Jesus Is > Angels

Introduction

Show diagram. . . review what we touched on last week and where we are going. . .

Key Point: Jesus is greater than the angels because he is the eternal Son and king, and he is our perfect mediator and high priest.

Jesus’ superiority over the angels can be seen in two ways. . .

First, he is greater than the angels in his nature and role.

We will see this in Hebrews 1:5-14.

Second, he is greater than the angels in the way he relates to us.

We will see this in Hebrews 2:5-18.

So, lets look at how Jesus is greater than the angels.

1. Eternal Son and King (1:5-14)

In Hebrews 1:5-14, the author uses seven Old Testament passages to demonstrate how the Son is superior to the angels.

Now, you might be wondering. . . “Why does he feel the need to demonstrate that Jesus is superior to the angels?”

In Judaism, the law was the pinnacle of their religion.

Therefore, whoever this law was mediated and given through was viewed as great.

Acts 7:53 and Gal. 3:19 say that God gave the law through angels.

So, for Jews, Angels held a very high status right below the Lord as mediators of the law.

Some Jewish teachers saw Jesus as superhuman but not divine and gave him an angelic status.

If Jesus was just like one of the angels, then his message should not be given priority over the message that was given through the angels to the people of Israel (The Law).

Remember. . . the Hebrews were tempted to go back to the Old Covenant and practices of Judaism in order to escape persecution.

They could “save face” by confessing that Jesus was exalted, extremely powerful, even died and rose again, but was similar to one of the angels.

This is what Jehovah’s witnesses do today.

Our culture can also do this when we view Jesus as the most exalted man ever to walk the earth, who was the best teacher and lived the ethical life we could ever follow. . . but still deny he is God.

For us. . . we even do this anytime we place anything as more important than Jesus and view him as lesser than our temporary possessions.

So in light of this temptation to go back to Judaism and the Old Covenant. . . the author uses the same Scriptures that the Hebrews were seeking to revert back to in order to demonstrate that these Scriptures and the Old Covenant itself was pointing to, is about, and is fulfilled in Jesus!

Once more, this demonstrates to us that Jesus is the interpretive key to understanding the Old Testament.

Also, by using these passages from the Old Testament, the author proves the validity of all Scripture and that it is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16).

Now, these seven OT quotations in verses 5-14 can be separated into three sections. . . two of those sections consist of three quotations. . . two referring to the Son and one referring the angels.

The last section contains one OT quotation to solidify the superiority of the Son over the angels in his place of authority at the Father’s right hand.

First Section: Eternal Son (v. 5-6)

Hebrews 1:5–6 “For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Compare and Contrast. . . USE HANDOUT

Jesus is God’s only begotten (one and only) Son.

The Angels are not God’s only Son but rather called to worship Jesus as God’s only Son. . . from Psalm 97:7.

So, these verses declare that Jesus is greater than the angels because Jesus is the eternal Son of God.

Second and Third Sections: Eternal King (v. 7-14)

In the second section and third sections, the author next shows that Jesus is greater than angels based on his role as the eternal king.

Hebrews 1:7–14 (ESV)

Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “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.”

And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Compare and Contrast. . . USE HANDOUT

Angels

Created beings that change and shift like the wind (v. 7; Psalm 104:4).

Continuing to work and serve God and his people (v. 13-14)

Jesus

The Eternal God who has created all things and does not change (v. 10-12; Psalm 102:25-27).

The eternal king who’s kingdom will reign forever (v. 8-9; Psalm 45:6-7).

Has the supreme place of authority being seated at the Father’s right hand (His work is complete. . . v. 13-14; Psalm 110:1).

So, Hebrews 1:5-14 teach us that Jesus is greater than the angels because of his relationship to the Father being his eternal son, and his role as the eternal king.

2. Perfect Mediator and High Priest (2:5-18)

Continuing to use OT passages, in Hebrews 2:5-18 the author proclaims that Jesus is greater than angels because of his unique relationship to us in being our perfect mediator and High Priest.

A. Perfect Mediator (v. 5-9)

Hebrews 2:5–9 (ESV)

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Jesus is greater than the angels because he has become our mediator fully identifying himself with us as the true Son of Man.

The author proves this through saying that the world to come, which is the new heavens and new earth, has been given not to angels but to the son of man.

He then backs up this statement by quoting Psalm 8:4-6.

This Psalm has a dual meaning.

It is pointing back to Genesis 1:28 and refers to the creation of Adam and Eve.

Even though humanity seems to be insignificant in view of the greatness of the universe. . . God is mindful of them and cares for them.

When he created Adam and Eve he crowned them with glory and honor because he made them in his own image to be his kingdom priests on earth. . . to rule and reign as his representatives.

And their priest king role was demonstrated by God placing all things their feet.

However, at the end of verse 8, the author says that “at present we don’t yet see all things under his (the son of man-humanity’s) feet.

This refers to the fall into sin and Adam and Eve not being able to fulfill the role as God’s priest King.

So how can this be made right?

The second meaning of this Psalm shows how this failure of Adam and Eve can be made right as the author of Hebrews uses it to point ahead to the true Son of Man. . . Jesus Christ.

The author does this in verse 9 by showing that Jesus succeeded in every way that Adam and Eve failed. . . he was made lower than the angels when he took on flesh but fulfilled his role as priest King perfectly through suffering death for us. . . this led to him being crowned with glory and honor at his resurrection and will finally lead to all things being placed under his feet at the end of the age.

So by identifying Jesus with Psalm 8, the author reveals to us that Jesus is greater than the angels because. . .

He has been crowned with glory and honor.

He is our mediator (He made purification for our sins through the suffering of his death in our place).

He can identify with us as he has become like us in every way (apart from sin).

B. Perfect Mediator (v. 10-13)

Hebrews 2:10–13 (ESV)

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.

That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

In this passage, the author continues to show how Jesus is our eternal mediator because he. . .

Is the founder (champion) of our faith (v. 10).

He was made perfect through suffering (v. 10).

Made perfect=consecration, ordination. . . making it possible to be our mediator.

God is both our and Jesus’ Father. . . Jesus is our brother (v. 11-12; Ps. 22:22).

Notice that Jesus is NOT ASHAMED of us. . . He is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters! WOW! This also means we are sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ and heirs to his throne. . . for we now sit with Christ Jesus in the heavenly places! (Eph. 2:7).

“Here our preacher calls us to marvel that, in the words of Psalm 22, the gloriously divine and messianic Son identifies himself without embarrassment with his sinful, struggling, siblings.” -Dennis Johnson

Jesus trusted in the Father for deliverance perfectly for us (v. 13; Is. 8:17-18).

So, to summarize, Jesus is greater than the angels because. . .

He is the founder and champion of our faith because he has accomplished our salvation and won us the victory through his death on the cross.

He has made us his brothers and sisters in Christ and fully identified himself with us in every way.

He exhibits perfect trust in the Father for us that earns our deliverance when we trust in him.

Verses 14-18 continue to describe Jesus as greater due to his role as our perfect mediator, but it also signifies his role as our perfect high priest.

Perfect High Priest (v. 14-18)

Hebrews 2:14–18 ESV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

These verses demonstrate that Jesus is greater than the angels because. . .

He had flesh and blood and was like us in every way. (v. 14, 17)

If he did not have flesh and blood (was not fully man), he could not die for us and be our representative. . . as our brother.

He died for us to destroy the works of the devil who had the power of death to free us from slavery to the fear of death. (14-15).

Jesus does not help angels but is our helper, savior, and great high priest (v. 16-18).

Explain Propitiation

God’s wrath is satisfied and our guilt is removed.

He has identified himself with us in every way. . . he knows how we feel. . . and what we have gone through.

He can help us when we are tempted because he overcame every temptation!

Application

The Word of God is Authoritative.

Use Scripture to prove your point.

Let Scripture interpret Scripture.

In our constantly changing culture, we can trust our unchangeable God.

“When we find ourselves overwhelmed by rapid social change, political disruption, natural disaster, or personal tragedy, our only secure foundation is the Lord, who remains the same, whose years have no end.” -Dennis E. Johnson

Reflect, Rest, and Rejoice in all that God has done for us in Christ as our Mediator and High Priest.

He is mindful of us

Even though we are so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe and eternity, God is mindful of us. . . and not only is he mindful of us, but he has sent his Son to become like us, to live for us, to die for us, and to rise again for us so that we would become sons and daughters of glory and heirs of the world to come!

He is not ashamed of us.

Jesus is not ashamed of us. . . he calls us his brothers and sisters!

He has identified himself with us

He has identified himself with us in every way. . . he knows how we feel. . . and what we have gone through.

He is our Champion!

He has freed us from slavery to the fear of death.

He has made propitiation for our sin.

He can help us when we are tempted because he overcame every temptation!

Jesus is greater than angels because he is the eternal Son, King, Mediator, and Priest. . . but have you received his sacrifice for your sins through repentance and faith?