In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; 2 in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, 3 who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 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.
God’s self-revelation to Old Testament Israel was given in fragments through the prophets. With the advent of the Christ Child, the Kingdom of God is unfolding, and God’s saving power will be revealed to the world in his Son who is the radiance of His goodness and glory, not a servant like the prophets. The Son, through whom the universe was created, is a perfect reflection of the very being of God. He is the Word of God who communicated God’s message clearly to the world and achieved eternal redemption for mankind by his blood (Heb. 9:12). The eternal Son guides and sustains all that he created in the universe. When the fully divine and fully human Son had completed his redemptive work, he entered into the glory he had with the Father before his incarnation (Phil. 2:6-11). We too as children of God hope in this glory (Rom. 8:16-17).
Being fully divine and fully human, 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 comparing Christ to the angels, Paul asked the community 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 traced Jesus’ bloodline back to 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).
Almighty God, your Son assumed our human nature and willingly died so that we could share in the glory prepared for all who love him. Send down your Spirit upon us so 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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