And as to the angels he says, Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire;
This verse is one of several Old Testament quotations the writer uses to set the Son above every angel. It raises a simple question with a large answer: what are angels made to be, and why does that settle their rank?
The readers of this letter held angels in the highest regard, which is why the argument opens where it does.
The writer sent this letter to Hebrews, and that explains the comparison and contrast between Christ and angels. A Hebrew saw angels as the highest and holiest beings, second only to Jehovah Himself. God also gave the law through angels (Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19), and angels served in other well-known ways in Israel's history. So these beings held a high place in the Jewish mind. … Angels are only servants. Scripture never says that they occupy a throne, because they cannot reign. But Christ has a throne, and His redeemed will reign with Him.
Everything turns on the verb. God gives angels their nature. To the Son He speaks in a different way.
It has pleased God to give these agents of His power this nature of spirits. But of the Son He says, "Your throne, O God!" By His own will God makes His angels spirits, or flames of fire. But of the Son we never read that God makes anything of Him.
The wording quoted here can be read two ways. Older versions say "spirits"; the ESV says "winds." The choice matters, because it says something about what angels are.
According to the apostle, "He makes His angels spirits" states a fact about the nature of angels. That is a much higher fact than making "the winds His messengers," as some would have it. Either translation is possible, so the language alone cannot settle the meaning. This shows two things. No part of His creation stands separate from Him, and no physical agency is anything but the embodiment of His will. The spirits, who carry a responsibility of their own, represent Him and are subject to Him. They receive their character and their gifts from Him, according to His will.
Angels differ among themselves in rank. Their place before God, though, is the same for all of them.
Angels fall into various orders and ranks. But all of them, from the archangel down to the least, are servants. They have no relationship to God founded on redemption. They are servants, and never rise out of that position, nor do they wish to. Angel life has two great marks: unquestioning obedience and active service (Ps. 103:20; Heb. 1:7, 14).
The two images are not decoration. They show how these servants act in Bible history — sometimes rescuing, sometimes striking.
Of them we read that "God makes His angels spirits (winds) and His ministers a flame of fire." And again, "the chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels." At God's command they get ready to serve, in whatever the saint needs or the occasion under the throne of God calls for. They formed a travelling chariot to carry Elijah to heaven, and to carry Lazarus to Abraham's side. They now form chariots of war when the hostile bands of Syria surround Elisha. They have drawn the sword to strike a guilty city. Or with the strong hand of love they have dragged the unwilling one out of the doomed city. They are either as winds or as fire. They are messengers of mercy, and executors of judgment.
Read this chapter to its end, and the angels' service points in a surprising direction.
This quotation comes from Psalm 104, the psalm of creation. Here God is speaking of His works of creation and providence, and of the messengers He uses. They are angels, beings who excel in strength and delight to do His will. He makes the angels spirits, and they go like the lightning or like the wind, quick and certain in their work. Theirs is a blessed position, a place of exaltation as far as man is concerned — but after all, they are ministers. And as we read in the last verse of this chapter, "Are they not all ministering spirits?" They do not only serve God, going out as the rushing wind or the flame of fire to do His will. Are they not ministering spirits, sent out to serve us?
- Made. The verb rules the verse. God gives angels their nature. Of the Son we never read that God makes anything of Him.
- Spirits. Older versions read "spirits"; the ESV reads "winds." Commentators differ. Read as "spirits," the verse states what angels are by nature.
- Ministers. Wind and fire picture swift, sure service. Angels are messengers of mercy and executors of judgment — seen at Elijah's ascent and around Elisha.
- Servants. From archangel to least, none rises out of that place, and none wishes to. They have no relationship to God founded on redemption.
- Sent. Their service reaches down to us. They are ministering spirits, sent out to serve us.
but as to the Son, Thy throne, O God, [is] to the age of the age, and a sceptre of uprightness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.