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HEBREWS

 

SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE ANGELS

Hebrews 1:4-14

Victor M. Eskew

 

Being made so much better than the angels…

 

I.         ANGELS VERSUS THE SON (Heb. 1:3-5)

 

II.       ANGELS WORSHIP THE SON VERSUS THE SON WHO IS WORSHIPPED (Heb. 1:6)

 

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

 

A.  The only being who is to be worshipped is God (Deut. 6:13; Matt. 4:10).

 

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan:  for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

 

B.   Because Jesus is God, the Father has commanded the angels to worship Him. 

 

C.  When Jesus was brought into the world, the angels did sing praises (Luke 2:13-14).

 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

 

 

III.      ANGELS ARE MINISTERS VERSUS THE SON WHO IS KING (Heb. 1:7-9)

 

A.  The opening words of Hebrews 1:8 present the contrast of this section:  “But.”

 

B.   He first speaks of the angels as being “spirits” and as being “ministers” (Heb. 1:7).

 

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

 

1.    This is a quote that comes from Psalm 104:4.

2.    The angels are exalted beings.  This can be seen by the description given to them.

a.    They are spirits as opposed to flesh.

b.    They can assume different forms such as “flames of fire” to carry out the will of God (See II Kings 6:17).

 

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.  And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about.

 

C.  The Son, on the other hand, occupies the position of King (Heb. 1:8-9).

 

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

 

1.    Jesus sits on a throne.

2.    Jesus has a scepter.

3.    Jesus possesses a kingdom.

4.    Jesus has been anointed.

a.    The anointing with oil was a symbolic expression of inauguration into the specific position under consideration.

b.    Kings were anointed in the Old Testament (I Sam. 15:1; 16:3, 12)

5.    NOTE:  The Father refers to the Son as “God” (Heb. 1:8).

 

IV.      ANGELS WERE CREATED VERSUS THE SON AS THE CREATOR (Heb. 1:10)

 

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands.

 

A.  This is a quote from Psalm 102:25-27

B.   The Contrast:

1.    It was Jesus who laid the foundation of the earth as Creator (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17).

2.    The heavens, including the angelic hosts, are the works of His hands.

a.    Nehemiah 9:6

 

Thou, even thou, are Lord alone, thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshipeth thee.

 

 

 

b.    Psalm 148:2,5

 

Praise ye him, all his angels:  praise ye him, all his hosts…Let them praise the name of the Lord:  for he commanded, and they were created.