Hebrews 1:14

Hebrews 1:14

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

a. NLT: Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

b. NIV: Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

c. YLT: are they not all spirits of service -- for ministration being sent forth because of those about to inherit salvation?

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?

e. Worrell Translation:  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth for service, for the sake of those about to inherit salvation?

f. Wuest Translation: Are not they all ministering spirits to render service, sent on a commission for the sake of those who are about to inherit salvation?

1. “Are they not all ministering spirits…”

a. are they [Strong: 1526 eisi, i-see; 3d person plural present indicative of 1510; they are:--agree, are, be, dure, X is, were.]

b. not [Strong: 3780 ouchi, oo-khee; intensive of 3756; not indeed:--nay, not.]

c. all [Strong: 3956 pas, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

d. ministering [Strong: 3010 leitourgikos, li-toorg-ik-os’; [Strong: functional publicly ("liturgic"); i.e. beneficient:--ministering.] [Thayer:  relating to the performance of service, employed in ministering.]

e. spirits [Strong: 4151 pneuma, pnyoo’-mah; from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.]

1). In the context he is of course referring to angels for in the previous verse that is his subject, contrasting Christ with angels.

a). Hebrews 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?

2). In this part of the verse the Scripture is referring to angels as spiritual attendants, but not to God. Yes, overall they are spiritual attendants to God, absolutely, but that is not what he is saying here. He is saying they are spiritual attendants to someone else.

2. “…sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

a. sent forth [Strong: 649 apostello, ap-os-tel’-lo; apart, i.e. (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively:--put in, send (away, forth, out), set (at liberty).]  [Thayer: to order (one) 

to go to a place appointed.]

b. to [Strong: 1519 * eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

c. minister [Strong: 1248 diakonia, dee-ak-on-ee’-ah;  attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service…] [Thayer:  service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others…]

d. for [Strong: 1223 dia, dee-ah’; a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

e. them who shall [Strong: 3195 mello, mel’-lo; a strengthened form of 3199 (through the idea of expectation); to intend, i.e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation):--about, after that, be (almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be), mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that) should (after, afterwards, hereafter) tarry, which was for, will, would, be yet.]

f. heirs [Strong: 2816 kleronomeo, klay-ron-om-eh’-o; from 2818; to be an heir to (literally or figuratively):--be heir, (obtain by) inherit(-ance).]

g. of salvation [Strong: 4991 soteria, so-tay-ree’-ah; feminine of a derivative of 4990 as (properly, abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally):--deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.] [Scofield Reference Bible: “The Hebrew and Greek words for salvation imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness. Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes…”]

1). Who are these sent out for, who are they to minister to, whose commands are they to execute? The question is answered, “them who shall be heirs of salvation.” Us, redeemed man.

a). Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

2). We must remember that because of what Christ has accomplished we are seated with him in heavenly places, next to the Father. The authority given to Christ Jesus has been given to us. In Psalm 8 we have a very intriguing and disputed verse that we must study.

a). Psalm 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

b). It is true that the Hebrew word for “angels” in this verse is the same word used in Genesis 1:1 for “God”, but it is also used for angels and false gods in other contexts. So the word has to be understood within the context.

c). angels [Strong: 430 ‘elohyim, el-o-heem’; plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.] [Gesenius: God, gods, deities…]

3). There are good men and women of God within the Body of Christ who teach that this verse is saying that when man was created he was created a little lower than God. Looking at the whole of Psalm 8 I believe that is what it is saying. What is interesting though is that when this verse is quoted in Hebrews it is quoted from the perspective of a little lower than “angels” not God. What is even more interesting is that when the whole passage is studied it does establish that man is higher than the angels.

a). Hebrews 2:5-9 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

4). The following is interesting commentary from Arthur Pink’s Exposition Of Hebrews, in this section he is quoting another individual, a Dr. J. Brown. “Both the Hebrew word used in Psalm 8:5 and the Greek word in Hebrews 2:7 signify the failing or falling of a thing from that which it was before.  “The word ‘made lower’ does not signify to be created originally in a lower condition, but it signifies to be brought down from a higher position to a lower” (Dr. J. Brown).

5). Jesus of course voluntarily put himself in the position of man for the obedience of the death of the cross. As Philippians 2:7 says, he emptied himself, but he is no longer there, he is no longer lower than the angels, he is seated next to the Father, the Majesty in the heavens and we are seated with him. Finally when Jesus was on earth he gave authority to the 70 disciples in Luke 10. When they returned to Jesus they returned in victory and joy. Notice the dialogue between Jesus and the disciples.

a). Luke 10:17-20 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

6). Jesus gave his disciples authority over spirits. Some would say just over bad spirits, over all the power of the enemy and that’s true. But in the New Covenant the authority is over all principality and power.

a). Ephesians 1:15-23 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

(1) Notice very clearly the authority is over “…all principality, and power, and might, and dominion…”, not just the bad ones.

7). In light of these truths a closer look at a verse in Psalms is warranted.

a). Psalms 103:20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

b). The following list of 5 things angels are to accomplish within ministry is from a teaching by Marilyn Hickey. They are: to bless the Lord in worship and service, to do His Word concerning activities on earth, to heed the voice of God's word as it spoken through the saints on earth, to minister on God's behalf and to do God's pleasure at His direction.