‘Better than the angels’
We have enjoyed teaching in Hebrews over recent weeks: the writer points us to our Lord Jesus Christ and different aspects of His Person and Work. In chapter 1 we were reminded about His superiority over angels.
The angels had the privilege of providing significant ministry to the Lord when He was here on earth: we read of Gabriel giving specific instructions to key people prior to His birth (Luke 1: 11-20, 26-37); he is not named but it may well have been Gabriel who spoke to Joseph in Matthew 1:20-24. An angel announced His birth to shepherds in Luke 2 and a ‘multitude of the heavenly host’ joined him in praise to God for the amazing event that had taken place (vv9-14). As Hebrews 1:6 states ‘when he (that is God) bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith ‘And let all the angels of God worship him’. Angels came to minister to Him after His testing and victory over Satan in Matthew 4:1. The Lord makes many references to angelic ministry including their joy when a sinner repents in Luke 15, and their involvement with a believer after death in Luke 16. An angel came to strengthen Him in Gethsemane as He contemplated the atoning work to be accomplished at Calvary and submitted Himself to the will of the Father (Luke 22:43). They witnessed His resurrection and spoke to those early visitors to the tomb (Luke 24:4-7). Surely, they are privileged beings. However, the writer points out in verse 5 that God has never said to any of them, ‘Thou art my Son’, and that worship (verse 6) and a throne (verse 8) are not for them, and only for Divine Persons.
The whole purpose of their existence is worship and service for one who has been made ‘a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death’ (Hebrews 2:9), and they observe our conduct (I Cor 11:10), so may we be ever occupied the same with the Son.
P.B