ARE THEY NOT ALL MINISTERING
SPIRITS: ouchi pantes eisin (3PPAI) leitourgika pneumata:
(See Nave's Topic
ANGELS)
(Click
her for in depth ISBE Article on Angels) (See excellent
booklet from RBC
What Can We Learn From The Angels?)
(Heb
8:6;
10:11;
Ps 103:20
21;
Da 3:28;
7:10;
Mt 18:10;
Lu 1:19;
2:9
13
1Ki 22:19;
Job 1:6;
Ps 104:4;
Isa 6:2
6:3;
Da 7:10;
Mt 13:41
49,
50;
Lu 1:19;
2Th 1:7;
Jude 1:14)
are they not all spirits of
service (YLT),
Are not all angels spirits in
the divine service
(NRSV)
But angels are only servants
(NLT)
Surely the angels are no more
than spirits in the service of God
(Phillips)
All the angels are spirits
who serve God (ICB)
All of them are spirits on a divine mission (ISV)
Aren’t they all merely
spirits who serve, (JNT)
Angels are merely spirits
sent to serve people
(CEV)
They are all spirits of
spiritual service...are they not? (ALT)
The answer to this question although
rhetorical (asked primarily for effect and not expecting an answer) is
a resounding Yes an affirmation to which both the Old and New
Testaments abundantly testify!
Ministering (3010)
(leitourgikos
from léďtos = of the people + érgon = work;
English liturgy = a prescribed form for public worship) in Greek referred especially to those who performed public duties or works of public
use (public servants). It means related to the performance of religious or
liturgical service.
See also
leitourgos
(note
Hebrews 1:7)
leitourgia
(notes
Hebrews 8:6,
9:21)
Leitourgikos is found only
in this verse in the NT. Most of the uses of these words
are found in the
Septuagint (LXX)
Greek translation of the Hebrew OT (which
would have been very familiar to Jewish readers of this epistle) describing
priestly service to God and public
ministry to men including performance of both worship and charitable
functions. Here are
the 5 uses in the OT (Exodus 31:10,
Exodus 39:1, Numbers 4:12, 26, Numbers 7:5, 2 Chronicles 24:14)
The Psalmist describes the ministering
spirits as God's
angels
mighty in strength...who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word" with
their purpose being to "serve (LXX =
leitourgos) Him, doing His will." (Ps 103:20;21)
Spurgeon comments: We are bidden to
do these commandments, and alas we fail; let those unfallen spirits, whose
bliss it is never to have transgressed, give to the Lord the glory of their
holiness. They hearken for yet more commands, obeying as much by reverent
listening as by energetic action, and in this they teach us how the heavenly
will should evermore be done; yet even for this surpassing excellence let them
take no praise, but render all to him who has made and kept them what they
are. O that we could hear them chant the high praises of God, as did the
shepherds on that greatest of all birth nights --
When such music sweet
Their hearts and ears did greet
As never was by mortal finger struck;
Divinely-warbled voice
Answering the stringed noise,
As well their souls in blissful rapture took:
The air, such pleasure loth to lose,
With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close.
Our glad heart anticipates the hour when we
shall hear them "harping in loud and solemn guise," and all to the sole praise
of God.
Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; to
whatever race of creatures ye may belong, for ye are all his troops, and he is
the Generalissimo of all your armies. The fowl of the air and the fish of the
sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea, should all unite in
praising their Creator, after the best of their ability.
Ye ministers of his that do his pleasure; in whatever way ye serve him, bless
him as ye serve. The Psalmist would have every servant in the Lord's palace
unite with him, and all at once sing out the praises of the Lord. We have
attached a new sense to the word "ministers" in these latter days, and so
narrowed it down to those who serve in word and doctrine. Yet no true minister
would wish to alter it, for we are above all men bound to be the Lord's
servants, and we would, beyond all other ministering intelligences or forces,
desire to bless the glorious Lord.
Even as the priest was primarily
ministering to God,
JFB comments that the ministering of angels is
not properly rendered to men,
since the latter have no power of commanding them, though their ministrations
to God are often directed to the good of men
Matthew Henry adds that
Angels
are ministering spirits under the blessed Trinity, to execute the divine will
and pleasure; they are the
ministers
of divine Providence.
Gill comments that
ministering spirits is a
rabbinical term frequent in Jewish writings and so quite familiar and
appealing to the Jewish recipients of this epistle.
Are they not
uses the Greek word ouchi which in questions expects an
affirmative answer. The point is that the angels are ministering spirits.
Their destiny is to continue to minister to us throughout eternity but Jesus’
destiny is to reign and it follows that He is immeasurably superior to the
angels. The superiority of
the Son to angels is sure: They all (no exceptions) minister regardless
of their "rank". The Son is ministered to. The angels "stand" (Lu 1:19)
before God, while the Son is
"seated at the right hand
of the Majesty on high" (see notes
Hebrews 1:3;
1:13)
SENT OUT TO RENDER SERVICE: eis
diakonian apostellomena (PPPNPN): (Gen32:1
32:2
32:24;
1Pe1:12)
(Ps91:11
91:12;
Da6:22;
9:21
22
23;
10:11
10:12;
Mt1:20;
2:13;
24:31;
Lu16:22;
Ac5:19;
10:3
10:4;
12:7
12:23;
27:23)
They are spirits sent from God to care for those who will receive salvation
(NLT)
commissioned to serve the heirs of God's salvation (Phillips)
sent on a commission for the sake of those who are about to inherit salvation
(Wuest)
and are sent to help those who will receive
salvation (ICB)
sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to
inherit salvation (Amp)
being sent out to render service (ALT)
Sent out
(3010)
(apostello from apo = from + stello = send) means literally
to send forth and here used in the
present tense indicating that the
angels are continually sent out to minister a truth we see clearly
testified to throughout Scripture.
Does this mean they are still be sent
out today to render service to believers?
Without a doubt!
Robertson says that the
present tense signifies
sent forth repeatedly, from time to time as
occasion requires.
One of the earliest examples of an occasion
that God deemed necessitated the sending out of an angel is found after Adam
sinned and God
drove the man out and at the east of the
garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which
turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Gen 3:24)
God used His angelic messengers to not only
warn Lot but to withdraw Lot from harm's way:
And when morning dawned, the angels urged
Lot, saying, "Up, take your wife and your two daughters, who are here, lest
you be swept away in the punishment of the city." But he hesitated. So the men
seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters,
for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put
him outside the city." (Ge 19:15;16)
There is a "lot of Lot in a lot of us"
isn't there?
A potentially confusing Scripture on this
topic of angelic service is "The Angel of the LORD encamps around those
who fear Him, and rescues them." (Ps
34:7) because here the Angel
of the LORD (see
Angel of the LORD:
summary) when compared to other
Scriptures is undoubtedly the pre incarnate Christ. Even the context of the
verse supports that this is not a reference to a created angel, for we are
never commanded to fear angels but to "Fear God and give Him the glory"
(see notes
Revelation 14:7,
all 18 uses of "fear God")
Solomon appropriately sums up Ecclesiastes
writing that
"The conclusion, when all has been heard,
is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
" (Ecc 12:13)
The writer of Hebrews notes later that God
"does not give help to angels, but He gives
help to the descendant of Abraham." (see note
Hebrews 2:16).
Render service
(1248) (diakonia)
means the rendering or assistance or
help by performing certain duties, often of a humble or menial nature serve,
including such mundane activities as waiting on tables or caring for
household needs—activities without apparent dignity.
Thomas Aquinas
Angels mean messengers and ministers. Their
function is to execute the plan of divine providence, even in earthly things.
Hewitt writes that...
Angels are clothed with God's powers to
accomplish his will in the realm of nature.
John Calvin
Angels are the ministers of God's wrath, as
well as of his grace.
Increase Mather
Angels both good and bad have a greater
influence on this world than men are generally aware of.
C. H. Spurgeon
Activity is the mark of holy spirits and
should be the mark of holy men.
As mentioned above the rabbinical term angel
of service or ministry was well known and was often descriptive of angels
whose service was to protect a person. The psalmist gives Scriptural credence
to this rabbinical belief, recording that God gives
His angels charge concerning you, to guard
you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike
your foot against a stone. (Ps 91:11,
12)
Spurgeon comments (Treasury of
David) - For he shall give his angels charge over thee. Not one guardian
angel, as some fondly dream, but all the angels are here alluded to. They are
the bodyguard of the princes of the blood imperial of heaven, and they have
received commission from their Lord and ours to watch carefully over all the
interests of the faithful. When men have a charge they become doubly careful,
and therefore the angels are represented as bidden by God himself to see to it
that the elect are secured. It is down in the marching orders of the hosts of
heaven that they take special note of the people who dwell in God. It is not
to be wondered at that the servants are bidden to be careful of the comfort of
their Master's guests; and we may be quite sure that when they are specially
charged by the Lord himself they will carefully discharge the duty imposed
upon them.
To keep thee in all thy ways. To be a bodyguard, a garrison to the body, soul,
and spirit of the saint. The limit of this protection "in all thy ways" is yet
no limit to the heart which is right with God. It is not the way of the
believer to go out of his way. He keeps in the way, and then the angels keep
him. The protection here promised is exceeding broad as to place, for it
refers to all our ways, and what do we wish for more? How angels thus keep us
we cannot tell. Whether they repel demons, counteract spiritual plots, or even
ward off the more subtle physical forces of disease, we do not know. Perhaps
we shall one day stand amazed at the multiplied services which the unseen
bands have rendered to us.
They, that is the angels, God's own angels,
shall cheerfully become our servants. They shall bear thee up in their hands;
as nurses carry little children, with careful love, so shall those glorious
spirits bear up each individual believer.
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone; even minor ills they ward off. It is
most desirable that we should not stumble, but as the way is rough, it is most
gracious on the Lord's part to send his servants to bear us up above the loose
pebbles. If we cannot have the way smoothed it answers every purpose if we
have angels to bear us up in their hands. Since the greatest ills may arise
out of little accidents, it shows the wisdom of the Lord that from the smaller
evils we are protected.
WHAT ABOUT GUARDIAN ANGELS?
Many have used this passage to suggest that
each person has a so called "guardian angel".
Coupling this Psalm with our Lord’s warning
"See that you do not despise one of these
little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually
behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 18:10),
This passage has led some to teach that each Christian
has a guardian angel. Jewish superstition also held the belief that each
person had his own guardian angel who could assume that person’s form.
However close examination of the Scriptures used to support "guardian angels"
leaves this "doctrine" at the very least debatable.
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Guardian Angels -
Curtis Sliwa's Guardian Angels first showed up in the Bronx in 1979. Known
initially as The Rock Brigade, the volunteer citizens group started as a
neighborhood anti-litter squad. A short time later, the 23-year-old Sliwa, who
was night manager of a fast-food restaurant, expanded the group to The
Magnificent Thirteen. They began riding New York subways to protect riders
from muggings. Seven months later they took the name Guardian Angels and
adopted the identifying marks of red berets and T-shirts bearing the logo of a
winged eye. Today the Angels have almost 70 chapters and 7,000 members.
We know more about Sliwa's group than we do about the angels they are named
after. While the Bible has many references to spirits who worship God and do
His will, there is reason for the mystery that surrounds them. Even though
they serve us on behalf of God, our ultimate well-being is not in their hands.
They are examples to us of the obedience and worship God deserves, but they
are not to distract us from the One who is their Lord and ours.
The message of Hebrews 1 is clear. Jesus is far superior to the angels (v.4).
Their worship of Christ teaches us that He alone deserves our trust and
worship. --M R De Haan II (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
The angels show us what it means
To serve God and obey;
Their constant worship of the Lord
Inspires us to pray. --Sper
Angels are examples of worship, not objects of worship
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John Paton was a missionary in the New
Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station,
intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed
during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight
came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of
the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked
the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The
chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew
no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had
seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the
mission station. (Moody Bible Institute - Today in the Word)
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Seeing the Unseen - In a materialistic
world like ours, we are tempted to conclude that the only real things
are those we experience with our five senses. Yet "there are things we
cannot see: things behind our backs or far away and all things in the
dark," said C. S. Lewis.
There is another realm of reality, just as actual, just as factual, just
as substantial as anything we see, hear, touch, taste, or smell in this
world. It exists all around us—not out there "somewhere," but "here."
There are legions of angels helping us, for which the world has no
counter-measures (Hebrews 1:14). The psalmist David referred to them as
a force of thousands of thousands of chariots (Psalm 68:17 -
Spurgeon's note). We cannot
see God nor His angels with our natural eyes. But they are there,
whether we see them or not. I believe the world is filled with them.
Faith is the means by which we are able to "see" this invisible world.
That is belief's true function. Faith is to the spiritual realm what the
five senses are to the natural realm. The writer of Hebrews says that
faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (see note
Hebrews 11:1). By faith we
recognize the existence of the spiritual world and learn to depend on
the Lord for His help in our daily life. Our goal, then, as George
MacDonald once said, is to "grow eyes" to see the unseen. —David H.
Roper (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
At times our fears
may loom so large,
We long for proof that God is near;
It's then our Father says to us,
"Have faith, My child, and do not fear." —DJD
Faith sees things that are out of sight.
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