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 ngels intrigue most of us even though we know almost nothing about them.
We cannot see them nor does scripture tell us very much about
them. We know that some angels can appear like a man (Gen.
18:1-15) and others look strange to us (Ezekiel 1:4-21). The
virgin Mary was surprised by one that apparently came through
a wall and suddenly appeared in her room (Luke 1:28). Holy
angels fight an invisible war of power against demonic forces
which are fallen angels (Daniel 10:4-21). They are powerful,
not just physically, but even with their words (Acts 5:18,
24). Angels are special, powerful beings. They live in a world
that is invisible to us, yet they can see us (1 Cor. 11:10)
and each of us has an angel who cares for us (Matt. 18:10).
Yet, these holy beings do not know everything, because they
desire to learn about Jesus according to 1 Peter 1:12 which
says, “ . . . things into which angels long to look.”
Holy Angels.
As we saw in the last study, the Jewish people put angels
“on a pedestal.” They considered angels superior
to Moses because in some way the angels participated in the
giving of the Law to Moses. So the Jews placed angels at the
top of the authority structure, above Moses and the rabbis.
The Holy Spirit desired to make it clear that Jesus is superior
to the angels and not inferior.
The Contrast - 1st Coming.
So the Holy Spirit starts comparing Jesus to the angels. He
begins quoting scripture which speak about Jesus’ first
coming - His birth, life, death and return to life. He uses
Old Testament scriptures that refer to Jesus in order to show
us what God has said about Jesus and not the angels.
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For
to which of the angels did He ever say, “THOU
ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE”? And
again, “I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL
BE A SON TO ME”? And when He again brings the
first-born into the world, He says, “AND LET
ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.” (NASB) Hebrews
1:5-6 |
God has never called any angel “My Son”
nor has He ever referred to one of them as the “first-born.”
The title Son of God means Jesus is God. Jesus, Himself, makes
this clear when He responds to some angry Jews. These Jews
had accused Jesus of claiming to be God.
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The
Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not
stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being
a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (NASB) John
10:33 |
How did Jesus respond? Here is His answer . . .
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. . . do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified
and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’
because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (NASB)
John 10:36 |
Jesus clearly tells us that the term Son of God
refers to God. That is why the Jews wanted to kill Jesus.
To say Jesus is My Son refers to the manner in which He entered
into this world as the God-man.
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And
the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy
Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you; and for that reason the
holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. (NASB)
Luke 1:35 |
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