The writer to the Hebrews set out to present evidence that Jesus is superior to the Old Covenant in every way. The worship system of priests and sacrifice was God’s method to prepare Israel for His Messiah’s coming. Jesus, God’s Son, would fulfill and replace all the rules and rituals of the Old Covenant.

His readers needed to be convinced of Jesus’ superiority over Judaism to halt any idea that obedience to the Old Covenant and its demands would satisfy God’s requirements for holiness.

The writer first presents Jesus as superior to angels.

Meta AI explains…

“Hebrews 1:6 and the surrounding context don’t explicitly state that Israel worshiped angels. However, the passage does mention the worship of angels as a potential issue.”…

“Hebrews 1:6 says, “And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.'” (NIV)

“This verse doesn’t imply that Israel worshiped angels. Instead, it emphasizes that even angels are commanded to worship Jesus, highlighting His superiority.

“It’s possible that the author of Hebrews is addressing a potential issue in the early Christian community, where some individuals may have been tempted to worship or venerate angels (Colossians 2:18). However, this is not explicitly stated in Hebrews 1.

“Hebrews 1:6 does not provide evidence that Israel worshiped angels. Instead, it emphasizes the superiority of Jesus Christ and the command for angels to worship Him.” (Meta AI)

The writer’s presentation sets the scene to present Jesus’ superiority over the entire Old Covenant, the role of Moses, the Law, the tabernacle/temple worship, and the sacrifices which could never be a permanent solution to the problem of sin. Therefore, the writer urges, to go back to Judaism would cancel God’s acceptance of sinners through Jesus and put them back under divine judgment.

The writer first warns them, in case they were tempted, to revere Jesus above angels because He is superior to them as a son above servants.

Hebrews 1:7-8, 14 NIV
[7] “In speaking of the angels, he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” [8] But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom…
[14] Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

Jesus is as superior to angels as the Creator is above creatures, as God above serving spirits.

To be continued…