The Most High God is the same God from the Old Testament and New Testament we worship in our Catholic faith during the celebration of the Mass today. Certainly, God is mentioned many times in both the Old and New Testaments, but the Most High God is mysteriously mentioned just nine times in the entire New Testament.
The more we know about God, the better we can love Him and have a reverence for Him in all that He does for us in our lives and for our families.
Who is the Most High God?
During a recent study of the Wisdom Book of Sirach, I noticed the author, Ben Sira, kept referring to God as “the Most High,” almost forty times, throughout the book.
What does it mean when God is referred to as the Most High God in Sacred Scripture?
And what exactly does the Most High God mean for us as Catholics today?
Example #1
In the Order of the Mass, when we recite the Gloria together during the Liturgy of the Word, at the end, we say the following:
“For you alone are the Holy One. You alone are the Lord. You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.”
Example #2
In the Liturgy of the Hours, Volume III, the following petition is said during the solemnity of Corpus Christi in the Sunday Evening Prayers (Vespers) p.622. If you want to experience a greater degree of spiritual protection for your and your family and increase in holiness, I recommend learning how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
Christ, eternal priest of the Most High, you have commanded your priests to offer your sacraments, – may they help them to exemplify in their lives the meaning of the sacred mysteries which they celebrate.
Spiritual Warfare Principles Noted
There are some spiritual warfare principles noted with the topic of the Most High God.
Note: These spiritual warfare principles were learned from a riveting lecture by renowned exorcist, Father Chad Ripperger. Please see my post on Spiritual Protection
Spiritual Warfare Principle #1 – The Divine Economy of Authority
Divine Economy of Authority – God established a Divine hierarchy when He made creation. An example would be that there are nine (9) ranks of angels. There were angels throughout the levels of the hierarchy that rebelled from God and were cast out of heaven and thrust down to hell by St. Michael and his angels (Rev 7:7-9)
These “fallen angels” are better known by the Church as demons. Satan and his demons lost their assigned places by the Most High God in the Divine hierarchy.
We humans have been given the opportunity to take their vacant spots. The demons will do everything God will allow to keep that from happening for each of us.
Spiritual Warfare Principle #2 – Anything but God
Anything but God – Demons, therefore, try to distract us with ordinary temptations and influences from having anything to do with God in our lives.
They don’t care what it is that we choose to do or follow, as long as it does not involve the Most High God. The demons know that their strategy of “anything but God” greatly increases the chances of souls being cast into hell for eternity.
The Most High God
God is the Most High God at the highest level of all creation, both visible and invisible. Nothing surpasses Him. He is the Creator, and we are His creatures. Our very breath of life is graciously given to us by Him (Job 33:4)
If the demons want us to focus on anything but God, the primary focus in our lives should be to focus on God, all things God, and everything else we can possibly do to know, love, and serve the Most High God in heaven. God should be our very all.
Every creature is God’s servant, for it was through Him that every creature came to be. – St. Augustine
I have heard Fr. Ripperger mention in a lecture when you visit a religious order such a Carmelite monastery, you will notice that many of the religious there often have a radiance about them that is noticeable because of their perseverance over the years in receiving the sacraments, in prayer, scripture study, fasting. etc. They have grown a greater love for the Most High God by the way they live their lives.
In the Book of Malachi, God mentions that He never changes (Mal 3:6). The Hebrew Most High God, El Elyon, that was worshipped by Abraham and the priest Melchizedek, is the same God mentioned in the New Testament, and the One we worship today in Catholic churches and chapels throughout the world.
9 New Testament Scripture Verses about the Most High God
Here are the 9 New Testament verses compiled in a table for review.
| Spoken by | Theme | Verse |
|---|---|---|
| 1. a demon | Son of God | Mark 5:7 |
| 2. Archangel St. Gabriel | Son of God | Luke 1:32 |
| 3. Archangel St. Gabriel | Power of God | Luke 1:35 |
| 4. Prophet Zechariah | Plan of God | Luke 1:76 |
| 5. Jesus Christ | Children of God | Luke 6:35 |
| 6. a demon | Son of God | Luke 8:28 |
| 7. St. Stephen (martyr) | Characteristic of God | Acts 7:48 |
| 8. a demon | Servants of God | Acts 16:17 |
| 9. Possibly St. Paul | Priest of God | Hebrews 7:1 |
The Greek translation of the Most High God in the New Testament is hypsistos theos.
The Most High God – 9 New Testament Verses
Verse #1 – Jesus, Son of the Most High God
crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” Mark 5:47
Verse #2 – Jesus, Son of the Most High God
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, Luke 1:32
Verse #3 – Miraculous Power of the Most High God
And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Luke 1:35
Luke 1:35 “Note how Gabriel refers to all three persons of the Holy Trinity: “Holy Spirit,” “Most High,” and “Son of God.” Source: The Didache Bible
Verse #4 – The Plan of the Most High God
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, Luke 1:76
Verse #5 – Children of the Most High God
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Luke 6:35
Luke 6:35 sons of the Most High: From a Hebrew perspective, parents reproduce character traits in the children who bear their image (Gen 5:3). Jesus applies this same logic to the family of God: as the Father is forgiving and loving, even toward the unfaithful and undeserving, so His children must imitate His kindness toward all without discrimination. Source: Ignatius New Testament Catholic Study Bible
Verse #6 – Jesus, Son of the Most High God
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him; in a loud voice he shouted, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!” Luke 8:28
Verse #7 – A Characteristic of the Most High God
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: Acts 7:48
Verse #8 – Servants of the Most High God
She began to follow Paul and us, shouting, “These people are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” Acts 16:17
The irony here is the woman possessed with an oracular spirit ( a demon) is admitting – possibly through the profound holiness of St. Paul – there is a Most High God in heaven whom we Catholics love and serve on earth.
Verse #9 – Priest of the Most High God
This “Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High,” “met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings” and “blessed him.” Hebrews 7:1
Hebrews 7:1-2a the author introduces Melchizedek as “king of Salem and priest of God Most High” and focuses on the two matters of greatest importance to his argument: Melchizedek blessed Abraham as he returned from battle, and Abraham gave to Melchizedek a tithe or “tenth of everything.” Source: New Collegeville Bible Commentary – New Testament
Spiritual Warfare Principle Noted
The last comment above brings to mind a biblical principle that does not get a lot of attention with Catholics, but probably should in the Church today: Tithe.
Make Tithe Offerings to the Most High God in Heaven.
Some might say tithing is external, but the decision to make a tithe to the Most High God starts from the heart, where the spiritual battle is ongoing.
If you help protect the Eucharist (the body, blood, soul, and Divinity of Jesus) with the first fruits of your resources, the Most High God will help protect you +
“The Lord God is not in want; he does not demand recompense but honor. He does not require you to pay back something of yours. He asks the firstfruits and tithes, and do you refuse? Avaricious one, what would you do if he had taken ninetenths for himself and left you the tithes?” – St. Caesarius, Church Father
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house. Put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, And see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you, and pour down upon you blessing without measure! Malachi 3:10
