is the splendor of eternal light, απαυγασμα γαρ εστι φωτος αΐδιου , and the unsullied mirror of the energy of God, and the image of his goodness." The word αυγασμα ... read more
So much better than the angels - Another argument in favor of the Divinity of our Lord. The Jews had the highest opinion of the transcendent excellence of angels, they even associate them with God in the creation of the world, and suppose them to be of the privy council of the Most High; and thus they understand Genesis 1:26 ; : Let us make man in our own image, in our own likeness; "And the Lord said to the ministering angels that stood before him, and who were created the second day, Let... read more
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee - These words are quoted from Psalm 2:7 , a psalm that seems to refer only to the Messiah; and they are quoted by St. Paul, Acts 13:33 , as referring to the resurrection of Christ. And this application of them is confirmed by the same apostle, Romans 1:4 , as by his resurrection from the dead he was declared - manifestly proved, to be the Son of God with power; God having put forth his miraculous energy in raising that body from the grave... read more
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten - This is not a correct translation of the Greek, Ὁταν δε παλιν εισαγαγῃ τον πρωτοτοκον εις την οικουμενην· But when he bringeth again, or the second time, the first-born into the habitable world. This most manifestly refers to his resurrection, which might be properly considered a second incarnation; for as the human soul, as well as the fullness of the Godhead bodily, dwelt in the man, Christ Jesus on and during his incarnation, so when... read more
Who maketh his angels spirits - They are so far from being superior to Christ, that they are not called God's sons in any peculiar sense, but his servants, as tempests and lightnings are. In many respects they may have been made inferior even to man as he came out of the hands of his Maker, for he was made in the image and likeness of God; but of the angels, even the highest order of them, this is never spoken. It is very likely that the apostle refers here to the opinions of the Jews... read more
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever - If this be said of the Son of God, i.e. Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ must be God; and indeed the design of the apostle is to prove this. The words here quoted are taken from Psalm 45:6 , Psalm 45:7 , which the ancient Chaldee paraphrast, and the most intelligent rabbins, refer to the Messiah. On the third verse of this Psalm, Thou art fairer than the children of men, the Targum says: "Thy beauty, משיחא מלכא malca Meshicha , O King Messiah,... read more
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Read on Mobile
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits ,.... Servants to God, to Christ, and to his people, and therefore must be inferior to the Son of God. The phrase is Rabbinical; frequent mention is made in Jewish writings F1 T. Bab. Chagiga, fol. 12. 2. & 14. 1,2. & 16. 1. Taanith, fol. 11. 1. & Megilia, fol. 15. 2. & in Zohar passim. of מלאכי השרת , "the angels of ministry", or "the ministering angels"; this is their common appellation with the Jews; and the apostle writing to... read more