Hebrews 1:14

ministering spirits, sent forth to minister Here as elsewhere the A. V. obliterates distinctions, which it so often arbitrarily creates out of mere love for variety in other places. The word "ministering" (leitourgika) implies sacred ("liturgic") service (Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:21); the word "ministry" (diakonian) implies service to God on behalf of men. It should be rendered "ministrant spirits sent forth for service."

"How oft do they their silver bowers leave

And come to succour us who succour 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, they 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 for men have such regard."

Spenser.

for them who shall be heirs of salvation Literally, "for the sake of those who are about to inherit salvation." The salvation is both the state of salvationhere, and its full fruition hereafter. When we are "justified by God's grace" we are "made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7). Spenser widens the mission of the Angels when he speaks of

"Highest God, who loves His creatures so

That blessed Angels He sends to and fro

To serve to wicked men to serve His deadliest foe."

For Scriptural instances of the service of Angels "to them that fear God" see Psalms 34:7; Psalms 91:11; Genesis 19:15; Daniel 6:22; Acts 12:7.

sent forth Lit., "being sent forth." The ministry of Angels is regarded as still continuing.

heirs of salvation The writer recurs to this great word "salvation" in Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 2:10.