Ephesians 3:9-11; I Peter 1:12
The fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus.
Which things the angels desire to look into.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): Angels spend their existence in a wondering study of the ways of God, especially of God’s gracious acts. “These things,” said the apostle Peter, “the angels desired to look into.” They are continually increasing in knowledge, and it appears from the book of Daniel that they ask questions, and long to be instructed.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): This was one things, among others, which God had in his eye in revealing this mystery, that the good angels, who have a pre-eminence in governing the kingdoms and principalities of the world, and who are endued with great power to execute the will of God on this earth may be informed, from what passes in the church and is done in and by it, “of the manifold wisdom of God;” that is, of the great variety with which God wisely dispenses things, or of His wisdom manifested in the many ways and methods He takes in ordering His church in the several ages of it, and especially in receiving the Gentiles into it―and this is “according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
ADAM CLARKE (1760-1832): Holy angels are struck with astonishment at the plan of human redemption, and justly wonder at the incarnation of that infinite object of their adoration.
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): “For unto us a child is born,” Isaiah 7:14. This was “good tidings of great joy to all people,” Luke 2:10. Angels first brought it, and were glad of such an errand. Still they pry into this mystery and can never sufficiently wonder to see that the great God [should be] a little child; that He who ruleth the stars should be sucking at the breast; that the eternal Word should not be able to speak a word; that He that should come in the clouds should appear in clouts―old tattered rags.
MATTHEW HENRY: It was a wonder of His grace that Christ “humbled Himself,” and appeared “in the likeness of sinful flesh,” Romans 8:3.
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES (1899-1981): That babe, lying in the manger―a helpless babe that can’t move, has to be carried, has to be attended to―there He is, lying in a manger. What is this? Well, you see, this how the apostle Paul describes it, this is what he says: “All the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth in Him bodily,” Colossians 2:9. It’s all there! In that one little babe!―All the glorious purposes of God, they’re all there in that helpless little babe in the manger! And all the Godhead, “for it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell,” Colossians 1:19―it’s all in Him―the babe lying in the manger! But He is the Saviour of the world.
RALPH ERSKINE (1685-1752): Indeed, all the elect angels brake forth into joyful songs of praise at this solemnity; when He came in the flesh, they sang, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and goodwill towards man,” Luke 2:14.
THOMAS MANTON (1620-1677): So excellent and ravishing a mystery is this plot of salvation of lost sinners by Christ incarnate, that the very angels cannot enough exercise themselves in the contemplation of it.
ADAM CLARKE: The design of God, in the incarnation, was to manifest the hidden glories of His nature, and to reconcile men to each other and to Himself. The angels therefore declare that this incarnation shall manifest and promote the glory of God, not only in the highest heavens, among the highest orders of beings, but in the highest and most exalted degrees. For in this astonishing display of God’s mercy, attributes of the Divine nature which had not been and could not be known in any other way should be now exhibited in the fullness of their glory, that even the angels should have fresh objects to contemplate, and new glories to exult in. These things the angels desire to look into, and they desire it because they feel they are thus interested in it―the incarnation of Jesus Christ is an infinite and eternal benefit: heaven and earth both partake of the fruits of it, and through it angels and men become one family, Ephesians 3:15.
C. H. SPURGEON: Angels take an active interest in the gospel of our salvation. It is true that they are not interested in it for themselves. They have never sinned and, consequently, they need no atonement and no forgiveness―as far as the Gospel brings salvation, healing, pardon, justification and cleansing, angels do not need it. Never having been defiled, they need not to be washed. And being perfect in their obedience, they need not to be forgiven for any shortcomings. And yet they take a deep interest in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES: You know, were it not for you and me, and those who are redeemed, the angels would know nothing about the grace of God. It is only where our salvation is concerned that the grace of God comes in, and the angels are astounded at it; they say, “What is this? This is the most wonderful thing of all.”
C. H. SPURGEON: Angels know not what it is to be fallen; they have never fought with any temptations from within―they carry about with them no inbred sin―they have not to lament lascivious desires, or covetous cravings; they have no proud thoughts which must be cast down, no depressions of spirit, no taunts of unbelief, no motions of self-will; they serve God without a slur in their obedience; no thought of sin ever taints their soul; no syllable of evil ever falls from their holy lips; no thought of transgression defiles their service.
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES: It’s such a marvel, it’s such a wondrous thing, that these created angelic spirits who have always spent eternity in the presence of God as it were, are looking at this thing which is most astonishing to them, surpassing everything else.
ADAM CLARKE: The victories of the cross in the conversion of sinners causes joy among the angels of God.
WILLIAM JAY (1769-1853): “I say unto you, that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth,” Luke 15:10. Nothing can more powerfully imply or express the importance of conversion than this declaration of the Saviour, the faithful and true witness. However lightly or contemptuously conversion may be thought of among men, celestial beings, proverbial for their wisdom and incapable of mistake, always behold it with wonder and delight. With them, the improvement of art, the discoveries of philosophy, the exploits of heroes, the revolutions of empires, are comparatively nothing to the salvation of a soul.
MATTHEW HENRY: The conversion of sinners is the joy of angels, and they gladly become ministering spirits to them for their good, upon their conversion. The redemption of mankind was matter of joy in the presence of the angels, for they sung, “Glory to God in the highest.”
ADAM CLARKE: If then these things be objects of deep consideration to the angels of God, how much more so should they be to us; in them angels can have no such interest as human beings have.
