A Lot To Digest!

And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him? Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. [Hebrews 2.5-8]

It seems that the Hebrew people had begun to have some weird ideas about angels... Imagine that! But, the writer of Hebrews (Paul?) made very sure to get this exposed and straightened out with the truth of God's Word. It was pointed out that angels are simply servants:

Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation. [Hebrews 1.14]

The reason this was pointed out was so that people would not be tempted to worship angels (give them more credit than God designed they should receive), but to understand that man is crowned with glory and honor thus giving him authority over "all things." It is furthermore highlighted that "all things" means "all things" - nothing left out!

The writer of Hebrews laments in verse 8:

You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. [Hebrews 2.8]

But we must pay special attention to what follows in verse 9:

What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. For he said to God, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.” He also said, “I will put my trust in him,” that is, “I and the children God has given me.” Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. [Hebrews 2.9-18]

So, although the lament was mentioned in verse 8, it is clarified in the rest of the chapter following that Jesus has done everything necessary and possible to bring those "in Him" into the fullness of their authority. All that is left to do is believe. And, that leads right into chapter 3 which talks about decidedly hard (unbelieving) hearts that do not receive the promises of God... they chose not to believe, but instead hardened their hearts.

Chapter 4 compares believing to rest. And then, toward the end of chapter 4, we see the role that God's Word plays in it all.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. [Hebrews 4.12-13]

Evidently, all that the writer of Hebrews discussed about hard-heartedness (unbelief) that keeps men from entering God's rest (faith) is remedied by the sword of God's Word (Romans 10.17) enabling man to break free from flesh and blood (joint and marrow) reality and experience spiritual (soul and spirit) transcendence over reality (authority over "all things")!

This stuff is DEEP, but the truth contained in it lies ready to elevate the genuine believer to his place of authority AND THE REASON HE WAS GIVEN THAT AUTHORITY:

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. [Hebrews 2.14-15]

There it is! What Jesus did, is what we are to do: break the power of the devil setting free all who live their lives in fear of death! Jesus explained it clearly while on earth like this:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.18-19]

Remember, Jesus said this from His position of "a little lower than the angels" and commissioned His followers to the same ministry from their position "a little lower than the angels."

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Like it or not, Christians are commissioned to bring Good News to the poor, proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, JUST LIKE JESUS, from the common position of being made "a little lower than the angels" with authority over "all things."

Our position is NOT to evaluate our commission, but to do it. As soon as we allow ourselves to try to reason out what God's commission means based on our own understanding, we will find our hearts hardened and our faith rendered useless.

Wow, that's a lot to digest...

Father, help us to simply accept and act upon Your designation of us as "a little lower than the angels" with the authority over "all things" that accompanies it. Help us, with all confidence, to proclaim as Jesus did, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”