‘So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs’ (Hebrews 1:4)
Angels from the realms of glory
The Jews had the highest opinion of angels; and here the writer uses this to prove that Jesus Christ is God. All the angels of heaven worship God, but Jesus Christ is greater than the angels, and the object of their worship (Heb. 1:6); therefore Jesus Christ must be God.
Is he greater than angels? There is no comparison between what he is and an angel! He is their great Creator.
Jesus is the Son of God; angels are the servants of God, and work for the sake of all Christian believers. Their place in the universe compared with the one Jesus occupies is like the place servants in a family occupy compared with the place a son has. The argument which the writer insists on is that the title ‘the Son of God’ is to be given to Jesus alone. It has been conferred on no others. Though angels and believers are both called collectively ‘sons of God’, the title ‘the Son of God’ has been given to Jesus only.
His name is greater
The name Jesus has is a more honourable and exalted name than has ever been given to angels. It involves more privileges, and entitles Jesus to higher respect and honour than any name ever given.
God the Son, as God, always had a more excellent name than the angels, because he had it naturally and essentially; but, as God revealed in the flesh, he has it as a consequence of his humiliation, sufferings, and sacrificial death at Calvary. After all, God did not achieve his purposes of grace through an angel, but through his Son –
‘For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?’ (Heb. 1:5)
Is he greater than angels? There is no comparison between what he is and an angel! He is their great Creator.
Andy Tugwell, The Church of God in Swindon
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