Revering Angels
The Bible cautioned against revering and worshiping angels. the apostle Paul wrote, “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels” (Colossians 2:18). At Paul’s time, some false teachers promoted seeking the guidance of angels. These teachers stressed the weakness of man and his inferiority to God. Therefore, they taught that man needed intermediaries. So, the heavenly beings were revered and worshiped as being superior to man.
When an angel appeared to John, he bowed down to worship him but the angel’s quick response was: “I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God” (Revelation 22:9. Holy angels refuse to accept worship.
The Lord in the Ten Commandments plainly tells us, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3 ). That would include angels. Even praying over images of angels is prohibited. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (verse 4, 5).
Being the Creator of all, God alone should be worshiped. God appeals to us to put Him before all else, to put Him first in our affections and in our lives, in harmony with our Lord’s principles in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:33). We owe wholehearted allegiance and devotion to Him as a personal Savior, Redeemer and Creator. It is our privilege to know, to love, and trust Him.
Satan, the created being, demanded worship. When Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, he said, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). This diabolical proposal—that God incarnate should worship the devil—is the ultimate of blasphemy. Satan asked for a transfer of personal allegiance from the Father to himself. But Jesus responded, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’ ” (verse 10 ). Jesus affirmed His obedience to God’s commandments.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
