In considering the superiority of Jesus Christ, the Book of Hebrews introduces the subject of angels. The people who originally received this epistle were familiar with angels and their ministry. From Adam throughout the New Testament, angels are seen ministering to God’s people and doing the work of God. The work of angels is fascinating and mysterious today. As a result, angels have been exalted to a role that God never intended and His angels have resisted. In some religions, angels are worshipped and icons of angels and even demons have been made mediators. Throughout Biblical text, angels said, “Worship God only.”
Angels are the creation of the Word of God.
God created them some time before He created Adam and Eve. In Hebrews 1:5-2:9, Jesus Christ is superior to angels. Before we see how Christ Jesus is superior to angels, we should consider who or what they are.
Hebrews 1:7 NIV84 In speaking of the angels He says, “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”
Hebrews 1:7 NKJV And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”
Hebrews 1:7 NLT Regarding the angels, He says, “He sends His angels like the winds, His servants like flames of fire.”
Hebrews 1:14 NIV84 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14 NKJV Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14 NLT Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
What are angels?
God created the hosts of spiritual beings known as angels.
Colossians 1:16-17 NLT For through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.
Psalm 148:2, NKJV Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!
Psalm 148:5 NKJV Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created.
God created these rulers and authorities in the unseen world by or through His Son, the Living Word of God. Jesus Christ is the Lord of the hosts of angels. They were created to carry out God’s sovereign purpose. They are mentioned over 280 times in Scripture. These ministering spirits were not brought into being by reproduction but were the direct creations of the Word of God.
When Hebrews tells about the incarnation of Christ, it shows the position of angels.
When Jesus came to this world in the form of a man, He humbled Himself from His exalted and high position.
Hebrews 2:7 NKJV You have made Him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned Him with glory and honor, And set Him over the works of Your hands.
This verse gives some information about angels. They are a “little” higher than the “Man” Jesus Christ. What does that mean? Although they are His ministers, Jesus humbled Himself to be a little lower than the angels. Yet, Jesus said He could call twelve legions (72,000) of angels at any time, (Matthew 26:53).
God created angels with greater power and knowledge than man.
2 Peter 2:11 NKJV Whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
They were created to dwell in God’s holy presence. Although they are superior to humanity, they are not all-powerful, all-knowing or everywhere present. They are subject to the Lord God Almighty Who created them.
Psalm 103:20 NKJV Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.
Angels were created immortal and infinite spirit beings.
Immortal means not subject to death.
Infinite means not limited to the boundaries of time or space.
Luke 20:36-36 tells us they do not die and do not marry. They can be visible or invisible. They can travel through the courses of space and time. They do not age with time or diminish. They remain as God created them so long as they remain in their estate and do not sin against God.
Angels have been sent by God to perform varied functions throughout Biblical history.
- An angel with a flaming sword barred the way to the Garden of Eden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
- Balaam and his donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with His sword drawn in His hand.
- Sodom and Gomorrah were diminished to ashes when God sent two angels. They demonstrated supernatural powers to blind of the men of Sodom.
- An angel of the Lord appeared to Peter in prison, (Acts 12). Peter said he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but his chains fell off and the prison doors opened on their own accord.
- In the end of the ages, the Lord Jesus will be revealed with His mighty angels in flaming fire, (2 Thessalonians 1:7).
Angels have various ranks, functions and appearance or likeness.
They are an innumerable host of thousands upon thousands, (Daniel 7:10; Revelation 5:11; Psalms 68:17; and Matthew 26:53). We are not given clear descriptions of all of the angels’ appearance, stature or likeness. What we do see is superior beings with great strength and sometimes unimaginable appearance.
The Cherubim
Cherubim are seen around the throne of God, (Exodus 25:18-22; 26:1; Psalm 80:1; 1 Kings 6:23-25; Revelation 4:6). The four living creatures in Ezekiel 10:1-20 are cherubim. Their whole body, with their back, their hands, their wings, and the wheels that the four had, were full of eyes all around. Each one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Seraphim are mentioned once in Scripture, (Isaiah 6:1-8).
Isaiah 6:1-3 NKJV I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
Archangels are a high order of angels.
Michael, an archangel and prince of angels, is mentioned seven times as a prince of angels, (Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). Gabriel is mentioned four times in scripture, (Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:20-23; Luke 1:19; Luke 1:26-35). In historical Hebrew literature, seven archangels are named. Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer are three that are listed in the Bible.
A fourth order of angels are the millions of angels that encircle the throne and the living creatures, (Daniel 7:10; Revelation 5:11).
Hebrews 1:14 NKJV Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
We are not given specifics about their functions. However, they are the Lord’s host, (Psalms 148:2; Luke 2:13; Zechariah 1:14) and are at His command.
All angels exist to serve God in various ways.
- They minister unto the Lord and at His pleasure.
- They praise and worship the Lord, (Psalms 148:2-5).
- They minister on God’s behalf, (Hebrews 1:14).
- They reveal God’s will and word to man, (Hebrews 2:2
- They encourage and war for God’s children, (Psalms 34:7; 91:11-12)
- They guard the little ones, (Matthew 18:10).
- They rejoice when one is saved.
- They are celestial spectators.
- One of these angels ministered to Elijah under the broom tree, (1 Kings 19:5-7).
- An angel of the Lord put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp, (2 Kings 19:35).
- When Herod did not give honor to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten of worms, (Acts 12:23).
- An angel was sent to Cornelius and his house.
- Peter was in prison when an angel appeared and opened the prison doors, (Acts 5:19-20).
- Paul had an angel stand by him in the night and told him God’s message, (Acts 27:23-24).
- In Psalms 91:11, God commands His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
- Angels rejoice when one sinner repents, (Luke 15:10).
- Angels may proclaim the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people, (Revelation 14:6).
- In Deuteronomy 33:2, the Jews believed that ten thousands of His angels or holy ones attended the giving of the law, (Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2).
As great and numerous as angels are, they are never to be exalted above Jesus Christ.
Jesus is infinitely superior over angels.
The Son of God has a superior name.
Hebrews 1:4-5 NKJV having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?
His name is called Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. He has been given a name which is above every name.
Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Angels have an exalted position and ministry. They were endowed with superior knowledge and power. They were able to go and do all that God commanded.
His name is superior for Jesus alone is the Son of God.
Angels were called sons of God and the redeemed are made children and sons of God, but only Jesus is the Son of God. The Son of God is far greater and has a far greater title than any angel or man could claim.
God commanded all of the angels to worship Jesus.
Hebrews 1:6 NKJV But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
Throughout the ages the angels sang praises to God. They have declared His holiness and glory. God has exalted Jesus His Son and every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth shall bow to Him.
In Revelation 5:12-13, they sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creature that are around the throne said, “AMEN!”
The office and nature of the Son of God is superior to the angels.
Hebrews 1:7-8 NKJV And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Although the ministry of angels is powerful and supernatural, they are dependent on God’s pleasure and design. They were created by the Son of God and are subject to Him. The Son of God has an eternal reign and His power, wisdom and being is superior to all angels.
Jesus Christ has a superior anointing over angels and men.
Hebrews 1:9 NKJV You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One. Angels were sent by God for several reasons.
Their ministry involves protection (Psalms 91:11), guidance (Genesis 19:17), encouragement (Judges 6:12), deliverance (Acts 12:7), supply (1 Kings 19:5-9), direction (Matthew 2:19–20) strengthening (Luke 22:43), occasional rebuke (Numbers 22:32) and judgment (Acts 12:23).
Only Jesus is the Savior.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
Hebrews 1:10-12 NKJV And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
Jesus existed eternally before creation and remains the Son of God forever. The creation will be changed, but the Son remains the same.
Jesus Christ the Son of God is sitting in the highest place of honor at the Father’s right hand.
Hebrews 1:13-14 NKJV But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Angels occupy a place of honor around the glorious throne of God, but they are only the servants of God. They are sent by the Savior to minister to believers who will inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus Christ the Son of God will remain in that position of honor and power until His ultimate victory over all His enemies.
1 Corinthians 15:25-28 NKJV For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Why is Jesus superior to the angels?
- Jesus Christ the Son of God has a superior name.
- Jesus is superior because He is the only begotten Son of God.
- Only Jesus has suffered, died, and conquered death and has been resurrected and now sits at the right hand of the Father.
