I wanted to make a followup post to my one above about the Old Covenant law and the 10 Commandments having been given by God via angelic mediatorship ... not directly from God. Many will say "no way" and cite passages to demonstrate that YHVH Himself gave the law and wrote it on tablets of stone "with his own finger." But if they want to hold to that belief, they will not be able to harmonize their opinion with the clear NT statements that say angels gave the law, which were quoted in my previous post.

The opening statements of the book of Hebrews also clearly contrast the fact that in the past God spoke unto the fathers "at sundry times and in divers manners" -- but has now "in these last days" spoken directly by His Son. The truth being that in the past He did not speak via His Son, as He has now.

Heb. 1:1-2: "In the past God spoke to our forefathers 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 he made the universe."

The first two chapters of Hebrews then goes on to repeatedly demonstrate Christ's and the Gospel's superiority over the angels and over the law.

Acts 7:30 and 7:38 clearly state that it was an ANGEL that spoke to Moses in the "burning bush" and also from Mt. Sinai -- not YHVH. There was a very high-ranking angel who appeared at times in the Old Covenant dispensation, referred to as "the angel of the Lord." He was commissioned with all of the authority of YHVH Himself, and spoke on His behalf, as if directly from YHVH. This is where the confusion and contradictions come in -- this angel often spoke the word of YHVH directly, as if it were YHVH -- and in complete identification with Him. This is not unusual -- even the OT human prophets sometimes spoke as if the words were a 1st person utterance from God. Again, this "angel of the Lord" is distinct from God even though he used the name of God in first person. He was a powerful angelic mediator -- perhaps even Michael or Gabriel, though no one knows for sure, and his exact identity is not important.

This fact that angels gave the law at Sinai was well known by Jews in the first century -- and certainly by Paul and Stephen -- and also by various early Christian authors.

Deut. 33:2 says:
"And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints (i.e. angels) : from his right HAND went a fiery law for them."

Compare this with Gal. 3:19:
"Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the SEED should come (compare with Heb. 1:1-2) to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by ANGELS in the HAND of a mediator."

Regarding this angelic mediator, "the angel of the Lord," who spoke directly on behalf of God, notice Exodus 23:20-21:

"Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: FOR MY NAME IS IN HIM." He spoke as and for YHVH, representing God and God's presence. Compare with Isaiah 63:9: "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and THE ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE saved them."

God's name and presence was in this angel who bore God's word and authority.

Heb. 2:2-3:
"For if the word SPOKEN BY ANGELS was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him ..."

We now have the direct Word of God, without mediators -- and Jesus Christ is that Word. "For there is ONE God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." But not so with the Old Covenant. Galations 3:19-20: "The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; BUT GOD IS ONE." And Jesus Christ as God brough truth directly. No more mediators, whether anhappy_bunnyriests, as in the Old Testament.

We now worship God in spirit and in truth -- the truth that has superceded the "elementary principles of the world" (Gal. 4:3,9 and Col. 2:8,20) that were given via angelic mediators, to be in effect until the time of reformation -- physical priests and temples, Holy places and days etc. -- all such things were mere shadows of Jesus Christ and are not to be embraced as having any spiritual efficacy.

Colossians 2:15-23:
"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a SHADOW of things to come; BUT THE BODY (i.e., "reality") IS OF CHRIST.

"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of ANGELS, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, VAINLY PUFFED UP BY HIS FLESHLY MIND,

"AND NOT HOLDING THE HEAD (i.e. Christ and His full revelation), from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

"Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."