Jesus' Superiority Over Angels [Hebrews 1:4-14]

January 17, 2025

Apostle Vincent G Valentyn

ANGELS WERE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE JEWISH RELIGION... a. “The Jews venerated angels because of their place in the giving of the Law (⁠Acts 7:53⁠; ⁠Galatians 3:19⁠), and it was essential that Jewish Christians should learn by this comparison something of the infinite superiority of our Lord over those heavenly beings that held such a prominent place in Jewish life.” b. Angels appear throughout the history of Israel, coming to Abraham, Moses, Daniel and many others conveying messages from God. SINCE THE PURPOSE OF "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS" IS TO SHOW THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST AND THE NEW COVENANT TO THE LAW OF MOSES... a. It is of the utmost importance that the writer has something to say about angels b. So in the first few verses of Chapter 1 we find the comparison of the Son to prophets, followed now by the comparison to angels. THE AUTHOR NOW SETS OUT TO ESTABLISH THE PREMISE THAT THE SON IS "MUCH BETTER THAN THE ANGELS". a) Having become so much better than the angels: This description of Jesus in previous verses shows us that He is far superior to any angelic being. Yet this verse tells us that Jesus became better than the angels. b) We could say that He is eternally better than the angels, but He also became better than the angels. 1. Jesus became better in the sense that He was made perfect (complete as our redeemer) through sufferings (⁠Hebrews 2:10⁠) – something no angel ever did. 2. Jesus is better than angels because the descriptions of Jesus given in the first few verses, culminates in ⁠Hebrews 1:4⁠ identifying Him as: · Christ the Heir. · Christ the Creator. · Christ the Revealer. · Christ the Sustainer. · Christ the Redeemer. · Christ the Ruler. · Christ is Supreme.