Don't Worship the Ministers
Hebrews 1:6-14—The Angel Part
Why this angelic emphasis?
Remember, Hebrews was originally written to Jewish Christians in the initial phase of "temple" Christianity. The writer is seeking to correct misconceptions of Jewish tradition and encourage his readers to press on in believing in Jesus, the One Who was sent of the Father, in the face of rabid Jewish persecution.
I. The Jewish tradition regarding angels:
A. The creation account: The plural of Genesis 1:26—Jewish interpreters believed that this was God speaking to His holy angels, or perhaps Michael, the archangel.
B. Their history contained a lot of fuel for angelic speculation.
Gen 3:24- Cherubim at Eden's gate; Gen 18-Abraham & the "3 men"; Gen 32:22-32-Jacob wrestles with a "man"; Ex 3:1-6-The Angel of the Lord in the burning bush; Judges 13-The Angel of the lord appears to Samson's parents; II Kings 6:13-18-Elisha, his servant, the Syrians & chariots of fire. These are only a few mysterious appearances in Israel's Old Testament—and remember, they did not have the revelation of the New Covenant—only shadow's!!
C. Sinai, the giving of God's law, and its angelic covering. This grand event in Israel's history leads us to an understanding of Hebrews 1:7.
Ex 19:16-19 Sinai covered in a thick cloud, completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in FIRE.
Ex 24:12-18 Vs 17 "The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming FIRE on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel."
Deut 4:9-14 vs 11-12 Notice the clouds, darkness, & fire. "The Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the FIRE."
Deut 33:1-7 Note: "the LORD came down from Sinai…He shone forth from Mt Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints." Those "saints are the firey angels"!
Ps 97:1-9 In the midst of clouds & fire is the warning against idolatry!
Ps 104:1-4 Vs 4 "Who makes His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming FIRE." This is the root of Heb 1:7.
Dan 7:9-14 His throne a fiery flame, wheels a burning fire—a thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
Acts 7:53 The law was received by the disposition of angels. Gal 3:19 The Law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator!
Angels and the declaration/revelation of the Righteous God are inseparably united in the Old Testament. But, as in every other aspect of Old Testament revelation of the Character and Glory of God, the angelic manifestation only added to God's unapproachableness! Mystery surrounds the angels. Their form varies, they are glorious, but only glorious in their devoted ministry to the Righteous God. Therefore many Jewish believers were tempted to think this "Son of Man", this Messiah was the highest of the angels.
D. The answer? NO, Vs 6, "When He brings the firstbegotten into the world, He says, and let all the angel of God worship Him."
(From Deut 32:43 Mysteriously, not in the Hebrew text, but this translation is from the Septuigent, the Greek translation of the Hebrew old testament around 250 BC. It was verified by a Dead Sea Scroll fragment containing Deuteronomy.)
E. So then, are angels only Old Testament shadows, of no concern to us? Consider:
Heb 1:14 Ministering spirits (winds) sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation.
Matt 4:6, 11 They ministered to the Heir!
Matt 13:39, 41,49 Remember the place of the angels in Christ's parables.
Matt 16:27 The Son of man will come in the glory of the Father with his angels.
Matt 18:10 The angels of the little ones "do always behold the face of my Father"
Matt 24:31 The angels are the "elect gatherers", as well as "tare gatherers" (13:49}
But beware of too much angel talk. They don't appreciate it. They do not speak of themselves. They are too busy ministering to the Glory and praise of God!
Rev. 1:7 When He comes with His Clouds, I believe those clouds are his ministering spirits, His angels. They always are involved in the display of God's Righteousness, and that Righteousness is Christ! May we, with them, worship and adore Him!! It's all about Jesus!
Hebrews 1:6-14—The Angel Part
Why this angelic emphasis?
Remember, Hebrews was originally written to Jewish Christians in the initial phase of "temple" Christianity. The writer is seeking to correct misconceptions of Jewish tradition and encourage his readers to press on in believing in Jesus, the One Who was sent of the Father, in the face of rabid Jewish persecution.
I. The Jewish tradition regarding angels:
A. The creation account: The plural of Genesis 1:26—Jewish interpreters believed that this was God speaking to His holy angels, or perhaps Michael, the archangel.
B. Their history contained a lot of fuel for angelic speculation.
Gen 3:24- Cherubim at Eden's gate; Gen 18-Abraham & the "3 men"; Gen 32:22-32-Jacob wrestles with a "man"; Ex 3:1-6-The Angel of the Lord in the burning bush; Judges 13-The Angel of the lord appears to Samson's parents; II Kings 6:13-18-Elisha, his servant, the Syrians & chariots of fire. These are only a few mysterious appearances in Israel's Old Testament—and remember, they did not have the revelation of the New Covenant—only shadow's!!
C. Sinai, the giving of God's law, and its angelic covering. This grand event in Israel's history leads us to an understanding of Hebrews 1:7.
Ex 19:16-19 Sinai covered in a thick cloud, completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in FIRE.
Ex 24:12-18 Vs 17 "The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming FIRE on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel."
Deut 4:9-14 vs 11-12 Notice the clouds, darkness, & fire. "The Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the FIRE."
Deut 33:1-7 Note: "the LORD came down from Sinai…He shone forth from Mt Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints." Those "saints are the firey angels"!
Ps 97:1-9 In the midst of clouds & fire is the warning against idolatry!
Ps 104:1-4 Vs 4 "Who makes His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming FIRE." This is the root of Heb 1:7.
Dan 7:9-14 His throne a fiery flame, wheels a burning fire—a thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
Acts 7:53 The law was received by the disposition of angels. Gal 3:19 The Law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator!
Angels and the declaration/revelation of the Righteous God are inseparably united in the Old Testament. But, as in every other aspect of Old Testament revelation of the Character and Glory of God, the angelic manifestation only added to God's unapproachableness! Mystery surrounds the angels. Their form varies, they are glorious, but only glorious in their devoted ministry to the Righteous God. Therefore many Jewish believers were tempted to think this "Son of Man", this Messiah was the highest of the angels.
D. The answer? NO, Vs 6, "When He brings the firstbegotten into the world, He says, and let all the angel of God worship Him."
(From Deut 32:43 Mysteriously, not in the Hebrew text, but this translation is from the Septuigent, the Greek translation of the Hebrew old testament around 250 BC. It was verified by a Dead Sea Scroll fragment containing Deuteronomy.)
E. So then, are angels only Old Testament shadows, of no concern to us? Consider:
Heb 1:14 Ministering spirits (winds) sent forth to minister to the heirs of salvation.
Matt 4:6, 11 They ministered to the Heir!
Matt 13:39, 41,49 Remember the place of the angels in Christ's parables.
Matt 16:27 The Son of man will come in the glory of the Father with his angels.
Matt 18:10 The angels of the little ones "do always behold the face of my Father"
Matt 24:31 The angels are the "elect gatherers", as well as "tare gatherers" (13:49}
But beware of too much angel talk. They don't appreciate it. They do not speak of themselves. They are too busy ministering to the Glory and praise of God!
Rev. 1:7 When He comes with His Clouds, I believe those clouds are his ministering spirits, His angels. They always are involved in the display of God's Righteousness, and that Righteousness is Christ! May we, with them, worship and adore Him!! It's all about Jesus!