“To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”

In this verse, we find God’s university for angels. 

things which angels desire to look into

This section of 1 Peter sets forth three kinds of Bible students: 

1)  the Prophets who searched their writings diligently such as Daniel 

2) the New Testament believers such as the Bereans who studied the prophecies of the Old Testament

3) angels who studied salvation. 

The word “angel” means messenger.  An angel is one who carries the message of the gospel. 

Angels do not comprehend and understand all they carry.  They just deliver the message.  Angels are incorporeal beings; that is, they do not have a physical body. They also cannot be redeemed because they were individually created.  Since angels cannot be saved or converted, the whole area of salvation is curious to them.

Angels cannot know this whole experience of complete salvation.  It is a mystery to them.  They are not participants of salvation.  They are merely spectators (1 Cor 4:9).  Believers are made a theater for angels to watch our lives.

The word “desire” is a passionate desire.  Angels have an intense desire to understand what salvation is all about. 

The words “to look into” mean to stoop and look into, to stoop sideways.  It means to make a considerable effort to try to find out something – “to try to learn, to desire to learn.”  Angels put great effort into seeing what our salvation is all about. 

John 20:5 uses “look into” for John when he looked into the tomb through the low entrance. The look is not necessarily a fleeting one (cf. 20:11). A figurative use occurs in James 1:25, where more than a glance is at issue – we need to look into the Bible to understand his will ardently. 

PRINCIPLE: 

The church is God’s university for angels.

APPLICATION:

Angels cannot participate in salvation.  They are simply spectators of that salvation. Angels do thoughtfully peer into salvation.  The church is the university for angels. 

Angels watch each salvation of every Christian.  Angels watch whether you come to Christ or not.  They observe and wonder.