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We have read of the land, the heavenly city, and the promises as being inherited; the
"so great salvation" also and the "righteousness of faith" are equally related to an
inheritance: all, however, are within the one great allotment of the Son--for He has been
appointed heir of ALL THINGS.
The epistle tells us that to this glorious inheritance the Son was appointed. As "God
over all blessed for ever" He cannot be appointed to an inheritance, for all things are His.
As Most High God He is the "Possessor of heaven and earth", but in the person of the
Son He, by redemption and endurance, redeemed the alienated creation and is appointed
heir. This very chapter speaks of the Son as God (8), and tells us that the earth's
foundation was laid by Him, and that the heavens are the work of His hands (10), yet it
seeks to prove that He has inherited a more excellent name than they. God must
necessarily be above all His works, but here, as the Son, we see the Lord in the flesh
enduring suffering, obeying, serving, and finally dying that He might overcome. As
"God over all" He could not be "appointed", but when He became flesh and blood
(2: 14), such appointment was possible, and becomes the crowning attestation to the full
accomplishment of His purpose of love. The second chapter of Philippians has a parallel
with this line of teaching which it will be worthwhile to notice:--
Heb. 1:
Christ addressed as "God", and creation ascribed to Him.
Phil. 2:
Christ "originally in the form of God", thought it not a thing to be seized
upon "to be equal with God."
Heb. 2:
Christ made for a little "lower than the angels" and "partaker of flesh and
blood."
Phil. 2:
Christ took the "form of a servant" and was "made in the likeness of men."
Heb. 1:, 2: This descent was for the purpose of "purging" sin, and by death to destroy
him that had the power of death; as a result, He has been appointed "heir of
all things", has inherited "a more excellent name", and receives the
"worship of angels" and a "throne."
Phil. 2:
This making Himself of no reputation, ending in the death of the cross, has
resulted in His being "highly exalted", receiving "the Name which is above
every name", and the homage of every knee, in heaven, earth or
underground.
Heb. 3:, 4: "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the
Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who was
faithful. . . . for we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning
of our confidence stedfast to the end. . . . let us therefore fear, lest a
promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to
come short of it."
Phil. 2:
"Wherefore my beloved. . . . work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His
good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings."
The earnest student is exhorted to read these parallels again and again, adding to their
detail from the Word as far as possible, that he may see in their light the first great title of
the Son, the "HEIR OF ALL THINGS."
The appointment of the Son to be "heir of all things" has not been fully realized as yet;
from the standpoint of this epistle "we see not yet all things put under Him", a kingdom
awaits His sceptre, and He is yet to be brought into the habitable world and acclaimed as
the Son of God and the heir of all.