NOTES

Hebrews

Better than the Angels

*All of the quotes are from the OT – which the Hebrews would accept as divine

*All of the quotes here were accepted by the Jews as speaking about the Messiah, in the first century.

The Jews saw the Law as having been not only given by prophets, but attended by angels as well. This is a step up from mere prophets. Yet Jesus is still higher rank than the angels.

Galatians 3:19 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.

Deu 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. 

Act 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 

Psalm 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

⁴ Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?

So much better – refers to exalted rank/position; or to personal character as well

1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Name: names represent character/authority. The name of God has more power than any other name; it requires more of us than any other name; is carries more authority than any other name.

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

Psalm 2:7 thou art my Son…

How much more exalted in a Son that a Servant?

*in a business setting. We should obey the biddings of the employees, but if the Son comes, there is no question about whether to go against him or not.

How does God speak of his Son in the OT? Does the OT talk about the Son of God?

It may seem that the Trinity is only brought up in the NT, but the idea is “hidden” in the old and “manifested” in the new.

Pro 30:4 what is his name, what is his sons name?

This day have I begotten thee

Acts 13:33 this is directly applied to the resurrection of Jesus.

Pre-eminence – first begotten

Resurrection – first begotten from the dead

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

2 Samuel 7:14 Solomon

⁶ And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

First begotten – first-born; preeminent one

First-born refers to his rank, not that he was a created being.

Some Jews even used the term first-born in reference to God himself.

Psa 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 

Who would receive worship from angels other than God himself?

Deu 32:43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people. 

Psa 97:7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 

⁷ And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Psalm 104:4

The psalm describes God’s majesty, and the mighty ways that he controls nature. He makes his angels or messengers like wind and fire, they are quick and powerful to do his will.

Ministers – the angels have the humble rank of being a mere minister/servant, and not a son.

Spirits/flame of fire – the angels are of the highest power and zeal, but still no comparison compared to the Son. If the angels are the ministers of God, the Son is their commander.

⁸ But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. ⁹ Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Psalm 45  –  This psalm describes the Messiah as the Mighty King, easily triumphant over his enemies. He is beautiful and majestic. His battle is the cause of truth and righteousness, with meekness. His bride is said to worship him in this psalm.

*The angels are wonderful servants of God, but the Son is in actual possession of the Throne itself. He controls and governs the affairs of the universe and every being in it.

O God – specific, clear, direct reference to the Son being God himself.

Thy throne is for ever and ever – his ruler ship is eternal, only God’s can be

¹⁰ And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Psalm 102:25-27

This psalm is speaking directly about Yahweh, God. There is no direct reference to the Son. Yet here it is applied to the Son, indicating that there is absolutely no difference in the mind of the writer here that the Son is indeed of the exact same nature and substance as God.

Laid the foundation of the earth – Creator

Thou remainest, thy years shall not fail – Eternality

Thou shalt fold them up – Consummator of all things 

¹³ But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Psalm 110 the LORD said unto my Lord. (a psalm of David)

God never said this to an angel, but he did to the Son.

Messiah is the son of David. Why then does David call his descendant Lord? It is because the Son was actually before David and greater than David. Amen

¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Ministering spirits – attendants. The Son is their Lord, the angels their servants.

The comparison is being drawn again that the Son is exalted far higher than the angels.

Whatever the angels have given and done to people in the past, no matter how great, the Son gives more, has done more, and requires more.

*One sign of a religion or doctrine to not follow is if their ultimate claim for truth came through the agency of an angel to mankind. Faith in Christ places dependence upon not the word of an angel, though dependable, but in the Son of God himself in human flesh.

*Angels are not to be seen as the authority, but rather attendants to bring people to Jesus (the salvation that we have now!)