Jesus Christ: So Much Better than the Angels

In Hebrews 1:1-3 the work of Jesus is contrasted with that of the prophets.  

The remainder of Chapter 1 contrasts Jesus as being greater (far superior) than the Angels!

Heb 1:4  having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 

Scriptural Perspective of Angels:

(Jewish Perspective)

Place of Reverence:

Acts 7:53 (Law given by dispension of Angels)

Act 7:52  Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 

Act 7:53  who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” 

Galatians 3:19

Gal 3:19  What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 

Deut 33:1-2

Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. And he said: “The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them. 

Psalm 68:17

Psa 68:17  The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands; The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place. 

Angels are exceedingly powerful

2 Angels destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah while The Angel of the Lord delivered Lot and his family in Genesis 19.

One Angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrians in one evening in 2 Kings 19:35.

One Angel destroyed the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast at the  Passover in Exodus 12. 

One angel killed 75,000 in one day when David numbered the people in direct defiance of God’s commandment in 2Sam 24.

They excel in strength:  Psalms 103:17-22

The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. 

Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. 

Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. 

Bless the LORD, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul! 

Angels are NOT to be messed with!!!!

Angels are physical beings

(Spiritual does not mean without form or substance)

In Genesis 19 they were physical, so much so that the wicked men of Sodom wanted to “know” them!  Notice they were NOT sexless!

See 2 Kings 6:8-23

Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” 

Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice.  Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?”   And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 

So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told to him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” 

Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.  And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”  So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 

Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria.   So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria! Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”  Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel. 

Angels interact with man (both for and against) at God’s command

• See Daniel 6:20-22
• Daniel 9:20-23,
• Daniel 10:8- 21
• Job 1:6-12
• 2Cor 11:14 – Angel of light…
• SEE Zechariah 3…

3 Angels are known by name

• Lucifer (Satan)   Isaiah 14:12-14 

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!   For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 

Gabriel- Messianic Messenger

• Daniel 8:6, 9:21
• Luke 1:19, 1:26

Michael

• Daniel 10:13, 21,  12:1
• Jude 1:9
• Rev 12:7

Angels are warring creatures:

• 2 Kings 6
• Jude 1:9
• Revelation 12:7

4th Angel known by title:

The Angel of the Covenant/ The Angel of the Lord

Exodus 3:1-6

Exo 3:1  Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 

Exo 3:2  And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 

Exo 3:3  Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” 

Exo 3:4  So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 

Exo 3:5  Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 

Exo 3:6  Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. 

Judges 2:1

Because the people didn’t drive out all the inhabitants of the land as directed….

Jdg 2:1  Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. 

Jdg 2:2  And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 

Jdg 2:3  Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ ” 

Jdg 2:4  So it was, when the Angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept. 

Exodus 23:20-23

Exo 23:20  “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 

Exo 23:21  Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. 

Exo 23:22  But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. 

Exo 23:23  For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. 

Exo 23:24  You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. 

Exo 23:25  “So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 

Exo 23:26  No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. 

Exo 23:27  “I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 

Exo 23:28  And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. 

Exo 23:29  I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 

Exo 23:30  Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. 

Exo 23:31  And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. 

Exo 23:32  You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 

Exo 23:33  They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” 

In Joshua 5 Joshua sees the Angel of the Lord and runs to him, asking Him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”

Jos 5:13  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” 

Jos 5:14  So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” 

Jos 5:15  Then the Commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. 

He is the Commander of Heaven’s armies, and demands to be worshiped.

In Numbers 22:23 Balaam’s donkey SAW the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with a drawn sword.

Daniel 3:22-30

Dan 3:20  And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 

Dan 3:21  Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Dan 3:22  Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 

Dan 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Dan 3:24  Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 

Dan 3:25  “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” 

Dan 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 

Dan 3:27  And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 

Dan 3:28  Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 

Dan 3:29  Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 

Dan 3:30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.

The Angel of the Lord is Jesus Christ in pre-incarnate form appearing to man.  John 1:18  No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. 

The Angel of the Lord stands in stark contrast to the other angels in the OT, because He is God the Son!

He is the messenger of the OT covenant, AND the New Covenant (Malachi 3:1) 

Angels in General:

They are God’s Ministers- Psalms 104:4, Heb 1:14

Heaven is their home- Matthew 24:36

Mat 24:36  “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 

They are Holy- Matthew 25:31, Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26, Rev 14:10

They are messengers- Daniel 8:16, 9:21, Luke 1:19, 26

They serve around God’s Throne, Rev 5:11 (and are innumerable!)

They are CREATED! Isaiah 14:12 and they don’t die!

In short, the Jewish student, raised on the Scriptures, saw Angels as the pinnacle and most powerful and awesome of God’s creation, and with just cause!

Some “Do we really know?” questions- just for thought…

Are fallen angels and demons the same thing?

See Jude 1:6- also 2Cor 5:2

Is that all of them? 

See Daniel 10….

Will or can fallen angels be forgiven?

See Matthew 25:41, Rev 12:9

Mat 25:41  “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 

Rev 12:9  So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

Now, Jesus vs Angels…

Heb 1:5  For to which of the angels did He ever say: “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”? Psalms 2:7, Acts 13:33, Heb 5:5 And again: 

“I WILL BE TO HIM A FATHER, AND HE SHALL BE TO ME A SON”? 2Sam 7:14 

Heb 1:6  But when He again brings the firstborn into the world Psalms 89:27, Proverbs 30:4, Isaiah 9:6 , He says: “LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.” Deut 32:43, Psalms 97:7, 1 Peter 3:22, Rev 5:11-13

Heb 1:7  And of the angels He says: “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS SPIRITS AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” Psalms 104:4

Heb 1:8  But to the Son He says (who’s talking?): “YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER; A SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM. 

Heb 1:9  YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS MORE THAN YOUR COMPANIONS.” Psalms 45:6-7, Isaiah 61:1-3 

Heb 1:10  And: “YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS. Psalms 102:25-27

Heb 1:11  THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY WILL ALL GROW OLD LIKE A GARMENT; 

Heb 1:12  LIKE A CLOAK YOU WILL FOLD THEM UP, AND THEY WILL BE CHANGED. BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT FAIL.” Isaiah 34:4, 50:9, 51:6 Heb 8:13

Heb 1:13  But to which of the angels has He ever said: “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL”? Psalms 110:1, Matthew 22:24, Heb 1:3

Do we ever see angels sitting in Scripture?

Once!  Where?   (Matthew 28:2-  Does not include Judges 6:11 for obvious reasons…)

Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Psalms 103:20, Daniel 7:10, Romans 8:17

Angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation, while Jesus is the one who paid the ultimate price and purchased salvation for man.

As awesome as angels are, they bow at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ!