Jesus Verses the Angels message 3
The Revelation of Christ: Jesus vs. the Angels
Hebrews 1:3b – 14
Hebrews 1:3-14
3b …when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son,Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father,And He shall be to Me a Son”?
6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
10 And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
In these ten verses the author uses seven Old Testament passages to back-up his argument that Jesus, the Son of God, is better than the angels.
Of these seven:
- 5 are from the Psalms
- 1 is from the Major Prophets
- 1 is from the Torah
(1) He has the Position
“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”?
Psalms 2:7-9
7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”
None of the angels have ever been addressed like this.
Luke 1:32-33
Gabriel speaking to Mary – “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Mark 1:9-11
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Peter & John speaking after they had been released from prison:
Acts 4:23-31
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
After Jesus had proved His obedience through His suffering He was then raised to the position of power at the right hand of the Father.
- Jesus’ position as Son of God gives Him and thus us unlimited power
(2) He has the Perfect Relationship
“I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?
The prophet Nathan speaking to David:
2 Samuel 7:11-13
11 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.
12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
- Jesus is forever
(3) He has the Preeminence
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
The first two quotes set Jesus out as the Son of God – this one sets His out as the one who is to be worshipped by the angels.
Psalms 97:7
“Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods.”
The ending of the Song of Moses just before his death:
Deuteronomy 32:43 NKJV
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”
The same passage found on the scrolls found in the Cave of Qumram, which the writer of Hebrews should have been familiar with:
“Rejoice, ye heavens, along with him,
And let the sons of God worship him;
Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people,
And let all the angels of God ascribe strength to him;
For he avenges the blood of his sons, and will avenge it,
And will recompense punishment to his adversaries;
Even to those who hate him will he recompense it,
And the Lord will cleanse His people’s land.”
Jesus has been brought to the earth and should be acknowledged & worshipped.
- Jesus is worthy to be worshipped
(4) He has the Pertinence (relevancy to the subject)
“Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
Psalm 104 sets up a quick snapshot of the splendor of God/Jesus and sets the angels in their order:
Psalms 104:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.
5 You who laid the foundations of the earth, So that it should not be moved forever,
Some versions render verse 4 as: “before whom the hosts of angels stand trembling and at whose command they are changed to wind and fire.”
Making the ministry of the angels to be an absolute following of the will of God and at His command they become for him wind and fire.
- Even the angels are subject to His will and will carry out His commands
(5) He has the Power
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Psalms 45:6-7
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
David’s throne had a defined beginning and a defined end – Jesus’ throne through David’s line will go on forever because of the authority given to Him by the Father.
- There will be no ending of the kingdom and authority of Jesus.
(6) He has the Permanence
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
This Psalm has this inscription: “A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah.”
Psalms 102:1
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You.”
Psalms 102:25-27
25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.
27 But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.
- The staying power of God
(7) He has the Placement
“Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
This is from the opening words of:
Psalms 110:1-2
1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
This again refers to the enthronement of Christ and carries with it the promise of victory over all of the enemies.
- Jesus ultimate triumph over all evil.
(1) He has the Position
“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”?
- Jesus’ position as Son of God gives Him and thus us unlimited power
(2) He has the Perfect Relationship
“I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?
- Jesus is forever
(3) He has the Preeminence
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
- Jesus is worthy to be worshipped
(4) He has the Pertinence (relevancy to the subject)
“Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
- Even the angels are subject to His will and will carry out His commands
(5) He has the Power
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
- There will be no ending of the kingdom and authority of Jesus.
(6) He has the Permanence
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
- The staying power of God
(7) He has the Placement
“Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
- Jesus ultimate triumph over all evil.
