Jesus is No Angel (Hebrews 1:4-14)
The writer begins his discourse by declaring that Jesus is superior (i.e., “better” 1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6x2; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24) to the angels. Why should we care about that? Angels—spiritual beings—are, throughout history, powerful, awe-inspiring beings. They often inspire the urge to worship and, in the case of fallen angels, they accept it. They are likely the basis of many a false religion or idol. Jesus is superior to all of these beings and to the worship and religions they inspire. So, here we have the author making the argument that Jesus is the true God and source of a true religion i.e., path to restored relationship with God.
As before, where the author gave seven descriptions of Jesus, here he gives seven Old Testament quotations to make his case:
1. Psalm 2:7
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten You.”
In quoting this verse, the author reminds us of the entire Psalm. This psalm describes the way that the nations of the Earth plot and scheme against the God’s Anointed. (A description of the King, David, but also of the ultimate King, David’s heir who would be the Messiah.) God laughs at their arrogance and declares that His Messiah is established and undefeatable. God declares the Messiah to be His Son, and that the whole earth will be His. Possession. Wise Kings are admonished to serve YHWH, kiss the Son, and take refuge in Him.
The writer is pointing out here that Jesus is the Messiah of Psalm 2. No angel or any other supernatural, spiritual being was ever granted so much power and authority.
2. II Samuel 7:14
“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.”
Again, the writer is quoting a single verse that reminds the reader of a larger passage, in this case a story from the life of David. In II Samuel 7, David has decided to build a temple as a house for God where the Ark of the Covenant can “dwell.” But God sends word through Nathan the prophet that David will not be the one to build the temple. Instead, his son (descendant) would be the one God would use to establish God’s kingdom forever. Solomon would go on to build a temple for God, but the prophecy here is about a future, eternal, kingdom where God would live with His people. The prophecy is really about, again, the Messiah.
The writer uses Psalm 2 and II. Samuel 7 to establish that Jesus is the descendant of David, the Son of God, the Messiah.
3. Psalm 97:7 or Deuteronomy 32:43
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
If Psalm 97 is the text quoted here, then this is a Psalm all about God’s Kingship over the entire universe. It rejoices in the fact that, one day, all of the nations will find God and worship Him. In verse seven, the Hebrew scripture talks about how all false gods will be forced to worship YHWH. However, the Septuagint translates this verse as it readers here in Hebrews, saying that all God’s angels will worship Him. If, instead, Deuteronomy is the passage being quoted here, we again have the problem that the passage is saying all gods will worship YHWH. But either way, there is a consistent worldview here, where false gods are merely spiritual beings posing as gods; i.e., fallen angels are in view here.
In any event, Hebrews is applying an Old Testament passage that was talking about YHWH, to Jesus. The New Testament is comfortable with the idea that Jesus IS God.
4. Psalm 104:4
“He makes his angels winds,
And his ministers a flame of fire.”
Psalm 104 is a hymn of praise for God as Creator, mostly following the structure of the first creation account in Genesis. In verse four, the Septuagint renders “angels” what the Hebrew calls “messengers.” This is not much of a change, as the term angel just means messenger. The author of Hebrews is using this passage to show that angels are a lesser level of being than the Son…
5. Psalm 45:6
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
Paired with the previous quote, this reference to Psalm 45 shows that the Messiah is enthroned on God’s throne. This is an honor higher than any angel has ever been given. And some would contend that Psalm 45 gives the Messiah divine attributes. Of course, the writer of Hebrews, and the New Testament in general, are very comfortable with that position.
6. Psalm 102:25-27
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning…”
In this lengthy quote from Psalm 102, the writer is not beating around the bush at all. The reason Jesus is greater than the angels and any other supernatural, spiritual beings, is because He is God.
7. Psalm 110:1
“Sit at my right hand,
Until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
Finally, the writer cites this crucial passage form Psalm 110. It is a Messianic passage that Jesus had already applied to Himself. Once again, it is a passage that—ever more clearly—proscribes divinity to the Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah, and God, and therefore greater than any other spiritual being could ever claim—be they an angel, a fallen angel, or a false god or idol. Jesus is the real deal.
As before, where the author gave seven descriptions of Jesus, here he gives seven Old Testament quotations to make his case:
1. Psalm 2:7
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten You.”
In quoting this verse, the author reminds us of the entire Psalm. This psalm describes the way that the nations of the Earth plot and scheme against the God’s Anointed. (A description of the King, David, but also of the ultimate King, David’s heir who would be the Messiah.) God laughs at their arrogance and declares that His Messiah is established and undefeatable. God declares the Messiah to be His Son, and that the whole earth will be His. Possession. Wise Kings are admonished to serve YHWH, kiss the Son, and take refuge in Him.
The writer is pointing out here that Jesus is the Messiah of Psalm 2. No angel or any other supernatural, spiritual being was ever granted so much power and authority.
2. II Samuel 7:14
“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.”
Again, the writer is quoting a single verse that reminds the reader of a larger passage, in this case a story from the life of David. In II Samuel 7, David has decided to build a temple as a house for God where the Ark of the Covenant can “dwell.” But God sends word through Nathan the prophet that David will not be the one to build the temple. Instead, his son (descendant) would be the one God would use to establish God’s kingdom forever. Solomon would go on to build a temple for God, but the prophecy here is about a future, eternal, kingdom where God would live with His people. The prophecy is really about, again, the Messiah.
The writer uses Psalm 2 and II. Samuel 7 to establish that Jesus is the descendant of David, the Son of God, the Messiah.
3. Psalm 97:7 or Deuteronomy 32:43
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
If Psalm 97 is the text quoted here, then this is a Psalm all about God’s Kingship over the entire universe. It rejoices in the fact that, one day, all of the nations will find God and worship Him. In verse seven, the Hebrew scripture talks about how all false gods will be forced to worship YHWH. However, the Septuagint translates this verse as it readers here in Hebrews, saying that all God’s angels will worship Him. If, instead, Deuteronomy is the passage being quoted here, we again have the problem that the passage is saying all gods will worship YHWH. But either way, there is a consistent worldview here, where false gods are merely spiritual beings posing as gods; i.e., fallen angels are in view here.
In any event, Hebrews is applying an Old Testament passage that was talking about YHWH, to Jesus. The New Testament is comfortable with the idea that Jesus IS God.
4. Psalm 104:4
“He makes his angels winds,
And his ministers a flame of fire.”
Psalm 104 is a hymn of praise for God as Creator, mostly following the structure of the first creation account in Genesis. In verse four, the Septuagint renders “angels” what the Hebrew calls “messengers.” This is not much of a change, as the term angel just means messenger. The author of Hebrews is using this passage to show that angels are a lesser level of being than the Son…
5. Psalm 45:6
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
Paired with the previous quote, this reference to Psalm 45 shows that the Messiah is enthroned on God’s throne. This is an honor higher than any angel has ever been given. And some would contend that Psalm 45 gives the Messiah divine attributes. Of course, the writer of Hebrews, and the New Testament in general, are very comfortable with that position.
6. Psalm 102:25-27
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning…”
In this lengthy quote from Psalm 102, the writer is not beating around the bush at all. The reason Jesus is greater than the angels and any other supernatural, spiritual beings, is because He is God.
7. Psalm 110:1
“Sit at my right hand,
Until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
Finally, the writer cites this crucial passage form Psalm 110. It is a Messianic passage that Jesus had already applied to Himself. Once again, it is a passage that—ever more clearly—proscribes divinity to the Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah, and God, and therefore greater than any other spiritual being could ever claim—be they an angel, a fallen angel, or a false god or idol. Jesus is the real deal.
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