[This is part one of a deeper study of the article 6 Ways Christ was Better than the Law. To get better context and a link to the other parts, you can click there and read it first.]
The Jews believed that the angels held a lot more authority than the Bible teaches. By the time Christ came, they had a whole system of excellence credited to the angels. (Clark’s Commentary at Hebrews 1:4) The Hebrews writer goes right to work to show that our Lord is above the angels.
Hebrews 1 is the introductory argument that the angels did not hold a candle to Christ. The writer breaks out Old Testament scripture to show the deity of Christ:
- He is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:5) – Attributes Psalm 2:7 as referring to Christ and is backed up by Peter in Acts 4:25 and Paul in Acts 13:33 applying Psalm 2 to Christ.
- The angels were to worship him (Hebrews 1:6) – This was a reference to Psalm 97:7
- The angels are servants (Hebrews 1:7) – Not only were the angels not sons, they are referred to as servants. (Psalm 104:4) The angels were once thought by the Jews to be the managers of the wind and fire.
- Christ is God (Hebrews 1:8-9) – The writer quotes Psalm 45:6-7 and attributes it to God calling the Son God. Other passages that do the same: John 1:1, Act 20:28, Philippians 2:6, 2 Peter 1:1 and so on.
- Christ is God and Creator (Hebrews 1:10-12) – Quoted from Psalm 102:25-27
- Christ was assigned to defeat our enemies (Hebrews 1:13) – Quoted from Psalm 110:1. Christ told us he sits at the right hand of power (Mark 14:62) and Paul said he is reigning until he hands the kingdom over to God (1 Corinthians 15:25)
While worshiping angels is not a problem in the church today, it is good to see the arguments of just how heavenly and glorious Jesus’ presence was on earth. We had God on earth for the purpose of understanding us and saving us!
Part 2: Greater than Moses
December 3, 2013
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