Hebrews 1:4-7: Better Than the Angels
2022-06-25
Hebrews 1:4
The Son, Jesus Christ, was made better than the angels. How was He “made”? Jesus is not a created being, as some say. He was from eternity past. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:5).
What it means to be “made” is found in the rest of the verse: By inheritance He gained a more excellent name. What does it mean to “inherit”? What a father has, a son inherits. It is the same with God the Father and His Son. Jesus inherited the Father’s excellent name.
There is a danger here, namely that the Son has the same name as the Father, and confusion as to what is meant by “name.” See the discussion on this here.
Jesus’ “excellent name” is his power, authority, and reputation He received from His Father. This power and authority were never given to any angel at any time. Consider Philippians 2:8-11. The name, or power/authority, was higher than any other name given. Everyone, whether they be in heaven, earth, or below, will bow to the name of Jesus Christ. This includes the angels.
Hebrews 1:5
Our attention is now given to Old Testament references that demonstrate that the power and authority of Jesus is greater than that of angels. First, we see, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (cf. Psalm 2:7). Consider Psalm 2. Though the entire world tries to war against the Lord and his anointed (read: Messiah/Christ), the Lord laughs in response, and then He sets His wrath against the nations. He does this by establishing His king in Zion. This is ultimately Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 2:7, we see our verse of interest. According to Acts 13:32-33, this is a reference to the resurrection: “And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (Acts 13:32-33).
In Jesus’ overcoming the world and death, He was given authority from the Father to rule over the entire world. From this, amnesty is given to the world: Serve the Lord and serve His Son. If you place your trust in Him, you will be spared (Psalm 2:12).
The throne and world dominion were given to the Son; no angel was given this privilege.
The second reference in this verse is a reference to the Davidic covenant. Consider 2 Samuel 7:11-16. Recall that David wanted to build a permanent house (Temple) for the Lord. While the Lord had Solomon do that, the Lord promised a house to David instead. By this, He means a dynasty. We see that while the northern kingdom switched kingly lines multiple times, Judah did not, because of this promise to David. Jesus, who according to the flesh was from this lineage, ultimately fulfills the David covenant.
In 2 Samuel 7:14, we see our reference. The rest of the verse may seem out of place. Jesus never committed iniquity! However, David and his lineage did, and the chastening and stripes they deserved fell on Jesus. The house of David continues forever in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Again, we see the kingdom was handed to the Son of God, not to any angel.
Hebrews 1:6
A third reference to the Son is mentioned here. This reference of angels worshipping Him is when “he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world.” When we look at the original references to this verse, this seems to refer to His second coming, not His first. These references are not without controversy. Let us look at them.
First, let us consider the first reference in Psalm 97:1-7. The Lord returns with clouds and judgment. These are eschatological (end times) symbols. Everyone sees the Lord returning. Then we read this: “Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods” (Psalms 97:7). The “gods” here likely are angels. The word can be translated “gods,” but it can also be translated spirits, such as when Saul went to the witch at Endor: “And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth” (1 Samuel 28:13). Likely, these gods are fallen angels, since the context in Psalm 97:7 is idols and their worshippers.
Second, a more direct (but confusing) reference is from Deuteronomy 32:43 in the Septuagint (LXX):
Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people.
Consider the regular King James Version of the Bible:
Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
The entire reference to angels is missing in the Masoretic text. The “angels” portion is mentioned in this verse in the Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q44). A discussion can be found here. Other ancient sources that knew of this missing portion and quoted it would be Odes 2:43 and Justin Martyr in Dialogue with Trypho CXXX. Why this is missing, or if it should be there at all, we will leave for now. But it is interesting that it is here. Regardless, it is here in Hebrews 1:6; it is truly a part of the Word of God.
This also refers to the return of Christ, considering the context. Consider Deuteronomy 32:39-43. We see a reference to the resurrection and of a coming judgment. In verse 43, we see the Gentile and the Jewish people rejoicing together. The missing piece, referring to the angels worshipping, would be included here.
What we must emphasize here is that Jesus receives worship. No angel should receive worship; here, we see that Jesus should be worshipped by the angels.
Hebrews 1:7
We see angels serve the Son. The angels’ primary role is one of service: “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Psalms 104:4). The original context of Psalm 104 is demonstrating the power of God over creation. God created these spirit beings to serve, i.e., “ministers.” Moreover, these angels are spirit beings. These beings have no body; “a spirit hath not flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39). For their missions, they seem to be able to take on a body. The men that appeared to Abraham ate the food the patriarch brought them (Genesis 18:8), and later, we find that two of the men were angels (Genesis 18:22; 19:1).
Jesus, though He came to serve, He is Lord of all. Also, unlike angels, He also is a human being, forever having flesh and bone. “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39).