Hebrews 1:14

God revealed a primary purpose and ministry of the angels in this verse. It is to assist human beings in reaching their final deliverance over their spiritual enemies. This includes bringing us to conversion. However, it also involves protecting and strengthening us so that we may one day obtain our full inheritance with Christ in glory. This ministry of service is obviously inferior to Jesus Christ’s ministry of ruling.

Was the writer speaking of all Christians or only of faithful Christians when He wrote of "those who will inherit salvation?" The word "salvation" (Gr. soteria) occurs seven times in Hebrews, more than in any other book of the New Testament. [Note: For a study of salvation in Hebrews, see Brenda B. Colijn, "’Let Us Approach’: Soteriology in the Epistle to the Hebrews," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 39:4 (December 1996):571-86.] In some of his other uses of "inheritance" and "inherit" he referred to all Christians as inheriting from God (e.g., Hebrews 9:15; cf. Hebrews 11:8). At other times he apparently meant only faithful Christians (e.g., Hebrews 6:12; cf. Hebrews 11:17). I think he was probably speaking of all Christians here in view of what he just said about the ministry of angels. There is no other Scripture that limits the angels’ ministry to faithful Christians or indicates that angels have a special ministry to faithful Christians (cf. Matthew 18:10).

"’Inherit’ is often used in the NT in senses other than the strict one of obtaining something by a will. It can mean ’obtain possession of’ without regard to the means. It is used of possessing the earth (Matthew 5:5), the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), eternal life (Mark 10:17), the promises (Hebrews 6:12), incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:50), blessing (Hebrews 12:17), a more excellent name (Hebrews 1:4, . . .)." [Note: Morris, p. 20.]

This writer spoke of the inheritance of Christians as the Old Testament writers spoke of the inheritance of the Israelites. Our inheritance refers to all that God wants to give His people. We will inevitably receive some of that (cf. 1 Per. Hebrews 1:3-9). However, we can forfeit part of our inheritance through unfaithfulness, as Esau did (Hebrews 12:16) and as the generation of Israelites who died in the wilderness did (Hebrews 3:7 to Hebrews 4:11). [Note: See the Appendix, at the end of these notes, for a chart that clarifies what all believers will inherit and what faithful believers will additionally inherit.]

"In contrast with the first part of this verse, the last three words ["will inherit salvation"] are all major concepts in Hebrews." [Note: Ellingworth, p. 133.]

Thus this section closes with a positive encouragement for the readers. The writer’s array of Old Testament quotations in this pericope presents one of the most glorious Christologies in Scripture. He placed emphasis on Jesus’ future reign as God’s King who is also David’s Son. In summary, the Son is superior to the angels in seven respects.

1. He is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:5 a).

2. He is the promised son of David (Hebrews 1:5 b).

3. He is the sovereign whom angels worship as Yahweh (Hebrews 1:6).

4. His ministry is not that of a temporary servant like the angels (Hebrews 1:7).

5. His ministry is that of the eternal ruler (Hebrews 1:8-9).

6. He is the immutable creator (Hebrews 1:10-12).

7. He is the sovereign who will rule as victor over all His enemies (Hebrews 1:13).

"The writer of Hebrews uses seven eschatological passages in Hebrews 1:5-14 to demonstrate Jesus’ right to rule in the coming millennial kingdom. Because of this extensive quoting from six psalms and 2 Samuel 7, the term soteria (’salvation’) in Hebrews 1:14 is best understood in the Old Testament sense as deliverance from the enemies of Yahweh and participation in His kingdom." [Note: T. Kem Oberholtzer, "The Warning Passages in Hebrews," Bibliotheca Sacra 145:577 (January-March 1988):96-97.]