Hebrews 1:6 "The Song of the Bridegroom in Hebrews 1"

Hebrews 1:6

οταν δε παλιν εισαγαγη τον πρωτοτοκον εις την οικουμενην λεγει και προσκυνησατωσαν αυτω παντες αγγελοι θεου

Consider anew that when he introduces the firstborn to the world’s inhabitants he says “Bow down before him all the angels of God”.

Some have thought that this and other references to Jesus as God’s “firstborn” is evidence that Jesus is not eternally divine but was created and designated a divine being by God. The argument is that Jesus was conceived and created as a human being through God’s power. Thus, Jesus is called the “firstborn” of God. However, the use of the term “firstborn” goes to sustain the contrary.

When God introduces or presents the Son to the world’s inhabitants, God emphasizes the Son’s divinity by introducing him not only as Son but as Firstborn. God does not want for there to be any question about Jesus’ lineage as nothing but divine. Not only is Jesus Son, but Firstborn. The emphasis is on the same substance and essence relationship between Father and Son.

The second emphasis is on the order that God gives to the angels when He presents Jesus, His Firstborn. “Bow down before him all the angels of God”. God would not order the worship of a created being by other created beings. God would only command the worship of God.[1] To do otherwise would go against God’s nature.[2] It is precisely because of Jesus’ divine nature that the angels are commanded to worship Him, even in His incarnate human form of an infant.

The author of Hebrews takes the prophetic words of Psalm 97:7, “Bow down before him all the angels of God”, and applies them to the incarnation of Jesus Christ. When an angel announced to the shepherds the birth of the Messiah, Luke records that “suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:13,14). These words of praise are not to be misunderstood. The praises and glory to God include both God in the highest and to the incarnate God on earth bringing peace and good will toward all.

Those angels were sent to worship Jesus of Nazareth, per command of God the Father. The command to worship the infant son is to render the most profound and reverent adoration. The verb “to worship” as used in that time described the oriental custom of kneeling and then bowing until the forehead touched the ground in profound worship and most sacred reverence. The command of the supreme Deity given to the angelic host and recorded in Psalm 97:7, was fulfilled when the infant Jesus, in the poverty of the manger, received the reverent, profound, and tender adoration of the entire angelic host in the heavens. They were worshipping God made flesh. Such was, is, and shall be the exalted greatness of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, and Son of man!
[1] “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew 4:10 NKJV).
[2] Exodus 20:3-6.