Angels We Have Heard on High...Or Have We?

You've probably heard the Christmas song, "Angels We Have Heard on High." It is based on Luke 2. But have we really heard the nuances of what this text is teaching?

Now, let me be clear: I’m not questioning if the angels actually sang. I’m not questioning whether the shepherds really heard the angels. I’m not questioning whether God heard the angels (obviously!). I am not even questioning if we have comprehended the basic ideas. Instead, I’m questioning whether we have fully understood what is happening in this text because of some of the specific aspects of culture at that time (which can be lost on us 2,000 years later). Let me explain.

Sometimes it's easy to lose track of some of the cultural background of what is happening in Scripture. That doesn't mean that we can't read Scripture and understand it as it is. We can. I praise God that most of Scripture is so clear that a child can read it and understand the main idea (i.e., which is the doctrine of the perspicuity, or clarity, of Scripture).

Nevertheless, since Scripture was written thousands of years ago, there are aspects of the ancient culture that we don't know, or at least have trouble keeping in mind, as we casually read Scripture. However, by studying Scripture deeply, we can sometimes find some surprising insights.

For example, studying the background helps shed interesting light on the text of Luke 2. You may not remember Luke 2 by reference, but you probably remember one of the stories in Luke 2. Specifically, do you remember the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds at night while announcing the birth of Jesus? Let's dig in.

Below, we will examine three concepts found in Luke 2:10-14 : (1) good news of great joy; (2) a heavenly choir; and (3) peace on earth.

First, let's quickly read the passage (Luke 2:8-14).

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

-Luke 2:8-14 ESV

Next, let's dig into three specific parts.

Good News of Great Joy (Luke 2:10)

εὐαγγελίζομαι ὑμῖν χαρὰν μεγάλην

" . . . I bring you good news of great joy . . ."

The Greek word translated "good news" can be translated "gospel" and frequently refers to God's plan to save his people. However, the word was also used in the wider culture. In fact, it was even used by pagans to celebrate their gods’ birthdays.

In his excellent commentary, Craig Keener explains, "[P]agans applied it also to celebrations of the cult of the emperor among all people in the supposedly worldwide empire. They celebrated his birthday (pagans publicly celebrated deities' birthdays) and hailed him 'Savior' and 'Lord.' But Jesus' birth in a lowly manager distinguishes the true king from the Roman emperor."[1]

Therefore, the angels announcement was a radical announcement. Yes, it's radical for all of the reasons you celebrate every year. That is, it's radical because Jesus is fully God and fully human, and he has come to save people.

But it's also radical because the angel spoke the same words that were used in that culture to refer to false gods (including world leaders who were worshiped as false gods).

Thus, the angel was referring to the true God, the true Lord, the true Savior, and the true human birth of a divine being. This is in contrast to the false gods, the false lords, the false saviors, and the celebration of the birth of false gods. That was a confrontational message in their culture!

A Heavenly Choir (Luke 2:13)

πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου αἰνούντων τὸν θεὸν καὶ λεγόντων

" . . . a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying"

Then, after the angel declares the good news, Luke reports that the shepherds saw a large number of angels praising God. Again, that is already a radical statement, and it continues to be radical for all of the reasons you already know.

However, consider the following. Keener writes, "This choir contrasts with the earthly choirs used in the worship of the emperor."[2] Scripture itself informs us precisely who that person was, namely Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1).

Thus, the powerful heavenly choir singing at the birth of Jesus dwarfs the earthly choir for Caesar Augustus. That is another confrontational message!

Peace on Earth (Luke 2:14)

ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας 

" . . .on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

When the multitude of angels appear praising God, they say something with which I'm sure you're already familiar. They declare the peace that has come to earth through Jesus. "Peace on earth" has made it's way into many Christmas songs, and rightly so.

Again Keener writes, "The current emperor, Augustus, was praised for having inaugurated a worldwide peace."[3]

But the "peace" brought by Caesar Augustus falls dramatically short of the divine peace brought upon the world through Jesus Christ.

The peace brought by Jesus presently becomes evident in the lives of believers through the Spirit's work (Gal. 5:22-23), but in the future, it will be fully realized and perfectly visible in all aspects (Rev. 21). We will see a full kingdom with perfect peace. John tells us that God "will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:4). The "former things" which have passed away includes anything that steals peace.

The concept of peace is a major idea in Scripture from the beginning to the end. A study on the Hebrew word shalom (שָׁלוֹם) in the Old Testament will make this clear. It appears more than 200 times.

Thus, the peace on earth that Jesus brings is pretty different than the peace that Caesar Augustus accomplished (and that's saying it lightly!). Again, another confrontational message!

Finally, let's draw out some implications and applications.

1. The good news announced by the angel is far better than any good news that is announced in our culture which leads us to worship false gods. That is true even concerning good things we enjoy but sometimes elevate far too high (e.g., family, money, success, influence, productivity, sports, politics, etc.).

2. An inexplicably impressive heavenly choir praises God. We are joining this choir each Lord's Day when we lift our voices and sing. One day, we will see it with our own eyes.

3. The peace on earth that you desire is good. At times we witness how little peace is present in our world. We can clearly see this lack of peace in the news and among our friends, families, churches, and even in our own hearts. Nevertheless, we can live with the Spirit-empowered peace inside of us while we await a peace that is beyond our comprehension.

One last note: In Luke 2:14, Luke records the multitudes of angels saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" To what does "highest" refer?

Keener notes, "The inverted parallelism (God vs. people, and 'in the highest' vs. 'on earth') suggests that 'in the highest' means 'among heaven's angelic hosts.'"[4]

It's very clear that God is much more powerful and much higher than humans. But what about the powerful angels which, when they appear, leave humans in unmistakable fear? These shepherds would have been equipped to defend their sheep from vicious animals that would try to tear into one. Yet, the angel's appearance was so impressive, the angel had to begin his message to the shepherd's with this, "Fear not" (Luke 2:10).

In other words, God is much higher than these angels who are on high!

Have we heard these angels on high? Yes, I remember the a ngels singing about baby Jesus. But, until I studied this passage, I wasn’t aware how confrontational this text would have been to that culture.

So, in conclusion, the message from this text is radical for all of the reasons you already know. But it is also confronts the false gods, false lords, and false saviors. This text confronts the “good news” that this world offers us. This text confronts the “peace” that this world promises.

Instead, we are offered true and lasting good news, a true Lord and Savior, and true and lasting peace through Jesus Christ. Amen. I long to hear the angels sing.

End Notes:

[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014), 185.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.