Hebrews 1:5-8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 1:5

Verse 5 5. Thou art my Son, etc. It cannot be denied but that this was spoken of David, that is, as he sustained the person of Christ. Then the things found in this Psalm must have been shadowed forth in David, but were fully accomplished in Christ. For that he by subduing many enemies around him, enlarged the borders of his kingdom, it was some foreshadowing of the promise, “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.” But how little was this in comparison with the amplitude of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 1:6

Verse 6 6.And again, when he bringeth or introduceth (21) , etc. He now proves by another argument that Christ is above the angels, and that is because the angels are bidden to worship him. (Psalms 97:7.) It hence follows that he is their head and Prince. But it may seem unreasonable to apply that to Christ which is spoken of God only. Were we to answer that Christ is the eternal God, and therefore what belongs to God may justly be applied to him, it would not perhaps be satisfactory to all;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 1:7

Verse 7 7.And to the angels, etc. To the angels means of the angels. But the passage quoted seems to have been turned to another meaning from what it appears to have; for as David is there describing the manner in which we see the world to be governed, nothing is more certain than the winds are mentioned, which he says are made messengers by the Lord, for he employs them as his runners; so also, when he purifies the air by lightnings, he shows what quick and swift ministers he has to obey his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 1:8

Verse 8 8.But to the Son, etc. It must indeed be allowed, that this Psalm was composed as a marriage song for Solomon; for here is celebrated his marriage with the daughter of the king of Egypt; (23) but it cannot yet be denied but that what is here related, is much too high to be applied to Solomon. The Jews, that they may not be forced to own Christ to be called God, make an evasion by saying, it at the throne of God is spoken of, or that the verb “established” is to be understood. So that,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-5

The exaltation of the Son of God above the angels of God. "Being made so much better than the angels," etc. The angels of God are great and exalted beings. Our Lord spake of them as "holy angels" ( Matthew 25:31 ). David said they "excel in strength" ( Psalms 103:20 ). St. Paul designates them "his mighty angels' ( 2 Thessalonians 1:7 ). Deeds involving stupendous power are ascribed to them ( Isaiah 37:36 ; Acts 12:7-11 ). They are said to be "full of eyes," to indicate their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-9

Christ superior to the angels. As angels had an important ministry under the Law of Moses, it was desirable to show the. Christians who had been drawn from Judaism, and were disposed to return to it, the superiority of our Lord to them in their nature and office. I. THIS APPEARS IN THE GLORY OF HIS NAME , which is his by nature and inheritance. Angels are called "sons of God," and rejoiced as creation with its wonders rose before their view. Israel was named "Jehovah's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-13

Christ exalted above the angels. I. CONSIDER THE ANGELIC DIGNITY . The word "angel" as employed here to be taken in a very wide sense, as "angel" primarily denotes office and service rather than nature. Jesus himself, looked at from a certain point of view, was an angel, a messenger, an evangelist. God can make a messenger, as we are reminded in this passage, from the winds and the flame of fire: e.g. the burning bush was a messenger to Moses. But doubtless there is also a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-14

Christ greater than the angels. The Jews used to boast that their Law had been given at Sinai by the instrumentality of angels; and they concluded from this that the Mosaic dispensation would continue as long as the world itself. But the apostle asserts here that the Lord Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, is immeasurably greater than the angels; and he supports his assertion with abundant evidence from the Hebrew Scriptures. Hebrews 1:4 supplies us with the key to this whole... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-14

The greatness of the angels revealing the greatness of the Lord. Our ideas with regard to the angels are mostly vague, or poetic, or formal, never evoking holy thought or inspiring praise, or breathing on our soul an hour's calm, or strengthening us to strike a blow at sin. We think there is nothing practical about the doctrine of angels, and so we pass it by. We have Christ, we say; we do not need the angels; they who have the king overlook the courtiers. Yet a considerable portion of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:5

For to which of the angels said he at any time . Observe the form of the question, which has been already noticed. It is not, "When were angels ever called sons?" but to this effect: "To which of them did he ever speak (individually) in the following remarkable terms?" The first quotation is from Psalms 2:7 ; the second from 2 Samuel 7:14 . The second having had undoubtedly a primary reference to Solomon, and the first presumably to some king of Israel, probably to David, we may here... read more

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