Better Than Angels 1

Text: Hebrews 1:5-14

Introduction

The writer of Hebrews is presenting a truth of assurance that Jesus is the EXCLUSIVE & SUPREME WAY to enter into a covenant relationship with the Father.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Greater than Angels (Hebrews 1:4–2:18)

Angels were most important in the Jewish religion, primarily because thousands of angels assisted in the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. This fact is stated in

Galatians 3:19 “19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”

Q — Can you think of any sayings, songs, or movies that depict angels a certain way?

Our modern culture has often times been abscessed with angels. I have had conversations with people where there was no doubt that their authority on the topic was Hollywood.

I’ve head things like:

“My momma got her wings today”

“My momma is my guardian angel”

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets it’s wings”

What we can learn from the Bible is that angels are:

Created beings

Powerful beings

Move within the presence of God

Are merely servants

Acts 17:11 “11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

That being said, it is certain, we are not able to grasp all the implications of angels. However, we should never doubt who is due all glory; JESUS CHRIST! That is the main premise of our text tonight and will continue on in to chapter 2.

MAIN PRINCIPLE: Angels are merely servants, but the Son is superior because he is God and will reign forever.

Q — What is often times the narrative the world offers about Jesus? Who do they often times claim Him to be?

Never existed

Just a good man

A respectable prophet or teacher

Simply a martyr for social justice

John 5:18 “18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

Matthew 16:15 “15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?”

1) Old Testament Proofs

Verses 5-6

A. First Old Testament Proof

The writer asks a question with an obvious answer; NONE.

First Old Testament Proof

The writer is quoting from Psalm 2:7:

Psalm 2:7 “7 I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee.”

Within this Psalm, there is a picture of earthly Gentile kings trying to break away from God’s authority

Psalm 2:8–9 “8 Ask of me, And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

(v7) Focuses on “my Son”

This promise was made to the Son from the Father!

“this day I have begotten thee”

This is not referring to the “creation” of Jesus.

This is not referring to His first coming.

Acts 13:30–33 “30 But God raised him from the dead: 31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

The promise of Psalm 2, was fulfilled when the Father raised Jesus from the dead. God did not raise an angel from the dead!

The point being made is that God would raise up a man that He would call “His Son” and then raise from the dead.

Luke 1:32 “32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:”

Mark 1:11 “11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

B. Second Old Testament Proof

“and again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

This time, the writer is quoting from:

2 Samuel 7:14 “14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:”

It is important that we get the fuller context by reading verses 8-17

First, lets examine verses 8-11

(Pose these as questions)

David desired to build a “house” (Temple) for the Lord to dwell near His people.

David was denied this, but rather spent the remaining life preparing for it to be built.

Solomon would later build the Temple following David’s death.

However, His kingdom ended in the very next generation: It split into the Northern & Southern Kingdoms.

The Northern Kingdom was defeated by the Assyrians and the Southern Kingdom was defeated by the Babylonians.

Second, lets examine verses 9-17

This passage is looking toward a king who’s kingdom would remain forever!

Jeremiah 23:5–6 “5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Remember the announcement to Mary from Gabriel — Luke 1:32–33 “32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

C. Third Old Testament Proof (v6-7)

“and again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world”

Not referring to the “first advent” of Jesus, but rather the second.

firstborn adj. — of or designating the son first in order of birth; especially all the rights and privileges that accompany being the firstborn.

It is a legal term. It is also used in:

Psalm 89:27 “27 Also I will make him my firstborn, Higher than the kings of the earth.”

It is dealing with Jesus’ exalted position as being the “firstborn from the dead.”

Colossians 1:18 “18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Revelation 1:5 “5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

“let all the angels of God worship him.”

(v7) “Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers...”

Psalm 104:1–5 “1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: Who maketh the clouds his chariot: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind: 4 Who maketh his angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire: 5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be removed for ever.”

God created the world through the Son. The angels simply served as servants to Jesus during creation.

2) The Eternal Kingdom Is Promised Only To The Son

Verses 8-9

A. Jesus is more than an earthly King

Psalm 45:6–7 “6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: The sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Turn to Psalm 45 and notice the transition from the first 5 verses to verse 6: A transition from an earthly king to the King to come.

Quote: (Derek Kidner) “An example of the Old Testament language bursting its banks, to demand a more than human fulfillment”

This is a picture of the very kingdom Jesus offered His people during His earthly ministry, but they refused it.

B. Jesus shares His kingdom with Believers

Notice the word “fellows”

Luke 5:7 “7 And they beckoned unto their partners (same word), which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”

Occurs: Hebrews 1:9; 3:1; 3:14; 6:4; 12:18.

Hebrews 2:10–11 “10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”

Hebrews 3:14 “14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”

Romans 8:17 “17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

3) Jesus Is The Superior Creator

Verses 10-12

Quotes from Psalm 102:25-27:

Psalm 102:25–27 “25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: And the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, And thy years shall have no end.”

Jesus as Creator is demonstrates His eternality over that of the temporary creation.

The writer compares the current universe as a “sheet folded up” by Jesus Christ. He will create a new Heaven and earth. (Revelation 21)

4) Jesus Is The Superior Conqueror

Verses 13-14

A. A promise to conquer

Quoting from Psalm 110:1:

Psalm 110:1 “1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Jesus understands this to be applying to Himself:

Matthew 22:42–46 “42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.”

The Hebrew writer is making the point, God did not address the angels when making this promise.

You can read more about this in Daniel 7 and Revelation 5.

B. Angels are God servers (v14)

“ministering spirits” — God serving supernatural beings.

If they serve Jesus, and they do, then they are also serving those who are His children!

“heirs of salvation” — future deliverance

Romans 13:11 “11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

1 Peter 1:5 “5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”