Jesus Christ Superior to the Angles
Book of Hebrews

Scripture Lesson Hebrews 1:1-13             Isaiah 61:1-11

Christ is Superior to the Angels,

Introduction: We know from reading the Holy Bible that angels actually exist.  They are spiritual beings who were created by God to be His messengers and servants.  They are a magnificent and glorious group and an evil non glorified group of spiritual beings who live in realm outside the natural concept of man’s existence. You can say they live in an entirely different dimension from man.  The magnificent and glorious group has the glorious privilege of living in God's presence and of serving Him always, day and night. We will not spend much time discussing angels, neither the good ones nor the bad ones, but will remind you that they are created by God and under the control of God.  

Because of their high and exalted position, some people have tended to look to angels instead of Christ. They tend to take the thought and attention that is due Christ and give it to angels. They tend to consider angels as their go-between between them and God.

1.      A person feels unworthy to approach God. So they think they need someone or something to approach God for them, someone to serve as an intermediary and mediator for them. They know that angels are the ministers (servants) of God; therefore feeling unworthy in themselves, they begin to look to an angel. They want the angel, to communicate with God for them, to present their needs and desires to God, to protect them to secure God's blessings and care for them.

2.      Still others do not believe in Christ, that He is the Son of God. They do not believe that He is the only Mediator between God and man. Therefore, they seek to communicate with the spiritual world through some angel or person in the spiritual world.

The point to note in these approaches to God and the spiritual world is this that is not the way to God. As Jesus states in John 14:6. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.: Always know that angels are servants of God. 

This is what this passage is attacking. It is not denying angels, for they do exist. It is not denying the glory and magnificence of angels, for they are glorious and magnificent beings. It is not denying the ministry and service of angels to God, for they are His ministering spirits. What this passage is attacking is this: the emphasis of some people who exalt angels by seeking experiences with them and by focusing thoughts, attention, and prayers upon them. Angels are not God's intermediaries and mediators between Himself and us. The only intermediary and Mediator between God and us is God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the only Person who can approach God for us. He is the only Person who can hear and answer our prayers and look after and care for us. This does not mean that He may not use an angel to help us. He does use angels in our lives to guide, protect, and encourage us but the angel serves Christ; the angel is not to be the focus of our attention and thoughts nor praise and honor. The angel is the servant, not the Lord of Jesus or the Lord of our lives. Christ alone is the Lord—both of the angels and us. Therefore, He and He alone is to be the focus of our attention and thoughts, honor and worship.

This is the main point of this passage: Christ is superior—far, far superior to the angels.

Discussion Point   So do we understand the superiority of Jesus Christ? Explain what you know thus far from the earlier lessons on Jesus Christ. Read the various scripture references. (John 1:1-14, John 3:16-17 Matthew 4:1-11  Matthew 3:17

Jesus Christ has a more excellent name, the name of Emmanuel, Read Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38. This is the stated evidence that Christ is superior to the angels. He is much better—far superior—to the angels. And note what it is that makes Him superior: it is His name. His name is far more excellent than their name; it ranks far higher with God than the name of angels.

Remember Christ is Jesus’ title meaning “The Anointed One and His Anointing “It is not his last name.

Jesus Christ alone is the only begotten Son of God; He alone was sent into the world to establish a relationship between God and men; He alone stands as the Mediator and intermediary between God and men. He alone calls upon God as the Father of the only begotten Son, and God alone calls upon Christ as His only begotten Son. God has only one perfectly obedient Son and that is Jesus Christ.

God said this about Christ, not about angels. Christ alone is the only begotten Son of God; He alone was sent into the world to establish a relationship between God and man; He alone stands as the Mediator and intermediary between God and men. God has only one perfectly obedient Son and that is Christ. God sent Christ into the world to secure perfection and righteousness for men, and Christ obeyed God. By His obedience He has established forever a relationship between men and God. Therefore, God is a Father to Christ, a Father who loves and honors His obedient Son, and Christ is a Son to God, a Son who obeys and honors His Father. Read Hebrews 1:5 and 2 Samuel 7:12-17

"I [God] will be to Him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son" (Hebrews 1:5.

Jesus Christ is far, far superior to angels. He is superior because God is a Father and Christ is a Son to God. The name of Jesus Christ is far more excellent to God than the name of angels. Jesus Christ is worshipped by angels; they are not worshipped by Him.

"And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him" (Hebrews 1:6.  Deut. 32:43; Psalm 89:27; Psalm 97:7.)

Look at the scripture in verse 6  Note the word "firstbegotten" (prōtotokos ). It means first in the sense of priority and superiority, of being above someone else. It is a word that shows dignity, honor, and worth; that someone deserves praise. Jesus Christ is the One who is to be worshipped and praised, not angels.

· When Jesus Christ was born into this world, He was attended and worshipped by angels. (Luke 2:13).

· When Jesus Christ was taken into the world above, at His resurrection and ascension, He was attended and worshipped by angels (Acts 1:10).

· When Jesus Christ returns to this earth again, He shall be attended and worshipped by angels (Matthew 13:41; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:31).

Fact   Jesus Christ is the Person who entered the world as Man, to save man. He is the Person who was raised from the dead and who ascended into heaven to conquer death forever. He is the Person who is to return and take us home to heaven to be with God eternally. Angels did not do this. Therefore our worship—our hope and attention and praise—is to be upon Christ. We are to be seeking Christ as our way to God, not angels or some other intermediary. Jesus Christ has a name that is far more excellent than that of angels.  Christ has finished His work upon earth as the faithful and obedient Son of God—perfectly faithful and obedient in dying for the sins of men. He has conquered and triumphed over the forces of sin and death for men and made it possible for them to be saved and to live eternally with God. Therefore, God has highly exalted Christ to His right hand. And Christ shall sit there until He is ready to return in judgment and to subject His enemies (make them His footstool).