THE Apostle is seeking to show the superiority of Christ over all others in speaking the revelation of God, and his superiority over all others in every way. In this task he now addresses the question of angels and their ministry.

Angels do not figure much in the thought of Christians today, and so it is a subject which perhaps we do not know too much. For the Jews things were different. Angels were large in their view as to their ministry, even though the Old Testament does not say too much about them. Angels were agents of God who were used by God in visiting Old Testament saints, particularly the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What we do know from Bible testimony is that angels figured prominently in the giving of the law through Moses. The presence of angels is not mentioned when the law is given in Exodus, but when Moses blesses the tribes of Israel just before his death, we read he indicates that when the law was given by God at Sinai, God came with ‘myriads of his holy ones’ that is angels. There seems also to be a reference to angels being present in very large numbers when the law was given at Sinai in Psalm 68:17.

When we come to the New Testament we find Paul in Galatians 3:19 indicated that the law was put into effect by angels (Galatians 3:19b). We also find Stephen when he speaks just before his martyrdom telling us again that the law was put into effect by angels (Acts 7:53), and in chapter 2 of Hebrews and verse 2 there is a reference again to the law being a message from the angels.

In view of this place of angels in the giving of the Law, which contained not only the ten commandments, but also all the worship, ritual, and sacrificial system which was the substance of the Jewish religion, the place of angels stood very high in the mind of the Jews. In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul is anxious to show that the Son is given by God a higher dignity and place, and this is testified to in the Old Testament.

The rest of chapter one of Hebrews addresses this concern. Paul proves that Jesus became much superior to the angels because he inherited from God a greater name than the angels did.

The angels were never addressed as family of God, whereas Jesus is addressed as the Son of God, and God owns him as his Son. So Jesus is higher than the angels. Then again when Jesus became incarnate and was born in Bethlehem, God appointed that the angels should worship him, and so give him high honour as their God (v.6). On the other hand when the angels are spoken of in the Bible they have a lower status. It is a very honourable and important status and office, but it is lower than divine honour which is given to the Son. Angels are winds and flames of fire. (v.7).

Paul continues this theme of the excellence of the dignity and office of Jesus by showing that the Scripture tells us that God speaks of his Son as on the throne, and this throne in an everlasting throne, therefore the throne of God. God speaks of his Son as reigning in perfect righteousness - righteousness is the sceptre of his kingdom, that which marks out his reigning action. Because of this God has set the Son above his companions in the spiritual realm, i.e., angels. (v.9).

The superiority of Jesus over even the highest of God’s servants, whom he created i.e. angels, is proved by the fact that the Son was not created. He was in the beginning when creation took place, and was the creator. This indicates the Son is eternal God. The creation will one day be wound up and will pass away, but the Son remains eternal.

There is no other conclusion from this evidence from the testimony of the Old Testament than that the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is none other than God, and high above all creatures, even such exalted creatures as angels, and so to be attended to as he speaks the revelation of God which is far above angels.

Angels, on the other hand, never were told by God the Father to sit on his right hand, as the Son was. Nor do angels subdue all enemies of God. Angels are simply ministering spirits sent by God and the Son to serve those who inherit salvation. Angels are in fact ministering to every believer. They are coming from God to keep us safe as the precious redeemed of the Lord.

How exalted is Jesus, the Son! How important, over all of God’s speaking, is the speaking from God given us by the Son. So let us trust in the Son, and attend to the Son, and worship the Son, and dwell in the Son, Jesus our Lord.