They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” (NIV)

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. Rabbi Singer focused on one passage from the Hebrew Bible - Zechariah 12:10. In the New Testament, the Greek word ( aggelos) is also used to refer to the angel Gabriel but also to human messengers like John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10). But there is one who is unique, greater than all others, his Son. In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.(Hebrews 1:1–2, NIV) But reading a few verses earlier will help us understand what the writer of the Hebrews meant: “You are my Son today I have become your Father”? (Hebrews 1:5, NIV)Īt first glance, he seems to have a point. We can now move to Rabbi Singer’s argument - that Hebrews 1:5 denies Jesus is the angel of the Lord:įor to which of the angels did God ever say, Is Rabbi Singer right, a sent one of God cannot be God? Yet, has any other sent one ( malach) claimed “whatever the Father does the Son also does”? Does Hebrews 1:5 deny Jesus is the angel of the Lord? He only did what the Father showed Him to do. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. Yet, he is no ordinary messenger ( malach): Before we look at Rabbi Singer’s approach, it’s worth reviewing Jesus’ teaching.

His main argument is that the New Testament denied Jesus was the angel of the Lord. What the New Testament teaches about the angel of the Lord But also describes humans sent to do a duty - such as the spies hidden by Rahab (Joshua 6:17). Malach can refer to ‘spiritual’ messengers like the angels Gabriel or Michael.

So we need to put aside Renaissance paintings of winged creatures! Rabbi Singer points out that the Hebrew word malach (or angel) means messenger. Rabbi Singer’s responses to this view are evaluated below. Not all Christians agree, but scholar Michael Heiser (and many others) claims the angel of the Lord in the Hebrew Bible is Jesus. His Brooklyn wit, never fails to entertain. I’m a regular viewer of Rabbi Singer’s YouTube channel.

Angels michael heiser