Hebrews Home Page
| Heb Rules Page | Sound of GraceThe Hebrews Commentary Project
Contents:
Hebrews 2:4-8
Hebrews 2:4-8
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
[ Top of Page]
1. Murray McLellan
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (2:4)
The writer of Hebrews, beginning in verses 1-3 of chapter two, has broken into an appeal - an admonition - to give "earnest heed to the things we have heard." He warns not to "neglect so great a salvation." This salvation was proclaimed and "spoken by the Lord," the only Savior, Himself, and then through His apostles. Now in verse 4 he tells us that God,Himself, bears witness of the testimony of the Son (see also Acts 2:22). From the sign of His voice speaking out of heaven, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!"; to His incredible works; to the sign of the prophet Jonah - His resurrection, all testify to the Man Christ Jesus. As the centurion, who stood opposite the crucified Savior, proclaimed, "Truly, this Man was the Son of God!" Thus, His testimony is true and faithful.
As His Father sent Him into a sinful and dark world, so Jesus sent His apostles into a prideful world that would hate them and their message of grace to the humble. In the upper room, Jesus had told them the Spirit would teach them truths they could not then bear (John 16:12-13). The Spirit confirmed and bore witness that the apostles indeed did not speak the "word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God" (1 Thess. 2:13). The Lord bore "witness to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands" (Acts 14:3; see also Acts 2:43 and 5:12). These confirming signs were "gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will." Gifts of the Holy Spirit are according to His own will, not our efforts. Peter said it best, in response to the people who ran to them amazed at the miracle they had just seen, when he said,
Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (Acts 3:12)
Oh, may we, His ambassadors, raised up for this time, preach Jesus Christ and glory in Him alone, as the now humbled and Spirit-filled Peter in Acts. We have the completed revelation of God in the New Testament Scriptures. Its authority was confirmed by such signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit. May we preach the Word and submit to its authority in our lives. "For if the word spoken by angels proved steadfast..."
Aren't you glad, as a believer, that one of the gifts God has given us is a love for Christ and His Word? "His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). Is it not wonderful to be alive spiritually and to no longer walk in this world conscious of only the natural, cut off from God - the source of all life? Our eyes have been opened to gaze upon the Christ of this Book. How did this life come about? God spoke in us, "Let there be light," and there was light.
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:6)
When God speaks, nothing thwarts His word.
Oh, what a precious Word,
having been born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, through the Word of God, which lives and abides forever. (1 Peter 1:23)
It is this Word that converts the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb" (Ps. 19:10).
It is sad to see so many trying to resurrect the signs and miracles, instead of feeding on the Words of life that those signs confirmed many years ago.
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (2:5-8)
Which man made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant...humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross? Yes, being made a little lower than the angels, but now this righteous One is crowned with glory and honor and God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Yes, all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth.
Do we not have a purpose and a message to carry to all nations? Then to think that God exalts His redeemed ones and sits us in the heavenly places in Christ. We who have received the Spirit of adoption can now cry out, "Abba, Father." As children of God. we become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. I can scarce take it in.... Oh, what is man that You are mindful of him? It is Christ! It is Christ! Oh what honor to be placed in God's own dear Son. He alone is the reason that God is mindful of us, because God is mindful of Him! Yes, this extends to the point that the Father loves us as He does His beloved Son (John 17:23!)!
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption - that as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:30-31)
But now we do not yet see all things put under Him. (2:8)
But we will dear saints,
when He comes in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. (2 Thess. 1:10)
Do you not groan within yourself, eagerly awaiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body? Thus, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. He who endures to the end will be saved. Praise God that "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:24). But for those who neglect such a great salvation,
these shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. (2 Thess. 1:9)
"Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11).
Therefore, we do not preach ourselves but the Lord Jesus Christ!Murray McLellan
m.mclellan@sk.sympatico.ca
[ Top of Page]
2. Mark McCulley
Hebrews 2:5-8
another age coming
and the entire world, not only some of it
will SEE
but already now
by faith
this one human person
from one historical
time and place
not only for us in our
sound ghetto
committed to Himthough there is no neutrality,
neither do we have any other proof
except for the glory
which has happened
“because of”
the suffering of deathand though there is no other proof,
we pray not only to the Father
but also to Jesus,
who is already
one and only Lord
of all creationthat narrow truth
for the whole wide world
He suffered
died once and only once
for those who lived long before
the cross and long afterthe son of man
proclaimed in daniel seven
forgiver of sins
mark 2:10
lord of the sabbath
mark 2:28
coming in glory
mark 8:38and when is that?
not yet but already at the cross
are we ashamed
of the glory of the cross?
the beasts struggle
saints suffer
looks like the beasts winning
but our faith is not
in glory postponed
but faith during the sufferingfaith in the glory of the cross
THERE to suffer and die
not ashamed at this kind of coming
mark 8:38
NOW is the judgment of this world
NOW the ruler of this world
will be driven out
when I am lifted up:
he said this to indicate
the kind of death
he was to die
john 12:33they will see the son of man
coming in clouds
mark 13:26
the sun moon and stars dark
and all the powers
who put him on the cross
exposed
the ugliness of death
disarmed
what more can you do?
now that you have killed
the son of man
what more the Father
CAN and WILL do
now that you have killed
the sonthis man was God’s Son!
mark 15:39
not at the resurrection
but already at the cross
the strong man bound
the temple veil split
like the clouds split
at the baptism
pointing to the cross
this is my beloved son
like clouds coming down
at the transfiguration
this is my beloved son
this son calling out
my God my God
why have your forsaken me
this son of man
Stephan saw at the right hand
Stephan dying
the suffering still not over
but Jesus with eyes like fire
and face like the sun
seated on the cloud
crown on his head
revelation one and fourteenwho says God doesn’t suffer?
who says it was only “his human part”?
God did not only plan the suffering
God moved into the suffering
did not remove Himself from suffering
wept
did not protect “his deity part” from the cross
it was the Word
the fullness of God
who became flesh
and gave His flesh for the worldGod planned and did it all
not through instruments
second causes
God loved us
gave Himself for usis psalm eight about our creation
or is our creation already
for the purpose
of incarnation?
so that we were created
for the glorification
of the Son in our humanity?so that we glory already
because of the “little while”
once upon a time
at one place only
once and only once
the suffering of deathMark McCulley, March 23, 1998
mcculley@redrose.net
[ Top of Page]
3. Jim McClarty
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (2:4)
This is a very odd verse division. This line is the completion of the previous thought. Even with the English punctuation added it's obvious that this is a fragment, ending a question, and not the whole question itself. The complete thought is in verses 3 & 4:
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; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Big question! Seeing how the Old Covenant administered by angels was firmly upheld in the courts of Heaven, how shall we be held blameless if we ignore the all-sufficiency of Christ's atoning work and the New Covenant it brought in? After all, this salvation was attended by numerous irrefutable proofs of its veracity:
1) The Lord, Himself, was the first to speak it.
- Christ spoke of the "newness" of His plan when He said,
Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Mat.26:27-8)
- He spoke of the means of its implementation when He said,
The son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. (Matt. 17:23)
- He testified of its completion when He said
Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17-18)
- He offered the proof when He said,
Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. (John 20:27)
- He promised its efficacy when he declared,
Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And, whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (Jn. 14:1-4)
The Lord, Himself, was the first purveyor of the Gospel. That fact alone ought to give this word endless credibility.
2) These things, these events, these sayings and teachings were all brought to us by the men who actually, materially, literally witnessed these things. And, they testified far and wide of the gospel of grace. Ordinary men overwhelmed by extraordinary circumstances, empowered of the Holy Ghost, under threat of punishment, pain, and death, went forward and "turned the world upside down." And, in so doing, their testimony was confirmed to us.
3) They not only brought a true witness, telling of their experience, they were each miraculously changed as God added His confirmation to their preaching. Their lives became "living epistles." John, one of the "sons of thunder," was transformed into the apostle of love. Doubting Thomas declared, "My Lord and my God!" Peter, the quick to speak, who thrice denied his Lord, was three times restored with the command "Feed my sheep," and preached the Pentecost message as 3,000 entered the church. And, their testimony was undergirded with signs and wonders - the sick were healed, the dead were raised, the spirit fell and men spoke in tongues they had never previously uttered. People were saved, hearts were turned, sinners repented, and faith prevailed. The Spirit of God left the holiest place of the temple barren and took up residence in mere mortals.
4) And, these things were all in accordance with God's will. They were assigned by providence and completed in sovereignty.
And, hence the question - how shall we escape? What more evidence does a rational man need? How much more proof would a sane man require? And, given what we know of the severity of God and the sternness of His O.T. decrees, how just would He be in judging us for ignoring all this?
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. (2:5)
Uh-oh. A statement with eschatological overtones! In simplest terms, the writer is continuing his declaration of Christ's superiority in all things, and having shown His dominance in the Heavenly realm, and in earthly covenantal dealings with men, he goes on into the future and states that Christ will also be the ruler and monarch of the final kingdom. Without debating whether this is a literal or spiritual kingdom, we can undoubtedly agree that Christ, not any angel, will be ruling "the world to come."
The simple point of this rapidly building argument is this: Christ was in the beginning, making all things. All things are made by Him and for Him. He rules Heaven. He rules earth. He will always rule Heaven and earth.
But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. (2: 6,7,8a)
This is a direct quote of Psalm 8:4-6. We'll take it in parts:
- What is man that thou art mindful of him?
What could we possibly point at to recommend us before the perfection and holiness of God?
"Verily, every man at his best state is altogether vanity." (Ps.39:5)
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be
clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and
it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in His sight. How much
less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
Job 25:5-6)
That's really a probing question. Why would God even pay attention to such lowly creatures? And, why (?!) didn't He abandon us altogether when we fell into sin and rebellion?
- ...or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Oh, wait! It's not just that God paid attention and was "mindful" that men existed, but also that He visited them! Knowing we were incapable of coming to Him, He came to us. Knowing we would not talk to Him, He talked to us. Knowing we were incapable of loving Him, He first loved us.
- Thou madest him a little lower than the angels;
The elect angels who never left their first estate continue to worship at the throne of God. And, in making men, God placed them under the firmament, down on the ground. And they were subject to failure, to pain, to separation.
Their place was physical,
their bodies were temporal, and
their hearts were wild and rebellious.
And, yet....
- thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.
The Psalmist went on to describe the many facets of God's creation which were put under subjection to men in Psalm 8:7-9:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and
whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O Lord,our Lord, how excellent is they name
in all the earth!
As such, these earthly men are the "crown of creation," having dominion over all other living things.
But, the writer of Hebrews sees much more in this Psalm. He puts it into a Christological context. And, while it is still a mystery that God would stoop to call on fallen men, it is through the very "Son of Man" that God visits. In order that He could be counted among (and be "kinsman redeemer" to) the fleshly brethren, He was made lower than the very angels who were eternally subject to Him. But, He was crowned by God, seated at the right hand, and given glory and honor. He also received dominion over all the creation of God, not just beasts of the field and fish, but of every living soul. The demonic hoard shudder at His voice, Satan trembles at His name,His kingdom is from generation to generation; and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, "What doest thou?" (Dan.4:34-35)
For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. (2:8b)
Every part and parcel of Heaven, hell, and earth are under the absolute dominion of Christ. God has surely placed all...not some, not most...ALL under His subjection. As such, He may do with it as He pleases. Should He save some? It's up to Him. Should He judge some? It's up to Him. Should He tarry awhile, should He come suddenly, should He chasten those He loves? It's all up to Him. Will we be filled with the Holy Spirit and have faith? Up to Him. Shall we live a life of ease, or be in trial at every turn? Up to Him. Shall we live a day or a hundred years? Will we be wise? Shall we be blinded? Shall we do works in His name? It's subject to His will, His desire, His leading and His power. Otherwise, there is still something which is not under his subjection. Election? Death? Faith? Gifts? Preaching? Praying? Giving? What can we name that is not subject to Him?
Then the writer, having built this wonderful platform takes a sudden shift:
But now we see not yet all things put under him. (2:8c)
Is this a contradiction? Or, is this simply pragmatism? Actually, it's the leading statement which brings us to our next series of verses. But, here's the answer in short: the writer realizes that rebels remain. Sin still courses through our flesh, battling for dominance. Death still occurs. Satan remains active and the world spins on in turmoil. To an honest observer it would appear, on the surface, that not everything in creation has been finally, once-and-for-all, placed under His feet. The Prince of Peace appears to reign over a decidedly frightening, warring, restless world.
But, we hold to the promise that it won't always be that way. And, though we believe in the "world to come," we have the very present surety of its secure completion, and Christ's eventual, obvious, unquestionable dominion in this:
"But we see Jesus."
But, that's next week.
Jim McClarty
McClartyfam@juno.com
[ Top of Page]
4. Donald blind
The question mark at the end of Hebrews 2:4, is part of the previous three verses and is in essence; "How shall we escape?" and "lest at any time we should let them slip."
The Triune God of Holy Scripture, gave the "What is man," in their bodies of low estate, yet "endued with power from on high," to bear witness to the Son of God, the one who, when "by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." As Paul had said in Rom 15:19,
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Also in Mark 16:19,20:
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
The habitable world to come, meaning this present time of the Kingdom of the Messiah,
[Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matt. 21:43)
Also; 1 Pet 2:9,10:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy],
would not be ruled over by the Angels. They had a lot to do in the former covenant, especially concerning the giving of the Law. Paul in Gal. 3:19 says,
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Concerning also the Gentile world he states in Col 2:18,
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,
meaning of course that they held the Angelic beings in great esteem. Man, not being a lover of the true and living God, having his mind all wrapped up in his sinful, individual self, not listening to the Word of God, didn't understand his rightful place before The Creator, as created in His image. The scripture then says, "But now we see not yet all things put under him." In the text quoted, David inspired in Psalm 8, notes what was said in Genesis 1:28,
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
However, the inspired writer adds a tremendous post script in Hebrews 2:8b:
For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
We now have to wait for his further comments to see what are these "all things."
Donald E. Blind
dblind@erols.com
[ Top of Page]
5. Michael Cruz
God also bearing them witness, (2:4)
Here we see further affirmations of Christ's superiority to all that came before him, with God, Himself, affirming this testimony by the signs that accompanied him. This would include, but is not limited to
- the angel sent to Mary foretelling his birth,
- the star pointing the direction at Christ's birth,
- the dove and voice at his baptism, and
- the changing of water to wine at Cana.
How one might better divide up all the supernatural occurrences that followed Christ's ministry into the categories of signs, wonders, and miracles is not of concern here. What is relevant, is that there exists a great host of supernatural events sent by God to testify of his superiority. In regard to the many healings that Christ performed, some might have a tendency to believe this means Christ came to perform these for everyone; but this verse clears up that misconception. The signs, wonders, and miracles testify to the superiority of Christ's ministry over all that came before him and to all that have come after him. For certainly no one else has brought with them the signs, wonders, and miracles that accompanied our Lord and Saviour.
For unto the angels... (2:5)
We now return to the familiar contrast of Christ to angels. Here the writer states that God has not given control of the future kingdom to mere angels but to his son. Even angels, with their powers to blind men, as in the case of the sodomites, are in subjection to him
The Humiliation and Glory of Christ Contrasted
In verses six through eight, the writer recounts David's work in Psalm 8:4-6. In the latter part of verse six, this inclusion of David's prophecy details the abasement of Christ in taking on human frailty at his incarnation. The humiliation of Christ is shown further in verse seven where the writer shows that he even descended to a position below that of angels when he took on human form. But, in the latter part of verse seven, we see this is contrasted to the glory of Christ in his resurrected and Kingly form. And of course we know from verse one of this book that Christ is the head of all with the whole world at his feet. There, he sits in majesty, in glory reigning over fallen humanity and angels alike. One of the lines of an old gospel song, entitled "Who Am I," sums up much of what this section describes: "Who am I that a king would bleed and die for?" When we contrast the rubbish of fallen humanity to that of the glory of our great king in heaven, who can but wonder at the love of God and ask why he would humble himself for the sake of us who, in our natural state, would sooner put him to death. Many of the why's will have to remain unanswered this side of eternity; for why he chose to bestow his love upon certain wretched creatures and not others is not ours to know. The end of verse eight tells us that we see only part of this great glory that is to come. But one thing which we can be assured of is given in 1 John 4:10:
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Michael Cruz
a_la_cruz@technologist.com
[ Top of Page]
6. Kevin Hartley
For...
Note the grammatical connection that Hebrews 2:4 has with the preceding text and let us pass on to the next. Hebrews 2:5 begins with a coordinating conjunction which prevents us from separating this passage from what precedes, and which will assist us in understanding the matter addressed by this quotation. Clearly the previous passage dealt with Christ's superiority to the angels, viewing both in their relationship to a covenant. Christ is more than just the one from which the law passed, He is the law giver. Keeping this in mind, let us understand then that the fifth verse continues this theme.
...the world to come
In verse 5 the author of Hebrews speaks of 'the world to come.' He denotes this to be not a future age or coming eschatological hope, but this present day. This is substantiated by two proofs.
- First, the participle 'coming' derives its time from the main verb 'placed,' an aorist in the Greek. Time then is not indicative to the verb, rather, the author wants us to view the 'world to come' as a period or whole. The context has been referring to the giving of the law in relation to the angels. Thus, 'the world to come' is time related contextually to the giving of the law by the angels at Sinai. 'The world to come' of that day is this present day of Christ.
- The second proof of this point is the phrase, ' whereof we speak.' The time of the verb 'we now speak,' a present, is in reference to the author's ongoing discussion of Christ's current mediation of the New Covenant. Thus the author is stating that the current subject of Christ's superiority and reign is present with us now, beginning with His first coming and lasting through this present age, an age to those of Sinai known as 'the world to come'.
To state this plainly, verse 5 speaks not of a future age but of the present durative age from Christ unto His consummate return. This exegesis is important as it lends proper understanding to the quote used by the author.
Understand that the focus of the author is to demonstrate that in this present day nothing has been put in subjection to the angels, but all things have been placed in subjection to Christ. What is glorious about this passage is that we, this day, are not still waiting to see the superiority of Christ; we see it, and we have seen it in His coming at the first. What harm many do who put off the glorious superiority of Christ for another day, when this day we have the blessed view of our Lord of all. It is most disturbing to think that so many look beyond the glories of this present age to another, while passing quickly by what we now do delight to see in Christ.
He is the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. With His glorious accomplishments in His coming, He has ushered in a new and prized day! We see Jesus crowned with glory and honor, a redeemer, a king! We see death's conqueror alive! Why would we look at angels? The old day was marked by a lost dominion, by messengers of a covenant; our day is so much better marked by the image of the Lamb. I wonder how it is that John, who was oft led away from Christ to gaze at wonders in Revelation, was not often heard saying, 'Ah yes, these are wondrous, but show me again the Lamb. All these things are good and glorious, but show me again the Lamb. Show me the One to whom my ear once was pressed upon His beating heart. Show me the One whose heart did bleed on my behalf. Show me the One whose eyes burned as fire and left my soul undone. Show me the One whose hair was pure as wooly white. Show me the One whose feet did radiate as though brass refined with a furnace. Show me the glories of Jesus now crowned with all glory and honor.'
Thus the New Covenant believer should be heard saying, 'show me not mere messengers of the Old Covenant or men decked in priestly garb, but show me the One who bears the wounds upon His body on my behalf.' All I can hear from this book is disbelief from the author; 'how can any man take His eyes off Christ?' What folly to think that one could now look but at Christ. Surely that first day and world were glorious; man, God's crowning glory, with the angels serving and ministering unto Him. Surely much more glorious, then, was the day of His coming. What a day it was, when the Baptist's eyes beheld the Lamb, when Peter's eyes met Him on that night, when the eyes of John wept at the foot of the cross; surely those where glorious days. But is this new day no less glorious? Yea, it is far more glorious. What a world then is ours, in which Christ has come and rules from heaven above. What a blessed day of peace and mercy. The old world did know of the kiss of justice, the new world has known of the kiss of mercy having met with justice. Righteousness and peace have kissed. Perhaps Peter on the water looking at Him who 'has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him,' could take his eyes off Christ, but can we?
Again the intent of this book is undeniable; look to Jesus. Looking at an angel is as looking at a beggar while a king does pass by you. Sovereign love sears the heart, when redeemed eyes gaze upon the Lamb. Sovereign love keeps us from straying from His side. Loveless apostates love not the king, they have no desire to look to Him. Ah but the bride, to have her eyes for a moment taken from Christ, is surely heard to say, "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick!"
My apologies reader, this exegete has failed to adequately exposit the depths of this passage; might I find your graciousness as I have been entangled in the bonds of Christ's love. Might you forgive a weary soul that longs to do nothing but gaze at Christ. But in your considerations ponder this fleeting and final thought: if that age of old was glorious, where man was crowned with glorious dominion over creation and angels did minister unto Him, and if this world that has come is so glorious to see Him crowned with glory, majesty, honor, dominion, and sovereign might, how much greater is the age to come when we shall see Him yet face to face?
In these verses Christ is contrasted yet the more with angels, this time from His enthroned majestic position, to which no man or angel will ever ascend. We are but to His eternal glory and it is to that glory alone that we must fix our gaze. Unto His glory alone, then, we give thanks unto our King.
Kevin Hartley
kartleyk@erols.com
[ Top of Page]
7. Maurice Bergeron
God also bearing them witness...(2:4)
Hebrews 2:4 is only readily understood when kept in context with verse three where it reads,
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. (2:3)
Verse four continues to instruct us that this was the means by which the Sovereign magnified the perfect revelation that we have in Jesus Christ.
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (2:4)
He bears witness to the message of the Son with signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of His Holy Spirit. How can it be that so many have given greater importance to the events at Sinai? This is the superior message of Mt Zion!
Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an as. (Matt. 21:5)
...unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come (2:5)
There is disagreement by some over the meaning of this statement. The People's New Testament Commentary suggests that the phrase "world to come" is speaking literally of this future earth. My own opinion is that our Lord and His saints will rule over all of His creation including this earth. Angelic beings are not so favored.
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? (2:6)
The text of this verse is not given for the purpose of exalting man, but the opposite is true. God has humbled Himself by wearing a tent of flesh in the person of the Son.
Think on this: God the Son wears for all eternity man's likeness. Not only did Christ visit our number, He has joined our number. Our identity is His. Think now back to the account in Genesis. Can you see Adam's Maker envisioning Himself in Adam's suit even as He forms His creature from the dust? He is not only the potter, He has become clay!And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
(Gen. 1:26)As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. {49} And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1Co 15:48-50)
thou crownedst him with glory and honour (2:7b)
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (Ps 8:4-6)
Lord, what is man that thou
So mindful art of him?
Or what's the son Of man,
that thou the highest heaven didst bow,
And to his aide didst runne?Man's but a piece of clay
That's animated by thy heavenly breath,
And when that breath thou tak'st away,
Hee's clay again by death.
He is not worthy of the least
Of all Thy mercies at the best.
Baser than clay is he,
For sin hath made him like the beasts that perish,
Though next the angels he was in degree;
Yet this beast thou dost cherish.
Hee is not worthy of the least,
Of all thy mercies, hee's a beast.Worse than a beast is man,
Who after thine own image made at first,
Became the divel's sonne by sin. And can
A thing be more accurst?
Yet thou thy greatest mercy hast
On this accursed creature cast.Thou didst thyself abase,
And put off all thy robes of majesty,
Taking his nature to give him thy grace,
To save his life didst dye.
He is not worthy of the least
Of all thy mercies; one's a feast.Lo! man is made now even
With the blest angels, yea, superiour farre,
Since Christ sat down at God's right hand in heaven,
And God and man one are.
Thus all thy mercies man inherits,
Though not the least of them he merits.[Thomas Washbourne, D.D.,] 1654.
...he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (2:8b)
For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1Cor. 15:27-28)
What a glorious day that will be when we behold with our eyes this glorious sight of our Lord's sovereignty! Others may wrangle over the meaning of this text but I will do no such thing, for here it plainly states that in this present life it is WE who do not yet see. Here is where our faith comes into play. We profess we know a Sovereign God but do we walk in that knowledge when we are sorely tried? My Beloved, There is nothing that He does not reign over. What a comforting word for a troubled heart. Rest in Him.
Maurice Bergeron
ic@mdc.net
[ Top of Page ]
Go to Chapter Two Verses 9 through 18
Hebrews Home Page | Heb Rules Page | Sound of Grace
A Friends of John Bunyan Internet Project