Paul wrote 13 letters which bear his name, and while the book of Hebrews is believed by many to also have been written by him, the writer chose not to identify himself. Since that unknown writer did not tell why he chose to leave off his identity, men may surmise but will never know his real reason, nor for certain his true identity! Yet, while we know not the writer, we do know some things about the epistle: it was written to Hebrew Christians because the writer clearly had concerns the recipients of his letter were in danger of returning to Judaism. The letter was written in the early to mid-sixties: danger loomed for the nation and Jerusalem as the writer implied, “We have not here an abiding city, but we seek after that which is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).
The prologue of the book (1:1-4) is a powerful statement defining the nature and power of Jesus Christ: “God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.” Having stated the premise of the nature of Christ (Jesus is higher than angels), the remainder of the chapter is spent showing Christ’s superiority to angels.
First, the writer asked, “For unto which of the angels hath God at any time said, ‘Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?’” (Hebrews 1:5; cp. Psalm 2:7) or “I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a son” (Hebrews 11:5; 2 Samuel 7:14). God said neither of these things to angels; both these things God said of Jesus.
Then “when he bringeth the firstborn into the world, he said, let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6; cp. Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 97:7). Angels worshipped the Son; the Son never worshipped angels.
As the writer continued his contrast of angels and Jesus, he referenced Psalms 104:4: “Who maketh his angels winds and his ministers a flame of fire,” then turned and said of the Son, “Thy throne O God is forever and ever, and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (cp. Psalm 45:6-7). He continued his exaltation of Jesus by quoting, “Thou Lord in the beginning didst lay the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hand. They shall perish, but thou continuest. They all shall wax old as doth a garment, and as a mantle shall thou roll them up, as a garment and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, thy yeas shall not fail” (Hebrews 1:10-12; Ps. 102:25-27). Once more the writer asks, “But of which of the angels hath God said at any time, ‘Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thine enemies he footstool of thy feet?’” (Hebrews 1:13; cp. Psalm 110:1). The writer concluded his contrast by saying, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to do service for the sake of those that shall inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14).
Angels heralded the birth of Jesus. In Revelation 5:11-14, angels, with the whole creation of things in heaven and earth, gave worship to Jesus. The writer had a purpose when he set forth the truth that Jesus is higher than angels and that purpose will be seen in the opening verses of chapter 2.
God has, in these last days, spoken unto us in His Son. He made the worlds through His Son; His Son is the effulgence (brightness) of His glory; His Son is the very image of His substance. Whatever the Father, so is the Son. The Son upholds all things by the word of his power; the Son made purification of sins by the sacrifice of himself. The Son now sits at the Father’s right hand and every enemy shall ultimately be made His footstool; that last enemy being death (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). None of these things may be said of angels.
If Jesus occupies such a regal and powerful seat at God’s right hand, He deserves not only the worship of angels but the worship and adoration of every man. Angels are higher beings than man but are not object of man’s worship. When John attempted to worship an angel (Revelation 22:9), the angel forbad him and said, “See that thou do it not. I am a fellow servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them that keep the word of this book. Worship God.”
Jim McDonald