Hebrews 1

      5-12. For to which of the angels. To none of them did he ever use such language as follows. The style in which the Father addresses Christ shows his superiority to the angels. Thou art my Son. See Ps. 2:7 . The second Psalm was regarded by the Jews as a prophecy of the Messiah. This day have I begotten thee. What day is referred to in the prophecy? Acts 13:32 Acts 13:33 answers the question by quoting this very passage and declaring that it was fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. He was born from the dead and God, who raised him, thus demonstrated that he was his Son. I will be to him a Father, etc. Quoted from 2 Sam. 7:14 . They were spoken originally of David's son Solomon, chosen to be king after him, but he was in a certain sense a type of Christ. Expression "Son of David," "Seed of David," while applicable to Solomon, pre-eminently refers to Christ. 6. When he again bringeth the first born into the world. Macknight thinks that Christ was brought into the world the first time when he was born at Bethlehem; that the time referred to here is when he comes again to judge the world. Whatever the time referred to, Ps. 97:7 shows his superiority to the angels for it says, "Let all the angels of God worship him." 7. But of the angels he saith. The quotations made show how God speaks to and of the Son, but quite different are the words used of the angels. He maketh his angels spirits. In the Revision we have "winds" instead of "spirits." The Greek word is Pneumata, a word which uniformly in the New Testament means spirit, and spirits in the plural, and I believe that "spirits" is the better rendering. The passage is quoted from Ps. 104:4 and means that he maketh spirits his messengers, or angels, and flaming ones (the burning seraphs) his ministers. It is incongruous with the thought to introduce into the passage winds and lightnings, natural phenomena, when the theme is the status of angel intelligences. 8. But to the son. The quotation is from Ps. 45:6 . Thy throne, O God. Then the Son has an eternal throne, and is divine. The sceptre, etc. He then has a kingdom, and rules it with a righteous scepter. The point is that he is a Divine King with an eternal throne. 9. Therefore God, even thy God, etc. Because of the holiness of the Son, God the Father hath anointed him. The exaltation of the Son cometh from the Father. He is the Anointed, and above all other anointed kings, priests, and prophets. 10. And thou Lord in the beginning. From Ps. 102:25-27 . A part of the preceding part of the Psalm speaks of the Messiah's Kingdom, and hence these verses may well apply to the Messiah, especially as they harmonize with what we are told elsewhere of his glory. See notes on John 1:1. 11. They shall perish. All created things shall grow old and pass away. 12. As a vesture shalt thou fold them up. The heavens shall be rolled away. They are rolled up to be put away like a worn out garment. But thou art the same. The Son is eternal, the same yesterday, to-day and forever.

      13, 14. Sit thou on my right hand. Quoted from Ps. 110:1 . Make thy enemies thy footstool. The custom is alluded to of putting the feet on the necks of conquered enemies. See Joshua 10:24 Joshua 10:25 . This passage is applied to Christ in Acts 2:35 Acts 2:1 and in 1 Cor. 15:25 . 14. Are they not all ministering spirits? The real office of the angels is indicated. It is to give service in working out the plans of God for the salvation of the elect. The passage does not teach that each heir of salvation has a guardian angel, but that the angels do service in working out the Divine plans in behalf of the saved.

      The work of angels can be learned in the Scriptures from the missions in which they are engaged. It is to aid in carrying out the plans of God for the government and salvation of our race. Under the rule of Christ they are his ministers to aid in the work of redeeming man. For examples of their work, see Genesis 19:1-26 Genesis 19:2 2 Kings 19:35 Acts 12:23 Jude 6 Acts 10:1-8 Matt. 18:10 Acts 5:19 , etc. Christ is Lord; they are servants.