Christ and the Angels: Angels as a Teaching Tool in the Book of Hebrews.
Early Christian authors and apologists often made the case for Christianity by looking back and finding the significance of what had come before.
First Century Jewish Christians would often describe their faith as a continuation – a sort of next step – of Judaism. After all, Christ was the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets.
Therefore it is no surprise that these same authors – like the Matthew in his Gospel account, and Paul in quite a few places, would make reference to types and shadows in the Tanakh, Rabbinical Literature as well as the cultural and historical identity of the Jews to drive home the fact that the Christ and His Kingdom had come.
The Book of Hebrews is a brilliant example of this. Two of the passages that is often misunderstood and even overlooked are those concerning Christ in relation to the angels, perhaps because we do not pay much heed in general to these heavenly helpers from the throne room of God.
Nevertheless there is much to be discerned from mining the text in this regard.
The first is Hebrews 1:4-14: which describes Jesus, the exalted Messiah,as higher, or better, than the angels.
The second is Hebrews 2:5-9: which describes Jesus, the Son of Man, as lower as the angels.
Angels played a very important role in Jewish culture and religion. One Rabbi is quoted as saying that every blade of grass has its angel.
In Judaism angels were considered to be intermediaries, fearful and intimidating deputies sent to speak and act on behalf of God.
Some teachers and philosophers, such as Maimonides, would go as far as to say that they were the invisible force behind the laws of nature.
In a lot of ways angels in the Old Testament function as the hands, feet and voice of God – tangible manifestations, interpreters and testaments of God’s infinite wisdom and power.
A casual topical search of the Bible would show that angels have two primary functions. To serve God, ministering to the Creator King of Heaven and Earth much as we do through worship around His throne, but also to reveal God to His people – thereby calling man to worship.
The latter takes many forms – whether delivering dreams, visions and prophecies, or guarding and protecting, working miracles and destroying armies on God’s behalf – the end result is a revelation of the nature and the glory of God.
Therefore – because angels are so important to the Jews of his time – the author of the book of Hebrews compares Christ to the angels to shed some more light on who He is.
The idea of these passages are to show the immortal and eternal aspects of the Messiah veiled in the mortal flesh of the Son.
Christ, higher than the angels as the Right Hand of God Himself – instead of angelic intermediaries, God Himself steps down to fill the gap.
We see the fullness of God revealed in the frailty of Jesus as man – the infinite folded into the finite, the Creator in the form of His creation.
The author of Hebrews uses the angels as a sort of teaching tool by which a basic Christology can be shared to the Jewish people specifically. As gentiles, though, and modern readers (although we were not the intended target audience), we can still glean very important insight if we read these passages intentionally and in context.
It also poses a challenge for us as believers today. The book of Hebrews engages with the predominant culture of the society it is addressing.
In encouraging a reading of the passages above, but also the whole of this Epistle, I would like to encourage us to look at how we can engage with the culture of the community around us to bring the beauty, the glory and the truth of Jesus to that same community.
Reflect:
1. How can you engage with the culture of our day and age to bring across Gospel-truth to your community?
2. How can reflecting on the Old Testament enlarge your vision of what Jesus came to accomplish? Choose a reading from the Old Testament, and reflect on how it might point you towards the finished work of Christ as well as how it might encourage you to think deeper about the whole of Scripture in terms of your daily Christian walk.
3. In thinking about the content of Hebrews chapters 1 and 2 we see a lot of reference to the ‘unseen’ reality that surrounds us. How might reflecting upon this unseen reality affect our daily walk? What role does the supernatural aspect of the Kingdom take on in Your day to day life?
Prayer:
Lord, as I ponder the deeper things of Your Word, let it be as an open book before me. Give me eyes to see the things unseen. As I read the Old Testament, let me see Jesus in what was. As I engage with the culture of today, help me see Jesus in what is. I know that all wisdom and all knowledge come from You. Show me the hidden things of the Bible and let me grow in wisdom and understanding so that I may be an effective witness for You in the world. Help me see how I can engage with culture – and how I might help others understand You through this endeavour – just like the author of Hebrews. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen