1:13 But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”
The writer continues to pile up the arguments for Christ’s superiority over the angels, this time quoting from Psalm 110:1. Although the angels, and even satan, have had access to God’s presence (Job 1:6), none of them has ever been invited to sit down at the right hand of God. That honor is accorded to Christ alone. It indicates, firstly, His favor with the Father. The sacrifice of Calvary has been accepted. The Father, who was “well pleased” with the Son at His Baptism and again at His transfiguration, now gives clear and eternal evidence of that good pleasure.
Secondly, it is yet further evidence of the equality of the Son with the Father. Although not clearly stated here, this was not merely a lesser throne set at the right of the Father’s throne. Revelation 3:21 declares plainly that Christ was in fact invited to sit with the Father on His Throne. Surely there can be no greater evidence of the Son’s equality than this.
Thirdly, it speaks of the authority of the Son. He who has been presented to the whole of creation as its rightful king and ruler, now takes up the seat of that rulership. All authority in heaven and on earth is His. (Matt 28:18) He is now positioned to use that authority effectively, and to rule.
Finally, it underscores the fact that the work is finished. Everything that was needed both for the salvation of mankind and for the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, was accomplished at Calvary. Just as the Triune God had rested after the work of creation, now the Son rests after the work of redemption.
until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?
The picture is taken partly from the ancient practice of warfare. If a victorious king took his enemies alive, he would cause them to lie down at his feet, and would put his foot on their necks as a sign of their total subjection. The metaphor, however, goes beyond this, for a footstool is permanently in that position, as opposed to a conquered enemy who may yet again stand up, and given the right opportunity may even again rise up against his conqueror. A footstool is forever a footstool; forever under the feet not only of its owner but also of anyone whom He may invite to sit with Him.
It is interesting that the Father says that it is He who will make Christ’s enemies His footstool. Even though Christ has already won the victory, there is an element of bringing things into their rightful place of submission that is still to be accomplished, and that is the work of the Father, not the Son.
1:14 Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Again, the contrast is between the Son, who is the Master, and the angels who are “ministers” – the word means servants. Their function is to serve those who “shall be the heirs of salvation.” Here the writer subtly makes a point: in Christ, even humanity – previously “a little lower than the angels” – has now been made above them, for they are appointed as the servants of mankind on behalf of God, and a servant is always lower than the one he serves.
We must be careful, however, that we do not interpret this as meaning that the angels are there to do our bidding. They answer to God’s commands, not ours, even though their service may be toward us. To use a modern analogy, a school teacher is there to serve the pupils, but he does not take his orders or instructions from the pupils, but from the Principal, the School Board and the governmental department of Education. Even Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, said “Don’t you know that I could ask My Father and He would give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt 26:53). Notice He did not say “I could command twelve legions of angels and they would come”. As man, He did not command angels but humbly asked His Father. We overstep the bounds of our authority when we begin to order the angels around. They are here to serve us, but they respond to the Father’s command, not ours.