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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>H E B R E W S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. II.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter the apostle,
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I. Makes some application of the doctrine laid down in the chapter
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foregoing concerning the excellency of the person of Christ, both by
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way of exhortation and argument,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. Enlarges further upon the pre-eminence of Christ above the angels,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:5-9">ver. 5-9</A>.
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III. Proceeds to remove the scandal of the cross,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:10-15">ver. 10-15</A>.
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IV. Asserts the incarnation of Christ, taking upon him not the nature
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of angels, but the seed of Abraham, and assigns the reason of his so
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doing,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:16-18">ver. 16, to the end</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Heb2_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb2_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb2_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb2_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Danger of Neglect.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the
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things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let <I>them</I>
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slip.
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2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every
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transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of
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reward;
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3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which
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at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed
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unto us by them that heard <I>him;</I>
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4 God also bearing <I>them</I> witness, both with signs and wonders,
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and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according
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to his own will?
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The apostle proceeds in the plain profitable method of doctrine,
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reason, and use, through this epistle. Here we have the application of
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the truths before asserted and proved; this is brought in by the
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illative particle <I>therefore,</I> with which this chapter begins, and
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which shows its connection with the former, where the apostle having
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proved Christ to be superior to the angels by whose ministry the law
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was given, and therefore that the gospel dispensation must be more
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excellent than the legal, he now comes to apply this doctrine both by
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way of exhortation and argument.</P>
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<P>
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I. By way of exhortation: <I>Therefore we ought to give the more
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diligent heed to the things which we have heard,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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This is the first way by which we are to show our esteem of Christ and
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of the gospel. It is the great concern of every one under the gospel to
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give the most earnest heed to all gospel discoveries and directions, to
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prize them highly in his judgment as matters of the greatest
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importance, to hearken to them diligently in all the opportunities he
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has for that purpose, to read them frequently, to meditate on them
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closely, and to mix faith with them. We must embrace them in our hearts
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and affections, retain them in our memories, and finally regulate our
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words and actions according to them.</P>
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<P>
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II. By way of argument, he adds strong motives to enforce the
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exhortation.</P>
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<P>
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1. From the great loss we shall sustain if we do not take this earnest
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heed to the things which we have heard: <I>We shall let them slip.</I>
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They will leak, and run out of our heads, lips, and lives, and we shall
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be great losers by our neglect. Learn,
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(1.) When we have received gospel truths into our minds, we are in
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danger of letting them slip. Our minds and memories are like a leaky
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vessel, they do not without much care retain what is poured into them;
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this proceeds from the corruption of our natures, the enmity and
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subtlety of Satan (he steals away the word), from the entanglements and
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snares of the world, the thorns that choke the good seed.
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(2.) Those meet with an inconceivable loss who let gospel truths, which
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they had received, slip out of their minds; they have lost a treasure
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far better than thousands of gold and silver; the seed is lost, their
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time and pains in hearing lost, and their hopes of a good harvest lost;
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all is lost, if the gospel be lost.
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(3.) This consideration should be a strong motive both to our attention
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to the gospel and our retention of it; and indeed, if we do not well
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attend, we shall not long retain the word of God; inattentive hearers
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will soon be forgetful hearers.</P>
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<P>
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2. Another argument is taken from the dreadful punishment we shall
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incur if we do not do this duty, a more dreadful punishment than those
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fell under who neglected and disobeyed the law,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>.
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Here observe,
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(1.) How the law is described: it was the <I>word spoken by angels, and
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declared to be stedfast.</I> It was the word spoken by angels, because
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given by the ministration of angels, they sounding the trumpet, and
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perhaps forming the words according to God's direction; and God, as
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judge, will make use of the angels to sound the trumpet a second time,
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and gather all to his tribunal, to receive their sentence, as they have
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conformed or not conformed to the law. <I>And this law is declared to
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be stedfast;</I> it is like the promise, <I>yea and amen;</I> it is
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truth and faithfulness, and it will abide and have its force whether
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men obey it or no; <I>for every transgression and disobedience will
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receive a just recompence of reward.</I> If men trifle with the law of
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God, the law will not trifle with them; it has taken hold of the
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sinners of former ages, and will take hold of sinners in all ages. God,
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as a righteous governor and judge, when he had given forth the law,
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would not let the contempt and breach of it go unpunished; but he has
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from time to time reckoned with the transgressors of it, and
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recompensed them according to the nature and aggravation of their
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disobedience. Observe, The severest punishment God ever inflicted upon
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sinners is no more than what sin deserves: it is <I>a just recompence
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of reward;</I> punishments are as just, and as much due to sin as
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rewards are to obedience, yea, more due than rewards are to imperfect
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obedience.
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(2.) How the gospel is described. It is salvation, a great salvation;
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so great salvation that no other salvation can compare with it; so
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great that none can fully express, no, nor yet conceive, how great it
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is. It is a great salvation that the gospel discovers, for it discovers
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a great Saviour, one who has manifested God to be reconciled to our
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nature, and reconcilable to our persons; it shows how we may be saved
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from so great sin and so great misery, and be restored to so great
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holiness and so great happiness. The gospel discovers to us a great
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sanctifier, to qualify us for salvation and to bring us to the Saviour.
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The gospel unfolds a great and excellent dispensation of grace, a new
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covenant; the great charter-deed and instrument is settled and secured
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to all those who come into the bond of the covenant.
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(3.) How sinning against the gospel is described: it is declared to be
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a <I>neglect of this great salvation;</I> it is a contempt put upon the
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saving grace of God in Christ, making light of it, not caring for it,
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not thinking it worth their while to acquaint themselves with it, not
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regarding either the worth of gospel grace or their own want of it and
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undone state without it; not using their endeavours to discern the
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truth of it, and assent to it, nor to discern the goodness of it, so as
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to approve of it, or apply it to themselves. In these things they
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discover a plain neglect of this great salvation. Let us all take heed
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that we be not found among those wicked wretched sinners who neglect
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the grace of the gospel.
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(4.) How the misery of such sinners is described: it is declared to be
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unavoidable
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>How shall we escape?</I> This intimates,
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[1.] That the despisers of this salvation are condemned already, under
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arrest and in the hands of justice already. So they were by the sin of
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Adam; and they have strengthened their bonds by their personal
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transgression. <I>He that believeth not is condemned already,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:18">John iii. 18</A>.
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[2.] There is no escaping out of this condemned state, but by accepting
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the great salvation discovered in the gospel; as far those who neglect
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it, the wrath of God is upon them, and it abides upon them; they cannot
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disengage themselves, they cannot emerge, they cannot get from under
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the curse.
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[3.] That there is a yet more aggravated curse and condemnation waiting
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for all those who despise the grace of God in Christ, and that this
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most heavy curse they cannot escape; they cannot conceal their persons
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at the great day, nor deny the fact, nor bribe the judge, nor break the
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prison. There is no door of mercy left open for them; there will be no
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more sacrifice for sin; they are irrecoverably lost. The
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unavoidableness of the misery of such is here expressed by way of
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question: <I>How shall we escape?</I> It is an appeal to universal
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reason, to the consciences of sinners themselves; it is a challenge to
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all their power and policy, to all their interest and alliances,
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whether they, or any for them, can find out, or can force out, a way of
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escape from the vindictive justice and wrath of God. It intimates that
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the neglecters of this great salvation will be left not only without
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power, but without plea and excuse, at the judgment-day; if they be
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asked what they have to say that the sentence should not be executed
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upon them, they will be speechless, and self-condemned by their own
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consciences, even to a greater degree of misery than those fell under
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who neglected the authority of the law, or sinned without the law.</P>
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<P>
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3. Another argument to enforce the exhortation is taken from the
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dignity and excellency of the person by whom the gospel began to be
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spoken
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>It began at first to be spoken by the Lord,</I> that is, the Lord
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Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah, the Lord of Life and glory, Lord of all,
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and as such possessed of unerring and infallible wisdom, infinite and
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inexhaustible goodness, unquestionable and unchangeable veracity and
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faithfulness, absolute sovereignty and authority, and irresistible
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power. This great Lord of all was the first who began to speak it
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plainly and clearly, without types and shadows as it was before he
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came. Now surely it may be expected that all will reverence this Lord,
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and take heed to a gospel that began to be spoken by one who spoke so
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as never <I>man spoke.</I></P>
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<P>
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4. Another argument is taken from the character of those who were
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witnesses to Christ and the gospel
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>):
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<I>It was confirmed to us by those that heard him, God also bearing
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them witness.</I> Observe,
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(1.) The promulgation of the gospel was continued and confirmed by
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those who heard Christ, by the evangelists and apostles, who were eye
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and ear-witnesses of what Jesus Christ began both to do and to teach,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:1">Acts i. 1</A>.
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These witnesses could have no worldly end or interest of their own to
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serve hereby. Nothing could induce them to give in their evidence but
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the Redeemer's glory, and their own and others' salvation; they exposed
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themselves by their testimony to the loss of all that was dear to them
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in this life, and many of them sealed it with their blood.
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(2.) <I>God himself bore witness</I> to those who were witnesses for
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Christ; he testified that they were authorized and sent by him to
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preach Christ and salvation by him to the world. And how did he bear
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them witness? Not only by giving them great peace in their own minds,
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great patience under all their sufferings, and unspeakable courage and
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joy (though these were witnesses to themselves), but he bore them
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witness <I>by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the
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Holy Ghost, according to his will.</I>
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[1.] With <I>signs,</I> signs of his gracious presence with them, and
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of his power working by them.
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[2.] <I>Wonders,</I> works quite beyond the power of nature, and out of
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the course of nature, filling the spectators with wonder and
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admiration, stirring them up to attend to the doctrine preached, and to
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enquire into it.
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[3.] <I>Divers miracles,</I> or mighty works, in which an almighty
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agency appeared beyond all reasonable controversy.
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[4.] <I>Gifts of the Holy Ghost,</I> qualifying, enabling, and exciting
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them to do the work to which they were called--<I>divisions or
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distributions of the Holy Ghost, diversities of gifts,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:4">1 Cor. xii. 4</A>,
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&c. And all this <I>according to God's own will.</I> It was the will of
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God that we should have sure footing for our faith, and a strong
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foundation for our hope in receiving the gospel. As at the giving forth
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of the law there were signs and wonders, by which God testified the
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authority and excellency of it, so he witnessed to the gospel by more
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and greater miracles, as to a more excellent and abiding
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dispensation.</P>
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<A NAME="Heb2_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb2_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb2_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb2_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Heb2_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Design of Christ's Sufferings.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world
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to come, whereof we speak.
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6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man,
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that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou
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visitest him?
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7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou
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crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the
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works of thy hands:
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8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in
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that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing <I>that
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is</I> not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put
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under him.
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9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels
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for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that
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he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The apostle, having made this serious application of the doctrine of
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the personal excellency of Christ above the angels, now returns to that
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pleasant subject again, and pursues it further
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>For to the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come,
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whereof we speak.</I></P>
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<P>
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I. Here the apostle lays down a negative proposition, including a
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positive one--That the state of the gospel-church, which is here called
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<I>the world to come,</I> is <I>not subjected to the angels,</I> but
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under the special care and direction of the Redeemer himself. Neither
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the state in which the church is at present, nor that more completely
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restored state at which it shall arrive when the prince of this world
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is cast out and the kingdoms of the earth shall become the kingdom of
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Christ, is left to the government of the angels; but Jesus Christ will
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take to him his great power, and will reign. He does not make that use
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of the ministration of angels to give the gospel as he did to give the
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law, which was the state of the old or antiquated world. This new world
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is committed to Christ, and put in absolute subjection to him only, in
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all spiritual and eternal concerns. Christ has the administration of
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the gospel church, which at once bespeaks Christ's honour and the
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church's happiness and safety. It is certain that neither the first
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creation of the gospel church, nor its after-edification or
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administration, nor its final judgment and perfection, is committed to
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the angels, but to Christ. God would not put so great a trust in his
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holy ones; his angels were too weak for such a charge.</P>
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<P>
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II. We have a scripture--account of that blessed Jesus to whom the
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gospel world is put into subjection. It is taken from
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+8:4-6">Ps. viii. 4-6</A>,
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<I>But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou
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art mindful of him? or the Son of man, that thou visitest him?</I> &c.
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There words are to be considered both as applicable to mankind in
|
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general, and as applied here to the Lord Jesus Christ.</P>
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<P>
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1. As applicable to mankind in general, in which sense we have an
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affectionate thankful expostulation with the great God concerning his
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wonderful condescension and kindness to the sons of men.
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(1.) In remembering them, or being mindful of them, when yet they had
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no being but in the counsels of divine love. The favours of God to men
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all spring up out of his eternal thoughts and purposes of mercy for
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them; as all our dutiful regards to God spring forth from our
|
|
remembrance of him. God is always mindful of us, let us never be
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forgetful of him.
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(2.) In visiting them. God's purpose of favours for men is productive
|
|
of gracious visits to them; he comes to see us, how it is with us, what
|
|
we ail, what we want, what dangers we are exposed to, what difficulties
|
|
we have to encounter; and by his visitation our spirit is preserved.
|
|
Let us so remember God as daily to approach him in a way of duty.
|
|
|
|
(3.) In making man the head of all the creatures in this lower world,
|
|
the top-stone of this building, the chief of the ways of God on earth,
|
|
and only a little lower than the angels in place, and respect to the
|
|
boy, while here, and to be made like the angels, and equal to the
|
|
angels, at the resurrection of the just,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+20:36">Luke xx. 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
(4.) In crowning him with glory and honour, the honour of having noble
|
|
powers and faculties of soul, excellent organs and parts of body,
|
|
whereby he is allied to both worlds, capable of serving the interests
|
|
of both worlds, and of enjoying the happiness of both.
|
|
|
|
(5.) In giving him right to and dominion over the inferior creatures,
|
|
which did continue so long as he continued in his allegiance and duty
|
|
to God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. As applied to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole that is here said
|
|
can be applied only to him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
And here you may observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) What is the moving cause of all the kindness God shows to men in
|
|
giving Christ for them and to them; and that is the grace of God. For
|
|
<I>what is man?</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) What are the fruits of this free grace of God with respect to the
|
|
gift of Christ for us and to us, as related in this
|
|
scripture-testimony.
|
|
|
|
[1.] That God was mindful of Christ for us in the covenant of
|
|
redemption.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That God visited Christ on our account; and it was concluded
|
|
between them that in the fulness of time Christ should come into the
|
|
world, as the great archetypal sacrifice.
|
|
|
|
[3.] That God had made him a little lower than the angels, in his being
|
|
made man, that he might suffer and humble himself to death.
|
|
|
|
[4.] That God crowned the human nature of Christ with glory and honour,
|
|
in his being perfectly holy, and having the Spirit without measure, and
|
|
by an ineffable union with the divine nature in the second person of
|
|
the Trinity, the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily; that by
|
|
his sufferings he might make satisfaction, tasting death for every man,
|
|
sensibly feeling and undergoing the bitter agonies of that shameful,
|
|
painful, and cursed death of the cross, hereby putting all mankind into
|
|
a new state of trial.
|
|
|
|
[5.] That, as a reward of his humiliation in suffering death, he was
|
|
crowned with glory and honour, advanced to the highest dignity in
|
|
heaven, and having absolute dominion over all things, thus
|
|
accomplishing that ancient scripture in Christ, which never was so
|
|
accomplished or fulfilled in any mere man that ever was upon earth.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_13"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Design of Christ's Sufferings.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>10 For it became him, for whom <I>are</I> all things, and by whom
|
|
<I>are</I> all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the
|
|
captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
|
|
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified
|
|
<I>are</I> all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them
|
|
brethren,
|
|
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the
|
|
midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
|
|
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I
|
|
and the children which God hath given me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Having mentioned the death of Christ, the apostle here proceeds to
|
|
prevent and remove the scandal of the cross; and this he does by
|
|
showing both how it became God that Christ should suffer and how much
|
|
man should be benefited by those sufferings.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. How it became God that Christ should suffer: <I>For it became him
|
|
for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many
|
|
sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
|
|
sufferings,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. God is described as the final end and first cause of all things, and
|
|
as such it became him to secure his own glory in all that he did, not
|
|
only to act so that he might in nothing dishonour himself, but so that
|
|
he might from every thing have a revenue of glory.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He is declared to have acted up to this glorious character in the
|
|
work of redemption, as to the choice both of the end and of the
|
|
means.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) In the choice of the end; and that was to bring many sons to glory
|
|
in enjoying the glorious privileges of the gospel, and to future glory
|
|
in heaven, which will be glory indeed, an exceeding eternal weight of
|
|
glory. Here observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] We must be the sons of God both by adoption and regeneration,
|
|
before we can be brought to the glory of heaven. Heaven is the
|
|
inheritance; and only those that are the children are heirs of that
|
|
inheritance.
|
|
|
|
[2.] All true believers are the children of God: <I>to those that
|
|
receive Christ he has granted the power and privilege of being the
|
|
children of God, even to as many as believe on his name,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:12">John i. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Though the sons of God are but a few in one place and at one time,
|
|
yet when they shall be all brought together it will appear that they
|
|
are many. Christ is the first-born among many brethren.
|
|
|
|
[4.] All the sons of God, now many soever they are, or however
|
|
dispersed and divided, shall at length be brought together to
|
|
glory.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) In the choice of the means.
|
|
|
|
[1.] In finding out such a person as should be the captain of our
|
|
salvation; those that are saved must come to that salvation under the
|
|
guidance of a captain and leader sufficient for that purpose; and they
|
|
must be all enlisted under the banner of this captain; they must endure
|
|
hardship as good soldiers of Christ; they must follow their captain,
|
|
and those that do so shall be brought safely off, and shall inherit
|
|
great glory and honour.
|
|
|
|
[2.] In making this captain of our salvation perfect through
|
|
sufferings. God the Father made the Lord Jesus Christ the captain of
|
|
our salvation (that is, he consecrated, he appointed him to that
|
|
office, he gave him a commission for it), and he made him a perfect
|
|
captain: he had perfection of wisdom, and courage, and strength, by the
|
|
Spirit of the Lord, which he had without measure; he was made perfect
|
|
through sufferings; that is, he perfected the work of our redemption by
|
|
shedding his blood, and was thereby perfectly qualified to be a
|
|
Mediator between God and man. He found his way to the crown by the
|
|
cross, and so must his people too. The excellent Dr. Owen observes
|
|
that the Lord Jesus Christ, being consecrated and perfected through
|
|
suffering, has consecrated the way of suffering for all his followers
|
|
to pass through unto glory; and hereby their sufferings are made
|
|
necessary and unavoidable, they are hereby made honourable, useful, and
|
|
profitable.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He shows how much they would be benefited by the cross and
|
|
sufferings of Christ; as there was nothing unbecoming God and Christ,
|
|
so there was that which would be very beneficial to men, in these
|
|
sufferings. Hereby they are brought into a near union with Christ, and
|
|
into a very endearing relation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Into a near union
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Both he that sanctifieth and those that are sanctified are all of
|
|
one.</I> Observe, Christ is he that sanctifieth; he has purchased and
|
|
sent the sanctifying Spirit; he is the head of all sanctifying
|
|
influences. The Spirit sanctifieth as the Spirit of Christ. True
|
|
believers are those who are sanctified, endowed with holy principles
|
|
and powers, separated and set apart from mean and vile uses to high and
|
|
holy uses and purposes; for so they must be before they can be brought
|
|
to glory. Now Christ, who is the agent in this work of sanctification,
|
|
and Christians, who are the recipient subjects, are all of one. How?
|
|
Why,
|
|
|
|
(1.) They are all of one heavenly Father, and that is God. God is the
|
|
Father of Christ by eternal generation and by miraculous conception, of
|
|
Christians by adoption and regeneration.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They are of one earthly father, Adam. Christ and believers have
|
|
the same human nature.
|
|
|
|
(3.) Of one spirit, one holy and heavenly disposition; the same mind is
|
|
in them that was in Christ, though not in the same measure; the same
|
|
Spirit informs and actuates the head and all the members.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Into an endearing relation. This results from the union. And here
|
|
first he declares what this relation is, and then he quotes three texts
|
|
out of the Old Testament to illustrate and prove it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He declares what this relation is: he and believers being all of
|
|
one, he therefore is not ashamed to call them <I>brethren.</I> Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Christ and believers are brethren; not only bone of his bone and
|
|
flesh of his flesh, but spirit of his spirit-brethren by the whole
|
|
blood, in what is heavenly as well as in what is earthly.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Christ is not ashamed to own this relation; he is not ashamed to
|
|
call them brethren, which is wonderful goodness and condescension in
|
|
him, considering their meanness by nature and vileness by sin; but he
|
|
will never be ashamed of any who are not ashamed of him, and who take
|
|
care not to be a shame and reproach to him and to themselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He illustrates this from three texts of scripture.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] The first is out of
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+22:22">Ps. xxii. 22</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the church
|
|
will I sing praise unto thee.</I> This psalm was an eminent prophecy of
|
|
Christ; it begins with his words on the cross, <I>My God, my God, why
|
|
hast thou forsaken me?</I> Now here it is foretold, <I>First,</I> That
|
|
Christ should have a church or <I>congregation</I> in the world, a
|
|
company of volunteers, freely willing to follow him. <I>Secondly,</I>
|
|
That these should not only be brethren to one another, but to Christ
|
|
himself. <I>Thirdly,</I> That he would declare his Father's name to
|
|
them, that is, his nature and attributes, his mind and will: this he
|
|
did in his own person, while he dwelt among us, and by his Spirit
|
|
poured out upon his disciples, enabling them to spread the knowledge of
|
|
God in the world from one generation to another, to the end of the
|
|
world. <I>Fourthly,</I> That Christ would sing praise to his Father in
|
|
the church. The glory of the Father was what Christ had in his eye; his
|
|
heart was set upon it, he laid out himself for it, and he would have
|
|
his people to join with him in it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] The second scripture is quoted from
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+18:2">Ps. xviii. 2</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>And again, I will put my trust in him.</I> That psalm sets forth the
|
|
troubles that David, as a type of Christ, met with, and how he in all
|
|
his troubles put his trust in God. Now this shows that besides his
|
|
divine nature, which needed no supports, he was to take another nature
|
|
upon him, that would want those supports which none but God could give.
|
|
He suffered and trusted as our head and president. <I>Owen in
|
|
locum.</I> His brethren must suffer and trust too.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] The third scripture is taken from
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:18">Isa. viii. 18</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Behold, I and the children which God hath given me.</I> This proves
|
|
Christ really and truly man, for parents and children are of the same
|
|
nature. Christ's children were given him of the Father, in the counsel
|
|
of his eternal love, and that covenant of peace which was between them.
|
|
And they are given to Christ at their conversion. When they take hold
|
|
of his covenant, then Christ receives them, rules over them, rejoices
|
|
in them, perfects all their affairs, takes them up to heaven, and there
|
|
presents them to his Father, <I>Behold, I and the children which thou
|
|
hast given me.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Heb2_18"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Incarnation.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 62.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
|
|
blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that
|
|
through death he might destroy him that had the power of death,
|
|
that is, the devil;
|
|
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their
|
|
lifetime subject to bondage.
|
|
16 For verily he took not on <I>him the nature of</I> angels; but he
|
|
took on <I>him</I> the seed of Abraham.
|
|
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto
|
|
<I>his</I> brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
|
|
priest in things <I>pertaining</I> to God, to make reconciliation for
|
|
the sins of the people.
|
|
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is
|
|
able to succour them that are tempted.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here the apostle proceeds to assert the incarnation of Christ, as
|
|
taking upon him not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; and
|
|
he shows the reason and design of his so doing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The incarnation of Christ is asserted
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Verily he took not upon him the nature of angels, but he took upon
|
|
him the seed of Abraham.</I> He took part of flesh and blood. Though as
|
|
God he pre-existed from all eternity, yet in the fulness of time he
|
|
took our nature into union with his divine nature, and became really
|
|
and truly man. He did not lay hold of angels, but he laid hold of the
|
|
seed of Abraham. The angels fell, and he let them go, and lie under the
|
|
desert, defilement, and dominion of their sin, without hope or help.
|
|
Christ never designed to be the Saviour of the fallen angels; as their
|
|
tree fell, so it lies, and must lie to eternity, and therefore he did
|
|
not assume their nature. The nature of angels could not be an atoning
|
|
sacrifice for the sin of man. Now Christ resolving to recover the seed
|
|
of Abraham and raise them up from their fallen state, he took upon him
|
|
the human nature from one descended from the loins of Abraham, that the
|
|
same nature that had sinned might suffer, to restore human nature to a
|
|
state of hope and trial, and all that accepted of mercy to a state of
|
|
special favour and salvation. Now there is hope and help for the chief
|
|
of sinners in and through Christ. Here is a price paid sufficient for
|
|
all, and suitable to all, for it was in our nature. Let us all then
|
|
know the day of our gracious visitation, and improve that
|
|
distinguishing mercy which has been shown to fallen men, not to the
|
|
fallen angels.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The reasons and designs of the incarnation of Christ are
|
|
declared.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. <I>Because the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he must
|
|
take part of the same, and he made like his brethren,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
For no higher nor lower nature than man's that had sinned could so
|
|
suffer for the sin of man as to satisfy the justice of God, and raise
|
|
man up to a state of hope, and make believers the children of God, and
|
|
so brethren to Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He became man that he might die; as God he could not die, and
|
|
therefore he assumed another nature and state. Here the wonderful love
|
|
of God appeared, that, when Christ knew what he must suffer in our
|
|
nature, and how he must die in it, yet he so readily took it upon him.
|
|
The legal sacrifices and offerings God could not accept as
|
|
propitiation. A body was prepared for Christ, and he said, <I>Lo! I
|
|
come, I delight to do thy will.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. That <I>through death he might destroy him that had the power of
|
|
death, that is, the devil,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
The devil was the first sinner, and the first tempter to sin, and sin
|
|
was the procuring cause of death; and he may be said to have the power
|
|
of death, as he draws men into sin, the ways whereof are death, as he
|
|
is often permitted to terrify the consciences of men with the fear of
|
|
death, and as he is the executioner of divine justice, haling their
|
|
souls from their bodies to the tribunal of God, there to receive their
|
|
doom, and then being their tormentor, as he was before their tempter.
|
|
In these respects he may be said to have had the power of death. But
|
|
now Christ has so far destroyed him who had the power of death that he
|
|
can keep none under the power of spiritual death; nor can he draw any
|
|
into sin (the procuring cause of death), nor require the soul of any
|
|
from the body, nor execute the sentence upon any but those who choose
|
|
and continue to be his willing slaves, and persist in their enmity to
|
|
God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. That he might deliver his own people from the slavish fear of death
|
|
to which they are often subject. This may refer to the Old-Testament
|
|
saints, who were more under a spirit of bondage, because life and
|
|
immortality were not so fully brought to light as now they are by the
|
|
gospel. Or it may refer to all the people of God, whether under the Old
|
|
Testament or the New, whose minds are often in perplexing fears about
|
|
death and eternity. Christ became man, and died, to deliver them from
|
|
those perplexities of soul, by letting them know that death is not only
|
|
a conquered enemy, but a reconciled friend, not sent to hurt the soul,
|
|
or separate it from the love of God, but to put an end to all their
|
|
grievances and complaints, and to give them a passage to eternal life
|
|
and blessedness; so that to them death is not now in the hand of Satan,
|
|
but in the hand of Christ--not Satan's servant, but Christ's servant--has
|
|
not hell following it, but heaven to all who are in Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Christ must be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a
|
|
merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to the justice
|
|
and honour of God and to the support and comfort of his people. He must
|
|
be faithful to God and merciful to men.
|
|
|
|
(1.) In things pertaining to God, to his justice, and to his honour--to
|
|
make reconciliation for the sins of the people, to make all the
|
|
attributes of divine nature, and all the persons subsisting therein,
|
|
harmonize in man's recovery, and fully to reconcile God and man.
|
|
Observe, There was a great breach and quarrel between God and man, by
|
|
reason of sin; but Christ, by becoming man and dying, has taken up the
|
|
quarrel, and made reconciliation so far that God is ready to receive
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all into favour and friendship who come to him through Christ.
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(2.) In things pertaining to his people, to their support and comfort:
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<I>In that he suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour those that
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are tempted,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
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Here observe,
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[1.] Christ's passion: <I>He suffered being tempted;</I> and his
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temptations were not the least part of his sufferings. <I>He was in all
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things tempted as we are, yet without sin,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+4:15"><I>ch.</I> iv. 15</A>.
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[2.] Christ's compassion: <I>He is able to succour those that are
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tempted.</I> He is touched with a feeling of our infirmities, a
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sympathizing physician, tender and skilful; he knows how to deal with
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tempted sorrowful souls, because he has been himself sick of the same
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disease, not of sin, but of temptation and trouble of soul. The
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remembrance of his own sorrows and temptations makes him mindful of the
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trials of his people, and ready to help them. Here observe,
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<I>First,</I> The best of Christians are subject to temptations, to
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many temptations, while in this world; let us never count upon an
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absolute freedom from temptations in this world. <I>Secondly,</I>
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Temptations bring our souls into such distress and danger that they
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need support and succour. <I>Thirdly,</I> Christ is ready and willing
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to succour those who under their temptations apply to him; and he
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became man, and was tempted, that he might be every way qualified to
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succour his people.</P>
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