#DailyDevotion Jesus Is Greater Than The Angels
Heb. 1 5To which of the angels did God ever say: You are My Son, today I have begotten You? Or again: I will be His Father, and He will be My Son? 6And when He again will bring the firstborn Son into the world, He says: All of God’s angels should worship Him.
The author of Hebrews continues where he left off telling us how Jesus is better than the angels. In this section he quotes a number of Old Testament passages which appropriately apply to the Messiah, the Anointed One. Did the Father ever say to any of the angels, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You?” He is quoting from Psalm 2:7. It is thought by some scholars this was an enthronement psalm for the kings of Israel. Of course, Jesus bearing the name of YHWH, is the begotten of the Father from all eternity. We know from previous verses the Father created creation through His eternally begotten Son. Now in human flesh is chosen by the Father to be His begotten Son. The Father makes this pronouncement upon the Son at His baptism. He makes it again at His transfiguration.. Concerning Psalm 2 it is fully accomplished at His ascension to the right hand of the Father. The kings of the earth rage against Him and those who follow Him. The Father gives Him a rod and He smashes His enemies, those who in this life refused to submit to Him and put their faith in Him. At His ascension to the right hand of Majesty, He inherits the nations.
He then quotes 2 Sam. 7:14 to show how Jesus is better than the angels. The LORD spoke to David through the prophet Nathan. He promised David that his seed, the one who would sit on his throne forever, the LORD would make this seed a son to Him, and He would be a Father to Him. He has said this to no angel.
Verse 6 has a number of interpretations. When Jesus is called first-born, it is mostly in context of His appearance in time. It could be His incarnation when the angels appeared and sang in glory. It could be referring to His baptism as we see the angels ministering to Jesus after His temptation in the wilderness. It could be His resurrection where He is referred to the First-born among the dead. Some even take it as His glorious appearing to all the world on the Last Day. I think I’ll take the Lutheran cop-out and say yes to all these things. For the Father speaks this to Jesus from the point of eternity.
He seems to be quoting Deut. 32:43 from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew bible. In this passage it is the LORD who is being called the object of worship. The author then is claiming divinity for Jesus. Jesus is the one who punished His people Israel. He is also the One who exact divine retribution upon the nations who persecute His Church. The Father calls the angels to worship Jesus here. The gentiles who are joined to sons of Abraham who put their trust in Jesus. The LORD then calls all those who look to Jesus for strength.
We then should listen to the Father and rejoice in Jesus our Savior and Redeemer. We now call forth His praise as the One whom the Father has chosen to be His sons through faith in His Son. We joyfully go forth studying the will of God for our lives in the Scriptures and live it out in our lives.
Gracious Father, You have called forth praise from all creation for You Son, Jesus Christ. Give us faith to join the hymn of praise that we may be considered worthy thereof to be called Your sons as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.