Jesus and the Angels Compared
(Part 3 of 4)

A comparison of Jesus and angels shows that He is greater than they are. He could be called the head of the angels. They are even called "His angels." Let's look at some of the many verses that are useful in comparing the nature of Christ in relation to angels.

(The previous page - part 2 - in this series looked at the question "What are archangels?" You might want to go back to that for more background. We are working towards answering the question "Who is Michael the Archangel?")

Angels:

1. are created beings (Col 1:16)
2. are not to be worshipped (Col 2:18, Rev 19:10, 22:8-9)
3. are ministers to those "who shall be heirs of salvation" (Heb 1:13-4)

Christ:

1. "is so much better than the angels" (Heb 1:4)
2. has "a more excellent name than they (the angels)" (Heb 1:4)
3. has been given "a name which is above every name" (Phil 2:9)
4. has "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (1Pet 3:22)
5. is worshipped by the angels: "let all the angels of God worship him." (Heb 1:6)

Read all of Heb 1:4-14 for a comparison of Christ and the angels. Christ is referred to as the "only begotten son" of God (John 3:16), never as a created being. However, the term "angel" is sometimes used to refer to deity. Examples:

"And the angel of the LORD said unto her ... And she [Hagar] called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me ..." (Gen 16:11,13)

"And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham ... And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD" (Gen 22:15-16)

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: ... God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, ... he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, ..." (Exo 3:2,4,6)

Perhaps, in these verses, the use of angel is with the meaning of His being the messenger of the Lord. Both Jesus and the angels and even man can be described by the term angel when used in the sense of their being a messenger (see part 1 of this series).

The term angel is also used for one who saves or redeems:

"The Angel which redeemed me [Jacob] from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (Gen 48:16)

"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." (Isa 63:9)

Jesus' Angels

The angels are often referred to as His (Jesus') angels which could imply that He is over them or in charge of them. Here are some examples:

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psa 91:11)

"Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word." (Psa 103:20)

"The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;" (Matt 13:41)

So we see that Jesus is higher than the angels, that He is referred to as the angel (messenger) of the Lord and that the angels are referred to as being His.

Now that we understand the relation between Jesus and the angels, let's get to the question who is Michael the Archangel? (part 4)