Hebrews 1 - Why Is Jesus Superior to the Angels?

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Today, we start our journey through the book of Hebrews. The author of this book is not mentioned in the opening verses. While some think it was the apostle Paul, most do not think it was him. The style of writing is very different than Paul's though many of the themes are similar to his other letters. 

The book of Hebrews was definitely written to Jewish Christians, but the apologetic nature of the book proving Jesus is the Messiah would also be relevant to the Gentiles. The book is probably written before A.D. 70, because it makes no mention of the destruction of Rome, which happened in A.D. 70. The primary purpose of the letter is to show that Jesus is a superior priest to the priests of Aaronic priesthood. Jesus is the "once and for all sacrifice", which fulfilled the Law and thus ended the sacrificial system. The superiority of the priesthood of Jesus would have been great comfort to the Christians at Rome who were being persecuted.  

The book has earned the reputation of being a masterpiece.[13] It has also been described as an intricate New Testament book.[14] Some scholars believe it was written for Jewish Christians who lived in Jerusalem.[13] Its essential purpose was to exhort Christians to persevere in the face of persecution. At this time, certain believers were considering turning back to Judaism and to the Jewish system of law to escape being persecuted for believing Christ to be the messiah. The theme of the epistle is the teaching of the person of Christ and his role as mediator between God and humanity. -  Mark Powell

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

These first verses give us insight to the nature of Jesus, God's only Son. The study of the nature of Christ is called "Christology". A proper Christology is very important, as most heresy results from an incorrect Christology. The two equally dangerous heresies is that either Jesus was just a man and not God, or he was just God and not man. This is why it was so important in this letter to teach the believers the true nature of Jesus and the sacrifice he made on our behalf.

In these first verses he is pointing to the divinity of Jesus: 

1. God spoke to us through His Son, who is the heir of all things.

2. Through Jesus he made the universe. 

3. Jesus is the exact representation of God. 

4. Jesus purified us of our sin. If he was only human, he could not have done this.   

5. Jesus sat down at the right hand of God in heaven. 

6. Jesus was superior to angels. 

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” 8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

These verses all connect the Old Testament with Jesus. We know there are many place in which the Old Testament gave prophecies about Jesus, which were all fulfilled. Out of the seven Old Testament references in this first chapter, five of them come from the Psalms. 

The author focuses on on the relationship of the Father to the Son, the first two persons of the Trinity. 

It isn’t so much that Jesus brought a message from the Father; He is a message from the Father. The idea is that Jesus is far more than the latest or best prophet. He has revealed something no other prophet could. - Guzik

The book of Hebrews is God the Father telling us what God the Son is all about. “If men cannot learn about God from the Son, no amount of prophetic voices or actions would convince them.” (Guthrie)

10 He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” 13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

God refers to Jesus as "LORD", which is the same word for "Yahweh", the Old Testament name for God. The fact that Jesus was in the beginning laying the foundation of the world shows He is God

The gospel John starts out in a similar manner essentially saying the same thing about Jesus' role in Creation. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3

A little later we know the "Word" is Jesus, as John says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

John is teaching essentially the same thing as the author of Hebrews is teaching. John was dealing with the Gnostic heresy at the end of the first century, which was also false teaching about the true nature of Christ. 

Because there is so much focus on Jesus being far superior to the angels, it leads one to believe there was some false teaching about angels as there is today. The author teaches, 

"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?" Hebrews 1:14

Angels are ministering spirits, not governing spirits; service, not dominion is their calling. In this respect angels are like a toy that won’t quit. They keep working while the Son takes a posture of rest because He is the Son. - Guzik

It seems like we either overestimate the power of angels and make too much of them, or we underestimate their importance and don't talk about them at all. But is clear God sent angels to help us, and they are messengers who reveal important things to us about God! 

First and foremost, angels served as God's messengers to mankind. We see this throughout the Old and New Testaments, as God repeatedly used the angels to communicate his will to individuals such as Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Gideon, Daniel, the Virgin Mary, Zechariah, Joseph and a whole host of saints and prophets.

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