Hebrews 1:4-14 | "Jesus: Better than Angels" [Live Stream Edition]

Reading of God’s Word

Hebrews 1:4–14 ESV

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 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”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 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.” 13 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”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Pray

Introduction to Theme

God has spoken! Hebrews wants to say “Pay attention to what God has spoken!” That is coming in Chapter 2:1.

But before telling us that we should “pay attention” Hebrews first wants to get our attention.

Someone offered me this advice in pastoring “People don’t care what you know until they know how much you care.”

In other words - people won’t listen to what you have to say if they don’t know how much you care first.

In a similar way, Hebrews is showing us how much God cares, in order to draw us in to hear what God wants us to know.

Hebrews 1:1-3 begins by saying that God speaks, and God has spoken. Both long ago, and in these last days.

But there is a difference between now and then.

Long ago, God spoke in portions, in many ways, through prophets.

In these last days, God has spoken to us by his Son.

Introduction to Text

Listen to Hebrews 1:1-3 again —

Hebrews 1:1–3 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 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,

Immediately we are drawn in to understand that God’s way of speaking in these last days is something far better than before.

Because the One through whom God spoke is far superior to anything and everything else.

In speaking through the Son, God is speaking Himself. Because this Son is One with God.

Verse 4 begins to draw us in even closer around this person called God’s Son.

Verse 4 introduces us to angels, and shows how God’s Son is superior to angels.

One of the ways God spoke long ago was through angels.

The word “angel” means “messenger.”

When angels appeared to people, it usually caused a person to fear. Many times an angel has to say “do not be afraid.”

Obviously angels are not ordinary beings, they are superior to humans in some ways, and yet Hebrews wants to draw on this and say — that the Son is even more superior than angels!

Interestingly, Hebrews defines what an angel is and what an angel does —

Hebrews 1:14 ESV

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

Angels first are spirits, but not just any kind of spirit - they are “ministering spirits”

“ministering” — refers to a “special service” — it is the word we get our word “liturgy” from.

Much like we call a worship gathering a worship “service.” The same idea.

And angels have been “sent out” on assignment (LEB). “to serve” — much like “deacons” are servants, angels are sent to “serve”

Hebrews 1:14 makes clear that angels are sent to serve “for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation.”

That word “inherit” is an important word.

It’s found also in verse 4.

And remember in context, the name of Jesus hasn’t been named yet. He is only referred to as “SON.’ And there is a reason for that.

Jesus’ identity as SON is very important to what Hebrews wants to say, especially in terms of Jesus being the “firstborn” son — this is strong inheritance language.

And this connects with us as well — because if Jesus is appointed the “heir of all things” (1:2) — the “inheritor of all things,” then all who are in Jesus receive an inheritance in His name as well.

Hebrews 1:14 says there is an inheritance known as “salvation.”

I. Hebrews 1:4

Hebrews 1:4 ESV

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

The word “superior” is the word “better.”

It is a word that will be familiar to Hebrews in showing the ways Jesus is better than anything and everything else. He is unique. He has no rival.

And the Son is better than angles just as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

That word “more excellent” means “different.” The Son has inherited a different name. A much more valuable name (BDAG).

The name “Jesus” doesn’t appear in Hebrews until chapter 2:9.

Here he is only described as “Son” and that is the name that he has inherited.

The next few verses explain this:

II. Hebrews 1:5-6

Hebrews 1:5–6 ESV

5 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”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Here, the author of Hebrews asks a question.

Much like what we are doing here.

And the author draws upon several Old Testament Scriptures and applies them to the Son.

Did God ever say to an angel, “You are my Son?”

No! This name of “Son” finds application and fulfillment only in Jesus Christ.

The Son doesn’t worship angels, but God’s angels worship the Son.

From the announcement of Jesus’ birth, to the throne in Heaven as told in Revelation, angels are always worshiping Jesus, not the other way around.

Hebrews goes on to explain in verse 7 what is said about angels:

III. Hebrews 1:7-12

Hebrews 1:7 ESV

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

A quotation from:

Psalm 104:4 ESV

4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.

The text speaks again of the role of angels as messengers and ministers (or servants, same word in verse 14).

But where one Old Testament reference addresses the role of angels, two references are used to explain the role of the Son.

Hebrews 1:8–12 ESV

8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 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.”

Psalm 45:6-7 and Psalm 102:25-27.

Notice what the Son is called in verse 8 — GOD.

Once again Hebrews is telling us that this Son is one with God.

His throne is forever.

He has loved righteousness.

Again, verse 10 says he was involved in laying the foundation of the earth in the beginning. Involved in creation. He remains the same and his years will have no end. He is eternal!

Verse 13 makes one more point:

IV. Hebrews 1:13

Hebrews 1:13 ESV

13 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”?

This is from Psalm 110:1.

Hebrews highlights that the Law, the Prophets, the Psalms — all of the Scriptures point to and find fulfillment in one person — in the Son — in Jesus.

Conclusion | Hebrews 1:14

Chapter 1 concludes this way —

Hebrews 1:14 ESV

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

This tells us the work that God is doing. The work God is doing through the Son.

It is not a service of angels, but a salvation God is bringing about through His Own Son!

And salvation will be inherited, because Jesus will make us Sons too —

by his death for sin, burial and resurrection from the dead we are born again into a new life as sons of God!

Our sinful nature looks for greatness in lesser things.

Our eyes wander. We look for salvation in places that cannot save.

Hebrews wants us to turn our eyes and focus clearly upon Jesus.

And God is giving us the grace to do that in this passage by showing how Jesus is better than everything else, especially angels.

Proposition

The Holy Spirit testifies throughout Scripture that Jesus, rather than angels, is God's Son and in His name we are saved.

This text forms the basis for what is to come, and chapter two will begin with a warning that we all need to pay attention to!