For unto the angels
Though angels were concerned in the giving of the law, and were
frequently employed under the former dispensation, in messages to
men, and in making revelations of God's mind and will to them,
yet to them
hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we
speak:
by which is meant, not the future state of eternal glory and
happiness in heaven, as opposed to this world, and the present
state of things; though there may be much truth in this sense, as
that the present world is in subjection to angels, and the world
to come is not; the present world is much in subjection, though
it is not put into subjection, to evil angels, who usurp a power
over it, hence Satan is called the god and prince of this world;
and it is in some sense in subjection to good angels, as they are
used by God in the execution of his providential care and
government, in influencing and assisting at the councils of
princes, in inflicting God's judgments on kingdoms and nations,
and in the special care of his own people: but the world to come,
as opposed to this, is not at all subject to them; they are
employed in carrying the souls of departed saints thither, and
shall be with them there, and join with them in their service;
but they will not be as kings, nor even as children, but as
servants; much less is heaven at their dispose to give to
whomsoever they please; it is only in this sense in subjection to
Christ, the Prince of life, who has power to give eternal life to
as many as the Father has given to him: but it is not of this
world the apostle is speaking; he is speaking of something now,
which bears this name, and in proof of it cites a passage out of
( Psalms
8:1-9 ) where mention is made of sheep, and other things,
which cannot refer to the world of glory: rather it designs the
new heavens and new earth at the resurrection, and day of
judgment, for these will not be put in subjection to angels;
though of these the apostle is not speaking in the context: it
seems therefore to intend the Gospel, and the Gospel dispensation
and church state, in opposition to the Jewish state, and legal
dispensation, which was called a world, and had in it a worldly
sanctuary, and worldly ordinances, which is now at an end; and at
the end of which Christ came, and then another world took place,
here called "the world to come", as the times of the Messiah are
frequently called by the Jews (abh Mlwe) , "the world to come", the Gospel
dispensation, the apostle was treating of in the preceding
verses, in distinction from the law, the word spoken by angels;
for the Gospel was not spoken by them, but by the Lord: the
Gospel state is very properly the world to come, with respect to
the Old Testament saints, who were looking for it, and in which
old things are past away, and all things are become new; angels
desire to look into the mysteries of it, and learn from the
church the manifold wisdom of God; but not they, but men, are the
dispensers of the doctrines of it; and Christ, he is the Head,
King, Governor, and Father of this new world: so instead of
"everlasting Father", the Septuagint render the clause
(pathr tou mellontov
aiwnov) , in ( Isaiah 9:6 ) "the Father
of the age", or "world to come"; and hence mention is made in the
Jewish writings of (axyvmd ytad
amle) , "the world to come of the Messiah" F4.