Hebrews 1:5-14 “The Son and the Angels”

Hebrews 1:5-14 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• King of Kings – Hillsong Worship
• Jesus Over Everything feat. Andrew Holt // The Belonging Co
• Ben Cantelon – Guardian
• In Jesus’ Name I Pray – Feast Family (Korean Praise w/ ENG SUB)

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• What does the Bible say about angels? CQ Kids – Lesson for Kids
• My Best Friend by Hillsong Kids performed by Grace Chapel Kids – Song for Kids
• I am a C-CH-CHRISTIAN… | Listener Kids – Song for Kids
• MCF Worship | God is Watching Over You – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

The author previously stated that Jesus has been exalted above the angels and has received a higher name. Since there were people at the time who worshiped angels, the author felt it was necessary to establish this truth firmly. Because the readers of this letter came from a Jewish background, it was essential to provide evidence from the Old Testament when making an argument. At that time, the Old Testament was available in three languages: the original text in Hebrew, a translation in Aramaic (the Targum), and a translation in Greek. The author quotes all these references from the Greek translation of the Old Testament, known as the Septuagint.

The author first quotes Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14 (verse 5) to emphasize that Jesus is superior to the angels because he is called the “Son.” Additionally, the author finds a prophecy in Deuteronomy 32:43 that foretells the angels worshiping Jesus (verse 6). In fact, when Jesus was born, the heavenly angels worshiped him and sang praises (Luke 2:13). Next, the author quotes Psalm 104:4 to emphasize that angels are servants of God (verse 7). In contrast, Psalm 45:6-7 declares that God anointed the Son and exalted him (verses 8-9). Psalm 102:25-27 speaks of Jesus’ eternal nature as the Lord who has been exalted (verses 10-12). Finally, the author cites Psalm 110:1 to stress that God has elevated the Son to a position far above the angels (verse 13).

After concluding these references, the author highlights that angels are servants dedicated to ministering to believers. The “heirs of salvation” (verse 14) refers to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Meditation:

The Bible acknowledges the existence of angels as beings who convey God’s will to humanity and care for and guide people according to His will. Jesus spoke of the presence of angels as an accepted truth. While teaching not to despise the weak, he said, “Their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). When speaking about repentance, he said, “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). These words have contributed to the belief in “guardian angels.” Furthermore, Jesus also taught that he would appear with the angels on the day of his second coming (Matthew 24:31).

When reading these words, we must be careful not to imagine angels as they are often depicted in religious paintings, fairy tales, or movies. Angels are not fundamentally visible beings that can be seen with the naked eye. When people imagine angels as figures with halos above their heads, flowing white robes, and large wings fluttering gracefully through the sky, they may view the biblical accounts of angels as myths or legends and dismiss belief in angels as childish. Even though angels sometimes appear in dreams or visions as visible beings, we should not assume this is their proper form. As spiritual beings, angels are messengers God uses to manage the universe and govern humanity according to His will.

While the Bible speaks about the existence and role of angels, it does not provide extensive details. Therefore, making specific or definitive claims about angels can be risky. Like the readers of Hebrews, it is wrong to regard angels as objects of worship. The author felt the need to correct the readers’ angel-worshiping tendencies, so he quoted seven Old Testament passages to demonstrate that angels are God’s servants and far inferior to Jesus, the Son. After presenting these references, the author concludes by emphasizing that angels are servants who minister to believers — beings even lower than those who follow Christ.

Prayer:

Lord, the spiritual realm is truly mysterious, and because of that, it can also be truly dangerous. Yet, we cannot ignore the spiritual world simply because it is dangerous. Please grant us the discernment of the Holy Spirit so that we may grow in understanding of this marvelous spiritual world that You have revealed to us. Help us always remember that the only One we are to worship and serve in this spiritual realm is the Triune God alone. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jesus is greater than angels. While angels are real, they are God’s servants—not to be worshiped. God sends angels to help and protect us, but our focus should always be on Jesus.

• For Preschool-Lower Elementary
  • Have you ever heard stories about angels? What do you think angels look like?
  • Jesus is greater than angels. Why do you think trusting Jesus is more important than anything else?
• For Upper Elementary-Middle School
  • The Bible says angels are servants sent by God. Can you think of ways God might use angels to help people today?
  • Since Jesus is greater than angels, how can we focus more on Jesus in our daily lives?
• For High School
  • The Bible warns against worshiping angels. Why are people sometimes drawn to spiritual things other than God?
  • The Bible says Jesus is far greater than angels. How can we deepen our relationship with Jesus and trust him more in our lives?