Hebrews 1 sets forth the superior character of Jesus over angels. Angels are ministering spirits sent to do service for those who inherit salvation, while Jesus is God’s Son who has been given authority over all things. The writer’s last contrast was “to which of the angels has God ever said, sit thou at my right hand till I make thy enemies the footstool of thy feet” (Hebrews 1:13; cp. Psalm 110:1). Rather, it is said of angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of those who inherit salvation?” To which the writer might had added “as well as to comfort and strengthen the Son in His great hour of testing” (Luke 22:43-44).
Following the last contrast between Jesus and angels in Hebrews 1, the second chapter begins with these words: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we drift away from them. For if the word spoken by angels proved steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which having first been spoken by the Lord was confirmed unto them that heard; God also bearing witness with them both by signs and wonders and by manifold powers and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according after his own will” (Hebrews 2:1-4).
When the Holy Spirit urged that we “give … earnest heed to the things which were heard,” He referred to His earlier statement in chapter 1 that “God, having of old times spake unto the fathers in the prophets in divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in His Son.” Jesus, the Father’s Son, has revealed to us God’s last message and man must hear Him. When Jesus, along with three of His apostles, were on the “mount of transfiguration” there appeared two Old Testament worthies: Moses and Elijah. Peter said to Jesus, “Let us make here three tabernacles: one for thee and one for Moses and Elijah.” At that moment a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5). God, in times past, had spoken in divers manner, one being through the agency of angels. Today He has spoken to us through His Son.
One of the things angels delivered to man was the law. When Stephen was about to be martyred, he said to those who were about to kill him, “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit, as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the righteous one of whom ye have become betrayers and murderers, ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels and kept it not” (Acts 7:51-53). Paul taught the same truth. He wrote in Galatians 3:19, “What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made and was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.” Both Stephen and Paul taught that angels were the means by which the law through the hands of Moses and the prophets was made known to man. Since none could reject that law with impunity, how does any suppose he can ignore the words today which came from Christ?
The contrast between Jesus and the angels, which showed the superior nature of Jesus, helps to prepare the way for the arguments the writer will make for the law of Christ being superior to the law of Moses. It behooves all men to give heed to Jesus rather than to the words of the law.
The writer spoke of a new sacrifice and a new high priest, beside many other things related to them. He concluded in the 13th chapter showing that as the high priest under Moses’ law carried the sacrifice for the sins of the people outside of the city of Jerusalem. Therefore, Christians then (and now) go outside the city to Christ who “suffered without the gate.” He said, “We have not here an abiding city, but we seek for that which is to come” (Hebrews 13:14). Hebrews is an intensive study between the law of Moses and the law of Christ, showing that in every way the law of Christ is superior to the law which Moses gave. Christians who were being tempted to return to Judaism were shown this would be a tragic mistake on their part. They were urged to hold fast to what they had embraced and not to return to the law and its shadow of the law of Christ.
Jim McDonald