Make sure you have a notebook and pen on hand for writing down your thoughts as you study this lesson.

Objective

In this lesson, we’ll discover how Christ is superior to all Old Testament revelations, seeing Him as God’s final and perfect word to humanity.

Key Verse

Hebrews 1:1-2: In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

Introduction

The book of Hebrews stands as one of the most magnificent defenses of Christ’s supremacy ever written. Its original readers were Jewish Christians facing intense pressure to abandon their faith in Jesus and return to the familiar traditions of Judaism. Some were questioning whether Jesus really was the promised Messiah. Others wondered if the Old Testament ceremonies and sacrifices might be more reliable than this new faith in Christ. The writer of Hebrews addresses these doubts with a powerful message: Jesus Christ is not just another religious teacher or prophet—He is God’s final and perfect revelation to humanity.

We don’t know who wrote this remarkable letter, though many scholars throughout history have suggested the apostle Paul. What we do know is that the Holy Spirit inspired someone with deep knowledge of both the Old Testament and the person of Christ to write these words. The book serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, showing us how everything in the Hebrew Scriptures points forward to Jesus Christ.

The central theme of Hebrews can be captured in one word: “better.” This word appears thirteen times throughout the book, each time highlighting how Christ surpasses everything that came before Him. Christ offers a better revelation, a better priesthood, a better covenant, and a better sacrifice. He is not simply an improvement on the old system—He is the fulfillment and completion of everything God had been preparing for centuries.

In this lesson, we’ll examine the first major section of Hebrews, which establishes the foundation for everything else the book teaches. Here we discover the magnificent truth about who Jesus Christ is and why He stands supreme over all other revelations from God.

Here are the main truths we’ll explore together:

• The superiority of Christ’s revelation
• The divine nature of Christ
• The human nature of Christ
• The supremacy of Christ over angels
• The supremacy of Christ over Moses

The Superiority of Christ’s Revelation

The book of Hebrews opens with one of the most profound statements about divine revelation in all of Scripture. The writer immediately establishes that while God spoke in the past through many different prophets using various methods, He has now given us His final and complete word through His Son.

Hebrews 1:1-2: In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

Throughout Old Testament history, God revealed Himself through dreams, visions, burning bushes, still small voices, and dramatic signs. He spoke through Moses at Mount Sinai, through Isaiah in the temple, through Ezekiel by the river, and through many other faithful servants. Each prophet received a portion of God’s truth and faithfully delivered it to the people. But none of these servants, no matter how faithful, could give the complete picture of who God is.

(Notebook Moment: Think about how you might try to describe a beautiful sunset to someone who has never seen one. Even your best words would fall short of the actual experience. How does this help you understand why God’s final revelation had to come through His Son rather than through human messengers?)

Jesus Christ is not simply another prophet in a long line of God’s spokesmen. He is the Son through whom God has spoken His final word to humanity. When we see Jesus, we see the exact representation of God’s character. When we hear Jesus speak, we hear the very words of God Himself. No additional revelation is needed because Christ has perfectly revealed the Father to us.

John 14:9: Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

This truth should fill us with confidence as we read the New Testament. We are not reading the opinions of men or the speculations of philosophers. We are discovering the perfect revelation of God Himself through His beloved Son.

The Divine Nature of Christ

The writer of Hebrews wants to make absolutely certain that his readers understand who Jesus Christ truly is. In verses 2 and 3 of chapter 1, he presents seven magnificent truths about Christ’s divine nature that establish His complete equality with God the Father.

Hebrews 1:2-3: But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

First, Christ is the appointed heir of all things. Everything that belongs to the Father also belongs to the Son. This inheritance includes not only all material creation, but also all authority, honor, and glory. When we worship Christ, we are not worshiping a created being—we are worshiping the one to whom all creation belongs.

Psalm 2:8: Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

Second, Christ is the creator of the universe. The same Jesus who walked the dusty roads of Palestine and died on a cross outside Jerusalem is the one through whom every star, planet, mountain, and ocean came into existence. Nothing exists that He did not create.

John 1:3: Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Third, Christ is the radiance of God’s glory. Just as the brightness of the sun is inseparable from the sun itself, so the glory of Christ is inseparable from the glory of God. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, his face shone with a reflected glory that faded away. But Christ’s glory is not reflected—it is the very glory of God Himself.

John 1:14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Fourth, Christ is the exact representation of God’s being. The word used here means a perfect imprint or precise reproduction. Just as a coin bears the exact image of the die that stamped it, so Jesus bears the exact nature and character of God the Father. To know Christ is to know God perfectly.

Colossians 1:15: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Fifth, Christ sustains all things by His powerful word. Not only did He create everything, but He also holds everything together moment by moment. The forces that keep atoms stable, planets in orbit, and seasons changing all depend on His continuous power.

Colossians 1:17: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Sixth, Christ provided purification for sins. This statement prepares us for one of the major themes of Hebrews—Christ’s perfect work as our High Priest. Unlike the Old Testament priests who offered sacrifices repeatedly, Christ offered one perfect sacrifice that completely cleanses us from sin.

1 John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Seventh, Christ sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. This posture indicates that His work of redemption is complete. The Old Testament priests never sat down because their work was never finished. But Christ sat down because He had accomplished everything necessary for our salvation.

Hebrews 10:12: But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

The Human Nature of Christ

While Hebrews strongly emphasizes Christ’s divine nature, it also clearly teaches that Jesus became a true human being. This truth is essential because Christ could not serve as our High Priest or represent us before God unless He fully shared our human experience.

Hebrews 2:17: For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

The incarnation—God becoming man—is one of the most wonderful and mysterious truths in all of Scripture. Jesus did not simply appear to be human or temporarily take on human form. He became truly and completely human while remaining fully God. He experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue, sorrow, and all the other aspects of human life, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

This truth should encourage us greatly in our struggles. When we face temptation, we can remember that our High Priest understands exactly what we are going through. When we feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges, we can come boldly to the one who faced even greater challenges and emerged victorious.

(Notebook Moment: How does it change your perspective on prayer to know that Jesus, as both God and man, perfectly understands both your human struggles and God’s divine power to help you?)

The Supremacy of Christ over Angels

Having established Christ’s divine and human natures, the writer of Hebrews demonstrates His superiority over angels. This comparison was particularly important for Jewish readers, who held angels in high regard as God’s heavenly messengers. The argument shows that Christ is not merely another heavenly being, but the one whom even angels worship.

Hebrews 1:4: So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The writer supports this claim with several Old Testament quotations that show Christ’s superiority. Angels are called God’s servants, but Christ is called God’s Son. Angels are created beings who serve God temporarily, but Christ reigns eternally. Angels worship Christ, but Christ is never shown worshiping anyone except the Father.

Hebrews 1:6: And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

The comparison with angels also addresses a practical concern. Some might wonder how the message delivered through Christ could be more authoritative than the Law, which was delivered through angels. The writer shows that since Christ is superior to angels, His message must also be superior to any message delivered through angelic messengers.

Hebrews 2:2-3: For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

The Supremacy of Christ over Moses

The final comparison in this section demonstrates Christ’s superiority over Moses, the most revered figure in Jewish history. This comparison required careful handling because Moses held such an honored place in the hearts and minds of the Hebrew people. The writer acknowledges Moses’ faithfulness while showing that Christ holds a higher position.

Hebrews 3:3-6: Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

The distinction is clear: Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house, but Christ is the Son over God’s house. Moses was part of the system that pointed forward to something greater, but Christ is the fulfillment of everything the system represented. Moses delivered the law that showed people their need for salvation, but Christ provides the salvation that the law could never give.

This comparison helps us understand the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament was not a mistake or a failed experiment—it was God’s preparation for the coming of Christ. Every ceremony, sacrifice, and symbol pointed forward to the perfect work that Jesus would accomplish.

(Notebook Moment: Consider how the most faithful human leaders you know still have weaknesses and limitations. How does this help you appreciate the truth that we now have a perfect Leader in Jesus Christ?)

Conclusion

The opening chapters of Hebrews present us with a stunning portrait of Jesus Christ that should transform how we think about our faith. We are not following another religious teacher or following human wisdom. We are trusting in the one who is both fully God and fully man, the one through whom God has spoken His final word to humanity.

Christ is superior to every prophet because He doesn’t just deliver God’s message—He is God’s message. He is superior to every angel because they worship Him as their Creator and Lord. He is superior to Moses because He is the Son over the house rather than a servant in the house.

This truth has practical implications for how we live each day. When we face difficult decisions, we can turn to Christ with confidence, knowing that He has all wisdom and authority. When we struggle with sin, we can come to Him knowing that He understands our temptations and has provided complete forgiveness. When we wonder if God really cares about our problems, we can remember that God loved us so much that He sent His own Son to share our human experience and provide for our salvation.

The readers of Hebrews were tempted to turn back to the old system because it seemed more familiar and comfortable. We face similar temptations when we look to anything other than Christ for our security, identity, or hope. The message of these opening chapters is clear: nothing and no one can compare to Jesus Christ. He is God’s final word, and in Him we find everything we need for life and godliness.

As we continue studying Hebrews together, we’ll discover even more about what Christ has accomplished for us and how we should respond to His great salvation. But the foundation has been laid in these chapters: Jesus Christ is supreme over everything and everyone. This truth should fill our hearts with worship, our minds with confidence, and our lives with purpose as we follow the one who is worthy of all honor and glory.

Check Your Understanding

Take this 5-question quiz to check your understanding of this lesson.

Congratulations on completing this lesson! Click on the “Next Lesson” button below when you are ready to continue.