Jesus is far superior to angels. Jesus is the only begotten “Son” of God and thus the heir of all things. Angels are simply “messengers” who were both created by Jesus and sent in service to Him. Verse 5 says, “For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son, today I have begotten you? Or again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?” These two Old Testament quotes serve nicely as a pair that supports the Old Testament teaching that Jesus fulfills the requirements as “heir” according to Psalm 2 because He’s first born of God and has the priority in the family of God. The second quote from the Davidic Covenant in 2nd Samuel explains the permanent role of the heir to the throne of David. David wants to build a house for God and informs the prophet Nathan accordingly. Nathan agrees at first, then hears from God (as was the custom in times past) and brings David God’s message. “You won’t build a house for me,” God says, “But I will build a house for you.” It’s not about what you do for me. It’s about what I do for you.
Jesus was not “a” son as the angels were referred to collectively. He was “The Son” of the Old Testament messianic prophecies. Jesus is not “a” son in the same sense that Christians are, as they are collectively called in the New Testament. Jesus is “The” son and the fulfillment of all the Old Testament from the first mention of the child to be born of a woman in Genesis 3 throughout all the Old Testament prophets and writings. Thus, He was both the most important message from God and He proclaims the most important message from God. That’s why God opened the heavens and spoke Himself as recorded in Mark 9:7, “This is my beloved Son, Listen to Him.” Jesus is the actual physical manifestation of God! When we hear from Jesus, we hear from God. That’s why we worship Jesus.
The angels did too! Verse 6 contrasts Jesus with the angels. It’s sometimes easier to understand something and communicate it when you contrast it with something rather than compare it with something. The writer of Hebrews wants us to see the weakness of one and the strength of the other. That’s why he quotes the Old Testament in which God says, “And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,’ Let all God’s angels worship him.’” He is not only the heir of all things in contrast to the angels; He’s worshiped by the angels. This is the most frequently recorded activity of angels. They worship God. Check out the following verses: Job 38:7; Psalm 103:20; Isaiah 6:1–3; Revelation 4:8; 5:9–12. I like what Hughes said in his commentary here; “Angels (unless they are fallen angels) do not worship other angels, for that would be angelolatry! The only one they can and do worship is God. Our job is to lift up Jesus!”[1] Jesus must have the priority! The Old Testament is all about Jesus and the New Testament is all about Jesus. Keep Jesus at the center of it all. It’s all about keeping our eyes and thoughts on Jesus! When we look at the wind and the waves around us and take our focus off Him, we begin to sink.
[1] R. Kent Hughes, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, vol. 1, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 38.