William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Hebrews 1:4

In the foregoing verses. comparison was made between Christ and the prophets, here between Christ and the angels, and the preference and pre-eminence is given to him above them all. Angels were very glorious creatures, employed by God in giving of the law; but Christ, whom God the Father employed in the dispensation of the gospel, is far superior to them, and has an excellency above them.

1. A more excellent name, they being called ministers or servants, he styled a Son.

2.. more excellent nature, his being. divine, theirs an angelic nature: yea, his human nature, by virtue of its union with the God- head, has. dignity surpassing the nature of angels.

3.. more excellent office and function, as Mediator between God and man, which belongs not to any angel.

4. Consequently. more excellent power and authority, with. right to adoration and worship, which the angels have not, but are commanded to worship him.

When he brought his first-begotten into the world, that is, in the morning of the resurrection, when he was in. glorious manner begotten from the dead, the Father says, Let all the angels of God worship him; and therefore he that is to be worshipped is greater than they that are to worship him.

Learn hence;

1.That the evidencing and declaring of Christ to be the Son of God, was the particular care and special work of God the Father; he said it, he recorded it, he revealed it; Thou art my Son.

2. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, is in his own person God blessed for ever, to whom divine honour and religious worship is due and payable from glorified angels: Let all the angels of God worship him.

3. The command of God is the ground and reason of all religious worship; the angels are to worship Christ, by the ground of their doing it is God's command: He saith, Let all the angels of God worship him.

4. It can be no part of our duty to worship the angels, who are our fellow-servants in the worship of Jesus Christ; they that are to worship Christ with us, surely are not to be worshipped by us.

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William Burkitt's Expository Notes

Hebrews 1:4

Old Testament

New Testament