3: Better Than Angels (Heb 1:4-14) - SRI Devotion

We are now 2 weeks into this teaching through the writing we call HEBREWS. I trust that you have been encouraged and challenged by what we have studied so far. It is deep and powerful and we have much more to mine under the surface.

Listen to what John MacArthur says about this chapter.

I cannot remember a passage on which I have spent more time. To some extent, it is like an iceberg. You can see the top clearly enough, but it may not appear too impressive or meaningful. We will be looking below the surface of this passage into its deep truths.

So, today let’s back up, read the beginning of Hebrews and then dig in where we left off, in verse 4.

Hebrews 1:1–3 (CSB)

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Jesus is Better. Jesus is better than all the Temple rituals, priests, sacrifices, prophets, and kings.

God not only spoke through prophets in the past, but He also spoke through other powerful and mysterious beings - ANGELS.

And Jesus is better than them too!

Many people have a fascination with angels.

Some think that angels are humans who lived a good life and look over their loved ones who are still alive on the Earth.

Still others think that angels are mythical creatures who don’t really exist,

while some have imagined that angels are naked babies who shoot arrows. But, NONE of this is Biblical teaching.

First, no one goes to heaven because they lived a good life. This is why Jesus came, to die for people who have sinned.

Second, no one who goes to heaven as an angel. It’s much better than that! Those who trust Jesus will be transformed into humans who never die, have no more sin nature, and see Jesus face to face! Paul even writes that followers of Jesus will one day JUDGE angels (1 Cor 6:3).

Third, angels are not man-made myths nor naked babies.

FACTBOOK: ANGELS

The term “Angel” comes from the Hebrew malak and the Greek angelos, which both mean “messenger”.

Angels are mentioned over 100 times in the Old Testament and more than 160 times in the New Testament.

The Hebrew audience receiving this letter would have been familiar with what the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) said of angels:

When appearing as visible messengers, they often appeared to be human men (e.g. Gen 18:2; 19:1, 2; Jos 5:13-14).

Sometimes angels were present although invisible protectors of God’s people, and prosecutors who fight on their behalf (Ex 14:19; 23:23; 2 Kings 6:17; 19:35; Ps 34:7). Sometimes angels even punished God’s disobedient people (2 Sam 24:15-17).

Angels are powerful creatures who serve & worship God in heaven (Is 6:2-3) and carry out His purposes on earth.

Many Jews believed that the Old Covenant was brought to them by angelic messengers.

In the New Testament angels are probably best known as MESSENGERS who brought news of Jesus’ birth to Joseph (Mt 1:20), Mary (Lk 1:16-38), and the shepherds (Lk 2:10-15).

Angels are powerful, heavenly MESSENGERS of God. But…

Jesus is Better than all the angels.

And the writer of Hebrews now makes this point over and over again, by quoting 7 Old Testament passages (Ps 2:7; 2 Sam 7:14; Deut 32:43; Ps 104:4; 45:6–7; 102:25–27; 110:1).

1 and 2 of 7 Old Covenant Quotes

Hebrews 1:4–5

So He became superior to the angels, just as the name He inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did he ever say, You are my Son; today I have become your Father [from Psalm 2:7], or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son? [from 2 Samuel 7:14]

What is this name He inherited that is more excellent than theirs? It’s the name/title “Son”.

As we saw last week, these are quotes are…

from Psalms 2:7 that says: “You are my Son; today I have become Your Father” and was applied to David, but was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

And from 2 Samuel 7:14 as God speaks to David:

2 Samuel 7:12–14a

When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son.

While this was first applied to Solomon, the one who built God’s temple, it was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, of whom God would establish the throne of His kingdom forever.

We see this confirmed when an angel speaks to Mary about the upcoming birth of Jesus.

Luke 1:32–33

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

So, what’s the answer to the question: “For to which of the angels did he 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?” ANSWER: NONE!

3 of 7 Old Covenant Quotes

Hebrews 1:6

Again, when He brings his Firstborn into the world, he says, And let all God’s angels worship him. [from Deut 32:43]

Calling Jesus the “firstborn” does not mean “first created”, as Jehovah’s Witnesses will tell you. They do this to try to dilute the deity of Jesus. They claim that since Jesus is the Son of God, the firstborn of all creation, that this means Jesus is God’s created kid.

But as we have already seen in Hebrews, Jesus is the Son who is heir of all things and the Creator of all things in the universe (Heb 1:2-3).

Firstborn is in reference to Jesus’ authority over others. Firstborn does not always refer to the one BORN FIRST, but to one who is in authority over all others in the family.

We see examples of this in the story of Jacob & Esau. Although Esau is born first, God calls Jacob His “firstborn”.

In Psalm 89:27, firstborn, is referring to King David:

Psalm 89:27

I will also make him my firstborn, greatest of the kings of the earth.

Of course, David wasn’t even the firstborn in his family! Chronologically, he was the LAST BORN (1 Sam 16:3-13). Clearly, firstborn isn’t referring to birth order but to supremacy over all others - the One to whom all others must submit to.

We might say it this way:

Jesus is the “first born” and Firstborn = Large and In Charge!

This makes sense when we see what the author writes next:

Hebrews 1:6

Again, when He brings his Firstborn into the world, he says, And let all God’s angels worship him.

[* This quote comes from “the song of Moses” in Deut. 32:43 LXX, as found in the book of Odes, the first “hymnal supplement” in Church history, where the phrase “sons of God” has been changed to “angels of God”.]

The only one worthy of worship in Scripture is GOD. Yet God tells the angels to worship the Son. This is nothing new. Before coming to earth as a humble human, Jesus had the same glory as God the Father. Remember when Jesus prayed this just before His crucifixion?

John 17:4–5

I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, glorify me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.

We see that Jesus is worthy of worship in the writing we call Revelation.

Revelation 5:11–12

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!

Revelation 5:13–14

I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

The angels and every other created being will one day bow to the authority of the Lamb - the Son of God - Jesus!

The author continues, quoting the 4th & 5th of 7 Old Covenant passages, to contrast the difference between angels and Jesus.

4 & 5 of 7 Old Covenant Quotes

Hebrews 1:7–9

And about the angels he says: He makes his angels winds, and his servants a fiery flame [from Ps 104:4], but to the Son: Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions. [from Ps 45:6-7]

This comes from Psalm 45:6-7. In contrast,

while the angels are God’s powerful servants and messengers,

the Son is the anointed king, who sits on the throne forever and ever, at the right hand of the Father, wielding the scepter of authority over every created being, including angels.

Although the writer of Hebrews doesn’t mention this, even fallen angels (aka demons) recognize the authority of Jesus. Remember when they see Jesus and immediately recognize who He is? Here are a couple of examples. First, Jesus was in the synagogue in Capernaum that I was able to stand in last year.

Luke 4:34

“Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Jesus told the demon to shut up and get out…and it did.

Next, here’s another example where a man who was demon possessed man who lived among the tombs and ran around naked, a man who was able to snap the chains and shackles that were put on him.

Luke 8:28

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said in a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!”

Luke 8:30–31

“What is your name?” Jesus asked him. “Legion,” he said, because many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to banish them to the abyss.

What are these demons afraid of? A Jewish man? NOPE. These demons are afraid of The Son of God, the One who created them, the One who they used to worship and whom righteous angels still worship; the One who had the authority to cast them to hell forever!

The angels are God’s messengers, but Jesus is Better than angels, because Jesus is God’s Messiah.

The angels are God’s servants, but Jesus is Better than angels, because Jesus is God’s Son.

The writer continues with his 6th quote from the Old Covenant.

6 of 7 Old Covenant Quotes

Hebrews 1:10–12

And: In the beginning, Lord, You established the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain. They will all wear out like clothing; You will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like clothing. But You are the same, and Your years will never end. [from Psalm 102:25-27]

This Psalm is written about God as the Eternal Creator, yet the writer of Hebrews is applying it to…Jesus!

Try plugging Jesus behind “Lord” and hear it.

“In the beginning, Lord [Jesus], You established the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain.”

The earth and heavens will perish? What’s up with THAT?

My high school actually had a planetarium in it. I had that class at 8am and was actually able to stay awake a few days through the entire class. I remember hearing how stars had run out of fuel and died. We were told the same would happen to our Sun one day - and I was terrified. Of course it is estimated that won’t happen for another 5 billion years.

But knowing that our solar system will not last forever is quite concerning. Did ancient Astronomers know this? Doubtful. Yet the writer of Hebrews knew this would occur.

And so, the author compares the universe perishing and Jesus remaining to a person outlasting their worn-out clothing that they roll up and throw away.

The earth and heavens Jesus made will wear out, but Jesus the Creator keeps going and going and going, as he notes about Jesus: “Your years never end.”

7 of 7 Old Covenant Quotes

Hebrews 1:13–14

Now to which of the angels has He ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies your footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation? [from Psalm 110:1]

The answer to the 2nd question, “aren’t angels sent by God serve His people?” - is - YES. But while Angels are messengers who serve, Jesus is the Messiah who serves, saves & rules! Jesus is Better than Angels.

The answer to the 1st question, to which angels has God said “sit at My right hand until I make your enemies your footstool” is: NONE. This quote, from Psalms 110:1, is one of the favorite Psalms of the early church, as they recognized its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. Further, Jesus quoted it about Himself (Matt 22:42–45).

Using an enemy as a footstool is ancient imagery for defeating an enemy, where the conquering king would place his foot on the neck of the defeated leaders as a footstool, just as Joshua had his leaders do to the kings who fought against the Hebrew people (Joshua 10:24).

This is what God will do to the enemies of Jesus. They will BOW before Him, defeated by the One who once offered them peace by shedding His own blood.

When Romans would besiege a city they would send an ambassador into the city to warn them of what was coming. They city could 1) surrender and submit and be treated kindly OR 2) they could refuse and some would be killed while others would be made slaves.

This is what will happen to those who oppose the reign of King Jesus - they will be FORCED to bow before Him.

Paul says it this way:

Philippians 2:7b–9

And when He had come as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,

Philippians 2:10–11

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow - in heaven and on earth and under the earth - and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The only question is…will we CHOOSE to bow NOW or will we be forced to LATER?

IF THAT DAY were TO-DAY…are you confident that Jesus is LORD over your life? Is there evidence that you bow now?

Do you have a desire to KNOW and OBEY Jesus? Do you think about Jesus and thank Him during the day, or is Sunday the only day you consider Him?

When you sin, does it drive you to Jesus’ feet or does it cause you to run further away?

When you imagine the return of Jesus in your lifetime, does this CONCERN you or COMFORT you? Does it SCARE you or EXCITE you?

If Jesus were returning this week, how would you live differently? And…how do you KNOW He isn’t going to return this week?

If any of these questions cause you pause, please talk with a follower of Jesus who can help you answer your questions.

So far, the writer of Hebrews has communicated that...

Jesus is Better than the powerful Prophets (v1) because Jesus is the Son, the Creator and inheritor of all things, the radiance of God’s glory, the exact expression of God’s nature, the One who made purification for our sins by going to the cross; when then raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father - the place of honor and authority.

And now we have seen, that as powerful as angels are, they don’t hold a candle to the brilliance of Jesus! Jesus is Better than Angels.

Jesus is the Eternal King of all creation, the One to whom every creature will one day bow their knee, the One to whom every one of US…will bow our knees. Will you choose to BOW NOW, or will you be forced to BOW LATER?

PRAY