Angels

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)

Paul mentions angels in describing the supremacy of Jesus. Jesus is the One Who will possess all things in the end. (Hebrews 1:2) He reflects God’s glory and is the exact likeness of God, Who after obtaining forgiveness for us sits at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 1:3) He is greater than angels and His Name is greater than theirs. (Hebrews 1:4) Only to Jesus did God say, “You are my Son...,” and “I will be His Father...” (Hebrews 1:5) And only Him do angels worship. (Hebrews 1:6) Angels are described as wind and flashes of fire which God uses as messengers and servants. (Hebrews 1:7, Psalms 104:4) But of Jesus God has said that His kingdom is eternal, and that Jesus will rule over His people. (Hebrews 1:8) Jesus loves what is right and hates what is wrong, so God has lifted Him up and given Him more honor and glory than anyone else. (Hebrews 1:9) Jesus created the earth and the heavens which will disappear and change, but He is eternal. (Hebrews 1:10-12) And to none of the angels did God say “Sit at My right hand...” (Hebrews 1:13)

Now in verse 14 He tells us what they are. Angels are spirits who serve God Who sends them to help those who are to be saved. In the Old Testament they appeared to man. They got Lot out of Sodom before God destroyed it. (Genesis 19:16) They appeared to Abraham on various occasions. (Genesis 32:1, 24) An angel saves Daniel from the lions. (Daniel 6:22) And an angel appears to him when he is praying. (Daniel 10:2-21) They also appear in the New Testament. An angel helps Peter escape from prison. (Acts 12:1-11) An angel appears to Cornelius and tells him to send for Peter who shared the Gospel with him and his family. (Acts 10:1-7) And they appear even today, although we might not see them as beings with wings, they appear as strangers who help us miraculously much like the angel helped Peter. Paul reminds us to entertain strangers, “Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.” (Hebrew 13:2) Of course in these days it’s not customary to welcome strangers into our homes. The world is so wicked, we might be inviting trouble. But thanks to God we have the Holy Spirit Who helps us discern good from bad. (Acts 8:20-23)

The conclusion is that they are not to be worshipped. They minister to the saints. There are religious people who want to see angels, speak to angels and pray to angels. This is sacrilegious. It makes no sense to want to see angels, speak to them or pray to them when we can see Jesus, speak with the heavenly Father Himself and pray to Him directly. The only intermediary is Jesus our heavenly High Priest and the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. We can come directly to the throne of mercy and grace because of Jesus. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) God hears the prayers of the saints. “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1John 5:14,15) So we don’t need to see angels nor pray to them.

Charles Spurgeon, that English Baptist preacher of the 1800’s wrote: “...heaven is still opened, and the angels of God ascend and descend upon the Son of man, that they may visit the heirs of salvation. Seraphim still fly with live coals from off the altar to touch the lips of men greatly beloved. If our eyes could be opened, we should see horses of fire and chariots of fire about the servants of the Lord; for we have come to an innumerable company of angels, who are all watchers and protectors of the seed-royal.” He paints a beautiful picture of the angels’ tasks. We are the beneficiaries of their ministry.