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"Let the angels of God worship Him."

Text: Hebrews 1:6

INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF SCRIPTURE

One of the most fascinating challenges of studying the Scriptures is to accurately interpret and apply the texts. The following text provides a great challenge.

“But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.'”

Hebrews 1:6

1. The citation of the author of Hebrews

a) The text he wrote is made up of two texts.

b) He took the liberty of combining them into a single text.

2. The concept of the firstborn

a) This text was taken from Psalm 89:27.

b) This psalm had a strong Messianic element

c) The context of Psalm 89:27 is with reference to God’s promise to David concerning his descendants? of which One would be called “the firstborn”.

i) The idea of the firstborn is that of great honour.

ii) This person does not actually have to be the literal firstborn son (Jesus certainly was not the literal firstborn of king David).

iii) The firstborn enjoys a special relationship.

iv) Invested in this position are power and authority besides honour.

3. The call of angels to worship the firstborn

a) This text is taken from Psalm 97:7.

b) The contextual reference is not associated with the Messianic firstborn.

c) The Hebrew text reads “Worship Him, all you gods”.

d) The author interpreted the word “gods” to include “angels”.

e) He applied the meaning of both texts (Psalm 89:27 and Psalm 97:7) to Jesus the firstborn. Angels were to give Jesus due worship.