Posted on 12/11/2016 5:46:32 PM PST by metmom
"Having become . . . much better than the angels" (Heb. 1:4).
Through a deft use of the Old Testament, the writer proves that Christ is the mediator of a greater covenant.
Man is a wonderful and amazing creation—higher than plants, animals, and any other material creation in this world. But there are created beings even higher than man—angels.
Hebrews 2:9 shows this to be the case because when Jesus became a man, He was "made for a little while lower than the angels." After the fall of the rebellious angels under Lucifer, the angels in heaven were no longer subject to sin. These angels are holy, powerful, and wise. They are special beings created by God before He created man.
The Jewish people understood the exalted position of angels because they knew that the Old Covenant was brought to men and maintained by angelic mediation. Galatians 3:19 says, "Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made."
Because of this high regard for angels by his readers, the writer of Hebrews was faced with a problem. If he was to show that Christ was the mediator of a better covenant, he would have to prove that Christ is better than angels. To do so, he used seven Old Testament passages to verify his claim.
If he had tried to prove from Christian writings that Christ is a better mediator, his unbelieving Jewish readers would have said, "We don't accept these writings as being from God." So in effect he wisely replies, "Open up your own Scriptures and I'll prove my claim from them." It results in a powerful and irresistible argument.
For the next several days, we'll see in what ways Christ is superior to angels and how He could mediate a better covenant for us.
Suggestion for Prayer
Because much of our understanding of the New Testament is based on the writings of the Old Testament, thank God for how He has brought His complete Word to us intact throughout the centuries.
For Further Study
Read Galatians 3:8, Romans 9:15, and Matthew 4:4.
What Old Testament verses to those passages quote? What truth does each of them verify?
Thanks for that. The only angels which I believe to have encountered were human. If there were were others, they did in no way make themselves known to me.
Those of us who make it to Heaven will end up being served by the angels - we will be put above them.
That angels are created being and that angels are a higher order of created being than man.
We cannot appear and disappear at will, for example.
My daughter and I had one help us when we were sliding off the on ramp to the interstate.
My vehicle was sliding sideways as conditions were very bad and there was NO bare pavement to be seen.
I cried out to God out loud, and the van was SLAMMED from the side at the rear back into the middle of the lane and simply continued to go straight forward as if on dry pavement.
I’ve driven in plenty of snowy roads and know how vehicles act when they are sliding and catch on some bare pavement. They do NOT go sideways by the tail end going to the side back into the lane.
My daughter and I both just looked at each other with really WIDE eyes.
It was the weirdest thing either of us had experienced, so I know it just wasn’t my imagination.
How we can know it was the Lord behind it is that it causes us to thank and glorify Him rather than an angel. The angels - the holy angels - will always direct our praise to God and not to them.
I DO know it was God because I had no sooner stopped speaking then it happened.
It was immediate.
Dear God, Help (or something to that effect) and BOOM!
You are correct.
It had to be one of the most immediate answers to prayer I’ve ever had.
I was born at a Catholic hospital, and my birth certificate had on its background, a large Angel, with its wings positioned as if they were sheltering the little footprints on the document. I used frequently, to ask my mother to let me look at it, as she explained to me that it was a drawing of my guardian Angel, that everyone had one, and his job was to protect me. We seldom went to church when I was little, but from the age of four or so, I knew that God was real, and frequently prayed to him. Of course, I never thought of that Angel as being anything except one whom had been sent by God to protect me. I’ve never doubted his presence, but I know from reading Scripture later on, that Angels are ministering spirits, sent to minister to the heirs of salvation, that is, believers. One of the most amazing Biblical accounts of Angels, occurs in chapter ten, in the Book of Daniel, wherein an Angel, comes to speak to Daniel, because of his petitions to God, to tell him they had been heard, and gives him a vision of the distant future. Very interesting.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15,16)
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