BETTER THAN ANGELS
Hebrews 1:4-14
When we look back at impressive moments of Scripture, we have a tendency to think:
“O, man, I wish I could have been there!”
When the angels were going up and down Jacob’s ladder.
When an angel appeared to Daniel, Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, or the shepherds.
Other incredible occasions when God sent angels to communicate with His people.
We think, “If God would just speak to US that way today.
It would solve so many problems.
Then we could know for sure what God wants us to do.”
There’s a modern fascination with angels, and other supernatural phenomena.
People in our circles talk about angels who have spoken to them, telling them what to do.
We’ve forgotten the warning that Satan sends emissaries dressed as “angels of light.”
The writer of Hebrews wants us to understand that the desire to go back to the days when God speaks through angels represents a giant step backward!
If he were here today, he would ask us, “Why would you want to go back to that?!!”
We have a far better revelation than those spectacular moments!
Jesus brought us the BEST revelation of the Father. He is God’s last Word!
Jesus is the best revelation, because seeing Jesus is the same as seeing the Father.
When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father,
He responded “He who has seen ME has seen the Father”
Last week: Jesus is a better revelation of the Father than the prophets.
Son revelation is better than prophet revelation!
This week: Jesus is a better revelation of the Father than the supernatural revelation that came by angels.
Son revelation is better than angel revelation!
Hebrews is written to Jewish believers, hanging on by their fingernails as the torrent of perse-cution swirled around them, threatening to overwhelm them, because of their faith in Christ.
To escape persecution, many have returned to Judaism.
Others who have not yet returned are considering that option.
Wondering if their faith is worth the sacrifice, they are beginning to drift.
The writer wants us to consider the implications and urges us not to turn back.
He exhorts us to endure persecution.
Rather than turn back, he wants us to continue growing in faith.
The writer begins by demonstrating that Jesus is better than Judaism.
The first evidence: Jesus presents the best revelation of the Father.
The best revelation didn’t come from O.T. prophets. 1:1-3
Son-revelation is even better than supernatural, spectacular, angel-revelation. —Better than the appearance of angels with a direct message from God.
[His revelation is . . .]
BETTER THAN THE ANGELS 1:4-2:18
[. . . because . . .]
JESUS HAS BEEN GIVEN A GREATER NAME 1:4-5
To make his point, the author quotes from Ps. 2 and 2 Sam. 7.
The better name => SON
God has never called any individual angel “son”
He refers to them collectively as “sons”– as those He has made,
but He never refers to any individual angel as His “Son.”
In Psalm 2, “Today I have become your Father” or, “Today I have begotten you,”
Is applied figuratively at the inauguration of the King.
It includes “today.” The king wasn’t born on this day.
At the coronation, the King of God’s people is considered “adopted by God.”
He receives the inheritance and the titles appropriate to being God’s “son.”
God established a Father/Son relationship
between the King God has placed on His throne, and God Himself.
That idea is the basis for the statement in v. 4,
that He has “become greater than the angels,” not because He previously wasn’t,
but the basis for declaring Him greater is inheriting a greater name.
The theocratic son, the royal descendent of David, is declared superior to the angels, because of his special Son-relationship with God.
Being a Son is better than being an angel!
These words fit all royal descendants of David, but it’s true in a unique sense of THE royal descendant of David => MESSIAH.
A study of all of Psalm 2 reveals that its message only fully applies to Jesus, God’s unique Son.
The Hebrew idea of “son” = one who is “like” the Father. Jesus is like God!
There is NO ONE who is like God.
He shares His glory with NO ONE!
God alone deserves our worship. Jesus is unique!
No angel is given that position. Therefore, Jesus is superior to the angels!
This concept of adoption is is affirmed in 2 Sam. 7:14. 1:5b
This promise is directed to Solomon, and to David’s other descendants as well.
No angel is given that position.
Therefore, Messiah is superior to the angels.
Jesus is “Son” in this Davidic sense, like all kings of Judah.
They all point forward to the true “Son,” Messiah.
He’s the “Son” in a unique sense that nobody else could ever fulfill.
That’s the point the author makes in the next section.
[Not only is Jesus greater than angels because He has a better name, but also because...]
JESUS HAS BEEN GIVEN A GREATER POSITION 1:6-14
This section does more than demonstrate Jesus’ superiority to the angels.
This is a series of passages, put together to demonstrate that Jesus is God!
Each of these passages ultimately points to that conclusion.
This is the work of a collector—NOT of a theologian.
As a theologian, I want it all organized in a compact, logical outline.
However, the writer doesn’t cooperate with me! He’s acting like a collector!
A cup collector, or a coin collector, or a gun collector, struggles with how to organize their collection to demonstrate significant facets of the collection, historical factors, type of construction, year of production, etc.,
The writer goes through O.T. pointing at passages that demonstrate that Jesus is BETTER THAN ANGELS—and more—that He is GOD!
The writer makes clear that Jesus is no angel!
The evidence shows that Jesus is DISTINCT from and BETTER than angels!
1. Angels worship Jesus. 1:6 –NOT the other way around!
The superior is always worshiped by the inferior.
He’s referred to as the “firstborn” which some use as evidence that He was born.
“Firstborn” often points to an heir.
Ex. 4:22 –God refers to Israel as His firstborn.
Ps. 89:27 –David is declared the firstborn of all the kings of the earth.
Neither of these could refer to one who is literally born first, as by physical birth.
The firstborn is the heir.
The firstborn receives the double inheritance.
The firstborn receives the right to rule over the father’s realm.
The quote from Deut. 32 is from “Moses’ Song.”
This phrase isn’t included in the Heb. text, but is from the LXX
The phrase is also supported in the Dead Sea scrolls.
Moses’ Song summarizes Israel’s history from beginning to end.
This verse comes at the end; it refers prophetically to the 2nd coming of Christ.
There’s something more important than Jesus’ superiority to angels
The fact that He accepts their worship indicates that He is God!
Acts 10:25-26 –Peter warns Cornelius not to worship him.
He’s just a man—a servant.
Rev. 19:9-10 –John falls down before the angel of God.
Angel responds: “STOP! Don’t do it! I am just a servant! Don’t worship me!
Angels cry out saying “Just worship GOD!!!”
The writer to Hebrews, quoting Moses says:
“Let all God’s angels worship HIM (JESUS) Do you get it? Jesus is GOD!
He will be worshiped by all God’s angels and by all creation.
Phil. 2 “Every knee shall bow ... and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!”
2. Angels are changeable; Jesus is unchangeable 1:7-8 (Ps. 104:4)
Like the winds, angels blow at His command. They are variable. They change.
Angels are like flames of fire.
But bright flames, however impressive, eventually burn out!
Winds are variable; flames flicker; but your throne, O God, is forever!
In contrast, to the temporary, changeable, nature of the angels’ position,
His throne lasts forever Ps. 45:6
The psalm ascribes praise to God because His throne is forever.
The writer says this psalm is talking about Jesus–He is addressed as GOD!
Two persons are referred to as God in this passage.
Hebrews says God is talking; Ps. 45:6, 7 tells God that God has established Him!
Isaiah 48:16 does the same thing and includes God’s Spirit as a third Person.
There’s a mystery here that our poor minds can’t quite grasp.
Moses says that there is just one God—Yahweh is ONE!
Yet Scripture refers to two or three as God.
It’s not our purpose to teach about the doctrine of the Trinity this morning.
But the writer’s purpose is clear: Jesus is GOD!
3. Angels are servants; Jesus reigns 1:7-9 Same verses point to 2nd contrast.
4. Angels are part of creation; Jesus is Creator 1:10 Ps. 102:25
He stands apart from His creation. He is superior to it. He is before and after it.
Psalm 102:21-27 is clearly speaking of God.
He is addressed as Lord.
The writer says this reference to the Creator is talking about Jesus!
5. Angels are temporal; Jesus is unchangeable and eternal 1:11-12
This is a continuation of the same passage.Ps. 102:26-27
The Psalm continues to describe God.
The author applies it all to Jesus.
When all creation has been rolled up and put away, He is the same.
He is able to watch the creation in its decay, without growing old Himself.
6. Angels keep serving; Jesus is seated 1:13-14 Ps. 110:1
He is seated at Father’s right hand, until God subjects everything under His feet.
Every creature that ever opposed Him will one day bow before Him
and serve as a stool for His victorious feet!
[ After presenting his collection of quotes, the writer sums up with a question:
Ultimately, aren’t the angels just HIS servants? ]
7. Angels are servants, but Jesus is the Savior/the eternal God. 1:14
The second half doesn’t come from the verse, but from the context.
However, the spirit behind the author’s question is clear.
“After all,” he says, “aren’t they just His servants, sent to serve those to whom He wishes to give the wondrous gift of salvation?”
That’s the bottom line. The story is about Him. They are just His servants.
The writer wants us to walk away with one impression: Jesus is unique!
He doesn’t say this is true of us.
He doesn’t say it will be true of us.
This is a unique position, which only Jesus can fulfill!
We should be starting to see that Hebrews can be studied on two levels:
There is plenty of solid meat here to sink your teeth into.
But there is also a simpler, more obvious, level.
The clear message the author wants US to understand:
Jesus is better than angels; because HE IS LORD!
IMPLICATIONS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE: Three main points of application for us today:
# 1 Directly stated application: Pay Attention! Listen to Him! => 2:1-4
# 2 Relates to our desire for the spectacular—for special insight or angel revelation.
Don’t seek it! Don’t look for supernatural revelation or experience.
The last word isn’t the word of angels!
Jesus is God’s Final Word. He’s found in THIS Book!
SEEK HIM!
We don’t need the word of angels. We have the Son.
This passage screams to us: “FOCUS ON JESUS!”
# 3 JESUS IS LORD! Worship Him!
Clear message of Hebrews: TRUST HIM!
Jesus IS the last word.
We don’t need the prophets; we don’t need angelic voices to guide us.
Don’t seek enlightenment from angelic sources; seek it from God’s Final Word.
Don’t pray to them, nor worship them.
The angels are not sitting; they are ministering. JESUS sits at the Father’s right hand!
They are not ruling; they are serving. JESUS is ruling!
They are not exalted; they are subordinate. JESUS is exalted!
The Son occupies the place of highest authority.
He alone is worthy of worship.
Over and over again, Hebrews refers O.T. passages to Jesus, making clear that Jesus is God.
No other understanding adequately explains his use of these passages to describe Jesus.
He is Lord. He is Lord.
He is risen from the dead, and He is Lord
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.