For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are my son; this day I have begotten you”? Or again: “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”? 6 And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: “Let all the angels of God worship him.” 7 Of the angels he says: “He makes his angels winds and his ministers a fiery flame”; 8 but of the Son: “Your throne, O God, stands forever and ever; and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You loved justice and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions”; 10 and: “At the beginning, O Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; and they will all grow old like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a cloak, and like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” 13 But to which of the angels has he ever said: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?'
Paul explained to the Hebrew Christian community the superiority of the glorified Christ over the angels, and his relationship with God. When Jesus had completed his redemptive work, he entered into the glory he had with the Father before his incarnation (Phil. 2:6-11). Being fully human and fully divine, Jesus was inferior to the angels in his human nature, but far superior to the angels in his divine nature because he inherited the name the “Son of God (Jn. 1:49; Mk. 1:1).” The angels were neither sons of God nor brothers of mankind. Paul, who was a student of the Law (Acts 22:3) and studied under Gamaliel (Acts 5:34), used seven related OT texts to explain the superiority of the glorified Christ over all created and heavenly beings in this world and the world to come.
In his explanation to the Hebrew Christians, he first compared Christ with the angels and asked his audience if they could find anywhere in the Scriptures where God ever designated an angel as his son begotten by Him. Those listening would have been familiar with the two OT quotes Paul used in verse 5 (Ps. 2:7 and 2 Sam. 7:14). Psalm 2 is a royal psalm used in connection with the coronation of a king, and it has a Messianic theme. Paul also used that quote in reference to the risen Christ (Acts 13:33). In the second quote, 2 Sam. 7:14, God promised to establish forever the royal throne of David, “and his throne will be strengthened forever (1 Chron. 17:14).” The Gospel of Luke showed that Jesus was descended from the line of David (Lk. 3:23-31).
“When he leads the first-born into the world (v. 6)” is a reference to the risen Christ entering into heavenly glory and all divine beings bowing before him (Deut. 32:43; Ps. 97.7). Paul showed the superiority of the risen Christ over the angels with quotes from the Psalms in verses 7 to 12; (Ps. 104:4; Ps. 45:7-8). These quotes attest to the divinity of the risen Christ who loves justice and detests iniquity (v. 9), was active at creation, is unchanging, and his years will have no end (Ps. 102:26-28; vv. 10-12). He sits on his everlasting throne (v. 8) at the right hand of God (Ps. 110:1; v. 13). The Father “has given all judgment to his Son (Jn. 5:22), so at the last judgment, the risen Christ will roll up the heavens and the earth like a cloak (vv. 11-12). The Son is both creator and judge of the universe. The angels are messengers and ministering spirits (Ps. 104:4) sent to serve those who will inherit the kingdom of God.
Almighty God, your Son
assumed our human nature and willingly died so that we could share in a filial relationship
with you and share in the glory prepared for all who love him. Send Your Spirit upon us that we may
persevere through our trials and be judged worthy to inherit the kingdom of
God. This we pray through Christ our
Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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