God Communicated with the Hebrews in extraordinary ways:
the prophets, the angels, the Law, and those magnificent miracles
The Hebrews had a special relationship with God –there can be no doubt about that. He communicated with them in extraordinary ways: the prophets, the angels, the Law, and those magnificent miracles. Yet, this book –A Letter to the Hebrews– begins by saying that Jesus has replaced the prophets and is superior to the angels. We'll see in later chapters that He overshadows the miracles, fulfilled the Law, superceded the Levitical Priesthood, and ushered in a new Law. (We will get to those later.)
Throughout the book of Hebrews, contrasts are made to show the vast difference in values –what God treasures and what the people treasure. Specifically, we see Jesus –God's greatest treasure– rejected in favor of religion and tradition –the works of men.
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:1-3)
The first three verses of this chapter one passage state that...
- Jesus has replaced the prophets as God's way of communicating with them.
- Because Jesus is His Father's heir, He is the rightful owner of all that His Father possesses –including the Hebrew people.
- Jesus is the Creator of the universe –He was the Word spoken to bring it into existence.
- Jesus reflects all the goodness and glory of His Father.
- There is no difference between Jesus' nature (character) and that of His Father.
- Jesus maintains order in the universe to bring His plan to fulfillment.
- Jesus completed what the Law (the Ten Commandments) and Levitical Priesthood could not –He provided purification from sins.
- When Jesus sat down, there was no more need for the old Law, its sacrifices, nor its priesthood.
Jesus Contrasted with the Angels
God's angels are immensely powerful, holy and they carry important messages from Him. But Jesus –the Son of God– is supremely more powerful, more holy and His message is unsurpassable. This is clearly disclosed through a series of quotes from the Old Testament. The lead-in, found here in Hebrews, explains that these are prophecies in which God the Father was telling the Hebrews about His Son. That's a significant revelation! It shows that the Hebrews were told over and over that the Son of God would join them; they were to respect Him and welcome His arrival.
having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited 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 A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"? And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, "AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM." (Hebrews 1:4-6)
The first quote in this passage comes from Psalm 2 where God said that He installed His Son as King on Zion; He proclaimed Jesus' birth (today You have become my Son); Jesus is the owner of the earth and all that is in it; Jesus is its Ruler and Judge; and all people will either join with Jesus or perish (also John 3:36).
Then 2 Samuel 7 is quoted. It's there that God said He was going to establish Jesus' kingdom and that it would be eternal; that Jesus was going to be a descendent of David; that the relationship between God and Jesus is Father and Son; that Jesus was going to take on the wrongs of the world; that Jesus would be beaten and flogged by men; and that God's love for Him would never end.
Keep in mind that this Hebrews passage tells us that God is speaking about His Son. So in Deuteronomy 32, the Father describes His Son as being God; the Rock; the Life Giver; the Healer; the Deliverer; the Avenger; the One who will make Atonement for the land; and the One that the angels worship.
What God Says about Angels
And of the angels He says, "WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE." (Hebrews 1:7)
The allegory of angels being wind and fire is a quote from Psalm 104 and it describes the purpose of angels. Let's first look at these two great forces and then how they can be understood allegorically. Wind causes change. It can be gentle –bringing relief on a hot day; or it can be brutal –taking down huge trees and structures. It's capable of tearing down anything that man considers important and himself with. Fire purges. It can totally obliterate things that man becomes dependent on. God uses wind and fire to take away man's independence and restore the original design. Man was created to be completely dependent on God.
Examples of change brought about by wind are found in some of the best known Bible stories. Great storms arose on the waters and stirred up fear in the hearts of Jesus' disciples and of Jonah's shipmates. In both cases, the wind caused men to assess what was important in their lives. They searched their souls and made conscious decisions regarding what would save them from disaster. They chose God as their source of salvation. Similarly, the parable in Matthew 7:24-27 says that all men will face storms. The storms are intended to cause men to evaluate their security. It's either based on shifting sand or on a rock –on their own capabilities or God's promised security. The Bible doesn't say if the wind in these two stories was an angel or not. All we know is that the wind caused the men to choose their security.
That's what Angels do; they help to move men's dependencies to true security. Angels' flashing swords prevented Adam and Eve from returning to the Garden. Since God was no longer physically with them, that first couple had to change from living by sight –walking with God in the cool of the day– to living by faith. Angels brought birth announcements of new leaders (Jesus included) forcing the people to make a life-choice about which leader they were going to follow and depend on. Angels warned of pending death and destruction which compelled men to change their lives. Lot left the city where he had grown comfortable –he went by faith to an unfamiliar place. An angel caused Gideon to check his reliance, ensuring that he was living by faith in God rather than on the strength of his army.
Fire is associated with purging; and it's a familiar topic in the Bible. The parable of the wheat and the tares is a prime example. The wheat (those who accept God's promise) will be gathered into Jesus' kingdom and then the tares (those who don't accept it) will be gathered and burned. Fire also separates impurities from precious metals in a refiner's furnace so they can be eliminated. Likewise, it removes our worldly dependencies (wood, hay and stubble which are products of our flesh) from our spiritual securities (the priceless works of God).
An example of angels actually purging was when the destroyer, or Death Angel, was God's companion on Passover. He took the lives of all of the first born males throughout Egypt thus cutting off the normal lines of inheritance. Another was after King David took the census and an angel was chosen to kill seventy thousand Hebrews –and destroy Jerusalem. However, the most terrifying event will be at the end time when the angels will bring plagues, storms, sickness and death. Then the angels will purge one third of life on the earth.
The Father's Description of His Son Jesus
After describing His angels, God the Father describes His Son in this passage and the passages it quotes.
But of the Son He says, "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM. "YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS." And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT, AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP; LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END." (Hebrews 1:8-12)
The first quote in this comes from Psalm 45 which says that Jesus is God eternal; He is the mighty Ruler; He demonstrates the godly characteristics of truth, humility and righteousness; Jesus will judge the nations; and He is King over all mankind. Then in Psalm 102, the Hebrews are told that Jesus created the world and He will change it. Yet, He will remain the same.
The Hebrews know their Scriptures. Those Scriptures contain many, many insights to the fact that God was going to provide His Son in human form to eternally eradicate the corruption and resolve the separation caused by sin.
The Purpose of Angels
But to which of the angels has He ever said, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET"? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:13-14)
Psalm 110 is the source of this quote. It's where the Father tells His Son that He rules over His enemies; His kingdom will be centered in Jerusalem (Zion); He will be an eternal Priest; and He will lead His army and crush all of His enemies. God didn't give any of His angels this authority. It was reserved only for His Son.
The angels have a specific role in God's plan –separate from that of His Son. He uses the angels to bring about change –stirring up the hearts of mankind so that they will see themselves for what they truly are –dead in their sins and in need of life. And they also show who God is –the source of that life –eternal life. Unsettling circumstances are intended to eliminate human independence and replace it with dependence on God (Proverbs 4:5-6).