Hebrews 1:13

‘But of which of the angels has he said at any time,

“You, sit on my right hand,

Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?” ’

It will be noted that this is the seventh quotation, a number seen as the number of divine perfection in all nations from the time when numbering was first invented. The sevenfold witness is thus seen as divinely decisive. This quote is taken from Psalms 110:1 and refers to God’s king being told by God to take His seat at God’s right hand while God makes His enemies His footstool. The placing of the foot on a conquered king’s neck may well have been an evidence of his submission, but the thought may simply be to picture submission. To which of the angels, the writer asks, did God ever say that? So do we have the sevenfold witness to the superiority of Christ over the angels.

To sit in the presence of God was the Davidic king’s prerogative (2 Samuel 7:18; Ezekiel 44:3). It was in itself a clear indication that He enjoyed God’s favour and was God’s viceroy. To have all enemies ( here both of heaven and earth) His footstool is an indication of His guaranteed final triumph.

So we note here the advancement in thought of the quotations:

· 1). He is declared to be God’s Son and ‘begotten’ as His anointed (compare ‘in a Son’ - Hebrews 1:2).

· 2). He continually shares in a special relationship with God whereby God is His Father and He is God’s Son (compare again ‘in a Son’ - Hebrews 1:2).

· 3) As the Firstborn Who will come again into the world He receives homage and worship continually from God’s angels (compare ‘heir of all things - Hebrews 1:2).

· 4) His throne is God and therefore His rule is everlasting and perfectly righteous, with Him being anointed as Supreme Ruler, high above all (compare ‘heir of all things’ - Hebrews 1:2).

· 5) As ‘Lord’ He is the Creator, Sustainer and Culminator of Creation, so that all awaits His will, while He Himself is everlasting (compare ‘through whom also He made the worlds’ and ‘upholding all things by His word of power’ - Hebrews 1:2-3).

· 6) He has been called to sit at God’s right hand until all His enemies are subjected to Him (compare ‘sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high’ - Hebrews 1:3) .

And within it all is set the contrast with the angels. This contrast between the Son and the angels (Hebrews 1:4-9; Hebrews 1:13) is then brought to its conclusion by a positive declaration of what the position and responsibilities of the angels are.