Jesus Is Higher Than The Angels: Hebrews 1:4-6
“4) having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 5) For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again, “I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me”? 7) And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”” Hebrews 1:4-6
The book of Hebrews now moves into a series of arguments about the surpassing greatness of Christ. The book masterful proves from numerous Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus Christ is none other than God. The balance of chapter one develops the case that Jesus Christ is higher than the angels.
He begins his argument by quoting from Psalm 2:7; “… Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee.” The proposition is sound; “Which position is higher; Son or created angelic workers?” The answer is obvious. Son trumps servant every time.
His next line of reasoning is even more profound for the Jewish mindset. He refers to Psalm 97 to indicate that the Son is to be worshipped. In Judaism it is blasphemy to worship anyone of anything besides God Himself.
And yet from His birth to His crucifixion, Jesus was continually worshipped. (See Matthew 2:11 and Luke 19:37-40) There are actually many examples. He was eventually crucified for claiming to be the Son of God.
My favorite text is Revelation 5:11-14. In this text, all the hosts of heaven fall down and worship the Father and the Son equally. We are now ushered into the theological crisis laid forth in Hebrews 1:6; either Jesus Christ is God or all the hosts of heaven are guilty of blasphemy!
We are barely into the introduction of the book of Hebrews and already we the readers are being confronted with bold claims about the Deity of Christ. Stay tuned as the contrast and comparison between Christ and the angels continues through the entire first chapter. The author is about to introduce even more profound biblical arguments.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
