Hebrews 1:4

Hebrews 1:4

He is greater than the angels

One of the themes of this extraordinary letter is the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all other created beings, including the angels. He also far exceeds what the Old Testament writers perceived and what had previously been revealed to Israel. 

Historically, the Jews had regarded angels as the most exalted beings under God, they associated angelic beings with many events in their history including the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai. Now we are being told that Christ was superior to the angels and that He has a superior name to theirs. The writer does not seem to be inferring that “Jesus” or “Yeshua” or “Christ” is that name, rather that because He is declared to be “the Son,” He has a title and connections that exalt our Lord far above all angelic creations. However, we read in Philippians 2:9 that He has been “given a name that is above every name and at that name every knee should bow.”  The suggestion is that His rank and office are what now makes Him superior, not just His proper name. For instance, the senior director or manager of a business is called the CEO, that is not a proper name, but it is a description that describes that person’s position and status. It is in Christ that all God’s plans for heaven and earth find fulfilment, He is the one who is designated Lord of all, and it is to Him and Him alone that all powers and dominions must one day bow the knee. His extraordinary service and sacrifice during His visit to our world have promoted Him higher than any earthly or celestial being and given Him the right to inherit His name. Whilst He was already God, He is now exalted as God in human form. Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!

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