April 29, 2025 | Be God's Family
The Son is Far Superior to the Angels
Scripture: Hebrews 1:4-14(NIV)
4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?
6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels spirits,
and his servants flames of fire.”
8 But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
10 He also says,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.”
13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Devotional
Yesterday’s passage and devotional outlined Jesus’ superiority to the prophets. Today’s scripture makes the case for His supremacy to the angels. Angels played an important role in scriptural texts as they are mentioned nearly 300 times. Four angels are mentioned by name, including Michael, Gabriel, and the fallen angels Lucifer (Satan) and Apollyon. Scriptural texts include angels delivering news and warnings, providing guidance and comfort, and performing heroic actions like removing the stone from the front of Jesus’ tomb.
Angels continue to be a regular topic of mention in pop culture. Many famous books, movies, and songs contain angelic characters, plot lines, titles, and tributes. Clarence Odbody taught George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life that Bailey’s life had meaning and was worth continuing. Dan Brown’s follow up to the bestseller “The DaVinci Code” was entitled “Angels and Demons.” The Penguins sang the hit “Earth Angel” in 1954. Marvin Berry and the Starlighters famously covered the song during the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance in the Michael J. Fox movie, Back to the Future.
While our fascination with angels is understandable, the writer in today’s passage makes it very clear that Jesus is the Son of God, and angels are not. Verse 13 states that, “To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?’” The answer is none. Only Jesus received this directive. He reigns supreme.
While it’s acceptable to appreciate the role that angels have played and continue to play in the biblical narrative, God is a jealous God. The writer of Hebrews warns us not to give angels praise and worship above or equal to what we give to Him and to Jesus.
Do you have any angels that sit on a higher pedestal than Jesus? How can you make sure that Jesus becomes (or remains) the top priority in your life?
Poem
Languishing, Languishing
Psalm 102
But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.
Psalm 102:12
Languishing, languishing, desert owl scavenged
Vanishing, vanishing, hope vaporized
Banishing, banishing, exile, in ruin
Attend, Lord, to my tears!
Withering, withering, great vine now fruitless
Dithering, dithering, hands wring confused
Slithering, slithering down into pitfall
Hear now, Lord, my longing!
Reigning Thou, reigning Thou, now and forever
Maintain now, maintain now Thy sure sovereignty
Gaining Thou, gaining Thou, Thy good e’er working
Releasing those condemned
Resting here, resting here, in Eden’s glory
Divest clear, divest clear all of my pain
Guesting near, guesting near close to Thy bosom
My King forever, unchanged
