Friday, October 23, 2009

Hebrews 1:7

1:7
“Of the angels he says, ‘He made his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.’”

Here the author is quoting Psalm 104:4, “He makes his messengers winds his ministers a flaming fire.” Giving the angels some credit, that they are indeed beautiful, awe inspiring, and more often than not scary. But he uses the word ‘makes’. The Father makes his messengers, his angels and his ministers. Psalm 104 is mostly about God’s greatness, though these parts of creation are great (winds, water, clouds, messengers, ministers… etc.) God is greater then them, for, in fact, he made them.
There are two possible meanings here. Either God makes the winds and flames his messengers, or he makes his messenger into winds and flames of fire. The Psalmist takes the latter view. So, “God employs his angels and heavenly ministers in producing those winds, fire, thunder and lightening through which he executes many judgments on the world.” (~John Owen) Therefore “… if the angels are immeasurably superior to man, the Son is immeasurably superior to the angels.”(~ Leon Morris)
So because Christ makes his angels and ministers not only in creation, but also in his service, he is far superior not only in rank (service) but also in whom he is (the Son of God. As Leon Morris said the angels are far superior to us for they are committed to the service of their King, whereas we rarely do what we ought. But just as the angels are far superior to us in their service so Christ is far superior to them in his service. For which of the angels could ever atone for sin? Which of the angels could satisfy the just wrath of God? Which of the angels could become man? Could live prefect life; die the sacrificial death; make propitiation for sins; then raise from the dead? No angel could do that I service of their King. Thus Jesus’ rank is better because the service is better, not to mention the fact that he is the Son of God, and therefore God himself (Heb 1:3).
To conclude the verse; Christ makes his messengers (angels and ministers) winds and flames of fire to minister to the Church, the body of Christ. Because he is superior to the angels he has charge over them, and employs them in the service of glorifying God, through the spreading of the Gospel. Therefore Christ’s supremacy is put on display by the angels.

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