For now, we’ve come to Heb 1:14, but before going on, there’s one more aspect of Heb 1:1-13 to talk about.

You see, Heb 1:1-13 not only expounds on how Jesus is far better than the angels (He created and assigned specific duties to them), but also shows us how one man — Jesus Christ — fulfilled all the various qualities required in the Messiah to come.

So, let’s take a look at some of the Old Testament (OT) prophecies concerning Christ.

Now, though there are too many OT prophecies of Christ to completely cover in this post, we’ll basically narrow it down to five cumulative “facets” behind the Jewish concept of the Messiah (at the time of Christ):

1. A Prophet.
2. A Suffering Servant.
3. A son of David who would be King (this is the same as the Conquering King and the Shepherd).
4. A High Priest.
5. A Resurrection.

PROPHET: Israel looked for a great Prophet, because Moses told them to (Deu 18:15-19; Jn 1:21,25; Jn 6:14).

Deu 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken.

SERVANT: They looked for a great Servant of God who was going to Suffer (Psa 22:1-31; Psa 40:6-12; Isa 50:4-9; Isa 52:13-15; Isa 53:1-12; Dan 9:26; Zec 13:6-7; Zec 12:10).

Psa 40:6-7 Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; Mine ears hast Thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me.

Isa 52:13-14 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonied at Thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.

Isa 53:4-5 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

Zec 13:6 And one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.

Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for His only Son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for His Firstborn.

SON & KING: They looked for a son of David who will be an eternal King (this is also referred to as the Shepherd [2 Sam 7:12-16; Psa 45:1,6; Psa 89:3-4; Isa 11:1-10; Jer 23:5; Jer 3:9; Ezek 21:27; Dan 7:13-14; Dan 9:24-27; Zec 9:9-12; Zec 13:6-7; Mat 12:23; Mat 21:9; Mat 22:42-45; Jn 10:7-16]).

2 Sam 7:12-13 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy Seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish His kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for My name, and I will stablish the throne of His kingdom for ever.

Jer 33:15-17 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. 17 For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel.

Ezek 34:23-24 And I will set up One Shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, even My servant David; He shall feed them, and He shall be their Shepherd. 24 And I the LORD will be their God, and My servant David a Prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.

Ezek 37:24 And David My Servant shall be King over them; and they all shall have One Shepherd: they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them.

Hos 3:4-5 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.

Though Israel looked for a Son of David and King, they were not given the understanding how, as God’s Son, this King would also symbolically represent “Israel” (even as Christ’s Body represents His Church [Exo 4:22; 2 Sam 7:14; Psa 2:1-12; Psa 45:1,6; Psa 89:1-4,13-33; Hos 2:2; Hos 11:1; Rom 7:1-4; Eph 5:28-32]). Note how Jesus addressed how Christ is God’s Son and not David’s in Mat 22:41-46; Lk 20:41-44; Mk 14:61-62).

2 Sam 7:14 I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son. If He commit iniquity, I will chasten Him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.

Psa 2:7,12 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee…12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.

Psa 45:2-3,5-7 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into Thy lips: therefore God hath blessed Thee for ever. 3 Gird thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most Mighty, with Thy Glory and Thy Majesty. 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; whereby the people fall under Thee. 6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.

Psa 89:26-27 He shall cry unto Me, Thou art My Father, My God, and the rock of My salvation. 27 Also I will make Him My firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved Him, and called My Son out of Egypt.

PRIEST: Israel also looked for a High Priest (Psa 110:1-7; Isa 11:1-5; Hag 2:23; Zech 6:11-13).

Jer 33:17-18 For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel. 18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a Man before Me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

Zec 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My Servant the BRANCH.

Zec 6:13 Even He shall build the Temple of the LORD; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His Throne; and He shall be a Priest upon His Throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them Both.

Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Dan 9:24-27 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations He shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Thus, all five of those “facets” behind the Messiah were in Heb 1:1-13, as follows:

PROPHET: Heb 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son.

Suffering SERVANT: Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

SON & KING: Heb 1:5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son (Psa 2:7; 2 Sam 7:14).

Heb 1:8-9 But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows (see Psa 45:1,5-7,11).

PRIEST & RESURRECTION: Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool (Psa 1101:1,4)? [Please see Psa 110 Christ in you, the Hope of Glory, for more on how Psa 110:1 represents the resurrection of Christ (Psa 16:7-10; Jn 20:9; Acts 2:29-36; Acts 3:34-35).]

Acts 2:34-35 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, 35 Until I make Thy foes Thy footstool.

Now, because the resurrection was going to break apart the curse of death placed on Adam and Eve, everything had to go a certain way (Gen 3:3; Psa 110:1; Psa 110:4).

Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Only the ONE true Messiah could do this and how it could be done had to be kept a mystery so that Satan would continue to do what he would do (Isa 53:4-12; 1 Cor 2:8).

This could not have been done by anyone else resurrected from the dead (1 Ki 17:18-23; 2 Ki 4:32-34; 2 Ki 13:20-21; Mat 27:50-53; Mk 5:22-23,35-43; Lk 7:12-16; Jn 11:1-45), but ONLY the true Messiah because He’d “willingly” lay down His life – though innocent of the charges made against Him (Mk 14:61-62; 2 Cor 5:21; Isa 53:6-9; Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 Jn 3:5).

Isa 53:4-12 speaks of how His “soul” would be made “an offering for sin” (this is His death), yet He would “see His seed” because the LORD would “prolong His days” (this is His resurrection [Dan 9:26-27; Psa 40:6-7; Psa 110:1-7]).

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with His stripes we are healed.

Psa 40:6-7 Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast Thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me.

Jesus was “offered up for our sins” so the Law of Moses – which required death for sin – could be fulfilled.

The Messiah’s “innocent” and “willing” sacrifice was required (for no pigeon, goat, ram, bullock, or lamb would (or could) “willingly” – with full knowledge of what was going to happen – allow themselves to be sacrificed for “our” sins, fulfill the prophecies and THEN ascend to the right hand of the Father to sit down as High Priest to make continuous intercession for us (Psa 110:1-7; Isa 11:1-5; Jer 33:17-18; Hag 2:23; Zec 6:11-13; Rom 8:26-27; Heb 7:24-27).

Heb 10:4-7 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God.

Because Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies only the Messiah could fulfill, it made Him the ONE true (singular) Seed of Abraham (Gen 13:14-15; Gen 15:3-6; Gal 3:36-18).

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of One, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

This specific One Seed (Heir) receives the promises God made to Abraham (Gen 13:14-15; Gen 15:3-6; Ezek 21:27; Gal 3:16-17).

One of those promises says, those that curse Abraham – thus his Heir – will be cursed (Gen 12:3).

Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

But it wasn’t until the law of Moses that “hanging” someone on a tree meant that person had been “cursed” (Deu 21:23; Jn 19:31).

Gal 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Deu 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Furthermore, 2 Sam 7:14 had thrown Satan off, because it not only said God would be David’s heir’s Father and the heir would be His Son, but also, if the Heir committed iniquity, He’d be chastened with “the stripes of men.”

2 Sam 7:14 I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son. If He commit iniquity, I will chasten Him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men

Jn 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him.

But, Jesus Christ – being God’s Son and Word of God – knew the Word completely and obeyed it. Thus, Abraham’s One Seed was not only innocent, but He’d been unjustly beaten and hung upon the cross (Deu 21:23; 2 Cor 5:21; Isa 53:6-9; Jn 1:1-3; Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 Jn 3:5).

Abraham’s Heir had been “cursed” and He’d died (Gen 13:14-15; Gen 15:3-6; Psa 2:7; Mk 14:61-64; Gal 3:13).

Heb 1:6 And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.

1 Cor 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Since Satan had caused a curse to come upon the Holy One (Gen 12:3; Jn 13:26-27), the power of death Satan had over Jesus Christ would not be allowed to stand (Gen 3:3).

Heb 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

In addition, since the Messiah’s life had been unjustly taken from Him, God righteously gave Him it back.

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Moreover, because it’s appointed to men only “once to die” in order to fulfill the curse of death brought on by Adam and Eve (Gen 3:3) – and Jesus had already died once – God did not return to Jesus the life He had before He died on the cross. Instead, God returned to Jesus the Eternal life like the one which had been taken from Adam and Eve after the incident in the garden (1 Cor 15:20-26; Heb 9:27).

Heb 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

1 Cor 15:21-22 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

This is what is meant by “the RESTITUTION of all things” taking place (Acts 3:21).

Acts 3:19-21 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution (apokatastasis) of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

G605. apokatastasis, ap-ok-at-as’-tas-is; from G600; reconstitution:–restitution.

G600. apokathistemi, ap-ok-ath-is’-tay-mee; from G575 and G2525; to reconstitute (in health, home or organization):–restore (again).

That is, the restitution (or a “restoration”) to the perfect state of God’s Original Intent held before Adam and Eve fell in the garden (Gen 3:1-23).

In other words, God’s predestined plans from the beginnings of the world were “resurrected” from the dead by Jesus Christ dying on the cross (Rom 8:28-32).

For, God’s plans for us are of an Eternal Nature.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

And now, this eternal salvation is available for anyone who calls upon Jesus Christ as Eternal Lord and Savior (Rom 4:24-25; Rom 5:14-21) and simply prays, “Lord Jesus, please come into my life, forgive me for my sins, and save me!”

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Rom 4:24-25 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Thus, the verses of Heb 1:1-13 describe how Jesus fulfilled the OT prophecies concerning the Messiah, pointed out God has created angels to do – and not to do – certain things, and also laid out the foundations for the next chapter (1 Cor 2:8).

Heb 1:14, then, re-emphasizes God’s purposes for angels one last time as the first chapter of Hebrews closes.

To finish up, then:

Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Are they not all ministering spirits. The Greek word for “ministering” is “leitourgikos” which means to “function publicly.” The idea is angels have been created by God to administer His will and serve charitably (out of love).

G3010. leitourgikos, li-toorg-ik-os’; from the same as G3008; functional publicly (“liturgic”), i.e. beneficent:–ministering.

G3008. leitourgeo, li-toorg-eh’-o; from G3011; to be a public servant, i.e. (by analogy) to perform religious or charitable functions (worship, obey, relieve):–minister

sent forth to minister. The Greek word for “sent” is “apostello” and speaks of those “set apart” to do something specific.

G649. apostello, ap-os-tel’-lo; from G575 and G4724; set apart, i.e. (by implication) to send out (properly on a mission) literally or figuratively:–put in, send (away, forth, out), set [at liberty].

The Greek word for “minister” is “diakonia.”

G1248. diakonia, dee-ak-on-ee’-ah; from G1249; attendance (as a servant, etc.); figurative (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technical of the diaconate):–(ad-) minister (-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service (-ing).

The idea behind this is angels are “sent out” to assist and help the heirs (according to God’s will).

for them who shall be heirs of salvation? The Greek word for “heirs” is “kleronomeo,” and comes from G2818. kleronomos. This points to one who shares in an inheritance.

G2816. kleronomeo, klay-ron-om-eh’-o; from G2818; to be an heir to (literal or figurative):–be heir, (obtain by) inherit (-ance).

G2818. kleronomos, klay-ron-om’-os; from G2819 and the base of G3551 (in its original sense of partitioning, i.e. [reflexively] getting by apportionment); a sharer by lot, i.e. an inheritor (literal or figurative); by implication a possessor:–heir.

The Greek word for “salvation” is “soteria,” which is based upon G2818. kleronomos, means to be rescued of saved.

G4991. soteria, so-tay-ree’-ah; feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally):–deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.

G4990.soter, so-tare’; from G4982; a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ:–saviour.

In closing, I urge you to live your lives in view of a continuous life, serving Jesus Christ as Lord. Set your sights above on Eternal Life with Christ and not simply for what might be temporarily obtainable in this world which shall surely pass away (Rom 6:3-11; Col 3:1-4; Phil 3:10-14).

Until next time… Peace out!

Loris Anne James