Heb. 1:4-14, Jesus’ Superiority to Angels

From the opening three verses the letter to the Hebrews quickly transitions to the subject of Jesus’ superiority to the angels.  Why was this the first issue in Hebrews?  Was it because of the rise of Gnosticism in the mid-first century Church?  No.  Was it because of the rise of false teaching that Jesus had been an angel (like modern-day Jehovah’s Witnesses)? No.  Hebrews 1 is an excellent safe-guard against both of these heresies.  But in Hebrews the reason is more related to Judaism.

The discussion of Christ and the angels continues through chapter 2.  The world is subject to man, not angels (2:5); Jesus, in the Incarnation, was made lower than the angels (2:9); salvation is an issue for humans, not angels (2:16).  Jesus’ superiority to the angels is critical in laying the foundation of Jesus’ superiority to Moses in Heb. 3.  Note that Heb. 3:1 begins with “therefore.”  Moses and Jesus were both faithful to their calling but Jesus had “more glory than Moses” (3:3).

Again, we ask, what did the angels have to do with Moses?  The answer is that the law, the “Old Covenant/Testament” was delivered to Moses by angels (Deut. 33:2; Acts 7:51-53; Gal. 3:19).  But grace, the “New Covenant/Testament” came through Christ, the Son, as Heb. 1:1-3 indicates.  If we are ever going to get to Heb. 10, where Christ’s sacrifice has provided the necessary forgiveness for the New Covenant, we will have to replace the old with the new.  Heb. 1-2 tell us that, yes, Christ was a man, a true man, and thus lower than the angels; but He is, at the same time, true God, superior to the angels.

In Heb. 1:4-14 we see His superiority in five ways:

·       1:4-5: Christ has a superior name.  He is the Son of God, the “begotten” Son of God, as is revealed in Psalm 2:7.  The word “begotten” speaks of the deep oneness of Father and Son; a father can only beget a son who is of the same essence.  The Spirit also refers to this when He calls David “My Son” in the Davidic Covenant.  The ultimate “son of David” is Christ, the Son of God.

·       1:6: Christ has a superior worship.  Quoting Ps. 97:7, the angels were commanded to worship Him.  Throughout Hebrews the human author (under the direction of the Holy Spirit) uses the Septuagint (Greek translation; cf. note inside the back cover) that was common among Jews in New Testament times.  The NKJV says “Worship Him all you gods.”  Why are angels called “gods?”  The Hebrew term is elohim which is used in the OT of God.  But the word means “mighty ones” and is also used of angels and even of powerful men.  Thus, it is true.  The angels were to worship the one called “the Lord of the whole earth” in Ps. 97:5. According to Psalm 2:6-9, the Lord of the whole earth is the Son to whom the Father has promised to give the nations as an inheritance.

Do you see how the Lord Jesus Christ is highly exalted in Hebrews?  This is such a wonderful study for those who are called by His name!