Greater than Angels

Some of us love a good argument. And I don’t mean a shouting match and hurt feelings, I mean some of us love some good argumentation, where you present your premise or argument, and then you support that idea with various proofs or logical deduction. Then your opposite will argue where they think you’re wrong and use arguments and logic to get there. A robust tête-à-tête with a friendly sparring partner can be quite invigorating and good exercise for the mind.

What does this have to do with Hebrews? Hebrews is a bit like one side of an extended argument with proofs and logic. The author is covering off potential counter arguments from his hearers and driving home his point. A bit like an essay where you stack up reasons why your thesis is correct.

But in Hebrews it is not done like a done in the way you would expect a first century Jew to do it. He is a committed Christian, and he is arguing for the truth that Christians must hold onto.

His main overarching point of the whole book is captured in Hebrews 1:3:

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is The Supreme one!

Now as we move into the body of the book, we’re going to get a series of arguments that support the idea that Jesus is Supreme, the greatest, top dog, that he divine and what that means about how we should respond to this fact.

The first set of arguments we’re looking at today makes the case that Jesus, the Son of God is Greater than the Angels.

The Son is Greater than the Angels

In this section we have 7 proofs that the Angels are lesser than the Son of God. We’re going to go over each of them briefly and then we’ll answer the question “what are the angels up to these days?”

These 7 proofs are put forward to justify the statement found in vs 4. After Jesus made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the father...

Hebrews 1:4 ESV

having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Jesus is higher than the angels. Jesus has greater honor, greater status, greater position. He is greater, more superior in every way.

Now to you, you might take this for granted. “Of course Jesus is greater than the angels!” Why would we need to argue this point? Why does it matter that Jesus is greater than angels?

You have the benefit of history, where a lot of stuff has already been straitened out before you. To first century Hebrews, it wasn’t as plainly obvious as you might think. They needed help seeing this.

They knew that there were a bunch of spiritual beings who served God. There were a bunch that were loyal to God and a bunch who were rebellious along with Satan. In the first century the good guys, the loyal spiritual beings were often known collectively as “Angels” or “messengers” of God.

Reconciling the divine status of Jesus. How does Jesus fit? Monotheist & Trinitarian. 1 God in three persons. This argument shows us how Jesus fits.

JWs wrong here - They say that Jesus was an angel, not God himself. Similarly the Mormon’s argue that Jesus was not God incarnate, but rather the brother of Satan. We need to be reminded that Jesus was not “an” angel, but God himself. Proving that Jesus was above the angels is a big step in getting there.

Proof 1: Psalm 2:7

From the famous Psalm 2.

Hebrews 1:5 ESV

For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?

Jesus is the Messiah of Psalm 2 - anointed one. Remember Anointed = Christ = Messiah.

The Anointed one of Psalm 2 is the Son of God. He is begotten of god the Father. Eternally begotten.

God talks about nobody else like this. So you have proof 1 - God saying to a man that he has a special paternal relationship with God. This Son of God is in a speacial class of 1.

Proof 2: 2 Samuel 7:14

This proof comes from the covenantal promise God makes to King David.

Hebrews 1:5 ESV

Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?

Here God promises to be a father to David’s descendants, along with promises to make David’s decedents king forever.

Jesus is The Son of David who is the Son of God

Than angels don’t get promises like that.

Proof 3: Deuteronomy 32:43

This is the next proof.

Hebrews 1:6 ESV

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

Dealing with LXX! - The greek translation of the OT varies at places from the Hebrew. 1st century jews, and thus Christians used the LXX. Jesus used the LXX.

Se we get into an awkward place sometimes where the two don’t match, and the NT is making a case for a theological point in the variation. Lets have a look at the passage in an English translation of LXX

Deuteronomy 32:43 LES

Delight, O heavens, with him and worship him, you sons of God. Delight, O nations, with his people and prevail with him, all you angels of God. For he will avenge the blood of his sons...

compare with

Deuteronomy 32:43 ESV

“Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children...

Th author argues that this part of Deuteronomy refers to the Son, and that the angels should worship the Son.

Proof 4: Psalm 104:4

God has spiritual beings who serve him as messengers and servants. But they are messengers not ruling over God’s people. But they don;t get the same treatement as the Son.

Hebrews 1:7 ESV

Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”

Lofty job, good work.

But not like the son!

Proof 5: Psalm 45:6-7

The Son is the anointed one who loved righteousness and hated wickedness - he is the King of Psalm 45, he will receive his Bride!

Hebrews 1:8–9 ESV

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.”

Jesus is the messiah

Jesus is the King

Jesus will be elevated in honour.

Proof 6: Psalm 102:25-27

Author ties Creation to the Son, he will last forever.

Hebrews 1:10–12 ESV

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.”

Proof 7: Psalm 110:1

God doesn’t tell the angels to sit next to him in the place of honour!

Hebrews 1:13 ESV

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”?

One of the most quoted psalms in the NT

What do Angels do now?

Hebrews 1:14 ESV

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Rehetorical Question. YES!

We do not have any evidence that each person gets a personal “gaurdian angel” but it is true that God’s spiritual messengers are his agents serving God’s mission to save a people for himself.

Angles

So What?

The Son is Greater than the Angels

The Whole OT testifies to the fact that Jesus was the promised messiah, the Son of God and he is elevated above all.

Angels, while glorious, are not on the same level as Jesus.

The angels are at work serving God by serving God’s people, the inheritors of Salvation.

If you are a Child of God, you must inherit salvation!