14. ministering spirits--referring to
Heb 1:7,
"spirits . . . ministers." They are incorporeal
spirits, as God is, but ministering to Him as inferiors.
sent forth--present participle: "being sent forth"
continually, as their regular service in all ages.
to minister--Greek, "unto (that is, 'for') ministry."
for them--Greek, "on account of the." Angels are
sent forth on ministrations to God and Christ, not primarily to
men, though for the good of "those who are about to inherit
salvation" (so the Greek): the elect, who believe, or shall
believe, for whom all things, angels included, work together for good
(Ro 8:28).
Angels' ministrations are 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. So the superiority of the
Son of God to angels is shown. They "all," how ever various their
ranks, "minister"; He is ministered to. They "stand"
(Lu 1:19)
before God, or are "sent forth" to execute the divine commands
on behalf of them whom He pleases to save; He "sits on the right
hand of the Majesty on high"
(Heb 1:3, 13).
He rules; they serve.
JFB.
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