Journal – September 12, 2021

Published September 11, 2021

Hebrews 2:5-8
5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying:“What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have 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 do not yet see all things put under him.

THE SON MADE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS
HEBREWS 2:5-8

Vs. 5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. The Apostle continues his argument with the Scriptures given above; it is to this purpose the world to come is not in subjection to angels, but it was made subject to Jesus, therefore He is exalted above them. This he proves from the testimony of the Palmist, to this purpose all things were made subject to man, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, but this man was Jesus. And this assumption he proves from the event. First on the part of man absolutely considered, we see that all things are not made subject to him, therefore, he cannot be intended. Second, on the part of Jesus, all things in the event agree unto Him, for He was made for a little while lower than the angels, and then He was crowned with glory and honor, all things being made subject to Him; from which it appears that it is He and not angels unto whom the world to come is put in subjection. This is the series of the Apostle’s discourse, wherein are many things difficult and hard to understand, which must be particularly considered. By the expression world to come, is intended no other but the promised state of the Church under the gospel. This will appear from the following considerations:

  1. From the limitations, of which we speak. This is the world of which the Apostle treats throughout this epistle, it is the gospel state of the Church, the worship whereof he had in the words immediately foregoing pressed these into the observation of.
  2. We cannot understand this expression, the world to come, to refer to heaven, the state of future glory, as some have done, for the Apostle treats of that which is already done, in the crowning of Jesus with glory and honor; now this was upon His ascension, so that the state of glory was not made subject to Him, because it was not then nor is yet in being. The world whereof the Apostle treats was immediately made subject unto Jesus—that is the Church of the New Testament—when God anointed Him as King on His holy hill of Zion.
  3. The Apostle in these words insists upon the antithesis which he pursueth in his whole discourse between the Judaical and the evangelical Church state. Now it is not in heaven and glory that he opposed the Judicial church state and worship, but that of the gospel, as we shall find in the progress of the epistle, which is therefore necessarily here intended.

The Apostle denies that this world to come is made subject to angels; he seems to grant that the old church and worship were in a sort made subject to angels; but this world to come is immediately in His power who in all things is to have the preeminence. This will further appear if we consider:

  1. That the church was not put into subjection to angels in its erection or institution; the work was not committed to them, as the Apostle shows in the opening verses of this epistle.
  2. It is not put in subjection to angels as to the rule and disposal of it. Their office in this world is a ministry (chapter 1:14), not a rule or dominion.
  3. As to the power of judging and rewarding at the last day, it is openly manifest that God hath not put this world to come under angels, but under Jesus alone.

The greatest privilege of this world to come—the Church of the gospel—is, that it is made subject unto and immediately depends upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and not on any other angels or men. He is the Head of the Church and its only Head. The Head of all vital influence to the whole Church and every member of it, the Head of all rule and government unto every member of the Church, we have immediate access to Him. Thus, for the world to come is made subject to Jesus.

Vs. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? In verse 7 all things whatsoever are said to be put in subjection unto man, that is, unto the human nature in one or more persons, in opposition unto angels or the nature of angels. Now this privilege was never absolutely or universally made good in or to the nature of man, but in or with respect to the Person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. This testimony of the Psalmist, as quoted by the Apostle, consists in a contemplation of the infinite love and condescension of God towards man, which is set out in the expression, what is man, by way of admiration; yea he cries out with a kind of astonishment.  He expresses his admiration at the condescension of God in the words that he makes use of what is man, intimating the low and mean state of man in his own nature.  He further expresses this condescension of God in the affections and acting of His mind toward man, thou art mindful of him, thou remember him. In the words is couched the whole counsel and purpose of God concerning the salvation of mankind, in and by the humiliation, exaltation and whole mediation of the man Christ Jesus. He expresses the effects of this act of condescension, You take care of him; He has visited and redeemed His people (Luke 1:68).

Vs. 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands. The special instances of God’s visitation of men are contained in these words; they are referred to under two heads. First, man’s depression and humiliation; second, man’s exaltation and glory. His depression and humiliation are expressed in these words, You have made him a little lower than the angels. It was God who made Him lower than the angels; the measure of His humiliation here spoken of is about angels, with whom He is compared by the Apostle. He speaks not now of this humiliation absolutely, which was far greater than here expressed, as he afterwards declares, but only in respect of the angels. A little lower than the angels that is, lower than the angels for a little time; it was a short time that the Person of Christ in the nature of man was brought into a condition more indigent than the state of angels were exposed unto; He was made very much lower than the angels. The other effects of God’s visitation of man is his exaltation; expressed in the dignity whereunto He advanced him, and in the rule and dominion that He gave him. As to the dignity, He crowned him with glory and honor. To be crowned is to be invested with sovereign power, or with right and title thereto. To be crowned with glory and honor is to have a glorious and honorable crown, or rule and sovereignty. But this dignity is attended with actual rule. Thou set him over the works of Your hands, and as we may see from the next verse, this rule was universal; You have put all things in subjection under his feet an expression setting forth a dominion unlimited and absolute..

Vs 8 You have 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 do not yet see all things put under him. We see by or own observation that this word respects not the first man or his posterity, for we see not yet after this long space of time since the creationthat all things are put into subjection under him. It can only be true of the man Christ Jesus. And as the Psalmist says of Him, O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name (Psalm 8:9); and from thence he proceeds to a consideration of His condescension in His regard and love to man. He speaks of the heavenly bodies which we behold, and which are themselves exceedingly glorious, and show forth the infinite glory of Him that made them; they proclaim His greatness, infinite self-sufficiency, His eternal power, His wisdom, and goodness. He it is that remembers man—man whom He made from the dust of the earth, whose frailty is inexpressible; but more he has made himself inexpressibly vile by sin. Let the result of such thoughts be a holy admiration of God’s infinite love, care, grace, and condescension in having any regard to us. So doth the Psalmist teach us to obey.

THE GOSPEL AND EVERY BELIEVER

There are some who think that peaching alone will build the church, i.e., that the individual Christian who sits in the pews is more or less a spectator to the gospel ministry. Nothing could be further from the truth. Each one of us has the burden and privilege of bearing the good news to our fellow human beings. The words of C.H.Spurgeon, written in 1881 are still true for today he wrote:

“Any Christian has the right to disseminate the gospel who has the ability to do so, and more, he not only has the right, but it is his duty to do so s long as he lives. The propagation of the gospel is left not to a few, but to all the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the measure of grace entrusted to him by God the Holy Spirit, and a man is bound to minister in his day and generation, both to the church and among unbelievers.  Indeed, the question goes beyond men, and even includes the other sex.”

Catechism Question 78

Q:  Which is the eighth commandment?
A:  The eighth commandment is, “Thou shalt not steal”.
Exodus 20:15

“Prove it”  Catechism Question 113
Q: Who should partake in the Lord’s Supper?
A:  Only  those who repent of their sins, believe in Christ for salvation, and love their fellow men.

1Corinthians 11:28-29
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.  29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.