A MORE EXCELLENT NAME
Hebrews 1:4-14
Do you believe in angels? Have you ever seen one? I have never seen one, but the Bible teaches of their existence. Certainly many believers have benefited from their ministry. In this passage we learn several things about angels. Angels are special messengers who worship the Son and do his bidding (V. 7). Moreover, Angels minister to the heirs of salvation. (v. 14).
There is an unhealthy fascination with angels today. Some go so far as to deify the angels and worship them. Yet angels are never to be worshiped. Our focus must always be on the Lord Jesus Christ for God has given his Son a more excellent name than that of the angels. In fact, the epistle to the Hebrews reveals the superiority of the name of Jesus over every name.
God has given his Son a more excellent name than any name in all of creation. Since God has given Jesus a more excellent name than any other name, including the angels, we must yield our lives to his lordship. Why has Jesus been given a more excellent name than the angels?
I. JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD (Hebrews 1:4-7).
The angels are servants, while Jesus is the Son. To be a son in a family is superior than a servant. The Lord Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God. Note the number of times He is called “Son” in this chapter.
Furthermore, angels are worshipers, while the Son is the object of their worship. The object of our worship is One who is greater than ourselves. The angels worship Christ who is greater than the angels.
II. JESUS IS OUR GOD AND KING (Hebrews 1:8-9).
Note that the Father says of the Son, “Your throne, O God….” “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.” As God Jesus is the eternal king. (Hebrews 1:8a) "Your throne, O God is forever and ever." His kingdom will know no end. He is eternal. Jesus is a righteous king. (Hebrews 1:8b) His kingdom will be characterized by righteousness and truth. The good news is that though we were sinners by nature and by choice, we are made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Jesus is an anointed king. (Hebrews 1:9) ) "Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions." His Kingdom is full of the joy of the Lord. In the Bible, oil is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit who fills us with the joy of the Lord.
III. JESUS IS LORD (Hebrews 1:10-12).
The word “LORD” in the Greek of the NT is the word “kurios” signifying “having power” or “authority.” It is variously translated “Lord, Master, owner.” After Jesus, there is no record that the title “kurios” was ever used again for any other person except Jesus. He is constantly referred too in the epistles as the “Lord Jesus.”
As Lord Jesus is the eternal Creator (v. 10-12): “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” God addresses Jesus as Lord because He is the Creator of all things. Moreover, Jesus is eternal (10-12). When the earth is no more Jesus will still be the same. "They will be changed, but you are the same, and your years will not fail." The classic verse that describes the unchanging Christ is also found in Hebrews 13:8) "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (13:8). Jesus is the unchanging an eternal Lord.
As Lord, Jesus reigns at the Father’s right hand (vv. 13): “To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?” Notice verse 3: “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Then verse 13: “Sit at my right hand….”
As Lord, All Jesus’ enemies are destined to become a footstool for his feet. Jesus is destined to reign victorious over all his enemies. God never said to any angel, “Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.” That was only said to the Son. In these words we see Jesus seated at the Father’s right hand (see also 1:3). The fact that He is now seated at the Father’s right hand signifies that the work of the cross was accepted by the Father.
The foot on the neck is a picture of a king who has won a battle over his enemy. The day will come when Christ will have all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death.
As Lord, Jesus sends the angels to minister to those who will inherit salvation. Angels are ministers (vv. 7 & 14). In verse 14 the Greek word for minister is DIAKONIAN. This is also our word for deacon. The angels are Heaven’s deacons or servants.
CONCLUSION: Since God has given his son a more excellent name than the angels, how should we respond to him? Philippians 2:9-11 contains perhaps the best response to that question. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."
Jesus accomplished the work of salvation. (See 1:3): Jesus, by himself purged or provided purification for all our sins. He is the remedy. By His own blood which he shed on the cross, He purged us of our sins and made possible our salvation, our forgiveness, and our eternal life.
Have you confessed Jesus Christ as Lord of your life? Are you living your life in light of your confession? Are you living your life to the glory of God?
