Angels do indeed have a task on earth (Hebrews 1:14), but ruling over the world to come is not their duty. Whose task is that? The answer to this question can be guessed from chapter 1: the Son's. We already make mental note of it here, but it is not said by the author until Hebrews 2:9. We can be too quick in answering and overlook the fact that the author also answers the question by referring to Psalm 8:1–9. The coming world is under the authority of the central figure of Psalm 8! To the question as to who has authority in the world to come, three answers are given in Hebrews 2:1–18: in verses 6-8 (man), in verse 9 (Jesus), and in verse 16 (the descendants of Abraham). This is practical comfort for the destitute listeners (see Hebrews 10:34): you are heirs of the world!¹