guardian angels
Actually, aside from The New English Bible, the phrase Guardian Angels rarely if ever occurs in the Bible. And even though there is not a lot of direct evidence in scripture to lend support or credence to the doctrine, there is quite a lot of circumstantial evidence. Perhaps one of the most significant passages respecting this institution is found in Matthew's gospel.
- MATTHEW 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
According to Yeshua's (Jesus') own testimony here, these particular "little ones" had angels watching over them. Howbeit, the purpose of His teaching was not necessarily about children having guardian angels, but rather Yeshua was simply using the humble disposition (verse 4) of this child to teach His disciples about how they should be treating and behaving towards one another.
That was the plain context of His words, that they should "become as little children" ( verse 3). As such, He was not suggesting here that all children had these guardian angels, but rather that the disciples should behave towards each other as inoffensively as a little child. They should quit trying to elbow one another out of the way so as to climb up some imaginary ladder, because each one who believed in Him (verse 6) was special to the Father (verse 14).
These comments of His arose because the disciples had been disputing between themselves "who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (verse 1). In answer to this He placed a little child before them so as to demonstrate the right mental attitude which they should have. As His disciples they should not be disparaging or belittling one another. They should not be slighting each other. Instead, they should be humble as was this particular child.
Apparently then, He was not necessarily teaching that everyone, even every child had this protective agent, this Guardian Angel. That was certainly not what Yeshua was teaching, for we read elsewhere that when Herod the Great was thwarted when seeking to slay Yeshua as a child, he was still able to have many of the other children in Bethlehem killed (MATTHEW 2:16). So evidently, even though some children might have had this protective shield, not all did.
The determining factor between the two groups, those with these guardian angels and those without, was apparently whether or not they did or were someday going to believe in Yeshua.
Here in MATTHEW 18 it was stated that this child did believe in Him, and thus had this guardian angel. Howbeit, elsewhere it was written that others evidently had this protective shield even before they were born.
For king David,
- PSALM 22:9-10 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: Thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: Thou art my God from my mother’s belly.
For Isaiah,
- ISAIAH 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; And hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; From the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
For Jeremiah,
- JEREMIAH 1:4-5 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
For John the Baptist,
- LUKE 1:13-15 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For Yeshua,
- MATTHEW 1:20-21 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
For the apostle Paul,
- GALATIANS 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen . . . .
These were all individuals who were known and chosen before they were even born. There is then ample evidence in scripture that at least some people had a kind of protective agent shielding them. Nevertheless, it would be preposterous for us to think or try to proclaim that all of the unborn had these Guardian Angels. Evidently this protection is only afforded to those whom GOD in HIS foreknowledge knew would believe.
Another significant passage regarding these Guardian Angels is in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
- HEBREWS 1:13-14 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
As noted in another Study (Angels and Spirits), these angels were not spirit beings in that sense but rather they were ministers (MATTHEW 4:11), sometimes functioning like the forces of nature (Epistle of the Priesthood, by Alexander Narne, page 266). As such, GOD's angels could manifest themselves in many different ways. They might and often did appear as men (GENESIS 19). On other occasions they might of appeared as the wind (EXODUS 14:19) or even fire (EXODUS 3:2 JUDGES 13:20 ACTS 7:30), or they might even be likened unto the stars (REVELATION 1:20).
The important point for us to recognize here is that the angels were ministers for those who were to be heirs of salvation. That evidently means that these angels were there to protect and nourish and sustain certain individuals in their quest to be saved, in their quest to know the truth.
We are given scores of occurrences in scripture where this is shown to be the case. On nearly every occasion of the nearly four hundred incidences of angels in scripture do we find them protecting and sustaining believers.
- GENESIS 19:15-16 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city [Sodom]. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
That or else the angels were revealing GOD's intentions, and then administering HIS wrath.
- REVELATION 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.
In the psalms we read that "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (PSALM 34:7). Mark tells us in his Gospel that it was angels who ministered unto Yeshua after His temptations in the wilderness (MARK 1:13), and Yeshua Himself testified that He had twelve legions of angels at His disposal if need be (MATTHEW 26:53).
Elisha asked GOD to open the eyes of his servant that he might see the host of angels that were spread out on the mountain protecting them.
- 2 KINGS 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Also in psalms we read that GOD would "give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone" (PSALM 91:11-12). According to the psalm, those who were thus to be afforded this protection were they who "dwelled in the secret place of the most High" and "under the shadow of the Almighty" (verse 1). They were the ones who had made the Lord their refuge and habitation (verse 9). It was to those who had set their love upon GOD and known HIS name (verse 14), to those was this protection promised.