Hebrews 1:13, 14 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?… But to which of the angels said he at any time, etc.? The writer is still treating of the preeminence of the Son over the angels; and he shows it in the facts that he is a Sovereign and they are servants. I. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SON OF GOD. "But to which of the angels said he at any time, sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" This quotation the writer makes from Psalm 110. This psalm is confessedly Messianic. It is frequently quoted in the New Testament as applying to our Lord. "And no psalm more clearly finds its ultimate reference and completion only in Christ." The quotation teaches that: 1. The Son is exalted to the mediatorial throne. "Sit thou on my right band." "He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (See our notes on "The exaltation of his position" as stated in ver. 3.) 2. He is exalted by the highest will. "But to which of the angels said he at any time," etc.? "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand," etc.; "Him God exalted with his right band to be a Prince and a Savior." 3. He is exalted with the sublimest expectation. "Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet." Here are several points. (1) Our Lord has enemies; e.g. ignorance, superstition, unbelief, vice, crime, wicked men, etc. (2) These enemies will certainly be subjugated to him. Their subjugation is guaranteed by the Most High: "Till I make," etc. (3) These enemies will be completely subjugated to him. "Thine enemies the footstool of thy feet." The reference is to the ancient custom of conquerors placing their feet upon the necks of vanquished nobles or princes in token of their complete subjection (cf. Joshua 10:24). (4) He is waiting their subjugation with assured expectation. II. THE SERVICE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD. "Are they not all ministering spirits," etc.? Notice: 1. The nature of the angels. "Spirits." We do not enter upon the question whether angels are pure spirits or not. It seems to us that they are not without some form or vesture; that they are not "unclothed, but clothed upon." Their bodies are spiritual. "There is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." Angelic forms are not gross and material, but refined and ethereal. They do not impede their activities or clog their aspirations, but are the exquisite vesture of their bring and the suitable vehicle of their power. (On the qualities of these spirits, see introduction of our homily on vers. 3, 4.) 2. The office of the angels. "Ministering spirits." (1) They are servants of God. Alford: "The διακονία is not a waiting upon men, but a fulfillment of their office as διάκονοι of God. And Robert Hall: They are not the servants of the Church, but the servants of Christ for the benefit of the Church." They are "ministers of his that do his pleasure" (Psalm 103:20, 21). (2) They are servants of God on behalf of his people. "Sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation;" or, "Sent forth for ministry on account of those who shall be heirs of salvation." Christians are called "heirs of salvation" because they "are children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:14-17). And the salvation which they shall inherit is not mere deliverance from danger or release from the penalty of sin; but complete and everlasting salvation; transformation into the image and participation in the blessedness of the Lord. Unto these children of God angels minister. The nature of their ministry in ancient times we are able to gather from the Bible; e.g. to Lot (Genesis 19.); to Elijah (1 Kings 19:4-8); to Elisha (2 Kings 6:16, 17); to Daniel (Daniel 6:22; Daniel 9:20-27; Daniel 10:10-21); to Zacharias (Luke 1:11-20); to Mary (Luke 1:26-38); to the shepherds (Luke 2:9-14); to Mary Magdalene and other women (Luke 24:4-7; John 20:11-13); to the apostles immediately after the Ascension (Acts 1:10, 11); to the apostles in prison (Acts 5:19, 20); to St. Peter (Acts 12:7-10); to St. Paul (Acts 27:23, 24). They also ministered to our Lord after his temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:11), and in his agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). And there are statements of Holy Scripture which bear upon their ministry. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him," etc. (Psalm 34:7); "He shall give his angels charge over thee," etc. (Psalm 91:11, 12). They minister to us now chiefly by their influence upon our spirits. They quicken within us true thoughts and pure feelings; they help us to detect Satanic suggestions and to repel Satanic solicitations; they inspire the timid with courage, and whisper hope to the despondent - " And the wearied heart grows strong, As an angel strengthened him, Fainting in the garden dim Neath the world's vast woe and wrong." (Johann Rist.) They suggest caution and watchfulness to the unwary; by their serene invisible presence they solace the sufferer; and they serve about the dying bed of the saint, and convey the emancipated spirit to its heavenly rest. "Lazarus... was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." (3) They are commissioned by God for this service. He appoints to each one his sphere of ministry; and by him they are "scat forth" to fulfill their commissions. "Oh, th' exceeding grace Of highest God that loves his creatures so, And all his works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed angels he sends to and fro. To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe. "How oft do they their silver bowers leave, To come to succor us that succor want! How oft do they with golden pinions cleave The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant, Against foul fiends to aid us militant! They for us fight, and watch, and duly ward, And their bright squadrons round about us plant; And all for love, and nothing for reward. Oh, why should heavenly God to men have such regard?" (Spenser.) CONCLUSION. Learn: 1. The dignity of the Christian. Angels minister unto him. God cares for him; for he sends forth the angels to promote his interests. 2. The dignity of service. Angels, the highest orders of created beings, serve God by ministering unto little children, distressed Christians, and afflicted saints. 3. The supreme dignity of the Son of God. He "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many;" and now he "is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him," Well does Dr. J. H. Newman say, "When we survey Almighty God surrounded by his holy angels, his thousand thousands of ministering spirits, and ten thousand times ten thousand standing before him, the idea of his awful majesty rises before us more powerfully and impressively. We begin to see how little we are, how altogether mean and worthless in ourselves, and how high he is and fearful. The very lowest of his angels is indefinitely above us in this our present state; how high, then, must be the Lord of angels! The very seraphim hide their faces before his glory, while they praise him; how shamefaced, then, should sinners be when they come into his presence!" - W.J. Parallel Verses KJV: But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? |
    |