² For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, ³ how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord…

The argument is simple: if violating the old message given in the Old Testament brought an unremitting penalty, then the penalty for violating the new message give “in His Son” will be inescapable.

We have previously read in Hebrews 1:1-2 that in the past God spoke “to the fathers in the prophets … in these last days [he] has spoken to us in His Son…” Now, we learn that angels were God’s messengers to those prophets bearing God’s message to them. Stephen understood this to be the case when he courageously proclaimed before he was martyred: “This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you (Acts 7:38) … you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it” (Acts 7:53). Paul adds, “ … the Law … ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator …” (Gal 3:19).

The term “angel” in the Greek language means, “messenger.” And it is often used in the phrase, “the angel of the Lord” as a reference, many believe, to the pre-incarnate appearances of the second person of the Trinity (see for example, Exodus 3:2 with Exodus 3:13-15 where this identification is absolutely clear. But when Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law (Exodus 20), we have it on the authoritative interpretation of Stephen, Paul and the writer of the book of Hebrews, that angels were involved as direct messengers to Moses from God. Yet, at the same time Moses could speak of the Law coming directly from God, that is, God was speaking on Sinai directly to Moses.

While there is an abundant amount of material in the Bible about angels, we do not get an exact sense of how their role is played out, but we can say they are very closely aligned with the will and actions of God.  They are His messengers, His servants. When they speak, it is the same as God speaking.

However, now in Jesus Christ, God speaks more directly to us and more clearly. How much more culpable, that is, how much more responsible are we if we ignore this new message in Christ? Put it this way: when people reject God’s law, there is the penalty. In Christ, God offers the only way out of that penalty.  But, if we reject that, we have no hope left. Rejecting Christ is worse than rejecting the Law.