Pay Attention (Hebrews 1:4-2:4)
The sermon outline can be found here in the ministry guide.
Warnings are everywhere. Posters warn us about the dangers of killer litter, scams, and illegal moneylenders. The food we eat and the products we buy often come with warning labels about their potential hazards. We need warnings because the world is a dangerous place.
Warnings help protect us, but we don’t always take them seriously. Perhaps we rationalise them as false alarms and brush warnings off as alarmist, assuring ourselves that nothing bad will actually happen. Maybe we don’t pay attention to warnings because it’s too troublesome and inconvenient. It seems easier to just carry on with life as usual.
Warnings feature prominently in the book of Hebrews. They caution us concerning the spiritual dangers we face, including the pitfall of taking the gospel for granted. Hebrews was originally written to Christians who had become dull of hearing. A certain spiritual sluggishness and complacency had set in. They were at risk of forsaking Jesus for what they thought was “better”. Some were tempted to turn back to the Old Testament law and practices. Others had become weary and wanted to give up running the race of faith.
Like them, we too may be wrestling with tiredness and discouragement. Our hearts may be increasingly influenced by a creeping worldliness, conforming us more to the culture than to Christ. We may be tempted to turn away from Jesus and take the path of less resistance, thinking it’s better. Hebrews is a spiritual wake-up call for us to pay attention to Jesus because he is better. Will we heed the warnings?
Because of the very real spiritual dangers we face, Hebrews contains five key warning passages urging us not to turn away from Jesus. The first of these warnings is found in our text today, while the others are found in chapters 3-4, 5-6, 10, and 12.
Since the Son is superior to angels, we should pay much closer attention to the great salvation He brings. We should pay attention to Jesus because of the greatness of the Son, the danger of drifting away and the certainty of the gospel.
This is the big idea of the passage: Since the Son is superior to angels, we should pay much closer attention to the great salvation He brings. We should pay attention to Jesus because of:
The greatness of the Son;
The danger of drifting away;
The certainty of the gospel.
Reason #1: The greatness of the Son (Heb 1:4-14)
Hebrews begins by declaring Jesus’ supremacy. In these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son. Jesus is the full and final word from God. Next, seven truths about Him are stated, which point to how Jesus is the promised Prophet, Priest, and King.
Our passage picks up where we left off: Jesus is better. He isn’t just another heavenly being but is “superior to angels”, because “the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs” (Heb 1:4). This name is “Son of God”. How did Jesus inherit it? It is through His death, resurrection, and exaltation to God’s right hand. But wasn’t Jesus always God’s Son? Yes, He is the eternal Son who existed before creation. For all eternity—past, present, and future—Jesus is fully God, the second Person of the Trinity.
Jesus is also God’s Son by virtue of His obedient suffering and death on the cross, which led to His resurrection and His exaltation. … Jesus’ resurrection and ascension is His enthronement as God’s chosen King.
But here Hebrews is referring to another aspect of Jesus’ sonship. He is also God’s Son by virtue of His obedient suffering and death on the cross, which led to His resurrection and His exaltation. Because Jesus perfectly did the will of His heavenly Father, God the Father raised Him from the dead in glory. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension is His enthronement as God’s chosen King. Therefore, the Father has given Jesus the name “Son of God” as a seal of approval, because Jesus was obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name. Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God in power…by His resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 1:4)” Jesus is God’s Son in terms of being God’s anointed King—the Christ or Messiah from David’s line.
In this way, Jesus is superior to the angels. To show this, verses Hebrews 1:5-14 quotes seven (the number seven again, which represents completion) Old Testament passages. All except two are from the Psalms. The Psalms are primarily about God’s King, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. He is the promised King that the Psalter points to. So, when we read the Psalms, we must first understand how they are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Then, only if we are in Christ, do the Psalms apply to us as followers of the King. The Book of Psalms is Jesus’ prayerbook. They are His words to God and God’s words to Him.
These Old Testament texts show, first of all, that Jesus is better because He is the Son (Heb 1:5). Jesus has a unique relationship with the Father. He is the risen and exalted Son, whom God has appointed as King forever. Hebrews 1:5 quotes two Old Testament texts. In Psalm 2:7, God says this of Jesus, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.” In 2 Samuel 7:14 says, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.” None of the angels ever had such an exalted status as God’s Son.
Second, Jesus is better because He is worshiped (Heb 1:6). Hebrews 1:6 quotes Deuteronomy 32:43 as saying this about Jesus: “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Contrast this with the angel’s response when the apostle John falls at His feet to worship him. He said, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you... Worship God. (Rev. 19:10)” John was so impressed by the angel that he tried to worship him. We might not be given to worship angels, but how might we tempted to worship the impressive things of the world: power, prestige, fame, fortune? Only Jesus is worthy of our devotion and praise. So, worship Him. Jesus is “the firstborn of all creation” for He created all things. He is “the firstborn from the dead”, for His resurrection is the first of the new creation.
Jesus is better because he is the everlasting, unchanging Creator (Heb 1:7, 10-12). He made the angels. Hebrews 1:10-12 quote Psalm 102:25-27: “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
Jesus is the sovereign, eternal Maker of the heavens and the earth. Do not love the world or the things of the world; they will pass away. Don’t worship what will not last. Jesus is better. He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb 13:8). Where is our confidence? Will we be disappointed in the end when our hopes fade with time? In an unpredictable world, will we trust in the faithful One who does not change? As this stanza from the hymn, Abide With Me, reminds us:
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changes not, abide with me.
Jesus is better because He rules as King forever. None of the Old Testament kings lived up to God’s standards. Even David’s reign was marred by his own sin. David’s rule and that of the kings after him were cut short by death. But Psalm 45 looks forward to the perfect King (Heb 1:8): “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever”. Jesus is Lord of all, including the angels. His kingdom is full of justice and joy: “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions” (Heb 1:9). Jesus is the King we can trust, for He rules forever and His kingship is good and gracious. He is our light in this world’s darkness.
God says this of Jesus in Psalm 110:1, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (Heb 1:13) King Jesus rules with all power and authority till His enemies—Satan, sin, and death—are fully and finally defeated. Jesus will win! If we trust Him, we will share in His victory. When Jesus returns, He will “wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (Rev. 21:4)”
If the Old Testament law was glorious although it was put in place through angels, then the gospel is even more glorious because it was spoken to us by God’s Son, who is superior to the angels.
Why does it matter that Jesus is better than the angels? The Old Testament law was delivered through angels. This is what Heb 2:2a is referring to when it says, “the message declared by angels”. If the Old Testament law was glorious although it was put in place through angels (c.f. Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19), then the gospel is even more glorious because it was spoken to us by God’s Son, who is superior to the angels. We have the privilege of having heard this glorious gospel.
Beloved, do we realise the greatness of the salvation that Jesus has won for us? We have all failed to worship Him as we should. We have lived for ourselves instead of submitting to King Jesus. Yet, He laid down His life to save rebels like us, that we might be forgiven and brought back to God. Jesus took the judgment for our sins, if we repent and believe in Him. We are spiritually bankrupt and morally broke, but Jesus freely credits His righteousness to our account that we might be made right with the holy God. We are spiritually dead, but Jesus gives us new life through His resurrection.
Jesus is a great Saviour. In Him, we have a great salvation. Not only is Jesus better than the angels, but He even sends the angels to serve His people. The angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (Heb 1:14). If we belong to Jesus, then the angels serve us! The Son is the heir of all things, and we are fellow heirs with Him. Beloved, what an awesome privilege! It may not appear so to us now, because we still struggle with sorrow, trials, and trouble. But look to Jesus by faith. See the greatness of the Son and our hope in Him.
Reason #2: The danger of drifting away (Heb 2:1-3a)
Since God has spoken to us by His Son, who is better than the angels, we must “pay much closer attention to what we have heard” (Heb 2:1). This great salvation is at stake. If we reject Jesus, who is God’s final and full word to us, then there is no other way for us to be saved. So, pay attention because of the danger of drifting away.
Drifting can happen quietly, unnoticed. It doesn’t take effort; we just go with the flow. We drift when we become complacent and stop paying attention to the gospel.
Drifting can happen quietly, unnoticed. Drifting doesn’t take effort; we just go with the flow. We drift when we become complacent and stop paying attention to the gospel. Maybe we assume we’re ok because we know the right “Christian” answers. Or perhaps we think we’re fine because we recall things we used to do, or a “spiritual” or religious experience we had in the past. But like a boat on the sea that is carried away by the current, we can drift away simply by doing nothing.
Hebrews warns us not to “neglect such a great salvation” (Heb 2:3a). The word “neglect” means to become careless or unconcerned. During the pandemic, some of us may have seen our expensive dress and work shoes fall apart as they gathered dust in our cabinets, neglected and unworn. Their leather began to crack, and our shoes lost their soles. The gospel is a wonderful treasure, but we’ll lose it if we don’t use it. Don’t take the gospel for granted. We don’t actually have to renounce the gospel to lose it; we simply have to neglect it. Thinking we’ve heard it all before, we crave something better. Have been neglecting such a great salvation? Reflect on these diagnostic questions:
Am I still thankful to God for the gospel?
Am I still trusting in Jesus and His righteousness, or am I relying on my own efforts to please God?
Do I continually see my own need for the gospel?
Am I still grieving over my sins, or do I take them lightly and excuse them?
Am I regularly listening to, obeying, and applying God’s word to myself?
Am I grateful for the gospel community of the church? Am I gathering regularly with God’s people for worship and encouragement?
Am I growing in concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of other members in this gospel community?
Am I reflecting the gospel by growing in love, patience, forgiveness?
Many things may cause us to drift. It may be suffering. Trials and opposition can discourage us and make us want to give up. It may be busyness. We get so preoccupied with school, work, and life that we’re distracted from Jesus. It may be success. We forget Jesus when life is going well. Comfort makes us complacent.
Beware of drifting away, for the danger is real. It doesn’t take a big sin to draw us away from Jesus, just a cumulation of many small, seemingly insignificant ones that we tolerate and excuse. For example: It’s ok to speak that way, it’s just a slip of the tongue. Or, a little gossip doesn’t hurt anyone. Or, I have a right to hold on to my anger; that person doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Or, it’s ok to lash out at my spouse and children, I’ve had a rough day. Or, it’s alright if I sneak a peek at that website; I need to destress. Or, it’s ok to date a non-Christian because I really want to get married. Or, it’s ok if I skip gathering with the church on Sundays, I’m too tired and busy. In C. S. Lewis’ fictional book, The Screwtape Letters, senior demon Screwtape gives this advice to his nephew, Wormwood, on how best to cause man’s downfall: “The safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
Beware of drifting away, for the consequences are devastating. “For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Heb 2:2-3a)” All who disobeyed the Old Testament law were punished. For example, a whole generation of Israelites perished in the wilderness because they refused to listen to God and enter the promised land. If God punished those who broke the old covenant law, which was delivered by angels, how much more will He judge those who reject the message spoken by His Son?
We cannot be saved if we drift away from the gospel, for there is no other Saviour besides Jesus.
God holds us accountable for how we respond to the gospel. We cannot be saved if we drift away from the gospel, for there is no other Saviour besides Jesus. Without Jesus, we face the wrath of a holy God against us for our sin. We face judgment and Hell. This warning is not theoretical or hypothetical because the danger is real. Some of my saddest experiences as a pastor is seeing how some who used to call themselves Christians have stopped following Jesus. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian will be saved. Only those who persevere in faith and obedience to Christ until the end will be saved. May God use the warnings to shake us out of our spiritual stupor. May the warnings spur us on to hold fast to the gospel. Beloved, encourage one another to pay much closer attention to Jesus. Let’s reach out to those that have stopped gathering regularly with us, and seek to do them spiritual good by encouraging them to return to church.
Reason #3: The certainty of the gospel (Heb 2:3b-4)
Pay attention to the gospel because it is absolutely true and reliable. We can stake our lives and eternal destiny on it.
Pay attention to the gospel because it is absolutely true and reliable. We can stake our lives and eternal destiny on it. How can we so sure about the gospel? The Triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—has confirmed it.
The Son has confirmed it: “It was declared at first by the Lord” (Heb 2:3b). Jesus, the eternal Son of God, came in the flesh to proclaim the good news. More than that, He accomplished the good news through His death and resurrection. This is our assurance: that the Son has come to save sinners like us. To reject the gospel is to reject what the Son Himself has spoken and done.
This message was further confirmed by eyewitnesses who heard and saw Jesus in the flesh: “It was attested to us by those who heard” (Heb 2:3b). Incidentally, this tells us that the author of Hebrews was probably not an apostle, since the gospel was confirmed to him through “those who heard”. These eyewitness accounts have been written down for us, “so that (we) may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing (we) may have life in His name” (Jn. 20:31). This is how we got the New Testament, which is the apostolic testimony to who Jesus is and what he has done. Therefore, continue to know and grow in God’s word, which testifies to Christ.
God has confirmed the message. Notice how the earlier Old Testament quotations are presented as God the Father speaking to His Son. So, we can trust that Jesus is who he says he is because the Father Himself backs up those claims. God has also borne witness “by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will” (Heb 2:4). God confirmed the witness of the apostles by giving them authority to perform signs and wonders, and by granting them His Spirit. This was to confirm the apostolic testimony to Christ. We no longer need signs and wonders today to prove the gospel. The gospel is true because God says so. We can take God at His word, which has been written down for us. So, anchor ourselves in God’s word. To reject the gospel is to reject what God has said about His Son (c.f. 1 Jn. 5:10b).
Beloved, the gospel is certain. It is our hope and confidence in life and death. Therefore, hold fast to it; the gospel will not let us down. So heed the warning and do not give up. Pay attention to Jesus because of the certainty of the gospel. Pay attention because of the danger of drifting away. Pay attention because of the greatness of the Son.